Method and apparatus for attachment of upholstery to seats

• US 5,768,758 A
• Filed: 09/26/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NFA Corporation Hope Webbing Division
• Original Assignee: NFA Corporation Hope Webbing Division
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas M., Deignan, Chris, Silberberg, Abraham, Hanahan, G. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David P.
• Application Number:
  US08/720,222
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 29/91, 29/91.1, 29/91.5, 29/243.57, 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.4, 297/218.5, 297/219.1, 297/224, 297/226, 297/228.1, 297/228.11, 297/228.12, 297/452.62 , 297/452.64, 297/452.58, 66/190, 66/192, 66/193, 66/195, 66/196, 428/83, 428/123, 428/225, 428/193
• US Class Current: 29/91.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/02 Upholstery attaching means quilting, quilting means, fastening, fixing or finishing upholstery B68G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 3/005 Tapes or ribbons not otherwise provided for D03D1/0005, D03D1/0011, D03D1/06, D03D1/08, D03D1/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 3/02 Tubular fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/18 incorporating elastic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/063 Fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/08 Upholstery, mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/486 Cover stretching

Abstract

A method and apparatus for securing upholstery or some other fabric to a seat having a frame, such as an automobile seat. The apparatus includes an elongated web of material having a cord incorporated therein which extends in the direction of elongation of the web. The cord may be extracted at various points along the length of the web. Hooks are provided on the seat, typically on the underside thereof, to which the web is attached. The web may be either elastic or nonelastic, and the cord may be either elastic or nonelastic. Non-elastic cord is used, an extra length of cord may be incorporated into the web. The web may be knitted, woven or braided. In the method of this invention, a web with an incorporated cord is secured to an edge of the upholstery which is desired to be secured to a seat. The cord is extracted from the web at preselected points and attached to a fastening device. The length of cord provided in the web is sufficient to allow fastening, but also still holds the upholstery tightly in place.

Claims

1. A fastening arrangement for securing fabric to a seat or a component thereof, the fabric being configured to conform to a size and shape of the seat or the component and having an outer perimeter, the seat or seat component having a plurality of sides and an outer edge extending around the plurality of sides, said arrangement comprising:

a web disposed about the perimeter of the fabric, said web having a longitudinal direction extending generally parallel to the perimeter of the fabric and having a length measured in the longitudinal direction, said web having first and second ends;

a continuous cord disposed within said web and extending along the entire length of said web in said longitudinal direction, said cord having two ends, one end extending from said web at said first end and the other end of said cord extending from said web at said second end of said web;

a plurality of openings disposed in said web adjacent said cord between said first and said second ends of said web; and

at least one device disposed on the seat or the seat component along each one of the plurality of sides of the seat or seat component adjacent said outer edge for attachment of said cord to the seat or seat component at said openings in said web, each of said devices being associated with at least one opening in said web and all of said devices having at least a portion thereof extending away from the adjacent outer edge of the seat or seat component.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said web is of a woven construction.

3. The arrangement as recited in claim 2, wherein said web comprises:

a plurality of first weft yarns passing over one side of said cord;

a plurality of second weft yarns passing over a second side of said cord; and

a plurality of warp yarns, said warp yarns extending generally parallel to said cord, some of said warp yarns being disposed on said one side of said cord and others of said warp yarns being disposed on said second side of said cord.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said web comprises:

a first set of weft yarns passing over said cord on one side of said cord;

a second set of weft yarns passing over said cord on an opposite side of said cord from said first set of weft yarns to capture said cord between said first and second sets of weft yarns; and

at least one gap of at least two picks in width disposed between adjacent ones of said second set of weft yarns to permit access to said cord.

5. A method for securing fabric to a seat or a component thereof, the seat or seat component having a plurality of sides and an outer edge extending around the plurality of sides, said method comprising the steps of:

cutting the fabric to a desired size and shape, the fabric having a perimeter which is to be secured to the seat or seat component;

providing a web about the perimeter of the fabric, the web having a length and first and second ends;

incorporating a continuous cord into the web along the entire length of the web so that ends of the cord extend from the web at the first and second ends of the web;

providing at least one fastening device on the seat or seat component along each one of the plurality of sides of the seat or seat component adjacent the outer edge, each fastening device being associated with at least one opening in the web and all of said fastening devices having at least a portion thereof extending away from the adjacent outer edge of the seat or seat component; and

attaching the cord to the extending-away portions of associated ones of the fastening devices at the openings such that the cord passes around each of said devices on a side thereof opposite the adjacent outer edge of the seat or seat component.

6. A fastening arrangement for securing fabric to a seat or a component thereof, the fabric being configured to conform to a size and shape of the seat or the component and having an outer perimeter, the seat or seat component having a plurality of sides and an outer edge extending around the plurality of sides, said arrangement comprising:

a web disposed about the perimeter of the fabric, said web having a longitudinal direction extending generally parallel to the perimeter of the fabric and having a length measured in the longitudinal direction, said web having first and second ends;

a continuous cord disposed within said web and extending along the entire length of said web in said longitudinal direction, said cord having two ends, one end extending from said web at said first end and the other end of said cord extending from said web at said second end of said web;

a plurality of openings disposed in said web adjacent said cord between said first and said second ends of said web; and

at least one device disposed on the seat or the seat component along at least two of the sides of the seat or seat component adjacent said outer edge for attachment of said cord to the seat or seat component at said openings in said web, each of said devices being associated with at least one opening in said web and all of said devices having at least a portion thereof extending away from the adjacent outer edge of the seat or seat component.

7. A method for securing fabric to a seat or a component thereof, the seat or seat component having a plurality of sides and an outer edge extending around the plurality of sides, said method comprising the steps of:

cutting the fabric to a desired size and shape, the fabric having a perimeter which is to be secured to the seat or seat component;

providing a web about the perimeter of the fabric, the web having a length and first and second ends;

incorporating a continuous cord into the web along the entire length of the web so that ends of the cord extend from the web at the first and second ends of the web;

forming a plurality of openings in the web between the first and second ends of the web;

providing at least one fastening device on the seat or seat component along at least two of said sides of the seat or seat component adjacent the outer edge, each fastening device being associated with at least one opening in the web, and all of said fastening devices having at least a portion thereof extending away from the adjacent outer edge of the seat or seat component; and

attaching the cord to the extending-away portions of associated ones of the fastening devices at the openings such that the cord passes around each of the devices on a side thereof opposite the outer edge of the seat or seat component.