Seat back structure

• US 7,673,939 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Itou, Yasuyuki, Taguchi, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US12/108,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 297/219.1, 297/228.1, 297/228.13, 297/229, 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.4, 297/218.5
• US Class Current: 297/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5816 attachments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/72 Attachment or adjustment thereof

Abstract

Structure of seat back is provided, which comprises: a seat back frame; and an upholstery cover assembly including a forward upholster cover element and a backward upholstery cover element. Those two upholstery cover elements cover respective forward and backward sides of the seat back frame, with an upper region thereof secured on top portion of the seat back frame by a headrest stay holder element. Outer peripheral ends of those two upholstery cover elements are engaged together by an engagement element, so that substantially a whole of the seat back frame is covered with the upholstery cover assembly, thus forming a seat back.

Claims

1. A structure of a seat back having a headrest mounted thereon, in which said headrest includes at least one headrest stay, comprising:

a seat back frame having;

an upper frame portion provided with at least one support element, said upper frame portion facing upwardly of said seat back;

a pair of lateral frame portions extending vertically from said upper frame portion, said pair of lateral frame portions facing two lateral sides of said seat back, respectively;

a forward side defined at one side of said upper frame portion and said pair of lateral frame portions, said one side facing forwardly of said seat back;

a backward side defined at another side of said upper frame portion and said pair of lateral frame portions, said another side facing backwardly of said seat back;

at least one headrest stay holder element adapted for supportively receiving said at least one headrest stay; and

an upholstery cover assembly including;

(a) a first upholstery cover element including;

a cover area configured to cover said forward side of said seat back frame;

a peripheral end portion adapted to be capable of substantially covering both said pair of lateral frame portions of said frame;

said first upholstery cover element having a first engagement element provided to and along said peripheral end portion thereof;

said first upholstery cover element being comprised of a trim cover assembly having a reverse surface and a foam padding element fixed on said reverse surface of said trim cover assembly;

(b) a second upholstery cover element including;

a cover area configured to cover said backward side of said seat back frame;

a peripheral end portion adapted to be capable of substantially covering both said pair of lateral frame portions of said seat back frame;

said second upholstery cover element having a second engagement element provide to and along said peripheral end portion thereof;

said second upholstery cover element being comprised of a trim cover assembly having a reverse surface and a foam padding element fixed on said reverse surface of said trim cover assembly;

(c) an upper region including a connection portion where said first and second upholstery cover elements are integrally connected with each other, said upper region being configured to cover said upper frame portion of said seat back frame; and

(d) at least one hole formed in said upper region;

said upholstery cover assembly being attached to substantially a whole of said seat back frame, such that said upper region thereof is securely retained on said upper frame portion of said seat back frame by said at least one headrest stay holder element which is inserted through said at least one hole and securely received in said at least one support element associated with said seat back frame, that said first upholstery cover element covers said forward side of said seat back frame, whereas said second upholstery cover element covers said backward side of said seat back frame, and that said first engagement element is engaged with said second engagement element, thereby connecting both said peripheral end portions of said first and second upholstery cover elements integrally so as to cover all lateral side portions of said seat back frame, excepting said upper region, with the two foam padding elements respectively of said first and second upholstery cover elements facing inwardly of said upholstery cover assembly toward each other in contact with said seat back frame.

2. The structure of seat back as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second upholstery cover elements are sewn integrally together at said connection portion defined in said upper region, and excepting said connection portion, said peripheral end portion of said first upholstery cover element is connected with said peripheral end portion of said second upholstery cover element by means of said first and second engagement elements.

3. The structure of seat back as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first upholstery cover element includes an upper region corresponding to said upper region associated with said upholstery cover assembly,

wherein said second upholstery cover element includes an upper region corresponding to said upper region associated with said upholstery cover assembly,

wherein said trim cover assembly of said first upholstery cover element comprises:

a pair of bolster cover regions respectively defined in two forward lateral regions thereof, said pair of bolster cover regions facing forwardly of said seat back;

a frontal central cover region defined centrally thereof between said pair of bolster cover regions, said frontal central cover region facing forwardly of said seat back; and

a forward upper cover region facing forwardly of said seat back, said forward upper cover region corresponding to said upper region;

wherein said pair of bolster cover regions each includes said peripheral end portion associated with said first upholstery cover element, with said first engagement element provided to and along said particular peripheral end portion;

wherein said reverse surface of said first upholstery cover element comprises reverse surfaces respectively of said frontal central cover region, said forward upper cover region and said pair of bolster cover regions,

wherein said foam padding of said first upholstery cover element is fixed on said reverse surfaces respectively of said frontal central cover region, said forward upper cover region and said pair of bolster cover regions,

wherein said trim cover assembly of said second upholstery cover element comprises;

a pair of lateral cover regions respectively defined in the two lateral sides thereof, said pair of lateral cover regions facing backwardly of said seat back;

a backward central cover region defined centrally thereof between said pair of lateral cover regions;

said backward central cover region facing backwardly of said seat back, and a backward upper cover region facing forwardly of said seat back, said backward upper cover region corresponding to said upper region;

wherein said pair of lateral cover regions each includes said peripheral end portion associated with said second upholstery cover element, with said second engagement element provided to and along said particular peripheral end portion;

wherein said reverse surface of said second upholstery cover element comprises reverse surfaces respectively of said backward central cover region, said backward upper cover region and said pair of lateral cover regions, and

wherein said foam padding of said second upholstery cover element is fixed on said reverse surfaces respectively of said backward central cover region, said backward upper cover region and said pair of bolster cover regions.

4. The structure of seat back as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first upholstery cover element includes an upper region having a connection portion defined therein, said upper region and said connection portion respectively corresponding to said upper region and said connection portion which are associated with said upholstery cover assembly,

wherein said second upholstery cover element includes:

an upper region having a connection region defined therein, said upper region and connection portions respectively corresponding to said upper region and said connection portion which are associated with said upholstery cover assembly,

wherein said connection portion of said first upholstery cover element is integrally connected with said connection portion of said second upholstery cover element,

wherein said at least one hole is formed in said upper region of said first upholstery cover region,

wherein said trim cover assembly of said first upholstery cover element comprises;

a pair of bolster cover regions respectively defined in two forward lateral regions thereof, said pair of bolster cover regions facing forwardly of said seat back;

a frontal central cover region defined centrally thereof between said pair bolster cover regions, said frontal central cover region facing forwardly of said seat back; and

a forward upper cover region facing forwardly of said seat back,

said forward upper cover region corresponding to said upper region;

wherein said pair of bolster cover regions each includes said peripheral end portion associated with said first upholstery cover element, with said first engagement element provided to and along said particular peripheral end portion;

wherein said reverse surface of said first upholstery cover element comprises reverse surfaces respectively of said frontal central cover region, said forward upper cover region and said pair of bolster cover regions,

wherein said foam padding of said first upholstery cover element is fixed on said reverse surfaces respectively of said frontal central cover region, said forward upper cover region and said pair of bolster cover regions,

wherein said trim cover assembly of said second upholstery cover element Comprises;

a pair of lateral cover regions respectively defined in the two lateral sides thereof, said pair of lateral cover regions facing backwardly of said seat back;

a backward central cover region defined centrally thereof between said pair of lateral cover regions, said backward central cover region facing backwardly of said seat back; and

a backward upper cover region facing forwardly of said seat back,

said backward upper cover region corresponding to said upper region;

wherein said pair of lateral cover regions each includes said peripheral end portion associated with said second upholstery cover element, with said second engagement element provided to and along said particular peripheral end portion;

wherein said reverse surface of said second upholstery cover element comprises reverse surfaces respectively of said backward central cover region, said backward upper cover region and said pair of lateral cover regions,

wherein said foam padding of said second upholstery cover element is fixed on said reverse surfaces respectively of said backward central cover region, said backward upper cover region and said pair of lateral cover regions, and

wherein said upper cover region of said first upholstery cover element, excepting said connection portion, is engaged with said upper cover region of said second upholstery cover element, excepting said connection portion, by means of said first and second engagement element, and further, said peripheral end portions of said pair of bolster cover regions are engaged with said peripheral end portions of said pair of lateral cover regions, respectively, by means of said first and second engagement elements so as to cover all lateral side ortions of said seat back frame, excepting said upper region, with the two foam padding elements respectively of said first and second upholstery cover elements facing inwardly of said upholstery cover assembly towards each other in contact with said seat back frame.