Unique Fold-Flat Product Stows Away with Ease and Increases Comfort, Cargo
Space, and Utility
DETROIT, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to innovation in automotive
seating, interior supplier Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is at the forefront.
Reflecting the company's commitment to innovation, Johnson Controls is
introducing its Open Seating(TM) product this week at the 2004 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit. It's being displayed at the company's
product and technology exhibit in room D2-15 of Cobo Center.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO )
The Open Seating complete seat system brings real innovation and a new
level of comfort and utility to the second- and third-row seats of cars,
trucks and minivans. When deployed, the product offers the comfort and styling
of industry-leading front-row seats for rear compartments of vehicles. When
stowed away, it has a much smaller footprint, enhancing a vehicle's cargo
capacity.
This first-of-its-kind seating product features side bolsters that provide
comfort similar to the front row when the seat is deployed, and fold
completely flat when the seat is stowed. Open Seating deploys or stows away
with ease in one fluid motion to create a true zero-degree, fold-flat load
floor, opening up "best-in-class" cargo room. When stowed, the seat is just
135 millimeters thick. It dramatically can increase second- and third-row
cargo space in sport-utility trucks, crossover vehicles, minivans and pickup
trucks. The product is available for integration into 2007 model-year
vehicles.
One of the keys to the Open Seating product is the WingBack(TM) contour
presentation technology, which enables the seat to provide contour and lateral
support when the seat is deployed. The technology delivers a seat that is
comfortable, thin and well-styled. Traditionally, it has been difficult to
deliver a true, fold-flat seat without compromised comfort and design, and
Open Seating enables this. It provides an improved distribution of back
pressure for enhanced comfort, as well as increased lateral support comparable
to front-row bucket seats. The technology can be included on all vehicle
segments, and all rows with folding seat backs. It also enables a vehicle's
styling theme and trim outline to be carried from the front row to the second-
and third-row areas.
"We're very excited about our Open Seating product, which is unique for a
folding or stowable seat and a first for the industry," said John Gorton, vice
president and general manager, product and business development for the
Automotive Group of Johnson Controls. "Consumers want more versatility and
functionality from the rear areas of their vehicle cabins, and this product
provides such traits in a very innovative way."
Consumers no longer need to remove third-row seats to gain additional
cargo capacity. Instead of removing the seats, they can be folded flat. And
Open Seating is designed to be user-friendly, because it can be operated
easily from either a vehicle's second-row or tailgate areas.
For automakers, the Open Seating product is simple to integrate into a
vehicle body. No body-in-white changes are required, aside from mounting
locations and belt attachment.
The WingBack technology was jointly developed by Johnson Controls and
Schukra/Leggett & Platt, a leading lumbar and seating comfort technology firm
based in Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-
residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and
services, including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls
(NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(U.S.A.).
SOURCE Johnson Controls
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com
http://www.naias.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030423/JCILOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html
CONTACT:
Debra Lacey of Johnson Controls,
+1-734-254-5735
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Johnson Controls' Open Seating product
are available from Heidi Parent at (734) 254-6220. For access to
other Johnson Controls news releases and additional company
information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web at
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com .
|
