Method for shaping a trim cover fabric for a vehicle seat

A method for shaping a trim cover fabric for covering an "A" surface of a vehicle seat, comprising the steps of:

• providing a forming tool which has a forming surface including a first portion that is complementary to a basic shape to be provided for said surface of said seat and a second portion defining a cavity;
• providing a plurality of style line inserts which are individually useable with said forming tool, different ones of said style line inserts having a styling surface that are complementary to different desired stylized shapes for said surface of said seat;
• selecting one of said style line inserts;
• inserting the selected style line insert into said cavity in said forming surface of said forming tool to provide a forming tool assembly having a contoured upper surface including a portion defined by said forming tool which is complementary to a basic shape for said surface of said seat and an individually stylized portion defined by said selected style line insert which is complementary to a desired stylized shape for said surface of said seat;
• positioning said trim cover fabric on said forming tool assembly;
• heating said forming tool assembly and said cover fabric positioned thereon to a temperature within a range of temperatures;
• providing a pressing tool which has a lower surface which is formed to be complementary to said forming surface of said forming tool
• and said styling surfaces of said plurality of style line inserts to enable said pressing tool to be used with a forming tool assembly that includes any style line insert of said plurality of style line inserts;
• heating said pressing tool:
• and pressing said heated cover fabric onto said forming tool assembly using said heated pressing tool to provide the desired stylized shape for the trim cover fabric.