Vehicle Seat Trim Cover Seam Layout for Pattern Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for joining surface materials in vehicle seat trim covers often result in discontinuous stitches at the seam due to misalignment, which can spoil the design of the seat.
Innovation Solution
The trim cover is designed with surface materials that feature iterative patterns extending parallel to the joining direction, ensuring that the elements, such as stitches, embossed portions, or printed patterns, line up in the same pattern and continue across the seam, even if the materials are misaligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surface materials are joined with stitches extending obliquely to the joining direction, then design flexibility is improved, but stitch continuity at the seam deteriorates due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the stitch pattern asymmetric with respect to the joining direction. Specifically, stitches are arranged to extend primarily in the joining direction rather than obliquely, creating an asymmetric stitch configuration that prioritizes continuity. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when surface materials are joined, the stitches align properly at the seam while still providing design flexibility through varied stitch patterns and densities in different regions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple surface materials are joined to form complex patterns, then design quality is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates causing discontinuous stitches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the stitch patterns on each surface material before joining. The stitches are arranged in predetermined patterns that are designed to align when the materials are joined. This preliminary arrangement of stitches and selection of pattern configurations ensures that even with multiple surface materials forming complex designs, the alignment at the seam is maintained and stitch continuity is achieved.
3Manufacturing precision
If stitches extend in the joining direction with same pattern, then stitch continuity is improved, but design variety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the stitch patterns and densities in different local regions of the surface materials. While stitches extend primarily in the joining direction to ensure continuity, the specific stitch configurations, spacing, and densities can differ in different areas. This allows different sections of the trim cover to have distinct design characteristics while maintaining overall stitch continuity at the seams through the consistent directional extension of stitches.
Data Source
AI summary
A trim cover includes a plurality of surface materials joined each other, the plurality of surface materials including two pieces of surface materials, each of which is formed with a plurality of elements that form an iterative pattern repeated along a joining direction of the two pieces of the surface materials, wherein the plurality of elements line up by a same pattern in an extending direction of sewing regions of the two pieces of surface materials, and extend parallel to the joining direction, at least at the sewing regions.