Seat comprising suspension fabric with compression limiters
A suspended fabric seat includes a frame, a woven fabric suspended in the frame and a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric. The woven fabric is formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction and are formed from a material compatible with the woven fabric. A method for making the suspended fabric seat is also disclosed.
1. A seat, comprising:
a frame;
a woven fabric suspended in the frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric, wherein the plurality of compression limiters are formed from a foam material.
2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are formed from a material compatible with one or both of the monofilament and textile fibers.
3. The seat of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction.
4. The seat of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are mounted on a surface of the woven fabric opposite to an occupant side of the woven fabric.
5. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are bonded to the woven fabric to conform with the woven fabric when the woven fabric is distorted.
6. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric forms a seat bottom.
7. The seat of claim 1 further including a carrier positioned on a periphery of the woven fabric, and wherein the carrier is secured in the frame.
8. The seat of claim 7 , wherein the carrier is overmolded onto the woven fabric.
9. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a flexible region configured to permit the frame to flex when under load.
10. The seat of claim 9 , wherein the flexible region includes a series of slits in the frame.
11. The seat of claim 9 further including a flexible leg member extending from an edge of the frame opposite the woven fabric.
12. The seat of claim 11 further including a resilient member extending from the woven fabric along the flexible leg member.
13. The seat of claim 12 , wherein the resilient member is a foam member.
14. The seat of claim 13 , wherein the woven fabric extends over the foam member.
15. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the compression limiters, when subject to an occupant load, are in compression along a surface at which the compression limiters are mounted to the woven fabric.
16. A method of making a seat, comprising:
positioning a woven fabric in a frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
securing a plurality of compression limiters to the woven fabric by melting the monofilament fibers and the plurality of compression limiters to create a bond therebetween.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are bonded to the woven fabric.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are oriented in the first direction.
19. The method of claim 16 further including overmolding a carrier onto the woven fabric and securing the carrier to the frame.
20. A seat, comprising:
a frame;
a woven fabric suspended in the frame, the woven fabric formed from monofilament fibers that are oriented in a first direction and textile fibers oriented in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
a plurality of compression limiters attached to the woven fabric, wherein the plurality of compression limiters are mounted on a surface of the woven fabric opposite to an occupant side of the woven fabric.