Retractable seat cover for automotive vehicles

Seat covering designed to protect both the bottom seat cushion and the back seat cushion of the seat of an automotive vehicle. The protective covering comprises a bottom panel for covering the bottom seat cushion and a back panel for covering the back seat cushion. The panels are connected to a take-up reel mounted at the rear edge portion of the seat. The panels are withdrawn from the reel between the rear edge portion of the bottom seat cushion and the back seat cushion to positions of use respectively covering the bottom and back seat cushions.

This invention relates generally to seat covers and refers more 
particularly to retractable seat covers for automotive vehicles. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The seat covering of this invention is designed to protect both the bottom 
seat cushion and the back seat cushion from becoming soiled during 
ordinary use, thus preserving the cushion fabric in its original 
condition. The protective covering comprises a bottom panel for covering 
the bottom seat cushion and a back panel for covering the back seat 
cushion. A take-up reel is adapted to be mounted near the rear edge 
portion of the seat and the panels are connected to the reel. The bottom 
and back panels are adapted to be retracted onto the reel to an 
inoperative, stored position and to be withdrawn from the reel between the 
rear edge portion of the bottom seat cushion and the back seat cushion to 
positions of use respectively covering the bottom and back seat cushions. 
More specifically, the means for securing the panels to the reel comprises 
a web wound on the reel and a sleeve having a closed end stitched to the 
web across the full width of the latter. The sleeve has an open end 
provided with opposed portions stitched respectively to an edge of the 
bottom panel and also to an edge of the back panel across the full width 
of the panels. Means are provided to releasably secure the panels to the 
cushions when in use, which may comprise interengaging hook and eye means 
along an edge of the back panel and also along the top portion of the back 
seat cushion, and a rod along an edge of the bottom panel adapted to be 
held to the bottom seat cushion by a series of hooks. 
Preferably although not necessarily there may be snap fastener means or the 
like for securing the two panels together in surface-to-surface relation 
when they are reeled up on the take-up reel. 
These and other objects and features of the invention will become more 
apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered 
with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGS. 
1-12, the protective covering of this invention is generally designated 10 
and comprises a bottom panel 12, a back panel 14 and a take-up reel 16. 
The protective covering 10 is shown in association with an automotive 
vehicle seat having a bottom seat cushion 18 and a back seat cushion 20 
extending upwardly from the rear edge portion of the bottom seat cushion. 
The bottom panel 12 of the protective covering 10 is in the form of a sheet 
of flexible material formed of a suitable fabric or the like. The panel 12 
is generally rectangular and of sufficient size to cover substantially the 
entire top surface of the bottom seat cushion including the front edge 
portion thereof. 
The back panel 14 may be formed of the same flexible material as the panel 
12 and is likewise generally rectangular and of a size sufficient to cover 
substantially the entire front surface of the back cushion 20. It is of 
the same width as the bottom panel. 
The take-up reel 16 is mounted within a space inside the back seat cushion 
20 near the lower extremity thereof. The take-up reel may be of many 
different constructions but in the present instance comprises a tubular 
rod 22 having a bar 24 extending coaxially within the rod. The bar 24 is 
mounted by arms 26 on a horizontal platform 28 rigidly secured to anchor 
plates 30 in any suitable manner. A flexible web 32 is wound on the rod. 
The web 12 is of substantially the same width as the bottom and back 
panels 12 and 14. The web 32 is connected to the bottom and back panels by 
means of a sleeve 34 of flexible material. The sleeve when laid flat is 
about the same width as the two panels 12 and 14 and web 32. The free edge 
of the web 32 extends inside the closed end of the web 32 and is stitched 
thereto where indicated at 36 across the full width of the web. The other 
end of the web 32 is open as shown in FIG. 7. The top portion of the open 
end of the web 32 is stitched to the lower edge of the back panel 14 by a 
line of stitching 38 across the full width of the panel. The bottom 
portion of the open end is stitched to the rear edge of the bottom panel 
12 by a line of stitching 40 across the full width of the panel. 
A torsion spring 42 within tubular rod 22 encircles the bar 24 and has one 
end secured to the rod and the other end secured to the bar to apply a 
constant torque to the rod tending to roll up the web 32 on the reel. The 
bar 24 is kept from rotating by its connection to the arms 26. The spring 
tension is sufficient to reel up not only the web 32 but also the two 
panels 12 and 14. While a spring tensioned take-up reel is preferred, 
obviously the reel does not need to be spring tensioned and could be 
operated by a hand crank, if desired. 
The seat covering is shown in its position of use in FIG. 4 in which the 
panels have been withdrawn from the reel 16 and releasably secured to the 
bottom and back seat cushions. There is a rod 44 across the front edge of 
the bottom panel 12. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rod 44 is held within a 
folded back end and stitched front end portion to the bottom panel. This 
rod 44 is made up of rod sections 46 which are articulated or pivoted end 
to end so as to better follow the contour along the front edge of the 
bottom seat cushion. The fabric along the front edge of the bottom panel 
12 is cut away where indicated at 48 to provide clearances at laterally 
spaced points along the width of the panel so that the rod 44 may be 
engaged by the hooks 50 projecting from the front surface of the bottom 
panel to releasably secure the bottom panel in its position of use 
covering the top and forwardly facing portions of the bottom seat cushion. 
The fabric along the front edge of the bottom panel is also cut away 
centrally at 49 to enable the rod 44 to be gripped. 
The upper edge of the back panel 14 is formed with openings at laterally 
spaced points indicated by numerals 52 in positions to be engaged by hooks 
54 projecting from the back seat cushion along the upper edge thereof for 
the purpose of releasably retaining the back panel 14 in its position of 
use covering the front surface of the seat back 20. 
Also provided along the upper edge of the back panel 14 are laterally 
spaced snap fastener elements 56 adapted to snap together with 
complementary snap fastener elements 58 across the width of the bottom 
panel 12 so that the two panels may be secured together in 
surface-to-surface relation as shown in FIG. 2. 
A guide plate 60 mounted on the platform 28 has a curved rear section 62 
and is adapted to guide the panels and the web when they are either 
retracted onto or withdrawn from the reel. 
When not in use, the web and panels 12 and 14 will be retracted and wound 
up on the reel in the position shown in FIG. 5 with the ends of the rod 44 
engaging the stops 64 depending upon the platform 28 to prevent further 
retraction. The spring tension in the reel retains the parts in this 
position. 
When it is desired to extend the panels to their positions of use covering 
the bottom and back seat cushions, the rod 44 is grasped by the hand at 
the central portion 49 to pull the panels between the rear edge portion of 
the bottom seat cushion 18 and the lower portion of the back seat cushion 
20 and then engage the rod 44 over the hooks 50 along the front edge of 
the bottom seat cushion. The fasteners 56, 58 are then unsnapped and the 
back panel 14 swung up to the position in FIG. 4, engaging the eyes 52 
with the hooks 54. The protective cover is now in its position of use 
overlying and protecting the vulnerable surfaces of the seat from wear and 
tear. The space where the rear of the bottom seat cushion and the bottom 
of the back seat cushion meet is kept from collecting dirt and debris by 
the sleeve 34 which although open at the front is closed at the rear end, 
making it easy to clean. 
When it is desired to retract the seat cover to its stored position, the 
hooks and eyes 52 and 54 are disengaged, the back panel 16 is swung down 
upon the upper surface of the bottom panel 12 and releasably connected 
thereto by the snap fasteners 56, 58, after which the rod 44 is disengaged 
from hooks 50. The spring tension of the reel acts to reel in and take up 
the panels and keep them in the stored position of Fig. 5. 
FIGS. 13 and 14 show a modification which is substantially exactly like the 
previously described unit, except that the reel 16A is mounted in a space 
within the bottom cushion, instead of within the back cushion. The reel 
16A is of the same construction as reel 16 previously described, being 
mounted on the platform 28A by the arms 26A. In this construction, the 
guide is made integral with the platform and has the contoured rear 
extension 62A over which the panels and web are guided. The other details 
of construction of the protective covering are identical and need not be 
further described. 
FIG. 15 shows a further modification differing only in that the reel 16B is 
mounted behind or at the rear of the bottom seat cushion 18. FIG. 16 shows 
still another modification in which the reel 16C is mounted beneath the 
rear end portion of the bottom seat cushion. Otherwise, the details of 
construction of the reels 16B and 16C are exactly like those previously 
described, and the other components of the protective covering are 
identical.