Patent Abstract:
A seat trim assembly including a cushion and a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second retention portions and a flexible arm. The first and second retention portions are adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. The flexible arm connects the first and second retention portions and has a serpentine configuration that facilitates flexing of the retention clip.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a seat trim assembly that may be used to secure a trim cover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In at least one embodiment, a seat trim assembly is provided. The seat trim assembly includes a cushion and a retention clip disposed proximate the cushion. The retention clip includes a flexible arm and first and second retention portions that are adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. The flexible arm connects the first and second retention portions and has a serpentine configuration that includes a plurality of curved regions that facilitate flexing of the retention clip. 
     In at least one embodiment, a seat trim assembly is provided. The seat trim assembly includes a cushion and a retention clip. The retention clip includes first and second retention portions adapted to engage a trim cover assembly. First and second arms extend from the first retention portion. Third and fourth arms extend from the second retention portion. A first serpentine arm extends from the first arm to the third arm. A second serpentine arm extends from the second arm to the fourth arm. The first and second serpentine arms each have a set of curved regions that facilitate flexing of the retention clip. 
     In at least one other embodiment, a seat trim assembly is provided that includes a cushion having an opening and a retention clip disposed in the opening. The retention clip has a first portion that includes first and second pads disposed along a base axis. First and second retention features extend from the first and second pads and are adapted to engage a trim cover. First and second pairs of arms extend from the first and second pads, respectively. First and second serpentine arms extend between the first and second pairs of arms and have a set of curved portions. At least some members of the set of curved portions of the first serpentine arm are configured to be disposed closer together than members of the set of curved portions of the second serpentine arm when the base axis is disposed along an arc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a seat assembly having a trim cover assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a magnified view of a portion of the seat assembly including an embodiment of a retention clip. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment of the retention clip shown in  FIG. 2  disposed in a cushion. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the retention clip shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a retention clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portion of a seat assembly  10  is shown. The seat assembly  10  may be provided with a vehicle, such as a car or truck. In addition, the seat assembly  10  may be configured for non-vehicular applications. 
     The seat assembly  10  may include a seat bottom  12  and a seat back  14 . In a vehicular application, the seat bottom  12  may be moveably disposed on a support surface. The seat back  14  may be pivotally disposed on the seat bottom  12  in a manner known by those skilled in the art. The seat bottom  12  and the seat back  14  may include a support structure, such as a seat frame, seat pan, and/or support wires. 
     A cushion  20  may supported by the support structure. The cushion  20  may be made of any suitable material, such as foam. The cushion  20  may include at least one opening  22 . The opening  22  may be a recess, such as a hole, trench, or elongated channel, that is provided in the cushion  20 . The opening  22  may be at least partially defined by one or more surfaces. For instance, the opening  22  may be at least partially defined by first and second side surfaces  24 ,  26  and/or a bottom surface  28  that may extend between the first and second side surfaces  24 ,  26  as is best shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     At least one trim cover assembly  30  may be provided with the seat assembly  10 . The trim cover assembly  30  may be disposed over the cushion  20  and may comprise an exterior surface of the seat assembly  10  upon which a seat occupant may be disposed when in a seated position. The trim cover assembly  30  may include one or more trim panels that may be made of any suitable material, such as fabric, leather, vinyl, or combinations thereof. 
     The trim cover assembly  30  may also include at least one engagement feature  32 . The engagement feature  32  may help secure the trim cover assembly  30  to the seat assembly  10  to hold the trim cover assembly  30  in a desired position to inhibit folding, puckering, or wrinkling of the trim cover assembly  30 , which may have an undesirable aesthetic appearance. The engagement feature  32  may have any suitable configuration, such as a male configuration, female configuration, or combinations thereof. In addition, the engagement feature  32  may be provided in any suitable location. For example, the engagement feature  32  may be provided proximate an end or edge of one or more trim cover panels. In addition, the engagement feature  32  may include a panel or wall that facilitates attachment to one or more trim cover panels. The engagement feature  32  may be coupled to the trim cover assembly  30  in any suitable manner, such as with stitching, bonding, or an adhesive. Moreover, the engagement feature  32  may be made of any suitable material, such as a polymeric material. 
     The seat assembly  10  may also include at least one retention clip. An exemplary embodiment of a retention clip  40  is shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . The retention clip  40  may be configured to engage one or more engagement features  32  to provide localized retention of the trim cover assembly  30 . The retention clip  40  may be at least partially disposed in the cushion  20 . In addition, the retention clip  40  may be at least partially disposed in the opening  22  as will be discussed in more detail below. 
     The retention clip  40  may include a base  42 . The base  42  may act as a footing and may be disposed at least partially in the cushion  20 . In at least one embodiment, the base  42  may be disposed under the bottom surface  28  of the opening  22 . As such, the base  42  may distribute load forces and provide sufficient surface area to enhance bonding to the cushion  20  to inhibit dislocation or removal of the retention clip  40  from the cushion  20 . 
     The base  42  may include one or more retention portions  50 . For example, first and second retention portions  50  may be spaced apart from each other and may be disposed along a first base axis  54 . A second base axis  56  may be disposed coplanar with and extend substantially perpendicular to the first base axis  54 . Each retention portion  50  may be configured to receive or engage the trim cover assembly  30  or a portion thereof, such as an engagement feature  32 . 
     One or more openings  58  may be provided with the base  42  to facilitate installation of the trim cover assembly  30 . For instance, the base  42  may include or at least partially define one or more openings  58  through which a trim cover installation tool may be inserted. The trim cover installation tool may engage and pull the trim cover assembly  30  toward and into engagement with the retention clip  40 . In addition, the openings  58  may be disposed along or may be bisected by the first base axis  54  when the retention clip  40  is in a first or unflexed position. 
     In at least one embodiment, a retention portion  50  may include a pad  60  and/or one or more retention features  62 . The retention feature  62  may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiment shown, the retention feature  62  is configured as a pair of spaced apart barbs that extend from the pad  60 . The barbs may be configured to flex away from each other to receive the trim cover assembly  30  and/or engagement feature  32  in a snap-fit arrangement. The retention feature  62  may extend through the cushion  20  and into the opening  22  as is best shown in  FIG. 2 . In the embodiment shown, the retention features  62  are provided on opposite sides of first base axis  54 . The first and second base axes  54 ,  56  may intersect at substantially the center of the pad  60 . As such, the first and second base axes  54 ,  56  may substantially bisect the pad  60 . 
     The base  42  may also include first and second arms  70 ,  72 . The first and second arms  70 ,  72  may extend from and may be disposed substantially coplanar with each pad  60 . In addition, the first and second arms  70 ,  72  may be spaced apart from each other, may be substantially linear, and may be oriented along axes that intersect at a point, such as at or near the center of a respective pad  60 . 
     The first and second arms  70 ,  72  may be provided at an angle, such as an acute angle, with respect to each other. In addition, the first and second arms  70 ,  72  may be provided at an angle with respect to the first and second base axes  54 ,  56 . As such, the first and second arms  70 ,  72  may be configured such that at least a portion of the base  42  is wider than the opening  22  in the cushion  20 . For example, the base  42  may be provided with a width that is greater than the width or distance between the first and second surfaces  24 ,  26  of the opening  22  as is best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     At least one connecting member  74  may extend between the first and second arms  70 ,  72 . In at least one embodiment, the connecting member  74  may be provided at or near distal ends of the first and second arms  70 ,  72 . The connecting member  74  may be substantially linear, may be spaced apart from the pad  60  and/or the second base axis  56 , and may be disposed substantially coplanar with the first and second arms  70 ,  72 . The connecting member  74  may help provide structural reinforcement and generally maintain the positioning of the first and second arms  70 ,  72  with respect to each other. 
     First and second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may also be provided with the base  42 . The first serpentine arm  80  may extend from and/or between the first arms  70 . The second serpentine arm  82  may extend from and/or between the second arms  72 . In addition, the first and second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may be substantially coplanar with the first and second arms  70 ,  72 . 
     The first and second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may be spaced apart from each other and from the first base axis  54 . In addition, the first and second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may be disposed about, along, or with respect to first and second arm axes  84 ,  86 , respectively. The first and second arm axes  84 ,  86  may be disposed substantially parallel to each other when the serpentine arms  80 ,  82  are in a first or unflexed position as shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition, the arm axes  84 ,  86  may bisect or be disposed along a respective serpentine arm  80 ,  82  when the serpentine arms are disposed in the first position. 
     The serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may include a set of curved portions. The set of curved portions may include one or more curved portions or curved walls that may be configured to bend or flex to permit at least a portion of the retention clip  40  to be disposed in a nonlinear arrangement, such as along a curve or arc. The set of curved portions may be arranged in a repeating pattern. For instance, adjacent members of the set of curved portions may be disposed along and on opposite sides of the arm axes  84 ,  86 . As such, curved portions may face or be oriented in different or opposite directions. By way of example, the first and/or second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may include a first curved portion  90 , a second curved portion  92 , and a third curved portion  94 . The first and third curved portions  90 ,  94  may be disposed on a first side of the arm axis  84 . The second curved portion  92  may be disposed on an opposite side of the arm axis  84 . Opposing first and second ends of the second curved portion  92  may be disposed adjacent to and extend from the first and third curved portions  90 ,  94 , respectively. As such, the first and third curved portions  90 ,  94  may each have a curved surface that is oriented in a common direction and may define or partially enclose an opening that may also face in a common direction, such as toward the first base axis  54 . The second curved portion  92  may also have a curved surface and may define an opening that may face in a different direction, such as away from the first base axis  54 . 
     The serpentine arms  80 ,  82  and set of curved portions may allow the retention clip  40  to flex. For instance, the set of curved portions may move between a first or initial position as shown in  FIG. 4  and in the center of  FIG. 3  to an exemplary second or flexed position as shown with other portions of the retention clip  40  shown in  FIG. 3 . In the second position, the retention clip  40  or a portion thereof may be disposed along at least one arc or radius of curvature. The retention clip  40  may be held in this position by engagement with the cushion  20  and/or trim cover assembly  30 . The curved portions of the first and second serpentine arms  80 ,  82  may be disposed in different positions when the retention clip  40  or a portion thereof is flexed or disposed in a second position. 
     One or more members of the set of curved portions of the first serpentine arm  80  may be biased or moved toward each other while one or more members of the set of curved portions of the second serpentine arm  82  may be biased or moved apart from each other when the retention clip  40  is moved from the first position to the second position. This is depicted in  FIG. 3 , in which two curved portions are disposed a distance X apart from each other when a portion of the retention clip  40  is in a first position. The two curved portions of a first serpentine arm  80  are disposed a distance X′ apart while two curved portions of the second serpentine arm  82  are disposed a distance X″ apart when the retention clip  40  is flexed such that X″&gt;X&gt;X′. In addition, the first base axis  54  and arm axes  84 ,  86  may be disposed in a nonlinear manner when the retention clip is in the second position. 
     The retention clip  40  may be provided with one or more portions. Multiple portions may be interconnected or provided in a sequence or series having a desired quantity or length. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the retention clip  40  includes a first portion  100 , a second portion  102 , and a third portion  104 . Adjacent portions may share a common retention portion  50 . For instance, the first and second portions  100 ,  102  may both include or be interconnected by a common retention portion  50 . Each portion  100 ,  102 ,  104  may be configured to be independently positioned or flexed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of a retention clip  40 ′ is shown. In this embodiment, the retention clip  40 ′ or at least one portion  102 ′ thereof may have a base  42 ′ that includes a single serpentine arm  80 ′ having a first arm axis  84 ′. The serpentine arm  80 ′ may extend between different retention portions  50 . As such, the first arm axis  84 ′ may coincide with the first base axis  54 . 
     The retention clip  40 ′ may include multiple portions. The portions may have the same or different configurations. For instance, the retention clip  40 ′ may have multiple portions that all have the same configuration as portion  102 ′. Alternatively, one or more portions may have the configuration of portion  100 . The portions of the retention clip  40 ′ may be provided in a repeating pattern. For instance, portions of the retention clip  40 ′ may alternate between the configuration of portion  100  and portion  102 ′. 
     The retention clip  40 ,  40 ′ may be provided with the cushion  20  during the cushion molding process. For example, the retention clips  40 ,  40 ′ may be positioned in a mold and the cushion material may be injected, molded, and cured around the retention clip  40 ,  40 ′ to secure the retention clip  40 ,  40 ′ in a predetermined location in the cushion  20 . 
     While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1