US 5,013,089 · Granted 1991-05-07
The Patent That Made Car Seats Thinner and Bouncier
Imagine a seat cushion where the stretchy mesh that holds you up and the fabric you sit on are actually woven together as one piece. That's what this patent does—it combines the springy support system and the decorative cover into a single thin layer, saving weight and space in your car.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle seat assembly where elastomeric (stretchy) filaments and fabric yarn are knitted together into one integrated material, then stretched over a seat frame. What's protected is the specific method and structure of combining the suspension system and trim cover into this unified, low-profile component rather than building them as separate layers.
Why it matters
This patent matters because it solved a real manufacturing problem for automakers like General Motors: how to build comfortable, durable car seats that take up less space and weigh less than traditional multi-layer designs. By eliminating the need for separate suspension and cover layers, the design simplifies production and reduces material costs while maintaining comfort and appearance.
Real-world use
Every time you sit in a car from the 1990s onward and notice how the seat cushion feels bouncy yet smooth to the touch, you're likely experiencing a seat built on principles similar to this integrated knit design.
Original USPTO abstract
A vehicle seat assembly has a seat frame, and an integrated elastomeric filament suspension and fabric cover in which the elastomeric filaments and yarn for the fabric are knitted together and stretched over the frame to provide a low profile finished seat or back rest which functions both as a suspension and as an aesthetic trim cover.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,013,089
- Filing date
- 1990-08-15
- Grant date
- 1991-05-07
- Assignee
- General Motors Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- ABU-ISA; ISMAT A., MORAN; SUSAN C., ROY; MICHAEL A.
- CPC class
- D04B1/18
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