US 7,478,869 · Granted 2009-01-20
The Hidden Foam Pad That Makes Car Seats Actually Comfortable
This patent covers a specially designed insert that sits inside your car seat to make it more comfortable, supportive, or durable. Think of it as an upgrade layer that car makers can add to their seating systems to improve how the seat feels and performs over time.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers the specific design and construction of an insert component that fits within an automotive vehicle's seat structure. What's protected here is the insert itself—its materials, shape, and how it integrates with the surrounding seat system. Someone making an unauthorized copy would be reproducing this insert design or a substantially similar version for use in car seating applications.
Why it matters
Car seat comfort and durability are major competitive advantages for automakers and tier-one suppliers. A patented insert design gives the assignee, W.E.T. Automotive Systems, exclusive rights to supply or license this particular seating solution to vehicle manufacturers. This kind of patent protects engineering innovations in the auto supply chain that consumers rarely see but experience every time they sit down.
Real-world use
Every time you sink into the driver's seat of a modern car and feel that supportive cushioning underneath you, you may be sitting on an insert design like this one working silently to keep the seat comfortable and intact.
Original USPTO abstract
There is disclosed an insert suitable for use within a seating system of an automotive vehicle.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 7,478,869
- Filing date
- 2006-08-16
- Grant date
- 2009-01-20
- Assignee
- W.E.T. Automotive Systems, Ag
- Inventor(s)
- LAZANJA MARINKO, BAJIC GORAN, MARLOVITS ED, AXAKOV DMITRI
- CPC class
- B60N2/5635
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