Seating arrangement for one user on a floor structure

Foldable side cushions with snap-through mechanisms address the challenge of providing lateral support and compact folding in vehicle seats by using elastic elements that automatically adjust to seat position changes.

DE102024124532B4Active Publication Date: 2026-05-28GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102024124532
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-07-08
Filing Date
2024-08-28
Publication Date
2026-05-28
Estimated Expiration
2044-08-28

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing vehicle seating arrangements face challenges in providing both lateral support during normal operation and compact folding when not in use, particularly in second- and third-row seats.

Method used

The integration of foldable side cushions with a snap-through mechanism, utilizing elastic elements that exhibit monostable, bistable, or pseudobistable behavior, allowing them to collapse under compressive force and automatically return to their original shape when the seat is folded or unfolded.

Benefits of technology

This design provides enhanced lateral support during vehicle use while enabling compact folding, improving seating flexibility and convenience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Seating arrangement (20, 320) for a user to sit on a floor structure (36), wherein the seating arrangement (20, 320) comprises: a seat base (28) designed to rest against the floor structure (36); a seat surface (26, 326) attached to the seat base (28) and designed to allow the user to sit on it; a seat backrest (24, 324) which is pivotably attached to the seat base (28) adjacent to the seat surface (26, 326); and a first and second side cushion (42, 44, 48, 50, 342) which are attached to the first and second side of the seat surface (26, 326) or the seat backrest (24, 324), characterized by the fact that the first and second side cushions (42, 44, 48, 50, 342) each include: a foam core (154, 254) that defines a cavity (162, 262); a padded covering (160) that covers the foam core (154, 254); and a cushion insert (156, 356) arranged between the upholstery cover (160) and the foam core (154, 254), wherein the cushion insert (156, 356) comprises a hollow elastic body (157) designed to fold from an unfolded state to a folded state under a compressive force when the seat back (24, 324) is pivoted against the seat surface (26, 326), and to snap back from the folded state to the unfolded state when the seat back (24, 324) is pivoted away from the seat surface (26, 326), wherein the hollow elastic body (157) has an open base firmly anchored to an inner frame structure (56, 58) of the seat surface (26, 326) or the seat back (24, 324).
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Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • vehicle seats WITH BLADDER

    DE102018104584A1

  • Pneumatically actuated seat cushion

    DE102018108225A1

  • Seating Group

    DE102020125696A1

  • Support surface

    US12114786B2

  • US000012114786B2