Sewing method to form a trim cover assembly and automotive seat using the trim cover assembly

Abstract

A sewing method to form a trim cover assembly for automotive seat, and an automotive seat using the trim cover assembly. Firstly, a first cover material, a second cover material and a backing tape are used and juxtaposed on one another, with their ends aligned with one another, and then sewn together to create a first seam and a sewn connection portion. Such sewn connection portion is cut off into a shortened sewn connection portion. Thereafter, the first cover material and backing tape are turned over relative to the shortened connection portion and sewn together, thereby forming one portion of the trim cover assembly. Another portion of the trim cover assembly may be formed by avoiding use of the backing tape and simply turning over the first cover material relative to the sewn connection portion, and sewing together the thus-turned portions of the first cover material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a method for sewing together separate cover materials to form a trim cover assembly for automotive seat and also to an automotive seat using such trim cover assembly. [0003] 2. Description of Prior Art [0004] In general, the process for producing an automotive seat involves the step of securely attaching a trim cover assembly to a foam padding which forms a body of the seat. Some of such trim cover assemblies are formed from a natural leather material (i.e. such animal skin as cow skin or horse skin) or from an artificial leather material. [0005] Both of those natural and artificial leather materials are, however, less elastic or less extendable and relatively high in stiffness. Such non-flexible property has made it difficult to neatly bend a small local part of the material to form a small bent region therein. In other words, two separate cover materials, no matter of whether they ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In view of the above-stated drawbacks, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide an improved sewing method to form a trim cover assembly for automotive seat, which effectively prevents formation of the abovementioned objectionable irregular projected portions and sinuous seam on the outer surface of trim cover assembly and prevents the sewn portion there from being torn away and opened, while improving the outer appearance of seat aesthetically.

[0017] cutting off the sewn connection portion into a shortened sewn connection portion, thus transforming the margin into a reduced margin;

[0021] In is a second purpose of the present invention to facilitate the ease with which the sewn portion or seam in an area of the trim cover assembly covering a portion of the seat in which a side air bag is provided, thereby allowing the side air bag to easily inflate and tear away the seam to protrude outwardly therefrom.

Problems solved by technology

Both of those natural and artificial leather materials are, however, less elastic or less extendable and relatively high in stiffness.

Such non-flexible property has made it difficult to neatly bend a small local part of the material to form a small bent region therein.

However, the foregoing inwardly projected end portions of the trim cover assembly contact and erect on the corner portion of foam padding, thus resulting in objectionable irregular protuberant portions being formed on the outer surface of trim cover assembly and also resulting in an undesired sinuous formation of the seam on the corner portion of the trim cover assembly.

However, such conventional arrangement has been found defective in involving a troublesome step of providing the stay cloth and sewing the same with the trim cover assembly, which in turn makes the trim cover assembly complicated in structure.

But, practically, it is impossible to use a sewing machine to sew together the end portions of two cover sections in such small margin, because the margin given therein is too small for stable and precise sewing by the sewing machine and also can hardly be retained by a retaining member of the sewing machine.

As a result thereof, the two cover sections (or two cover materials) can not be sewn together completely, and thus, it is highly possible that the sewn portion or seam between them will be easily teared away and opened, giving a poor appearance of trim cover assembly.

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