Drawstring seat cover

• US 5,338,092 A
• Filed: 03/19/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Seating Corp. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Dudash, Eugene S., Wiltsey, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US08/033,831
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 297/219.1, 297/219.11, 297/218, 297/228.11, 297/228.13, 297/229
• US Class Current: 297/228.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/11 for chairs for headrests only A47C7/386; removable protective covers for car seats B60N2/60

Abstract

A seat cover assembly (10) includes a seat envelope (14) surrounding a seat (12) with a drawstring sheath (18) attached to the seat envelope (14) and a slidable drawstring (20) therein. Front and rear attachment projections (38,40) are located on the seat (12) to facilitate attachment of the seat envelope (14) to the seat (12). The drawstring sheath (18) comprises a plurality of sheath sections (22) with openings (24) between adjacent sections (22) so that intermediate drawstring portions (62) may extend from the openings (24) and be secured to the rear attachment projections (40) on the seat (12).

Claims

1. A seat cover assembly (10) for providing an easily attached and securely fastened seat cover for a seat, said seat cover assembly (10) including:

a seat (12);

said seat (12) including a top surface, a bottom surface (36), and an outer periphery (28);

said outer periphery (28) including a front peripheral edge (30), a rear peripheral edge (32) directly opposing said front peripheral edge (30), and two opposing side peripheral edges (34);

a seat envelope (14) disposed about said seat (12);

a drawstring sheath (18) attached to said seat envelope (14);

a flexible drawstring (20) including first and second ends and an intermediate portion slidably disposed within said drawstring sheath (18) and extending continuously through the entirety of said sheath (18);

said drawstring sheath (18) comprising a plurality of sheath sections (22) each including a first and second end;

a plurality of spaced openings (24) disposed along said sheath (18), with each said opening (24) disposed between a first end of one said section (22) and a second end of the next adjacent of said sections (22) of said sheath (18);

said intermediate portion (62) of said drawstring (20) extending outwardly from each of said spaced openings (24) in said sheath (18);

a plurality of attachment projections (16) each disposed at spaced locations on said bottom surface (36) of said seat (12) and adjacent one of said peripheral edges (30,32,34) thereof, with each said attachment projection (16) disposed adjacent one of said openings (24) in said sheath (18); and

characterized by said attachment projections (16) each including a free distal end extending away from said adjacent peripheral edge (32) and toward an opposing peripheral edge (30) of said seat (12) for directly engaging and securely retaining said intermediate portion (62) of said drawstring (20) to prevent sliding and wrinkling of said seat envelope (14) with respect to said seat (12).

2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said drawstring ends (58) each including a loop (60) disposed thereon.

3. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said seat (12) including a plurality of adjacent sections (42).

4. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by a crevice (44) disposed between adjacent said sections (42) of said seat (12).

5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said seat envelope (14) forming a plurality of enclosures (48) for covering said sections (42) of said seat (12).

6. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by a valley (50) disposed between adjacent said enclosures (48).

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by each of said attachment projections (16) comprising a v-shaped projection (16).

8. A method for easily and securely attaching a drawstring seat envelope (14) to a seat (12) of the type having a plurality of attachment projections (16) disposed at spaced locations on a bottom surface (36) and adjacent a peripheral edge (30,32,34) of said seat (12), said method comprising:

enveloping the seat (12) with the seat envelope (14);

positioning the seat envelope (14) on the seat (12) such that the attachment projections (16) are each disposed adjacent an intermediate opening (24) in the drawstring sheath (18);

cinching the drawstring (20) on the seat envelope (14) to draw the seat envelope (14) tightly against the seat (12);

extending ends (58) of the drawstring (20) outwardly from ends (54) of the drawstring sheath (18);

extending a continuous intermediate portion (62) of the drawstring (20) disposed between the ends (58) thereof from the intermediate openings (24) in the drawstring sheath (18) disposed between the ends (54) of the sheath (18); and

characterized by securing the intermediate portion (62) of the drawstring (20) to the attachment projections (16) on the seat (12) by engaging the intermediate portion (62) with a free distal end of each of the attachment projections (16) which extends away from the adjacent peripheral edge (32) and toward an opposing peripheral edge (30) of the seat (12).

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said seat includes a plurality of sections (42) with a crevice (44) formed therebetween, further characterized by drawing the seat envelope (14) within the crevice (44) in the seat (12).

10. A method as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by attaching looped ends (60) of the drawstring (20) to attachment projections (38) extending from the seat (12).

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by cinching the drawstring ends (58) in an overlapping fashion.