WO2017028956A1

WO2017028956A1 - Slip cover for seats, in particular protective cover for car seats

Info

Publication number: WO2017028956A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/001406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Prakash Kulkarni
Original assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company; Johnson Controls Gmbh
Priority date: 2015-08-18
Filing date: 2016-08-18
Publication date: 2017-02-23

Abstract

The invention relates to a slip cover (4, 5, 6) for seats, in particular a protective cover for car seats. The slip cover (4, 5, 6) comprises at least one stretchable circular-knitted textile fabric (10, 11, 12) for covering at least the front side of the seat (1, 2, 3). The textile fabric (10, 11, 12) is formed from stitches. The stitches comprise elastane fibres and polyester fibres.

Description

Slip cover for seats, in particular protective cover for car seats

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a slip cover for seats. In particular the invention relates to a protective cover for car seats. Such a slip cover can be pulled over a seat cover of the seat by the user and subsequently protects the seat cover from contamination. In particular, the slip cover comprises at least one textile fabric which covers the seat at least on the front side when the slip cover is pulled over the seat. Also the appearance of a vehicle interior having the seat can be adapted to the individual requirements of the consumer by means of the slip cover.

Such known slip covers are configured to be stretchable so that these slip covers can be used on several seats having different dimensions from one another. In particular, the textile fabric is a stretchable circular-knitted textile fabric. The textile fabric is in this case formed from stitches. The stitches comprise fibres made of elastane. Thanks to the stitches and thanks to the fibres made of elastane, this known textile fabric has a good stretchability.

A slip cover comprising such a textile fabric is known from WO03/047395 A1. In addition to the elastane, the stitches in this known slip cover comprise cotton fibres. In another slip cover known from WO03/047395 A1 , a stretchable circular- knitted textile fabric is provided which instead of the elastane and cotton fibres, exclusively provides fibres made of polyester and as a result is comparatively less stretchable. Other slip covers known from WO03/047395 A1 comprise at least a woven textile fabric instead of the circular-knitted textile fabric.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention was made in view of the aforementioned circumstances and accordingly it is the object to improve the longevity of the slip cover.

The invention solves this object with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the subclaims. In order to solve the object, the invention provides a slip cover for seats, in particular a protective cover for car seats. The slip cover comprises at least one stretchable circular-knitted textile fabric for covering at least the front side of the seat. In particular, the textile fabric is a textile fabric cover. The textile fabric is formed from stitches. The stitches comprise elastane fibres. According to the invention, the stitches comprise polyester fibres.

The invention has recognized that elastane and polyester can be advantageously combined in a slip cover. The slip cover according to the invention has a high stretchability and at the same time a high abrasion resistance. Thanks to the elasticity and stretchability of the textile fabric, the slip cover can be used for differently shaped seats or for seats having different dimensions. Thanks to the abrasion resistance, the slip cover nevertheless has a long lifetime. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the slip cover configured as protective cover for car seats is provided for an individual seat, in particular a front seat, of the vehicle. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, the slip cover is provided for a bench seat, in particular a rear bench seat, of a vehicle. The vehicle is in particular a motor vehicle which is driven by an engine. The slip cover is either formed in one piece or in multiple pieces. For example, a first part of the slip cover is configured for covering a seat surface, a second part of the slip cover is configured for covering a back rest and a third part of the slip cover is configured for covering a head rest of the respective seat. The slip cover according to the invention can be easily released from the seat for cleaning by the user and washed like a commercially available garment. Thanks to the combination of polyester and elastane, the slip cover is very easily washable. After washing, the cleaned slip cover can be fastened to the seat again by means of a few movements of the hand.

Threads or fibres made of elastane are available, for example, under the tradename Lycra. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stitches consist of polyester and elastane. Fibres made of other materials are not used here. In particular, the stitches consist of polyester threads or of elastane threads. The fraction of elastane fibres in the fabric is preferably between 5 and 15 percent by weight. The fraction of polyester fibres is consequently between 85 and 95 percent by weight. With these fractions on the one hand the slip cover is sufficiently stretchable and on the other hand it is sufficiently stable and resistant.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the textile fabric is stretchable by more than 30% in each direction in the textile fabric. The stretchability is therefore achieved both in the longitudinal direction and also in the transverse direction to this longitudinal direction. The high stretchability or elasticity of the textile fabric enables the use of the same slip cover for a plurality of differently shaped seats. According to an advantage embodiment of the invention, the basis weight of the textile fabric is more than 300 g/m². Further preferably the basis weight of the textile fabric is more than 350 g/m². Thanks to the high basis weight compared with known slip covers, a good stability and durability of the slip cover for a long period of time is achieved.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, foam cushions are arranged on the rear side of the textile fabric in partial areas of the slip cover. In particular, the foam cushions are located at particularly stressed areas of the slip cover. The foam cushions here ensure an additional support of a seat occupant.

Advantageously a coating is applied to the textile fabric. This coating preferably gives the textile fabric at least one of the following properties: dirt- repellent, water-repellent, oil-repellent, anti-bacterial, fire-proof, flame- retardant, mechanically protecting the surface of the seat, in particular the seat cover which is not easily changeable, protecting from ultraviolet radiation, moisture absorbent or fragrance providing. The coating to protect from ultraviolet radiation is preferably applied together with a dye during a dyeing process of the slip cover. The other said coatings are preferably applied in a separate coating step individually or jointly to the textile fabric. The coating gives the textile fabric technically advantageous properties which increase the seat comfort, positively influence the life of the slip cover or increase the safety of a seat occupant in relation to the protection from fire.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a printing is applied to the textile fabric. The printing is preferably produced in a digital printing process. The printing can be customized and personalized. In particular the printing provides for numerous design possibilities of the slip cover with individual colour emphasis and pattern beyond a uniform colouration of the slip cover. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one fastening means is provided on the textile fabric by means of which the slip cover can be fastened on the seat without the assistance of a tool. The slip cover can therefore easily be fastened to the seat of a vehicle even by the untrained user. Removal from the seat is easily possible thanks to the fastening means. For this purpose the fastening means is configured to produce a reversible or detachable connection. Preferably the fastening means for this purpose comprises at least one zip fastener and/or at least one button rivet or press stud and/or at least one hook tape or loop tape and/or at least one self-locking clip and/or at least one bungee strip and/or at least one Velcro or hog ring or retaining ring.

These and other features of the invention will be better understood in view of attached drawings and the following description of the illustrated embodiments.

Brief summary of the drawings

Fig. 1 : shows two slip covers for seats according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention on front seats of a vehicle in perspective view and

Fig. 2: shows a slip cover according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention on a rear bench seat of the vehicle from Fig. 1 in perspective view.

Detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the invention

An illustrated embodiment of the invention is disclosed below but it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of the particular device. The specific structural and functional details are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative embodiment providing support for the claims and are intended to the sufficient to teach on skilled in the art how to practice the invention.

Figure 1 shows a section of the interior of a motor vehicle with a left front seat 1 , a right front seat 2 and a rear bench seat 3. The seats 1 , 2 and 3 are arranged in two rows. The left front seat 1 and the right front seat 2 are arranged in a first row and the rear bench seat 3 is arranged in a second row of the motor vehicle. All the seats 1 , 2 and 3 are covered with a slip cover 4, 5 and 6 according to the invention. In this case only the slip cover 4 over the left front seat 1 is described in detail hereinafter. The slip cover 5 over the right front seat 2 is configured as a mirror image to the slip cover 4 over the left front seat 1. Otherwise the slip covers 4 and 5 over the front seats 1 and 2 are formed corresponding to one another. The motor vehicle may alternatively comprise only one row or more than the two rows of seats 1 , 2 and 3, which are covered with a slip cover 4, 5 and 6 according to the invention. The slip covers 4, 5 and 6 according to the invention can be used for any seat 1 , 2 and 3 used in automotive vehicles, for example for the seating in a bus.

The left front seat 1 has a seat surface 7, a back rest 8 and a head rest 9. The slip cover 4 is accordingly formed in three parts comprising a first textile fabric 10, a second textile fabric 11 and a third textile fabric 12. In particular, the textile fabrics 10, 11 and 12 are textile fabric covers. In this case, the seat surface 7 is covered with the first textile fabric 10. The back rest 8 is covered with the second textile fabric 11. The head rest 9 is covered with the third textile fabric 12. At least the front side of the left front seat 1 is therefore covered by means of the textile fabrics 10, 1 and 12.

The textile fabrics 10, 11 and 12 are made by means of a circular knitting machine and are therefore circular knitted. The textile fabrics 10, 1 and 12 consequently comprise stitches which ensure a stretchability of the slip cover 4. For an extended stretchability, the stitches comprise elastane with a fraction between 5 and 15 percent by weight. Otherwise the stiches consist of polyester.

The slip cover 4 is provided with a printing in each case on its fabrics 10, 11 and 12. Furthermore, the slip cover 4 was treated with chemical during its manufacture with the result that the slip cover 4, and in particular the textile fabrics 10, 11 and 12, are provided with a coating. The coating makes the slip cover 4, for example, dirt-repellent and heat-repellent.

The dimensions of the slip cover 4 are matched to the seat 1 to be covered in such a manner that slip cover 4 only needs to be pulled stretched over the seat 1. Optionally combined with other fastening means such as button rivets or hook and loop fasteners, the slip cover 4 thanks to its stretching holds independently and crease-free on the seat 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the slip cover 6 is adapted to the dimensions of the rear bench seat 3. Otherwise the slip cover 6 is configured according to the slip cover 4. The same reference numbers in Figures 1 and 2 designate corresponding parts.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather that limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

All the features mentioned in the preceding description and in the claims can be combined in any selection with the features of the independent claim. The disclosure of the invention is therefore not restricted to the feature combinations described or claimed but all the appropriate feature combinations within the framework of the invention should be considered to be disclosed.

Claims

What is claimed is: A slip cover for seats, in particular protective cover for car seats, comprising: at least one stretchable circular-knitted textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) for covering at least the front side of the seat (1 , 2, 3), wherein the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) is formed from stitches, wherein the stitches comprise elastane fibres characterized in,

that the stitches comprise polyester fibres.

2. The slip cover according to claim 1 , characterized in that the stitches consist of polyester and elastane. 2L The slip cover according to claim 2, characterized in that the fraction of elastane fibres in the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) is between 5 and 15 percent by weight.

4 The slip cover according to claim 3, characterized in that the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) is stretchable by more than 30% in each direction in the surface.

5. The slip cover according to claim 4, characterized in that the basis weight of the textile fabric ( 0, 1 1 , 12) is more than 300 g/m². 6. The slip cover according to claim 5, characterized in that foam cushions are provided on the rear side of the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) on sub-regions of the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12).

7. The slip cover according to claim 6, characterized in that a coating is applied to the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) which gives the textile fabric (10, 1 1 , 12) at least one of the following properties: dirt-repellent, heat-repellent, oil-repellent, anti-bacterial, fire-proof, protecting from ultraviolet radiation, mechanically protecting the surface, moisture absorbent, fragrance providing.

The slip cover according to claim 7, characterized in that a printing is applied to the textile fabric.

The slip cover according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one fastening means is provided on the textile fabric (10, 11 , 12) by means of which the slip cover (4, 5, 6) can be fastened on the seat (1, 2, 3) without the assistance of a tool.

0. The slip cover according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening means comprises at least one of the following fastening means: zip fastener, button rivet, hook tape, self-locking clip, bungee strip, hog ring.