ATTACHMENT DEVICE

• US 20080048474A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proprietect LP
• Original Assignee: Woodbridge Foam Corporation
• Inventors: Heinl, Georg, Hack, Michael, Pedde, Burkhard, Marenne, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 7,517,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/228.13
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/12 with incorporated means for positioning inserts, e.g. labels positioning reinforcements B29C70/541
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1271 the preformed parts being partially covered
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/58 Upholstery or cushions, e.g. vehicle upholstery or interior padding mattresses, cushions B29L2031/751
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5841 by clamping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/318 Strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24033 including stitching and discrete fastener[s], coating or bond

Abstract

A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device having a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion. The attachment device is preferably flexible in at least two independent planes. Each female attachment portion has a receptacle portion and a base portion. Each base portion is connected to the connecting portion. Each base portion has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion. At least a portion of the connecting portion is disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions. Preferably, the connecting portion extends below the bottom surfaces of the adjacent base portions.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat trim cover 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;

at least a portion of the connecting portion being disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions.

2. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is disposed on an opposite side of the substantially coplanar base portions from their respective receptacle portions.

3. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 1, wherein each receptacle portion comprises a pair of generally upstanding walls.

4. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 3, wherein each of the upstanding walls has a first laterally-extending portion disposed at the distal end of the upstanding wall, the first laterally-extending portion extending inward toward the other upstanding wall, the first laterally-extending portion being configured to retain the trim cover.

5. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 4, wherein each of the upstanding walls has a second laterally-extending portion also disposed at the distal end of the upstanding wall, the second laterally-extending portion extending outward away from the other upstanding wall.

6. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 4, wherein each first laterally-extending portion extends downward toward said base portion, each first laterally-extending portion having a first apex oriented toward the base portion.

7. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 4, wherein each second laterally-extending portion extends upward away from said base portion, each second laterally-extending portion having a second apex oriented away from the base portion.

8. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 1, wherein each receptacle portion comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

9. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicular seat trim cover attachment device comprises a single piece of plastic.

10. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device, comprising:

a first female attachment portion, a second female attachment portion, and a third female attachment portion;

the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes, each female attachment portion comprising (i) a receptacle portion, and (ii) a base portion disposed below the corresponding receptacle portion, each base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the corresponding receptacle portion;

the first female attachment portion being interconnected to the second female attachment portion by a first connecting portion;

the second female attachment portion being interconnected to the third female attachment portion by a second connecting portion; and

at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extending below bottoms of the two base portions to which it is interconnected.

11. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 10, wherein both the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend below bottoms of the base portions of the first, second, and third female attachment portions.

12. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 10, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are of different length.

13. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 10, wherein each receptacle portion comprises a pair of generally upstanding walls, and wherein each of the upstanding walls has a first laterally-extending portion disposed at the distal end of the upstanding wall, the first laterally-extending portion extending inward toward the other upstanding wall, the first laterally-extending portions being configured to retain the trim cover.

14. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 13, wherein each upstanding wall has a second laterally-extending portion disposed at the distal end of the upstanding wall, the second laterally-extending portion extending outward away from the other upstanding wall.

15. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 10, wherein the vehicular seat trim cover attachment device comprises substantially one piece of plastic.

16. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 10, wherein a portion of the at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion which extends below the bottoms of the two base portions to which it is interconnected, has a U-shape.

17. The vehicular seat trim cover attachment device defined in claim 10, wherein a portion of the at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion which extends below the bottoms of the two base portions to which it is interconnected, extends below said two base portions at a location non-adjacent to said two base portions.

18. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device, comprising:

a single piece of plastic having a first female attachment portion, a second female attachment portion, and a connecting portion that connects together the first female attachment portion and the second female attachment portion;

each of the female attachment portions including (i) a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a lateral width substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the connecting portion, and (ii) a pair of upstanding walls disposed on the top surface of the corresponding base portion, each upstanding wall having a hook portion at the distal end thereof, the hook portions being configured to retain the trim cover, a lateral width of each pair of upstanding walls being less than the lateral width of the corresponding base portion; and

the connecting portion having at least one section which extends below the bottom surfaces of the base portions to which it is attached.

19. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one section of the connecting portion comprises a U-shape.

20. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 19, wherein the U-shape is disposed substantially in the middle of the connecting portion.

21. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 18, wherein each upstanding wall hook portion extends inward toward the opposite upstanding wall.

22. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device according to claim 18, wherein the connecting portion is connected to a side of each base portion substantially between each base'"'"'s top surface and bottom surface.

23. Vehicular seat trim cover attachment apparatus, comprising:

a connecting portion having a (i) longitudinal axis and (ii) a lateral width that is less than its longitudinal length;

a first female attachment device having a first base with a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width, the first base having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface, the first female attachment device also having a first pair of upstanding walls disposed on the first top surface, each upstanding wall having a hook at its distal end, each hook extending toward the opposite upstanding wall so as to engage the trim cover, the first pair of upstanding walls presenting a first U-shape whose outer walls have a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width but less than the first base lateral width, inner walls of said first U-shape having a lateral width greater than or substantially equal to the lateral width of the connecting portion; and

a second female attachment device having a second base with a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width, the second base having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface, the second female attachment device also having a second pair of upstanding walls disposed on the second top surface, each upstanding wall having a hook at its distal end, each hook extending toward the opposite upstanding wall so as to engage the trim cover, the second pair of upstanding walls presenting a second U-shape whose outer walls have a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width but less than the second base lateral width, inner walls of said second U-shape having a lateral width greater than or substantially equal to the lateral width of the connecting portion;

a portion of the connecting portion being disposed below said first bottom surface and below said second bottom surface.

24. Vehicular seat trim cover attachment apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the connecting portion connects to the first side surface of the first base and to the second side surface of the second base.

25. A foam seat element having molded there in the vehicular seat cover 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;

at least a portion of the connecting portion being disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions.