Method for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly

• US 6,505,570 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugimoto, Kazuyuki, Sakamoto, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Izaguirre, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/994,694
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 112/470.27, 112/441, 112/162, 112/475.04, 112/475.26, 112/475.08, 112/10, 264/41, 264/45.5, 264/259, 156/93
• US Class Current: 112/470.27
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/146 Shaping the lining before foaming
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Method for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, in which a foam padding piece and a surface cover piece are formed such that the former is small in size relative to the latter. According to the method, the peripheral ends of the foam padding piece are aligned and sewn with the peripheral ends of the surface cover piece to form a cover section. A plurality of such cover sections are provided and are bent at their respective end portions, stretching each surface cover piece on and over each foam padding piece, after which, the thus-bend end portions of cover sections are sewn with one another to form a three-dimensional trim cover assembly. A liquid foaming material is injected and cured in that trim cover assembly to form a foamed product integral with the trim cover assembly.

Claims

1. Method for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of surface cover pieces in a predetermined shape, each having ends;

forming a plurality of foam padding pieces, each being small in size relative to each of said plurality of surface cover pieces and having ends;

juxtaposing each of said plurality of foam padding pieces on each of said plurality of surface cover pieces;

bringing said ends of said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces in alignment with said ends of said each of said plurality of surface cover pieces;

then, sewing said ends of said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces with said ends of said each of said plurality of surface cover pieces, thereby forming a plurality of sewn cover sections required to form said trim cover assembly in a predetermined three-dimensional shape;

thereafter, bending and sewing together end portions of said plurality of sewn cover sections, such that the thus-sewn bent end portions of said plurality of sewn cover sections face to a side where said plurality of foam padding pieces lie, thereby forming the trim cover assembly in said predetermined three-dimensional shape;

injecting a liquid foaming material into inside of the thus-formed trim cover assembly where said plurality of foam padding pieces face inwardly thereof; and

curing and expanding said liquid foaming material so as to create a foam cushion member filled in the trim cover assembly, whereby the foamed product integral with the trim cover assembly is formed, with said plurality of surface cover pieces stretched uniformly on and over the respective said plurality of foam padding pieces.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of cover surface pieces is a piece of natural or artificial leather.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of cover sections has a slack region defined in the cover surface piece thereof, and wherein the method includes the step of bending the end portions of said plurality of cover sections at substantially a right angle with predetermined bending lines in a direction to said side where said plurality of foam padding pieces lie, whereby said slack region of the cover surface piece is stretched uniformly and brought to intimate and full contact upon said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said foamed product with the trim cover assembly is a headrest or an armrest.

5. Method for forming a foamed product integral with trim cover assembly, comprising the steps of:

forming a plurality of surface cover pieces in a predetermined shape, each having four corners and outwardly arcuate end portions;

forming a plurality of foam padding pieces, each having four corners and ends, wherein each of said plurality of foam padding pieces is small in size relative to each of said plurality of surface cover pieces, except that said four corners of said each of the plurality of foam padding pieces are diagonally equal to the respective said four corners of said each of the plurality of surface cover pieces;

juxtaposing said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces on said each of said plurality of surface cover pieces in such a fashion that the four corners of said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces match the respective four corners of said each of said plurality of surface cover pieces, while the outwardly arcuate end portions of said each of the plurality of surface cover pieces project from and peripherally of said each of the plurality of foam padding pieces;

bringing said ends of said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces in alignment with said outwardly arcuate end portions of said each of the plurality of surface cover pieces, respectively;

then, sewing said ends of said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces with said outwardly arcuate end portions of said each of said plurality of surface cover pieces, thereby providing a plurality of sewn cover sections required to form said trim cover assembly in a predetermined three-dimensional shape, wherein a slack region is defined in said each of the plurality of surface cover pieces with respect to said each of the plurality of foam padding pieces;

thereafter, bending end portions of said plurality of cover sections at substantially a right angle with predetermined bending lines in a direction to a side where said plurality of foam padding pieces lie, whereby said slack region of the cover surface piece is stretched uniformly and brought to intimate and full contact upon said each of said plurality of foam padding pieces;

sewing together the bent end portions of said plurality of sewn cover sections, such that the thus-sewn bent end portions of said plurality of sewn cover sections face to said side where said plurality of foam padding pieces lie, thereby forming the trim cover assembly in said predetermined three-dimensional shape,

injecting a liquid foaming material into inside of the thus formed trim cover assembly where said plurality of foam padding pieces face inwardly thereof; and

curing and expanding said liquid foaming material so as to create a foam cushion member filled in the trim cover assembly, whereby the foamed product integral with the trim cover assembly is formed, with said plurality of surface cover pieces stretched uniform on and over the respective said plurality of foam padding pieces.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said each of said plurality surface pieces is a piece of natural or artificial leather.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said foamed product with the trim cover assembly is a headrest or an armrest.