Vehicle seat assembly and method of forming
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorMartyn CHEE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A component for a vehicle seat assembly, a seat assembly, and a method of forming a seat assembly are provided. A unitary foam cushion has a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side to support an occupant. A former extends outwardly from the second side of the foam cushion to a distal end spaced apart from the foam cushion. The former cooperates with the second side of the foam cushion to define an open channel. The open channel is sized to receive a seam of a trim cover assembly. The former defines a first side wall of the open channel, and the second side of the foam cushion defines a second side wall of the open channel. The first side wall defined by the former faces away from the second side of the foam cushion.
Claims20
A seat assembly, comprising:
- a seat frame;
- a seat cushion supported by at least a portion of the seat frame;
- a former comprising a proximal end region and a distal end region, wherein the former extends outwardly from a side of the seat cushion to the distal end region, wherein the former cooperates with a portion of the side of the seat cushion to define an open channel therebetween;
- a trim cover assembly, positioned over the seat cushion and the former, such that the first trim panel is in contact with and shaped by the distal end region of the former, wherein the trim cover assembly comprises a first trim panel and a second trim panel, wherein the first trim panel is connected to the second trim panel via a seam that is recessed within the open channel via at least one retention member.
A method of forming a seat assembly, the method comprising:
- supporting a former relative to a seat cushion such that the former extends outwardly from a first side of the seat cushion to a distal end, to define an open channel;
- positioning a trim cover assembly over the foam cushion and the former such that a first trim panel is in contact with and shaped by the distal end of the former;
- connecting the first trim panel to a second trim panel with a seam within the open channel, wherein a trim cover assembly comprises the first trim panel and the second trim panel;
- and
- attaching at least one retention member to fasten the trim cover assembly with the seam to the seat cushion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.