Vehicle seat assembly having a modular accessory system and method of making the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having an accessory system and method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a seat cushion and a seat back connected to the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat cushion. In this embodiment, the seat back comprises a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame. In this embodiment, an accessory support structure is secured to the seat frame between the seat frame and the trim cover and has spaced apart support members extending over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the seat back configured to selectively receive at least one vehicle occupant accessory assembly.

1 . A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
 a seat cushion;   a seat back having a top and a bottom, the seat back bottom being connected to the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat back comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame, the seat back having a front surface and an opposed rear surface; and   an accessory support structure secured to the seat frame between the seat frame and the trim cover, the support structure having spaced apart support members extending over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the seat back, the support members being configured to selectively receive at least one vehicle occupant accessory assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle occupant accessory assembly comprises a carrier having attachment members that cooperate with receiving members on the support members to selectively support the vehicle occupant accessory assembly on the support members. 
   
   
       3 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle occupant accessory assembly comprises a carrier having a structure cooperable with opposing structure on the accessory support structure to selectively support the carrier on the support structure, the accessory assembly further comprising a vehicle occupant accessory supportable on the carrier. 
   
   
       4 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the accessory support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of vehicle occupant accessories. 
   
   
       5 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 4  wherein the accessory support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of carriers, each carrier capable of supporting a different type of vehicle occupant accessory. 
   
   
       6 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the accessory support structure comprises a ring structure comprising the spaced apart support members and at least one transverse member extending between and connecting the support members. 
   
   
       7 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 3  wherein the support members have a first pair of spaced apart openings which the carrier is snap-fittable into and the carrier has a second pair of openings which the accessory is snap-fittable into. 
   
   
       8 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the ring structure supports at least three carriers. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting bracket secured to the frame, the accessory support structure being secured to the mounting bracket. 
   
   
       10 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the accessory support structure extends between 60 and 90 percent of the length of the seat back. 
   
   
       11 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the vehicle accessories comprises an entertainment system holder. 
   
   
       12 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the vehicle accessories comprises a stowable tray or active platform. 
   
   
       13 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the vehicle accessories comprises a bag holder. 
   
   
       14 . A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
 a seat cushion;   a seat back having a top and a bottom, the seat back bottom being connected to the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat back comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame;   an accessory support structure secured to the seat frame between the seat frame and the trim cover, the accessory support structure having spaced apart support members extending over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the seat back; and   at least one vehicle occupant accessory assembly supported on the accessory support structure, the accessory assembly comprising a carrier selectively supportable on the support members and at least one vehicle occupant accessory supportable on the carrier.   
   
   
       15 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 14  wherein the accessory support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of vehicle occupant accessories. 
   
   
       16 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 15  wherein the accessory support structure is capable of receiving a plurality of carriers, each carrier capable of receiving a different type of vehicle occupant accessory. 
   
   
       17 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 16  wherein the carriers comprises three separate carriers. 
   
   
       18 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 14  wherein the trim cover comprises at least in part a hard plastic structure extending along a rear of the seat assembly. 
   
   
       19 . A method of making a vehicle seat assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a seat cushion;   providing a seat back having a top and a bottom;   connecting the seat back bottom to the seat cushion such that the seat back is extendable in a generally upright position relative to the seat cushion, the seat back comprising a seat frame, a foam pad supported by the seat frame, and a trim cover extending about the pad and the seat frame, the seat back having a front surface and an opposed rear surface; and   supporting an accessory support structure on the frame between the cover and the frame such that the accessory support structure extends over at least 60 percent of the length or width of the seat back, with the support members being configured to selectively receive at least one vehicle occupant accessory.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the accessory comprises a carrier having attachment members that cooperates with receiving members on the support members to selectively support the vehicle occupant accessory on the support members.