WO1991013576A1

WO1991013576A1 - Seat cover

Info

Publication number: WO1991013576A1
Application number: PCT/SE1990/000879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claes Arne Bjerling
Original assignee: Kiddy Exklusiv Ab
Priority date: 1990-03-13
Filing date: 1990-12-27
Publication date: 1991-09-19
Also published as: SE9000904D0; NO310272B1; FI925180A0; FI925180A; AU7323491A; SE468196B; NO924398D0; SE9000904L; NO924398L

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seat cover, primarily intended for wider vehicle seats and preferably divisible such, comprising a cloth-like material (1A, 1B) having fastening means (4) intended for co-operation with corresponding means on the seats, whereby said material (1A, 1B) at least in part are elastic, and whereby the seat cover at least shows a divisioning device (2) integrated in the seat cover.

Description

Title: Seat cover

Technical field:

The present invention relates to a seat cover, primarily intended for wide vehicle seats (usually in the rear seat of a vehicle) and preferably divisible such, consisting of a cloth¬ like material, provided with fastening means intended to co¬ operate with corresponding means on the seat, whereby said material is elastic at least in part.

Technical background and technical problem:

Seat covers, such as those mentioned above, are previously known for example from US-A-1 970 820. For virtually every vehicle type a size fitted seat cover has been manufactured to the sizes of this particular vehicle. This approach results in that large amounts of seat covers have to be held in stock. The abundance of variation has increased further since a number of automobile types are today provided with divisible rear seats. This abundance of variation leads to a further increased stock keeping if one wishes to provide the majority of vehicles with seat covers. The cost of stocks is proportional to the abundance of variation, i.e. the more types the higher stock¬ piling costs. This constitutes the first undesirable problem in conjunction with an increase of the abundance of variation. An additional problem is that the manufacturing costs will increase since the abundance of variation normally leads to that the series-size decreases which in turn will also increase the costs, which of course is highly undesirable. In certain cases the sale of seat covers has been reduced to custom-order work. Thus, in such cases, a seat cover is produced upon a customer's order only. This last-mentioned method is of course a lot more cost demanding since every seat cover in itself involves a number of costs generating steps, such as relatively long stand-still periods, expensive delivery etc.

Solution and advantages:

An object of the present invention is to provide a seat cover which will eliminate the above mentioned problems.

The above mentioned object is solved by way of a seat cover characterized in that the seat cover comprises dividing means integrated in the seat cover and extending from edge to edge thereof. With such a seat cover it is possible to afterwards adjust the cover to a number of seats of different shapes and sizes, which means a clear distinction in relation to US-A-2 627 303 which describes a seat cover having removable inner parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seat cover which enables foldable seats to optionally have a complete seat cover covering the entire back-rest part of the seats or for example have the seat cover divided in the back-rest part by way of dividing means, preferably re-unitable, so that an optional folding of the seats may take place. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a seat cover with additional side portions.

Brief description of the drawings:

The invention will in the following be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a seat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as arranged in a rear seat,

Fig. 2 shows additional side portions for a seat cover according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows part of a seat cover seen in a perspective view from behind, and

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section to a seat cover according the invention.

Thus Fig. 1 shows a preferred seat cover 1 provided with a portion la covering the back rest part of the rear seat and a second portion lb covering the seat part of the rear seat. In this preferred embodiment the seat cover is divided by way of three zip-fasteners 2. The zip-fasteners 2 are placed in such a way that if both the outer zip-fasteners are used, an arm rest in the back-rest part may be folded out. Furthermore, one of the zip-fasteners (for example the left one) is arranged exactly over the dividing line between the divisibly foldable back rest part. Thus one may use the zip-fasteners 2 to divide the seat cover la in the back-rest part, and if necessary also the seat part lb, in order to thereafter be able to optionally fold one of the seat parts. The seat cover is fastened in a known manner by way of straps 4 attached to the seat cover, preferably elastic such, placed at the edge portions and slipped over suitable protruding, corresponding fastening means on the vehicle.

In Fig. 2 two side portions 3a, 3b are shown, which may be used to cover side portions exposed when dividing a seat. The side portions 3a, 3b are symmetrical relative to a dividing means 2 in the shape of a zip-fastener 20. This zip-fastener is of the same type as the one used in the seat cover itself. Thus one of the side portions 3a may be joined together with one side of the opened zip-fastener in the seat cover, whilst the other side piece 3b may be joined together with the remaining side of the opened zip-fastener 2 in the seat cover. Thus, the side pieces 3a, 3b may be used when the seat cover is mounted onto a divisible seat and when one of the seat parts are folded down. The separate side pieces 3a, 3b may then be used for covering the otherwise unprotected free side portions of the seats. The figure also shows that the side pieces 3a, 3b are provided with fastening means 4, suitably of the same shape as the fastening means (not shown) , for co-operation with a corresponding means on the seat parts.

In Fig. 3 part of a seat cover according to the invention is shown in a perspective view from behind. The selected portion of the seat cover exhibits two dividing means 2, in the shape of zip-fasteners 20. In the immediate vicinity and on both sides of each zip-fastener there is arranged a flap 21. In the preferred embodiment this flap consists of cloth lined with elastic bands. At the end of the flap 21 facing away from the zip-fastener, there is arranged a fastening means 4. By arranging each side of a dividing means 2 with fastening means 4 as shown in the figure, one and the same seat cover may be used for a plurality of different seat sizes.

In order to closer describe the various options of adjusting a seat cover provided with fastening means 4 according to Fig. 3 to various seat sizes it is henceforth referred to Fig. 1, which is then pre-supposed to show a seat cover having dividing means 2 according to Fig. 3. In an extreme case it is possible to use this seat cover as two separate "one person-seat", for example two normal front seats, either by dividing the seat cover by way of the central zip-fastener and attach it to each seat in this way, or (in case of narrower seats) remove the central piece by dividing the outer zip-fasteners and thereafter attach the cover to separate seats. If the seat cover is otherwise to be used on a full-length seat it is possible to adjust it in a number of way, in a similar manner. Among other things it is possible to adjust such a seat cover to a shorter seat by either removing one or two of the additional pieces by way of the division in the zip-fastener. It is further possible to fit pieces of different length together, i.e. not symmetrical as in the figure, in order to enable a better adjustment of the seat cover to the shape of the seat, for example in order to get a zip-fastener exactly over the division of a rear seat. A person having ordinary skill in the art will realize that the material in the seat cover is elastic to a degree of about 20 to 50 %, preferably 30 to 35 %, which is normally the case in the business. By way of a seat cover such as the above described it is possible for each model to cover at least 10 different seat types and sizes.

In Fig. 4, a schematical cross-section is shown through a seat cover according to the invention. One thereby sees that the zip-fastener 20 is integrated in the exposed surface of the seat cover in such a way that it will remain level with said surface, thereby enhancing the aesthetical impression.

The invention is not limited to the above shown embodiments, but may be varied within the scope of the accompanying claims. Thus it is not necessary to use a zip-fastener, but one may also use other types of re-closable divisioning devices 2, such as push buttons, hook and eyelet bonds etc. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a non-reclosable division such as for example two parallelly extending seams between which one may cut, in order to thereby adjust the seat cover to a shorter seat if desired. A person having ordinary skill in the art will further realize that the shown fastening means 4, in the shape of loops, may be varied within wide frames, such as for example adhesive tongues, hook and eyelet bonds etc. The material in the seat covers may naturally also be varied within wide frames. The number of dividing means is another factor which is widely variable. A further modification would be to use "zip- fasteners-by-the length", i.e. normally non-reclosable. Such zip-fasteners may naturally be interspaced with a re-closable one, for example not only on the spots where the seats are divided in order to enable folding thereof. Furthermore, such a zip-fastener-by-the length lock may be used over all if a lower manufacturing cost is desired and the setting of the size of the seat cover only has to be decided once, namely upon assembly. The seat cover will then be delivered with strips over the zip-fasteners, which strips will when in a selected manner be removed then mounting the seat cover. Such a solution is however not advantageous in that it is difficult for the customer to manage the assembly and in that there will not be an aesthetically pleasing edge at the division itself.

By way of the above described invention it is thus possible to cover the entire market of seat covers with relatively few models. The invention makes it possible to decrease stock piling which in turn simplifies handling and decreases the amount of tied up capital and thereby also the costs. Furthermore, the invention simplifies the production stage by increasing series and by eliminating a large amount of one- piece handling.

Claims

1. Seat cover, primarily intended for wider vehicle seats and preferably divisible such, comprising a cloth and or similar material (1A, IB) having fastening means (4) intended to co-operate with corresponding means on the seats, whereby said material (1A, IB) at least in parts are elastic, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the seat cover is provided with at least one dividing means (2) integrated in the seat cover and extending from edge to edge thereof.

2. Seat cover according to claim l, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said dividing means (2) extends substantially parallelly with the side portions of the seat cover, which parts are intended to cover the side portions of the seat.

3. Seat cover according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that at least one dividing means (2) comprises a re-closable means, preferably a zip-fastener.

4. Seat cover according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that each edge portion (21) verging to a dividing means (2) is preferably provided with fastening means (4).

5. Seat cover according to claim 4, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that each edge portion (21) is elastic att least in part.

6. Seat cover according to claim 3, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that at least one additional side portion (3A) is provided along one of the edge portions with a means (2) connectable with the dividing means (2) .

7. Seat cover according to claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that at least one of the remaining edge portions of the side portions (3A) comprises fastening means.

8. Seat cover according to claim 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that two such side pieces (3A, 3B) are preferably provided with zip-fasteners (2) which pieces are symmetrical relative to the division of the dividing means (2) .