Including A Fixing Means Extending Through Cushioning Material Patents (Class 297/452.6)
  • Patent number: 11759025
    Abstract: In a clip for engagement of an outer layer, the outer layer covering a foam member in a state held by the foam member being caught to a foam member side by engagement of an engaged portion provided at a rear side of the outer layer, the clip includes a base configured to be held by the foam member, a pair of projection walls erected on the base and facing each other, engagement portions extending from the projection walls in a width direction of the projection walls, and arranged to be swingable substantially parallel to the base or horizontally, wherein the engaged portion is configured to be sandwiched between the engagement portions to elastically engage. Accordingly, since the engagement portion bends horizontally relative the base, the overall height can be made low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Yuhei Chinomi
  • Patent number: 11597180
    Abstract: Provided is a composite material for vehicles capable of substantially preventing the occurrence of wrinkles caused by ease stitching. This composite material for vehicles is a layered product of a skin material and a polyurethane foam sheet. The skin material has a play structure which, when the composite material for vehicles is stitched, allows the skin material to follow deformation caused by the stitching with a smooth state of a surface of the skin material maintained. The skin material is a woven fabric including warp yarns and weft yarns. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns include two or more types of yarns having different total finenesses, and form the play structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: SEIREN CO., LTD., TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Wada, Hayato Wakatsuki, Toshio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11254250
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a cushion pad in which one or more hanging grooves into which a trim cover is inserted are formed in a sitting-person supporting surface; a wire which is provided in a bottom of the hanging groove along the hanging groove and locks the trim cover which is inserted into the hanging groove; a vibration transferring member which is buried in the cushion pad along the wire; and a vibration body which excites the vibration transferring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Noguchi, Ryo Kurobe, Masao Komada, Naoki Takada
  • Patent number: 10989242
    Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle comprises: a cushion comprising an outer edge and a plurality of snap-fit-fasteners; and a carrier comprising an outer edge surface and a plurality of snap-fit receivers near the outer edge surface of the carrier arranged to receive the plurality of snap-fit fasteners; wherein the plurality of snap-fit receivers have received and are retaining the plurality of snap-fit fasteners such that the cushion is interconnected with the carrier; and wherein the plurality of snap-fit fasteners and plurality of receivers are arranged to prevent the edge of the cushion from rolling up. The cushion further comprises a lip having an inward facing surface; wherein the cushion at least partially surrounds the carrier with at least a portion of the inward facing surface of the lip facing the outer edge surface of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Christian J. Hosbach, Corbin Shea Johnston, Spencer Robert Hoernke, Kevin Mozurkewich, Andrew Matusko, Brian M. Thiel
  • Patent number: 10857918
    Abstract: Provided is a seat-cover fitting structure capable of preventing a seat cover from accidentally separating from a seat main body. In a seat-cover fitting structure 1, a resin clip 41 that is fitted to an end member 10 attached to the lower end of a hanging cotton-cloth member of a seat cover and a metal clip 50 that is fitted to the exterior of the resin clip 41 engage each other with gaps X1, X2, and X3 formed therebetween. In a state where the metal clip 50 is stuck to, by magnetic force, a main-body-side member that is embedded in the seat main body, the resin clip 41 moves with respect to the metal clip 50 within the ranges of the gaps X1, X2, and X3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: NIFCO INC., TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Furuuchi, Takao Tsutsui, Tsutomu Fujikake
  • Patent number: 10780554
    Abstract: To provide a component-temporarily holding member and a component mounting jig that do not require removal of a component installation jig after a foamed resin molding is demolded. In a component-temporarily holding member 3 having a temporary holding part 2 for temporarily holding a component 5 having a locking part 6 lockable to another member when mounting the component 5 by locking the locking part 6 in a component mounting position 8 of a forming die 4 for a foamed resin molding, the holding force of the temporary holding part 2 is less than the force with which the locking part 6 is locked in the component mounting position 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Hirata, Taichi Itabashi, Yosuke Hamada
  • Patent number: 10773619
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a cushion with a seating surface. An elongated trench extends into the seating surface. A primary fastener part is disposed in the elongated trench, and a secondary fastener part is disposed around a cushion perimeter. A cover includes first and second fastener parts, wherein the primary fastener part and the first fastener part are selectively attachable to form a first disengageable seal. The secondary fastener part and the second fastener part are selectively attachable to form a second disengageable seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Owen Hamlin, Rebecca Ann Olsen, Kanav Mahotra
  • Patent number: 10723248
    Abstract: A mechanism for suspending a skin material on a seat rear surface with a simple and light structure is described. A vehicle seat including a seat back forming a backrest surface includes a seat back pad which is a cushion material of the seat back, a skin material which covers the seat back pad, a wire of which a part is embedded inside the seat back pad and another part is exposed to a seat rear surface, and a hook which is attached to an end portion of the skin material on the side of the seat rear surface. The wire engages with the hook so that the skin material is suspended and fixed to the seat rear surface of the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sakoda, Kohei Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10632885
    Abstract: To improve the seated feeling of an occupant in a seat having partially different hardness, a vehicle seat includes a seat frame, an S spring which is installed on the seat frame and receives a load of an occupant, and a seat back pad which has a plurality of regions respectively formed of different materials and is disposed between a skin material of the seat and the S spring. The S spring is disposed at a position facing a boundary portion which is provided in the seat back pad and is the plurality of regions respectively formed of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Hojo
  • Patent number: 10538180
    Abstract: Provided is a conveyance seat including a lateral support portion that provides good appearance. A lateral support portion of a seat back includes a base member that defines an outline of the lateral support portion and a surface cover arranged to cover the base member to form an outer surface of the lateral support portion. The surface cover includes multiple surface cover pieces interfaced with each other to form the surface cover and a strip-shaped body that extends out of the interface between the surface cover pieces in a reverse side portion of the surface cover. In a state where the surface cover covers the base member, the strip-shaped body is pulled toward a side of the base member opposite to that on which the interface is positioned with respect to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Nishimoto, Kazuaki Mima
  • Patent number: 10532675
    Abstract: A knitted seat trim cover for attachment to a vehicle seat includes a knitted trim panel configured to be installed over one or more support members of the vehicle seat and at least one fastener tube integrally knitted to the trim panel. The fastener tube is positioned on a back side of the trim panel facing the one or more support members. The knitted seat trim cover also includes an elongated fastener member positioned inside the at least one fastener tube. The elongated fastener member is configured to releasably connect to a complimentary fastener member on the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Booth, Paul W. Alexander, Nancy L. Johnson, Heidi H. McAdoo-Wilson, Janet C. Robincheck
  • Patent number: 9796475
    Abstract: The vehicle seat back according to the invention includes a textile assembly (30) having at least one embrittled linear zone (32, 32A, 32B) able to tear during an impact of the head of a passenger located on the seat behind the seat back considered, so as to enable rocking of this passenger's head to be continued and, at the same time, to be slowed down. Application to aircraft seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: EXPLISEAT
    Inventors: Benjamin Jacob Saada, Jean-Charles Marcel Samuelian, Vincent Tejedor
  • Patent number: 9616790
    Abstract: A fastener, such as for coupling a trim cover to a seat, including an elongated body portion; a first end extending from the elongated body portion to define a connecting structure having a substantially J-shape, a middle portion between the elongated body portion and the first end, and a receiving space there between for receiving a structure; a second end extending distally from the elongated body portion for attachment to the trim cover; and wherein the connecting structure includes an arcuate hook shaped to define a barb pointing outward and a planar surface pointing inward for retaining the fastener on the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy J. Stankiewicz, Sandra L. Smith, Gerald M. Moilanen
  • Patent number: 9463726
    Abstract: A device for fixing/firmly holding an exterior covering against a seat backrest includes a backrest structure having a peripheral surround and a connector; padding covering the structure of the backrest; a covering attached to the peripheral surround of the structure of the backrest and covering the padding; an intermediate member of fastening stake type provided with an external head pressing against the covering and with a shank secured to said head and extending through the padding. A free end of the shank includes an end fitting which fixes into the connector in such a way that the member under-goes some excursion in the connector when pressure is applied to the covering and to the padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Oberle, Louis Viegas, Thierry Marechal
  • Patent number: 9315132
    Abstract: A part of the planar member, which is defined by the slits and extends over the center groove made in a seat pad, serves as a bridge part. As the sewn part of a trim cover is pulled into the groove, the bridge part is pressed onto the sewn part of the trim cover and pulled into the groove, together with the sewn part, and is bend in the form like letter U and held in the groove. The groove defines a through hole penetrating the seat pad at the bridge part of the planar member. The bridge part is not pressed onto the bottom of the groove even if the seat pad undergoes compressive deformation and is pressed down in the groove, because the groove has no bottom at some parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yohei Mabashi, Makoto Miyabata, Mutsuo Muramatsu, Kenichi Sugimoto, Toshiki Igarashi, Masaaki Honda, Kazuya Imayou, Yayoi Hirano
  • Patent number: 9199564
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a retention clip that may couple a trim cover assembly to a support structure. The trim cover assembly may be disposed proximate a cushion that may be supported by the support structure. The retention clip may extend through a slit in the cushion and may be pivotally coupled to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: James Clauser, William Paruszkiewicz, Meredith Gannes
  • Patent number: 9168854
    Abstract: A vehicle seat base is provided with a foam bun that includes a protective cloth that is molded into the foam bun and attached with the seat cover material to the seat frame. A suspension mat is attached to the protective cloth below the foam bun to add support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Giorgio Ursino, Maurizio Atragene, Domenico Fedele
  • Patent number: 9167901
    Abstract: A seat pad and a method for manufacturing the same are provided, wherein molding failure is prevented at the periphery of a horizontal groove. In the seat pad, a groove structure 7 for containing a part of a seat cover material is provided on a seat surface for seating. At least a part of the groove structure is formed as a horizontal groove which extends in a horizontal direction. The seat pad is manufactured by foam molding in a mold with the seat surface maintained to face in a downward direction, and a first end of the seat surface, in terms of a longitudinal direction of the seat pad which crosses the horizontal direction thereof at right angle, positioned lower than a second end thereof. The seat pad has at least one concavity 10 positioned between the first end and the horizontal groove, so as to face the horizontal groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Suenaga, Yousuke Muta
  • Patent number: 9067519
    Abstract: An attaching member includes a cover attaching portion to which a portion of a cover directly or indirectly attaches, a board attaching portion to which one end of a board member attaches, and an engaging portion that engages with a frame member. The portion of the cover is attached to the cover attaching portion, the board member is attached to the board attaching portion, mutual positions of the portion of the cover and the board member are fixed, and the engaging portion is engaged with the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Kajihara, Kunio Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9061618
    Abstract: A first pressing surface and a second pressing surface are formed on at least one of an engaging portion and an engagable portion. When a force in a first direction is applied to the first pressing surface, or when a force from a second direction that is a direction different than the first direction is applied to the second pressing surface, the engaging portion or the engagable portion on which the first pressing surface and the second pressing surface are formed are displaced to a predetermined form, such that the engaging portion and the engagable portion disengage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nakagawa, Tomoaki Nagata
  • Patent number: 9033411
    Abstract: A chair including a dynamically-flexible back and seat having a shape that adjusts to the movements of a user seated in the chair to enhance user comfort. Each of the back and seat has an air gap formed therewithin and a resilient frame or liner with a spring memory. The resilient liner is adapted to flex in response to compressive forces that are generated as the user slides his body back or from side-to-side in the chair. Accordingly, some of the chair back and some of the chair seat move into respective air gaps so that the shapes of the back and seat change to conform to the movements of the user. The air gaps also establish air flow ventilation channels which run laterally through the back and seat of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Marcelo Mezzera
  • Patent number: 8991934
    Abstract: An engaging member is arranged at a first portion of part of an upholstery member, the first portion facing a first section, and the engaging member is fixed to an engaged member in a second groove. A second portion of the part of the upholstery member, the portion facing the second section, is arranged in the second section. One end-side portion of the engaging member is extended into the second section. In the direction in which the second groove extends, the length of an extended portion that is formed at the one end-side portion of the engaging member and that is extended into the second section is shorter than the length of a portion of the second section excluding the other portion corresponding to the extended portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kousuke Sei, Keisuke Yamamoto, Yukinori Sugiura, Takanori Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8974004
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat component such as a seat cushion and a seat back, the seat component including, a cushioning material constituting an outer shape of the vehicle seat, a through-hole penetrating the cushioning material in a thickness direction thereof, and a skin material configured to cover the cushioning material, wherein a reinforcing wire is embedded into the cushioning material at both sides of the through-hole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8973990
    Abstract: A chair component that includes a first chair member that includes a forwardly facing front surface and a rearwardly facing rear surface that define a first thickness therebetween, and at least one raised portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, wherein the front surface and the at least one raised portion define a second thickness therebetween that is greater than the first thickness, and wherein a majority of the first chair member comprises the first thickness; a cover member wrapped about at least a portion of the first chair member; and a drawstring operably coupled with the cover member to draw the cover member about the at least a portion of the first chair member, wherein the drawstring is secured to the first chair member by at least one fastener that is received within the raised portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Todd D. Krupiczewicz, Jeffrey A. Hall, Gordon J. Peterson, Dale M. Groendal
  • Patent number: 8919878
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle seat having a seat component member, for example a seat cushion or a seat back. The seat component member has a pad forming a seat contour, a cover covering the pad and a mounting portion. At the mounting portion, a part of the cover is mounted to the pad by pulling the part of the cover to the pad. The mounting portion has a first portion for receiving pressure when an occupant seats on the vehicle seat, and a second portion for receiving a pressure lower than that the first portion receives. The mounting portion may have a structure in which the first portion is more flexible than the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8882203
    Abstract: An engaging member for attaching an upholstery material to a cushion member, which has a positioning member at least one lengthwise terminal end. The positioning member places the starting end of loop engaging element portion in precise position in the groove of the cushion member. The engaging member is long and flexible and bends in conformity with the complicated shape of the curved groove. The method of producing an upholstered cushion molding using the engaging member improves the working efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Kuraray Fastening Co., Ltd., Morito Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Takehara, Satoru Ono, Eiichirou Doi, Takeshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8794708
    Abstract: The invention relates to the upholstery of a seat element for a motor vehicle and to the method of creating it, in which method a foam support block is produced to fit a frame element; a cover element is created by cold-forming a foam sprayed onto a polypropylene substrate and attached on the reverse side of a textile material in the form of a skin or synthetic material to define the visible shape of the seat element; and the cover element is attached to the support block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Autmobile
    Inventors: Nicolas Besnard, Régis Couedro, Fabrice Etienne, Etienne Poulet
  • Patent number: 8764115
    Abstract: A method of assembling an upholstered furniture piece comprising decorative fasteners comprising providing an underlayment material layer, a foam material layer and a covering material layer. The foam material layer is positioned between the underlayment material layer and the covering material layer. The covering material layer extends beyond the underlayment material layer and the foam material layer. Fasteners are used to fasten the underlayment material layer, the foam material layer and the covering material layer together forming a layered component. A template may be used to guide positioning of the fasteners. The fasteners are decorative fasteners. Excess covering material that extends beyond the fasteners is stretched around the edges of the layered component and is affixed to a bottom surface of the layered component, thereby forming a layered assembly. The layered assembly is affixed to an upholstered furniture piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Brandtner
  • Patent number: 8752902
    Abstract: A trim attachment retainer having a body portion including a proximal end and an engagement end. At least one cross member is integral with and substantially orthogonal to the body portion. At least one barb extends from the engagement end. The at least one barb includes a base and a distal end. The distal end is closer than the base to the at least one cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Vincent Labish
  • Patent number: 8690256
    Abstract: A seat cushion having a plurality of foamed-in fastening elements in particular for utilization in vehicle seats. The fastening element has a plate-shaped retainer element foamed into the foam body of the seat cushion, and wherein the fastening element has at least one counter-retainer that is not covered by the foam body of the seat cushion, and wherein a stitching wire fastened at the cushion cover can be connected to the counter-retainer in a load-transmitting manner, wherein the counter-retainer is implemented in the type of a fastening web, the two ends thereof being connected to the plate-shaped retainer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: F. S. Fehrer Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Hofmann, Günter Meckelmann
  • Patent number: 8690257
    Abstract: An attachment device for securing a trim cover to foam pad. The attachment device includes an elongated attachment component coupled to the trim cover and a base component disposed within the foam pad. The attachment component includes an outwardly protruding barb and a key pad at a distal end thereof. The base component includes a retaining element having a pair of spaced apart fingers defining a gap there between and a keyway at the bottom of the retaining element between the fingers that is adapted for receiving the key. The key of the attachment component is disposed in the keyway of the retaining element and one of the fingers interacts with the barb to prevent removal of the attachment component from the base component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Seating Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin L. Stiller, Douglas L. Deaton, Matthew M. Bednarski, Eric L. Stiller, Thomas J. Jayroe, Russel E. Strang
  • Patent number: 8528984
    Abstract: A retention clip for securing a trim cover. The retention clip may have first and second pads that may be spaced apart from each other and disposed on a first base axis. First and second arms may extend from the first pad. Third and fourth arms may extend from the second pad. A first and second extension arms may extend from the first arm to the third arm and from the second arm to the fourth arm, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali, Paul Severinski
  • Patent number: 8522406
    Abstract: A releasable touch fastening includes a fastener strip (2) and a retention bead (20). The fastener strip includes two parallel rows (6) of opposing closely spaced fastener elements (8) extending from a common base (4) to form a retention channel (10). The two rows are separated by a small distance to receive and capture the retention bead constructed to fit between the fastener rows and under the heads (14) of the fastener elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventor: Paul Joseph Voigt
  • Patent number: 8511754
    Abstract: An upholstered seat element for a vehicle seat comprises a foam padding (10) having a surface generally shaped in conformity with an outward surface of the vehicle seat, a trim cover disposed on the foam padding surface, a sheet-type electric device arranged between the foam padding and the trim cover and an attachment assembly securing the trim cover to the foam padding. The foam padding has at least one channel formed therein on the foam padding surface, along which channel the attachment assembly is arranged. The sheet-type device has at least one strip-shaped portion crossing the channel in at least one crossing location. The foam padding has a recess formed therein at the at least one crossing location, the recess being dimensioned in such a way that the strip-shaped portion of the film type device may slide into the recess when the upholstered seat element is subjected to a force inducing deformation of the foam padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Fabian Leponce, Jean Claude Schmitz, Sanel Imamovic
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120306256
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat component including, a cushion material forming an outer shape of the vehicle seat, a plurality of groove parts formed to the cushion material and intersecting each other, a corner part formed by intersection of the plurality of groove parts, and a skin material covering the cushion material, wherein the skin material covers the cushion material while a portion of the skin material is engaged inside the plurality of groove parts in a pulled state, wherein the cushion material includes a protruding portion protruding from an external portion of the corner part, and wherein the protruding portion covers the external portion of the corner part and is shrinks toward the external portion of the corner part by a pressing force of the skin material engaged inside the plurality of groove parts in the pulled state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sakae OKUYAMA, Masami NAKANE
  • Patent number: 8272697
    Abstract: A trim cover is inwardly hung into inward hanging grooves of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a cushion pad having right and left bank faces. A number of workpieces are cut out. Portions of the cut out workpieces are gathered. There portions correspond to lateral inward hanging ends located at lateral end portions of inward hanging margins of the cut out workpieces. The gathered portions are sewn so as to curve, into inward hanging directions, the inward hanging margin portions of the workpieces thereby contracting obverse surface materials of the workpieces. Inward hanging members are mounted to the trim cover. the inward hanging members are inserted into longitudinal inward hanging grooves. Fasteners engage the inward hanging members and engagement members of the cushion pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mashimo
  • Patent number: 8201880
    Abstract: A seat cushion covering structure includes a fabric seat cushion cover into which conductive fibers, electrically connected at one end to a conductive member, are woven, and a groove, which is formed in the seat cushion and into which the fabric seat cushion cover is tucked. The conductive member is provided in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Kato, Fumitoshi Akaike, Seiya Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8197010
    Abstract: A seat trim assembly including a cushion having an opening and a retention clip. The retention clip has a retention feature and a base disposed in the cushion. The base includes a pad and first and second arms extending from the pad at an angle. The retention feature extends from the pad and extending into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Asad S. Ali, Paul Severinski
  • Patent number: 8191971
    Abstract: A seat trim assembly including a cushion and a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second retention portions and a flexible arm. The first and second retention portions are adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. The flexible arm connects the first and second retention portions and has a serpentine configuration that facilitates flexing of the retention clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Lovasz
  • Patent number: 8099837
    Abstract: A low-profile clip adapted to secure a listing bead to a foam substrate and is constructed from a material that affords resilience, durability, high resistance to a wide range of temperatures during field use and seat assembly and ease of bead installation with high pull-out strength. The clip includes a base and a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base to a top barb. In this embodiment, the legs each extend upwardly from the base at a first angle of approximately 80 to 85 degrees and therefrom to each of the respective barbs at a second angle, with respect to a plane parallel to the base of approximately 88 to 90 degrees. In this manner the clip exhibits high performance while defining an overall height from tops of the legs to a bottom of the base of approximately ten millimeters or less making the clip particularly desirable for use in modern, thinner foam substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hope Global, division of NFA Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew W. Santin, Pasquale Rossi, David F. Jones, Timothy E. T. Scott
  • 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: 7947356
    Abstract: A molded foam containing no voids and a mold for forming such a molded foam are provided. A molded foam 5 has an external corner 5a where a small rib 10 is formed and a recessed step 7 where thin plate-like ribs 11 are formed. The rib 10 has a triangular cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recessed step 7. The rib 10 is tapered from the base to an end thereof in a direction in which the rib 10 protrudes. The ribs 11 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the recessed step 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Hirata, Masahito Niitu
  • Publication number: 20100259088
    Abstract: The prostate golf cart seat protects the prostate area of men from continuous bouncing by providing a 1½? air space between the seat and the prostate. The prostate golf cart seat may be movable or stationary. The stationary seat would have two 7? wide spaces with a 1½? air space wider the prostate. The movable seat would have two 8? stationary end cushions. The center would consist of two 8? cushions moving along a rail which would allow riders to close the 7? seat gap to within 2? from the stationary end cushion. The center air space between each rider and seat of each would have a depth 1½?. It would be adjusted with a “T” bolt or a knurled knob. The stationary seat would have two 7? wide spaces where the prostate would be positioned with a depth of 1½? between the prostate and the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Eugene Daniel Lucas
  • Publication number: 20100102615
    Abstract: A vehicular seat has a pad including a foamed elastic material and a skin member covering a surface of the pad. A groove is formed at the surface of the pad, and the groove is inclined to a line orthogonal to the surface of the pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Katsuhito YAMAUCHI
  • Patent number: 7703855
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat frame with at least one attachment point, a foam pad overlying the seat frame with at least one attachment opening and a flexible seat trim cover. The flexible seat trim cover overlies a front surface of the foam pad. The seat trim cover has at least one attachment member extending through the attachment opening. The attachment member is secured to the attachment point of the seat frame to hold the seat trim cover against the front surface of the foam pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 7690732
    Abstract: A seat assembly including an assembly frame having at least two seat connection brackets, a seat frame, two or more connectors attached to the seat frame, the two or more connectors removably attached to the two or more seat connection brackets, two or more flexible supports extending across at least a portion of the seat frame, each support including a woven material, and a foam cushion including one or more holes, wherein the seat frame and the two or more flexible supports are molded within the foam cushion, and wherein the one or more connectors extend at least partially within the one or more holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Series International, LLC
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Publication number: 20090295215
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a structural member adapted to be mounted within a vehicle to provide support to an occupant. The structural member has at least one channel formed therein. A cushion member is provided adjacent to the structural layer. The cushion member has at least one channel formed therethrough. A trim member is secured over the cushion member to form a seating surface. At least one attachment member is mounted to the trim member extending through the at least one channel of the cushion member. The at least one attachment member extends into the at least one channel of the structural member such that at least one of the trim material and the cushion layer is retained on the structural member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashford A. Galbreath, Thomas S. Hicks, Ronald L. Miotto, Asad S. Ali, Mark A. Folkert, William Paruszkiewicz, Paul Severinski, James B. Clauser, Thomas A. Welch, SR.
  • 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: 7506939
    Abstract: Vehicle seat includes a cushion body and an attached cover with a groove at the attachment sites in the cushion body, and first lockable attachment elements attached to a groove base that lock with second lockable attachment elements affixed to the cover. Vehicle seat includes attachment elements that enable the cover to be easily, quickly and properly attached to the cushion body. This is achieved in that the first and second lockable attachment elements are the halves of a slide lock or zipper lock with a slide received by the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Faurecia Autositze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dagmar Brockschneider, Silvia Krömer, Benno Kauls