Headrest secured automobile seat cover

• US 6,338,527 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David K. Toyota
• Original Assignee: David K. Toyota
• Inventors: Toyota, David K., Sukut, Ronald Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/488,891
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 297/229, 297/228.11, 297/228.12, 297/219.1, 297/218.1, 297/218.4, 297/218.5, 246/007, 241/16.A, 245/998, 243/02, 243/01
• US Class Current: 297/229
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6054 by buckle passages
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/905 the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas

Abstract

A headrest secured seat cover for vehicles having side-impact airbags mounted within the sides of the seat. The cover comprises a bottom and middle portion attachable to the seat cushion. A top portion of the seat cover is attachable to the seat headrest. In order to attach the seat cover to the headrest, the seat cover includes at least one elastic strap attached to the top portion of the cover and configured to attach the top portion of the cover to mounting bars of the headrest. The seat cover further includes a stiffening member disposed about a periphery of the top portion of the seat cover. The stiffening member supports the top portion of the seat cover such that the seat cover will be contourable to the shape of the vehicle seat and remain in place. Since the seat cover is attached to the headrest, the sides of the seat are unobstructed for proper airbag inflation.

Claims

1. A seat cover for a contoured automobile seat having an upright backrest which defines a top surface, the seat cover comprising:

a backing having a bottom portion and a periphery, the backing being engageable to the bottom cushion so as to at least partially cover the top surface thereof, the backing further having a top portion having a periphery and attachable to the upright backrest so as to at least partially cover the front surface thereof; and

a pliant stiffening member disposed about the periphery of the top and bottom portions of the backing, the stiffening member being moldable upon installation so as to support and retainably conform the backing to the contours of the automobile seat.

2. The seat cover of claim 1, wherein the backing is fabricated from wooly sheepskin.

3. The seat cover of claim 1, wherein the stiffening member is sewn into the backing.

4. The seat cover of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve disposed about the periphery of the top portion, the sleeve being sized and configured such that the stiffening member is insertable therein.

5. The seat cover of claim 4, wherein the sleeve is fabricated from the backing.

6. The seat cover of claim 4, wherein the sleeve has a linear length slightly longer than a linear length of the stiffening member.

7. The seat cover of claim 1, wherein the stiffening member is wire.

8. The seat cover of claim 1, wherein the stiffening member is fabricated from a bendable material.

9. In a vehicle seat having a backrest which defines a front surface and two sides, a bottom cushion which defines a top surface, a headrest attached to the backrest via at least one support bar, and a side-impact airbag deployable from one of the sides of the backrest, a cover configured to be attached to the vehicle seat and not interfere with the deployment of the air bag, the cover comprising:

a backing having a bottom portion attachable to the bottom cushion so as to at least partially cover the top surface thereof and a top portion having a periphery and attachable solely to the support bar so as to at least partially cover the front surface of the backrest but not the sides thereof;

at least one top strap attached to the backing for facilitating the attachment of the top portion to the support bar;

at least one bottom strap attached to the backing for facilitating the attachment of the bottom portion to the bottom cushion;

at least one middle strap attached to the backing for facilitating the attachment of the bottom portion to the bottom cushion; and

a stiffening member disposed about the periphery of the top portion and configured to support the top portion when attached to the support bar.

10. The cover of claim 9, further comprising a sleeve disposed about the periphery of the top portion, the sleeve being sized and configured such that the stiffening member is insertable therein.

11. The cover of claim 10, wherein the sleeve is fabricated from the backing.

12. The cover of claim 10, wherein the sleeve has a length slightly larger than a length of the stiffening member.

13. The cover of claim 9, wherein the stiffening member is sewn into the backing.

14. The cover of claim 9, wherein the backing is wooly sheepskin.

15. The cover of claim 9, wherein the stiffening member is fabricated from a bendable material.

16. The cover of claim 9, wherein the stiffening member is fabricated from wire.