Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a sensor assembly that is used to provide data for an occupant classification system. The data is used to determine such characteristics as seat occupant weight and position. These characteristics are used to control deployment of a safety restraint mechanism such as an airbag. The sensor assembly is part of a mat that is placed on top of a foam cushion used to form a seat bottom. Fasteners are used to permanently attach the mat to the foam to restrict lateral and vertical movement of the mat relative to the foam.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching an item to load-bearing fabric including male and female strips that snap together on opposite sides of the fabric. The male strip is attached to the item to be secured to the fabric, and includes male prongs that are pushed through the weave of the load-bearing fabric. The female strip preferably defines a series of receptacles that snap onto the male strip. The male and female strips are elongated strips formed from a molded thermoplastic or other formable material. In a preferred embodiment, the male prongs include barbs and the receptacles include angled fingers that act as a snap, such that the barbs of the male prongs can easily be pressed through the fingers, but are retained once in place.

Abstract: An interior weld for furniture having a tubular member is disclosed. The weld has a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first tubular member is adapted to receive the tubular second member. An edge of the tubular second member contacts an inner surface of the first tubular member. A weld is formed on the inner surface of the first tubular member at the contact point where the second tubular member contacts the first tubular member. There is a weld at that contact point which immovably attaches the second member to the first member.

Abstract: A material application system for applying a panel of material to a framework with a shoe for retaining the framework, a nest, opposed mechanisms for retaining opposite portions of the panel of material traversing between the shoe and the nest, an arrangement for selectively moving the shoe and the nest into and out of an engaged position wherein the panel of material is sandwiched between the shoe and the nest and a disengaged position, and an arrangement for inducing an attachment of the panel of material to the framework. The opposed mechanisms can be clamping mechanisms, which can be segmented and individually moveable to enable variable pretensioning. A contoured deflection control member can alternatively produce variable pretensioning. A pressing arrangement with a tooth member can press a locking spline into a groove in the framework to secure the material.

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).

Abstract: A net member is stretched over a frame for a seat and backrest of a chair. An engagement member attached to the end of the net member is inserted into an engagement groove on the lower surface of the basic frame. A binding frame is pressed onto the lower surface of the basic frame and the net member is fixed between the basic frame and the binding frame by the engagement piece. Warps are woven or knitted in a mesh structure over the seat and backrest to wefts comprising elastic yarns and chenille yarns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a seat assembly is disclosed and includes the steps of providing a seat frame having a hog lance loop, providing a trim cover, providing a fastener strip formed in a plane and having a base section and a tab section including a hinge portion connected to the base section and a body portion connected to the hinge portion, fastening the fastener strip to the trim cover, deflecting the body portion from the plane, and inserting the body portion into the hog lance loop to secure the trim cover to the seat frame.

Abstract: A trim cover attachment member of a vehicle seat, being attached to an end portion of a trim cover, and being engaged with an engaging portion provided at a seat frame of the vehicle seat, comprises: an attachment portion to which the end portion of the trim cover is attached; a hook portion having a hook on an upper end thereof, the hook being engaged with the engaging portion, the hook portion being disposed generally in opposite to the attachment portion; and a bottom portion for connecting a bottom end of the attachment portion and a bottom end of the hook portion. A cut-out portion is formed at a portion of the upper end of the hook portion, and an opening portion is formed at a portion of the attachment portion, in a portion of the trim cover attachment member corresponding to a corner portion of the vehicle seat.

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.

Abstract: A fastener strip for a trim cover of a seat assembly including a base section and a tab section. The tab section includes a hinge portion connected to the base section and a body portion connected to the hinge portion. The base section, the tab section, the hinge portion, and the body portion are formed in a plane. The hinge portion allows the body portion to deflect from the plane. The body portion includes a first side that cooperates with the base section to define a first aperture, and a second side that cooperates with the base section to define a second aperture. The fastener strip may be fastened to a trim cover and the body portion may be deflected from the plane and inserted into a hog ring lance loop of a seat frame thereby locking a first portion of the hog ring lance loop in the first aperture and a second portion of the hog ring lance loop in the second aperture to secure the trim cover to the seat frame.

Abstract: A bonding strip that functions as a carrier for a load bearing fabric. The bonding strip includes a pair of bonding strip halves that sandwich the fabric. The bonding strip halves are intersecured by an adhesive that extends through and is intimately interconnected with the fabric. The bonding strip halves each define at least one bonding groove. The adhesive extends into the bonding grooves to mechanically interconnect the adhesive, the bonding strip halves and the fabric.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat structural member and a clip having first and second hook portions. The first hook portion of the clip is attached to the structural member. The seat assembly also includes a first trim material having an edge attached to the clip. Preferably, the first trim material is an elastomeric material. The seat assembly further includes a second trim material having a first edge attached to the first trim material and a second edge attached to the second hook portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a seat and/or backrest covering for a chair, in particular an office chair, having a frame-tensioned mesh-like fabric (3), which is penetrated by a large number of pins (4) provided on the periphery of a load-bearing frame (1) that surrounds the seat or backrest, and is held by means of a covering frame (2) fitted onto the load-bearing frame (1).

Abstract: The seat comprised a foam cushioning provided with a bearing face covered with an upholstery cover in which are defined connexion lines, along which a section of the sleeve is pulled into a slit provided in the cushioning by a fastening device. This device comprises an insert carried by the cushioning in correspondence with said slit and a plurality of ties the ends of which have two branches which are hooked to the insert and the edges so that the ties exert a traction on these edges.