Trim cover assembly for a vehicle seat

• US 4,663,211 A
• Filed: 09/09/1985
• Issued: 05/05/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tachikawa Spring Company Limited (Tachi-S Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kon, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kittle, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US06/773,885
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452, 297/DIG. 1, 428/167
• US Class Current: 428/167
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/5636 with the addition of heat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/436 Joining sheets for making articles comprising cushioning or padding materials, the weld being performed through the cushioning material, e.g. car seats joining through openings B29C66/304
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8161 said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8221 Scissor or lever mechanisms, i.e. involving a pivot point
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8222 Pinion or rack mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8242 Pneumatic or hydraulic drives using fluid pressure directly acting on the parts to be joined B29C66/8266
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8324 Joining or pressing tools pivoting around one axis scissor or lever transmission mechanisms B29C66/8221; tools self-aligning to the joining plane B29C66/8163
• 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 2/5866 by thermal welding
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/00 Making upholstery manufacturing upholstered panels B68G13/00 ; from plastics B29D99/0092; sewing-machines D05B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

A trim cover assembly forming the surface of a vehicle seat such as an automotive seat is disclosed which comprises a three-layer lamination composed of a thermally weldable covering material, a wadding formed of a thermally weldable foam material and a wadding cover. In the trim cover assembly, the three-layer lamination is pressurized and heated by a high frequency welding machine to form a plurality of recessed grooves in one or more main bodies of the trim cover assembly and at the same time to provide a plurality of joint portions, which are formed by collapsing the above-mentioned three elements of the trim cover assembly, along the ends of the trim cover assembly lying in the extensions of the recessed grooves, so that the intersections of the recessed grooves and joint portions are regularly folded to facilitate the positive and fine welding of other components of the trim cover assembly to the joint portions.

Claims

1. A trim cover assembly for use in a vehicle seat comprising:

a three-layer lamination of a thermally weldable covering material; and

a wadding cover;

said thermally weldable covering material having a plurality of spaced-apart decorative recessed grooves provided on a side thereof, said thermally weldable covering material having peripheral edges and a plurality of joint portions defined along the peripheral edges at a side thereof which lays in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of said plurality of said spaced-apart decorative recessed grooves, and said thermally weldable covering material further having a plurality of substantially S-shaped folded portions each being formed at respective parts of said joint portions corresponding to said spaced-apart decorative grooves and further being integrally welded with the wadding cover.

2. The trim cover assembly for use in a vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein other separate components of said trim cover assembly are simultaneously welded to said joint portions.

3. The trim cover assembly for use in a vehicle seat as set forth in claim 2, wherein components of said trim cover assembly to be provided with said plurality of decorative recessed grooves constitute a main body thereof and said other separate components of said trim cover assembly include a side cover thereof.

4. The trim cover assembly for use in a vehicle seat as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of said trim cover assembly corresponding to said plurality of decorative recessed grooves and said joint portions are simultaneously formed by high-frequency welding.