Abstract: The preparation of a laminate which can be shaped by vacuum forming is described. The laminate is of a stretchable fabric, a plasticized vinyl chloride polymer layer and sandwiched between them a plastics foam layer. Such a material has a luxurious and "full" feel even after shaping.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making fabric-faced upholstered items. The items are made by vacuum forming under heat a laminate of a cast highly plasticized vinyl chloride homopolymer or copolymer sheet and a readily extensible fabric, and the resulting shaped cover is filled with a foam which is foamed in situ, the foam bonding to the thermoplastics sheet of the laminate and holding the laminate in shape. The laminate must have an extensibility in two directions at right angles of at least 25% under a load of 51b per 2 inch wide strip when subjected to loads of 51b applied at right angles to one another to the edges of a 2 inch side square of the fabric, and be capable of increasing its surface area by at least 50%. The fabric can have this high degree of extensibility and still be suitable as a cover because the laminate is bonded to the foam filling and so held to shape.

Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of covers for padded items such as vehicle seats and to the padded items themselves. The covers are formed to shape by vacuum forming a thermoplastics sheet and then at least one fabric panel is welded around its edges to the underside of the shaped cover and the thermoplastics material is removed from over the fabric panel to expose the fabric. A padded item is thereafter preferably made from the resulting fabric panelled cover by forming a foamable mixture within the cover.