Systems and methods for securing a fabric cover to an armrest
AssigneeSeats, Inc.
InventorDaniel J. Ziemer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for an armrest assembly for a seat installed within a cab of a vehicle. The armrest assembly can include a cover retention bracket having channels for receiving an arm cover in preparation for covering an armrest. The cover retention bracket can have one or more protrusions arranged along the channels and configured to engage the cover to secure the cover to the armrest.
Claims20
An armrest for a vehicle seat, the armrest comprising:
- a frame defining an elongate axis extending along a length of the armrest;
- a flexible cover that at least partially surrounds the frame in an installed configuration;
- and
- a cover retention plate arranged adjacent to a distal end of the frame to secure the flexible cover, the cover retention plate including:
- a first channel and a second channel arranged approximately parallel to the elongate axis of the frame, each of the first and second channels receiving a respective portion of the flexible cover with the flexible cover in the installed configuration;
- a central portion arranged between the first channel and the second channel;
- a first lateral portion arranged along an edge of the first channel opposite the central portion;
- a second lateral portion arranged along an edge of the second channel opposite the central portion;
- and
- at least one protrusion extending away from at least one of the central portion, the first lateral portion, or the second lateral portion to secure the flexible cover in the installed configuration.
A cover retention mechanism for securing a fabric or other cover to a vehicle seat component, the cover retention mechanism comprising:
- a bracket including a retention feature defining a central portion, a first lateral portion, and a second lateral portion;
- a first channel arranged between the central portion and the first lateral portion, and defining a first reference axis extending between a first open end at a distal end of the retention feature and a first terminal end opposite the first open end;
- a second channel arranged between the central portion and the second lateral portion, and defining a second reference axis extending between a second open end at the distal end of the retention feature and a second terminal end opposite the second open end;
- a first protrusion array extending away from the retention feature along the first channel;
- and
- a second protrusion array extending away from the retention feature along the second channel;
- wherein the first and second channels receive a portion of a fabric or other cover so that
- the first and second protrusion arrays simultaneously engage the fabric or other cover.
A method of installing a flexible cover on an armrest assembly for use with a vehicle seat, the method comprising:
- with a nose portion of a flexible cover turned inside-out, inserting the nose portion into open ends of first and second channels of a cover retention feature that is coupled to a frame of the armrest assembly;
- and
- inverting the nose portion of the flexible cover, with the nose portion received in the first and second channels of the cover retention feature, such that an external surface of the nose portion is facing an exterior of the armrest assembly;
- wherein upon inverting the nose portion of the flexible cover, a first array of protrusions extending from the cover retention feature along the first channel and a second array of protrusions extending away from the cover retention feature along the second channel engage the nose portion of the flexible cover to retain the flexible cover in an installed configuration on the armrest assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.