Chairs and seats – Bottom or back – Cushioned
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-08-28
Cranmer, Laurie K. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back
Cushioned
C297S229000, C297S218100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279999
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to passenger vehicle seats and, more particularly, to seat covers for passenger vehicle seats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the production of automotive interiors, particularly seats, fabric that is to serve as a seat cover is typically stretched over a cushion and frame and secured thereto (i.e., the fabric is “form-fitted” to the seat cushion and frame). Conventional processes for form-fitting fabric covers to seat cushions and frames may involve manually pulling and stretching a cover to eliminate wrinkles while, at the same time, attaching the cover to the frame. Unfortunately, manual form-fitting processes may be somewhat labor intensive and, thus, costly. Because vehicle manufacturers are continuously looking for ways to reduce vehicle manufacturing and assembly costs, it would be desirable to provide lower cost methods of form fitting covers to passenger seats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above discussion, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for form-fitting covers to passenger seats. A cushion is mounted on a seat frame and surrounded by a cover having one or more heat shrinkable fabric panels attached to a peripheral edge thereof. Each heat shrinkable fabric panel is attached to the seat frame and heat is applied. The heat causes each panel to shrink along a predetermined direction, thereby drawing the cover taut around the cushion and frame.
Each heat shrinkable fabric panel includes a plurality of partly-oriented yarn (POY) strands aligned in a first direction and a plurality of fully-oriented-yarn (FOY) strands aligned a second direction transverse to the first direction. The POY strands are configured to shrink between about ten percent and sixty percent (10%-60%) of an unheated length when heat is applied thereto. The FOY strands are configured to resist shrinking. Accordingly, each heat shrinkable fabric panel is configured to shrink along the direction of orientation of the POY strands.
An important advantage of the present invention is that the process of manually form-fitting covers to passenger seats may be eliminated. As such, fabrication and assembly costs may be reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3146143 (1964-08-01), Bolesky et al.
patent: 3643308 (1972-02-01), Yamamoto
patent: 3695692 (1972-10-01), Williams
patent: 4699427 (1987-10-01), Kobayashi
patent: 4761035 (1988-08-01), Urai
patent: 4860415 (1989-08-01), Witzke
patent: 5235826 (1993-08-01), Brooks et al.
patent: 5308141 (1994-05-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 6-15070 (A) (1994-01-01), None
Lee Robert
Stephenson Kent
Collins & Aikman Products & Co.
Cranmer Laurie K.
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
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