Offset seam sewing process
First Claim
1. A process for joining adjacent edges of plural-layer upholstery panels, wherein at least one of the edges is a curved edge, the process comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first upholstery panel having laterally offset backing and exterior layers adjacent a second upholstery panel and substantially aligning longitudinal edges thereof;
stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a stitching line positioned inboard of the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto;
folding portions of the first and second upholstery panels outboard of the stitching line in opposite directions, and positioning the folded portions against respective portions of the first and second panels inboard of the stitching line;
attaching the folded portions to the first and second panels;
wherein the exterior layers of at least the first panel are laterally offset in an inboard direction, thereby imparting a substantially regular contour to the exterior layer proximate and inboard of the stitching line.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a process for joining adjacent panels of plural-layer upholstery, including the steps of positioning a first upholstery panel having offset backing and exterior layers adjacent a second upholstery panel having offset backing and exterior layers, and substantially aligning longitudinal peripheries of the first and second panels. The process further includes the steps of stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a first stitching line positioned inboard of the longitudinal peripheries and substantially parallel thereto, and stitching portions of the first and second panels outboard of the first stitching line to an inboard portion of one or more of the panels along at least a second stitching line. In a preferred embodiment, the exterior layer in the first panel is offset laterally relative to the backing layer in an inboard direction, wherein the lateral offset imparts a substantially regular contour to portions of the exterior layer proximate the first stitching line and inboard thereof.
22 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A process for joining adjacent edges of plural-layer upholstery panels, wherein at least one of the edges is a curved edge, the process comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first upholstery panel having laterally offset backing and exterior layers adjacent a second upholstery panel and substantially aligning longitudinal edges thereof;
stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a stitching line positioned inboard of the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto;
folding portions of the first and second upholstery panels outboard of the stitching line in opposite directions, and positioning the folded portions against respective portions of the first and second panels inboard of the stitching line;
attaching the folded portions to the first and second panels;
wherein the exterior layers of at least the first panel are laterally offset in an inboard direction, thereby imparting a substantially regular contour to the exterior layer proximate and inboard of the stitching line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process for joining adjacent edges of plural-layer upholstery panels, wherein at least one of the edges is a curved edge, the process comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first upholstery panel having laterally offset backing and exterior layers adjacent a second upholstery panel and substantially aligning longitudinal edges thereof;
stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a stitching line positioned inboard of the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto;
folding portions of the first and second upholstery panels outboard of the stitching line against a portion of the first or second panel that is inboard of the stitching line;
attaching the folded portions to the panel against which it is folded;
wherein the exterior layer of at least the first panel is laterally offset in an inboard direction, thereby imparting a substantially regular contour to the exterior layer proximate and inboard of the stitching line. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An upholstered interior trim member in a motor vehicle having an upholstery seam sewn according to a method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first upholstery panel having offset backing and exterior layers adjacent a second upholstery panel having offset backing and exterior layers;
substantially aligning longitudinal edges of the first and second panels;
stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a first stitching line positioned inboard of the longitudinal peripheries and substantially parallel thereto;
stitching portions of the first and second panels outboard of the first stitching line to an inboard portion of one or more of the panels along at least a second stitching line;
wherein the exterior layer in the first panel is offset in an inboard direction relative to the backing layer a distance of at least about {fraction (1/10)} a lateral dimension of the backing layer extending between the first and second stitching lines, the lateral offset imparting a substantially regular contour to portions of the exterior layer proximate the first stitching line and inboard thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A process for joining adjacent panels of plural-layer upholstery, the process comprising the steps of:
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sewing laterally offset backing and exterior layers in a first upholstery panel, wherein the backing and exterior layers are positioned adjacently and moved in a stitching direction along a plural-ledge fixturing member, a first ledge being maintained against said backing layer and a second ledge being maintained against said exterior layer, thereby maintaining a substantially constant lateral offset thereof;
substantially aligning a longitudinal edge of the first upholstery panel with a longitudinal edge of a second upholstery panel;
stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a first stitching line positioned inwardly of the longitudinal edges and substantially parallel thereto;
stitching portions of the first and second panels outboard of the first stitching line to an inboard portion of one or more of the panels along at least a second stitching line;
wherein the exterior layer in the first panel is offset laterally relative to the backing layer in an inboard direction, the lateral offset imparting a substantially regular contour to portions of the exterior layer proximate the first stitching line and inboard thereof. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification