Method and apparatus for manufacture of a padded element, particularly for a motor-vehicle seat

• US 5,372,668 A
• Filed: 11/29/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: SEPI SpA (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Bracesco, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnstone, Adrienne C.
• Application Number:
  US08/158,288
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 156/212, 156/214, 156/497, 156/500, 156/285, 156/290, 156/308.4, 156/308.8, 156/256, 156/513, 156/529, 156/581, 297/DIG. 1, 297/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 156/214
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0045 Perforating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/049 using steam or damp
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/5636 with the addition of heat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/025 applied by a die matching with the profile of the surface of resilient articles, e.g. cushions, seat pads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/22 using layers or sheathings having a shape adapted to the shape of the article B29C63/26 and B29C63/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/10 using hot gases (e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/4815 Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/5057 positioned between the surfaces to be joined B29C65/5035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7841 Holding or clamping means for handling purposes clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7847 using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7882 said parts to be joined moving in a circular path
• 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 66/301 Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat B29C66/5223, B29C66/5224, B29C66/5225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5326 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/61 Joining from or joining on the inside for making tubes by bending sheets and joining from the inside B29C53/387
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/751 Mattresses, cushions upholstery B29L2031/58
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 : Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/05 : Covering or enveloping cores of pads in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 : Foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/02 : Molded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1028 : by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1031 : with preshaping of lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 : Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1304 : Means making hole or aperture in part to be laminated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1374 : with means projecting fluid against work

Abstract

A padded element of a motor-vehicle seat is made applying a cover onto a padding body by pressing with simultaneous application of steam. The covering fabric is provided on a lower mould with the back side thereof facing upwardly and the padding body is pressed against this back side by an upper mould. The upper mould includes a plurality of cannulae for steam injection, which project downwardly from the upper mould and are introduced through the padding body and have their steam outlet lower ends located inside this body adjacent to the surface thereof.

Claims

1. In a method for manufacture of a padded element, particularly for a motor-vehicle seat, wherein a cover is applied on a padding body and wherein the cover is formed according to the shape of the surface of the padding by a pressing operation in a mold and simultaneous injection of a flow of steam, the improvement wherein:

the cover is initially applied on a lower mold with a back side of the cover facing upwardly,

the padding body is pressed against the back side of said cover by lowering onto the lower mold an upper mold on which said padding body has been previously positioned, adhesive being interposed between said cover and the padding body,

simultaneously with the pressing of the padding body against the back side of the cover, steam is injected through at least one cannula projecting downwardly from the upper mold, which is arranged through the padding body and terminates inside this body, adjacent to the surface of the padding body.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein during said steam injection operation, steam is taken from a reservoir of steam under pressure located remote from said at least one cannula in such a way however that it enables a heat transmission from the wall of said reservoir to said at least one cannula.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said cover is kept in tight contact with the lower mold by applying a vacuum.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cannula is arranged to hold said padding body on the upper mold when inserted through the padding body.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive is constituted by a sheet of the hot-melt type to provide a reversible glueing of the cover.