GB2439922A

GB2439922A - Vehicle seat cover

Info

Publication number: GB2439922A
Application number: GB0707238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Menzinger; Claudia Galle
Original assignee: Faurecia Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Faurecia Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2006-05-19
Filing date: 2007-04-16
Publication date: 2008-01-16
Also published as: DE102006023904A1; GB0707238D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat and a seat cover (7). The vehicle seat or seat cover includes a covering material (20) and a cushion underlay (10) with a groove (11). The underlay is arranged beneath the covering material, the covering material is folded at a folding point (21), and the covering material is sewn in the groove to the cushion underlay by means of a seam (43) covered by the covering material. The covering material has a covering material mark in the region of the seam or on the folding point. The mark may be a coloured mark, an incision or a hole through the covering material. The cushion underlay may also carry marks upon which the marks on the covering material may be aligned.

Description

Vehicle seat The invention relates to a vehicle seat and a seat cover,

in particular a piped seat cover, wherein the vehicle seat or the seat cover comprises a covering material and a cushion underlay with a groove, which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material.

DE-PS 33 04 343 discloses a method for producing seat covers having pipes. In this strip-shaped expanded foam cut-outs as the pipe filling material are introduced with the aid of guide channels between a lower material and an upper material, wherein the upper material wraps itself around the longitudinal edges of the expanded foam cut-outs. Subsequently the pipes are sewn up simultaneously on a multi-needle sewing machine.

DE-OS 36 41 345 discloses a method for manufacturing seat covers having pipes which are enveloped by a covering material, filled with expanded foam and fixed to one another by means of seams running parallel to one another, wherein a folding edge of the covering material is introduced into a first of a plurality of grooves arranged spaced apart by the width of the pipes in an expanded foam panel, the covering material and the expanded foam panel are connected at the side of the folding edge by a seam running parallel to the latter and then a folding edge of a following section of the covering material is moved prior to carrying out the next sewing operation beyond the seam in the direction of the neighbouring groove and introduced into the next groove.

DE 81 04 154 UI, DE 42 19891 Al, DE 4445918 C2 and DE 4118396 CI disclose other vehicle seats or seat covers.

It is an object of the invention to specify an improved vehicle seat or an improved seat cover, in particular an improved seat cover having a piped visual appearance.

Said task is solved by a vehicle seat or seat cover, in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle seat or seat cover comprises a covering material and a cushion underlay with a groove which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material, wherein the covering material is folded at a folding point, wherein the covering material is sewn to the cushion underlay by means of a seam in the groove covered by the covering material, and wherein in the region of the seam or at the folding point the covering material exhibits a covering material mark and/or in the region of the seam or in the region of the folding point the cushion underlay exhibits a cushion underlay mark. As defined in the invention, in the region of the seam is intended to mean in particular in the immediate vicinity of the seam. As defined in the invention, in the region of the seam is intended to mean in particular a few millimetres from the seam. As defined in the invention, in the region of the folding point is intended to mean in particular in the immediate vicinity of the folding point. As defined in the invention, in the region of the folding point is intended to mean in particular a few millimetres from the seam.

The seam and the folding point run in particular substantially parallel alongside one another.

A covering material as defined in the invention may comprise leather, synthetic leather and/or a textile and/or another material usable as an upper material and/or commonly used material or consist thereof. The covering material typically comprises an outer side and an inner side, wherein the outer side should designate in particular a viewing side. A cushion underlay arranged beneath the covering material is arranged in particular, as defined in the invention, on the inside of the covering material.

The cushion underlay advantageously comprises expanded foam or advantageously consists of expanded foam.

In a development of the invention the covering material mark and the cushion underlay mark are located over one another. In an alternative or additional development of the invention the covering material mark and the cushion underlay mark are located on a virtual line running substantially orthogonal to the seam and/or substantially parallel to the cushion underlay or parallel to a surface of the cushion underlay.

In a further advantageous refinement of the invention the groove has a width of between 2 mm and 8 mm.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the seam runs out of centre in the groove. In doing this it is provided in particular that the spacing between the seam and an edge of the groove facing towards the folding point is greater than the spacing between the seam and an edge of the groove facing away from the folding point. In another advantageous refinement of the invention the spacing between the seam and the edge of the groove facing towards the folding point is at least twice the spacing between the seam and the edge of the groove facing away from the folding point.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the cushion underlay mark is fitted beside the groove or out of centre in the groove.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the groove together with another groove of the cushion underlay forms part of a pipe.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the covering material mark is arranged on a side of the covering material facing towards the cushion underlay.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the covering material mark is formed as a hole in the covering material.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention, in the region of the seam or on the folding point the covering material possesses at least two covering material marks.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention, in the region of the seam or in the region of the folding point the cushion underlay possesses at least two cushion underlay marks.

Said task is additionally solved by a method for manufacturing a vehicle seat or seat cover -comprising in particular one or more of the aforesaid characteristics -wherein the vehicle seat or seat cover comprises a covering material and a cushion underlay with a groove, which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material, wherein the covering material is marked with a covering material mark and/or the cushion underlay is marked with a cushion underlay mark, wherein the covering material is folded at a folding point through the covering material mark or in the region of the covering material mark, and wherein the covering material is sewn by means of a seam in the groove covered by the covering material to the cushion underlay in the region of the folding point.

Said task is additionally solved by a vehicle seat or seat cover, in particular for a motor vehicle -comprising in particular one or more of the aforesaid characteristics -wherein the vehicle seat or seat cover comprises a covering material and a cushion underlay with a groove, which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material, wherein the covering material is marked with at least two covering material marks and the cushion underlay with at least two cushion underlay marks, wherein the covering material is folded at a folding point running through the at least two covering material marks, wherein the at least two covering material marks are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks, and wherein the covering material is sewn by means of a seam in the groove covered by the covering material to the cushion underlay.

In an advantageous refinement of the invention the at least two covering material marks are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks in such a way that at least one covering material mark and at least one cushion underlay mark lie on a virtual line running substantially orthogonal to the seam.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the virtual line runs substantially parallel to the cushion underlay or parallel to a surface of the cushion underlay.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the folding point is laid out on an edge of the groove.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the folded covering material is sewn in the region of the folding point in the groove to the cushion underlay.

Said task is additionally solved by a method for manufacturing a vehicle seat or seat cover -comprising in particular one or more of the aforesaid characteristics -wherein the vehicle seat or seat cover comprises a covering material and a cushion underlay with a groove, which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material, wherein the covering material is marked with at least two covering material marks, wherein the cushion underlay is marked with at least two cushion underlay marks, wherein the covering material is folded at a folding point running through the at least two covering material marks, wherein the at least two covering material marks are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks, and wherein the covering material is sewn by means of a seam in the groove covered by the covering material to the cushion underlay.

In an advantageous refinement of the invention the at least two covering material marks are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks in such a way that at least one covering material mark and at least one cushion underlay mark lie on a virtual line running substantially orthogonal to the seam and/or substantially parallel to the cushion underlay or parallel to a surface of the cushion underlay.

In another refinement of the invention the folding point is laid out on an edge of the groove.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the folded covering material is sewn in the region of the folding point in the groove to the cushion underlay by means of a sewing foot.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the sewing foot is taken along an edge of the groove as a stop edge.

In another advantageous refinement of the invention the at least two covering material marks are punched or cut as a hole into the covering material.

A motor vehicle as defined in the invention is in particular a land vehicle usable individually in road traffic. Motor vehicles as defined in the invention are in particular not restricted to land vehicles having an internal combustion engine.

Other advantages and details emerge from the following description of exemplified embodiments. These show: Fig I an exemplified embodiment of a vehicle seat having a seat cover with a so-called piped visual appearance; Fig 2 an exemplified embodiment of a cushion underlay for a backrest of a vehicle seat according to Fig 1; Fig 3 an exemplified embodiment of a covering material for a backrest of a vehicle seat according to Fig 1; Fig 4 an illustration of a detail of a cross-section through a seat cover of a vehicle seat according to Fig 1; Fig 5 an exemplified embodiment for manufacturing a vehicle seat according to Fig 1, and Fig 6 a detail of a plan view in perspective onto an exemplified embodiment of a seat cover prior to sewing the covering material and cushion underlay.

Fig 1 shows an exemplified embodiment of a vehicle seat I having a seat cover with a so-called piped visual appearance, wherein reference symbol 2 designates a backrest and reference symbol 3 a seating surface. In the exemplified embodiment shown both the backrest 2 and the seating surface 3 are kept with the piped visual appearance, i.e. both the backrest 2 and the seating surface 3 comprise structures designated as pipes 5 and 6 respectively.

The vehicle seat I comprises a seat cover designated in Fig 4 by reference number 7 having a covering material 20 and a cushion underlay 10 arranged beneath the covering material. Fig 2 shows an exemplified embodiment of a cushion underlay 10 for the backrest 2 of the vehicle seat 1. The cushion underlay 10 advantageously comprises expanded foam or advantageously consists of expanded foam. In the cushion underlay 10 grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 having a width in particular of about 5 mm are provided which can be milled into place, for example. The periodic structure formed by the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 is arranged slightly off centre, wherein in the present exemplified embodiment the spacing between the left-hand rim RL and the groove 11 is a little greater than the spacing between the right-hand rim RR and the groove 16.

In the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 cushion underlay marks 17 and 18 are provided.

Alternatively or additionally corresponding cushion underlay marks may also be arranged beside the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 as illustrated by way of example by means of the cushion underlay marks designated by reference symbols 17A and 18A.

Fig 3 shows an exemplified embodiment of a covering material 20 for the backrest 2. The covering material 20 may comprise leather, synthetic leather and/or a textile and/or another material usable as upper material and/or commonly used material or consist thereof.

Corresponding to the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 of the cushion underlay 10 the covering material 20 comprises in sections in the present exemplified embodiment weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, wherein, however, the spacing between the weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 is greater than the spacing between the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. In doing this the spacing between the weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 is in particular 10 % to % of the spacing between the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The covering material 20 may, for example, be weakened ri that it is cut into, perforated or -as in the present exemplified embodiment -cut through.

The weakened point 21 in the present exemplified embodiment is divided into five sections 21A, 21B, 21C, 210, 21E which are each arranged at a distance of 2 cm from one another.

The sections 21A and 21E are 8cm long and section 210 is 10cm long.

At the beginning and end of a weakening or a weakened point 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or at the beginning and end of a section 21A, 21B, 210,210, 21E of a weakening ora weakened point 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 the covering material 20 comprises a covering material mark 31, 32. A covering material mark 31, 32 may be, for example, an incision, a coloured mark or -as in the present exemplified embodiment -a hole through the covering material 20.

The covering material 20 is folded on the weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. These folded weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or the sections 21A, 21B, 21C, 210, 21E thereof are each exemplified embodiments of a folding point as defined in the claims. As illustrated in Fig 4, the covering material 20 is then sewn to the cushion underlay 10 by means of a seam 43 covered by the covering material 20 in the region of the folded weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 in the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Here Fig 4 shows an illustration of a detail of a cross-section through the seat cover 7 of the vehicle seat 1 with reference to the backrest 2. The seat cover 7 is correspondingly manufactured with reference to the seating surface 3.

Fig 5 shows an exemplified embodiment for manufacturing the vehicle seat 1. In this in a step the cushion underlay 10 is trimmed. In addition the grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 are milled and the cushion underlay marks 17 and 18 or 17A and 18A are made. Step 50 is followed by a step 51 in which the covering material 20 is cut into shape. In a step 52 the weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and the corresponding covering material marks 31, 32 are incised or milled into the covering material 20. Step 50 may also ensue after steps 51 and 52 or at the same time as these.

Step 53 follows in which -as illustrated in Fig 4 with reference to the example of the groove 11 -the covering material 20 is folded and laid at the folded weakened point 21 on an edge 41 of the groove 11 in such a way that the covering material marks 31, 32 in the covering material 20 assigned to the groove 11 are aligned on the cushion underlay marks 1 7A, 1 8A of the groove 11 -as illustrated in Fig 6, wherein Fig 6 shows a detail of a plan view in perspective onto the seat cover 7 prior to sewing. After alignment the covering material mark 31 and the cushion underlay mark 17A lie on a virtual line 60 and the covering material mark 32 and the cushion underlay mark 18A lie on a virtual line 61. The virtual lines 60 and 61 are substantially parallel to the cushion underlay 10 or parallel to the surface thereof.

In a step 54 the covering material 20 is then sewn by means of a sewing foot, which produces the seam 43 covered by the covering material 20, in the groove 11 in the region of the folded weakened point 21 to the cushion underlay 10, wherein reference symbol hA in Fig 2 designates a virtual line along which the later seam 43 runs. During sewing the sewing foot is taken along the edge 41 as a stop edge. The distance between the seam 43 and the folded weakened point 21 or the edge 41 corresponds approximately to the width of the sewing foot and in the present exemplified embodiment is approximately 4 mm so that the seam 43 is arranged off centre in the groove 11. In doing this the spacing between the seam 43 and the edge 41 of the groove 11 facing towards the folded weakened point 21 (folding point) is more than twice, and in fact in the present exemplified embodiment approximately four times, the spacing between the seam 43 and an edge 42 of the groove 11 facing away from the folded weakened point 21 (folding point).

Steps 53 and 54 ensue one after the other for all weakened points 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and grooves 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, wherein the covering material 20 is first of all -as already described -folded along the weakened point 21 and the folded weakened point 2lis then sewn in the groove 11 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by the reference symbol hA. After this the covering material 20 is folded along the weakened point 22 and the folded weakened point 22 is then sewn in the groove 12 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by reference symbol 12A. After this the covering material 20 is folded along the weakened point 23 and the folded weakened point 23 is then sewn in the groove 13 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by reference symbol 1 3A. After this the covering material 20 is folded along the weakened point 24 and the folded weakened point 24 is then sewn in the groove 14 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by reference symbol 14A. After this the covering material 20 is folded along the weakened point 25 and the folded weakened point 25 is then sewn in the groove 15 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by reference symbol 15k Finally the covering material 20 is folded along the weakened point 26 and the folded weakened point 26 is then sewn in the groove 16 to the cushion underlay 10 along a virtual line designated in Fig 2 by reference symbol 16A.

With reference to steps 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 the manufacture of the seat cover 7 has been described with respect to the backrest 2. The seat cover 7 is also manufactured with respect to the seating surface 3 in analogous fashion. Following this in s step 55 the vehicle seat 1 is manufactured using the seat cover 7 with respect to the back rest 2 and the seating surface 3.

Taking simplicity and clarity into consideration, the elements in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Thus, for example, the magnitudes of some elements are exaggerated relative to other elements in order to improve comprehension of the exemplified embodiments of the present invention.

List of reference symbols I Vehicle seat 2 Backrest 3 Seating surface 5, 6 Pipe 7 Seat cover Cushion underlay 11, 12,13,14, 15, 16 Groove hA, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A, 60, 61 Virtual line 17, 17A, 18, 18A Cushion underlay mark Covering material 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Weakened point 21A, 21B, 21C, 210, 21E Section 31, 32 Covering material mark 41,42 Edge ofa groove 43 Seam 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 Step RL Left-hand rim RR Right-hand rim

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7), in particular for a

motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) comprises a covering material (20) and a cushion underlay (10) with a groove (11), which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material (20), wherein the covering material (20) is folded at a folding point (21), wherein the covering material (20) is sewn in the groove (11) to the cushion underlay (10) by means of a seam (43) covered by the covering material (20), and wherein the covering material (20) has a covering material mark (31, 32) in the region of the seam (43) or on the folding point (21).

2. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to claim 1, characterised in that the cushion underlay (10) has a cushion underlay mark (17, 18, 17A, 18A) in the region of the seam (43) or in the region of the folding point (21).

3. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7), in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) comprises a covering material (20) and a cushion underlay (10) with a groove (11), which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material (20), wherein the covering material (20)is folded at a folding point (21), wherein the covering material (20) is sewn in the groove (11) to the cushion underlay (10) by means of a seam (43) covered by the covering material (20), wherein the cushion underlay (10) has a cushion underlay mark (17, 18, 17A, 18A) in the region of the seam (43) or in the region of the folding point (21).

4. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to claim 3, characterised in that the covering material (20) has a covering material mark (31, 32) in the region of the seam (43) or at the folding point (21).

5. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to claim 4, characterised in that the covering material mark (31, 32) and the cushion underlay mark (17, 18) are located one over the other.

6. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to claim 4, characterised in that the covering material mark (31, 32) and the cushion underlay mark (17A, 18A) lie on a virtual line (60, 61) running substantially orthogonal to the seam (43) and or to the groove (11).

7. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to claim 6, characterised in that the virtual line (60, 61) runs substantially parallel to the cushion underlay (10).

8. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the groove (11) has a width of between 2 mm and 8 mm.

9. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the cushion underlay mark (17, 18, 17A, 18A) is fitted beside the groove (11) or out of centre in the groove (11).

10. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the groove (11) together with another groove (12) of the cushion underlay (10) forms part of a pipe (5).

11. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of claims 1 or 3 to 10, characterised in that the covering material mark (31, 32) is arranged on a side of the covering material (20) facing towards the cushion underlay (10).

12. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of claims 1 or 3 to 11, characterised in that the covering material mark (31, 32) is devised as a hole in the covering material (20).

13. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the region of the seam (43) or at the folding point (21) the covering material (20) has at least two covering material marks (31, 32).

14. A vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the region of the seam (43) or in the region of the folding point (21) the cushion underlay (10) has at least two cushion underlay marks (17, 18, 17A, 18A).

15. Method for manufacturing a vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7), in particular a vehicle seat (1) or seat cover (7) according to any of the preceding claims, having a covering material (20) and a cushion underlay (10) with a groove (11), which underlay is arranged beneath the covering material (20), wherein the covering material (20) is marked with at least two covering material marks (31, 32), wherein the cushion underlay (10) is marked with at least two cushion underlay marks (17, 18, 17A, 18A), wherein the covering material (20)is folded at a folding point (21) running through the at least two covering material marks (31, 32), wherein the at least two covering material marks (31, 32) are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks (17, 18, 17A, 18A), and wherein the covering material (20)is sewn in the groove (11)to the cushion underlay (10) by means of a seam (43) covered by the covering material (20).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterised in that the at least two covering material marks (31, 32) are aligned on the at least two cushion underlay marks (17A, 18A) in such a way that at least one covering material mark (31, 32) and at least one cushion underlay mark (17A, 18A) lie on a virtual line (60, 61) running substantially orthogonal to the groove (11).

17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that the virtual line (60, 61) runs substantially parallel to the cushion underlay (10).

18. Method according to any of claims l5to 17, characterised in that the folding point (21) is laid out on an edge (41) of the groove (11).

19. Method according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that in the region of the folding point (21) the folded covering material (20) is sewn in the groove (11) to the cushion underlay (10).

20. Method according to any of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that in the region of the folding point (21) the folded covering material (20) is sewn in the groove (11) to the cushion underlay (10) by means of a sewing foot.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterised in that the sewing foot is guided along an edge (41) of the groove (11) as stop edge.

22. Method according to any of claims 15 to 18, characterised in that the covering material marks (31, 32) are punched or cut as a hole into the covering material (20).