Attaching covers to seat cushions

• US 7,077,473 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velcro IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Velcro Industries BV (Chartwell Industries Ltd)
• Inventors: Leach, Peter, Demain, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/406,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.2, 297/218.1, 297/219.1, 297/228.13, 297/452.58, 297/DIG.6, 297/452.61
• US Class Current: 297/228.13
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/12 with incorporated means for positioning inserts, e.g. labels positioning reinforcements B29C70/541
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/1271 the preformed parts being partially covered
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/729 Hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5833 by hook-and-loop type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/06 Hook and loop type fastener

Abstract

Seat cushions are provided including a foam bun, including a first, generally planar central region and a second, generally non-planar region, the first and second regions being separated by an elongated trench, and, disposed in the trench, an elongated touch fastener strip having a first surface that is bonded to the bottom of the trench and a second surface that carries a plurality of fastener elements. The trench has at least a portion of its bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a plane that is generally parallel to the planar central region, allowing the touch fastener strip to be extended around a curve in the trench without buckling.

Claims

1. A seat cushion comprising:

a foam bun, including a central region bounded on two opposite sides by elongated trenches; and

disposed in each trench, an elongated touch fastener strip having an exposed surface that carries a plurality of fastener elements;

wherein at least a portion of one of the elongated trenches has a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to the central region, and wherein substantially the entire width of the touch fastener strip is disposed on the inclined bottom surface; and

wherein at least a portion of one of the bottom surfaces of the trenches is inclined at an angle selected to allow the fastener strip to extend around a sweeping curve having a radius of curvature of at least about 15 inches.

2. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of one of the bottom surfaces of the elongated trenches is inclined so that in a cross-section taken generally perpendicular to the trenches the bottom surface of the inclined portion of the trench defines an included angle with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the centerline of the seat cushion.

3. The seat cushion of claim 2 wherein said included angle is from about 10 to 80 degrees.

4. The seat cushion of claim 3 wherein said included angle is from about 30 to 60 degrees.

5. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the fastener strip is less than 1 inch wide.

6. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the trench is less than 1 inch wide.

7. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein each of said elongated trenches includes opposing side walls and said bottom surface is positioned between said side walls.

8. The seat cushion of claim 1 wherein the fastener elements comprise male fastener elements.

9. The seat cushion of claim 1 further comprising a pair of bolster regions, the elongated trenches being disposed between the central region and the bolster regions.

10. The seat cushion of claim 9 wherein the central region is configured to support a back of a person sitting on the seat cushion.

11. The seat cushion of claim 9 wherein the central region is configured to define a seat bottom.

12. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the seat cushion further comprises a fabric cover, having an inner surface carrying a second elongated touch fastener strip that is positioned to engage the touch fastener strip on the foam bun.

13. The seat cushion of claim 12 wherein the fastener elements comprise male fastener elements, and the second touch fastener strip comprises a loop material.

14. A seat cushion comprising:

a foam bun, including a central region bounded on two opposite sides by elongated trenches; and

disposed in each trench, an elongated touch fastener strip having an exposed surface that carries a plurality of fastener elements;

wherein at least a portion of one of the elongated trenches has a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to the central region, and wherein substantially the entire width of the touch fastener strip is disposed on the inclined bottom surface; and

wherein at least a portion of one of the trenches defines a sweeping curve having a radius of curvature greater than about 15 inches.

15. The seat cushion of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of one of the bottom surfaces of the elongated trenches is inclined so that is a cross-section taken generally perpendicular to the trenches the bottom surface of the inclined portion of the trench defines an included angle with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the centerline of the seat cushion.

16. The seat cushion of claim 15 wherein said included angle is from about 10 to 80 degrees.

17. The seat cushion of claim 16 wherein said included angle is from about 30 to 60 degrees.

18. The seat cushion of claim 14 wherein the fastener strip is less than 1 inch wide.

19. The seat cushion of claim 14 wherein the trench is less than 1 inch wide.

20. The seat cushion of claim 14, wherein the seat cushion further comprises a fabric cover, having an inner surface carrying a second elongated touch fastener strip that is positioned to engage the touch fastener strip on the foam bun.

21. The seat cushion of claim 20 wherein the fastener elements comprise male fastener elements, and the second touch fastener strip comprises a loop material.

22. The seat cushion of claim 14 further comprising a pair of bolster regions, the elongated trenches being disposed between the central region and the bolster regions.

23. The seat cushion of claim 22 wherein the central region is configured to support a back of a person sitting on the seat cushion.

24. The seat cushion of claim 22 wherein the central region is configured to define a seat bottom.

25. The seat cushion of claim 14 wherein each of said elongated trenches includes opposing side walls and said bottom surface is positioned between said side walls.

26. The seat cushion of claim 14 wherein the fastener elements comprise male fastener elements.