Trim cover assembly and sewing method for forming same

• US 9,610,875 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited, Tashi-S Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Tabata, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, ALEXANDER SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/969,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 29745238, 2972182, 297391, 297220
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5883 by sewing, stitching or threading
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/70 Upholstery springs ; Upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/05 Covering or enveloping cores of pads in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 11/00 Machines for sewing quilts or mattresses control of workpiece-holding frames, or of sewing machines, in order to obtain particular seam configuration D05B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method

Abstract

A trim cover assembly of extremely soft property comprises a surface cover element, a wadding cover, and a thick foam wadding sandwiched therebetween, wherein the thick foam wadding has a compressed thin end surface region sewn with the surface cover element and wadding cover. Sewing method for forming such trim cover assembly involves: pressing and collapsing an end surface of the thick foam wadding in downwardly slantwise direction to provide a compressed thin area, thereby allowing direct access thereto of a conventional sewing machine; operating the sewing machine to sew the compressed thin area with the surface cover element, thereby producing a sewn trim cover having a compressed thin end region therein; and thereafter sewing the wadding cover with such sewn trim cover in correspondence with the compressed thin end region. As such, a trim cover assembly having the thick foam wadding is easily formed by the conventional sewing machine.

Claims

1. A trim cover assembly comprising:

a) a first cover element including;

a surface cover element composed of;

a surface cover material having a first end region; and

a first foam wadding having a second end region;

a wadding cover including a main region and an end region;

a second thick foam wadding which is greater in pliability and thickness than said first foam wadding of said surface cover element;

said second thick foam wadding being interposed between said first foam wadding and said wadding cover;

said second thick foam wadding including;

a main thick region; and

a compressed end region formed by pressing and collapsing an end surface of the second thick foam wadding, said compressed end region being thereby thinner than said main thick region;

said first foam wadding residing between said surface cover material and said second thick foam wadding;

said main region of the wadding cover overlaying said main thick region of said second thick foam wadding; and

a sewn end portion consisting of;

a first sewn region defined by sewing said compressed end region of said second thick foam wadding to both said first end region of said surface cover material and said second end region of said first foam wadding, altogether; and

a second sewn region juxtaposed on and sewn with said first sewn region, said second sewn region being defined by placing said end region of said wadding cover on said compressed end region at said first sewn region and then sewing the end region of the wadding cover to the first sewn region;

and

b) a second cover element including an end portion,

wherein said end portion of said second cover element is sewn with said sewn end portion of said first cover element.

2. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trim cover assembly is adapted for use on a vehicle-seat-related product including a vehicle seat and a headrest to be mounted on said vehicle seat.

3. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sewn end portion of said first cover element is smaller in thickness than said main thick region of the second thick foam wadding to such an extent that said end region of said wadding cover is close to said first end region of said surface cover material.

4. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first sewn region is defined by sewing said compressed end region of said second thick foam wadding to both said first and second end regions respectively of said surface cover material and said first foam wadding, altogether, with said compressed end region being formed by pressing and collapsing said end surface of said second thick foam wadding slantwise in a direction to said surface cover element.

5. A trim cover assembly comprising:

a surface cover element composed of;

a surface cover material having a first end region; and

a first foam wadding having a second end region;

a wadding cover including a main region and an end region;

a second thick foam wadding which is greater in pliability and thickness than said first foam wadding of said surface cover element;

said second thick foam wadding being interposed between said first foam wadding and said wadding cover,

said second thick foam wadding including;

a main thick region; and

a compressed end region formed by pressing and collapsing an end surface of the second thick foam wadding, said compressed end region being thereby thinner than said main thick region;

said first foam wadding residing between said surface cover material and said second thick foam wadding;

said main region of the wadding cover overlaying said main thick region of said second thick foam wadding; and

a sewn end portion consisting of;

a first sewn region defined by sewing said compressed end region of said second thick foam wadding to both said first end region of said surface cover material and said second end region of said first foam wadding, altogether; and

a second sewn region juxtaposed on and sewn with said first sewn region, said second sewn region being defined by placing said end region of said wadding cover on said compressed end region at said first sewn region and then sewing the end region of the wadding cover to the first sewn region.

6. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said trim cover assembly is adapted for use on a vehicle-seat-related product including a vehicle seat and a headrest to be mounted on said vehicle seat.

7. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first sewn region is defined by sewing said compressed end region of said second thick foam wadding to said first and second end regions respectively of said surface cover material and said first foam wadding, altogether, with said compressed end region being formed by pressing and collapsing said end surface of said second thick foam wadding slantwise in a direction to said surface cover element.

8. The trim cover assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sewn end portion is smaller in thickness than said main thick region of the second thick foam wadding to such an extent that said end region of said wadding cover is close to said first end region of said surface cover material.