Vehicle seat trim attachment
A trim material attachment assembly for a seat includes a cushion having first and second sides and an aperture formed therethrough. A trim cover is provided for covering the first side of the seat cushion. A one-piece, integrally molded trim holder includes a central member disposed in the aperture of the cushion. The central member has first and second ends. A clip is formed at the first end of the central member and engaged with the trim cover to secure the holder to the trim cover. A leg is formed at the second end of the central member and is connected to the second end by a living hinge permitting the leg to move between an assembly position to allow the plate member to be inserted through the aperture, and a holding position to prevent the leg from being pulled through the aperture, thereby securing the trim cover to the cushion.
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This invention relates in general to vehicle seats and in particular to a trim attachment assembly and method of attaching a trim cover to a seat cushion.
Vehicle seats generally include a seat back and a seat cushion or bottom. The seat back is commonly pivotally attached to the seat bottom. Each of the seat back and the seat bottom includes a framework, a cushion or padding connected to the framework, and a trim cover for decoratively covering and protecting the cushion. Typically, the cushion is made of an expandable foam material and is molded to a desired shape. Examples of trim covers include leather, polymers, and fabric.
Various seat trim attachment assemblies are commonly used in the industry. One such type of attachment assembly is often referred to as a close out attachment wherein the attachment assembly is generally not readily visible and is commonly located along the underside of the seat back or bottom. Another type of attachment is referred to as a trench attachment wherein the attachment area is readily visible by the vehicle occupants. In this situation, such as in bucket-style seats, the trench attachment is employed along the areas where the raised o]bolsters meet the recessed central seating and back sections, thereby creating a valley or trench where the trim material is secured to avoid the appearance of loose fitting trim material. The trench is often located at seam lines, and thus the seam is drawn slightly into the foam cushion of the seat.
One known example of a trench style attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,399 in which a plurality of clips or receiving members are molded at desired locations within the expandable foam cushion. The receiving members include resilient gripping tabs. A wedge strip is then attached to a seam of a trim cover. The foam cushion includes trenches formed therein generally at the seam locations. The wedge strip is pulled into the trench and the wedge strip is resiliently connected to the gripping tabs of the receiving member. Although this type of attachment has proven capable of providing an attachment, one of the disadvantages to this method is that it is often difficult to mold the plurality of receiving members accurately within the foam cushion.
Another type of a trench style attachment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,226. In this method, the foam cushion is provided with trenches and apertures formed through the foam cushion at various locations along the length of the trench. Seams of the trim cover are sewn together. A plurality of flexible hanger members are then sewn to the seams of the trim cover. The hanger members are disposed in the apertures of the foam cushion. The other end of the flexible hanger members are sewn to securing plates which are inserted through the apertures and then moved to a position adjacent to and co planar with the bottom surface of the cushion so as to prevent the seam from being pulled up through the trench. The sewing attachment of the hanger members to the trim cover and the sewing attachment of the securing plates to the hanger members is a cumbersome and timely process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA trim material attachment assembly for a seat includes a cushion having first and second sides and an aperture formed therethrough. A trim cover is provided for covering the first side of the seat cushion. A one-piece, integrally molded trim holder includes a central member disposed in the aperture of the cushion. The central member has first and second ends. A clip is formed at the first end of the central member and engaged with the trim cover to secure the holder to the trim cover. A leg is formed at the second end of the central member and is connected to the second end by a living hinge permitting the leg to move between an assembly position to allow the plate member to be inserted through the aperture, and a holding position to prevent the leg from being pulled through the aperture, thereby securing the trim cover to the cushion.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The seat bottom 14 includes a framework (not shown) for supporting a foam cushion 20. The cushion 20 is preferably made of a foam material, such as an expandable polymer. The cushion has a first or upper surface 22 and a second or lower surface 24 facing downward towards the floor the vehicle in which the seat 10 is installed. The upper surface 22 and side portions of the seat bottom 14 are covered by a flexible trim cover 30. The trim cover 30 can be any suitable material for covering and protecting the upper surface 22. Examples of suitable material for the trim cover 30 include leather, vinyl or other polymers, cloth, and/or fabric. The trim cover 30 may be provided in separate sections which are sewn together to define seams 32 therebetween. In the embodiment shown in
As best shown in the example of a trim attachment in
The clip 44 generally includes a clip or hook portion 60, a central member 62, and a plate 64. In one embodiment, the hook portion 60, the central member 62, and the plate 64 are integrally formed from a common material, such as molded plastic. The clips 44 can be made individually, or formed from cutting portions of an extrusion having a cross-sectional profile as best shown in
The plate 64 includes a first leg 72 extending from the second end 68 of the central member 62 in a first direction, and a includes a second leg 74 extending from the second end 68 in a second direction opposite the first direction, the reason for which will be explained below. The plate 64 is movable between a holding position, as shown in
The hook portion 60 is defined by an open loop structure having an opening 80. A free end 82 of the hook portion 60 preferably includes an outwardly extending lip 84 having an angled surface 86 in an angled relationship relative to the length of the central member 62. The lip 84 and angled surface 86 help guide the bead 54 and open up the hook portion 54 as it is inserted therein.
The operation and assembly of the trim attachment assembly 40 will now be described. The trim cover 30 is preferably provided above the upper surface 22 of the cushion 20 and with the hanging connector assembly 42 attached thereto such that there are connector assemblies 42 attached to the seams 32. A plurality of clips 44 are attached to the connector assemblies 42 at spaced relationships along the length of the connector assemblies 42. For example, three clips can be used along the seam 32 between the central section 34 and a side bolster section 36. To attach a clip 44, the free end 82 of the hook portion 60 is inserted through the aperture 58 of the strip 50 such that the bead 54 is trapped within the hook portion 60. The plate 64 is then pivoted from its holding position to its assembly position, as shown in
While the clip 44 has been shown and described as having a living hinge 70 for folding the plate 64 to its assembly position, it should be appreciated that the living hinge may be formed differently such that the clip 44 is permitted to rotate relative to the strip 50 wherein the clip 44 is inserted in an unfolded manner through a larger aperture 39 (such as an elongated slot) and then rotated relative to the cushion to prevent the clip 44 form being pulled back through the aperture.
There is illustrated in
In operation, the tool assembly 100 is positioned such that the arm 104 extends through the aperture 39 of the cushion 20, as shown in
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims
1. A trim material attachment assembly for a seat comprising:
- a cushion having first and second sides and an aperture formed therethrough;
- a trim cover for covering said first side of said seat cushion; and
- a one-piece, integrally molded trim holder including: a central member disposed in said aperture of said cushion, said central member having first and second ends; a clip formed at said first end of said central member and engaged with said trim cover to secure said holder to said trim cover; and a leg formed at said second end of said central member and connected to said second end by a living hinge permitting said leg to move between an assembly position to allow said leg to be inserted through said aperture, and a holding position to prevent said leg from being pulled through said aperture, thereby securing said trim cover to said cushion.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein in the assembly position, the leg is positioned adjacent the central member, and wherein in the holding position, the leg is adjacent the second side of the seat cushion.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said trim cover includes a bead attached thereto, and wherein said trim cover includes a trim strip extending therefrom, said bead being attached to said trim strip, and wherein said clip resiliently engages with said bead.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said leg extends from said second end of said central member in a first direction, and wherein a second leg extends from said second end of said central member in a second direction opposite the first direction.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said clip is in the form of a hook.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said clip is in the form of an open ended hook.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said central member is an elongated strip.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said clip is made of a plastic material.
9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said trim cover includes a trim strip extending therefrom, and wherein said bead is attached to said trim strip.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said bead is molded onto said trim strip.
11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said trim strip is made of a flexible material.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said trim cover defines a seam, and wherein said trim strip is attached to said trim cover at said seam.
13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said trim strip is disposed in a formed in said first side of said cushion.
14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said trim strip includes an opening therein adjacent said bead, and wherein said hook portion is inserted through said opening.
15. A method of attaching trim cover to a seat cushion comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a cushion having first and second sides and an aperture formed therethrough;
- b. providing a trim cover; and
- c. providing a one piece, integrally formed trim holder including: a central member disposed in the aperture of the cushion, the central member having first and second ends; a clip formed at the first end of the central member; and a leg formed at the second end of the central member and connected to the second end by a living hinge;
- d. attaching the clip to the trim cover;
- e. pivoting the leg to an assembly position adjacent the central member;
- f. inserting the leg through the aperture of the cushion;
- g. pivoting the leg to an assembly position adjacent the second side of the seat cushion, thereby preventing the trim holder from being pulled through the aperture, thereby attaching the trim cover to the seat cushion.
16. The method of claim 15 further providing an installation tool including:
- a holding guide for temporarily holding the trim holder;
- an arm movably mounted relative to the seat cushion, wherein the holding guide is pivotally mounted on the arm; and
- wherein prior to step (f) the arm and the holding guide are extended through the aperture of the cushion such that the holding guide is spaced from the first side of the cushion, and wherein the clip is resiliently, temporarily attached to the holding guide, and
- wherein in step (e), the holding guide is moved to a position such that the leg is in its assembly position, and
- wherein in step (f) the arm is moved through the aperture, and
- wherein in step (g) the holding guide is rotated to move the leg into its holding position, and subsequently the trim holder is detached from the holding guide.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the installation tool further includes a fixture having a ramped surface facing the second side of the cushion, and wherein in step (g), the holding guide slides along the ramped surface thereby rotating the holding guide.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 1, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 5, 2009
Applicant:
Inventors: Jim Clauser (Oakland Township, MI), Bill Parusziewicz (Clinton Township, MI), Tom Welch (Ortonville, MI), Jeff Frelich (Commerce, MI)
Application Number: 11/888,534
International Classification: A47C 31/00 (20060101);