VEHICLE SEAT TRIM COVER RETAINER

DISPOSITIF DE FIXATION POUR UN HABILLAGE DE SIEGE DE VEHICULE

English Abstract

A retainer (100) is provided for securing first and second ends (148,150) of a trim cover (146) of a vehicle to a portion
(23) of a frame of the vehicle seatback such that the first and second trim cover ends (148,150) are in generally adjacent relation when the
retainer (100) is fixed to the frame portion (23). The retainer (100) includes a first channel (120) arranged to receive the frame portion (23)
and a second channel (136) arranged to receive the second end (150) of the trim cover. The first end (148) of the trim cover is attached to
the retainer (100) by sewing adjacent the first channel (120).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de fixation (100) pour fixer les première et seconde extrémités (148, 150) d'un habillage (146) pour un dossier de siège de véhicule à une partie (23) d'un cadre du dossier de siège de véhicule, pour que les première et seconde extrémités (148, 150) de l'habillage se jouxtent sensiblement lorsque le dispositif de retenue (100) est fixé à la partie de cadre (23). Le dispositif de fixation (100) comprend un premier canal (120) prévu pour recevoir une partie de cadre (23), et un second canal (136) prévu pour recevoir la seconde extrémité (150) de l'habillage. La première extrémité (148) de l'habillage est fixée au dispositif de fixation (100) par couture près du premier canal (120).

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A retainer for securing first and second ends of a trim cover of a vehicle
seatback to a portion of a frame thereof such that said first and second trim
cover ends
are in generally adjacent relation when the retainer is fixed to the frame
portion, the
retainer comprising:
a first elongate body having a base portion and first and second arms
extending in spaced relation from said base portion defining a first, open-
ended
channel therebetween;
a second elongate body having a base portion and first and second arms
extending in spaced relation from said base portion thereof defining a second,
open-
ended channel therebetween, said second arm of said second body being coupled
to
said first body in such a manner that (1) a longitudinal axis of said first
body is in
parallel relation with a longitudinal axis of said second body and (2) an open
end of
said first channel is oriented at an angle of at least 180° with
respect to an open end of
said second channel; and
a planar portion extending from said first arm of said first body in parallel
relation with said second arm of said first body, said planar portion being
constructed
and arranged to be coupled to said first end of said trim cover by sewing,
said first channel being constructed and arranged to receive said frame
portion
so as to be in secured relation therewith, said second channel being
constructed and
arranged to receive said second end of sand trim cover.
2. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein said first body, said second
body
and said planar portion are integrally formed from a resilient, plastic
material.
3. The retainer according to claim 2, wherein said plastic material is
polypropylene.
4. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein said second arm of said second
body is disposed at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to said
first arm of said
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first body, such that an open end of said second channel is oriented
approximately
225° with respect to an open end of said first channel.
5. The retainer according to claim 1, further comprising a barb extending from
each of said first and second aims of each said body into a respective
channel, said
barbs being in opposing relation and defining a retaining structure arranged
to retain
the frame portion and the second end of the trim cover in respective channels.
6. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein said first and second channels
are
generally U-shaped.
7. The retainer according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second
bodies
includes a camming surface for directing the frame portion and the second end
of the
trim cover into an associated channel.
8. A method of securing the trim cover of the vehicle seatback to the frame
portion thereof using the retainer as defined in claim 1, said trim cover
having first
and second ends, said first end of said trim cover being sewn to the planar
portion of
the retainer and said second end of said trim cover including a flange member
sewn
thereto, the method comprising the following steps:
coupling the retainer to the frame portion such that the frame portion is
secured in said first, open-ended channel of said retainer;
covering a peripheral surface of a bolster portion of the vehicle seatback
with
said trim cover and bringing said second end of said trim cover into a
position
generally adjacent said first end thereof; and
inserting said flange member into said second open-ended channel of the
retainer such that said flange member is secured therein.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein surfaces defining said open-ended
channels include a retaining structure extending into a respective channel,
and
wherein the step of coupling said retainer to a portion of said frame includes
snapping
said retainer onto said frame portion such that said frame portion is disposed
within
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said channel and held therein by said retaining structure; and the step of
inserting said
resilient flange into said second open-ended channel includes pushing said
flange
member into said second channel such that the flange is disposed within the
second
channel and held therein by the retaining structure thereof.
10. A method of securing the trim cover of the vehicle seatback to the frame
portion thereof with the retainer as defined in claim 1, the trim cover having
first and
second ends, the method comprising the steps of:
folding the first end of the trim portion over and upon the trim cover;
sewing the folded first end to a portion of the retainer;
sewing a flange member to the second end of the trim portion;
coupling the retainer to the frame portion such that the frame portion is
secured in said first open-ended channel of the retainer;
covering a peripheral surface of a bolster portion of the vehicle seatback
with
said trim cover and bringing said second end of said trim cover into a
position
generally adjacent said first end thereof;
and inserting said flange member into said second open-ended channel of said
retainer such that said flange member is secured therein.
11. A vehicle seatback assembly comprising the retainer as defined in claim 1,
said assembly comprising:
at least one generally vertically disposed rod member of the seatback frame;
a child seat module mounted on the seatback frame;
at least one bolster portion mounted on the seatback frame adjacent the child
seat module;
a trim cover having first and second ends, said trim cover covering a
peripheral surface of the at least one bolster portion; and
wherein the retainer is coupled to said first end of said trim cover and in
engagement with said rod member, said retainer being constructed and arranged
to
secure said second end of said trim cover with respect to said rod member such
that
said first and second ends of said trim portion are disposed generally
adjacent to each
other and fixed with respect to the seatback frame.
-11-

12. The vehicle seatback assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first end
of
the trim cover is being sewn to the planar portion of the retainer, the rod
member
being received in said first channel and said second end of said trim portion
being
received in said second channel.
13. A trim cover of a vehicle seat in combination with a retainer for securing
first
and second ends of the trim cover to a portion of a frame of the seat such
that said
first and second trim cover ends are in generally adjacent relation when the
retainer is
fixed to the frame portion, the retainer comprising:
a first elongate body having a base portion and first and second arms
extending in spaced relation from said base portion defining a first, open-
ended
channel therebetween;
a second elongate body having a base portion and first and second arms
extending in spaced relation from said base portion of said second body
defining a
second, open-ended channel therebetween, said second arm of said second body
being
coupled to said first body in such a manner that (1) a longitudinal axis of
said first
body is in parallel relation with a longitudinal axis of said second body and
(2) an
open end of said first channel is oriented at an angle of at least 180°
with respect to an
open end of said second channel; and
a planar portion extending from said first arm of said first body in parallel
relation with said second arm of said first body, said first end of said trim
cover being
attached to said planar portion,
said first channel being constructed and arranged to receive said frame
portion
so as to be in secured relation therewith, said second channel being
constructed and
arranged to receive said second end of said trim cover.
14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said first body, said
second
body and said planar portion of the retainer are integrally formed from a
resilient,
plastic material.
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15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said plastic material is
polypropylene.
16. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said second arm of said
second body of the retainer is disposed at an angle of approximately
45° with respect
to said first arm of said first body, such that an the open end of said second
channel is
oriented approximately 225° with respect to the open end of said first
channel.
17. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the retainer further
comprises
a barb extending from each of said first and second arms of each said body
into a
respective channel, said barbs being in opposing relation and defining a
retaining
structure arranged to retain the frame portion and the second end of the trim
cover in
respective channels.
18. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said first and second
channels of the retainer are generally U-shaped.
19. The combination according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and
second
bodies of the retainer includes a camming surface for directing the frame
portion and
the second end of the trim cover into an associated channel.
20. The combination according to claim 13, wherein said first end of said trim
cover is fixedly attached to said planar portion by sewing.
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Description

WO 96/24275 218 7 3 4 2 PCTlUS96100829
VEHICLE SEAT TRIM COVER RETAINER
BACKGROUND OF THE I N'~'T~N
The present invention relates to securing
a vehicle seatback trim cover to a portion of the
seatback frame, and more particularly, to a
a
retainer for securing two ends of a trim cover to
a frame at a single location.
With reference to FIG. 1, in a vehicle
seatback 10 incorporating a child seat module 12,
the module 12 is typically disposed between two
bolster portions 14 and,l6 of the vehicle seatback
10. A trim cover 18 is fitted over the respective
bolster portions. Each end of the trim cover 18
includes a conventional rope listing 20 sewn
thereto which is used to secure the trim cover to
the frame.
As shown in FIG. 1, to cover bolster
portion 14 with the trim cover 18, one end of the
trim cover 18 is disposed adjacent a portion 22 of
the frame. The trim cover 18 is then wrapped
around a peripheral surface of the bolster portion
14 such that the ends of the trim cover are
disposed generally adjacent to each other.
Conventional hog rings 24 are then used to fix the
rope listing ends of the trim cover to the frame
portion 22.
The hog rings 24 are typically delivered
using conventional air-operated devices, whereby
manual actuation of a trigger delivers and secures
the hog ring at the desired location. Such
devices, however, are cumbersome, often weighing a
few pounds or more. It has been found that

WO 96124275 218 7 3 4 2 PCT/US96100829
continuous handling of the device and repeated
actuation of the trigger during the assembly
procedure may lead to operator injury, such as the
development of carpal tunnel. Further, when using
conventional hog rings in the assembly, it is ,
difficult to perform any required adjustment of
the trim cover once secured to the frame.
Accordingly, it can be appreciated that a
need exists to provide a simple and cost effective
way of securing a trim cover to a seatback frame
which overcomes the inadequacies of the
conventional methods.
5~i~lRY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to
fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance
with the principles of the present invention, this
objective is obtained by providing a retainer for
securing first and second ends of a trim cover of
a vehicle seatback to a portion of a frame thereof
such that the first and second trim cover ends are
in generally adjacent relation when the retainer
is fixed to the frame portion. The retainer
includes a first elongate body having a base
portion and first and second arms extending in
spaced relation from the base portion defining a
first, open-ended channel therebetween.
A second elongate body has a base portion
and first and second arms extending in spaced
relation from the base portion thereof defining a
second; open-ended channel therebetween. The
second arm of the second body is coupled to the
first body in such a manner that (1) a
longitudinal axis of the first body is in parallel
- 2 -

WO 96124275 218 7 3 4 2 PCT~S96/00829
relation with a longitudinal axis of the second
body and (2) an open end of the first channel is
oriented at an angle of at least 180° with respect
to an open end of the second channel.
A planar portion extends from the first
arm of the first body in parallel relation with
the second arm of the first body. The planar
portion is constructed and arranged to be coupled
to the first end of the trim cover by sewing.
The first channel is constructed and
arranged to receive the frame portion so as to be
in secured relation therewith and the second
channel is constructed and arranged to receive the
second end of the trim cover.
Another object of the invention is to
provide a method of securing a trim cover
of a vehicle seatback to a frame portion thereof
using a resilient retainer. The retainer has
first and second open-ended channels and a planar
portion. The trim cover has first and second
ends. The first end of the trim cover is sewn to
the planar portion of the retainer and the second
end has a flange member sewn thereto. The method
includes the steps of coupling the retainer to the
frame portion such that the frame portion is
secured in the first, open-ended channel of the
retainer. A peripheral surface of a bolster
portion of the vehicle is covered with the trim
cover and the second end of the trim cover is
brought into a position generally adjacent the
first end thereof. Finally, the flange member is
inserted into the second open-ended channel of the
retainer such that the flange member is secured
therein.
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WO 96!24275 218 7 3 4 2 PCTIUS96/00829
In accordance with yet another object of
the invention, a vehicle seatback assembly is
provided with includes a seatback frame having at
least one generally vertically disposed rod
member; a child seat module mounted on the
seatback frame; a bolster portion mounted on the
seatback frame adjacent the child seat module; a
trim cover having first and second ends, the trim
cover covering a peripheral-surface of the bolster
portion; and a retainer coupled to the first end
of the trim cover and in engagement with the rod
member. The retainer is constructed and arranged
to secure the second end of the trim cover with
respect to the rod member such that the first and
second ends of the trim portion are disposed
generally adjacent to each other and fixed with
respect to the rod member.
Other objects, features and
characteristics of the present invention, as well -
as the function of the related elements of the
structure, and the combination of parts and
economies of manufacture, will become more
apparent upon consideration of the following
detailed description and the appended claims with
reference to the accompanying drawings all of
which form a part of this specification.
&RTEF DESCRTpmrnN OF THE DRAwrNCs
FIG. I is a schematic, plan illustration
showing a trim cover assembled to a bolster
portion of a vehicle seatback employing a child's
seat module, using a conventional technique;
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WO 96/24275 218 7 3 4 2 PCTIi3S96100829
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of
the retainer provided in accordance with the
principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the retainer of
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic, plan illustration
showing the retainer of the invention securing
ends of a trim cover to a portion of a vehicle
seatback frame.
DETAIr_.gD DESCRIPTION OF THE
pRES NmT pREF RED EX Mp ARV EMBODrbiENT
Referring to the drawings, a retainer is
shown, generally indicated at 100, which embodies
the principles of the present invention.
The retainer 100 includes a first
elongate body 112 having a curved base portion 114
and first and second respective arms 116, 118,
extending in spaced relation from the base portion
114 so as to define a generally U-shaped or open-
ended channel 120 therebetween. A planar portion
122 extends from the first arm 116 in parallel
relation with the second arm 118. Barbs 124
extend from each of thefirst and second arms 116,
118 into the channel 120. The barbs 124 are in
opposing relation and define retaining structure
constructed and arranged to retain an object
received in the U-shaped channel 120. As shown in
FIG. 3, each barb 124 includes a caroming surface
126 which helps direct an object being inserted
into the U-shaped channel 120.
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WO 96/24275 2 ~ 8 7 3 4 2 PCT/US96/00829
The retainer 100 includes a second
elongate body 128 having a curved base portion 130
and first and second respective arms 132, 134
extending in spaced relation from the base portion
130. The arms 132 and 134 define a second, ,
generally U-shaped or open-ended channel 136
therebetween. The second arm 132 of the second ,
body 128 is coupled to the first body 112 in such
a manner that a longitudinal axis A of the first
body is in parallel relation with a longitudinal
axis B of the second body. Further, an open-end
of the first channel 120 is oriented at an angle
of at least 180° with respect to the open end of
the second channel 136.
In the illustrated embodiment (FIG. 3),
the second arm 132 of the second body 128 is
disposed at an angle C of approximately 45° with
respect to the first arm 116 of the first body
112, such that the open end of the second channel
1'36 is oriented at an angle D of approximately
225°from the open end of the first channel 120,
the function of which will become apparent below.
The second body 128 includes barbs 142
(FIG. 3) extending from each of the first and
second arms thereof into channel 136, which, like
the barbs 124 of first body, define retaining
structure constructed and arranged to retain an
object received in the U-shaped channel 136 of the
second body 128. Further, the second body 128
includes a caroming surface-144 defined at a distal
end of the first arm thereof for directing an
object into the second channel 136.
Preferably, the retainer 100 is formed
integrally from resilient, plastic material such
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R'O 96124275 21 8 7 2 PCT~S96100829
3
4
as, for example, polyproplene, or similar
material. The retainer 100 must be
rigid enough
to provide a retaining function, yet
permit a trim
cover to be sewn to the planar portion
thereof, as
. 5 will be explained below. The overall
length of
the retainer 100 is not critical and
may be
adapted for the particular assembly
required.
The use of the retainer 100 in fastening
ends of a trim cover 146 to a portion
of a vehicle
seatback frame will be appreciated
with reference
to FIG. 4 and from the discussion below.
First, the trim cover 146 is prepared
by
l
sewing a conventional, resilient
flange member
152, for example, profile number P-821
manufactured by Bemis, to the second
end 150
thereof. The first end 148 of the trim
cover 146
is folded-over upon the trim cover
and sewn to the
planar portion 122 of the retainer
100. Next, the
retainer 100 is snapped onto a generally
cylindrical rod member 23, which is
coupled to the
seatback frame and extends vertically
therefrom.
The rod member 23 is received in the
first channel
120 of the retainer 100 and held therein
by the
barbs 124. The second end 150 of the
trim cover
146 is then moved about a peripheral
surface of
the bolster portion 14 of the vehicle
seatback in
the direction of arrow E in FIG. 4,
until the
second end 150 is disposed generally
adjacent to
the first end 148. Since the second
channel 136
opens in a direction generally opposite
to the
direction in which the first channel
120 opens,
the resilient flange member 152 may
then be
inserted into the second channel 136
of the
retainer and held therein by the barbs
142
thereof.

WO 96/24275 218 7 3 4 2 pC'p'/17596/00829
Thus, it can be appreciated that the two
ends of the trim cover 146 may be coupled to the
frame at a single location. In securing the ends
of the trim cover to the vehicle seatback frame,
there is no need to use hog rings or the air-
operated device associated therewith, since the
retainer of the invention permits a manual
assembly procedure, requiring no special tools.
Further, since the retainer 100 merely snaps onto
the rod member 23 of the frame, and the resilient
flange member 152 is simply pushed into the second
U-shaped channel 136, an adjustment of the trim
cover 146 may be performed easily if required.
Such adjustment is possible since the retainer can
be moved with respect to-the rod member and/or the
flange member can be moved with respect to the
retainer.
It can be seen that the retainer of the
present invention provides an effective means of
coupling ends of a trim cover to a portion of the
frame at one location. Since the use of the
retainer requires no tools, the likelihood of
operator injury is decreased, and the assembly
time is substantially reduced.
While the invention has been described in
connection with what is presently considered to be
the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is
understood that the invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment, but, on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modification and
equivalent arrangements included with the spirit
and scope of the appended claims.
_ g _

Representative Drawing