Attachment device
First Claim
1. An attachment device comprising a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes, each female attachment portion comprising a receptacle portion and a base portion connected to the connecting portion, the base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one of its aspects, the present invention relates to an attachment device which comprises a series of attachment portions. The attachment portions are interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, preferably a flexible connecting portion. The attachment device is flexible in at least two independent planes. In most cases, the present attachment device will be flexible in more than two independent planes. A preferred manner by which such flexibility is conferred to the attachment device is by the provision of a trim cover attachment portion having a female attachment portion attached to a base portion. The base portion has a larger surface area than the surface area of the female attachment portion adjacent or attached thereto. The lateral dimension of the base portion is greater than the lateral dimension of the at least one connecting portion. A process of producing a resilient device (e.g., a foam element for use in a vehicular seat) is also described as is a mold for carrying out such a process. The present attachment device is particularly well suited for attaching a trim cover to a resilient (e.g., foam) body to produce a vehicular seat or a component of a vehicular seat. Other applications of the present attachment device are also contemplated.
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Citations
57 Claims
- 1. An attachment device comprising a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes, each female attachment portion comprising a receptacle portion and a base portion connected to the connecting portion, the base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion.
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15. An elongate attachment device having a longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
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a plurality of female attachment portions, each female attachment portion comprising a receptacle portion having a first lateral dimension substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a base portion connected to the connecting portion, the base portion having a second lateral dimension substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the second lateral dimension being greater than the first lateral dimension;
at least one elongate flexible portion interconnecting the plurality of attachment portions, the at least one elongate flexible portion having a third lateral dimension substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
wherein second lateral dimension is greater than the third lateral dimension. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A mold for producing a resilient device incorporating an attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, the mold comprising:
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a first mold portion and a second mold portion releasably engageable to define a mold cavity; and
a retainer for the attachment device, the retainer comprising;
a plurality of receptacles for receiving each of the plurality of attachment portions so as to align the attachment device in a predetermined manner, and means to retain the attachment device in place during expansion of an expandable foam composition in the mold cavity. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising female attachment portion and a base portion at opposed ends thereof, the base portions of adjacent female attachment portions being interconnected by at least one connecting portion, the base portion having a lateral dimension greater than or equal to a lateral dimension of the female attachment portion, the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes.
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53. An attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising female attachment portion directly connected to a base portion, the base portions of adjacent female attachment portions being interconnected by at least one connecting portion, the base portion have a lateral dimension greater than or equal to a lateral dimension of the female attachment portion.
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54. An elongate attachment device having a longitudinal axis, the device comprising:
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a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising a female attachment portion directly attached to a base portion, the base portion having a first lateral dimension substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a thickness dimension substantially orthogonal to the first lateral dimension;
at least one elongate flexible portion interconnecting the plurality of attachment portions, the at least one elongate flexible portion having a second lateral dimension substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
wherein;
(i) the first lateral dimension is greater than the second lateral dimension, and (ii) the first lateral dimension is greater than the thickness dimension.
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55. An attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising a female attachment portion and a base portion at opposed ends thereof, the base portions of adjacent female attachment portions being interconnected by at least one connecting portion, the base portion having a first lateral dimension which is:
- (i) greater than a thickness dimension substantially orthogonal to the first lateral dimension, and (ii) greater than or equal to a second lateral dimension of the female attachment portion.
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56. An attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising female attachment portion directly connected to a base portion, the base portions of adjacent female attachment portions being interconnected by at least one connecting portion, the base portion having:
- (i) a width greater than its thickness, and (ii) a width greater than a width of the at least one connecting portion.
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57. An attachment device comprising a plurality of attachment portions, each attachment portion comprising female attachment portion directly connected to a base portion, the female attachment portion comprising a locking portion for engaging the attachment portion of the element to be attached, the base portions of adjacent female attachment portions being interconnected by at least one connecting portion, the base portion having:
- (i) a width greater than a width of the locking portion, and (ii) a width greater than a width of the at least one connecting portion.
Specification