# US 5,345,661 A · Seat skinning and method

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- Number: US 5,345,661 A
- Document ID: US5345661A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/056,269
- Filed: 1993-05-03
- Granted: 1994-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 1993-05-03
- Assignees: General Motors Corporation
- Inventors: Donald J. Hotton; Sherry A. Broad
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345661A

## CPC

- B29D 99/0092: {Producing upholstery articles, e.g. cushions, seats (B29C63/025 takes precedence)}
- B68G 7/05: Covering or enveloping cores of pads {(in plastics material using a matching die B29C63/025)}
- Y10T 29/48: Upholstered article making
- Y10T 29/481: Method
- Y10T 29/482: Tufting
- Y10T 29/486: Cover stretching
- Y10T 29/49867: of skin on frame member
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B68G: METHODS, EQUIPMENT, OR MACHINES FOR USE IN UPHOLSTERING; UPHOLSTERY NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A seat skinning mechanism for skinning a flexible membrane cover on a polymeric foam vehicle seat body is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a first support surface for positioning the seat body located generally underneath the seat body, a second support surface contacting the seat body on a first vertical side of a seat body, first and second powered wings pivotally mounted with respect to the second support surface, the wings causing the lateral edges of the seat body to fold upon themselves to an extent to allow the flexible membrane cover to be placed over the foam body, the second support surface and the wings, and a lift to force the foam body upward, removing the seat body from between the second support surface and the wings with the membrane cover or the seat body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of skinning a flexible membrane cover on a polymeric foam vehicle seat body having lumbar sections comprising:
supporting the seat body underneath the seat body on a first support surface;
supporting the seat body on a first vertical side of the seat body along a vertical second support surface;
compressing the seat body against the second support surface by moving first and second wings which are pivotally mounted with respect to the second support surface, compressing the lumbar sections of the seat body over themselves to a point to allow a flexible membrane cover to be placed over the seat body, the second support surface and the wings; and
ejecting the seat body upward, allowing the seat body to then fill up the flexible membrane cover.