Seamless thermoformed vehicular seat cover, and method and apparatus for making same

• US 5,967,614 A
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schmidt, William P.
• Original Assignee: Schmidt, William P.
• Inventors: Schmidt, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/054,651
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.58, 297/452.59, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/219.1, 297/228, 297/225, 297/229
• US Class Current: 297/452.58
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/04 Combined thermoforming and prestretching, e.g. biaxial stretching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 Seats

Abstract

A thermoforming apparatus for fabricating seamless vehicle seat covers includes a clamp assembly for clamping and holding a thermoplastic sheet, a heater for heating material held by the clamp assembly, and a female cavity mold having a base section and a backrest section. The mold has an internal vacuum passageway formed therein, and also includes an external vacuum port for connecting to a source of vacuum. The vacuum port is in fluid communication with the internal vacuum passageway. A vacuum conduit connects the vacuum port to a vacuum source, by way of an electrically operable valve in fluid communication with the vacuum port. A method of thermoforming a seamless vehicle seat cover, and a seamless vehicular seat cover, which is a product of a thermoforming process, are also included.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat cover, the cover comprising:

(a) a thermoplastic base section; and

(b) a thermoplastic backrest section formed unitarily and integrally with the base section, wherein the base section and backrest section are preformed and shaped to conform and fit about a specifically configured vehicle seat, whereby the seat cover is nonporous and seamless.

2. The seamless vehicular seat cover of claim 1, wherein the seat cover is a product of a thermoforming process comprising a vacuum forming operation.

3. The seamless vehicular seat cover of claim 1, wherein the seat cover is a product of a process comprising a plug-assist forming operation.