Seat component trim

Abstract

The present application relates to a seat assembly trim sheet. The trim sheet includes a first portion laminated with a stabilizing material, wherein the first portion has a thickness. The trim sheet also includes a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the second portion not laminated with the stabilizing material. The thickness of the second portion is equal to the thickness of the first portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Various embodiments are directed to leather trim panels for seat assemblies. background

[0002] Existing leather trim panels in vehicle seat assemblies provide both comfort and decorative features to the vehicle seats.

[0003] Overview

[0004] According to an embodiment, a decorative sheet is provided with a first portion laminated with a stabilizing material, wherein the first portion has a thickness. The decorative sheet is provided with a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the second portion not laminated with the stabilizing material, and the thickness of the second portion is equal to the thickness of the first portion.

[0005] According to a further embodiment, the second portion is smaller than the first portion.

[0006] According to a further embodiment, the foam layer is attached to the base of the first part.

[0007] According to another further embodiment, the first part is laminated with an adhesive layer adhered to the foam layer.

[0008] According to another further embodiment, the adhesive layer and the leather layer of the first portion of the decorative sheet together provide thickness and a three-dimensional appearance to the decorative sheet.

[0009] According to a further embodiment, the adhesive layer is heat laminated to the leather layer and the foam layer of the first portion.

[0010] According to another further embodiment, a foam layer is provided to the base of the second part.

[0011] According to yet another further embodiment, the leather layer of the second portion is attached to the foam layer of the second portion.

[0012] According to yet another further embodiment, the second portion of the decorative sheet has no adhesive applied thereto. This allows the second portion to maintain the same thickness as the first portion and provide a three-dimensional appearance.

[0013] According to yet another further embodiment, the leather layer of the second portion is not bonded to the foam layer of the second portion.

[0014] According to yet another further embodiment, the silicon layer is provided to the second portion of the decorative sheet.

[0015] According to another further embodiment, crossstitching is provided along the contact surface of the second portion.

[0016] According to another further embodiment, the cross stitches of the second portion converge into a more concentrated pattern than the cross stitches of the first portion.

[0017] According to another further embodiment, a seam is provided along the perimeter of the first portion and the second portion.

[0018] According to another further embodiment, the foam layer is provided to the base of the second portion.The second portion has a thickness having a peak thickness in regions within the cross stitches of the second portion.

[0019] According to another embodiment, a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat bottom attached to a vehicle floor, a seat back connected to the seat bottom in an upright position, and a head restraint attached to the seat back. The vehicle assembly also includes a trim sheet. The trim sheet includes a first portion laminated with a stabilizing material, wherein the first portion has a thickness. The trim sheet includes a second portion adjacent to the first portion, the second portion not laminated with the stabilizing material. The thickness of the second portion is equal to the thickness of the first portion. The trim sheet is attached to a central region of the seat back.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the first portion of the trim panel is stitched to the lower center region of the seat back.

[0021] According to another embodiment, a decorative component includes a leather trim sheet having a varying stitch pattern. One stitch pattern is a decorative stitch pattern formed in a first portion of the trim sheet having a stabilizing layer. A second stitch pattern is a decorative stitch pattern formed in a second portion of the trim sheet without a stabilizing layer. The blocks within the stitches of the first decorative stitch pattern are larger than the blocks within the stitches of the second decorative stitch pattern.

[0022] According to another embodiment, a leather trim sheet has a minimum thickness at the stitches of a stitch pattern formed in the trim sheet and a maximum thickness at the center of a block within the stitch pattern, wherein the maximum thickness remains constant and the area within the intersecting stitches of the trim sheet varies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly according to an embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 It shows the embodiment Figure 1 A front view of a trim piece of a vehicle seat assembly;

[0025] Figure 3 Shown Figure 2 A perspective view of the decorative piece;

[0026] Figure 4 Shown Figure 2 an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of the decorative sheet;

[0027] Figure 5 Shown Figure 2 an exploded side view of the first portion of the decorative sheet; and

[0028] Figure 6 Shown Figure 2 An exploded side view of the layers of the second portion of the decorative sheet. Detailed description

[0029] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, which may be embodied in various forms and alternatives. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to illustrate details of particular components. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to implement the present invention in various ways.

[0030] Figure 1 A vehicle seat assembly 10 according to an embodiment is shown. The vehicle seat assembly 10 is provided with a seat bottom 12 adapted to be mounted to the floor of a vehicle. The vehicle seat assembly 10 can be provided in any row of a vehicle. The vehicle seat assembly 10 includes a seat back 14 extending vertically from the seat bottom 12. The vehicle seat assembly 10 also includes a head restraint 16 extending above the seat back 14. The vehicle seat assembly 10 can be used in any type of vehicle, including land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, etc. The seat assembly 10 can be any seat assembly, such as an office chair, furniture, etc.

[0031] The seat assembly 10 is provided with a trim cover 15 over the seat back 14 to conceal the frame, cushioning components, and functional components of the seat back 14. The trim cover 15 includes a leather trim piece 18 located in the center area of ​​the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat assembly 10. Although the trim piece 18 is located in the center area of ​​the seat back 14 in the present application, the trim piece 18 can be any trim piece on the vehicle seat assembly. The trim piece 18 is provided with a seam 42 that extends along the perimeter of the trim piece 18 to frame the trim piece 18. The seam 42 connects the trim piece 18 to the trim cover 15. The seam 42 also adds a decorative detail to the vehicle seat 10. The trim piece 18 provides comfort and a decorative appearance to the seat assembly 10.

[0032] Figure 2The trim sheet 18 is shown to include two portions 22, 24. The trim sheet 18 is provided with a first portion 22 and a second portion 24. The first portion 22 is sewn to the lower center region 20 of the seat back 14. The second portion 24 is sewn to the upper center region of the seat back 14. To create a decorative and uniform three-dimensional appearance for the trim sheet 18, the trim sheet 18 has the same thickness from the first portion 22 to the second portion 24.

[0033] Figures 3 and 4 The decorative sheet 18 is shown to have a uniform three-dimensional appearance and a cross stitch pattern throughout the decorative sheet 18. Cross stitches 38 are provided along the contact surface of the first portion 22 of the decorative sheet 18. Cross stitches 40 are provided along the contact surface of the second portion 24 of the decorative sheet 18. The cross stitches 38, 40 are in the shape of diamonds, however, the stitches 38, 40 may be formed in other shapes and patterns.

[0034] The blocks within the intersecting traces 38 of the first portion 22 have an area. The blocks within the intersecting traces 40 of the second portion 24 have a smaller area than the blocks within the intersecting traces 38 of the first portion 22. In addition, the blocks within the intersecting traces of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 have a thickness that varies from the traces to a peak at the center of the block.

[0035] The cross stitches 40 of the second portion 24 converge into a more concentrated pattern than the cross stitches 38 of the first portion 22. Figure 4 As shown, the pattern of cross stitches 40 is concentrated mostly toward the upper portion of the second portion 24 of the trim sheet 18. As the cross stitches 40 become more concentrated, the seams 42 also become more concentrated toward the upper portion of the second portion 24 of the trim sheet 18.

[0036] For laminated leather trim, stitch concentration flattens the thickness between intersecting stitches. In other words, as the stitches converge, peaks are eliminated, resulting in a consistent thickness for the layer, approximating the material thickness along the stitches. Stitch concentration toward the upper portion of a laminated leather trim does not allow the upper portion of the trim to maintain the same thickness as the lower portion. Instead, the stitch concentration tightens the upper portion of the trim, creating a thinner thickness compared to the rest of the trim. This creates a discontinuous appearance for the overall trim.

[0037] In order to maintain the decorative sheet 18 with a uniform thickness (with equivalent peaks) in the first and second portions 22, 24, different layers of material are used in each portion 22, 24. The different layers of material allow for a concentrated stitch pattern 40 in the second portion. Figures 5 and 6 The layers of the first portion 22 and the second portion 24 of the trim sheet 18 are shown.

[0038] Figure 5The layers of material for the first portion 22 of the decorative sheet 18 are shown. There may be four layers: a base layer 26, a foam layer 28, an adhesive layer 30, and a leather layer 31. In one embodiment, the base layer 26 has a thickness of 1.2 mm; the adhesive layer 30 has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm; and the leather layer 31 has a thickness of 1.2 mm. The combined thickness of layers 26, 28, 30, and 31 is approximately 12 mm, except at cross stitching 38, where the thickness is less than 12 mm. The foam layer 28 is attached to the base layer 26. The first portion 22 of the decorative sheet 18 is then laminated with an adhesive layer 30 for adhering to the foam layer 28. The adhesive layer 30 is heat-laminated to the leather layer 31 and the foam layer 28 to bond the foam layer 28 to the leather layer 31 of the first portion 22 of the decorative sheet 18. Together, the adhesive layer 30 and the leather layer 31 provide thickness and a three-dimensional appearance to the decorative sheet 18.

[0039] Figure 6 The layers of material for the second portion 24 of the decorative sheet 18 are shown. There may be four layers: a base layer 32, a foam layer 34, a leather layer 36, and a silicone layer 35. The foam layer 34 is attached to the base layer 32 of the second portion 24. The second portion 24 is then provided with the leather layer 36 and the silicone layer 35. No adhesive layer is applied to the second portion 24 of the decorative sheet 18. This allows the leather layer 36 to flex away from the foam layer 34, maintaining the same thickness as the first portion 22, thereby providing a three-dimensional appearance to the decorative sheet 18. Additionally, the leather layer 36 of the second portion 24 of the decorative sheet 18 is not bonded to the foam layer 34. The silicone layer 35 is an optional layer added to the second portion 24 of the decorative sheet 18.

[0040] Although various embodiments have been described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the present invention. More specifically, the words used in the specification are descriptive and non-restrictive, and it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the features of the various embodiments of implementation can be combined to form other embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] The present invention also relates to the following aspects:

[0042] 1. A decorative sheet comprising:

[0043] a first portion laminated with a stabilizing material, wherein the first portion has a thickness; and

[0044] A second portion is adjacent to the first portion, the second portion being free of laminated stabilizing material, wherein the second portion has a thickness equal to the thickness of the first portion.

[0045] 2. The decorative sheet according to aspect 1, wherein the second portion is smaller than the first portion.

[0046] 3. The decorative sheet according to aspect 1, further comprising a foam layer attached to the base of the first portion.

[0047] 4. The decorative sheet according to aspect 3, wherein the first portion is laminated with an adhesive layer adhered to the foam layer.

[0048] 5. The decorative sheet according to aspect 4, wherein the adhesive layer and the leather layer of the first portion of the decorative sheet together provide thickness and a three-dimensional appearance to the decorative sheet.

[0049] 6. The decorative sheet according to aspect 5, wherein the adhesive layer is heat laminated to the leather layer and the foam layer of the first portion.

[0050] 7. The trim sheet according to aspect 1, further comprising a foam layer attached to the base of the second portion.

[0051] 8. The trim sheet according to aspect 7, wherein the leather layer of the second portion is attached to the foam layer of the second portion.

[0052] 9. The decorative sheet according to aspect 8, wherein the second portion of the decorative sheet has no adhesive applied to allow the second portion to maintain the same thickness as the first portion and provide a three-dimensional appearance.

[0053] 10. The trim sheet according to aspect 8, wherein the leather layer of the second portion is not bonded to the foam layer of the second portion.

[0054] 11. The decorative sheet according to aspect 1, wherein the second portion of the decorative sheet further comprises a silicon layer.

[0055] 12. The decorative sheet according to aspect 1, further comprising cross stitching along the contact surface of the first portion.

[0056] 13. The decorative sheet according to aspect 12, further comprising cross stitching along the contact surface of the second portion.

[0057] 14. The decorative sheet according to aspect 13, wherein the cross stitches of the second portion converge into a more concentrated pattern than the cross stitches of the first portion.

[0058] 15. The trim sheet of aspect 12, further comprising a seam along a perimeter of the first portion and the second portion.

[0059] 16. The trim sheet of aspect 15, further comprising a foam layer attached to a base of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a thickness having a peak thickness in areas within the cross stitching of the second portion.

[0060] 17. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

[0061] a seat bottom attached to the vehicle floor;

[0062] a seat back connected to the seat bottom in an upright position;

[0063] a head restraint attached to the seat back; and

[0064] According to aspect 1, the trim sheet is attached to a central area of ​​the seat back.

[0065] 18. The vehicle seat assembly of aspect 17, wherein the first portion of the trim panel is stitched to a lower center region of the seat back.

[0066] 19. A decorative component comprising:

[0067] leather trim;

[0068] a first decorative stitch pattern formed in a first portion of the decorative sheet having a stabilizing layer; and

[0069] a second decorative stitch pattern formed in a second portion of the decorative sheet without the stabilizing layer; and

[0070] The area within the stitches of the first decorative stitch pattern is larger than the area within the stitches of the second decorative stitch pattern.

[0071] 20. A leather decorative sheet having a minimum thickness at the stitches of a stitch pattern formed in the decorative sheet and a maximum thickness at the center of a block within the stitch pattern, wherein the maximum thickness remains constant and the area within the intersecting stitches of the decorative sheet varies.

Claims

1. A decorative sheet comprising: a first portion laminated with a stabilizing material, wherein the first portion has a thickness; a second portion, the second portion being adjacent to the first portion, the second portion being free of laminated stabilizing material, wherein the thickness of the second portion is equal to the thickness of the first portion; cross stitches along the contact surface of the first portion, the cross stitches reducing a combined thickness of the first portion and the stabilizing material along the cross stitches; as well as cross-stitching along the contact surface of the second portion, wherein the cross stitches of the second portion converge into a more concentrated pattern than the cross stitches of the first portion, and wherein the second portion is free of the laminate stabilizing material such that the cross stitching of the second portion does not flatten the overall thickness of the second portion.

2. The decorative sheet according to claim 1, wherein: The second portion is smaller than the first portion. 3 . The decorative sheet of claim 1 , further comprising a foam layer attached to the base of the first portion.

4. The decorative sheet according to claim 3, wherein: The first portion is laminated with an adhesive layer adhered to the foam layer.

5. The decorative sheet according to claim 4, wherein: The adhesive layer and the leather layer of the first portion of the decorative sheet together provide thickness and a three-dimensional appearance to the decorative sheet. The decorative sheet according to claim 5 , wherein: The adhesive layer is heat laminated to the leather layer and the foam layer of the first portion.

7. The trim sheet of claim 1, further comprising a foam layer attached to the base of the second portion.

8. The decorative sheet according to claim 7, wherein: The leather layer of the second portion is attached to the foam layer of the second portion.

9. The decorative sheet according to claim 8, wherein: The second portion of the decorative sheet has no adhesive applied to it, allowing the second portion to maintain the same thickness as the first portion and provide a three-dimensional appearance.

10. The decorative sheet according to claim 8, wherein: The leather layer of the second portion is not bonded to the foam layer of the second portion.

11. The decorative sheet according to claim 1, wherein: The second portion of the decorative sheet further includes a silicon layer.

12. The trim sheet of claim 1, further comprising a seam along a perimeter of the first portion and the second portion.

13. The decorative sheet of claim 12, further comprising a foam layer attached to the base of the second portion, wherein the second portion has a thickness having a peak thickness in areas within the cross stitching of the second portion.

14. A vehicle seat assembly comprising: a seat bottom attached to the vehicle floor; a seat back connected to the seat bottom in an upright position; a head restraint attached to the seat back; as well as The trim sheet according to any one of claims 1-13, attached to a central area of ​​the seat back.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 14, wherein: The first portion of the trim panel is sewn to a lower center region of the seat back.

16. A decorative component comprising: leather trim; a first decorative stitch pattern formed in a first portion of the decorative sheet having the stabilizing layer; as well as a second decorative stitch pattern formed in a second portion of the decorative sheet without the stabilizing layer; wherein the thickness of the second portion is equal to the thickness of the first portion, and The area within the stitches of the first decorative stitch pattern is larger than the area within the stitches of the second decorative stitch pattern, and the second decorative stitch pattern does not flatten the total thickness of the second portion due to the absence of the stabilizing layer.

17. The decoration component according to claim 16, wherein The leather decorative piece has a minimum thickness at a cross-section of the second decorative stitch pattern and a maximum thickness at a center of a block within the first decorative stitch pattern and at a center of a block within the second decorative stitch pattern.

18. The decorative component of claim 17, wherein the second decorative stitch pattern converges into a more concentrated pattern than the first decorative stitch pattern.

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