Attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a vehicle seat

• US 6,899,399 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Ali, Asad S., Hamilton, Larry, Alsbury, Kim
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D ADAMO, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/614,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20050006944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.6, 5402-407
• US Class Current: 297/452.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like

Abstract

The present invention relates to a trim material attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a vehicle seat. The present invention includes an elongate wedge having a wedge tip and opposed walls joined at the wedge tip. The opposed walls extend angularly outward to define a substantially V-shaped channel adapted to receive the trim material of a vehicle seat. The trim material attachment assembly further includes a receiving member having a base adapted to engage the padding of a vehicle seat, a centrally located elevated platform and cantilevered retention tabs extending from the elevated platform. The cantilevered retention tabs are adapted to operatively receive the elongate wedge. Each of the cantilevered retention tabs includes a guide deck adapted to provide positive placement of the elongate wedge and an engaging flange adapted to releasably engage the elongate wedge juxtaposed therebetween.

Claims

1. A trim material attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a vehicle seat comprising:

an elongate wedge including a wedge tip, opposed walls joined at said wedge tip and extending angularly outward therefrom toward a terminal end, said opposed walls each having interior and exterior sides, said interior sides defining a substantially V-shaped channel adapted to receive the trim material of a vehicle seat; and

a receiving member including a base for operatively engaging the padding of a vehicle seat, an elevated platform disposed in spaced relation to said base and cantilevered retention tabs extending from said elevated platform adapted to operatively receive said elongate wedge therebetween, each of said cantilevered retention tabs having a guide deck adapted to provide positive placement of said elongate wedge and an engaging flange adapted to releasably engage said terminal end of said opposed walls when said elongate wedge is juxtaposed between said cantilevered retention tabs;

wherein said cantilevered retention tabs each include at least one latitudinal support rib located between said elevated platform and said guide deck and at least one longitudinal support rib extending from said elevated platform and terminating at said guide deck.

2. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said interior sides include at least one ridge extending parallel to said wedge tip adapted to retain the trim material of a vehicle seat.

3. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base is shaped in a substantially circular manner and includes a plurality of apertures adapted to operatively engage the seat padding of a vehicle seat.

4. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said guide decks extend from the terminal end of each of said cantilevered retention tabs, said guide decks defining downwardly converging planes, each guide deck having a terminal end at said engaging flanges.

5. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 1 further includes a flexible elongate ganging member adapted to join a plurality of said receiving members.

6. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said base includes a channel located on the opposite side of said base relative to said cantilevered retention tabs, said channel being adapted to receive said flexible elongate ganging member and operatively engage the padding of a vehicle seat.

7. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said channel is defined by a plurality of linearly aligned clips adapted to receive said flexible elongate ganging member and operatively engage the padding of a vehicle seat.

8. A trim material attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a vehicle seat comprising:

an elongate wedge including a wedge tip, opposed walls joined at said wedge tip and extending angularly outward therefrom toward a terminal end, said opposed walls each having interior and exterior sides, said interior sides defining a substantially V-shaped channel adapted to receive the trim material of a vehicle seat;

a receiving member including a base having a first side for operatively engaging said elongate wedge and a second side including a channel for operatively engaging the padding of a vehicle seat, said first side including an elevated platform and cantilevered retention tabs extending from said elevated platform adapted to operatively receive said elongate wedge therebetween, each of said cantilevered retention tabs having a guide deck adapted to provide positive placement of said elongate wedge and an engaging flange adapted to releasably engage said terminal end of said opposed walls when said elongate wedge is juxtaposed between said cantilevered retention tabs; and

a flexible elongate ganging member releasably secured within said channel and adapted to join a plurality of said receiving members.

9. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said interior sides include at least one ridge extending parallel to said wedge tip adapted to retain the trim material for a vehicle seat.

10. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said base is shaped in a substantially circular manner and includes a plurality of apertures circumferentially spaced around said elevated platform adapted to operatively engage the seat padding of a vehicle seat.

11. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cantilevered retention tabs each include at least one latitudinal support rib located between said elevated platform and said guide deck and at least one longitudinal support rib extending from said elevated platform an terminating at said guide deck.

12. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said guide decks extend from the terminal end of each of said cantilevered retention tabs, said guide decks defining downwardly converging planes, each guide deck having a terminal end at said engaging flanges.

13. A trim material attachment assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said channel is defined by a plurality of linearly aligned clips adapted to receive said flexible elongate ganging member and operatively engage the padding of a vehicle seat.

14. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly comprising:

a seat frame including mounting brackets adapted to operatively secure said seat frame to a vehicle, an infrastructure defining a central seating region and a central back support region of a vehicle seat;

padding secured to said infrastructure having a predetermined density and resiliency, including a central seating pad, a central back support pad, a plurality bolsters substantially surrounding said central seating pad and said central back support pad, said padding including a plurality of trenches defined therein;

trim material adapted to engage said padding in a covering relation; and

an attachment assembly including an elongate wedge operatively engaged to said trim material and a receiving member operatively engaged to said padding, said elongate wedge including a wedge tip, opposed walls joined at said wedge tip and extending angularly outward therefrom toward a terminal end, said opposed walls each having interior and exterior sides, said interior sides defining a substantially V-shaped channel adapted to receive said trim material, said receiving member including a base, an elevated platform disposed in spaced relation to said base, and cantilevered retention tabs extending from said elevated platform adapted to operatively receive said elongate wedge therebetween, each of said cantilevered retention tabs having a guide deck adapted to provide positive placement of said elongate wedge and an engaging flange adapted to releasably engage said terminal end of said opposed walls when said elongate wedge is juxtaposed between said cantilevered retention tabs;

wherein said cantilevered retention tabs each include at least one latitudinal support rib located between said elevated platform and said guide deck and at least one longitudinal support rib extending from said elevated platform and terminating at said guide deck.

15. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said base is shaped in a substantially circular manner and includes a plurality of apertures adapted to operatively engage said padding.

16. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said guide decks extend from the terminal end of each of said cantilevered retention tabs, said guide decks defining downwardly converging planes, each having a terminal end at said engaging flanges.

17. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly as set forth in claim 14 further includes a flexible elongate ganging member adapted to join a plurality of said receiving members.

18. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said base includes a channel positioned along the opposite side of said base relative to said cantilevered retention tabs, said channel adapted to receive said flexible elongate ganging member and to operatively engage said padding.

19. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a seat trim attachment assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said channel is defined by a plurality of linearly aligned clips adapted to receive said flexible elongate ganging member and to operatively engage said padding.