ELEMENTS FOR A SEAT COVER SUITABLE FOR QUICK INSTALLATION

Abstract

The invention relates to one or more elements for a seat cover (23.1, 23.2) adapted for quick installation, comprising: - at least one cover (44) made of a flexible material intended to cover at least part of a structure of the seat element (15, 16), and - at least one elongated mounting plate (51) disposed along an edge of the cover (44) to facilitate installation of the cover (44) on or around the structure of the seat element (15, 16). Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: ELEMENTS FOR A SEAT COVER SUITABLE FOR QUICK INSTALLATION

[0001] The present invention relates to elements for a seat cover suitable for rapid installation. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of aeronautics with aircraft seats, in particular aircraft seats intended for economy classes. The invention can however also be implemented with aircraft seats intended for business classes or with seats of other types of aircraft.

[0002] In a manner known per se, an airplane seat comprises a seat structure provided with feet carrying fasteners allowing the seat to be fixed to rails of an airplane cabin.

[0003] The seat can be single-seater, as is the case in particular for business class seats, or multi-seater, as is the case in particular for economy class seats. Each seat is formed by a seat base, a backrest and a headrest.

[0004] Each seat and each backrest are generally covered by a cover. Fitting economy class seat covers is a time-consuming operation. Indeed, installing a cover on a backrest structure requires a significant amount of time, up to nearly 10 minutes, in order to adjust and evenly distribute the cover fabric on the backrest.

[0005] The invention aims to effectively remedy this drawback by proposing a cover for a seat element comprising: - at least one covering cover made of a flexible material intended to cover at least part of a structure of the seat element, and - at least one elongated mounting plate disposed along an edge of the cover to facilitate installation of the cover on or around the structure of the seat element.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible, thanks to the presence of one or more mounting plates, to reduce the time taken to install the cover to less than three minutes by ensuring a uniform and automatic adjustment of the cover due to the stiffening of the edges of the cover. The invention also makes it possible to reduce the risks of musculoskeletal disorders when installing the cover on the seat. The invention therefore induces a significant reduction in production costs as well as an aesthetic improvement due to a more precise adjustment of the cover on the seat element. The weight of the entire assembly also has the advantage of being contained.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, said cover comprises at least one sheath in which at least one mounting plate is arranged.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sheath comprises a strip of self-gripping fasteners arranged on an external face of the sheath.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate is sewn onto the covering cover.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate is made of a metallic or plastic material.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has a rectilinear shape.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mounting plate has at least one curved portion to match a shape of the seat element.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover is a backrest cover comprising at least a first mounting plate extending along a side strip of the cover and intended to be fixed, via at least a first fastening strip, along a first upright of a backrest structure and a second mounting plate extending along a side strip of the cover and intended to be fixed, via at least a second fastening strip, along a second upright of the backrest structure.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover is a backrest bottom cover intended to cover a rear face of a backrest structure, said backrest bottom cover comprising at least one mounting plate and fixing tabs intended to cooperate with attachment members arranged on a front face of the backrest structure.

[0015] The invention also relates to an airplane seat comprising at least one seat element and at least one cover as previously defined.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, said aircraft seat comprises a backrest structure comprising a first upright and a second upright parallel to each other, at least one first strip of fasteners extending along the first upright and at least one second strip of fasteners extending along the second upright for attaching a backrest cover.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, said aircraft seat further comprises attachment members fixed to the front face of a support wall and slots made near the attachment members to allow passage of attachment tabs of a backrest bottom cover cooperating with said attachment members.

[0018] The present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments given for illustrative purposes with reference to the appended figures, presented as non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description of its implementation and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, on which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a multi-seater seat having covers according to the present invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a front face of a seat back according to the invention on which are fixed self-gripping fastening members for the removable fixing of a backrest cover;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a rear face of a seat back according to the invention on which are fixed self-gripping fastener strips for the removable fixing of a backrest cover;

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a cover installed on a backrest of seat according to the invention;

[0023] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a front view of a backrest cover according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a backrest cover installed on a seat back according to the invention;

[0025] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a front view of a backrest cover according to the invention;

[0026] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a front view illustrating the insertion of a mounting plate inside a sheath of a cover according to the invention;

[0027] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a sectional view illustrating the removable connection between a seat cover sheath and a strip of hook-and-loop fasteners arranged on a seat back according to the invention;

[0028] It should be noted that the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0029] [Fig. 1] shows an economy class seat 10 intended to be fixed on rails (not shown) mounted on a floor of an aircraft cabin. For this purpose, the seat 10 comprises legs 11 provided with fasteners 12 configured to cooperate with the rails of the cabin. A baggage bar 13 makes it possible to retain baggage arranged under the seat 10.

[0030] The seat 10 comprises several seats 15 and several backrests 16 so as to define several places 17. In this case, the seat 10 comprises three seats 15 and three backrests 16 so as to define three places 17. However, as a variant, the seat 10 may comprise more or less than three seats 15 and three backrests 16 so as to define more or less than three places, in particular two places, four places, or more.

[0031] Each backrest 16 can be mounted tilting backwards relative to the seat 15. corresponding. The seat 10 also has armrests 18.

[0032] Each seat 15 comprises a seat structure 20 covered by a cover 19. Each backrest 16 comprises a backrest structure 22 covered by one or more covers 23.1, 23.2.

[0033] In order to improve the comfort of the passenger, the seat 10 may also include a seat cushion 24 and a back cushion 25. The cushions 24, 25 may be made of a flexible material such as a foam material, for example a polyurethane foam, a polyethylene foam, a fiber foam, a honeycomb foam, an inflatable foam or any other material allowing a comfort foam to be produced. A cushion 24, 25 may be conventionally produced either by molding in a single block, or from several blocks of foam assembled together by gluing. In the case where the material of the cushion 24, 25 is not sufficiently fire-resistant, the comfort element is covered with a fire-resistant envelope called "FBL" for "Fire Blocking Layer" according to English terminology.

[0034] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the backrest structure 22 comprises a first upright 29.1 and a second upright 29.2 parallel to each other and connected to each other by a connecting section 30 at the upper end of the backrest 16. The backrest structure 22 further comprises a support wall 33 extending between the uprights 29.1, 29.2. The support wall 33 comprises a front face against which the passenger's back rests and a rear face opposite the front face. The uprights 29.1, 29.2 preferably have a tubular structure. At least one first strip of fasteners 34.1 extends along the first upright 29.1, 29.2 and at least one second strip of fasteners 34.2 extends along the second upright 29.1, 29.2 for attaching a backrest cover 23.1.

[0035] More precisely, as can be seen in [Fig. 3], the fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 are arranged on faces of the uprights 29.1, 29.2 facing towards the inside of a rear housing 59 intended to receive a shelf (not shown). The fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 are preferably fixed by snap-fastening one or more studs 35 inserted inside openings 36 made in the uprights 29.1, 29.2. The fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 have an elongated rectangular shape. The fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 preferably comprise self-gripping fasteners, of the Velcro (trade name) type, preferably comprising hooks intended to cooperate with loops of fastening strips sewn onto the backrest cover 23.1, as explained in more detail below.

[0036] Alternatively, the fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 comprise snap fasteners, magnets or any other removable fastening element suitable for the application to easily install or remove the backrest cover 23.1. Alternatively, the fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 can be fixed by gluing to the uprights 29.1, 29.2 or any other fastening technique suitable for the application. Alternatively, the fastening strips 34.1, 34.2 may be replaced by point-to-point fastenings which may be similar to the fastening members 40.

[0037] In addition, fastening members 40 shown in [Fig. 2] are fixed to the front face of the support wall 33. Slots 41 are made near the fastening members 40 to allow the passage of fastening tabs 58 of a backrest bottom cover 23.2, as described in more detail below. The fastening tabs 58 are intended to cooperate with the fastening members 40. The fastening members 40 preferably comprise self-gripping fasteners, of the Velcro (trade name) type comprising hooks intended to cooperate with self-gripping loops arranged on the fastening tabs 58 of a backrest bottom cover 23.2. Alternatively, the fastening members 40 comprise snap fasteners, magnets or any other removable fastening element adapted to the application to easily put in place or remove the cover 23.2.

[0038] The fastening members 40 can be fixed by snap-fastening or riveting on the front face of the support wall 33. Alternatively, the fastening members 40 can be fixed by gluing or screwing on the front face of the backrest structure 22 or any other fastening technique suitable for the application. The fastening members 40 are positioned offset from the slot 41, so that the fastening tabs 58 are protected from cuts.

[0039] Advantageously, as shown in [Fig.4], the backrest structure 22 is covered by a backrest cover 23.1 covering the upper part of the backrest structure 22 as well as the front face of the backrest structure 22 and a backrest bottom cover 23.2 covering the rear face of the backrest structure 22.

[0040] The backrest cover 23.1 comprises at least one covering cover 44 made of a flexible material intended to at least partially cover the backrest structure 22. The flexible material may be a material chosen in particular from leather, imitation leather, alcantara, fabric or any other flexible material suitable for the application.

[0041] In this case, as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the covering cover 44 comprises a front face body 45 intended to cover a front face of the backrest structure 22 from the upper end to the lower end of the front face of the backrest structure 22, a headrest wall 46 intended to cover the rear face of the headrest of the backrest and side strips 47.1, 47.2 extending along a longitudinal edge of the front face body 45. In the upper part, the backrest cover 23.1 thus forms a housing in which the headrest of the backrest structure 22 can be inserted.

[0042] At least one elongated mounting plate 51 is disposed along an edge of the cover 44 to facilitate installation of the cover. covering 44 on or around the seat member. By "plate" is meant a member having a small thickness relative to its length and width. A mounting plate 51 has a rigid or preferably semi-rigid configuration to provide flexibility to the mounting plate 51 when it is pressed against the backrest structure 22 so as to follow the movement of the operator.

[0043] A mounting plate 51 is made of a metallic or plastic material. More generally, a mounting plate 51 can be made of any material having flexible, rigid on the edge, and spring effect characteristics. A mounting plate 51 can be made of any material sufficiently rigid to ensure support between two points of a fabric but flexible and strong enough to withstand frequent handling.

[0044] A mounting plate 51 advantageously has a rectilinear shape. Alternatively, the mounting plate 51 may have at least one portion of curved shape to match a shape of the seat element 15, 16. One end of the mounting plate 51 may be of rounded or rectangular shape.

[0045] A mounting plate 51 may be disposed inside a sleeve provided in the covering cover 44 or sewn onto the covering cover 44.

[0046] A cover 23.1, 23.2 comprises at least one sleeve 52 shown in detail in [Fig.8] in which the mounting plate 51 is arranged. The sleeve 52 defines an elongated space which is closed along its periphery. The sleeve 52 has an open end to allow the insertion of the mounting plate 51 inside the sleeve 52 and a closed end to retain the mounting plate 51 inside the sleeve 52. A sleeve 52 can be obtained by folding and sewing one edge of the cover cover 44 to the remainder of the fabric of the cover cover 44.

[0047] The sheath 52 preferably comprises a strip of self-gripping fasteners 55. The strip of self-gripping fasteners 55 is fixed to or may constitute an external face of the sheath 52. The strip of self-gripping fasteners 55 comprises, for example, loops and is intended to cooperate with a complementary strip of self-gripping fasteners 34.1, 34.2 provided with hooks and arranged on the seat structure, in particular on an upright 29.1, 29.2 of the backrest structure 22. The strip of self-gripping fasteners 55 is, for example, made of velvet.

[0048] As shown in the sectional view of [Fig.9], a mounting plate 51 is thus arranged between two fabric walls of the cover constituting the sheath 52. A strip of self-gripping fasteners 55 is fixed to an external face of the sheath 52. The strip of self-gripping fasteners 55 is intended to cooperate with a complementary strip of self-gripping fasteners 34.1, 34.2 fixed to an upright 29.1, 29.2 of the backrest structure 22.

[0049] In the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, the backrest cover 23.1 comprises at least one first mounting plate 51 extending along the side strip 47.1 of the cover 23.1 and intended to be fixed, via the first fastening strip 34.1, along the first upright 29.1 of the backrest structure 22 and a second mounting plate 51 extending along the side strip 47.2 of the cover and intended to be fixed, via the second fastening strip 34.2, along the second upright 29.2 of the backrest structure 22. The backrest cover 23.1 may also comprise a mounting plate 51 extending along a lower edge of the headrest wall 46.

[0050] As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the backrest bottom cover 23.2 comprises at least one covering cover 44 made of a flexible material intended to cover at least in part the rear face of the support wall 33 of the backrest structure 22. The flexible material may be a material chosen in particular from leather, imitation leather, alcantara, fabric or any other flexible material suitable for the application.

[0051] The backrest bottom cover 23.2 comprises at least one mounting plate 51 intended to extend along an upper edge of the rear housing 59. The backrest bottom cover 23.2 further comprises fixing tabs 58 arranged along its periphery. The fixing tabs 58 are intended to be inserted inside the slots 41 to cooperate with the corresponding fastening members 40 arranged on a front face of the backrest structure 22 (see [Fig. 2]). The fixing tabs 58 may comprise self-gripping loops intended to cooperate with corresponding self-gripping hooks carried by the fastening members 40.

[0052] Alternatively, a mounting plate 51 is sewn onto the covering cover 44 of the cover 23.1, 23.2.

[0053] Of course, a cover according to the invention can also be used to cover and attach to a seat structure, a headrest or an armrest.

[0054] Of course, the various features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0055] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention and in particular all combinations of the different operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in association.

Claims

Claims

1. Cover (23.1, 23.2) for a seat element (15, 16) characterized in that it comprises: - at least one covering cover (44) made of a flexible material intended to at least partially cover a structure of the seat element (15, 16), and - at least one mounting plate (51) of elongated shape arranged along an edge of the covering cover (44) to facilitate installation of the covering cover (44) on or around the structure of the seat element (15, 16).

2. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one sheath (52) in which at least one mounting plate (51) is arranged.

3. Cover according to claim 2, characterized in that the sheath (52) comprises a strip of self-gripping fasteners (55) arranged on an external face of the sheath (52).

4. Cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting plate (51) is sewn onto the covering cover (44).

5. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mounting plate (51) is made of a metallic or plastic material.

6. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mounting plate (51) has a rectilinear shape.

7. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mounting plate (51) has at least one curved portion to match a shape of the seat element (15, 16).

8. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover (23.1) is a backrest cover comprising at least one first mounting plate (51) extending along a lateral strip (47.1) of the cover and intended to be fixed, via at least one first fastening strip (34.1), along a first upright (29.1) of a backrest structure (22) and a second mounting plate (51) extending along a lateral strip (47.2) of the cover and intended to be fixed, via at least one second fastening strip (34.2), along a second upright (29.2) of the backrest structure (22).

9. Cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cover (23.2) is a backrest cover intended for covering a rear face of a backrest structure (22), said backrest base cover (23.2) comprising at least one mounting plate (51) and fixing tabs (58) intended to cooperate with fastening members (40) arranged on a front face of the backrest structure (22).

10. Aircraft seat comprising at least one seat element (15, 16) and at least one cover (23.1, 23.2) defined according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. Aircraft seat according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a backrest structure (22) comprising a first upright (29.1) and a second upright (29.2) parallel to each other, at least one first strip of fasteners (34.1) extending along the first upright (29.1) and at least one second strip of fasteners (34.2) extending along the second upright (29.2) for attaching a backrest cover (23.1).

12. Aircraft seat according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it further comprises attachment members (40) fixed to the front face of a support wall (33) and slots (41) made near the attachment members (40) to allow passage of attachment tabs (58) of a backrest bottom cover (23.2) cooperating with said attachment members (40).

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