SEAT TRIM COVER ASSEMBLY AID

• US 20050269855A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jarackas, Daniel Joseph Jr., Flegal, Thomas Brian
• Granted Patent: US 6,964,453 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.600
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/487 Edge-roll forming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49799 Providing transitory integral holding or handling portion

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a seat that includes the steps of attaching adjacent upholstery panels with a locator strip and attachment strip sandwiched therebetween. The attachment strip includes an enlarged edge portion that engages clips in a molded foam seat backing. At least a portion of the locator strip is torn away along a line of perforations formed therein.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an upholstered seat comprising the steps of:

positioning edge portions of first and second upholstery panels in adjacent substantially parallel planes with aligned longitudinal edges;

positioning a locator strip between adjacent portions of the panels proximate the longitudinal edges;

positioning an attachment strip proximate and aligned with the locator strip, the attachment strip including an enlarged longitudinal portion positioned outboard of the locator strip;

stitching the first and second upholstery panels together along a stitching line;

positioning a plurality of clip members along a groove in a molded foam seat backing, wherein the clip members are substantially complementary to the enlarged longitudinal portion of the attachment strip and adapted to snap-fit with the same;

engaging the enlarged longitudinal portion of the attachment strip with the clip members, thereby securing the upholstery panels to the seat backing;

removing a portion of the locator strip by tearing it along longitudinal perforations formed therein.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the locator strip and attachment strip are an integral extruded plastic piece.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the locator strip and attachment strip are separate pieces.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of positioning the attachment strip proximate the locator strip comprises positioning the attachment strip adjacent thereto.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of positioning the attachment strip proximate the locator strip comprises positioning the attachment strip such that it is separated from the locator strip by one of said first and second upholstery panels.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the enlarged portion comprises an arrow shaped cross section.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the enlarged portion is a substantially cylindrical bead.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the clip members slidably receive the enlarged portion of the attachment strip.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of engaging the enlarged longitudinal portion of the attachment strip with the clip members comprises manipulating the position of the attachment strip from an exterior side of the upholstery panels.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of engaging the enlarged longitudinal portion of the attachment strip with the clip members comprises:

grasping the locator strip and urging the attachment strip into engagement with the clip members by pushing the locator strip toward the groove, a force thereon snap-fitting the enlarged longitudinal portion with the clip members.

11. A vehicle seat manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

12. An upholstered seat comprising:

a preformed molded foam seat backing having a groove;

a plurality of clip members attached to said seat backing at a plurality of locations along said groove;

an upholstery covering comprising adjacent panels with aligned longitudinal edges, said panels attached with at least one stitching line positioned inboard of said edges and substantially parallel thereto;

an elongate locator strip sandwiched between said upholstery panels and secured therebetween, said strip having a plurality of longitudinal perforations defining a tear line;

an elongate attachment strip proximate said locator strip, said attachment strip having an enlarged longitudinal portion outboard of the stitching line that is engageable with said clips and slidable within said clips;

wherein said elongate locator strip is tearable along said tear line to remove at least a portion of the locator strip from between the panels.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the attachment strip and locator strip are a unitary piece.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the perforations in said locator strip are formed by stitches comprising said stitching line.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the enlarged longitudinal edge portion comprises a substantially arrow shaped cross section.

16. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the attachment strip is sandwiched between the upholstery panels and adjacent the locator strip.

17. The vehicle seat of claim 12 wherein the locator strip is an elongate extruded plastic piece having a substantially uniform thickness.

18. A method of manufacturing a seat comprising the steps of:

positioning an elongate extruded strip with an enlarged edge in a stitched seam between adjacent upholstery panels such that the enlarged edge is positioned outboard of the seam and substantially parallel thereto;

positioning portions of the upholstery panels proximate the seam in a groove in a preformed molded seat backing, thereby engaging the enlarged edge with at least one substantially complementary clip retainer in the seat backing;

tearing a portion of the strip away from the seam along perforations formed therein, leaving the enlarged edge in engagement with the clip retainers and thereby securing the upholstery panels to the seat backing.

20. A motor vehicle seat manufactured by the method of claim 18.

19. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of attaching the adjacent upholstery panels comprises forming parallel first and second stitching lines proximate edges of the panels and substantially parallel thereto.

21. An upholstered seat comprising:

a performed molded foam seat backing having a groove;

a plurality of clip members attached to said seat backing;

an upholstery covering comprising adjacent panels with aligned longitudinal edges, said panels attached with at least one stitching line positioned inboard of said edges and substantially parallel thereto;

an elongate locator strip sandwiched between said upholstery panels and secured therebetween;

an elongate attachment strip proximate said locator strip, said attachment strip and said locator strip overlap, said attachment strip having an enlarged longitudinal portion outboard of the stitching line that is engageable with said clips;

wherein said elongate locator strip is tearable along a tear line to remove at least a portion of the locator strip from between the panels.

22. The vehicle seat of claim 21 further including a second stitching line, said first stitching line pierces said locator strip and said attachment strip, said second stitching line pierces only said attachment strip.