Cover Connector Mounted By Hem Inserted Elongated Member (e.g., Drawstring, Bar, Etc.) Patents (Class 297/218.4)
  • Patent number: 11718214
    Abstract: A modular seat assembly includes a seat frame, a modular seat component for engaging the seat frame including a mounting bracket, a cable routed towards the frame and engaged with the mounting bracket, and a cable tensioning system. The cable tensioning system is configured to tighten the cable into a tensioned state and release the cable into a slacked state. In the tensioned state, the modular seat component is secured to the seat frame via engagement of the cable with the mounting bracket, and in the slacked state, the modular seat component is releasable from the cable via disengagement of the cable from the respective mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Abdella, Arjun Yetukuri, Joshua Hallock, Brandon Landry
  • Patent number: 10933783
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided. The vehicle seating assembly may comprise an inner cover including an inner cover attachment part, an outer cover including an outer cover attachment part, a cushion including a trench, and an anchor assembly disposed in the trench and extending between the inner cover attachment part and an anchor member, wherein the inner cover attachment part and the outer cover attachment part are attachable to one another to form a disengageable seal at least partially disposed in the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Owen Hamlin
  • Patent number: 10251491
    Abstract: In order to provide a seat having enhanced apparent quality by covering a connecting part, the present invention is a seat 1 wherein a coating cover 40 for coating a first fastening part 30 is provided to an end of a surface cover 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: TACHI-S CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Nishino, Tsutomu Fujikake, Taku Nagasawa, Tomoyuki Uemura, Kazuyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10086944
    Abstract: A reversible upholstery dress cover article includes a fabric web, an obverse finish layer covering an obverse face of the web, a reverse finish layer covering a reverse face of the web, a relatively flexible tape attached around an edge of the web, and a relatively stiff ribbon attached in the tape. The tape spaces the ribbon apart from the edge of the web and the tape can be folded to bring the ribbon against either the obverse finish layer or the reverse finish layer without folding the web. The tape is folded around the ribbon in a first fold so that the ribbon extends along a midline of the tape, then each edge of the tape is folded back in a second fold to form flaps that extend beyond the first fold, with the ribbon protruding from the folded tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Picard
  • Patent number: 9254708
    Abstract: A system for a decorative back appliqué includes a folding chair, a top decorative appliqué, a bottom decorative appliqué, and at least one attachment mechanism. The appliqués allow hosts to decorate both rounded and rectangular backed folding chairs used at any occasion or event so that the chairs will provide aesthetic appeal for the celebration. The appliqués adhere to the rear panels of the folding chair using the attachment mechanism, which may be either a magnetic layer or a plurality of adhesive strips. Hosts may choose from many different designs or create their own design or logo for the appliqués to represent the occasion. The system for a decorative back appliqué covers the typical bland panels of folding chairs and instead embellishes the chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Marianne Aikey
  • Patent number: 9167910
    Abstract: A chair component includes a first chair member adapted to support a seated user, a second chair member movable between a first position, wherein the second chair member is substantially coplanar with the first chair member, and a second position, wherein the second chair member is substantially parallel with the first chair member, a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member and at least a portion of the second chair member, and a single-piece drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member and the at least a portion of the second chair member when the second chair member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Dale M. Groendal
  • Patent number: 9004591
    Abstract: A fixing unit includes: an attachment member attached to a seat body; an engaging member engaged with an opening provided to the seat body; and a string member connecting the attachment member and the engaging member, the string member being engaged with a cover. The engaging member includes: a body to which the string member is attached; a first contact portion provided to the body to be in contact with a first periphery of the opening; and an insert portion provided on the body at a position spaced apart from the first contact portion, the insert portion being inserted into the opening. The insert portion includes a first restricting portion to be in contact with a second periphery of the opening opposite the first periphery to restrict the insert portion from being detached from the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Murasaki, Yuichi Masuda, Eiichi Sasada
  • Patent number: 8851567
    Abstract: Disclosed are tie down cord assemblies and methods of assembling same. According to some aspects, the tie down cord assembly includes a webbing having a tunnel portion and a flat portion, with the tunnel portion configured to receive a slotted cord and the flat portion configured to attach to fabric. The slotted cord weaves in and out of the tunnel portion and is configured to interact with a seat frame or other suitable structure to secure the fabric to a seat frame. The tie down cord assembly is configured to be universal so that it can be used with seat frames having different dimensions and/or configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Thanh Phat Nguyen, Timothy M. Russell, Larry W. Thompson, John E. Jennings, Brian Micheal Lang, Terry Louis Brown
  • Patent number: 8814267
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to securing a trim cover to a vehicle seat cushion. In at least one embodiment, a seat cushion assembly comprises a foam cushion having an “A” surface, a “B” surface, and at least one slot extending therebetween, a trim cover extending over the foam cushion, and a trim cover attachment assembly secured to the trim cover for securing the trim cover adjacent the foam cushion. In at least one embodiment, the trim cover attachment assembly comprises a flexible sheet having a first end attached to the trim cover and a second end having a paddle that sits adjacent the “B” surface of the foam cushion, the fabric extending through the slot of the foam cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Welch, Sr., William Paruszkiewicz, James Clauser, Jeffrey Joseph Frelich, Paul S. Severinski, Louella Patterson
  • Patent number: 8733834
    Abstract: A trim assembly for a seat back of a vehicle seat is provided. The seat back has a seat frame and a seat cushion. The trim assembly includes a backboard securable to the seat frame and adapted to form a rear surface of the seat back. The backboard has a channel formed therein and a plurality of spaced apart retaining windows formed along a length of the channel. A trim cover is adapted to cover the seat cushion and form a front surface of the seat back. The trim cover has a cover material portion and a trim retainer connected to the cover material portion. The trim retainer includes an engagement feature. The trim retainer is insertable into the channel such that the engagement feature cooperates with the retaining windows for securing the trim cover to the backboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Palmer
  • Publication number: 20130127216
    Abstract: Disclosed are tie down cord assemblies and methods of assembling same. According to some aspects, the tie down cord assembly includes a webbing having a tunnel portion and a flat portion, with the tunnel portion configured to receive a slotted cord and the flat portion configured to attach to fabric. The slotted cord weaves in and out of the tunnel portion and is configured to interact with a seat frame or other suitable structure to secure the fabric to a seat frame. The tie down cord assembly is configured to be universal so that it can be used with seat frames having different dimensions and/or configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Thanh Phat Nguyen, Timothy M. Russell, Larry W. Thompson, John E. Jennings, Brian Micheal Lang, Terry Louis Brown
  • Patent number: 8398174
    Abstract: A seat cushion has a plurality of foamed-in fastening elements, in particular for utilization in vehicle seats, wherein the fastening element is formed by a flat retainer element having a fastening web connected thereto and serving as a counter-retainer. The retainer element is foamed into the foam body of the seat cushion, wherein the counter-retainer is not covered by the foam body of the seat cushion. A stitching wire fastened at the cushion cover can thus be connected to the counter-retainer in a load-transmitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: F. S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8157324
    Abstract: There is provided a long-life and strong cover material terminal treating member in which the terminal treatment of a cover material is easy to perform, and the terminal of the cover material is less liable to be taken away by a force from the outside, and which can withstand a long-time use. The cover material terminal treating member 10 for a seat part in which a cushion material 23 is covered with a cover material 24 includes a retaining plate 17 fixed to the terminal of the cover material 24a and a retaining clip 11 for storing the retaining plate 17. The retaining clip 11 includes a first wall part 12 fixed at a position different from the terminal of the cover material 24a, a second wall part 14 facing to the first wall part 12, and a connecting part 13 for connecting the two wall parts 12 and 14 to each other. In the end part of the second wall part 14, a retaining claw 16 bent at an acute angle and being in contact with one end side of the retaining plate 17 is erectingly provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Matsuzaki, Tsubasa Hitomi
  • Patent number: 8128166
    Abstract: A pull-in recess is formed in a seat pad (30). The pull-in recess is partly formed as a through hole penetrating to a back surface of the seat pad. A seat cover (40) is formed into a bag shape. A string-shaped member (50) for drawing the seat cover (40) and attaching the same to the seat pad (30) is disposed along an opening of the seat cover. The seat cover (40) is provided with a pull-in portion at a position corresponding to the pull-in recess of the seat pad (30). The pull-in portion is inserted into the through hole of the seat pad (30). A distal end of the pull-in portion is provided with a retainer portion (47a and 47b) that is capable of engaging the string-shaped member (50). The retainer portions (47a and 47b) inserted into the through holes (34a and 34b) of the seat pad (30) are engaged with the string-shaped member (50) while the drawing action force of the string-shaped member (50) is applied thereto, which force can be produced when the seat cover is attached by drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Hoshina, Kazukimi Shinohara, Seiji Chaza
  • Patent number: 7946649
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly has a seat body adapted to be mounted within a vehicle to provide support to an occupant. A seat component is provided adjacent to the seat body. A first attachment member is provided within one of the seat body and the seat component. A second attachment member is provided on the other of the seat body and the seat component. The second attachment member is engageable within the first attachment member such that the seat component is attached to the seat body through engagement between the first attachment member and the second attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali, Richard Reyes, Jeffrey Frelich, Ronald L. Miotto, James B. Clauser, George Edward Dishner, William Paruszkiewicz, Paul S. Severinski
  • Patent number: 7673939
    Abstract: Structure of seat back is provided, which comprises: a seat back frame; and an upholstery cover assembly including a forward upholster cover element and a backward upholstery cover element. Those two upholstery cover elements cover respective forward and backward sides of the seat back frame, with an upper region thereof secured on top portion of the seat back frame by a headrest stay holder element. Outer peripheral ends of those two upholstery cover elements are engaged together by an engagement element, so that substantially a whole of the seat back frame is covered with the upholstery cover assembly, thus forming a seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Taguchi, Yasuyuki Itou
  • Patent number: 7568761
    Abstract: A clip for hanging and fixing a trim cover, comprising a chuck section 6a having a substantially U-shaped body and a pair of reverse claws 61a, 61b extending inward from both edges of the substantially U-shaped body so as to be opposed to each other for pressing a portion of a beading 3a, provided along a longitudinal edge of a hanging cord 3, in an opening of the substantially U-shaped body and causing the portion of the beading 3a to be engaged with the opening of the substantially U-shaped body, and a hook section 6b for hanging and holding an axial portion of an insert wire, the hook section 6b formed integrally with the chuck section 6a so as to extend in such a direction as to be away from the chuck section 6a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mashimo
  • Patent number: 7549708
    Abstract: A seam for use in a vehicle armrest or other interior component. The seam includes a first material and a second material joined to the first material. The seam also includes a T-member connected to the first material and the second material to form a French seam appearance on the outer surface of the material. The T-member is then used to align with a groove in a foam of an armrest or other interior component to create an exterior seam on an armrest or interior component of a vehicle. The seam is created using a guide member attached to a sewing machine that will allow for sewing of the first material and second material to the T-member in a simultaneous process at a predetermined speed thus increasing efficiency of manufacturing the upholstery panel and reducing costs to the manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Wieczorek, William B. Berghoff, Bryan W. Busha, Daniel Muller
  • Patent number: 7527335
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a tubular support, and an armrest having a tubular end telescopingly engaging the tubular support. A support plate engages bottom walls of the tubular support and the tubular end in a laminar arrangement. A clamping bolt slides through a top hole and into aligned holes in the laminar arrangement, with its head abutting the aligned holes. A clamping handle on a bottom of the bolt is rotatable between a clamping position tensioning the bolt to secure the arrangement, and a release position de-tensioning the bolt. By this arrangement, remaining walls of the tubular support and the tubular end are not deformed even when the clamp is clampingly pressing the adjacent sidewall sections together. An adjustable back with actuator handles at a lower edge of the back, and a seat assembly with fingers that retain an upholstery cover tight against concave areas are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Kirt D. Martin, James D. Houda, David J. Dekker
  • Publication number: 20090033131
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Jim Clauser, Bill Parusziewicz, Tom Welch, Jeff Frelich
  • Publication number: 20080191528
    Abstract: A connector for stretch straps of a chair is mounted on the chair to hold and stretch a stretch strap with an opposite connector mounted on the chair and has a receiving recess formed inside the connector and a connecting slot formed through the top of the connector and communicating with the receiving recess. One end of the stretch strap extends through the connecting slot to be held by a binder in the receiving recesses. A bottom of the stretch strap is propped out by a top edge of the connecting slot so that a top of the stretch strap is protrudent relative to the top of the connector and a sharp edge formed between the top and the front end of the connector. Thus, a user's body is prevented from contacting with the rigid top and the sharp edge of the connector to comfortably sit on the chair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Yun-Chien Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7296852
    Abstract: A seat assembly and method of fabricating the seat assembly including a cushion (20) with a groove (22), and a cover (24) having an inner surface (26) wherein at least one drawcord (28) threadingly extends through the inner surface (26). The drawcord (28) is threaded from the groove (22) and through the cushion (20) to a base (34) where it is attached. The cushion (20) is formed by injecting foam into a mold and over the base (34) to form the cushion (20) with the groove (22) aligned with a tube (36) integrally formed in the base (34). The tube (36) provides a passage between the groove (22) and a bottom (32) of the base (34) for the drawcord (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Moeller Marine Products
    Inventor: Ovie Clarence Huse
  • Publication number: 20070200401
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a tubular support, and an armrest having a tubular end telescopingly engaging the tubular support. A support plate engages bottom walls of the tubular support and the tubular end in a laminar arrangement. A clamping bolt slides through a top hole and into aligned holes in the laminar arrangement, with its head abutting the aligned holes. A clamping handle on a bottom of the bolt is rotatable between a clamping position tensioning the bolt to secure the arrangement, and a release position de-tensioning the bolt. By this arrangement, remaining walls of the tubular support and the tubular end are not deformed even when the clamp is clampingly pressing the adjacent sidewall sections together. An adjustable back with actuator handles at a lower edge of the back, and a seat assembly with fingers that retain an upholstery cover tight against concave areas are also shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: David C. Eberlein, Kirt D. Martin, James D. Houda, David J. Dekker
  • Patent number: 7040700
    Abstract: A backrest and deck subassembly for a sofa includes: a frame having a generally horizontal deck section, the deck section including a top portion and an underlying bottom portion, the frame also having a generally upright backrest section attached to and extending upwardly from the deck section; and an integrated upholstery piece that covers the deck and backrest portions of the frame and underlies the bottom section of the deck portion. The integrated upholstery piece can reduce manufacturing time by eliminating the need to separately attach the upholstery and dust cover. In some embodiments, the upholstery piece includes a zipper that can markedly facilitate enclosing of the frame within the upholstery piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: American Leather
    Inventors: Bob Duncan, Doug Gasal, Henry Panceri, Kevin Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6976737
    Abstract: A folding deckchair, of the kind with a frame (2) to which fabric (3) is fitted, and wherein the fixing between the side ends of the fabric and the side portions of the frame is attained through an elastic cord inserted through a plurality of eyelets located on the edges of the fabric, as well as fixed using several hooks (6) between every two subsequent eyelets and projecting from the frame. Said chair is characterized by the special methods of mutual fixing between the frame (2) and the fabric (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Marga S.r.l.
    Inventor: Marani Dandolo
  • Patent number: 6811215
    Abstract: In a chair 11 comprising at least a backrest portion 1 to support a back of a seated person and a back frame 2 to connect the backrest portion 1 with a seat, the backrest portion 1 has a pocket 3 that covers an upper portion of the back frame 2, the pocket 3 has an engaging portion 4 that prevents the upper portion from being pulled out of the pocket 3 by making an engagement with the upper portion of the back frame 2 and the upper portion of the back frame 2 is covered with the pocket 3 and the backrest portion 1 is mounted on the back frame 2 by engaging the engaging portion 4 with the covered upper portion of the back frame 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignees: Takano Co., Ltd., Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Horiki, Nobuyuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 6698839
    Abstract: A back comprises a frame formed by two c-shaped frame parts. These are inserted into circumferentially extending rand seams of a cover to which purpose at least one insertion opening is formed in one rand seam. The connection between said two frame parts is achieved by connecting members which further cover up the at least one insertion opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Dauphin Entwicklungs-u. Beteiligungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Ballendat
  • Patent number: 6633830
    Abstract: A method for determining usability of a cover material as a cover of a vehicle seat component includes determining a fabric stretch requirement for the vehicle seat component; determining actual fabric stretch of the cover material; and comparing the actual fabric stretch with the fabric stretch requirement to determine whether the cover material is satisfactory for use with the vehicle seat component as the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Pusheng Chen, Ivana Vucelic, Donald C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6595591
    Abstract: A vehicle seat back comprises firstly a rigid frame having first and second side uprights and top and bottom cross-members interconnecting the first and second side uprights, and secondly a resilient supporting sheet fixed to the rigid frame and placed so as to come directly into contact with the back of a user. The supporting sheet forms a bag that is fitted onto the rigid frame over its first side upright so as to cover the top and bottom cross-members and the first side upright, the resilient supporting sheet being fixed to the second side upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile SA
    Inventors: François Fourrey, Frédéric Baret
  • Patent number: 6508509
    Abstract: A seating unit illustrated as a mobile office chair includes a base, a back upright operably supported on the base for reclining movement and a back construction. The back construction includes a cushion assembly attached to a back support shell with quick-attach top and bottom connectors. Specifically, the back support shell includes top apertures, and the cushion assembly includes hooks for drop-in attachment to the top apertures. The back support shell also includes a molded bottom section defining a recess, and the back cover includes a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the back cover to the back support. The cushion assembly includes a cover assembly with an upholstered front panel, and a rear panel formed by a first sheet section having a one-directional stretch in a vertical direction, and a second section having a high-stretch property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6478382
    Abstract: A fastening system is for a vehicle seat having at least one padded part of a foamed material surrounded by at least one upholstery part. The upholstery part is connected with at least one profiled strip having hooking elements on its periphery. A longitudinal channel is present in the padded part, corresponds in shape to the profiled strip, and has recesses along its longitudinal alignment. The recesses engage the hooking elements. This fastening system can be manufactured at low cost, is comfortable for the passenger and produces no disturbing noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Axel Schulte
  • Patent number: 6220661
    Abstract: A chair includes a base, a back upright operably supported on the base for movement between an upright position and a reclined position, and a back construction. The back construction includes a back support shell attached to the back upright, and further includes a cushion assembly attached to the back support shell with quick-attach top and bottom connectors. Specifically, the back support shell includes top apertures, and the cushion assembly includes hooks for drop-in attachment to the top apertures. The back support shell also includes a molded bottom section defining a horizontally extending recess, and the back cover includes a stiffened edge flange configured to frictionally engage the recess to retain the back cover to the back support along the bottom section of the back construction. The cushion assembly includes a cover assembly that includes an upholstered front panel, and a rear panel forming a sock that can be pulled upwardly onto a cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon J. Peterson