Vehicle seats and detachable cover therefor

A seat may includes a seat base, a seat cover that is capable of being detachably attached to the seat base, a first engagement member that is attached to a circumferential surface of the seat base, a second engagement member that is attached to the seat cover, and a third engagement member that is attached to the circumferential surface of the seat base. The first engagement member is capable of engaging the second engagement member when the seat cover is attached to the seat base, so as to fix the seat cover to the seat. The first engagement member is capable of engaging the third engagement member when the first engagement member does not engage the second engagement member.

This application claims priority to Japanese patent application serial number 2007-331841, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to seats (vehicle seats) having seat covers for covering the seats. More particularly, the present invention relates to seats having detachable seat covers for covering the seats. Further, the present invention relates to fastening devices for fixedly attaching seat covers to seats.

2. Description of Related Art

A seat (a seat back and a seat cushion) having a detachable seat cover is already known. Such a seat is taught, for example, by Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication Number 1-119551. In the seat, hook and loop fasteners are used in order to fixedly attach (fasten) the seat cover to the seat. That is, first fastener elements of the hook and loop fasteners are attached to peripheral portions of the seat cover. Conversely, second fastener elements of the hook and loop fasteners that are engageable with the first fastener elements are attached to the seat. The first and second fastener elements are positioned so as to correspond to each other. When the seat cover is applied to the seat, the first and second fastener elements engage with each other, so that the seat cover can be fixedly attached to the seat. As a result, the seat cover can be detachably attached to the seat. Thus, the seat can be covered with the seat cover.

Also, some of the first fastener elements are attached to substantial portions (central portions) of the seat cover. Similarly, some of the second fastener elements are attached to substantial portions of the seat. The first and second fastener elements are positioned so as to correspond to each other. The first and second fastener elements thus positioned engage with each other when the seat cover is applied to the seat, so that the seat cover can be reliably or accurately attached to the seat while the seat cover suitably follows a three-dimensional shape of the seat.

According to the seat thus constructed, the seat cover can be easily detached from the seat for cleaning, replacement or other such purposes. However, when the seat cover is not attached to the seat (i.e., when the seat cover is detached from the seat), the second fastener elements attached to the seat are exposed or uncovered. This may lead to an inferior appearance of the seat. Also, it can be uncomfortable to sit on the seat. Further, the uncovered second fastener elements has a possibility of scratching clothes or stockings of a passenger of the seat. As a result, the seat is not suitable for use without the seat cover.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For example, in one aspect of the present invention, a seat may includes a seat base, a seat cover that is constructed to be detachably attached to the seat base, a first engagement member that is attached to a circumferential surface of the seat base, a second engagement member that is attached to the seat cover, and a third engagement member that is attached to the circumferential surface of the seat base. The first engagement member is capable of engaging the second engagement member when the seat cover is attached to the seat base, so as to fix the seat cover to the seat. The first engagement member is capable of engaging the third engagement member when the first engagement member does not engage the second engagement member.

According to the seat thus constructed, when the seat cover is detached from the seat base, the first engagement member is capable of engaging the third engagement member, so as to be immobilized on the seat. Therefore, when the seat cover is detached from the seat base, the first engagement member can be effectively prevented from scratching clothes of a person sitting on the seat.

In one embodiment, the third engagement member is spaced away from the first engagement member.

In another embodiment, the first, second and third engagement members respectively include first, second and third slide fastener strips. The first slide fastener strip is capable of selectively engaging the second and third slide fastener strips.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Representative examples of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Only the claims define the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the foregoing detail description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe detailed representative examples of the invention. Moreover, the various features taught in this specification may be combined in ways that are not specifically enumerated in order to obtain additional useful embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed representative embodiments of the present invention are shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 8.

First Detailed Representative Embodiment

As shown inFIG. 1, a representative vehicle seat10may preferably be arranged as a driver seat of a vehicle and includes a seat back18having a head rest16and a seat cushion19. As shown inFIG. 2, the seat cushion19may preferably be constituted of a seat base20and a (detachable) seat cover40that is detachably attached to the seat base20. As will be recognized, in the embodiment, the seat cover40is exemplified as a cushion cover of the seat cushion19.

Before describing the seat cover40, construction of the seat base20of the seat cushion19will be described. The seat base20may preferably be constituted of a cushion pad22and a covering member24attached to the cushion pad22. The cushion pad22may preferably have a special three-dimensional shape. That is, as best shown inFIG. 3, the cushion pad22may preferably have a depressed central portion27and upwardly protruded side portions27a. Conversely, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the covering member24is arranged and constructed to closely follow the shape of the cushion pad22so as to have a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the cushion pad22. Therefore, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the seat base20thus constructed can have a three-dimensional shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the cushion pad22. The seat base20(the covering member24) may preferably have a (three-dimensional) outer surface. The outer surface of the seat base20may preferably include a depressed sitting surface26(a depressed surface portion) having a flattened central surface portion28, upwardly protruded side top surfaces30(a protruded surface portion), inclined side transition surfaces32that continuously extend from the sitting surface26to the top surfaces30, side surfaces34that extend downwardly from the top surfaces30, and a front surface36(a turned surface portion) that extends downwardly from a front periphery of the sitting surface26. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, an upper surface of the central portion27of the cushion pad22may preferably inclined rearwardly such that the sitting surface26of the seat base20can be gradually lowered rearwardly. In addition, as best shown inFIG. 2, each of the side surfaces34may preferably include upper and lower side surfaces34aand34b. Similarly, the front surface36may preferably be include upper and lower front surfaces36aand36b. Further, the side surfaces34and the front surface36will be referred to as a circumferential surface of the seat base20.

As best shown inFIG. 2, the seat cover40is composed of a seat cover body42and a pair of elastic bands (rubber bands)46. The seat cover body42may preferably be shaped to substantially correspond to the three-dimensional shape (i.e., the three-dimensional outer surface) of the seat base20so as to substantially cover the sitting surface26, the side top surfaces30, the side transition surfaces32, the upper side surfaces34aand the upper front surface36of the seat base20. Therefore, the seat cover body42is shaped so as to include a curved upper portion42a(which corresponds to the sitting surface26, the side top surface30and the side transition surfaces32), vertical side portions42b(which correspond to the upper side surfaces34a) and a vertical front portion42c(which corresponds to the upper front surface36a). Further, the seat cover body42may preferably be formed by sewing together a plurality of pieces of a fabric sheet. The fabric sheet may preferably be composed of a woven fabric (not shown) and a thin sponge layer (not shown) adhered to a rear surface of the woven fabric.

The elastic bands46may preferably be attached to a rear surface of the seat cover body42so as to extend in a forward and rearward direction of the seat base20(the seat10). In particular, as shown inFIG. 3, a pair of fabric tapes are sewed on the rear surface of the seat cover body42such that a pair of elongated insertion sheaths47are formed therealong. As best shown inFIG. 2, the elastic bands46are respectively inserted into the elongated insertion sheaths47. Further, rear end portions46aof the elastic bands46inserted into the elongated insertion sheaths47are respectively sewed on a rear end portion of the seat cover body42(the seat cover body upper portion42a). Conversely, front end portions46bof the elastic bands46are respectively sewed on a front end portion of the seat cover body42(the seat cover body front portion42c).

The elastic bands46thus attached are capable of stretching and contracting in the forward and rearward direction of the seat10. Further, as shown inFIG. 3, the elastic bands46(the insertion sheaths47) are respectively positioned so as to extend along the side transition surfaces32of the seat base20(i.e., along both sides of the sitting surface26of the seat base20) when the seat cover40is attached to seat base20.

Each of the elastic bands46may preferably have a length (an original length) shorter than a distance between a first position on the seat base20corresponding to the rear end portion46aand a second position on the seat base20corresponding to the front end portion46b. In other words, each of the elastic bands46may preferably have a length shorter than a distance between the rear end portion of the seat cover body42on which the rear end portions46aof the elastic bands46are sewed and the front end portion of the seat cover body42on which the front end portions46bof the elastic bands46are sewed. Therefore, when the seat cover40is not applied to the seat base20, each of the elastic bands46is contracted to the original length. As a result, the seat cover body42can be partially gathered up along the contracted elastic bands46. (InFIG. 2, a condition in which the seat cover body42is not gathered up is shown for clarity.) Conversely, when the seat cover40is applied to the seat base20, each of the elastic bands46can be stretched to an elongated length. As a result, the seat cover body42can be expanded to follow the shape of the seat base20with the elastic bands46.

As shown inFIG. 1, the seat cover40can be fixed to the seat base20via a first slide (zip) fastener60(a first or rear fastening device) and a second slide (zip) fastener70(a second or circumferential fastening device). The first fastener60is composed of a pair of opposed (slide) fastener strips62and64and a slider64a(FIG. 2) having a finger grip (not shown). The second fastener70is composed of a pair of opposed (slide) fastener strips72and74and a slider72dhaving a finger grip72e(FIG. 5). Each of the fastener strips62,64,72and74is composed of a cloth tape having a series of metal or plastic teeth. The sliders64aand72dare respectively slidably attached to the fastener strips64and72. As will be recognized, upon sliding the slider64aafter the fastener strip64is mated with (adjoined to) the fastener strip62by the slider64a, the teeth of the fastener strips62and64mesh with each other, so that the fastener strips62and64can be engaged or joined with each other. Thus, the slide fastener60can be fastened. Similarly, upon sliding the slider72dafter the fastener strip72is mated with (adjoined to) the fastener strip74by the slider72d, the teeth of the fastener strips72and74mesh with each other, so that the fastener strips72and74can be engaged or joined with each other. Thus, the slide fastener70can be fastened. Further, in this embodiment, each of the fastener strip64having the slider64aand the fastener strip72having the slider72dmay be referred to as a female fastener strip. Conversely, each of the fastener strips62and74may be referred to as a male fastener strip.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, the male fastener strip62of the first slide fastener60may preferably be positioned on the sitting surface26of the seat base20so as to transversely extend along a rear end periphery of the sitting surface26(i.e., along a rear end portion (of the outer surface) of the seat base20). The male fastener strip62thus positioned is stitched on the covering member24of the seat base20(the seat10), so as to be attached to the seat base20. In particular, as best shown inFIG. 4, the male fastener strip62may preferably be stitched on an elongated cut edge24′ of the seat covering member24. As will be appreciated, the cut edge24′ may preferably be formed by cutting the seat covering member24along the rear end portion of the seat base20.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the female fastener strip72(a first slide fastener strip or a first engagement member) of the second slide fastener70is positioned on the side surfaces34and the front surface36of the seat base20so as to extend therealong (i.e., along a side-to-front portion (of the outer surface) of the seat base20). As best shown inFIG. 2, the female fastener strip72may preferably be positioned on the side and front surfaces34and36so as to laterally extend along a central portion thereof (i.e., so as to laterally extend between the upper and lower side surfaces34aand34bof the side surfaces34and between the upper and lower front surfaces36aand36bof the front surface36). The female fastener strip72thus positioned is stitched on the covering member24of the seat base20(the seat10), so as to be attached to the seat base20. In particular, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the female fastener strip72may preferably be stitched on an elongated lower cut edge24aformed in the seat covering member24. As will be appreciated, the lower cut edge24amay preferably be formed by cutting the seat covering member24along the central portion of the side and front surfaces34and36. As will be appreciated, the female fastener strip72may preferably be positioned so as to not interfere with a lever14that is capable of controlling a tilting angle of the seat back18.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, the female fastener strip64of the first slide fastener60is stitched on the seat cover body42(the upper portion42a). As described above, the female fastener strip64has the slider64a. As best shown inFIG. 2, the female fastener strip64may preferably be positioned on a rear end periphery of the seat cover body42so as to transversely extend therealong. The female fastener strip64may preferably be positioned so as to correspond to the male fastener strip62attached to the seat base20when the seat cover40is applied to the seat base20. As previously described, upon sliding the slider64aafter the male fastener strip62is mated with the female fastener strip64by the slider64a, the male fastener strip62engages the female fastener strip64, so that the first slide fastener60can be fastened. Further, the slider64amay preferably be arranged and constructed to mate the male and female fastener strips62and64at a (right) end portion60aof the first slide fastener60(FIG. 1) that is closer to a door opening (not shown) of the vehicle. The end portion60aof the first slide fastener60may be referred to as an engagement start position or a mating position of the fastener strips62and64(the first slide fastener60).

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the male fastener strip74(a second slide fastener strip or a second engagement member) of the second slide fastener70is stitched on the seat cover body42(the side and front portions42band42c). As best shown inFIG. 2, the male fastener strip74may preferably be positioned so as to extend from the periphery of the seat cover body front portion42cto peripheries of the seat cover body side portions42b(i.e., so as to extend along front and side peripheries of the seat cover body42). Further, the male fastener strip74may preferably be positioned so as to correspond to the female fastener strip72attached to the seat base20when the seat cover40is applied to the seat base20. As described previously, upon sliding the slider72dof the female fastener strip72after the male fastener strip74is mated with the female fastener strip72by the slider72d, the male fastener strip74engages the female fastener strip72, so that the second slide fastener70can be fastened. Further, the slider72dmay preferably be arranged and constructed to mate the female and male fastener strips72and74at a (right) end portion70aof the second slide fastener70(FIG. 1) that is closer to the door opening of the vehicle. The end portion70aof the second slide fastener70may be referred to as an engagement start position or a mating position of the fastener strips72and74(the second slide fastener70).

As shown inFIG. 6, the male fastener strip62is composed of a cloth tape62band a series of metal or plastic teeth (elements)62athat are attached to a longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape62b. An opposite longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape62bis stitched on the covering member24(the cut edge24′) of the seat base20. Thus, the male fastener strip62may preferably be attached to the seat base20. However, at an end portion of the cloth tape62bcorresponding to the mating position of the first slide fastener60, the cloth tape62bis stitched on the covering member24via a triangular additional tape62c. That is, the attached male fastener strip62is widened at the end portion thereof. As a result, the end portion of the male fastener strip62can be easily pinched or held by fingers. This may lead to easy mating of the male and female fastener strips62and64at the mating position of the first slide fastener60.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 2,3and4, the seat base20may preferably include an additional (supplemental) male fastener strip76(a third slide fastener strip or a third engagement member) as an additional construction element of the second slide fastener70. The additional male fastener strip76has the same construction as the male fastener strip74(the second engagement member). That is, the additional male fastener strip76is constructed to be capable of engaging the female fastener strip72(the first engagement member). As best shown inFIG. 2, similar to the female fastener strip72, the additional male fastener strip76may preferably be positioned on the side and front surfaces34and36so as to laterally extend along the central portion thereof. However, as shown inFIG. 3, the additional male fastener strip76may preferably be oppositely positioned above the female fastener strip72so as to extend in parallel with the female fastener strip72. In addition, the additional male fastener strip76may preferably be arranged to engage the female fastener strip72. As will be recognized, the additional male fastener strip76is intended to be used when the seat cover40is not applied to the seat base20. The additional male fastener strip76thus positioned is stitched on the covering member24of the seat base20(the seat10). In particular, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the additional male fastener strip76may preferably be stitched on an elongated upper cut edge24bformed in the seat covering member24. As will be appreciated, the upper cut edge24amay preferably be formed by cutting the seat covering member24so as to extend along in parallel with the lower cut edge24aformed therein.

Similar to the male fastener strip74, upon sliding the slider72dof the female fastener strip72after the additional male fastener strip76is mated with (adjoined to) the female fastener strip72by the slider72d, the additional male fastener strip76engages the female fastener strip72. Further, the male fastener strip76can be mated with the female fastener strip72at an engagement start position or a mating position thereof. As will be appreciated, the mating position of the fastener strips72and76may preferably correspond to the mating position of the fastener strips72and74(the second slide fastener70).

As shown inFIG. 5, the female fastener strip72is composed of a cloth tape72b(a base strip) and a series of metal or plastic teeth (elements)72athat are attached to a longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape72b. An opposite longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape72bis stitched on the covering member24(the lower cut edge24a) of the seat base20. Thus, the female fastener strip72can be attached to the seat base20. However, at an end portion of the cloth tape72bcorresponding to the mating position of the second slide fastener70, the cloth tape72bis stitched on the covering member24via a triangular additional tape72c(the base strip). That is, the attached female fastener strip72(the cloth tape72b) is widened at the end portion thereof. As a result, the end portion of the female fastener strip72can be easily pinched or held by fingers. This may lead to easy mating of the female fastener strip72and the male fastener strip74at the mating position thereof.

Further, as shown inFIG. 5, the additional male fastener strip76is composed of a cloth tape76b(a base strip) and a series of metal or plastic teeth (elements)76athat are attached to a longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape76b. An opposite longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape76bis stitched on the covering member24(the upper cut edge24b) of the seat base20. At this time, the additional fastener strip76(the cloth tape76b) may preferably be positioned such that the teeth76acan mesh with the teeth72aof the fastener strip72. Thus, the additional male fastener strip76can be attached to the seat base20. However, at an end portion of the cloth tape76bcorresponding to the mating position of the second slide fastener70, the cloth tape76bis stitched on the covering member24via a triangular additional tape76c(the base strip). That is, the attached additional male fastener strip76(the cloth tape76b) is widened at the end portion thereof. As a result, the end portion of the additional male fastener strip76can be easily pinched or held by fingers. This may lead to easy mating of the female fastener strip72and the additional male fastener strip76.

In order to attach the seat cover40to the seat base20, first, the seat cover40is positioned on the seat base20. Thereafter, the seat cover body42is applied to the seat base20while stretching the elastic bands46in the forward and rearward direction of the seat10. Thus, the seat cover40is attached to the seat base20while the elastic bands46are stretched so as to follow the outer surface (the sitting surface26) of the seat base20. At this time, the elastic band46can extend beyond the sitting surface26of the seat base20to the upper front surface36a(the front surface36) of the seat base20. Further, when the seat cover body42is applied to the seat base20, the seat cover body42may preferably be positioned such that the fastener strips64and74stitched on the seat cover body42can suitably correspond to the fastener strips62and72stitched on the seat base20. Next, at the mating positions of the of the first and second slide fasteners60and70, the fastener strips62and74are respectively mated with the fastener strips64and72by the sliders64aand72d. Subsequently, the sliders64aand72dare respectively slid from the right end portions60aand70a(the mating positions) of the first and second slide fasteners60and70toward left end portions (not shown) of the first and second slide fasteners60and70. As a result, the fastener strips62and74respectively engage the fastener strips64and72over the entire length thereof, so that the first and second slide fasteners60and70can be fastened. Thus, the seat cover40can be fixedly connected to the seat base20.

Further, at this time, the additional male fastener strip76is not used. That is, the additional male fastener strip76does not engage the female fastener strip72. However, the additional male fastener strip76can be covered by the seat cover40. Therefore, the additional male fastener strip76can be hidden from view.

When the seat cover40is attached to the seat base20, the rear end portions46aof the elastic bands46can be positioned at the rear end periphery of the sitting surface26of the seat base20. Conversely, the front end portions46bof the elastic bands46can be positioned at the upper front surface36a(the front surface36) of the seat base20. Therefore, the elastic bands46can be maintained in a condition in which the elastic bands46are folded or turned along a curved front transition surface37between the sitting surface26and the upper front surface36a. That is, the elastic bands46can closely contact the front transition surface37of the seat base20while suitably pressing the front transition surface37. Thus, the elastic bands46can be maintained in a condition in which the elastic bands46are stretched so as to follow the outer surface (the sitting surface26, the transition surface37and the upper front surface36a) of the seat base20.

As described above, the elastic bands46are inserted into the elongated insertion sheaths47that extend along the rear surface of the seat cover body42. Therefore, the seat cover body42can suitably follow the outer surface (in particular, the sitting surface26) of the seat base20with the elastic band46.

In this embodiment, the elastic bands46are attached to the seat cover body42so as to extend along the side transition surfaces32of the seat base20(i.e., along both sides of the sitting surface26of the seat base20) when the seat cover40is attached to seat base20. Therefore, the seat cover body42can be suitably pulled down by the stretched elastic bands46, so as to reliably follow the outer surface (the sitting surface26) of the seat base20with the elastic bands46. Thus, the seat cover body42can be prevented from being spaced from the sitting surface26, so as to be suitably attached to the seat base20.

Further, in this embodiment, the seat cover40can be attached to the seat base20after the seat cover40can be suitably positioned on the seat base20. In such a case, first, the seat cover body42is positioned on the seat base20such that the fastener strips64and74stitched on the seat cover body42can respectively correspond to the fastener strips62and72stitched on the seat base20. Thereafter, the fastener strip62is mated with the fastener strip64by the sliders64a. Subsequently, the slider64ais slid so as to engage the fastener strip62with the fastener strip64, thereby fastening the first slide fastener60. In this condition, the seat cover body42is applied to the seat base20while stretching the elastic bands46in the forward and rearward direction of the seat10. Thus, the seat cover40can be attached to the seat base20while the elastic bands46are stretched. Next, the fastener strip74is mated with the fastener strip72by the slider72d. The slider72dis then slid so as to engage the fastener strip74with the fastener strip72, thereby fastening the second slide fastener70. Thus, the seat cover40can be attached to and fixedly connected to the seat base20.

Conversely, in order to use the seat10(the seat base20) without the seat cover40, first, the fastener strips62and74are respectively disengaged from the fastener strips64and72by sliding the sliders64aand72d, so that the seat cover40can be removed from the seat base20. After the seat cover40is removed from the seat base20, the additional fastener strip76is mated with the fastener strip72by the slider72d. Subsequently, the slider72dis slid from the right end portion70a(the mating position) of the second slide fastener70toward the left end portion of the second slide fastener70. As a result, as shown by solid lines inFIG. 3, the teeth76aof the additional fastener strip76mesh with the teeth72aof the fastener strip72over the entire length thereof, so that the additional fastener strip76can engage the fastener strip72. Thus, the fastener strip72can be immobilized on the seat base20with the aid of the additional fastener strip76.

According to the present embodiment, the seat cover body42(the seat cover40) can be attached to the seat base20by elastic force of the elastic bands46. In other words, the seat cover body42(the seat cover40) can be attached to the seat base20without directly engaging the rear surface of the seat cover body42with the outer surface of the seat base20. Therefore, the seat cover40can be easily attached to the seat base20.

Further, due to the elastic bands46, the seat cover40can be attached to the seat base20while suitably following the outer surface of the seat base20. Therefore, the seat cover40can be reliably or accurately attached to the seat base20without producing crinkling and waviness on the seat cover body42. As a result, the seat10(the seat base20) can be comfortable to sit on.

Also, no attachment member is provided to the sitting surface26and the side transition surfaces32of the seat base20. Therefore, even if the seat cover40is not attached to the seat base20(i.e., even if the seat cover body40is detached from the seat base20), the seat base20can have a good appearance. In addition, the seat10(the seat base20) can be comfortable to sit on.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the seat cover40can be fixedly connected to the seat base20by means of the first and second slide fasteners60and70.

Further, as described above, the male fastener strips62and74can respectively be mated with the female fastener strips64and72by the sliders64aand72dat the mating positions of the first and second slide fasteners60and70(the right end portions60aand70a) that are closer to the door opening of the vehicle. Therefore, the first and second slide fasteners60and70can be easily fastened via the door opening of the vehicle. That is, the seat cover40can be easily attached to the seat base20via the door opening of the vehicle.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the additional fastener strip76is attached to the seat base20. The additional fastener strip76is capable of engaging the fastener strip72. Therefore, when the seat cover body42(the seat cover40) is not attached to the seat base20, the fastener strip72can engage the additional fastener strip76, so as to be effectively prevented from scratching clothes of a passenger of the vehicle. Thus, the seat base20can be used without any problem even if the seat cover40is detached therefrom.

Moreover, the fastener strip62is widened at the end portion thereof corresponding to the mating position of the first slide fastener60. As a result, the end portion of the fastener strip62can be easily pinched or held by fingers. Therefore, the fastener strips62and64can be easily mated by the slider64a.

Similarly, the fastener strip72is widened at the end portion thereof corresponding to the mating position of the second slide fastener70. As a result, the end portion of the fastener strip72can be easily pinched or held by fingers. Therefore, the fastener strips72and74can be easily mated by the slider72d.

Further, the additional fastener strip76is widened at the end portion thereof corresponding to the mating position of the second slide fastener70. As a result, the end portion of the fastener strip76can be easily pinched or held by fingers. Therefore, the fastener strips72and76can be easily mated by the slider72d.

Second Detailed Representative Embodiment

The second detailed representative embodiment will now described in detail with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8.

Because the second embodiment relates to the first embodiment, only the constructions and elements that are different from the first embodiment will be explained in detail. Elements that are the same in the first and second embodiments will be identified by the same reference numerals and a detailed description of such elements may be omitted.

In this embodiment, the additional fastener strip76in the first embodiment is replaced with an additional (supplemental) male fastener strip78(which will also be referred to as the third slide fastener strip or the third engagement member). As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the additional male fastener strip78is composed of a cloth tape78b(a base strip) and a series of metal or plastic teeth78athat are attached to a longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape78b, and a stretchable tape78cthat is longitudinally stitched on an opposite longitudinal periphery of the cloth tape78b. The stretchable tape78cis stitched on the covering member24(the upper cut edge24b) of the seat base20over the entire length thereof. At this time, as shown inFIG. 8, unlike the additional fastener strip76of the first embodiment, the additional fastener strip78(the stretchable tape78c) is positioned such that the teeth78acan be (upwardly) spaced away from the teeth72aof the fastener strip72. Thus, the additional fastener strip78can be attached to the seat base20.

According to this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, when the seat cover40is attached to the seat base20while the fastener strip74engages the fastener strip72(i.e., while the teeth74amesh with the teeth72a), the additional fastener strip78(the teeth78a) does not interfere with the fastener strip74(the teeth74a). Therefore, the fastener strip74can be easily mated with the fastener strip72in order to fasten the second slide fastener70. As a result, the seat cover40can be easily and quickly fixed to the seat base20.

Further, as shown inFIG. 7, the additional fastener strip78(the teeth78a) can be easily pulled downward because the additional male fastener strip78includes the stretchable tape78c(i.e., because the additional fastener strip78is stretchable in a widthwise direction thereof). Therefore, when the seat cover40is removed or detached from the seat base20, the additional fastener strip78can be easily mated with the fastener strip72by the slider72d. Similar to the first embodiment, upon sliding the slider72d, the teeth78aof the additional fastener strip78can mesh with the teeth72aof the fastener strip72, so that the additional fastener strip78can engage the fastener strip72. Thus, the fastener strip72can be immobilized on the seat base20with the aid of the additional fastener strip78.

Naturally, various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the elastic bands46can be omitted, if necessary.

Further, the first and second slide fasteners60and70can respectively be replaced by various types of fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners.

Further, the cloth tapes62b,72band76bof the fastener strips62,72and76are respectively stitched on the covering member24via the triangular additional tapes62c,72cand76c. However, instead of the triangular additional tapes62c,72cand76c, triangular extensions can be formed in the covering member24.

In the second embodiment, the additional fastener strip78includes the stretchable tape78cthat is combined with the cloth tape78b. However, the cloth tape78bcan be formed from a stretchable material instead.

Further, the stretchable additional fastener strip78can be replaced with a less stretchable additional fastener strip if the cushion pad22of the seat base20has sufficient elasticity or compressibility. In such a case, the less stretchable additional fastener strip can be pulled downward with the aid of elasticity or compressibility of the cushion pad22of the seat base20. In other words, the less stretchable additional fastener strip can be pulled downward while the cushion pad22of the seat base20is elastically deformed or compressed.

Further, the seat cover40can be constructed as a seat back cover or a head rest cover that are respectively attached to the seat back18and the head rest16.

Further, the fastener strips72and76(the cloth tapes72band76band the triangular additional tapes72cand76c) may respectively be changed in color and design in order to increase an appearance.