System for transporting vehicle seats and floor mats

• US 6,971,716 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, Steve, Brzozowski, Martin, DePaulis, Todd M., Saling, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US10/337,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030155796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.01, 297/188.04, 297/188.06, 297/188.07, 297/188.12, 297/188.13, 297/188.2, 297/228.1, 297/228.11, 297/228.12, 297/228.13, 297/229, 297/219.1
• US Class Current: 297/229
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/60 Removable protective coverings

Abstract

A cover for temporarily protecting a vehicle seat that has a seat back and a seat bottom. The cover includes a pouch portion adapted to be disposed over a portion of the seat back, and a pocket adapted to receive a floor mat. Alternatively, the cover can include an extension portion adapted to be disposed over a portion of the seat bottom with a pocket adapted to receive a floor mat. A method of transporting a vehicle seat and floor mat to a vehicle assembly plant is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a vehicle seat, providing a floor mat, packaging the vehicle seat and floor mat as a single unit defining a seat assembly, and transporting the seat assembly to a vehicle assembly plant.

Claims

1. A method of packaging a vehicle seat and floor mat to be transported to a vehicle assembly plant comprising the steps of:

a. providing a vehicle seat separate from and not yet installed in a vehicle;

b. providing a complementary floor mat corresponding to the style of the seat;

c. pairing the vehicle seat and the floor mat as a matched set defining a seat assembly; and

d. transporting the seat assembly to a vehicle assembly plant, wherein the vehicle seat is transported separately from the vehicle in which it is to be installed.

2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

installing the seat assembly into a vehicle; and

separating the floor mat from the vehicle seat and placing the floor mat into the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the floor mat is separated from the vehicle seat by one of a car dealer and end user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said vehicle seat is provided with a plurality of floor mats.

5. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of releasably attaching the floor mat to the seat to package the seat and floor mat as a single unit defining the seat assembly.

6. The method defined in claim 5 wherein the floor mat is releasably attached to the seat by a pocket.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket is attached to a cover, the cover having a seat back portion and a seat bottom portion, the cover being adapted to temporarily protect the seat.

8. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket is adjacent a rear portion of the cover.

9. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket is adjacent a forward portion of the cover.

10. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket is positioned on an inner surface of the cover.

11. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket is positioned on a side surface of the cover.

12. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket of the cover is adapted to receive a plurality of floor mats.

13. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket further comprises a closure mechanism for sealing the pocket.

14. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the pocket includes a handle that can be positioned about a headrest of the seat for positioning the floor mat and the pocket with the seat.

15. A method for packaging a vehicle seat and a floor mat to be transported to a vehicle assembly plant comprising the steps of:

a. providing a plurality of vehicle seats separate from and not yet installed in a vehicle;

b. providing a plurality of complementary floor mats corresponding to the style of the seats;

c. pairing at least one vehicle seat and at least one floor mat as a matched set defining a seat assembly;

d. transporting the seat assembly to a vehicle assembly plant, wherein the vehicle seat is transported separately from the vehicle in which it is to be installed.

16. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising the step of releasably attaching the floor mat to the seat to package the seat and floor mat as a single unit defining the seat assembly.

17. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the floor mat is releasably attached to the seat by a pocket.

18. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the at least one vehicle seat is packaged with the plurality of floor mats.

19. The method defined in claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of vehicle seats are packaged with each of the plurality of the floor mats.

20. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the pocket includes a handle that can be positioned about a headrest of the seat for positioning the floor mat and the pocket with the seat.