Method of manufacturing a seat back and cushion assembly

• US 10,604,045 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Marques, Jose, Navarro, Nathalie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ference, James M
• Application Number:
  US15/971,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20180334066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7017 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/02 Making upholstery from waddings, fleeces, mats, or the like filling methods B68G7/06
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/052 with webs secured to the core, e.g. by stitching

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat cushion assembly includes providing a perforated outer material to define an outer seating surface. A backing material is sewn to the outer material using a first sewing line against which a wadding material is placed in a central region of the cushion. The wadding material is further secured by a hook and loop fastening product to the backing material. To secure the wadding material, a second sewing line is run. Left and right wadding materials are placed between the sewing lines and the edges of the cushion. Additional sewing lines laterally cross the longitudinal sewing lines to imbue the cushion with a wrist watch-like appearance.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a seat cushion for a vehicle seat assembly, the seat cushion having side edges and top and bottom edges, the method comprising:

providing an outer material to define a surface that faces a seat occupant;

affixing a backing material to the outer material using a linear first longitudinally oriented sewing line;

securing one or more fastening products to the backing material;

placing a first wadding material adjacent to the linear first longitudinally oriented sewing line in a centrally located region of the backing material so that the first wadding material is secured to the backing material;

affixing the backing material to the outer material using a linear second longitudinally oriented sewing line so that the first wadding material is secured by a fastening product of the one or more fastening products between the linear first and second longitudinally oriented sewing lines, the first and second linear longitudinally oriented sewing lines defining therebetween a central region;

making a tiered sewing line confined to the central region between the linear first and second longitudinally oriented sewing lines, the tiered sewing line running at least partially between the top and bottom edges;

disposing a second wadding material between the outer and backing materials and between the linear first longitudinally oriented sewing line and an edge of the seat cushion;

disposing a third wadding material between the outer and backing materials and between the linear longitudinally oriented second sewing line and an opposite edge of the seat cushion;

sewing along the side, top and bottom edges of the seat cushion to further secure the first and second wadding materials;

making a plurality of laterally oriented sewing lines running at least partially from the side edges of the seat back cushion; and

sewing the outer and backing materials together using additional sewing lines respectively disposed proximate the top and bottom edges of the seat cushion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the laterally oriented sewing lines in the central region are generally perpendicular to the first and second longitudinally oriented sewing lines.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more fastening products includes a hook and a loop layer, further including adhering a loop layer of the one or more fastening products to the backing material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer material includes a perforated leather and the backing material includes a woven tulle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer and backing materials have generally curved longitudinal perimeters with a curved top and generally straight bottom edge that are joined by rounded corners.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third wadding materials include a foam having constituents selected from the group consisting of a urethane material, a bio-based material, hacoflex and mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third wadding materials include foam that is reticulated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tiered sewing lines include a lateral segment and a longitudinal segment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the lateral segment has a left end and a right end, and the longitudinal segment has a top end and a bottom end.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the right end of a lateral segment is connected to the top end of a longitudinal segment and the bottom end of a longitudinal segment is connected to a right end of a next segment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laterally oriented sewing lines includes a left stitch segment that runs at least partially across a left portion of the outer material, a middle segment that runs at least partially across the central region of the outer material and a right stitch segment that runs at least partially across a right portion of the outer material.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the left and right stitch segments are inclined in relation to the middle segment.

13. The method of claim 1, further including a step of applying a glazing on an underside of the outer material.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the securing of the one or more fastening products to the backing material includes adding a strip or loop of Velcro®

to a reverse side of the backing material to secure the first wadding material to the backing material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the Velcro®

has a hook side that is affixed to the first wadding material and a loop side that is affixed to a B face of the outer material to permit the outer material to be shaped.