Method for bonding fabric to seat cushion trenches

• US 5,338,386 A
• Filed: 04/20/1993
• Issued: 08/16/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Seating Corp. (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Seating Corp. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Miotto, Ronald L., Frelich, Jeffrey J., Wiltsey, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnstone, Adrienne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/048,920
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 156/209, 156/245, 156/285, 156/290, 156/303.1, 156/308.4, 156/308.8, 156/497, 156/500, 156/579, 156/583.1, 156/583.8, 156/583.91, 100/233-236, 100/295, 100/92, 100/93 P, 264/86, 264/87, 264/231, 264/321, 264/DIG. 14
• US Class Current: 156/290
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0004 Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/58 Upholstery or cushions, e.g. vehicle upholstery or interior padding mattresses, cushions B29L2031/751

Abstract

The assembly (10) includes a plurality of tubes (30) configured to fit into the trenches or indentations of a preformed seat cushion assembly (14). The plurality of tubes (30) rotate about pins (56) and force a fabric bag (12) and an adhesive layer located between the seat cushion assembly (14) and the fabric bag (12) into the trenches. Steam passes through the plurality of tubes (30) and out a plurality of holes (32) which are spaced along the plurality of tubes (30). The steam melts the adhesive layer which subsequently bonds the fabric bag (12) to the seat cushion assembly (14) within the trenches of the seat cushion assembly (14). A vacuum (40) is used to create a pressure differential between the passageways within the plurality of tubes (30) and the atmosphere, i.e., the seat cushion (15). The pressure differential is used to remove the steam and any water from the fabric bag (12) and seat cushion assembly (14) to prevent water damage thereto.

Claims

1. A method for bonding portions of a fabric bag (12) to a seat cushion assembly (14) with an adhesive layer located between the seat cushion assembly (14) and the fabric bag (12) using a plurality of holes (32) spaced equidistantly along a plurality of tubes (30) which are rotatable between open and closed positions with respect to a base (16) so the fabric bag (12) may be manipulated to remove any wrinkles in the fabric bag (12) prior to bonding, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the seat cushion assembly (14) inside the fabric bag (12);

aligning the seat cushion assembly (14) and the fabric bag (12) on the base (16);

rotating the plurality of tubes (30) from the open position to the closed position over the fabric bag (12) and seat cushion assembly (14) such that portions of the fabric bag (12) located between each of the plurality of tubes (30) may be manually adjusted while the plurality of tubes (30) is in the closed position;

transmitting steam through the plurality of tubes (30) in the closed position and out the plurality of holes (32) on to the portions of the fabric bag (12) to be bonded to melt the portions of the adhesive layer thereunder;

removing the steam and water from the fabric bag (12) and the seat cushion assembly (14); and

rotating the plurality of tubes (30) to the open position.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by removing the steam and water by creating a pressure differential through the plurality of tubes (30).