Chairs and seats – Bottom or back – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-07
2004-02-10
White, Rodney B. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back
Framework
C297S452650, C297S378120, C297S378130, C297S483000, C297S233000, C297S232000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06688700
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an improved seating system, and more particularly to an improved system for automotive vehicle seating.
BACKGROUND
There is an ever-growing need for improved seating systems in automotive vehicles. The surge in popularity of hatchbacks, sport utility vehicles and minivans, has posed unique design challenges, in view of the need for seating to be adjustable and in many instances to restrain cargo carried toward the rear of the vehicle. In light of the increased consumer usage of these vehicles for stowage and transport of cargo along with passengers (particularly passengers in rear seats), manufacturers have turned their attention to improving the ability of the seating systems to withstand large loads.
One approach has been to develop improved systems for transmitting loads to the seat tracks of vehicle seating assemblies. A growing number of applications, however, employ attachment of seating components directly to the vehicle body in white for load distribution to the body in white. For the improved seat track technology to be viable in the latter applications, it would require substantial modification, which is believed would unduly complicate the manufacturing procedures, require the development of expensive new processing techniques, or add substantial weight to the vehicles. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved, readily manufactured seating system that is capable of meeting vehicle manufacturer design criteria and government standards for vehicles, and which can be efficiently and conveniently adapted for use in a variety of applications including those involving seat track load distribution, body in white load distribution or both.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The needs in the art are met by the automotive vehicle seating system of the present invention, which includes a molded plastic seat back having a first wall portion, an opposing second wall portion and one or more reinforcement structures disposed therebetween. An assembly is provided for receiving the seat. Advantageously, the seating system upon rapid acceleration up to about 20 to about 30 g, no fragmentation of the seat back with at least a 36 kg mass placed behind the seat back. The system is easy to manufacture and will not add substantial weight to the vehicle as compared with other commercial seating systems.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3171691 (1965-03-01), Buehrig
patent: 3638997 (1972-02-01), Shaprio et al.
patent: 3669496 (1972-06-01), Chisholm
patent: 3712614 (1973-01-01), Sherman et al.
patent: 4065182 (1977-12-01), Braniff et al.
patent: 4088367 (1978-05-01), Atkinson et al.
patent: 4133579 (1979-01-01), Springfield
patent: 4142757 (1979-03-01), Fogle, Jr. et al.
patent: 4246734 (1981-01-01), Fogle, Jr. et al.
patent: 4350390 (1982-09-01), Ogawa
patent: 4478899 (1984-10-01), Mayumi et al.
patent: 4711493 (1987-12-01), Schrom et al.
patent: 4986600 (1991-01-01), Leblanc et al.
patent: 5029942 (1991-07-01), Rink
patent: 5100204 (1992-03-01), Makihara et al.
patent: 5133588 (1992-07-01), Hutchinson et al.
patent: 5224756 (1993-07-01), Dukatz et al.
patent: 5253924 (1993-10-01), Glance
patent: 5280995 (1994-01-01), Elton
patent: 5282667 (1994-02-01), Elton et al.
patent: 5540479 (1996-07-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 5575533 (1996-11-01), Glance
patent: 5597205 (1997-01-01), Glance et al.
patent: 5601334 (1997-02-01), Marks
patent: 5603550 (1997-02-01), Holdampf et al.
patent: 5700054 (1997-12-01), Lang
patent: 5704685 (1998-01-01), Handa et al.
patent: 5713634 (1998-02-01), Koike
patent: 5722732 (1998-03-01), Haldenwanger
patent: 5743593 (1998-04-01), Vogt
patent: 5895096 (1999-04-01), Massara
patent: 5951110 (1999-09-01), Conner et al.
patent: 6079781 (2000-06-01), Tilley
patent: 6168239 (2001-01-01), Conner et al.
patent: 6250680 (2001-06-01), Moker
patent: 6328386 (2001-12-01), Good
patent: 6491346 (2002-12-01), Gupta et al.
patent: 6536844 (2003-03-01), Huse
patent: 4208150 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 2 420 424 (1979-10-01), None
“The Scene”, GE Plastics, Issue 9, Summer 2000.
International Search Report dated Oct. 29, 2001.
Nuss, Rudolf; and Litjens, Frank, “Design and Developement of a New Rear Seat Back Made From Glass Mat Thermoplastic Materials,” GE Plastics, p. 1-12.
Gupta Vikas
Heckert Mick F.
Korchnak Gregory J.
Kurtycz Eric R.
Palmieri Jane M.
Dobrusin & Thennisch PC
Dow Global Technologies Inc.
White Rodney B.
LandOfFree
Seating system and method for making the same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Seating system and method for making the same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Seating system and method for making the same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3302237