Manufacturing process for a seat cushion or similar for an automobile vehicle

• US 6,508,963 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG), Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Sieges D'Automobile (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Le Pimpec, Yves, Jaillet, Laurent, Rancon, Hervé
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhns, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US09/722,254
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 264/46.4, 264/46.6, 264/46.8
• US Class Current: 264/46.6
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1209 by impregnating a preformed part, e.g. a porous lining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/14 the preformed part being a lining B29C44/1209 takes precedence

Abstract

A process for manufacturing a cushion made of polyurethane foam covered with a cover comprises the initial step of placing the cover in a mould having the shape of the cushion to be obtained, the cover having a front face forming the exterior decoration layer which is placed against the inside wall of the mould and a rough back face facing towards the inside of the mould. Then a film of thermoplastic material is placed on the rough back face of the cover, the film containing agents reacting with polyurethane isocyanate, the film being initially permeable to water vapor. Then polyurethane is injected into the mould to form said foam by expanding. The film has a plastification capability under the effect of chemical reactions occurring between the material of the film and the isocyanate contained in the polyurethane. The film further has a sufficiently low predetermined thickness so that the polyurethane foam passes through the film and anchors onto the back face of the cover during expansion and under the effect of the pressure generated by the expansion.

Claims

1. Process for manufacturing a cushion made of polyurethane foam covered with a cover, comprising the steps:

placing the cover in a mould having the shape of the cushion to be obtained, the cover having a front face forming the exterior decoration layer which is placed against the inside wall of the mould and a rough back face facing towards the inside of the mould;

placing a film of thermoplastic material on the rough back face of the cover, the film containing agents reacting with polyurethane isocyanate, said film being initially permeable to water vapour;

injecting polyurethane into the mould to form said foam by expanding;

said film having a plastification capability under the effect of chemical reactions occurring between the material of the film and the isocyanate contained in the polyurethane;

said film further having a sufficiently low predetermined thickness so that the polyurethane foam passes through said film and anchors onto the back face of the cover during expansion and under the effect of the pressure generated by said expansion.

2. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the film is a polysaccharide or animal protein-base film associated with a plastifying agent selected from the group consisting of:

caprolactone, polylactic acid, cellophane, paper, polyethylene, and isocyanate.

3. Process in accordance with claim 2, wherein starch, polysaccharide or protein proportion in the film is between 50 and 90%.

4. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the film has a thickness of between 10 and 50 microns.

5. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the film has a melting point of between 60 and 150°

C. and a dissolution time in isocyanate of less than 10 minutes at a temperature of between 20 and 60°

C.

6. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air permeability of the film is lower than 1 liter per square meter, per second, under a pressure difference of 100 Pa.

7. Process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the film is bonded to the back surface of the cover by assembly with a composite comprising the cover before cutting