Trim assembly for vehicle and method for manufacturing the same

• US 6,177,155 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Kurosaki, Hideyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Abraham
• Application Number:
  US09/166,194
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 428/31, 428/122, 428/121, 428/123, 428/124, 428/126, 296/146.7, 296/39.1, 527/165, 527/166, 527/160.1, 527/180.1, 112/440, 112/441, 297/452.38, 280/751
• US Class Current: 428/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2419 Fold at edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24207 with strand[s] or strand-portion[s] between layers [e.g., upholstery trim, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24215 Acute or reverse fold of exterior component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24231 At opposed marginal edges

Abstract

A trim assembly 40 for a vehicle comprising: a top cover 10 comprising gather-sewn peripheral portions 12 and 13 to form gather-sewn portions 15; a plate-like base member 20, to which the peripheral portions 12 and 13 of the top cover 10 are sewn on peripheral portions 22 and 23 of the base member to form sewn portions 26; and a cushion member inserted between the plate-like base member 20 and the top cover 10; wherein a gather-sewn upper peripheral portion 12 of the top cover 10 is overlapped and sewn on an upper peripheral portion on a body side surface of the base member 20 to form a sewn portion 26, the overlapped and sewn top cover 10 is turned over upwardly and further turned over beyond an upper edge of the base member 20 so as to face a room side surface of the base member 20, a gather-sewn lower peripheral portion 13 of the further turned top cover 10 is overlapped and sewn on a lower peripheral portion on the room side surface of the base member 20 to form a sewn portion 26, and the lower peripheral portion 23 of the base member 20 is turned back onto the body side surface of the base member 20 to form a lower peripheral turned back portion 29 and is fastened to the body side surface of the base member together with the sewn lower peripheral portion of the top cover 10 by tucking or stapling 34.

Claims

1. A trim assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a top cover comprising a gather-sewn peripheral portion;

a plate base member, to which the peripheral portion of the top cover is sewn on a peripheral portion of the base member; and

a cushion member inserted between the plate base member and the top cover;

wherein an upper part of the gather-sewn peripheral portion of the top cover is overlapped and sewn on an upper peripheral portion on a body side surface of the base member, the overlapped and sewn top cover is turned over upwardly and further turned over beyond an upper edge of the base member so as to face a room side surface of the base member, a lower gather-sewn peripheral portion of the further turned top cover is overlapped and sewn on a lower peripheral portion on the room side surface of the base member, and the lower peripheral portion of the base member is turned back onto and fastened to the body side surface of the base member together with the sewn lower peripheral portion of the top cover.

2. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion member comprises a plate attachment base for securing the trim assembly to a body of the vehicle, and a cushion material fastened to the attachment base.

3. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cushion member comprises a cushion material, and a slippery layer which makes the top cover easy to slip on a surface of the cushion material.

4. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cushion member further comprises a slippery layer which makes the top cover easy to slip on a surface of the cushion material.

5. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plate attachment base comprises a plurality of hooks for securing the trim assembly to the body of the vehicle.

6. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein each hook is shaped substantially like the letter “

T”

, in cross section.

7. A trim assembly for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the base member for the hooks to project through the holes so as to secure the trim assembly to the body.

8. A method for manufacturing a trim assembly for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

gather-sewing a peripheral portion of a top cover;

forming the top cover and a plate-like base member into a bag-like member by overlapping and sewing an upper part of the gather-sewn peripheral portion of the top cover on an upper peripheral portion on a body side surface of the base member, turning over the overlapped and sewn top cover upwardly and further turning over beyond an upper edge of the base member so as to face a room side surface of the base member, and overlapping and sewing a lower gather-sewn peripheral portion of the further turned top cover on a lower peripheral portion on the room side surface of the base member;

inserting a cushion member into an inside of the bag-like member;

turning back the lower peripheral portion of the base member onto the body side surface of the base member together with the sewn lower peripheral portion of the top cover; and

fastening the turned back lower peripheral portion of the base member to the body side surface of the base member together with the sewn lower peripheral portion of the top cover.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a step for previously forming a fold on the base member to make the lower peripheral portion of the base member easy to be turned back to a body side, together with the lower peripheral portion of the top cover sewn thereto.

10. A trim assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a top cover comprising a gather-sewn peripheral portion;

a plate base member, to which the peripheral portion of the top cover is sewn on a peripheral portion of the base member; and

a cushion member inserted between the plate base member and the top cover;

wherein an upper part of the gather-sewn peripheral portion of the top cover is overlapped and sewn on an upper peripheral portion on a body side surface of the base member, the overlapped and sewn top cover is turned over upwardly and further turned over beyond an upper edge of the base member so as to face a room side surface of the base member, a lower gather-sewn peripheral portion of the further turned top cover is overlapped and sewn on a lower peripheral portion on the room side surface of the base member.