Chairs and seats – Bottom or back – Contoured bottom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-01
2001-09-11
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Bottom or back
Contoured bottom
C297S452550, C297S452610, C297SDIG001, C005S740000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286903
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seat cushion, in particular for automobile vehicles, essentially made of an expanded synthetic plastic material, such a polyurethane foam or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A cushion of this type is generally associated with a supporting frame formed by a metal grid which is pressed onto the lower face of the cushion or embedded in the expanded material thereof.
A cover of woven fabric or the like covers the upper face and the sides of the cushion and is fixed, usually stapled, to the frame, whether the latter is applied to the lower face of the cushion or embedded in the expanded material thereof (in which case parts of the frame are flush with the surface of the cushion and provide stapling points).
The lower face of the cushion is generally covered with a protective film (because the foam is mechanically weak) which is simply held between the frame and the cushion when the frame is external to the cushion or which is fixed with the cover to the parts of the frame provided for this purpose when the latter is embedded in the material of the cushion.
In all cases the protective film is not fixed directly to the cushion and can therefore move relative to it, becoming locally deformed and taking on a less than perfect esthetic appearance, giving the impression of defective manufacture. This is particularly important when the cushion forms the seat cushion of a folding automobile vehicle seat because the lower face of the cushion is substantially vertical and clearly visible when the seat is in the folded position, which is prejudicial to the brand image of the vehicle and its manufacturer.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective and inexpensive solution to the above problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For this purpose, the present invention provides a seat cushion, made of an expanded synthetic plastic material and having a lower face associated with a supporting frame, wherein at least part of the lower face of the cushion is covered with a protective film of synthetic plastic material that is resistant to wear and adheres to the expanded synthetic plastic material of the cushion.
The adherence of the film to the expanded plastics material of the cushion and its resistance to abrasion guarantee a long service life of the cushion, the lower face of which retains a clean and defect-free appearance. When the supporting frame is applied to the lower face of the cushion, the film is interposed between the supporting frame and the expanded material of the cushion, it mechanically protects the expanded material from damage that could be caused by the frame and reduces or eliminates the noise that could otherwise be caused by the material of the cushion rubbing on the frame or on the floor of the vehicle.
When the supporting frame is embedded in the plastics material of the cushion near the lower face thereof, the film covers the lower face of the cushion and protects it from any damage.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this film is made of an expanded plastics material and is heat-formed.
The expanded material is preferably a chemically reticulated polyethylene having a density in the range from approximately 70 kg/m
3
to approximately 120 kg/m
3
.
This constitutes an excellent compromise between the weight, thickness and mechanical strength of the film.
The invention also proposes a method of manufacturing a seat cushion as claimed above, this method consisting in supplying a plastics material that can be expanded into a mold in the shape of the cushion to be made, placing in said mold, on a wall corresponding to the lower face of said cushion, a protective film of a material resistant to wear before supplying said plastics material that can be expanded into said mold, and causing said film to adhere to the supplied plastics material by virtue of chemical compatibility or by adhesive bonding by means of an appropriate adhesive.
It is of course advantageous for the material of the film to adhere naturally to the plastics material of the cushion. Failing this, it is sufficient to deposit a film of an appropriate adhesive material onto the face of the film that is to be in contact with the supplied plastics material that can be expanded before placing the film in the mold.
The invention enables economic manufacture of an expanded plastics material seat cushion with a lower face which has a covering of durable appearance and which is resistant to abrasion and which can be applied to a supporting frame without being damaged thereby.
The invention therefore applies to all seat cushions made of an expanded plastics material and more particularly to cushions which form part of a folding automobile vehicle seat.
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Cuomo Peter M.
Laubscher & Laubscher
Sofitec
White Rodney B.
LandOfFree
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