578results about "Seat coverings" patented technology

In order to ensure that a vehicle seat, having a supporting face and incorporating microcapsules of phase-change material having a phase transition temperature between 15 and 37° C., is comfortable to use in terms of temperature, the support face is heated or cooled before the seat is used so that the phase-change material is at its transition temperature when a user subsequently sits on the seat.

A trim cover for use with a vehicle seat having an air bag includes an outer layer. The outer layer includes a front portion having first and second ends. The outer layer further includes first and second bolster portions connected to the first and second ends, respectively, and an intermediate portion connected to the first and second bolster portions at first and second bolster seams, respectively. The first bolster seam is configured to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. A first reinforcement panel is positioned adjacent the first bolster portion. The first reinforcement panel has a first end portion connected to the outer layer proximate the first end of the front portion, and a second end portion connected to the outer layer proximate the first bolster seam. A second reinforcement panel is positioned adjacent the intermediate portion. The second reinforcement panel has one end portion connected to the outer layer proximate the first bolster seam, and an opposite end portion connected to the outer layer proximate the second bolster seam. The reinforcement panels are configured to reinforce the outer layer during deployment of the air bag so that the air bag deploys through the first bolster seam.

A breathable seat comprises a seat body formed of urethane foam, a three-dimensional network cushion body incorporated in that region of the seat body which bears a user's body, a seat cover having breathability, and a pan frame. The cushion body is formed of a large number of continuous linear elements of thermoplastic resin. The linear elements are looped windingly so that their respective contact portions are fused together. The seat body is formed having venting holes that penetrate the urethane foam in its thickness direction. The venting holes communicate with the cushion body and apertures of the pan frame. The seat cover envelops the seat body and the cushion body.

The backrest (2) of an automobile vehicle seat includes a framework (21), a padding (3), a padding cover (4) covering the front face and the sides of the backrest and a padding screen (7) for the rear face of the backrest. It includes a rigid back panel shield frame (6) with at least two lateral sides (62) and a bottom side (63), the said shield frame being adapted to be attached to the framework (21) of the backrest to cover the lateral edges of the framework and a bottom part of the rear of the backrest, the shield frame (6) including towards an inner edge at least one groove (64) adapted to accommodate and hold an edge (44) of the cover and an edge (71) of the screen, the said cover covering the shield frame.

The present invention relates to a trim material attachment assembly for securing trim material to the padding of a vehicle seat. The present invention includes an elongate wedge having a wedge tip and opposed walls joined at the wedge tip. The opposed walls extend angularly outward to define a substantially V-shaped channel adapted to receive the trim material of a vehicle seat. The trim material attachment assembly further includes a receiving member having a base adapted to engage the padding of a vehicle seat, a centrally located elevated platform and cantilevered retention tabs extending from the elevated platform. The cantilevered retention tabs are adapted to operatively receive the elongate wedge. Each of the cantilevered retention tabs includes a guide deck adapted to provide positive placement of the elongate wedge and an engaging flange adapted to releasably engage the elongate wedge juxtaposed therebetween.

A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface to another support surface, and/or to the ground plane.

A cover for a child seat in the form of a pad with slots through the pad that facilitate simple removal and reinstallation of the cover. Some of the slots accommodate the seat safety harness and merge with side slots that are held closed by mating separable fastening elements. The side slots extend at least partially along the junction between the backrest portion and the side bolster portions of the pad. A pair of back slots extend from respective strap anchoring locations in the backrest region to respective side slots. A release slot may be included at each side of the pad, extending from the respective side slot to the adjacent outer side edge of the pad—this being especially useful with three-point harness seats. A five-point harness version has a pair of lap strap slots through the pad to accommodate the lap straps of the harness. The lap straps slots extend outwardly to the adjacent side slots. Adding release slots as described gives this latter cover universal application.

A seat includes a seat frame, and a cushion material supported by the seat frame and having a three-dimensional knitted fabric which is formed by joining, with connecting threads, a pair of ground knit fabrics which are disposed so as to be separated from one another. The cushion material includes a first region whose elastic compliance when a reaction force is applied to an extending side of the cushion material when an occupant is seated on the seat is substantially equivalent to an elastic compliance of a portion of the occupant's body pressing the cushion material and a second region whose elastic compliance is larger than that of the first region. Accordingly, a thin and light seat can be provided, load concentration on the occupant's tuber ishiadicum bottom portion when seated for a long period of time can be mitigated, and vibration-transmitting characteristics can be improved.

Embodiments of the invention provide novel car seats, car seat covers, and methods for their use. One exemplary embodiment comprises a car seat cover for a car seat, which can comprise a frame, a padding disposed over the frame, two shoulder straps and a crotch strap. The car seat cover can comprise a fabric cover having an outer periphery, which can be adapted to be coupled to the car seat frame over the padding. The fabric cover may define a pair of shoulder strap openings and a crotch strap opening, which can be disposed so as to allow the shoulder straps and the crotch strap, respectively, to be extended through the fabric cover. Thus, in accordance with some embodiments, the shoulder straps and the crotch strap can be used to secure a child in the car seat, with the car seat cover being disposed between the child and the car seat.

The present invention relates to a seat or chair cooling apparatus. In an embodiment the seat cooling apparatus cools the back of a user without the need of forced air. The seat cooling apparatus includes an array of conduits held in place by a set of supports to form a heat exchanger. Heat from the contact surfaces is removed by free convection, an upward air movement due to density difference. When the seat cooling apparatus is in the preferred substantially vertical arrangement, the warm air exiting the conduits is replaced by cooler air entering the conduits. A seat securing attachment secures the heat exchanger components to a seat. The seat cooling apparatus shapes into the back of the user to provide comfort that is effective in cooling. The seat cooling apparatus can be light weight, portable, and occupies little space, can be quickly installed and removed, easily cleaned and is very low cost to manufacture. In another embodiment, the seat cooling apparatus is easily connected to a forced air cooling source to increase the cooling rate if desired by the user.

A seat assembly includes a seat back frame having a pair of spaced apart side rails. A cover is fastened to the frame and extends between the pair of side rails. A rigid cross member is preferably integrally molded in an upper portion of the cover. The cover and the cross member cooperate to provide structural rigidity to the seat back frame.

A vehicle seat assembly is provided with a structural member adapted to be mounted within a vehicle to provide support to an occupant. The structural member has at least one channel formed therein. A cushion member is provided adjacent to the structural layer. The cushion member has at least one channel formed therethrough. A trim member is secured over the cushion member to form a seating surface. At least one attachment member is mounted to the trim member extending through the at least one channel of the cushion member. The at least one attachment member extends into the at least one channel of the structural member such that at least one of the trim material and the cushion layer is retained on the structural member.

In a back portion of a seat back provided with a lumbar support portion 20 and a side support portion 21, a seat back cover 30 for covering a back face of the seat back is provided. The seat back cover 30 is provided with a side portion 32 for covering an air bag module 50 by making a forward end portion, which is extended to the front side of a vehicle, come into contact with the side support portion 21. The side support portion 21 is provided being capable of oscillating to the front side of the vehicle with respect to the lumbar support 20. An air bag module 50 is arranged in an accommodation space 90 provided on the rear side of the side support portion 21.

A vehicle seat includes a seat frame, a pad that is attached to the seat frame, an air bag that is attached to the seat frame, a board that is attached to the seat frame and covers the air bag, and a cap that is made of material harder than the pad and is attached to the seat frame, and extends forward of a tip end edge of the board through a gap between the pad and the board.

A clip for use in a cushion for a seat is disclosed. The cushion includes a cushioned pad and a trim cover covering the cushioned pad, the cushioned pad having a recess portion and a wire embedded in the cushioned pad so as to be partially exposed to the recess portion from the cushioned pad, the trim cover having a portion, a longitudinal tensioning cord attached to the portion of the trim cover, a longitudinal bulged member provided along a longitudinal edge portion of the cord, and a laterally elongated through-hole formed in the cord. The clip comprises a frame body having a substantially U-shape in cross-section, the frame body including first and second spaced apart side portions and an intermediate portion interconnecting the side portions, a pair of spaced apart inverted-pawls provided at edges of both ends of the frame body so as to inwardly face each other, a hook portion provided on an outer surface of the intermediate portion, and a stopper piece provided on the first side portion of the frame body so as to stand up from the first side portion and extend beyond a space between the pawls toward the second side portion. The clip is adapted to be hooked between the bulged member and an exposed axial portion of the wire with the frame body receiving the bulged member therein and retainingly holding the bulged member, with the pawls being stoppingly engaged with the bulged member, with the stopper piece being inserted through the through-hole, and with the hook portion being hooked to the exposed axial portion of the wire, whereby the trim cover is tensioned and attached at the portion thereof to the cushioned pad by the clip. A vehicle seat wherein the trim cover is tensioned and attached at the portion thereof to the cushioned pad by a plurality of the clips is also disclosed.

A temperature controlling seat cover with a first flexible mesh fabric layer, an open cell flexible foam layer, a second flexible mesh fabric layer and a flexible binding strip. The open cell foam layer resides between the first mesh layer and the second mesh layer. The binding strip is sewn along the perimeter of the fabric layers. The resulting fabric and foam assembly forms a leg, buttock and back supporting mat whose perimeter is contoured to fit onto a standard baby seat. The mesh and foam construction allows for the passage of surrounding air to travel through the seat cover and to reach the back and leg portions of a person sitting in a seat that is covered by the seat cover. The seat cover is easily attachable or removable from a standard seat. A preferred embodiment includes a pocket containing a cooling or warming device.

A garnish arrangement in a through-hole of an annular headrest comprises at least one support wire member, a first cylindrical garnish member of synthetic resin material, and a second cylindrical garnish member of synthetic resin material. The support wire member extends across the through-hole of the annular headrest. The first and second cylindrical garnish members each has an engagement element and a stopper element. With this garnish arrangement, the first and second cylindrical garnish members are firmly engaged together within the through-hole at their respective engagement elements, while the support wire member is sandwiched between the stopper element of the first cylindrical garnish member and the stopper element of the second cylindrical garnish member, thereby providing a robust structure against deformation.

A mat is made of flexible, closed-cell polyvinyl-chloride foam. The mat overlies and protects an underlying car seat. The mat can include a back portion and a leg portion. The leg portion protects the leg rest of the seat. The back portion protects the backrest of the seat.

An apparatus and method for providing controlled heating, cooling and motion, in a device such as an active robotic automobile seat, are disclosed. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element, which changes shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element, is coupled to a thermoelectric device. Heat flows through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED. The apparatus is operable in one of a plurality of modes. In a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element. In a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in a space adjacent to the apparatus. By controlling application of current to the TED, controlled motion, heating and cooling are achieved in the seat.

The seat back of a vehicle seat includes a lateral airbag in a casing which is integrated into the seat back and which has a front face with an exit opening for the airbag. The cover of the seat back includes a slot in corresponding relationship to the exit opening and the edges of the slot are fixed to the casing on respective opposite sides of the exit opening.

The present invention relates to an automobile vehicle passenger seat which comprises a seat body (10) molded from EPP-foam, said EPP-foam having an average density of between 30 and 60 g/l, vehicle anchorage means (21) connected to said seat body for anchoring said seat to the automobile vehicle, and a trim cover (30). Furthermore, the present invention refers to an appropriate upholstery for use in an automobile vehicle and a process for producing such an upholstery.

A seat with a side airbag for vehicles is disclosed, which is constructed such that an airbag cushion is deployed through a connection portion formed between a front seat cover and a side seat cover. A guide tape may be attached on the side seat cover. The guide tape extends a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the connection portion between the front seat cover and the side seat cover.

A seat assembly includes a seat fabric, wherein at least a portion of the seat fabric comprises a yarn comprising a shape memory polymer adapted to undergo a change in a modulus of elasticity at a thermal transition temperature; a support material upon which the seat fabric is disposed; and a controller in operative communication with the shape memory polymer, wherein the controller is operable to selectively apply a thermal activation signal to the shape memory polymer to effect a change in the modulus of elasticity of the shape memory polymer, wherein the change in the modulus of elasticity of the shape memory polymer results in a change in a stiffness and/or flexibility of the seat fabric.

A seat cover of a child's car safety seat is described that is easily removed and replaced so that cover can be laundered or otherwise cleaned and replaced more frequently to provide a cleaner and healthier environment for a child.

A foam pad comprising a surface to which a trim cover can be secured, the surface comprising a channel having a width of up to about 15 mm. Disposed in the channel is one of a male portion or a female portion of a releasably engageable male-female trim cover attachment system. A trim cover having the other of the male or female portion attached thereto may be readily attached to the foam pad. A process and a mold for producing the foam pad are also described. The foam pad is particularly useful as a component of a vehicular seat system (e.g., seat bottom, seat back and the like).

A vehicle seat includes a foam cushion, a flexible cover at least partially defining the outer surface of the vehicle seat, and a spacer fabric. The spacer fabric includes a first fabric panel operatively connected to the flexible cover, a second fabric panel operatively connected to the foam cushion, and an interconnecting layer. The interconnecting layer resiliently interconnects the first and second fabric panels.

A method of making an automotive vehicle interior structural component having a decorative close-out panel includes, in an exemplary embodiment, positioning a thermoplastic material sheet in a forming tool, the thermoplastic material sheet includes a thermoplastic resin, positioning a decorative material sheet in the forming tool adjacent to the thermoplastic sheet, attaching the decorative material to the thermoplastic material with an integral hinge, and forming the structural component by applying at least one of heat and pressure to the forming tool.

A sling construction in the form of a hammock includes a number of panels stitched together in the form of an open top container for placement in the back seat of a motor vehicle to protect the interior of the vehicle and to further protect animals within the sling construction. An alternate embodiment is in the form of a cradle which includes permanent and removable stiffening elements as well as loops and straps for attachment in a vehicle seat.

A vehicle seat including: a seat component including, a cushion material forming an outer shape of the vehicle seat, a plurality of groove parts formed to the cushion material and intersecting each other, a corner part formed by intersection of the plurality of groove parts, and a skin material covering the cushion material, wherein the skin material covers the cushion material while a portion of the skin material is engaged inside the plurality of groove parts in a pulled state, wherein the cushion material includes a protruding portion protruding from an external portion of the corner part, and wherein the protruding portion covers the external portion of the corner part and is shrinks toward the external portion of the corner part by a pressing force of the skin material engaged inside the plurality of groove parts in the pulled state.

A breathable seat cushioning device includes a seat body, a plurality of air conduits, an air permeable body, a fan module, and a heater. The seat body has a plurality of receiving grooves longitudinally arranged thereon. The air conduits have a plurality of air outlets arranged thereon. The air conduits are disposed in the receiving grooves. The air permeable body covers a surface of the seat body. The fan module is connected to the air conduits and has a casing and at least one blade pivotally coupled to the interior of the casing. The heater is arranged inside or outside the fan module. As a result, active ventilation is provided to prevent poor air permeability which can cause unpleasant seating conditions such as stuffy, perspiration, to children sitting on the breathable seat cushioning device. Moreover, warm air flow can be provided during colder environment.