Seat trim assembly

• US 8,191,971 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Lovasz, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US12/725,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.48, 297/452.52, 297/452.53, 297/452.58, 297/452.6, 242/65.R, 243/01, 243/00, 242/98, 243/02, 242/99
• US Class Current: 297/452.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like

Abstract

A seat trim assembly including a cushion and a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second retention portions and a flexible arm. The first and second retention portions are adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. The flexible arm connects the first and second retention portions and has a serpentine configuration that facilitates flexing of the retention clip.

Claims

1. A seat trim assembly comprising:

a retention clip including;

first and second retention portions adapted to engage a trim cover assembly;

first and second arms that extend from the first retention portion;

a first connecting member that extends from the first arm to the second arm;

third and fourth arms that extend from the second retention portion;

a second connecting member that extends from the third arm to the fourth arm;

a first serpentine arm that extends from the first arm to the third arm; and

a second serpentine arm that extends from the second arm to the fourth arm;

wherein the first and second serpentine arms have a set of curved regions that facilitate flexing of the retention clip.

2. The seat trim assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second retention portions each include a pad and a retention feature that extends from the pad.

3. The seat trim assembly of claim 1 wherein a third serpentine arm extends from the first retention portion in a direction that extends away from the second retention portion.

4. The seat trim assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second connecting members are spaced apart from the first and second retention portions, respectively.

5. The seat trim assembly of claim 1 wherein members of the set of curved regions are arranged in an alternating pattern in which adjacent curved regions are oriented in different directions.

6. The seat trim assembly of claim 1 wherein the set of curved regions includes a first member and a second member that face in opposite directions.

7. A seat trim assembly comprising:

a cushion; and

a retention clip disposed proximate the cushion, the retention clip including;

first and second retention portions adapted to engage a trim cover assembly;

first and second arms that extend from the first retention portion;

third and fourth arms that extend from the second retention portion;

a first serpentine arm that extends from the first arm to the third arm; and

a second serpentine arm that extends from the second arm to the fourth arm;

wherein the first and second serpentine arms each have a set of curved regions that facilitate flexing of the retention clip.

8. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second serpentine arms are mirror images of each other with respect to a base axis that extends through the first and second retention portions.

9. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second serpentine arms are spaced apart from and do not intersect a base axis that extends from the first retention portion to the second retention portion.

10. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 further comprising a first connecting member extending between the first and second arms.

11. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 wherein members of the set of curved regions are arranged in an alternating pattern in which adjacent curved regions face in different directions.

12. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 further comprising a trim cover assembly disposed over the cushion, wherein the first and second retention portions each include a retention feature that receives the trim cover assembly.

13. The seat trim assembly of claim 7 wherein the first retention portion includes a pad and the first and second serpentine arms are substantially coplanar with the pad.

14. A seat trim assembly comprising:

a cushion having an opening; and

a retention clip disposed in the opening, the retention clip having a first portion that includes;

first and second pads disposed along a base axis;

first and second retention features adapted to engage a trim cover, the first and second retention features extending from the first and second pads, respectively, and into the opening;

first and second pairs of arms extending from the first and second pads, respectively; and

first and second serpentine arms each having a set of curved portions, the first and second serpentine arms extending between the first and second pairs of arms;

wherein at least some members of the set of curved portions of the first serpentine arm are configured to be disposed closer together than members of the set of curved portions of the second serpentine arm when the base axis is disposed along an arc.

15. The seat trim assembly of claim 14 wherein the set of curved portions of the first serpentine arm are disposed closer together than the set of curved portions of the second serpentine arm when the first portion is disposed along a curve.

16. The seat trim assembly of claim 14 wherein the set of curved portions of the first serpentine arm includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion extending from the first curved portion, wherein the first and second curved portions face in opposite directions.

17. The seat trim assembly of claim 16 wherein the first curved portion extends from a first end of the second curved portion.

18. The seat trim assembly of claim 17 further comprising a third curved portion, wherein the third curved portion extends from a second end of the second curved portion that is disposed opposite the first end.

19. The seat trim assembly of claim 18 wherein the first and third curved portions are disposed further away from the base axis than the second curved portion.

20. The seat trim assembly of claim 14 wherein the retention clip further comprises a second portion having substantially the same configuration as the first portion, wherein the second portion and the first portion both include and extend from the first pad.