Abstract: A method of making a cushioned seat component which includes the following steps. First, providing a cover having an exterior surface which is to present the major exterior appearance of the seat component and which includes a panel portion to be cushioned, the panel portion of the cover being perforate between the interior and exterior surfaces thereof. Second, mounting the cover on a vacuum mold so that the exterior surface of the panel portion is facing a mold surface of the vacuum mold having a shape corresponding with the desired exterior surface shape of the panel portion. Third, mounting an imperforate film over the interior surface of the panel portion while the cover is mounted on the vacuum mold. Fourth, applying a vacuum to the vacuum mold so as to draw the exterior surface of the panel portion into conformity with the mold surface of the vacuum mold with the film preventing passage of air through the cover from the interior surface thereof to the exterior surface thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a seat component including the steps of sewing marginal edges of a plurality of cover material pieces with a plastic strip disposed between exterior surfaces of the marginal edges in a configuration coincident with a elongated sharply concave styling character line to form a seam in which a line of stitches extends through the marginal edges of the cover material pieces and a reduced thickness central portion of the strip along a severance line thereon or slightly outwardly thereof, applying a tape of imperforate material along the interior surface of the seam, positioning a sewn and taped panel of the cover pieces so that the exterior surface thereof is in facing relation to mold face of mold member, inserting an exterior edge portion of the strip into an elongated slot in the mold surface so as to accurately locate the seam of the panel along the elongated sharply convex styling character line, foaming a foamable material so as to adhere a body of foamed material to the interior surface o