TRIM COVER ASSEMBLY AND SEWING METHOD FOR FORMING SAME

• US 20140062162A1
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited, Tashi-S Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tsuyoshi Tabata
• Inventors: TABATA, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,610,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.58
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5883 by sewing, stitching or threading
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/05 Covering or enveloping cores of pads in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 11/00 Machines for sewing quilts or mattresses control of workpiece-holding frames, or of sewing machines, in order to obtain particular seam configuration D05B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A trim cover assembly of extremely soft property comprises a surface cover element, a wadding cover, and a thick foam wadding sandwiched therebetween, wherein the thick foam wadding has a compressed thin end surface region sewn with the surface cover element and wadding cover. Sewing method for forming such trim cover assembly involves: pressing and collapsing an end surface of the thick foam wadding in downwardly slantwise direction to provide a compressed thin area, thereby allowing direct access thereto of a conventional sewing machine; operating the sewing machine to sew the compressed thin area with the surface cover element, thereby producing a sewn trim cover having a compressed thin end region therein; and thereafter sewing the wadding cover with such sewn trim cover in correspondence with the compressed thin end region. As such, a trim cover assembly having the thick foam wadding is easily formed by the conventional sewing machine.

Claims

1. A trim cover assembly comprising:

a surface cover element composed of a surface cover material and a first foam wadding;

a wadding cover;

a second thick foam wadding which is greater in pliability and thickness than said first foam wadding, said second thick foam wadding having a compressed thin end region;

said compressed thin end region being formed by pressing and collapsing an end surface of said second thick foam wadding;

said second thick foam wadding being interposed between said first foam wadding and said wadding cover, and

wherein said surface cover element, said compressed thin end region of said second thick foam wadding and said wadding cover are sewn together.

2. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trim cover assembly is adapted for use on a vehicle-seat-related product including a vehicle seat and a headrest to be mounted on said vehicle seat.

3. A sewing method for forming a trim cover assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a surface cover element composed of a surface cover material and a first foam wadding, said surface cover element having an end portion,

providing a wadding cover having an end portion,

providing a second thick foam wadding which is greater in pliability and thickness than said first foam wadding, said second thick foam wadding having an end portion and an end surface defined in a distal end of said end portion,

setting said surface cover element at a sewing machine, such that the first foam wadding thereof lies down thereat, with the surface cover material thereof laying atop the first foam wadding,

stacking said second thick foam wadding upon said surface cover material of said surface cover element set at said sewing machine,

pressing and collapsing said end surface of said second thick foam wadding in a downwardly slantwise direction, thereby creating a compressed thin area therein,

operating said sewing machine, while continuing to create said compressed thin area, so as to sew together all the end portions respectively of said surface cover element and said second thick foam wadding at said compressed thin area, thereby forming a first sewn portion in and along said all end portions,

thereafter, stacking said wadding cover upon said second thick foam wadding, such that the end portion of said wadding cover overlies said first sewn portion, and

thereafter, operating said sewing machine to sew the end portion of said wadding cover with all the end portions respectively of said surface cover element and said second thick foam wadding, in and along said first sewn portion, so that a trim cover assembly is formed, which has;

a thick portion defined at a point substantially corresponding to said second thick foam wadding; and

a thin peripheral end portion defined at a point substantially corresponding to said first sewn portion.

4. The sewing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said trim cover assembly is adapted for use on a vehicle-seat-related product including a vehicle seat and a headrest to be mounted on said vehicle seat.

5. The sewing method as claimed in claim 3, which comprises the steps of;

setting said surface cover element at a sewing machine, such that the first foam wadding thereof lies down thereat, with the surface cover material thereof laying atop the first foam wadding,

stacking said second thick foam wadding upon said surface cover material of said surface cover element set at said sewing machine,

pressing and collapsing said end surface of said second thick foam wadding in a downwardly slantwise direction, thereby creating a compressed thin area therein,

operating said sewing machine, while continuing to create said compressed thin area, so as to sew together all the end portions respectively of said surface cover element and said second thick foam wadding at said compressed thin area, thereby forming a first sewn portion in and along said all end portions,

thereafter, stacking said wadding cover upon said second thick foam wadding, such that the end portion of said wadding cover overlies said first sewn portion,

thereafter, operating said sewing machine to sew the end portion of said wadding cover with all the end portions respectively of said surface cover element and said second thick foam wadding, in and along said first sewn portion, so that a′

first trim cover assembly is formed, which has;

a thick portion at a point substantially corresponding to said second thick foam wadding; and

a thin peripheral end portion defined at a point substantially corresponding to said first sewn portion,

providing at least one second trim cover assembly having a peripheral end portion, and

operating said sewing machine to sew said peripheral end portion of said at least one second trim cover assembly with and along said thin peripheral end portion of said first trim cover assembly, so that a predetermined configuration of resultant trim cover assembly is formed.

6. The sewing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein, at the step of pressing and collapsing said end surface of said second thick foam wadding in the downwardly slantwise direction, a pressure element is used to press and collapse said end surface of said second thick foam wadding in the downwardly slantwise direction, or a worker uses his or her hand (s) to press and collapse said end surface of said second thick foam wadding in the downwardly slantwise direction.

7. The sewing method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a thickness of said second thick foam wadding is approx. 10 to 30 mm, and wherein said end surface of the second thick foam wadding extends vertically.