EP0720826A1 - Cover for a seat resistant to laceration and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The covering material, designed to be resistant to slashing, consists of a layer of a supple material backed by a reinforcement made from strips (1) or filaments which are set at intervals and made from a material which resists the passage of a cutting implement. The strips or filaments are wavy in shape, either in curved lines or having straight segments (2, 3) which are regularly repeated along their length. The reinforcing strips or filaments are situated so that a cutting implement inserted in the material will inevitably encounter one of them in whichever direction it is moved. They are independent of one another and attached to the supple material layer by one or more layers of adhesive or plastics in which they are at least partially embedded. The strips can be made, for example, from plain or reinforcing plastic or a composition material reinforced with glass or carbon fibres, e.g. Kevlar (RTM).

Description

The present invention relates to a covering structure for seats, in particular for seats of public transport vehicles, capable of withstanding lacerations. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such structures.

We know that the seats used in public places, especially in urban and suburban public transport, are more and more often the object of acts of vandalism and are in particular frequently subjected to lacerations with sharp objects.

In recent years, these malicious acts have taken on such proportions that various companies specializing in this technique have been led to offer seat upholstery capable of withstanding lacerations (see in particular FR-A-2 447 167 and FR- A-2,530,440, in the name of the Applicant, or FR-A-2,576,200, in the name of the SOFANOR Company).

In the Applicant's earlier linings, the element opposing the action of a sharp object consists of a sheet of helical springs, partially embedded in an elastomer foam, itself adhering to a layer of '' a compact elastomer. However, the coil springs only have satisfactory flexibility in one direction. In addition, the need to partially drown the sheet of springs in a relatively thick layer of elastomer makes this packing of a rather complex manufacture and therefore relatively expensive.

In FR-A-2,576,200 is proposed, for the same purpose, a knitting of metal wires interposed between two layers of a flexible material. The knitting of metallic threads has the advantage of having good flexibility in all directions, on the other hand, the shape of the stitches prohibits the use of metallic threads of a diameter sufficient to resist effectively to severe laceration.

The present invention aims to provide a covering structure for seats, which overcomes the drawbacks mentioned above.

More specifically, the invention aims to propose a covering structure for a seat which is effectively opposed to laceration acts, which is flexible in any direction and which can be manufactured by simple methods, at a reduced cost, compared to the linings. of the prior art.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a covering structure for a seat, capable of resisting lacerations, of the type comprising a sheet of flexible material lined with a reinforcing reinforcement, characterized in that the reinforcing reinforcement is made up of bands or wires spaced from each other, made of a material capable of opposing the passage of a cutting object, each band or wire having a sinuous profile made up of curved patterns and / or of patterns comprising rectilinear segments repeating regularly, the analogous patterns of the different bands or wires being arranged so as to juxtapose or overlap in corresponding positions such that each band or wire is spaced from the adjacent bands or wires by an interval imposing on a sharp object drawn along a rectilinear path necessarily meeting in any direction a band or a wire on its path, said bands or wires being either independent the u ns of the others, or joined transversely by spacers integral with these bands or wires, and being integral with the sheet of flexible material by means of at least one layer of adhesive or of plastic material, in which they are at less partially drowned.

The corresponding parts of the contiguous bands or wires can advantageously be spaced apart by a constant distance.

A sheet of decorative covering (tapestry, textile, leather, etc.) can be made integral with the face of the layer of adhesive or plastic material of which the sheet of flexible material is not integral.

Alternatively, a sheet of a decorative coating can be substituted for the sheet of flexible material and serve, in place of the latter, as a support for the strips or wires.

The important characteristic of the strips or threads of the sheet according to the invention is that they do not overlap or intertwine, or that they are joined together by auxiliary members in the manner of a mesh, a fabric or of a knitting. After having been preformed to the desired profile, they can therefore be simply applied in parallel to one face of the flexible sheet previously coated with an adhesive or a resin which is then polymerized, either strip by strip or thread by thread, when the strips or the wires are independent of one another, either in the form of a single framework, when the strips or the wires are joined transversely to each other, for example by spacers forming an integral part with them.

The invention therefore also relates to a method of manufacturing a covering structure for a seat capable of resisting lacerations, this method being characterized in that a first layer of an adhesive or a suitable resin is applied. to be polymerized on one face of a sheet of flexible material, in that strips or wires spaced apart from each other are then applied to this same face in a material capable of opposing the passage of a cutting object, each strip or wire having a sinuous profile consisting of curved patterns and / or of patterns comprising rectilinear segments repeating regularly, the different bands or wires being arranged on the sheet of flexible material so that the similar patterns of the different bands or wires juxtapose or overlap in positions such that each band or wire is spaced from the adjacent bands or wires by an interval imposing on a sharp object driven in a movement rectilinear to necessarily meet in any direction a strip or wire in its path, in that a second layer of adhesive or resin capable of polymerizing is then applied to the strips or son, and in that the adhesive is allowed to harden or polymerize the resin to lock the strips or wires in position.

As indicated above, the strips or threads can be applied to the flexible sheet either independently of each other, or in the form of a single framework, depending on whether they are independent or joined transversely by spacers integral with them .

The strips or wires must naturally have sufficient flexibility to allow the covering element thus produced to deform freely. In particular, in the case where the strips or the wires are independent of each other, the covering structure will be in the form of a sheet, which, advantageously can be rolled up on itself for storage before use. . The bands or wires can be made of metal and / or plastic, possibly reinforced.

In the case where the bands or wires are integral with each other, they form a one-piece frame, which can thus be manufactured to the dimensions of the part of the seat to be fitted with the covering structure, without loss of material due to updates. subsequent dimensions. This will be in particular the case of covering structures comprising bands adjoining them by spacers, which will constitute a framework that can be cut with the press in a single operation to the desired dimensions and whose peripheral edges, not cut, form a relatively framed rigid, facilitating the implementation of the invention. The coating structure thus produced constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Such a structure, in which the strip or the wires form a one-piece structure, can in addition alone constitute a seat element, for example a seat back, which can be easily fixed to the frame of the seat.

Another important advantage of such a monobloc structure lies in the fact that, if a strip breaks, it does not tend to protrude outside the lining. On the contrary, due to the flat shape of the strips, if one of them accidentally breaks, it remains inside the lining, where it is held in place by the other elements of the lining (layer elastomer and decorative fabric, for example). The laceration resistance of the lining is therefore not affected by the rupture of one or more bands of the reinforcing structure.

As will result from the detailed description which will be given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, numerous types of profile can be envisaged for the strips, wires or the like of the covering element according to the invention, from simple sinusoidal profiles up to profiles made up of repeating patterns made up of straight line segments such as Greek steps, crenels or boustrophedons.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame consists of independent strips cut in an adjoining position in a sheet of a material resistant to laceration, in particular in a metal sheet. Indeed, as will be seen below, with such an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to cut a plurality of strips of the same profile in a strip unwound from the same reel, leaving the ends of the bands corresponding to the ends of the unwrapped strip, which then makes it possible, while awaiting use, to rewind the strip in which the strips are precut and adjoining. When applying the strips to the sheet of flexible material, it will suffice to separate the strips from each other at their ends. Advantageously, during manufacture, it is also possible to keep intermediate fasteners between the strips, for example in two or three places, at regular intervals between the ends, to facilitate rewinding of the strip with the precut strips. These fasteners may possibly be removed when the strips are placed on the flexible sheet.

This may be of any suitable material: fabric, nonwoven, felt, canvas, plastic film or even tapestry intended to form the external face of the seat element, as indicated above.

Adhesives based on silicone may advantageously be used to secure the flexible sheet and the strips or wires.

Preferably, two layers of adhesive will be used, a first layer applied directly to the flexible sheet, on which the strips or threads will be placed, and a second layer on these strips or threads, so as to completely coat them, to better secure the different components and protect the tapes or wires.

It is also possible to apply the strips or wires to the sheet of flexible material, without first coating the latter with a layer of adhesive or of resin capable of polymerizing, and to apply to these strips or wires a sheet of a thermoplastic material which it is then brought to its softening or melting temperature.

In the case of strips cut from a metal strip, the strips may have a thickness of 0.2 to 1 mm and a width of approximately 1 to 20 mm, in order to have satisfactory resistance to laceration and, in this case, will space the different bands about 5mm apart. It is also possible to use thinner, but wider strips, to increase the flexibility of the covering ply and make it possible, for example, to wind it both in the general direction of the strips and in a perpendicular direction. For this purpose, it is also possible to use simple or reinforced plastics, or composite materials reinforced with glass fibers, carbon, Kevlar (registered trademark), etc.

In the case of metallic wires with circular cross section, their diameter may be between 0.6 and 1.2 mm, and approximately 100 wires may be available per meter of ply, in a direction transverse to the general direction of the wires.

• La figure 1A illustre un premier profil de bandes utilisables, appliquées sur une feuille souple d'une structure conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 1B est une vue en perspective à plus grande échelle des bandes de la figure 1A ;
• La figure 2 illustre un autre profil de bandes ;
• La figure 3 est une section transversale selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1 des bandes, de la feuille-support et de la feuille de revêtement ;
• La figure 4 illustre comment les bandes de la figure 1 sont découpées dans une même feuille déroulée à partir d'une bobine, d'une manière leur permettant d'être réenroulées en bobine ;
• La figure 5 illustre un profil de fils utilisable dans une nappe selon l'invention ;
• Les figures 6 à 10 illustrent d'autres profils de bandes, indépendantes ou faisant partie d'une ossature monobloc, utilisables dans le cadre de l'invention.

The attached schematic drawings illustrate various forms of implementation of the invention. In these drawings:

• FIG. 1A illustrates a first profile of usable strips, applied to a flexible sheet of a structure according to the invention;
• Figure 1B is an enlarged perspective view of the strips of Figure 1A;
• Figure 2 illustrates another strip profile;
• Figure 3 is a cross section along line III-III of Figure 1 of the strips, the carrier sheet and the covering sheet;
• Figure 4 illustrates how the strips of Figure 1 are cut from the same sheet unwound from a reel, in a manner allowing them to be rewound into a reel;
• FIG. 5 illustrates a profile of wires usable in a sheet according to the invention;
• Figures 6 to 10 illustrate other strip profiles, independent or forming part of a one-piece frame, usable in the context of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the strips 1 of laceration-resistant material consist of a succession, alternately, of rectilinear segments 2, of equal width and parallel to each other, and of rectilinear segments 3, also of equal width between them and inclined by 135 ° with respect to the previous ones. The segments 2 and 3 thus form successive inverted trapezoidal profiles, the assembly being able to be considered as an approximate sinusoidal profile made up of rectilinear portions. The segments 2 and 3 of the different bands are parallel to their counterparts in the other bands, so that the different profiles trapezoidal are nested at a constant distance from each other, so as to be able to oppose in any direction a cutting tool moved along a straight path and thus avoid a deep laceration of the coating ply.

In this embodiment, the different strips 1 are independent of each other, that is to say that they are not joined transversely by auxiliary members to form grid, knitted or fabric structures, and they do not are not joined by spacers integral with them. As shown in FIG. 3, they are simply applied to a flexible sheet 4, of fabric for example, previously coated with a first layer 5 of adhesive, and they are then preferably covered with a second layer of adhesive, joining them in a simple and effective way with the fabric 4 and to which a sheet 20 of a tapestry can be applied, intended to form the external face of the seat element to be fitted with this covering structure. As indicated above, the sheet 20 of tapestry or the like can optionally replace the flexible sheet 4 and serve directly as a support for the strips 1. In place of the adhesive 6, it is also possible to use a resin of a material capable of polymerizing or applying to the strips a sheet of a thermoplastic material, which is then heated to its softening or melting temperature.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the straight segments 2 of a strip may have a length l of about 10 mm, and be separated from the parallel segments 2 of the same strip by a constant interval x of 5 mm. The distance y from the segments of a strip to the corresponding and parallel segments of a contiguous strip will be 5 mm.

In the variant of FIG. 2, each strip 7 again consists of rectilinear segments 8, parallel to each other and of equal width, and of segments 9, also of equal width between them, inclined by 135 ° compared to the previous ones. Each strip comprises in this case, successively, two segments 8 parallel to each other, which alternate with two segments 9 parallel to each other and inclined by 135 ° with respect to the previous ones.

In this embodiment, the strips 7 have a cumulative length (addition of the lengths of the segments 8 and 9) greater than that of the strips 1 in FIG. 1 and they therefore have greater flexibility. In this embodiment, the lengths 1 and the distances x and y may have the same values as in the embodiment of Figure 1, that is to say, respectively, 10 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm.

The bands of FIGS. 1 and 2 can naturally be replaced by wires 10 of circular or oval cross-section, for example drawing approximate sinusoidal profiles, as shown in FIG. 5.

The strips are however preferred because, as explained above and as shown in FIG. 4, they can be easily cut from the same strip unwound from a reel, the contiguous strips remaining joined at the ends of the strip. by uncut parts 12, as well as by lateral fasteners 13, in regularly spaced locations between the ends, which allows rewinding of the cut strip and easily store it in the form of a reel. The fasteners 12 and 13 can optionally be eliminated before positioning the strips on a sheet of flexible material and making them integral.

The bands shown in Figures 1 to 4 have a constant width along their entire length, but they can also have variable widths, as seen in Figure 6, where the band 21 is made up of straight segments 21a and 21b of widths different.

As explained above, the strips of the structure according to the invention can be applied independently of each other on the flexible sheet with which they are made integral, but they can also constitute a monobloc framework, cut with the press in a plate with the dimensions of the seat element, thus minimizing the falls and the losses of raw material. This is illustrated by Figures 7 to 10.

In the frame of FIG. 7, we find the strips 2 of FIG. 1A, which are cut, for example by press, from the same rectangular plate and whose lateral ends adjoin two parallel edges 23 not cut from this plate.

It is the same in the case of the frame of Figure 8, where the strips 24 have a crenellated profile, consisting of rectilinear segments perpendicular to each other, juxtaposed in contiguous position so as to oppose the passage of a blade . As for the framework of FIG. 7, the strips 24 are cut from the same rectangular plate having the dimensions of the seat element to be fitted and the ends adjoin two non-cut parallel edges 25 of the plate.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the strips 27 are also cut with the press from a plate 28 and are separated by cutouts 29 of crenellated profile similar to the profile of the strips 24 of FIG. 8. The ends of the strips 27 are adjoining two parallel edges 28a of the plate 28. In addition, the different strips adjoin each other by transverse spacers 30, which interrupt the cutouts 29 at regular intervals.

Likewise, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, strips 32, of profile similar to that of the strips of FIG. 6, are cut from a plate 33 and adjoined by their ends to two opposite edges 33a of this plate. The bands 32 are separated by intervals 34 of shape similar to the profile of the bands of FIG. 1 and they are joined at regular intervals to the bands contiguous by transverse spacers 35, which interrupt the intervals 34.

The strips which have just been described as integral elements of a plate can naturally be produced and used in independent form in a frame according to the invention.

Of course, the profiles of bands or wires which have just been described have no limiting character and those skilled in the art can design many other profiles without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is clear that the structures according to the invention, owing to the repeated profiles of the bands or wires which they comprise and the multiplicity of these bands, preferably arranged at a constant distance from each other, are so opposed effective at deep laceration of the seats fitted therewith. It is also clear that these structures have very great flexibility, which, in certain embodiments (those of FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 for example) allows them to be wound on themselves as well in the direction of bands or threads which they comprise only in the perpendicular direction.

These structures can be used to cover all the parts of a seat, as well the seat itself, whether it is an armchair, a sofa or a bench seat, as the backrest or the armrests.

The invention therefore provides a simple and effective means for protecting seats, in particular seats for public places, and in particular for public transport.

Claims (16)

Covering structure for a seat, capable of resisting lacerations, of the type comprising a sheet (4) of flexible material lined with a reinforcing reinforcement, characterized in that the reinforcement consists of strips (1, 7, 21, 24, 27, 32) or of wires (10), spaced from one another, of a material capable of opposing the passage of a cutting object, each strip or wire having a sinuous profile made up of curved patterns and / or of patterns comprising rectilinear segments (2, 3; 21 a , 21 b ; 8, 9) repeating regularly, the analogous patterns of the different bands or threads being arranged so as to juxtapose or overlap in corresponding positions such that each strip or thread is spaced from the contiguous strips or threads by an interval requiring a sharp object driven along a rectilinear path to necessarily meet in any direction a strip or a thread on its path, said strips or threads being either independent of the u ns of the others, either joined transversely by spacers integral with these bands or wires, and being integral with the sheet (4) of flexible material by means of at least one layer (5, 6) of adhesive or plastic material, in which they are at least partially embedded. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (1) or the wires (10) have a shape close to a sinusoidal profile. Structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the strips (1, 7) consist of parallel rectilinear segments (2, 8) joined by rectilinear segments (3, 9) arranged obliquely to the previous ones. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (1) have a constant width along their entire length. Structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the rectilinear segments (21 a , 21 b ) of the strips (21) have different widths. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (24) have a crenellated profile comprising rectilinear segments perpendicular to each other. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (27) are separated by crenellated profile intervals, comprising rectilinear parts perpendicular to each other. Structure according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the corresponding parts of the adjacent strips or wires are separated by a constant distance. Structure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the contiguous bands (27, 32) are joined transversely by spacers (30, 35). Structure according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the different bands or wires forming a one-piece assembly with the dimensions of the seat element to be fitted. Structure according to claim 10, characterized in that the different strips (2, 24, 27, 32) have been cut from the same plate having substantially the dimensions of the seat element to be fitted and are adjoined by their ends with two edges uncut opposites (23, 25, 28a, 33a) of the plate. Method for manufacturing a covering structure for a seat capable of resisting lacerations, this method being characterized in that a first layer (5) of an adhesive or of a resin capable of polymerizing is applied to a face d '' a sheet (4) of a flexible material, in that we then apply on this same side of the strips (1, 7) or son (10) separated from each other in a material capable of opposing the passage of a cutting object, each strip (1, 7) or wire (10) having a sinuous profile made up of curved patterns and / or of patterns comprising rectilinear segments repeating regularly, the different bands (1, 7) or wires (10) being arranged on the sheet (4) of flexible material so that the similar patterns of the different bands or wires juxtapose or overlap in positions such that each band or wire is spaced from the adjacent bands or wires by an interval requiring a sharp object driven in a rectilinear movement to necessarily meet in any direction a band or a wire in its path, in that there is then optionally applied to the strips or wires a second layer of adhesive or resin capable of polymerizing, and in that the adhesive is allowed to harden or polymerize the resin to lock the strips or wires in position. Process variant according to claim 12, characterized in that the strips or threads are applied directly to the sheet of flexible material, in that they are then covered with a sheet of thermoplastic material and in that one brings the latter to the softening or melting temperature of the thermoplastic material. Method according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the strips (1, 7) are cut beforehand in an adjoining position in a sheet of material capable of resisting laceration, with their ends (12) joined together and optionally intermediate fasteners (13) between strips, and in that one separates said fasteners (12, 13) when placing the strips on the sheet of flexible material coated with a layer of adhesive or resin. Method according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the strips or wires are contiguous and form a one-piece assembly. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the different strips (2, 24, 27, 32) are previously cut from the same plate having substantially the dimensions of the seat element to be fitted, so as to be contiguous at their ends with two opposite uncut edges (23, 25, 28a, 33a) of the plate.

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