System and method for badge installation

A system and method for installing a badge on a vehicle seat may include placing a trim cover on a badge, and placing a tensioning strip over the trim cover. A retaining plate may be placed over the tensioning strip, and the badge and retaining plate pressed together to capture the trim cover and the tensioning strip therebetween to form an assembly. This assembly may be positioned over a support structure of the vehicle seat such that an A-side of the badge faces toward a front of the vehicle seat. A tensile force may be applied to the tensioning strip in a direction toward a back of the vehicle seat, and the tensioning strip may then be fastened to the support structure of the vehicle seat.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for badge installation.

BACKGROUND

Product branding comes in many shapes, sizes, and styles. In the automotive industry, it is common to include badges containing company- or product-brand identifiers on the outside of the vehicle and on one or more interior components, such as a seat. When a brand identifier such as a badge is located on a vehicle seat, and it is made from a metallic or other hard material, it would be undesirable to have it located in a position where it could cause discomfort to a seated occupant. To avoid this, the brand identifier may be made from a soft material and sewn or otherwise attached to the seat trim cover. In situations where the badge is made from a hard material, it is typically small and can be placed in a convenient location to avoid discomfort. Although effective, these design considerations necessarily limit the size and type of brand identifiers that can be used. It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method for badge installation that would allow a relatively large badge made from a hard material to be installed on a vehicle seat so that it did not cause discomfort to the seated occupant.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein may include a method for installing a badge on a vehicle seat. The method may include the steps of placing an A-side of a trim cover on a B-side of a badge, and placing a tensioning strip over a B-Side of the trim cover. A retaining plate may be placed over the tensioning strip, and the badge and retaining plate pressed together to capture the trim cover and the tensioning strip therebetween to form an assembly. The assembly may be positioned over a support structure of the vehicle seat such that an A-side of the badge faces toward a front of the vehicle seat. A tensile force may be applied to the tensioning strip in a direction generally toward a back of the vehicle seat, and the tensioning strip may then be fastened to the support structure of the vehicle seat.

Embodiments described herein may include a system for installing a badge on a vehicle seat. The system may include a badge arrangement including a retaining plate and a badge having an A-side and a B-side. It may also include a trim cover having a portion disposed between the B-side of the badge and the retaining plate such that an A-side of the trim cover faces the B-side of the badge. Embodiments of the system may also include a tensioning strip having a portion disposed between the B-side of the badge and the retaining plate such that applying a tensile force to the tensioning strip displaces the badge and the portion of the trim cover in the general direction of the tensile force when the trim cover is positioned over a support structure of the vehicle seat.

Embodiments described herein may include a method for installing a badge on a vehicle seat having a trim cover and a support structure. The method may include disposing a tensioning strip over a B-side of the badge and over a B-side of the trim cover to form an assembly. The assembly may be positioned over a support structure of the vehicle seat such that an A-side of the badge and an A-side of the trim cover face toward a front of the vehicle seat. A tensile force may be applied to the tensioning strip in a direction toward a back of the vehicle seat such that a surface of the A-side of the badge is positioned rearward of a surface of the A-side of the trim cover. The tensioning strip may be secured to the support structure of the vehicle seat.

Embodiments described herein may include a method for installing a badge on a vehicle seat having a trim cover and a support structure. The method may include forming an assembly including a tensioning strip and a trim cover disposed between a retaining plate and the badge. The assembly may be positioned over a support structure of the vehicle seat. A tensile force may be applied to the tensioning strip in a direction toward a back of the vehicle seat such that a surface of an A-side of the badge is positioned rearward of a surface of the A-side of the trim cover. The tensioning strip may be secured to the support structure of the vehicle seat.

Embodiments described herein may include a system for installing a badge on a vehicle seat having a trim cover and a support structure. The system may include a badge having an A-side configured to face forward and a B-side configured to face rearward. The B-side of the badge may be disposed on an A-side of the trim cover. The system may also include a tensioning strip disposed on a B-side of the trim cover, and a retaining plate attached to the B-side of the badge such that the tensioning strip and the trim cover are captured between the badge and the retaining plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, a vehicle seat10is shown. The seat10has a seat back12and a seat bottom14. Attached to the seat back12is a brand-identifier plate16, commonly known as a “badge”. As shown inFIG.2, the badge16is part of a badge arrangement18, which includes the badge16and a retaining plate20. As shown inFIG.2, extending outward from the back side, or B-side17, of the badge16are a number of elongated members, or “pins”22, which in this embodiment have the cross section of a small I-beam. The retaining plate20, which in this embodiment is formed from a stamped metal, includes a number of apertures24, each of which is formed so that cantilevered leaf springs25(only two of which are labeled inFIG.2for clarity) capture and secure the pins22when the badge16is assembled to the retaining plate20. In this embodiment, the badge16includes five of the pins22, and the retaining plate20includes five corresponding apertures24, although different badges and retaining plates may have a different number of pins and apertures, or a structure other than pins and apertures for attaching the badge to the retaining plate.

FIG.3shows a tensioning strip26, which may be part of a system and used with a method in accordance with embodiments described herein. In this embodiment, the tensioning strip26is made from a relatively inextensible material, such as a non-woven polyester. One type of polyester that may be effective for the tensioning strip26is referred to as “codon”. Tensioning strips, such as the tensioning strip26, may be made from other materials that are effective to function in an installation of the badge arrangement18as described in more detail below. As shown inFIG.3, the tensioning strip26includes a number of apertures28that are configured to allow the pins22of the badge16to pass through them and into the apertures24of the retaining plate20.

Also shown inFIG.3, the tensioning strip26includes first and second plate apertures30,32, which in this embodiment are configured as U-shaped slots. As explained in more detail below, the U-shaped slots30,32help to facilitate wrapping the tensioning strip26around the ends of the retaining plate20. The tensioning strip26also includes apertures34,36, which allow an assembly technician or an automated robotic system to firmly grasp the tensioning strip26and apply a tensile force to it during installation. The tensioning strip26includes two portions31,33having a greater width than the rest of the tensioning strip26. These areas31,33of greater width are positioned proximate to the U-shaped slots30,32and provide additional strength when a tensile force is applied to the tensioning strip26.

The tensioning strip26also includes first and second apertures38,40, which facilitate attaching the tensioning strip26to a support structure of the vehicle seat10as further explained below in conjunction withFIG.6. The tensioning strip26further includes an aperture35, which helps to accurately position the tensioning strip26during installation. And similarly, a small tooth37helps to correctly orient the tensioning strip26by indicating an upward direction as the tensioning strip26is intended to be installed. Although some of the apertures are shown as slots and some as round holes, apertures in the tensioning strip26may be configured as slots or holes having various configurations, or other shapes depending on their functions and the particular application. And in practice, the apertures shown as slots inFIG.3may be little more than thin slits, especially if they are formed in a machine process using a thin cutting blade.

FIG.4shows a partially schematic cross section of the badge arrangement18installed in the vehicle seat10. As shown inFIG.4, the badge16is positioned with its branding, located on its A-side39, facing outward—which is downward as oriented inFIG.4. Positioned on the back side, or B-side17, of the badge16is a trim cover42, which may include a spacer material positioned on its B-side41. Before the retaining plate20is pressed onto the badge16, the tensioning strip26is placed over the B-side41of the trim cover42so that the apertures28are positioned over the pins22of the badge16.

Next, the retaining plate20is positioned so that the apertures24are aligned with the pins22of the badge16. The retaining plate20is then pressed onto the badge16, such that the trim cover42and the tensioning strip26are secured between them and an assembly44is formed.FIG.5shows the assembly44prior to being installed in a vehicle seat. The assembly44is then placed over a support structure45of the vehicle seat10as shown inFIG.6. The support structure45may include, for example, seat foam46and a seat frame56. The first and second ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are then disposed through apertures52,54in the seat foam46—i.e., the ends48,50are moved from a position in front of the foam46to a position in back of the foam46, which is how they are shown inFIG.6.

InFIG.5, the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are shown extending beyond the ends53,55of the retaining plate20; however, inFIG.4, the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are positioned inward from the ends53,55of the retaining plate20. This is because the ends53,55of the retaining plate20are positioned so they align with the first and second plate apertures30,32in the tensioning strip26when the assembly44is assembled. Then when the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are pulled, the first end53of the retaining plate20is disposed through the first plate aperture30and the second end55of the retaining plate20is disposed through the second plate aperture32. This causes the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26to move inward toward a center of the retaining plate20. This configuration provides the advantage of not pulling the ends53,55of the retaining plate20rearward when a tensile force is applied to the tensioning strip26, which could have the undesirable effect of causing the ends of the badge16to move forward.

Once the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are positioned through the openings52,54in the seat foam46, they can be tensioned by an assembly technician or an automated robotic system, for example, by pulling on the apertures34,36in the tensioning strip26. In one embodiment, a technician may apply a tensile force to the tensioning strip26by gripping the apertures34,36and manually pulling. In practice, each end48,50of the tensioning strip26may be tensioned separately, or both ends may be tensioned simultaneously. Alternatively, an automated robotic system may be employed to capture the apertures34,36, or to otherwise secure the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26, and apply tension to the tensioning strip26.

The tensile force will be applied in a direction that is oriented toward the back of the vehicle seat10, which is a direction into the page as shown inFIG.1and out of the page as shown inFIG.6. It is understood that the tensile force may be applied in a direction “toward the back of the seat” without being applied in a straight rearward direction. For example, as shown inFIG.6, the tensioning strip26may be tensioned at an angle relative to the back of the seat10and yet may still be considered in a direction toward the back of the seat10. As used herein, and unless stated differently, directions such as “front”, “back”, “forward”, “rearward”, etc. refer to an orientation of the seat10as it would be traditionally oriented when installed in a vehicle—i.e., the front of the seat is oriented toward a front of the vehicle and the back of the seat is oriented toward a back of the vehicle.

After the tensile force is applied to the tensioning strip26, its ends48,50are then secured to a support structure of the seat10, such as the seat frame56. First and second fasteners58,60—for example, Christmas-tree fasteners—are respectively inserted through the apertures38,40in the tensioning strip26and into first and second apertures61,63in the seat frame56. Some or all of this process may be performed manually by a technician, or by an automated process using a robotic system. In general, the tensioning strip26is tensioned until the first aperture38in the tensioning strip26is aligned with the first aperture61in the seat frame56, and the first fastener58is positioned through both apertures38,61. Similarly, the tensioning strip26is tensioned until the second aperture40in the tensioning strip26is aligned with the second aperture63in the seat frame56, and the second fastener60is positioned through both apertures40,63.

As the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are tensioned, the badge16on the A-side62of the trim cover42—seeFIGS.1and4—is pulled into a recessed position in the seat foam46. This is illustrated inFIG.1, which shows a surface64of the A-side62of the trim cover42. The surface64is the primary contact surface for a seated occupant. As shown inFIG.1, a surface65of the A-side39of the badge16is positioned below—i.e., rearward of—the surface64, which reduces the likelihood that the badge16will come into contact with a seated occupant.

FIG.7shows a flowchart66summarizing the steps of a method in accordance with embodiments described herein. It is understood that other embodiments may include all or only some of these steps, and may include additional steps not illustrated inFIG.7. Although the steps of the flowchart66are shown sequentially, it is understood that at least some of the steps may be performed in an order that is different from the one shown in the drawing figure. For convenience, the vehicle seat10, the badge16, and other components illustrated and described in conjunction withFIGS.1-6will be used for reference in the description of the method. The process starts at step68, where the badge16is placed face downward, so that the A-side39of the badge16is oriented downward and the B-side17is oriented upward.

At step70, the trim cover42is placed over the back of the badge16. More specifically, and A-side62of the trim cover42is placed over the badge16so that it faces the B-side17of the badge16. The tensioning strip26is placed over the back or B-side41of the trim cover42at step72. In particular, the apertures28in the tensioning strip26are positioned over the corresponding pins22extending from the B-side17of the badge16. At step74, the retaining plate20is placed over the tensioning strip26so that the apertures24in the retaining plate20align with the pins22in the badge16. The retaining plate20and the badge16are pressed together at step76so that the pins22extend through the apertures24in the retaining plate20and are secured by the leaf springs25formed in the apertures24. This forms the assembly44, which, at step78, is placed over a structure of the seat10, which includes the foam46and the seat frame56. At step80, the ends48,50of the tensioning strip26are pulled through the openings52,54in the foam46, and at step82they are fastened to the seat frame56, thereby securing the tensioning strip26and maintaining the badge16in the desired recessed position.