System comprising a cover fastened to a support by means of self-gripping elements

• US 20020043833A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Michot, Nicolas, Yam, Sothy, Houivet, Helene
• Granted Patent: US 6,561,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/218.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5833 by hook-and-loop type fasteners

Abstract

System comprising a cover comprising two adjacent parts joined by a seam and forming a seam flap. The seam comprises first and second threads joined to the two respective faces of the seam flap and forming alternating loops which interlock at the free edge of the seam flap. The loops of the two threads form a mesh in which the seam flap is held tightly and without slack, the loops of the first thread being shorter than the loops of the second thread and forcing the seam flap to fold over towards its first face. The loops of the second thread hook onto hook devices belonging to a self-gripping element.

Claims

1. System comprising:

a support,

a flexible cover that covers the support and comprises at least two adjacent parts joined to each other by a seam along a join line, forming a seam flap comprising two margins that belong to the two respective cover parts and that are folded over towards the support from the said join line, the seam flap extending from the said join line to a free edge and the said seam flap having a first face and a second face that belong to the two respective margins, the said seam passing round the seam flap and enclosing the free edge of the said seam flap from the join line,

and, fastened to the support, at least one self-gripping element that comprises hook devices that hook into the said seam,

wherein the seam comprises at least a first thread and a second thread joined to the first and second faces, respectively, of the seam flap along the said join line, these first and second threads forming loops that alternate between the faces of the seam flap, each loop of the first thread passing through two adjacent loops of the second thread and each loop of the second thread passing through two adjacent loops of the first thread in the vicinity of the free edge of the seam flap in such a way that the said loops of the first and second threads form a mesh in which the seam flap is held tightly and without slack, the loops of the first thread being sewn with greater tension than the loops of the second thread in such a way as to force the seam flap to fold over towards its first face, and the loops of the second thread hooking onto the hook devices of the self-gripping element.

2. System according to claim 1, in which the join line comprises parallel third and fourth threads.

3. System according to claim 1, in which the second thread is a textured multifilament thread, while the other threads of the seam are of a different type.

4. System according to claim 3, in which the threads forming the seam have a count of between 80 and 280 Tex.

5. System according to claim 1, in which the seam is produced on the basis of stitch No. 512 of standard ISO 4915.

6. System according to claim 1, forming a seat part, while the support forms padding.

7. System according to claim 1, in which each hook device of the self-gripping element is essentially shaped like a mushroom comprising a stem that rises from the support towards the seam and that ends in an enlarged head forming several lobes separated angularly from each other by recessed areas, the lobes of the enlarged head projecting out towards the support compared with the recessed areas of the said head, and each lobe having a convex face directed away from the support, in such a way that the said lobe forms a hook.

8. System according to claim 7, in which the hook devices extend in different directions away from the support.

9. System according to claim 8, in which the hook devices are arranged in pairs of adjacent hook devices on the support, the two hook devices of each pair diverging away from each other and from the support.

10. System according to claim 9, in which most of the hook devices extend in two distinct main directions.

11. System according to claim 7, in which the stem of each hook device is more flexible than the head of the said hook device.

12. System according to claim 7, in which most of the heads of the hook devices comprise four lobes each.

13. System according to claim 1, in which the seam flap is between 7 and 10 mm wide.