Temporary seat covers

• US 9,327,629 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Huebner, Annette Lynn, Hellman, Kristin Ann, Line, Johnathan Andrew, Rutman, Matthew B., Petrauskas, Lisa E., Hosbach, Christian J., Welch, Ryan, Greiner, Josh, Sakarian, Artur
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US14/477,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20160068089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 297/221, 297/228.1, 297/228.13, 297/229, 297/188.11, 297/188.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/60 Removable protective coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6027 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6036 by hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6063 by elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/00 Arrangements or adaptations of other passenger fittings, not otherwise provided for of radio sets, television sets, telephones, stowing or holding appliances , safety belts or the like B60R

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat and a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat. A seatcover assembly is disposed below the seat. The seatcover assembly is operable between a stored position and a deployed position. A spring-biased spindle is coupled with an attachment end of the seatcover assembly. A seatcover is configured to be wrapped around the spindle in the stored position and withdrawn from the spring-biased spindle in the deployed position. An engagement rod is coupled with an intermediate portion of the seatcover and is configured to securely engage a biteline disposed between the seat and the seatback. A plurality of engagement features removably secure side edges of the seatcover with the seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seat;

a seatback pivotally coupled with the seat;

a seat cover assembly disposed below the seat, the seat cover assembly being operable between a stored position and a deployed position and comprising;

a spring-biased spindle coupled with an attachment end of the seat cover assembly;

a seat cover configured to be wrapped around the spindle in the stored position and withdrawn from the spring-biased spindle in the deployed position; and

an engagement rod coupled with an intermediate portion of the seat cover, the engagement rod being configured to extend across and securely engage a bite line disposed between the seat and the seatback;

a plurality of engagement features removably securing side edges of the seat cover with the seat; and

a forward portion of the seat including a door horizontally hinged to the forward portion of the seat, the door configured to cover a cavity disposed under a seat cushion of the seat and containing the spring-biased spindle, the door operable between open and closed positions to avail the seat cover for use and conceal the seat cover, respectively.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat cover includes outwardly extending side bolster covers.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement features include one of a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement, snap-fit fasteners, and zippers.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a trim door operable between open and closed positions and configured to generally conceal the seat cover assembly from view in the closed position.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement rod includes pull tabs configured to assist a passenger in withdrawing the engagement rod from the bite line.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein a zipper removably couples the seat cover assembly with the seat.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein a free end of the seat cover includes an enlarged slot for accommodating a head restraint disposed on the seatback.

8. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a seatback pivotally coupled with a seat and defining a bite line;

a seat cover assembly disposed below the seat and comprising;

a seat cover wrapped around a spindle coupled with the seat and operable between stored and deployed positions;

an engagement rod on the seat cover extending across the seat and engaged with the bite line, wherein the engagement rod includes pull tabs configured to assist a passenger in withdrawing the engagement rod from the bite line; and

engagement features securing edges of the seat cover with the seat.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the seat cover includes outwardly extending side bolster covers.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the engagement features include one of a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement, snap-fit fasteners, and zippers.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a forward portion of the seat including a trim door horizontally hinged to the forward portion of the seat, the trim door configured to cover a cavity disposed under a seat cushion of the seat and containing the spindle, the trim door operable between open and closed positions and configured to generally conceal the seat cover assembly from view in the closed position.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein a zipper removably couples the seat cover assembly with the seat.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein a free end of the seat cover includes an enlarged slot for accommodating a head restraint disposed on the seatback.

14. A vehicle seat cover assembly comprising:

a spindle coupled with a seat;

a stretchable seat cover configured to be wrapped around the spindle in a stored position and withdrawn from the spindle in a deployed position; and

an engagement rod coupled with an intermediate portion of the seat cover and configured to extend across and securely engage a bite line of the seat, wherein the engagement rod includes pull tabs configured to assist a passenger in withdrawing the engagement rod from, the bite line; and

engagement features removably securing the seat cover with the seat.

15. The vehicle seat cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the engagement features include one of a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement, snap-fit fasteners, and zippers.

16. The vehicle seat cover assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a forward portion of the seat including a trim door horizontally hinged to the forward portion of the seat, the trim door configured to cover a cavity disposed under a seat cushion of the seat containing the spindle, the trim door operable between open and closed positions and configured to generally conceal the seat cover assembly from view in the closed position.

17. The vehicle seat cover assembly of claim 14, wherein a zipper removably couples the seat cover assembly with the seat.

18. The vehicle seat cover assembly of claim 14, wherein a free end of the seat cover includes an enlarged slot for accommodating a head restraint disposed on a seatback.