, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to an assembly of seat cover for fixing the seat cover to seat pad by using a stretchable band/fabric.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Generally, seating components has a metallic frame over which a seat pad is assembled, to cover the seat pad a seat cover is provided. Specifically in the automobiles, seats have seat pad and seat cover to provide comfort and for enhanced appearance . Further, the seat cover gives aesthetic appearance and look to the seat. The seat cover provides an attractive, durable, and protective covering to the seat pad of the seat. The seat covers are generally made of cloth, vinyl, and leather. Further, the seat pad provides different shape to the seat. The seat pad has several trenches to fix the seat cover with seat pad of the seat. Accordingly, the seat covers are provided over the seat pads for aesthetics.
[003] Further, the seat cover is attached with the seat pad of the seat. The cover is tightly secured to trenches of the seat pad. The seat pad has metal wire, generally referred as insert wire which runs through the seat pad and is used to fix the seat cover.
[004] Fig. 1 illustrates conventional attaching of seat cover on seat pad of seat. Fig. 2 illustrates seat cover having metal wires for fastening the seat cover to pad wire of the seat pad of the seat. As shown in fig. 2, the seat cover 10 has plurality of retainers 202-1, 202-2, 202-3….202-n (hereinafter single retainer referred as retainer 202 and multiple retainers referred as retainers 202) which are sewn inside the seat cover 104. All the retainers are open at both ends to receive a trim wire 106. The trim wire 106 having a loop at both ends to receive the c-ring 110. The c ring 110 fastens the end loop of the trim wire 106 with pad wire 108 of the seat pad. A special tool, i.e., c- ring plier is required to fasten the trim wire 106 and the pad wire 108 using c- ring 110. This process may damage the seat pad and may also injure an occupant. Further, deformation of trim wire gives poor appearance to the seat. This process consumes more seat assembly cycle time. This process creates high chances of getting injury while fastening of seat cover using trim wire.
[005] Another method of fastening the seat cover to the seat pad of seat is Velcro method. Velcro has hooks and loops to fasten the seat cover on the seat pad. Major problem in this method is that inherent unintentional releasable property of Velcro may create problem of detaching of Velcro from the cushion or seat pad. Proper alignment of the grooves of the seat pad and seat cover is also difficult in the Velcro. This process is expensive and a special mold design is required for ensuring alignment of grooves.
[006] Yet another method of fastening the seat cover on the seat pad of the seat involves using some form of adhesive to attach the seat cover with the seat pad. This method creates problem when seat cover needs replacement. Application of adhesive fixes the seat cover on the seat pad permanently which damages the foam during replacement.
[007] Japanese Patent Application JP2001061589A discloses a cover assembled to a seat frame with a plurality of vertical hanging grooves in a seat pad. The vehicle seat has plurality of vertically hung sewing terminal projecting towards and sewn to the cover back. A strip of a special fastener sewn to vertically hung sewing terminal while extending and hanging in the longitudinal direction of a vertically hanging groove. The special fastener is pressed against and coupled to the other strip and the vertically hung sewing terminal are hung down in to the vertically hanging groove by special fastener and fitted over seat pad. It uses a male and female portion where male portion is provided on the seat pad or on the seat cover. Similarly for the female portion. The male portion gets locked in the female portion and provides fastening of the seat cover on the seat pad.
[008] It would be desirable to develop a seat fastening assembly that is relatively easy to use, that provides a relatively fast manner for fixing the cover to the seat pad and that could be say to detach and attach. Technical problem exist in the prior art is that trim wire gives poor appearance due to wire deformation, it consumes more assembly time and also increases chances of injury during assembly. In order to cater all the above mentioned technical problems, a simple, and easy to use fastening assembly is required.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[009] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly for fastening seat cover to seat pad.
[0010] Another object of the present subject matter is to attach the seat cover on the seat pad with better appearance.
[0011] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a fastening assembly which reduces the assembly time.
[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fastening assembly inside the seat cover which reduces chances of injury during assembly of the seat cover on the seat pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0013] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fastening structure for attaching the seat cover to seat pad. The present seat cover has a plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners. Each of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners has holes at both ends to attach the seat cover with the seat pad. Each hole has a metal eyelet which surrounds the hole to avoid tearing of stretchable band/fabric with the pressure of c- ring. The seat cover is attached with the seat pad through c- rings. The eyelet fitted on holes of the stretchable band/fabric fasteners receives the c- ring the same c- ring then passes through the pad wire of the seat pad. The seat cover fits into the trenches of the seat pad using the stretchable band/fabric fastener.
[0014] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating information will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0016] Fig. 1 illustrates conventional attaching of seat cover on seat pad of seat as known in the art;
[0017] Fig. 2 illustrate seat cover having metal wires for fastening the seat cover to pad wire of the seat pad of the seat as known in the art; and
[0018] Fig. 3 illustrates seat cover having stretchable band/fabric fasteners for fastening the seat cover to pad wire of the seat pad, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0019] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0020] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to fastening of a seat cover to a seat pad of a seat, specifically, vehicle seat but it is not limited to vehicle seat, it may be applied on any seat which has seat pad. The seat cover has a fastening assembly inside to fasten the seat cover on the seat pad. The seat pad is having pad wires which run through the pad. The pad wires are used to fasten the seat cover with the seat pad using c-rings. Generally the seat cover is made by stitching multiple sheet parts simultaneously. Where two ends of the sheet parts are joined with each other to form a seam. The seat cover has a plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners which are sewn on the inside of the seat cover. Each of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners has holes at both ends. Each of the circular holes has metal eyelet for avoiding tearing out of the stretchable band/fabric. The plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners are sewn on the seam of the seat cover where two or more parts of the sheet are joined. The plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners is fastened to the seat pad using c- rings. The c-rings attach one eyelet fitted at the end of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fastener with the pad wire of the seat pad. Accordingly, the seam of the seat cover fits into trenches of the seat pad and is attached such that seat cover gives shape and appearance as of seat pad. A special type of pliers, i.e., c- ring plier is used to apply the hog ring in between the seat cover and the seat pad. The present fastening assembly has stretchable band/fabric fastener which reduces the assembly time and safes the worker from the injury. The present fastening structure fits the seam of the seat cover completely into the trenches of the seat pad and gives smooth appearance to complete seat unit.
[0021] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0022] These are other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0023] Fig. 3 illustrates seat cover having stretchable band/fabric fasteners for fastening the seat cover to pad wire of the seat pad, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The seat cover 300 has a fastening structure 302-1, 302-2, 302-3…….302-n inside. The fastening structure attaches the seat cover with the seat pad. The seat pad is having pad wires which run through in it and receives the c- rings to fasten the seat cover to the seat pad. The seat pad has several trenches to fit in seat cover and to give smother look at top surface. Further, the pad wires run through under these trenches of the foam core. The pad wires are used to fasten the seat cover 300 with the seat pad using c-rings.
[0024] The seat covers are generally made of cloth, vinyl, and leather. Two ends of the sheet are connected with each other to form a seam. The seat cover 300 has a plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners 302-1, 302-2, 302-3…….302-n (hereinafter collectively referred as the stretchable band/fabric fasteners 302 and singularly referred as the stretchable band/fabric fastener 302) which are sewn inside the seat cover 300. For better results, the stretchable band/fabric fasteners may be sewn along the seam of the seat cover.
[0025] Each of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners 302 has holes 303-1, 303-2 at both ends. Each of the holes 303 has metal eyelet for avoiding tearing out of the stretchable band/fabric due to pressure from the c- ring. The metal eyelet distributes the pressure of the c- rings and avoids the tearing of stretchable band/fabric. The plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners 302 may be sewn on the seam of the seat cover where two or more parts of the sheet are connected. The plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners 302 is attached to the seat pad using c- rings. The c-rings attach one eyelet fitted end 303 of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fastener 302 with the pad wire of the seat pad. Accordingly, the seam of the seat cover 300 fits into the trenches of the cushion of the seat pad and is attached such that seat cover 300 gives smooth and neat appearance as of the seat pad.
[0026] Further, the seat cover 300 is attached to the seat pad with a special type of pliers, i.e., c- ring pliers which to applies the c- ring in between the stretchable band/fabric fastener 302 and the pad wire of the seat pad. The present fastening structure has stretchable band/fabric fastener which reduces the assembly time and safes the worker from the injury. The present fastening structure fits the seam of the seat cover completely into the trenches of the seat pad and gives smooth appearance to complete seat unit.
[0027] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

Claims:We claim:
1. A seat cover (300) having a fastening structure for attaching the seat cover (300) to seat pad, the seat cover (300) comprising:
a plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners (302), wherein each of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners (302) has holes at both ends to attach the seat cover (300) with the seat pad.
2. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat cover (300) is made by stitching multiple parts simultaneously.

3. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two parts of the seat cover (300) sew together to form seam.

4. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners (302) may or may not sewn along seam of the seat cover (300).

5. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein metal eyelet surrounds the holes of the plurality of stretchable band/fabric fasteners (302).

6. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein eyelet fitted holes of the stretchable band/fabric fasteners (302) is attached to pad wire of the seat pad with hog rings.

7. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seat cover (300) fits into trenches of the seat pad using the stretchable band/fabric fastener (302).

8. The seat cover (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein material for the seat cover (300) is from cloth, vinyl, plastic, and leather.