GB2415364A

GB2415364A - Vehicle seat back assembly including a removable trim cover attached to the seat back frame via J-strip fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2415364A
Application number: GB0414005A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Anthony Boland; David Whittaker
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2004-06-23
Filing date: 2004-06-23
Publication date: 2005-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-23
Also published as: DE102005029642A1; GB2415364A8; GB0414005D0; GB2415364B

Abstract

The seat back assembly 1 comprises a seat back support frame 2, a foam material 3 which covers the seat back frame and a trim cover 4, which covers the outer surface of the foam material. The trim cover includes a rear cover portion 44 which has a centre cover panel 442 and two side panels 443,443' on each side of the centre cover panel. The centre cover panel includes several J-strips 11 for attachment to a wire rod 12 arranged along the back support frame. The adjacent edges of the centre panel 442 and the corresponding side panels 443 or 443' are connected together with sliding clasp fasteners 5. Thus, the trim cover is easily dismountable from the back support frame for the purpose of service, or access to different components integrated inside the seat.

Description

24 1 5364 - 1 A vehicle seat back assembly The present invention relates

to a vehicle seat back assembly and more particularly a trim cover arrangement of a seat back.

Conventionally, a vehicle seat back assembly comprises some form of cushioning or filling material supported on a seat frame. The filing material is covered by a trim cover. The trim cover is formed as an inverted pocket leaving an opening at the base. The opening allows the trim cover to be slipped on to the seat frame already provided with the filing material, with the aid of a skinning machine. In order to accomplish attachment of the trim cover to the seat frame, the opening may be closed by sewing together the edges of the trim at the openings or provided with fastened means such J-strips to facilitate attachment to the seat frame.

As vehicle seats, in particularly front seats, are using more and more electric components such as airbags or electric motors arranged inside the seat frame, the need to gain access to these components for servicing is becoming increasingly important However, it is relatively difficult to dismantle the trim cover of a seat without damaging the trim cover and equally to put back the trim cover without a skinning machine.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a vehicle seat back assembly having a trim cover in which the above problem is cured or alleviated.

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle seat back assembly comprising a seat back frame, a foam material covering the seat back frame and a trim cover which covers the outer surface of the foam material, the trim cover including a front portion, lateral wall portions, an upper portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has a movable panel which includes fastener features for attachment of the trim cover to.the seat back frame and in which the movable panel can be moved away from the frame when the said fastener features are disengaged.

The moveable panel may be provided with a first set of fastener features for cooperation with the seat back frame and a second set of fastener features to attach the moveable panel to the trim cover.

Preferably, the first set of fastener features are mounted on a wire rod arranged on the seat back frame.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig.1 is a rearward perspective view of a seat incorporating the invention; Fig.2 is a horizontal sectional view of the seat back shown in Fig.1; Fig.3 is a schematic view of a rear trim cover portion of the seat back shown in Figs.1 and 2; and Fig.4 is a rearward perspective view of the back support frame employed in the seat back shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A vehicle seat back 1 has a back support frame 2 covered with a foam layer 3 which provides padding on the front facing surface. The outer surface of the foam layer 3 is covered with a trim cover 4 made from a textile material or leather.

The trim cover 4 includes a front portion 41, lateral wall portions 42, 42', an upper portion 43 and rear portion 44. The front portion 41, lateral wall portions 42,42', upper portion 43 and rear portion 44 are joined at their edges by means of linking or sewing to form the complete trim cover 4 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rear portion 44 of the trim cover 4 comprises an upper panel 441, a movable centre panel 442 and two side panels 443, 443', one on each side of the centre panel 442.

The centre panel 442 and the two sides panels 443, 443' are sewn to the upper panel 441 at their edges. The adjacent side edges of the centre panel 442 and the side panels 443 or 443' are connected together with sliding clasp fasteners 5 each comprising two stringers 6, 6a and a slider 7 (shown only on one side for purpose of the description) mounted on the stringers to interengage or disengage rows of coupling elements 8 carried by each stringer when the slider 7 is moved along the stringer in a known manner. The closed end of each sliding clasp fastener 5 is mounted towards the upper part of the respective side panel 443, 443' so that when the coupling elements 8 are disengaged an opening 9 or 9' is formed in the seat rear cover portion 44. Since the sliding clasp fasteners 5 are accessible from the 10outside of the seat, the outside edge of each side panel 443, 443' adjacent to the centre panel 442 includes a hem 443a, 443'a in order to hide the fastener 5 in normal use.

The centre panel 442 includes several J-strips 11 or hooks arranged for attachment to a wire rod 12 arranged as an inverted U and attached to the rear of the back support frame 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4, so that the foam material 3 and the trim cover 4 are securely 15retained on the seat back support frame 2. Each J-strip 11 includes a substantially flat portion 13 which is sewn to the edge of the centre trim panel 442, as illustrated by the stitch line. As shown in Fig.3, the centre panel 442 has one J-strip 11a arranged on its upper edge and two pairs of J-strips 11 b on each of its lateral edges.

Thus, after the front trim cover portion 44 is placed over the surface of the foam 20material 3, the operator simply pushes up on the J-strips 11 to attach the trim cover to the wire rod 12 of the seat back frame 2. Then, the operator can move the sliders 7 of each of the sliding clasp fasteners 5 so that a tension is created in the trim cover 4 which enables the trim cover 4 to be connected closely to the foam material 3.

it will be appreciated that in the case where the trim cover 4 includes a map pocket 25442a then this can be part of the rear panel 442 which is secured by the J-strips 11 to the - 4 seat frame 2. Hence, the tension created by an user who wants to put an item inside the map pocket 442a is held by the J- strips 11.

As described hereinbefore, according to the invention, several practical effects can be obtained. For example, the trim cover 4 is easily dismountable for the purpose of service or access to different components, such a motor or airbag, integrated inside the seat when the centre cover panel 442 can be lifted up and away from the back support frame 2 (in the manner of a hanging curtain) while its top edge remains attached to the upper rear cover panel 441. Also, since the trim cover 4 is hand secured on the seat frame 2 it does not need any skinning machine. - 5

Claims

1. A vehicle seat back assembly comprising a seat back frame, a foam material covering the seat back frame and a trim cover which covers the outer surface of the foam material, the trim cover including a front portion, lateral wall portions, an upper portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion has a movable panel which includes fastener features for attachment of the trim cover to the seat back frame and in which the movable panel can be moved away from the frame when the said fastener features are disengaged.

2. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the moveable panel is provided with a first set of fastener features for cooperation with the seat back frame and a second set of fastener features to attach the moveable panel to the trim cover.

3. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first set of fastener features are mounted on a wire rod arranged on the seat back frame.

4. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the first set of fastener features are arranged to create a tension in the movable panel.

5. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the first set of fastener features are J-strips.

6. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 in which the second set of fastener features are sliding clasp fasteners which are arranged on each side of the movable panel.

7. A vehicle seat back assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 in which the rear cover portion includes hems arranged so that the second set of fastener features are hidden in normal use.

8. A vehicle seat back assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.