AU2014101309A4 - Coupling for a seat cover strap - Google Patents

Abstract

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\6917059_I.doc-28/10/2014 Abstract A coupling for a seat cover strap including a first element with a first component of a two part hook and look type fastener, the first element having an attachment side for face to face 5 connection with a second component of the fastener associated with a strap of a seat cover, wherein the attachment side extends in a direction of a static load applied to the coupling when the first element is connected to the second component and wherein the coupling includes release means to separate the first element in a lateral direction, away from the second component when an above threshold load is applied to the coupling. I'*

Description

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 COUPLING FOR A SEAT COVER STRAP Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a coupling particularly but not exclusively for a vehicle seat cover strap. Background of the Invention 10 A form of vehicle seat cover is formed of a front panel that sits over a front of the seat, side panels and a rear panel. Once positioned over the seat, the cover is secured around a base of the seat by a strap that connects two rear bottom corners of the cover. The strap is formed in two parts and is fastened by a hook and loop type fastener, such as a Velcro fastener, positioned in the centre of the strap. 15 Many vehicle seats now come with an airbag in the side of the seat and such a seat cover may impedes the airbag opening due to the fastener not releasing. As a result, the cover restricts opening operation of the airbag. 20 Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a coupling that allows for quick release of a seat cover strap. Summary of the Invention 25 In accordance with the invention there is provided a coupling for a seat cover strap including a first element with a first component of a two part hook and look type fastener, the first element having an attachment side for face to face connection with a second component of the fastener associated with a strap of a seat cover, wherein the attachment side extends in a 30 direction of a static load applied to the coupling when the first element is connected to the second component and wherein the coupling includes release means to separate the first H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -2 element in a lateral direction, away from the second component when an above threshold load is applied to the coupling. Preferably, the first element includes a tail for attachment to a second strap. 5 Preferably, the coupling includes a second element connected to the first element to form a loop with the first element. Preferably, the second element is also provided with the first component of the hook and loop 10 type fastener. Preferably, the loop forms the release means when arranged between the straps whereby the first component of each element faces toward a respective one of the straps and tension applied to the straps causes the loop to rotate and peel the first component of the elements 15 away from the straps until one or more of the straps release from the loop. Preferably, the coupling includes a buckle with a slot and the first strap is pulled through the slot to separate from the strap. 20 Preferably, the first element includes an enlarged head to resist being pulled through the buckle. Preferably, the strap is attached to one end of the buckle. Preferably, the first element is arranged to loop around a second end of the buckle. 25 Preferably, the fastener is a Velcro fastener. In another aspect, there is provided a seat cover with straps and a coupling, as described above, to connect the straps. 30 H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -3 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a seat cover; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another seat cover; 10 Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a seat cover fitted over a seat; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another seat cover fitted over a seat; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a coupling; 15 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the coupling between two straps; Figure 7 is a perspective view of another form of coupling, with a buckle; 20 Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling of Figure 7 positioned between two straps; and Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the coupling in a release condition. 25 Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring firstly to Figure 1, a seat cover 1 is shown as including a front panel 2, a rear panel 3, side panels 4 and a fastening mechanism 5. 30 The fastening mechanism 5 is formed of a strip 6 located on an inside surface 7, at a bottom section 8 of each side panel 4. The strip 6 carries a first component of a hook and loop type H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -4 fastener 9, such as Velcro. The fastening mechanism also includes a strap 10 and the second component of the fastener 9 is located at ends 12, 13 of the strap. With reference now to Figure 2, a seat cover 30, similar to the cover 1 of Figure 1, is shown 5 and like reference numerals are used to denote like parts. The side panels 4 of the cover 30 are formed as flaps 31 that are able to open along a seam 32, which separates each panel 4 from a top portion 33 of the cover 30. To hold the panels 4 in place, additional strips 14 are placed under the flaps 31 at respective upper sections 15 of each 10 panel 4. The strips 14 may also be positioned at alternative locations, as required. As a further alternative, one or more of the strips 6, 14, may be provided on the inside surface 7 of only one side panel 4, if the seat cover needs to open from one side only. 15 In that regard, a cover 40 that opens on one side only is shown in Figure 3, where like reference numerals are again used to denote like parts. The cover 40 is positioned over a seat 16 that is fitted with an airbag 17, in a side 18 of the seat 16, under an closure 19. The seat cover 40 is fitted over the seat 16 and secured in place 20 by the strap 10 that is releasably attached across a back 21 of the seat 16, by positioning the end 13 of the strap 10 between the cover 40 and the seat 16 and securing the end 13 of strap 10 to the associated strip 6 using the hook and loop fastener 9. The fastener 9 is thereby positioned over a base 22 of the side 18 of the seat 16. 25 Since the strip 6 is oriented parallel to the sides 18, any pull force, such a by people sitting in the seat 16 is reliably resisted. The fastener 9 is, however, designed to release in a transverse direction, under action of the airbag 17 forcing the closure 19 outwardly, in a direction transverse to the side 18 30 With reference to Figure 4, where like reference numerals are also used to denote like parts, an H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -5 additional strip 14 is provided, adjacent the seam 32, in addition to the strip 6 to secure the panel 4 in a closed condition, over the side 18 of the seat 16. The strips 6, 14, when secured, run parallel to the side 18 of the seat 16 so as to quickly and easily release in a transverse direction, in the event the airbag 17 deploys. 5 Referring now to Figure 5, where like reference numbers denote like parts, a coupling 41 is shown as including a first element 42 with a head 43 and a tail 44 connected to a second element 45 with a corresponding head 43 and tail 44. The elements 42, 45 are fixed together by stitching the respective head 43 and tail 44 of each element 42, 45 along associated seams 10 46. The connected elements form a loop 47. A first component 48 of a two component hook and loop type fastener is provided on an outwardly facing attachment side 49 of each element 42, 45. With reference to Figure 6, the coupling 41 is positioned between two straps 50, 51 in a face to 15 face arrangement with the straps 50, 51, which are each provided with an associated second component 52 of the hook and loop type fastener 53, to hold the straps to the coupling when under a static load. When an above threshold force is applied to the straps 50, 51, the loop 47 acts as a release means 54 to peel each element 42, 45 away from the associated strap 50, 51 in a lateral direction, indicated by arrow 55, as release forces are applied to the straps 50, 51 in 20 opposite directions 56, until one or more the straps 50, 51 releases from the coupling 41. The lateral separation of the coupling 41 from the straps 50, 51 reduces the separation force that needs to be applied to release the first and second components of the fastener 53. 25 Referring now to Figure 7, another form of coupling 41 is shown and like reference numbers are used to denote like parts. The coupling 41 includes an additional buckle 58 and the loop 47 is located over one end 59 of the buckle 58. The head 43 of the first element 42 is enlarged relative to a slot 60 of the buckle 58 to resist 30 being pulled through the buckle 58 until an above threshold force is applied to the loop 47.

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -6 Referring now to Figure 8, a strap 50 is attached to an opposite end 61 of the buckle 58 and a second strap 51 is connected to the loop 47. When tension is applied in a direction indicated by arrow 62, the loop 47 is caused to rotate through the buckle 58, which acts as a release means 54 to provide lateral separation of the loop 47 from the strap 50, as it pulls through the 5 slot 60. When continued tension or a dynamic load is applied, the head 43 of the first element 42 pulls through the buckle 58 and causes the strap 51 to release to the right, as shown in Figure 9. The tail 44 of the first element 42 simultaneously releases from the strap 51 as the loop 47 rotates 10 around the buckle 58. The coupling 41 is ideally suited for connecting straps of a seat cover, such as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The coupling 41 is able to hold static loads to keep the seat cover in place, while being able to quickly release in the event dynamic or above threshold loads are 15 applied to the coupling 41, such as caused from a sudden impact force of an airbag deploying.. The invention has been described with reference to hook and look type fasteners, however, other forms of quick release fasteners may instead be used, as required. Also, the above seat covers have been described as fitting over a seat and have been illustrated covering a headrest 20 of the seat. However, it will be appreciated the invention can instead be applied to seat covers that fit under or over the headrest, irrespective of the seat type, size or shape.

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 -7 List of Parts 1. Seat cover 2. Front panel 5 3. Rear panel 4. Side panel 5. Fastening mechanism 6. Strip 7. Inner surface 10 8. First component 9. Fastener 10. Strap 11. Second component 12. End 15 13. End 14. Strip 15. Upper section 16. Seat 17. Airbag 20 18. Side 19. Closure 20. Side 21. Back 22. Base 25 23. Upper portion 30. Seat cover 31. Flap 32. Seam 33. Top portion 30 40. Seat cover 41. Coupling H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortb\DCCJZC\6410380_l.DOC-23/10/2014 42. First element 43. Head 44. Tail 45. Second element 5 46. Seams 47. Loop 48. First component 49. Side 50. Strap 10 51. Strap 52. Second component 53. Fastener 54. Release means 55. Arrow 15 56. Direction

Claims (10)

1. A coupling for a seat cover strap including a first element with a first component of a two part hook and look type fastener, the first element having an attachment side for face to 5 face connection with a second component of the fastener associated with a strap of a seat cover, wherein the attachment side extends in a direction of a static load applied to the coupling when the first element is connected to the second component and wherein the coupling includes release means to separate the first element in a lateral direction, away from the second component when an above threshold load is applied to the coupling. 10

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the first element includes a tail for attachment to a second strap.

3. The coupling of claim 2, further including a second element connected to the first 15 element to form a loop with the first element.

4. The coupling of claim 3, wherein the second element is also provided with the first component of the hook and loop type fastener. 20

5. The coupling of claim 4, wherein the loop forms the release means when arranged between the straps whereby the first component of each element faces toward a respective one of the straps and tension applied to the straps causes the loop to rotate and peel the first component of the elements away from the straps until one or more of the straps release from the loop. 25

6. The coupling of claim 2, wherein the coupling includes a buckle with a slot and the first strap is pulled through the slot to separate from the strap.

7. The coupling of claim 6, wherein the first element includes an enlarged head to resist 30 being pulled through the buckle.

8. The coupling of claim 7, wherein the strap is attached to one end of the buckle. H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbI\DCC\JZC\64103801l.DOC-23/10/2014 - 10

9. The coupling of claim 8, wherein the first element is arranged to loop around a second end of the buckle.

10. A seat cover with straps connected with the coupling of any one of claims 1 to 9. 5