Alignment tower structure for locating a side shield on a vehicle seat base

Abstract

Vehicle seat (14) comprising the following: a seat base (12); a side shield (10) coupled to the seat base (12) and defining an inward surface (16) and outward surface (18), and a fastening tower (20) extending from a central section (22) of the inward surface (16) to a fastening flange (24) of the seat base (12), wherein the side shield (10) conceals the mounting tower (20) and the mounting flange (24), and wherein the mounting tower (20) is integrally formed within the side shield (10) and defines a guide (26) for connecting the mounting tower (20) and the mounting flange (24), and the fastening flange (24) extends through a slot (28) formed within the fastening tower (20).

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to vehicle seats and in particular to a fastening element for aligning a side shield on a base of a vehicle seat. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] During the assembly of vehicle seats, various outer panels are positioned on the seat structure to conceal the frame components and other mechanical aspects of the vehicle seat. Installing these outer panels can be challenging, as it may obstruct sight lines to the various connection points of the outer seat panels. In some cases, these attachment points may be completely hidden from view.

[0003] Document US 2015 / 0307010A1 describes a vehicle seat with a frame and a shield attached to it, wherein the frame has a section with a hole into which the shield can be inserted.

[0004] In US patent 6,149,241 A, a vehicle seat is described with an upper rail attached to a vehicle cushion, and a lower rail slidably connected to the upper rail so that the cushion can slide. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat comprises a seat base, a side shield coupled to the seat base and defining inward and outward surfaces, and a mounting tower extending from a central section of the inward surface to a mounting flange of the seat base. The side shield conceals the mounting tower and the mounting flange, and the mounting tower defines a guide for connecting the mounting tower and the mounting flange.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat comprises a seat frame having an outwardly extending mounting flange and a mounting tower extending from an inward surface of a side shield to a receiving end having a wide opening defined at a first end and a slot defined at the second end. The receiving end has a tapered transition that narrows from the wide opening to the slot for receiving the mounting flange.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for attaching a side shield to a vehicle seat base comprises positioning a side shield near a base for a vehicle seat, the base having an outwardly extending mounting flange projecting from it. The side shield slidably engages along the base, the side shield concealing the mounting flange from view. The mounting flange engages a mounting tower of the side shield, the mounting tower extending integrally from a central section of an inward surface of the side shield, the mounting tower being positioned between the side shield and the base and concealed from view when the mounting tower is near the mounting flange. The mounting flange is guided into a slot defined within the mounting tower.The mounting tower has a receiving end and a wide opening defined at one end and a slot defined at the other. The receiving end has a tapered transition that narrows from the wide opening to the slot to guide the mounting flange into engagement within the slot. The tapered transition defines an unobstructed guide for defining a fastening between the receiving end and the outwardly extending mounting flange.

[0008] These and other aspects, tasks and features of the present invention will become understandable and obvious to a person skilled in the art upon reading the following description, claims and attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the drawings: is Fig. 1 A perspective side view of a passenger compartment of a vehicle illustrating a vehicle seat having a side screen in which the mounting tower is installed, is Fig. 2 a perspective top view of a section of a vehicle frame to which a side shield is attached, and wherein the mounting tower is used to engage the frame of the vehicle seat, is Fig. 3 a partially separated perspective side view of the vehicle seat frame of the Fig. 2, is Fig. 4 a perspective side view of the side shielding, which includes an aspect of the mounting tower for installation on the base of a vehicle seat, is Fig. 5 An enlarged perspective view of the fortification tower located within the side shield of the Fig. 4 is included, is Fig. 6 a perspective cross-sectional view of an aspect of the side shield engaging in a seat base with the mounting tower of the side shield engaging in the mounting flange of the seat base, is Fig. 7 a perspective side view of an aspect of the fortified tower, is Fig. 8 A perspective side view of the fortification tower of the Fig. 7, is Fig. 9 a cross-sectional view of the side shielding of the Fig. 6 along line IX-IX and illustrates one aspect of the fastening tower that engages in the fastening flange of the seat base, is Fig. 10 a cross-sectional view of the side shielding of the Fig. Figure 9, which illustrates how the fortification tower is guided onto the fortification flange, is Fig. 11 a cross-sectional view of the side shielding of the Fig. 10, which illustrates how the mounting tower is aligned with the mounting flange for installation, and is Fig. 12 a schematic flowchart to illustrate a procedure for attaching a side shield to a seat base for a vehicle seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0010] For the purposes of this description, “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof refer to the invention as described in Fig. 1 is oriented. However, it is understood that the invention can assume various alternative orientations unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, it is understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description are simply exemplary embodiments of the concepts according to the invention, which are defined in the accompanying claims. Therefore, specific dimensions and other physical properties relating to the present disclosed embodiments are not to be considered limiting unless expressly stated otherwise in the claims.

[0011] As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a side shield installed on a seat base 12 for a vehicle seat 14. The vehicle seat 14 may have a seat base 12 and a side shield 10 coupled to the seat base 12. The side shield 10 defines an inward and an outward surface 16, 18 thereof. A mounting turret 20 extends from a central section 22 of the inward surface 16 of the side shield 10 to a mounting flange 24 of the seat base 12. The side shield 10 conceals the mounting turret 20 and the mounting flange 24 such that the engagement of the mounting turret 20 with the mounting flange 24 is hidden from view during the installation of the side shield 10 on the seat base 12. The mounting tower 20 defines a guide 26 for connecting the mounting tower 20 to the mounting flange 24.In this way, the mounting tower 20 defines a concealed guide 26 which slidably positions the mounting flange 24 in a slot 28 defined within the mounting tower 20 for receiving the mounting flange 24.

[0012] With renewed reference to the Fig. 1 to 6, the mounting tower 20 can have a receiving end 40 with a wide opening 42 that defines a first end 44 of the receiving end 40. The slot 28 of the mounting tower 20 can be defined within the second end 46 of the receiving end 40. It is assumed that the receiving end 40 has a tapered transition 48 that narrows from the wide opening 42 to the slot 28. In this way, the wide opening 42 defines a large opening through which the mounting flange 24 can be passed. Consequently, precise positioning of the side shield 10 is not required during installation. The side shield 10 can be positioned in a range of positions 52, as long as the mounting flange 24 is positioned within the circumference 50 of the wide opening 42 of the receiving end 40.The wide opening 42 is significantly larger than the opening defined by the slot 28 in which the mounting flange 24 is subsequently installed and fastened. The side shield 10 can therefore be installed by placing it within a range of positions 52 near the mounting flange 24. In this way, the mounting flange 24 can be slid through the wide opening 42 and along the tapered transition 48 for subsequent installation in the slot 28 of the receiving end 40 for the mounting tower 20.

[0013] According to the various embodiments, the side shield 10 is designed to at least partially conceal, and in some cases completely conceal, both the mounting tower 20 and the mounting flange 24. The engagement between the mounting tower 20 and the mounting flange 24 is therefore hidden from view, and the installation of the side shield 10 is a "blind" installation. The receiving end 40 of the mounting tower 20, which has the tapered transition 48 with the wide end that merges into the narrower slot 28, provides a guide 26 for the installer to position the mounting tower 20 on the mounting flange 24. To assist in guiding the mounting flange 24 to the tapered transition 48, the receiving end 40 can have a plurality of structural ribs 60.These structural ribs 60 can extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 62 of the receiving end 40. The longitudinal axis 62 of the receiving end 40 extends through the wide opening 42 and the slot 28. This longitudinal axis 62 can be a generally parallel section of the outer surface 18 of the side shield 10 near the mounting tower 20. In this way, the mounting tower 20 can extend in a generally perpendicular orientation from the inner surface 16 of the side shield 10. While the mounting tower 20 generally extends perpendicularly from the inner surface 16 of the side shield 10, the longitudinal axis 62 of the receiving end 40 extends substantially parallel to the inner surface 16 of the side shield 10.It is also considered that the longitudinal axis 62 of the receiving end 40 can be positioned at an angle relative to the inward surface 16 of the side shield 10, the side shield 10 being able to have various surfaces that define the external appearance of the side shield 10 as shown in the outward surface 18 of the side shield 10.

[0014] With reference to the Fig. In sections 4 to 6, it is considered that the mounting tower 20 can be an integrally formed element, designed, shaped, or otherwise created as part of the side shield 10. Typically, the mounting tower 20 is formed as part of a side shield 10 when the side shield 10 is free of various automatic seat controls 120 used to operate mechanical sections of a vehicle seat 14. During manufacturing, a standard seat base 12 can be used for various models of a particular vehicle 70. This seat base 12 can be equipped with various mechanical features for controlling the various positions of the seat base 12, the lumbar support, and other sections of the vehicle seat 14. Typically, these automatic seat control devices 120 are positioned in the side shield 10 and engage with the seat base 12.Various structures near these control devices 120 generally provide structural support between the seat base 12 and the side shield 10. If these control devices 120 are not present in a particular vehicle seat 14 for a vehicle model, the side shield 10 is formed as a continuous element without openings, since no control devices 120 need to be fitted into the side shield 10. In addition, these side control devices 120 typically have certain structural features that extend between the side shield 10 and the seat base 12 to support the central section 22 of the vehicle side shield 10.

[0015] According to the various embodiments, as in the Fig. As illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, the installation of the integrally formed mounting tower 20 within the central section 22 of the side shield 10 provides structural support between the side shield 10 and the seat base 12 in the absence of any automatic seat control devices 120 and structural mechanisms attached to it. The integrally formed mounting tower 20 provides a structural mechanism that extends into a cavity 80 defined between the seat base 12 and the side shield 10 for the engagement of the mounting tower 20 with the mounting flange 24, which provides structural support between the side shield 10 and the seat base 12.The integral design of the mounting tower 20 serves to prevent the formation of sink marks or other stress-related features that can be observed in other conventional structural elements arranged between a conventional shield and a conventional base. The use of the mounting tower 20, which is integrally formed within the side shield 10 as disclosed herein, maintains a predetermined gap 82 defined between the inward surface 16 of the side shield 10 and the seat base 12 or seat frame 92 of the vehicle seat 14.

[0016] With reference to the Fig. According to the various embodiments, as described in Figures 1 to 11, the vehicle seat 14 can be arranged within a passenger compartment 90 of a vehicle 70, wherein the vehicle seat 14 has a seat frame 92 having an outwardly extending mounting flange that can correspond to the mounting flange 24 of the seat base 12. The mounting tower 20 extends from the inward surface 16 of the side shield 10 to a receiving end 40 of the mounting tower 20. The receiving end 40 has a wide opening 42 defining a first end 44 and a slot 28 defining a second end 46, wherein the receiving end 40 has a tapered transition 48 that narrows from the wide opening 42 to the slot 28 receiving the mounting flange.When the outwardly extending flange or mounting flange 24 is installed within the receiving end 40 of the mounting tower 20, the mounting flange 24 extends through both the wide opening 42 and the slot 28. In various embodiments, the mounting flange 24 may have an engagement tab 100 extending substantially perpendicular to the mounting flange 24. The engagement tab 100 serves to pre-tension a section of the receiving end 40 near the slot 28 outward to allow the engagement tab 100 to pass through. Once the engagement tab 100 is guided through the slot 28, a section of the receiving end 40 springs back to its initial position, and the engagement tab 100 essentially prevents movement of the mounting flange 24 back through the slot 28, thus preventing the mounting flange 24 from disengaging from the mounting tower 20.

[0017] With renewed reference to the Fig. 2 to 4, during the installation of the side shield 10 on the seat base 12, the side shield 10 slidably engages a section of the seat base 12. In addition to the engagement between the mounting tower 20 and the mounting flange 24, various other connection features 110, defined within the side shield 10, slidably engage sections of the seat base 12. In this way, the engagement between the mounting flange 24 and the mounting tower 20 assists in aligning the side shield 10 with the seat base 12, in connecting the mounting flange 24 to the mounting tower 20, and also in assisting in the engagement between the other connection sections of the side shield 10 in the seat base 12.

[0018] With reference to the Fig. In sections 1 to 12, following the description of various aspects of the mounting tower 20 of the side shield 10, a method 400 for attaching a side shield 10 to a seat base 12 for a vehicle seat 14 is disclosed. Method 400 includes a step 402 for positioning the side shield 10 near a seat base 12 for a vehicle seat 14. The seat base 12 has an outwardly extending flange, such as the mounting flange 24, projecting from it. The side shield 10 engages slidably along the seat base 12 (step 404). In this way, the side shield 10 conceals both the mounting tower 20 and the mounting flange 24 from view, so that the engagement between the side shield 10 and the seat base 12 is a "blind" process, hidden from the view of the installer.During installation, the mounting flange 24 engages the mounting tower 20 on the side shield 10 (step 406). The mounting tower 20 extends from a central section 22 of the inward surface 16 of the side shield 10 and the seat base 12, which is defined between them. In this way, the mounting tower 20 and the mounting flange 24 are concealed from view when the mounting tower 20 is near the mounting flange 24. During installation, the mounting flange 24 is guided into a slot 28 defined within the mounting tower 20 (step 408). The mounting tower 20 has a receiving end 40 with a wide opening 42 defined at a first end 44 and a slot 28 defined at the second end 46.During installation, the wide opening 42 of the mounting tower 20 can slide over the mounting flange 24 such that the mounting flange 24 enters the tapered position of the receiving end 40 (step 410). The mounting flange 24 is then pushed through the tapered transition 48 and into engagement with the slot 28 to secure the mounting flange 24 within the slot 28 and the mounting tower 20 (step 412). In this way, the receiving end 40 and the tapered transition 48 defined therein define an unobstructed guide 26 for defining the fastening between the receiving end 40 and the outwardly extending flange or mounting flange 24 of the seat base 12.

[0019] According to the various embodiments, as in the Fig.As illustrated by figures 1 to 12, the mounting flange 24 can be made of various rigid materials, which, without limitation, may include metals, alloys, composites, polymers, combinations thereof, and other similar rigid materials that provide a structural feature to which the mounting tower 20 can be connected. It is also considered that the side shield 10 is made of an essentially malleable material, which, without limitation, may include plastics, various polymers, composites, malleable metals, combinations thereof, or other similar materials that can be used to form an outer panel, such as a side shield 10 for a vehicle seat 14.

[0020] According to the various embodiments, the installation of the mounting tower 20 within the side shield 10 can also include other interior panels of the vehicle 70. Such panels may, but are not limited to, other shielding panels of the vehicle seat 14, interior passenger compartment panels, instrument panel panels, console panels, and other similar interior panel cladding positioned within or near the passenger compartment of the vehicle 70.

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat (14) comprising the following: a seat base (12); a side shield (10) coupled to the seat base (12) and defining an inward surface (16) and outward surface (18), and a fastening tower (20) extending from a central section (22) of the inward surface (16) to a fastening flange (24) of the seat base (12), wherein the side shield (10) conceals the mounting tower (20) and the mounting flange (24), and wherein the mounting tower (20) is integrally formed within the side shield (10) and defines a guide (26) for connecting the mounting tower (20) and the mounting flange (24), and the fastening flange (24) extends through a slot (28) formed within the fastening tower (20). [2] Vehicle seat (14) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting tower (20) defines a slot (28) for receiving the mounting flange (24). [3] Vehicle seat (14) according to claim 2, wherein the guide (26) defined by the mounting tower (20) is a sightless guide (26) which positions the mounting flange (24) slidably in the slot (28) defined within the mounting tower (20). [4] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting tower (20) is integrally formed as part of the side shield (10). [5] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the seat base (12) and the side shield (10) define a cavity (80) between each other, wherein the mounting tower (20) and the mounting flange (24) engage in the cavity (80). [6] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the side shield (10) is free of automatic seat control devices (120). [7] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the mounting tower (20) has a receiving end (40) having a wide opening (42) defined at a first end (44) and the slot (28) defined at the second end (46), wherein the receiving end (40) has a tapered transition (48) that becomes narrower from the wide opening (42) to the slot (28). [8] Vehicle seat (14) according to claim 7, wherein the receiving end (40) defines a longitudinal axis (62) extending through the wide opening (42) and the slot (28), wherein the longitudinal axis (62) is parallel to a section of the outer surface (18) of the side shield (10) near the mounting tower (20). [9] Vehicle seat (14) comprising the following: a seat frame (92) having an outwardly extending mounting flange (24), and a mounting tower (20) extending from an inward surface (16) of a side shield (10) to a receiving end (40) having a wide opening (42) defined at a first end (44) and a slot (28) defined at the second end (46), wherein the receiving end (40) has a tapered transition (48) that becomes narrower from the wide opening (42) to the slot (28) for receiving the mounting flange (24). [10] Vehicle seat (14) according to claim 9, wherein the outwardly extending mounting flange (24) extends both through the wide opening and through the slot. [11] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the mounting tower (20) is integrally formed as part of the side shield (10). [12] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the tapered transition (48) has a sightless guide (26) for defining a fastening between the receiving end (40) and the outwardly extending fastening flange (24). [13] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the side shield (10) is free of a seat control interface. [14] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the tapered transition (48) is defined at least partially by reinforcing ribs extending to the slot (28). [15] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the mounting tower (20) extends perpendicularly from a central section (22) of the inward surface (16) of the side shield (10). [16] Vehicle seat (14) according to one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the engagement between the outwardly extending mounting flange (24) and the receiving end (40) maintains a predetermined gap (82) defined between the inward surface (16) of the side shield (10) and the seat frame (92). [17] Method for attaching a side shield (10) to a vehicle seat (14) of a vehicle (70), the method comprising the following steps: Positioning a side shield (10) near a seat base (12), wherein the seat base (12) has an outwardly extending mounting flange (24) projecting from it, sliding engagement of the side shield (10) along the seat base (12), wherein the side shield (10) conceals the mounting flange (24) from view, The fastening flange (24) engages in a fastening tower (20) of the side shield (10), the fastening tower (20) extending integrally from a central section (22) of an inward surface (16) of the side shield (10), the fastening tower (20) being located between the side shield (10) and the seat base (12) is positioned and hidden from view when the mounting tower (20) is near the mounting flange (24), and guiding the fastening flange (24) into a slot (28) defined within the fastening tower (20), the fastening tower (20) having a receiving end (40) having a wide opening (42) defined at a first end (44) and the slot (28) defined at the second end (46), wherein the receiving end (40) has a tapered transition (48) which becomes narrower from the wide opening (42) to the slot (28) in order to guide the mounting flange (24) into engagement within the slot (28), wherein the tapered transition (48) defines an unobstructed guide (26) for defining a fastening between the receiving end (40) and the outwardly extending mounting flange (24). [18] Method according to claim 17, wherein the engagement between the outwardly extending mounting flange (24) and the receiving end (40) maintains a predetermined gap (82) defined between the inward surface (16) of the side shield (10) and the seat base (12). [19] Method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the step of engaging the fastening flange (24) in the fastening tower (20) comprises: Sliding of the wide opening (42) over the mounting flange (24) and into the tapered transition (48), and Sliding of the mounting flange (24) through the tapered transition (48) and into the slot (28). [20] Method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the side shield (10) is free of automatic seat control devices.

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