Locking seam alignment guide for interior trim component cover
First Claim
1. A method of forming an interior trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment, comprising the steps of:
- stitching a locking seam alignment guide to an underside of a fabric cover along a seam location, said locking seam alignment guide including a locking key and a stitching flange;
forming an alignment guide recess corresponding to said seam location in a substrate for providing intimate contact between said locking seam alignment guide and said substrate, the alignment guide recess comprising a first keyway configured to receive the stitching flange and at least a portion of the fabric cover, and a second keyway for retention of the locking key; and
seating said locking key and said stitching flange into said keyways to lock said fabric cover to said substrate;
wherein said locking seam alignment guide is held to said alignment guide recess to resist pullout and minimize lateral movement of said cover relative to said substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A locking seam alignment guide may be utilized for attaching a fabric cover to a substrate to form an interior trim component in a vehicle passenger compartment. An elongate ribbon-like member has a longitudinal stitching flange and a longitudinal locking key depending from the stitching flange along a midline thereof. The longitudinal locking key has one of a cylindrical shape, and a triangular shape. The longitudinal stitching flange is one of a flange extending along one side of the midline, and a flange extending along both sides of the midline. The locking seam alignment guide can be stitched to a fabric cover and seated in a complementary keyway to hold the fabric cover to the substrate.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of forming an interior trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment, comprising the steps of:
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stitching a locking seam alignment guide to an underside of a fabric cover along a seam location, said locking seam alignment guide including a locking key and a stitching flange; forming an alignment guide recess corresponding to said seam location in a substrate for providing intimate contact between said locking seam alignment guide and said substrate, the alignment guide recess comprising a first keyway configured to receive the stitching flange and at least a portion of the fabric cover, and a second keyway for retention of the locking key; and seating said locking key and said stitching flange into said keyways to lock said fabric cover to said substrate; wherein said locking seam alignment guide is held to said alignment guide recess to resist pullout and minimize lateral movement of said cover relative to said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification