IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,232,815
Granted Patent B1
US 10,232,815 · App. 15/786,836 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Seat assembly

Inventors: Alan George Dry (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI); Johnathan Andrew Line (Northville, MI); Brian Robert Spahn (Plymouth, MI); Benjamin Yilma (Canton, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60R21/18B60N3/001B60R21/207B60R21/233B60R2021/022B60R2021/23107B60R2021/23169
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,232,815
App. No.
15/786,836
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A seat assembly includes a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other. The seat assembly includes a seat bottom between the first and second bolster. The seat assembly includes a bridge deployable to a deployed position. The bridge in the deployed position is spaced from the seat bottom. The bridge in the deployed position is supported on the first and second bolsters and extends from the first bolster to the second bolster. The seat assembly includes an inflatable device supported by the bridge.

Claims (36)

1. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

wherein the bridge has a first end and a second end spaced from the first end, the first end including a locking mechanism and the second end including a rotating mechanism.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bridge is rotatable relative to the first bolster between an undeployed position and the deployed position and, in the deployed position, the bridge is releasably locked to the second bolster.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first bolster includes a slot, and the bridge in the undeployed position is stowed in the slot.

4. The seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein during a deployment of the bridge to the deployed position, the bridge is designed to be extracted from the slot and moved toward the second bolster.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable device is inflatable from the bridge in a direction away from the seat bottom.

6. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second inflatable device supported by the bridge, the second inflatable device being inflatable toward the seat bottom.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being deployable to a deployed position, the knee restraint in the deployed position being in front of the seat bottom.

8. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein the knee restraint is rolled into the bridge, and during a deployment of the knee restraint, the knee restraint is designed to unroll to the deployed position.

9. The seat assembly of claim 7 , wherein during a deployment of the knee restraint, the knee restraint is designed to inflate to an inflated position.

10. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bolster includes a first track and the second bolster includes a second track, the first track and the second track facing each other.

11. The seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bridge is engageable with the first and second tracks and lockable with the second track.

12. The seat assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being engageable with the first and second tracks and deployable along the first and second tracks.

13. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bridge includes a cavity, and the inflatable device in an uninflated position is housed in the cavity.

14. The seat assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a second inflatable device and a knee restraint, the second inflatable device and the knee restraint being housed in the cavity.

15. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seat bottom extends from the first bolster to the second bolster.

16. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bridge includes a base and a lid having a first end rotatably attached to the base and a second end removably attached to the base.

17. The seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein during an inflation of the inflatable device, the lid is designed to rotate and stop at a predetermined location and the inflatable device in an inflated position abuts the lid at the predetermined location.

18. The seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a seat back supported by the seat bottom, wherein the bridge in the deployed position is spaced from the seat back.

19. The seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bridge is rigid relative to the inflatable device.

20. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

a second inflatable device supported by the bridge, the second inflatable device being inflatable toward the seat bottom.

21. A seat assembly comprising:

a first bolster and a second bolster spaced from each other;

a seat bottom between the first and second bolster;

a bridge deployable to a deployed position, the bridge in the deployed position being spaced from the seat bottom, the bridge in the deployed position being supported on the first and second bolsters and extending from the first bolster to the second bolster;

an inflatable device supported by the bridge; and

a knee restraint supported by the bridge, the knee restraint being deployable to a deployed position, the knee restraint in the deployed position being in front of the seat bottom.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2017
From: DRY, ALAN GEORGE; LINE, JOHNATHAN ANDREW; SPAHN, BRIAN ROBERT; YILMA, BENJAMIN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043891/0874 →
Cited By (3)
US 12,337,781 US 12,358,456 US 12,673,599