# US 2013/0153122 A1 · Seam fillers for use with decorative stitching of vehicle interior components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153122 A1 - Document ID: US20130153122A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,071 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. - Inventors: William Filipp; George Grzywacz, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153122A1 ## CPC - B60N 2/5883: {by sewing, stitching or threading} - B44C 3/00: Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing ornamental structures - B60N 2/5891: {characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for} - B60N 2/609: {by sewing, stitching or threading} - B60R 13/02: {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) - B60R 13/0256: {Dashboard liners} - B60R 2013/0293: {Connection or positioning of adjacent panels} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle interior component including decorative stitching along a stitch path includes a seam filler located between a component substrate and an overlying decorative covering. The seam filler lies along the stitch path and supports the decorative covering directly beneath at least a portion of a line of decorative stitching, where the covering may include a reduced thickness portion. The seam filler can have any number of configurations to prevent visual defects along the stitch path and/or to cause the appearance of simulated seams to be more realistic. The seam filler may be deposited along the stitch path as a curable filler material that cures, or it may be provided as a pre-formed piece for attachment to the decorative covering. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a vehicle interior component having decorative stitching, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a decorative covering and a vehicle interior component substrate; (b) sewing a line of decorative stitching through the decorative covering along a stitch path; (c) depositing a curable filler material along the covering stitch path or along a corresponding substrate location or along both; and (d) disposing the decorative covering over the component substrate so that the covering stitch path is aligned over the corresponding substrate location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes extruding a thermoplastic filler material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes depositing a thermosetting filler material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) includes depositing the curable filler material along the stitch path at an inner surface of the decorative covering. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein step (b) is performed before step (c). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein step (c) includes depositing an amount of curable filler material in excess of an amount required to fill a reduced thickness portion of the covering formed during step (b). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: removing at least some of the excess amount of curable filler material so that the curable filler material is substantially flush with the inner surface of the covering. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: at least partially curing the filler material after step (c) and before step (d). ### Claim 9 A method of making vehicle interior components having common substrates and different outward appearances, comprising the steps of: (a) providing first and second decorative coverings; (b) sewing a line of decorative stitching through the first decorative covering along a stitch path; (c) attaching a seam filler to the first decorative covering along the stitch path at a covering inner surface; and (d) disposing each of the first and second decorative coverings over substantially identical vehicle interior component substrates to form first and second vehicle interior components having different decorative stitching configurations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) includes the step of: depositing a curable filler material along the stitch path, wherein the curable filler material is configured to adhere to the covering inner surface and to cure to form the attached seam filler. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) includes extruding a thermoplastic filler material along the stitch path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) includes the step of: attaching a pre-formed seam filler along the stitch path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein step (b) and step (c) are performed simultaneously. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the second decorative covering does not include decorative stitching at step (d). ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: sewing a line of decorative stitching through the second covering along a stitch path that is different from the stitch path of step (b); and attaching a seam filler to the second decorative covering along the different stitch path at an inner surface of the second covering, both before step (d).