Attachment device

• US 7,815,992 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proprietect LP
• Original Assignee: Proprietect LP
• Inventors: Hack, Michael, Heinl, Georg, Pedde, Burkhard, Marenne, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US12/340,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 428/99, 428/100, 428/223, 297/452.6, 297/452.13, 243/36, 243/41, 245/811.1, 24300-302, 244/62, 242/97, 246/971, 242/98, 242/99
• US Class Current: 428/100
• 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 2031/58 Upholstery or cushions, e.g. vehicle upholstery or interior padding mattresses, cushions B29L2031/751
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5841 by clamping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/318 Strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45775 having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24033 including stitching and discrete fastener[s], coating or bond

Abstract

A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device having a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion. The attachment device is preferably flexible in at least two independent planes. Each female attachment portion has a receptacle portion and a base portion. Each base portion is connected to the connecting portion. Each base portion has a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion. At least a portion of the connecting portion is disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions. Preferably, the connecting portion extends below the bottom surfaces of the adjacent base portions.

Claims

1. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device, comprising, prior to combination with a vehicular seat:

a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes;

each female attachment portion comprising a receptacle portion and a base portion connected to the connecting portion, the base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion;

a portion of the connecting portion being disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of adjacent female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions, said portion of the connecting portion extending exoplanarly of the adjacent base portions on a side of the base portions which is opposite a side of the base portions from which the receptacle portions extend.

2. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device, comprising, prior to combination with a vehicular seat:

a first female attachment portion, a second female attachment portion, and a third female attachment portion;

the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes, each female attachment portion comprising (i) a receptacle portion, and (ii) a base portion disposed below the corresponding receptacle portion, each base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the corresponding receptacle portion;

the first female attachment portion being interconnected to the second female attachment portion by a first connecting portion;

the second female attachment portion being interconnected to the third female attachment portion by a second connecting portion; and

at least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extending below bottoms of two co-planar base portions to which it is interconnected, each said bottom being on an opposite side of its respective base portion from the corresponding receptacle portion.

3. A vehicular seat trim cover attachment device, comprising, prior to combination with a vehicular seat:

an integrally formed polymer having a first female attachment portion, a second female attachment portion, and a connecting portion that connects together the first female attachment portion and the second female attachment portion;

each of the female attachment portions including (i) a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a lateral width substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the connecting portion, and (ii) a pair of upstanding walls disposed on the top surface of the corresponding base portion, each upstanding wall having a hook portion at the distal end thereof, the hook portions being configured to retain the trim cover, a lateral width of each pair of upstanding walls being less than the lateral width of the corresponding base portion; and

the connecting portion having at least one section which extends below the bottom surfaces of co-planar base portions to which it is attached.

4. Vehicular seat trim cover attachment apparatus, comprising, prior to combination with a vehicular seat:

a connecting portion having a (i) longitudinal axis and (ii) a lateral width that is less than its longitudinal length;

a first female attachment device having a first base with a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width, the first base having a first top surface, a first bottom surface, and a first side surface, the first female attachment device also having a first pair of upstanding walls disposed on the first top surface, each upstanding wall having a hook at its distal end, each hook extending toward the opposite upstanding wall so as to engage the trim cover, the first pair of upstanding walls presenting a first U-shape whose outer walls have a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width but less than the first base lateral width, inner walls of said first U-shape having a lateral width greater than the lateral width of the connecting portion; and

a second female attachment device having a second base with a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width, the second base having a second top surface, a second bottom surface, and a second side surface, the second female attachment device also having a second pair of upstanding walls disposed on the second top surface, each upstanding wall having a hook at its distal end, each hook extending toward the opposite upstanding wall so as to engage the trim cover, the second pair of upstanding walls presenting a second U-shape whose outer walls have a lateral width greater than the connecting portion lateral width but less than the second base lateral width, inner walls of said second U-shape having a lateral width greater than the lateral width of the connecting portion;

said connecting portion connecting the first and second female attachment devices, a portion of the connecting portion being disposed below co-planar, adjacent first and second bottom surfaces.

5. A foam seat element having molded there in the vehicular seat cover attachment device comprising, prior to combination with a vehicular seat:

a plurality of female attachment portions interconnected to one another by at least one connecting portion, the attachment device being flexible in at least two independent planes;

each female attachment portion comprising a receptacle portion and a base portion connected to the connecting portion, the base portion having a lateral dimension greater than a lateral dimension of the receptacle portion;

a portion of the connecting portion being disposed in an exoplanar relationship with respect to a pair of adjacent female attachment portions that have substantially coplanar base portions, said portion of the connecting portion extending exoplanarly on a side of the female attachment portions which is opposite a side from which the receptacle portions extend.