GB2535275A

GB2535275A - An arrangement of two vehicle seats and a cushion

Info

Publication number: GB2535275A
Application number: GB1520335.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ashe Gavin
Original assignee: KITE PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: KITE PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 2015-11-18
Filing date: 2015-11-18
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-18
Also published as: GB201520335D0; GB2535275B

Abstract

A cushion 10 with inflated compartments 26 is placed between two stacked seats 50, 52, such that a frame portion 64 of the upper seat 52 does not damage the squab 58 of the lower seat 50. The cushion 10 further includes holding means, such as a peelable adhesive (39, fig.2), to hold the cushion 10 in position during use. In this way, vehicle seats 50, 52 may be stacked into a small space during transit on a production line, without damage to the seats 50, 52.

Description

An Arrangement of Two Vehicle Seats and a Cushion The invention relates to an arrangement of two vehicle seats and a cushion.

On a production line in an automotive manufacturing facility, it is known for two seats intended for an automotive vehicle to be stacked one on the other for compactness while being moved along the production line. Although the seats may be in plastic covers, the seats will have a metal frame at the underside of the squab, and stacking the seats may lead to damage to the upper surface of the squab of the lower seat from the frame of the upper seat.

According to the invention there is provided an arrangement of two vehicle seats and a cushion, each vehicle seat comprising a squab and a back, the cushion being on the squab of the first seat and the second seat being on the cushion, the cushion comprising a plurality of inflated compartments, and the cushion including means to hold the cushion in place in the squab of the first seat, the cushion being dimensioned to protect the squab of the lower seat from the frame of the upper seat.

In this way, the cushion will protect the squab of the lower seat.

The seats may be seats for any type of vehicle and in one embodiment the seats are automotive vehicle seats.

At least the upper surfaces of the squabs of the seats may have temporary covers, which may be made of plastics material.

The means to hold the cushion in place may comprise at least one adhesive area on the cushion. The adhesive area may be on a flap extending from the inflated compartments. The adhesive may be of any suitable type and may be a peelable adhesive in one embodiment, but in another embodiment may be a permanent adhesive. In that case, a line of weakness may be defined in the flap between the adhesive area or areas and the compartments so that the part of the article with the compartments can be torn off, leaving the flap attached to the lower seat.

The article may include an inflation nozzle, and one way means to prevent the inflated compartments from deflating. The article may include a gallery leading from the inflation nozzle to the compartments and the one way means may comprise a one way valve for each compartment. The compartments may take any suitable form but preferably comprise a series of elongate compartments. The article may be made of plastics material such as a polyethylene barrier layer film.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet for making a cushion for an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 1 when inflated; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cushion inflated from the sheet of Fig 1 in the arrangement according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of a sheet for making a cushion for an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention; and, Figure 5 is a side elevation of a seat of the arrangement of the second embodiment after removal of the cushion.

Figures 1 and 2 show a sheet 10 of an arrangement of a first embodiment of the invention. The sheet 10 comprises two layers which are partially heat sealed together. Each layer comprises polyethylene with a barrier layer of polyamide to better resist air leakage. Looking at Figure 1, in each place where there are double lines, the two layers are heat sealed together in the areas between the double lines. Thus, looking at the rectangular sheet 10 in the orientation shown in Figure 1, it is seen that the sheet has been cut from a longer ribbon of material which contains the same repeating pattern of heat sealing. There is a heat seal line 12 adjacent the top edge in the sheet 10 and a heat seal line 14 adjacent the lower edge of the sheet. Adjacent the upper heat seal line 12 is a further heat seal line 16. The heat seal lines 12 and 16 at the top edge define a tubular gallery 18 between them. Spaced from the right hand end of the sheet is a perpendicular seal line 20 to seal the end of the gallery 18. A rigid polyethylene nozzle 22 is fitted into the opposite end of the gallery 18 through which air can be introduced into the gallery 18. The region between the heat seal lines 14, 16 is divided into compartments 26 by perpendicular heat seal lines 24. At the region just below the seal line 16 bounding the lower edge of the gallery 18, there is a further thickness of plastic material 28. This additional layer of plastic material 28 is heat sealed to the upper layer of the sheet 10 in a particular pattern 30 which is repeated at regular intervals along the sheet 10 so that there are three such patterns 30 for each compartment 26.

The heat seal line 16 which is the lower bound of the gallery 18 is broken at the entrance to each pattern 30 so that air can pass between the additional sheet 28 and the upper layer of the sheet 10. This forms an opening 32 for air to pass from the gallery 18 into the compartment 26. From the opening 32 two straight lines 34 of heat seal are provided which converge towards one another without meeting. Facing the gap between the ends of the heat seal lines 34 is a triangle 36 of heat sealing, with one apex facing the ends of the lines 34. Behind the triangle 36 is a short heat seal line 38 which is elongate in the direction away from the triangle 36. On each side of the short line 38 is a short lateral line 40, one behind each rear apex of the triangular heat seal 36. Behind the three short lines 38, 40 is a line of heat seal dots 42.

This pattern 30 forms a one way valve so that air can enter the compartment 26 through the opening 32 and between the additional layer 28 and the upper layer of the sheet 10, but cannot escape backwards out of the compartment 26.

Beyond the right hand end of the last perpendicular heat seal 24 is a part of the sheet 10 which is not bounded by heat seal lines and hence cannot be inflated. This part of the sheet 10 forms a flap 37. At the free end of the sheet 10 is a strip of peelable adhesive 39 covered by a backing strip 41. The strip of adhesive 39 extends from close to one side to close to the other side of the sheet 10 in other words it extends over substantially the whole width of the sheet 10.

Fig 2 shows the sheet 10 of Fig 1 when it has been inflated by using a pump (not shown) to pump air into the sheet 10 through the nozzle 22 to form a cushion.

Fig 3 shows an arrangement according to the invention in which the cushion 10 is between two car seats 50, 52 on a production line. Each seat has a back 54, 56, and squab 58, 60 and a frame 62, 64 under the squab 58, 60. The cushion 10 is placed on the squab 58 of the lower seat 50, and the backing sheet 41 is removed from the adhesive strip 39, and the flap 37 is pressed onto the upper surface 66 of the squab 58 of the lower seat 50 to attach it. The upper seat 52 is then placed onto the cushion 10, with the frame 64 of the upper seat in contact with the cushion, and the back 56 of the upper seat 52 resting against the back 56 of the lower seat 50. The cushion is large enough that all of the frame 64 rests on the cushion 10 and none on the squab 58 of the lower seat 50. The cushion 10 may be about 400x400mm in plan and each compartment may be about 40mm tall when inflated. Each compartment 26 when uninflated may be 90mm wide and 350mm long. Each of the two layers of the sheet may be 90 microns thick.

The cushion 10 acts to protect the lower seat 50 from potential damage by the frame 64 of the upper seat 52, for example from scratching or tearing, either during placement of the upper seat 52 on the lower seat 50, or while being moved on the production line, or when the upper seat 52 is taken off the lower seat 50.

When the upper seat 52 has been removed, the cushion can be removed by peeling it off as the adhesive is a peelable adhesive.

The uninflated sheets 10 are light and compact to store before use. It is quick to inflate and apply the cushion, which is then held in place by the adhesive.

Figs 4 and 5 show a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the adhesive of the adhesive strip 39 is a permanent adhesive, and the squab 58, 60 and back 54, 56 of each seat 50, 52 is covered with a cover 68 of plastics material sheet. The flap 37 includes a line of perforations 70 across the full width of the sheet 10 parallel to the axes of the compartments 26.

In the second embodiment, when the cushion is placed on the squab 58 of the lower seat 50, the backing sheet 41 is removed and the flap 37 is pressed against the cover 68 of the lower seat 50 to hold it in place. When the upper seat 52 has been removed, the cushion can be torn along the line of perforations 70 to leave just the part 72 of the flap beyond the line of perforations 70 still attached to the cover 68. When a car with the seats 50, 52 fitted is received in a showroom, the covers 68 will still be on the seats 50, 52 for protection, and the presence of the torn off part 72, still adhered to the cover 68 provides evidence that the seats 50, 52 were properly protected.

Claims

Claims 1. An arrangement of two vehicle seats and a cushion, each vehicle seat comprising a squab and a back, and legs or a frame depending from the squab, the cushion being on the squab of the first seat and the second seat being on the cushion, the cushion comprising a plurality of inflated compartments, and the cushion including means to hold the cushion in place on the squab of the first seat, the cushion being dimensioned to protect the squab of the lower seat from the frame or legs of the upper seat.
2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seats are automotive vehicle seats.
3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper surfaces of the squabs of the seats have temporary covers.
4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means to hold the cushion in place comprises at least one adhesive area on the cushion.
5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each adhesive area is on a flap extending from the inflated compartments.
6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a peelable adhesive.
7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a permanent adhesive.
8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein a line of weakness is defined in the flap between the adhesive area or areas and the compartments so that the part of the article with the compartments can be torn off, leaving the flap attached to the lower seat.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the or each adhesive area is an elongate strip.
10. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the or each adhesive area is covered by a backing sheet.
11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion includes one way means to prevent the inflated compartments from deflating.
12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cushion includes a gallery leading to the compartments.
13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one way means comprises a one way valve for each compartment.
14. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compartments comprise a series of elongate compartments arranged side by side.
15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made from a section cut from a ribbon of material with a repeating pattern along the ribbon.
16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pattern repeats from the top to the bottom of the bag.
17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made of plastics material.
18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cushion is made from polyethylene.
19. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion includes a barrier layer.
20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the barrier layer is made of polyamide.
21. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made from a sheet in which each compartment is a two layer construction
22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein each layer of plastics sheet material is in the range of 20 to 110 microns thick.
23. An arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1. An arrangement of two vehicle seats and a cushion, each vehicle seat comprising a squab and a back, and legs or a frame depending from the squab, the cushion being on the squab of the first seat and the second seat being on the cushion, the cushion comprising a plurality of inflated compartments, and the cushion including means to hold the cushion in place on the squab of the first seat, the cushion being dimensioned to protect the squab of the lower seat from the frame or legs of the upper seat.2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seats are automotive vehicle seats.3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper surfaces of the squabs of the seats have temporary covers.4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means to hold the cushion in place comprises at least one adhesive area on the cushion.5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each adhesive area is on a flap extending from the inflated compartments.6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a peelable adhesive.7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a permanent adhesive.8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein a line of weakness is defined in the flap between the adhesive area or areas and the compartments so that the part of the article with the compartments can be torn off, leaving the flap attached to the lower seat.9. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the or each adhesive area is an elongate strip.10. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the or each adhesive area is covered by a backing sheet.11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion includes one way means to prevent the inflated compartments from deflating.12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cushion includes a gallery leading to the compartments.13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one way means comprises CO 15 a one way valve for each compartment O14. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the compartments comprise a series of elongate compartments arranged side by side.O15. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made from a section of a ribbon of material with a repeating pattern along the ribbon.16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pattern repeats from the top to the bottom of the bag.17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made of plastics material.18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cushion is made from polyethylene.19. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion includes a barrier layer.20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the barrier layer is made of polyamide.21. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cushion is made from a sheet in which each compartment is a two layer construction 22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein each layer of plastics sheet material is in the range of 20 to 110 microns thick.23. An arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.