Patent Publication Number: US-6668429-B2

Title: Deep-groove fastener

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention is in the area of fasteners which are molded into foam seat buns in order to engage a seat cover, specifically a deep-groove fastener which can securely retain a seat cover within the groove of a deeply contoured seat bun. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various methods for holding a seat cover within the groove of a deeply contoured foam seat bun have been disclosed in the prior art: 
     Pedestals which hold the fastener strip up into the foam bun during the molding process, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,171,395 and 5,259,905, both to Gilcreast. These patents additionally employ a preformed foam wall which surrounds the pedestal just below the fastener strip to prevent fouling of the hooks or loops. 
     Plastic supports in the shape of a pointed ridge or “steeple”, over which the hook or loop fastener strip rests, are temporarily mounted to a mold. The bun is thus formed with a deep groove having the desired shape, with the hook or loop fastener integrally molded into this groove. A mating pointed support, with a mating hook or loop fastener attached to its outer surface, is affixed to the seat cover. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,005,242 and 5,101,539, both to Kennedy et al., exemplify this method. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,552 to Tillner, a pull-in rod installed within the groove in the seat cushion pulls the seat cover into the groove and anchors it there. The pull-in rod is not molded into the seat cushion during the forming process, but rather is installed into the seat cushion after the cushion has been formed. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,762,842; 5,827,546; 5,827,547; and 5,882,073; all to Burchi et al., disclose a seat cover anchoring system wherein a piping-like strip attached to the seat cover snaps into a corresponding mating groove molded into the seat bun. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,851 to Solie et al. discloses seat cover anchoring means wherein a hook fastener strip is placed in the bottom of the groove in the seat cushion. The hook fastener strip mates with a strip of loop material on the underside of the seat cover. 
     Other prior art patents disclose various hook-and-loop attachment methods, not for use in attaching seat covers to foam seat buns. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,338 to Handler shows a hinged hook fastener device which wraps around an inserted loop-covered member, in order to hold the loop-covered member in place. The loop-covered member is part of a shelf or shelf support. U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,810 to Mates shows rigid members joined by hook-and-loop strips, wherein the strips are in shear relationship to each other. 
     All these prior art methods have significant disadvantages, however: 
     Methods that employ a hook fastener strip placed in the bottom of the seat bun groove often do not have enough peel strength to adequately retain the seat cover in the groove. And if a wide enough area for hook-and-loop mating is provided at the bottom of the seat bun groove, then the groove cannot be very narrow—and a narrow groove in the seat bun is desirable in most situations. 
     Methods which use a steeple-shaped support, over which a hook or loop fastener strip is draped prior to molding the seat bun, involve multiple parts and are thus needlessly complex, difficult to execute, and costly. Adapting existing molds to use these methods is also difficult and costly. 
     Methods that use other seat cover anchoring elements, such as the piping-like strip and mating groove of Burchi et al., are unsatisfactory because they require a high degree of mating precision. If the mating elements are not placed precisely on the foam seat bun and the seat cover, the seat cover will fit too loosely or too tightly. 
     Thus it can be seen that a deep-groove fastener which is very simple in design and construction, yet is capable of producing a high-strength connection between the seat cover and the foam seat bun groove, would be a significant advantage over the prior art. 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are: 
     It is simple in design and construction, and can be easily manufactured in just one piece at low cost. 
     It is easy to use during the foam seat bun molding process, and does not require precise positioning and alignment. 
     It yields a high-strength connection between the seat cover and the groove in a deeply contoured foam seat bun. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is a deep-groove fastener which is in-molded into a foam seat bun, and which securely retains a seat cover within a deep contour groove of that seat bun. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cutaway end view of the fastener, showing the concave nature of the main body, the fastening elements lining the inner surface, and the magnetically attractable particulate matter incorporated into the leg areas of the fastener. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view, illustrating the elongated main body and the leg areas which serve to both secure the fastener to the forming mold and seal the interior of the fastener against fouling during the forming process. 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway end view of an alternative embodiment with differently-shaped fastening elements lining the inner surface of the deep-groove fastener. 
     FIG. 4 is a cutaway end view of the fastener in a forming mold. 
     FIG. 5 is another cutaway end view of the fastener in a forming mold, said forming mold having a pedestal on which the fastener is placed. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fastener molded into the grooved area of a foam seat bun, illustrating the ability of the fastener to lock a seat cover securely in place on a deeply contoured, grooved seat bun. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the process of forming the fastener by extrusion from an extruder body. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the use of a reciprocating gate, located at the extruder opening, to form notches in the extruded ridges on the interior of the fastener. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following provides a list of the reference characters used in the drawings: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 10. 
                 Main body 
               
               
                   
                 11. 
                 Interior cavity 
               
               
                   
                 12a, b, c, &amp; d. 
                 Notched ridges 
               
               
                   
                 13a, b, c, d, &amp; e. 
                 Anchor elements 
               
               
                   
                 14a &amp; b. 
                 Legs 
               
               
                   
                 15. 
                 Magnetically attractable particles 
               
               
                   
                 16a, b, c, &amp; d. 
                 Arcuate notched ridges 
               
               
                   
                 17. 
                 Forming mold 
               
               
                   
                 18. 
                 Pedestal 
               
               
                   
                 19. 
                 Foam seat bun 
               
               
                   
                 20. 
                 Seat cover 
               
               
                   
                 21. 
                 Loop material 
               
               
                   
                 22. 
                 Extruder body 
               
               
                   
                 23. 
                 Notches 
               
               
                   
                 24. 
                 Reciprocating gate 
               
               
                   
                 25. 
                 Extruder opening 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention comprises an elongated body  10 , generally concave in cross section and having an interior cavity  11 . A plurality of notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d , wedge-like in cross-section, are located on the surface of interior cavity  11 . Notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d  have a plurality of spaced notches  23 , and serve as fastening elements for engaging loop or other material attached to the underside of a seat cover. Anchor elements  13   a,b,c,d , &amp; e  are located on the exterior, non-cavity surface of main body  10 , to aid in anchoring the invention within a foam seat bun after the seat bun molding process is complete. 
     Main body  10  additionally comprises two opposing legs  14   a &amp; b . Legs  14   a &amp; b  are flange-like in nature, and have a relatively flat bottom surface in order to seal the sides of the invention against fouling during the seat bun molding process. Magnetically attractable particles  15  are additionally incorporated into legs  14   a , &amp; b , in order to hold the invention securely to a magnetized seat bun forming mold. 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway end view of an alternative embodiment with differently-shaped, arcuate notched ridges  16   a,b,c , &amp; d  lining the inner surface of the deep-groove fastener. In this embodiment, arcuate notched ridges  16   a,b,c , &amp; d  having a generally curved cross-section are located on the surface of interior cavity  11 . Other parts are the same as in the main embodiment. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are cutaway views illustrating the placement of the invention in a foam seat bun forming mold  17 . In FIG. 4, the invention is placed directly on the flat portion of forming mold  17 , and the shape of the invention itself forms the entirety of the groove in the resultant foam seat bun. In FIG. 5, the invention is placed on a pedestal  18  within forming mold  17 , such that pedestal  18  and the shape of the invention combine to form the groove in the resultant seat bun. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the invention after it has been molded into a foam seat bun  19 . A strip of loop material  21  is located on the underside of a seat cover  20 . As seat cover  20  is pushed into the device, loop material  21  positively engages notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d.    
     Turning now to processes for manufacturing the invention, FIG. 7 illustrates an extrusion process wherein the invention is extruded from an extruder body  22  through extruder opening  25 . The extrusion process forms main body  10 , interior cavity  11 , notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d  (however, the ridges are not yet notched), anchor elements  13   a,b,c,d , &amp; e , and legs  14   a &amp; b  all in one manufacturing step. Magnetically attractable particles  15  are incorporated into legs  14   a &amp; b  during extrusion, via a co-extrusion process wherein resin containing magnetically attractable particles  15  is introduced discretely into legs  14   a &amp; b  through a separate extruding nozzle and/or a separate channel within extruder body  22 . 
     Notches  23  in notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d  can be formed using various methods, including via a subsequent cutting operation which carves out notches  23  following the primary extrusion process. Another method for forming notches  23  is shown in FIG. 8, wherein a reciprocating gate  24  located at extruder opening  25  alternatively moves in and out of interior cavity  11  as main body  10  emerges from extruder opening  25 , thus forming notches  23  in notched ridges  12   a,b,c , &amp; d . This reciprocating gate method is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,177 to Murasaki, incorporated herein by reference. 
     Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope: 
     Thus the reader will see that this invention provides a very effective way of securely retaining a seat cover within a deep contour groove of a foam seat bun. 
     While the above descriptions contain many specificities, these shall not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. Examples of just a few of the possible variations follow: 
     The main body can have a different shape—for example, a flatter or sharper curve—in order to form differently-shaped grooves within the foam seat bun. Indeed, the main body does not have to be curved at all, but instead can be of a rectangular shape wherein the bottom of the interior cavity is “squared off” in relation to the interior cavity walls. Alternatively, the main body can be V-shaped, wherein the bottom of the interior cavity forms the point of the “V”. The main body can be different heights, and different widths, in order to form differently-shaped grooves within the foam seat bun. 
     Magnetic holding means can be used that are different than the magnetically attractable particles; as just a few examples, magnetically attractable strips or wires attached to or imbedded into the leg portions of the main body. The magnetically attractable particles shown can also be incorporated into different areas of the main body. 
     Additional sealing means can be used to further seal the interface between the invention and the surface of the foam bun forming mold, thus further preventing fouling of the interior fastening elements during the seat bun molding process. Various means can also be employed to seal the ends of the invention against fouling. As just two examples, the ends of the main body can be crimped together either mechanically, by heat, or sonic welding; alternatively, covers can be placed over the ends of the main body to accomplish the same result. 
     The anchor elements can be located differently on the exterior (non-cavity) surface of the main body, can be differently-shaped, or can be eliminated. 
     The number of ridges can be different, and the ridges can be located differently on the surface of the interior cavity. As just one example, additional ridges can be located at the bottom of the interior cavity. The ridges can be made to be of different heights and shapes, simply by varying the shape of the extruder opening. The ridges can also be used without the notches shown in the various embodiments. 
     The number of notches on each ridge, per unit of ridge length, can be different than that shown in the drawings—resulting, of course, in different fastening element “density” along the lengthwise dimension of the fastener. When using the reciprocal gate method of forming the notches, the reciprocating rate of the gate can be varied to yield various fastening element densities. 
     Even though the extrusion process illustrated herein can produce the invention in one piece, that is not required. The invention can instead be comprised of components separately manufactured and then assembled together. 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.