Vehicle seat cushion assembly

A vehicle seat cushion assembly for providing additional comfort and support while facilitating air flow around and through the seat cushion assembly includes upper and lower sections pivotally coupled to each other for facilitating storage. The upper and lower sections are each formed by coupling two layers of grid-like material to each other in generally parallel spaced relationship to permit air to flow freely through the invention during use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to seat covers and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle seat cushion assembly for providing additional comfort and support while facilitating air flow around and through the seat cushion assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of seat covers is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,511 issued to Seltzer wt al. on Sep. 15, 1987 describes a seat cover having an enveloping back portion attached by a seam to a seat portion that drapes over a vehicle seat and is attached by straps. Another type of seat cover is U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,886 issued to Harattini et al. on Sep. 25, 1990 discloses an enveloping seat cover having a single opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,252 issued to Wallach on Aug. 10, 1993 discloses a bucket seat cover having an enveloping back portion covering a backrest portion of the bucket seat.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a seat cover that provides support and improved ventilation between the user and the seat to which the invention is attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises upper and lower sections pivotally coupled to each other for facilitating storage. The upper and lower sections are each formed by coupling two layers of grid-like material to each other in generally parallel spaced relationship to permit air to flow freely through the invention during use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new vehicle seat cushion assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the vehicle seat cushion assembly10is designed for use with a seat2of a vehicle4in which the seat2has a base portion6and a back portion8. The vehicle seat cushion assembly10generally comprises a main member12having an upper section14and a lower section16. The upper and lower sections14,16are pivotable with respect to each other using spaced hinge members18. The upper and lower sections14,16are arranged such that the main member12is designed for positioning the lower section14over the base portion6of the vehicle seat2and positioning the upper section16adjacent to the back portion8of the vehicle seat2. The lower section14is formed by a pair of spaced lower section panels20,22for permitting ventilation between the spaced lower section panels20,22. Similarly, the upper section16is formed by a pair of spaced upper section panels24,26for permitting ventilation between the spaced upper section panels24,26.

A topmost one of the pair of lower section panels20has a plurality of topmost lower section panel openings30for facilitating ventilation through the topmost lower section panel20. Preferably, a lowermost one of the pair of lower section panels22has a plurality of lowermost lower section panel openings32for facilitating ventilation through the lowermost lower section panel22.

Similarly for the upper section16, a topmost one of the pair of upper section panels24has a plurality of topmost upper section panel openings34for facilitating ventilation through the topmost upper section panel24. The lowermost one of the pair of upper section panels26has a plurality of lowermost upper section panel openings36for facilitating ventilation through the lowermost one upper section panel26.

In an embodiment, the plurality of topmost lower section panel openings30are arranged to form zones of similarly configured openings defining a lower section medial portion40and a lower section perimeter portion42. The lowermost lower section panel openings32may be similarly configured and positioned in alignment with the topmost lower section panel openings30.

The plurality of topmost upper section panel openings34are arranged to form zones of similarly configured openings defining an upper back portion44, a lower back portion46, and an upper section perimeter portion48. The topmost upper section panel openings34forming the lower back portion46are smaller than the topmost upper section panel openings34forming the upper back portion44and the upper section perimeter portion48. Thus, the lower back portion46is designed for providing enhanced comparative stiffness and support to a user's back when the user leans back against the upper section16.

The topmost upper section panel openings34forming the upper back portion44are larger than the topmost upper section panel openings34forming the upper section perimeter portion48for facilitating airflow through the upper back portion44. The difference in opening size also provides comparative stiffness and lateral support by the upper section perimeter portion48.

The topmost lower section panel openings30forming the lower section medial portion40are larger than the topmost lower section panel openings30forming the lower section perimeter portion42for facilitating airflow through the lower section medial portion40. The difference in opening size also provides comparative stiffness and lateral support by the lower section perimeter portion42.

The lower section panels20,22are detachably coupled to each other by complimentary lower section snap portions50extending from the lower section panels20,22. The lower section snap portions50are configured such that the lower section panels20,22are held in spaced relationship to each other by the snap portions50when the complimentary lower section snap portions50are joined together to couple the lower section panels20,22together.

The upper section panels24,26are detachably coupled to each other by complimentary upper section snap portions52extending from the upper section panels24,26. The upper section snap portions52are configured such that the upper section panels24,26are held in spaced relationship to each other by the snap portions52when the complimentary upper section snap portions52are joined together to couple the upper section panels24,26together.

In use, the main member is positioned as described above to cover the base portion and back portion of a vehicle seat. The main member is then sat upon during use of the vehicle. The unit is easily folded and removed from a vehicle so that it may be used by drivers of mass transportation who may be subject to frequent use of a number of different vehicles. A storage bag may be provided to facilitate storage and transport of the folded main member.