CLOSURE FOR SEAT BACK COVER

Abstract: A closure mechanism is described for an automotive seat back seat cover, the seat cover (10) being of the type formed for sliding engagement over a seat back having support channels (14) and a cushion (12) and having at least one open end (20). The closure mechanism has a first snap member (26) which in use is fixedly secured to the seat cover (10) near the open end (20) thereof, a second snap member (28) which in use is fixedly secured to the seat cover (10) near the open end (20) thereof opposite the first snap member (26) and means (46,56) disposed on the first (26) and second (28) snap members to permit snap-fit engagement of the snap members (26,28) solely upon the imposition of a force urging the snap members together.

Description: The present invention relates generally to automotive seating, and more particularly to means for securing the covers to the seat backs of such seating. In the assembly of automobiles, the assembly of upholstery-like trim items to the interior of the automobiles is a labour intensive process. One of the most difficult jobs to accomplish has been the fitting of a seat back cover to front seats. These covers are typically fabricated as envelope-like elements which are manually slid over a cushioned seat frame to a position where the loose open ends of the envelope are secured through agency of manually securing clips, stitching or other fastening devices. Examples of such covers are those disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,669,779 to Kaganas et al or in US-A-2 229 160 which corresponds to the preamble of the appended Claim 1. To comply with the needs to improve productivity and efficiency in the assembly of automotive vehicles, it is desired to make assembly operations such as the fitting of seat back covers capable of being effected through automatic or robot aided assembly processes. Alternatively, improvement in the manual, hand tool aided assembly process is desired. To take advantage of automation techniques, however, it is necessary to improve the design of the seat back cover itself to facilitate such operations. The invention thus seeks to provide a closure mechanism for an automobile seat back cover which facilitates the use of manual tooling or automatic closure equipment for assembly of the seat back cover over a cushioned back assembly. According to the present invention, there is provided a closure mechanism for an automotive seat back seat cover, the seat cover being of the type formed as an envelope having an open end for sliding engagement over a seat back having support channels and a cushion, the closure mechanism comprising first and second snap members which in use are fixedly secured to the seat cover proximate the open end thereof in juxtaposition with one another and are operative to inter-engage with a snap-fit when urged towards one another, each snap member comprising an elongated base portion having means for effecting attachment to the seat cover, characterised in that each snap member also comprises a drive portion adapted to be engaged by a closure tool, a hook portion being formed integrally with the base portion of the second snap member, and a catch portion being formed integrally with the first snap member, the catch portion defining with the base portion of the first snap member a channel for receiving the hook portion of the second snap member in snap-fit relationship. Preferably, the base portions of the snap members, which may each be formed integrally from plastics material, extend substantially across the width of the seat back. It is furthermore advantageous if at least the hook portion and the catch portion are formed to be laterally coextensive with the base portions. The catch portion may conveniently include a flexible catch leg member extending parallel to and offset from the base portion in cantilever fashion to define the channel therewith, the catch leg having a hook formed proximate its free end for abuttingly engaging the hook portion of the second snap member. The drive portion on each snap member may usefully comprise a tool receiving surface facing away from the other snap member. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile seat back, partially in section, on which a seat cover member is partially installed, Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bottom portion of the seat back of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section view similar to Figure 2 showing the closure member in its locked position. Turning now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, an automobile seat back 10 is illustrated as comprising generally a cushion 12 which is mounted in a known manner on a channel support member 14 for eventual assembly to the base of the seat (not shown). A seat cover member 16 is formed in envelope fashion to be slipped over the channel mounted cushion 12. The seat cover 16 may be formed of many flexible materials comfortable to the touch, such as fabrics, leathers and plastics. The cover 16 is here illustrated as being closed at its top edge 18 and open at its bottom 20. The bottom 20 generally forms a somewhat rectangular opening, having front and rear edges 22 and 24 respectively. To secure the seat cover 16 to the channel mounted cushion 12, it is necessary to effect a closure at the bottom of edge 20. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the seat cover 16 is shown as including first and second snap members 26 and 28, each integrally formed of plastics material, which are configured to permit snap closure of the seat cover 16 over the cushion 12. Turning next to Figs. 2-3, the snap members 26, 28 are shown in more detail. First snap member 26 is illustrated as including a drive portion 30 which extends laterally across the width of the seat assembly 10, as may best be seen in Fig. 1. The drive portion 30 is generally "J" shaped in cross-section to provide a tool receiving recess 32 as may best be seen in Fig. 2. The drive portion 30 is illustrated as being fixed to the lower edge of the front face 22 of the seat cover 16 as by stitching as indicated at 34. Extending downwardly from drive portion 30, as viewed in Fig. 2, is base portion 36. Formed integrally with the base portion 36 and the drive portion 30 is a catch portion 40 which includes a flexible catch leg member 42 spaced outwardly from the base portion 36 in cantilever fashion to define a channel 44 proximate the open end of which is a hook 46. The catch portion, as seen from Figure 1, is laterally coextensive with the base portion 36. The second snap member 28 is illustrated as including a drive portion 48 similar in configuration to the drive portion 30 and including a tool receiving surface 50 in its "J" cross-sectional configuration. It, too, extends substantially across the width of the seat back assembly. The snap member 28 is secured by stitching or like means at 52 to the rear surface 24 of the seat cover 16. Another base portion 54 with which the drive portion 48 is integrally formed extends downwardly to terminate at its free end in a hook 56 similar in configuration to the hook 46 of the first snap member 26 and laterally coextensive with the base portion 54. Turning last to Fig. 3, the closed position of the seat cover 16 as effected by snap members 26, 28 is illustrated. Drive portions 30, 48 are engaged by suitable closure tools urging the flexible seat cover 16 to wrap around toward the vertical medial plane of the seat so that the inner face 60 of the base portion 54 slidingly engages the outer face 66 of the base portion 36 of the snap member 26 to permit insertion of the hook 56 into the channel 44 through outward flexing of the leg 42. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the automotive assembly arts that manual engagement of the snap members 26, 28 may also be accomplished by urging them together along the simply defined closure path. Release of the tool load, which may effect some compression of the cushion 12, permits the locking abutting relationship of the hooks 46, 56 as illustrated in Fig. 3. For at least some configurations of the cushion 12, it has been found advantageous to form all parts of the snap members 26, 28 of matching upward (as viewed in Fig. 3) concavity to facilitate rolling cam-like operation of automatic or manual tools for effecting closure.

Claims: A closure mechanism for an automotive seat back seat cover, the seat cover (16) being of the type formed as an envelope having an open end (20) for sliding engagement over a seat back (10) having support channels (14) and a cushion (12), the closure mechanism comprising first and second snap members (26, 28) which in use are fixedly secured to the seat cover (10) proximate the open end (20) thereof in juxtaposition with one another and are operative to inter-engage with a snap-fit when urged towards one another, each snap member (26, 28) comprising an elongated base portion (36, 54) having means (34, 52) for effecting attachment to the seat cover (16), characterised in that each snap member also comprises a drive portion (30,48) adapted to be engaged by a closure tool, a hook portion (56) being formed integrally with the base portion of the second snap member (28), and a catch portion (40) being formed integrally with the first snap member (26), the catch portion (40) defining with the base portion of the first snap member a channel (44) for receiving the hook portion (56) of the second snap member (28) in snap-fit relationship. A closure mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base portions of the snap members (26,28) extend substantially across the width of the seat back. A closure mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least the hook portion (56) and the catch portion (40) are formed to be laterally coextensive with the base portions (36, 54). A closure mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the catch portion (40) includes a flexible catch leg member (42) extending parallel to and offset from the base portion (36) in cantilever fashion to define the channel (44) therewith, the catch leg (42) having a hook (46) formed proximate its free end for abuttingly engaging the hook portion (56) of the second snap member (28). A closure mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the snap members (26,28) are each an integrally formed plastics member. A closure mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drive portion (30,48) on each snap member (26,28) comprises a tool receiving surface (32,50) facing away from the other snap member (26,28).

Inventors: MUNROE, DONALD H., YON, RONALD R.
Applicants: FORD FRANCE S. A., FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, FORD-WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A47C31
IPC codes: A47C31, B68G7