Abstract:
A method for assembling a case ( 5 ), such as integral play station, a simple screen for a DVD reader or for a play station, a loudspeaker, on a cushion ( 2 ) such as a headrest or a set back cushion, fitted with a protection cover ( 4 ) includes fastening the case ( 5 ) directly on the protection cover ( 4 ), before mounting the cover ( 4 ) on the cushion ( 2 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/333,404, filed on May 6, 2003. Application Ser. No. 10/333,404 is the national phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP02/10190 filed on Sep. 11, 2002 under 35 U.S.C. § 371. The entire contents of each of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention concerns a method of assembling a case, such as an integral play station, a simple screen for a DVD reader or for a play station, loudspeaker or other . . . , on a cushion such as a headrest or a seat back cushion; it also concerns the protection cover fitted with the case, for the implementation of this method, as well as the cushion fitted with this protection cover. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   The headrest or the upper sections of the seat backs of automotive vehicles, trains, even airplanes, are sometimes fitted with video cases such as an integral play station, a simple play station screen, LCD screen for a DVD reader, or others . . . enabling the person placed behind the seat thus fitted, for example to watch a film, to watch commercial information notably via radio link, to play games, even to access the Internet network. 
   The corresponding cushions are composed of a block of synthetic foam inside a protection cover made of fabric, leather or plastic material. They are structured and prepared suitably to accommodate, in fine, the video case; in particular, they comprise an embedding housing of the case and an integral fastening stand. 
   However, these particularities make the manufacture of the corresponding cushions more difficult, notably because of the necessity to provide internal fastening means, and also because of the particular preparation of the protection cover necessary to accommodate the video case and to obtain a quality finish. In all cases, the accommodation cushions must be designed or modified specifically to enable adaptation of the case. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention purports to simplify the assembly of such a case on the accommodation cushion and to offer means enabling to standardise the equipment of these cushions. 
   The method according to this invention consists in fastening the case directly on a protection cover, then in mounting said cover on the accommodation cushion. 
   Obviously, the cushion in question can already be placed inside an original protection cover before receiving the cover fitted with the case. 
   It should be noted that the term &lt;&lt;case&gt;&gt; used here and in the following description means either a single-piece structure in the form of an electronic console, or a two-part structure composed of an electronic console and a removable embedding receptacle of this console. 
   Preferably, the case is fastened by enclosing the protection cover between said case and an added-on rigid structure, positioned against the internal face of said cover. 
   Still according to a preferred embodiment, the method according to this invention consists in providing an opening with appropriate form and dimensions in the protection cover, then in fastening the case on this cover by enclosing the peripheral rim of said opening between said case and the added-on rigid structure, positioned against the internal face of said cover. 
   The case can be forcibly embedded in the added-on rigid structure which is in the form of a frame. It can also be interconnected with this added-on structure, by appropriate mechanical means. One can also provide for an added-on structure in the form of a frame that is positioned on the contour of the case and fitted with clamping means on said case. One can also contemplate to fasten the added-on rigid structure on the internal face of the protection cover, then to fasten the case on said added-on structure, while enclosing preferably the protection cover between said case and said structure. 
   According to an embodiment variation, one can fasten directly, by gluing or other, the peripheral rim of an opening made in the protection cover, on the contour of the case, and in particular on a collar protruding from this case. 
   The invention also concerns the cover of a cushion such as a headrest or a seat back cushion, whereon is fastened a case, and in particular a video case, for the implementation of the method detailed above. 
   This protection cover is preferably fitted with a case which works together with an added-on rigid structure, arranged against the internal face of said cover, to fasten said case on the peripheral rim of an opening provided previously in said cover. 
   The case comprises advantageously a protruding collar which extends on the plane or substantially on the plane of its front face, which collar works together with the added-on structure in the form of a frame to enclose the peripheral rim of the opening provided in the cover. 
   The added-on structure can be in the form of a plane frame or of a tubular frame. In the latter case, it may comprise a protruding collar at its front rim; the rear rim of this frame can also be extended by a bottom wherein is provided an opening to let through the power supply cable(s) of the case. 
   The case can be interconnected with the added-on structure by latching means or by added-on mechanical means, such as screws or clamping clips. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     But the invention will be better illustrated, without being limited thereto, by the following description of various embodiments, given solely for exemplification purposes and represented on the appended drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a sectional and side schematic view, which illustrates the assembly according to this invention of a case on a seat headrest; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view which shows the cut-out made in the protection cover for the accommodation of the video case 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view which shows the different elements of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , before their assembly; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view which illustrates the fastening of the video case on the protection cover, before mounting said cover on the headrest cushion; 
       FIGS. 5 to 10  are partial schematic views which illustrate different possible assembly modes of the case on the protection cover. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  represents a headrest assembly  1 , as a sectional and side view, composed of a cushion of synthetic foam  2  fitted with rods  3  which allow its anchoring on the top of a seat back. The anchoring rods  3  are fastened conventionally on a support stand, not represented, integrated in the foam cushion  2 . 
   The foam cushion  2  is inside a protection cover  4  of appropriate material, for example fabric, leather or plastic material, whereon is fastened a case  5 , in particular a video case. 
   This case  5  is arranged on the rear face of the headrest  1 . As indicated previously, this case  5  may consist of a single-piece structure in the form of an electronic console. It can also consist of two sections: one in the form of an electronic console and the other in the form of an embedding receptacle of said console; in the latter case, the console-receptacle assembly can be fastened straightaway on the protection cover, or one can fasten in a first step solely the embedding receptacle, the electronic console being added-on at a later stage. 
   This case  5  can be in the form of an integral play station; it may also be a simple screen, for example an LCD screen, linked to an electronic console, notably a DVD reader, a play station, or other . . . . 
   The cover structure  4  is formed to match as well as possible the contours of the cushion  2 . Conventionally, it comprises a lower opening  7  which enables its positioning on the cushion  2 , which opening  7  is associated with removable closing members, such as elastics, self-hooking bands or simple clamping string for example. 
   According to this invention, the video case  5  is attached to the protection cover  4  before positioning said cover on the cushion  2 . 
   The front face of the case  5  is situated in the extension or substantially in the extension of the outer surface of the cover, and its rear face is pressed against the rear face of the foam cushion  2 , which can slightly be deformed at that level in relation to the pressure applied. 
   One understands that the foam cushion  2  can be a standard or quasi standard headrest cushion, inside its own original protection cover or not. 
   If required, a simple recess can be provided in the rear face of this cushion, to integrate at least partially the thickness of the case  5 . 
   Anyway, the case  5  is rigidly maintained in position by stretching the cover  4  which is pressed against the cushion  2 . 
   The possible cable(s)  8  which supply the video case pass through the opening  7  provided in the lower section of the cover  4 ; they can then run along one of the anchoring rods  3  of the headrest, then enter the seat back to join the power supply source. It should be noted here that if the case  5  consists of a simple screen, this screen can be linked with the electronic console (such as a DVD reader for example) either by means of cables or by radio link. 
   The case  5  can be fastened on the cover  4  by any appropriate means. 
   Preferably, one provides an opening or cut-out  10  in the cover  4 , whereof the form and the dimensions are suited to those of the case  5 ; and one fastens this case by enclosing the peripheral rim  11  of said opening  10 , between said case  5  and an added-on rigid structure  12 , positioned on the side of the internal face of the cover  4 . 
   This particular type of fastening is detailed on the  FIGS. 2 to 4 . 
   The case  5  illustrated on the figures consists of a case in the overall shape of a parallelepiped with a front face  14 , a rear face  15  and four side walls  16 . These four walls  16  form together a surrounding structure. 
   The case  5  still comprises a peripheral rim, or protruding collar  17  which protrudes in the extension of the front face  14 ; this peripheral rim  17  extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the side walls  16 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the opening  10  made in the cover  4  to accommodate the case  5 . One notices here the general rectangular space requirements of the case illustrated by a dotted line  18 . The opening  10  corresponds to a rectangular cut-out  19  of sizes smaller than the general space requirements of the case, associated with four cutting lines  20  which prolong the angles. 
   One obtains thus four flaps of material  22  forming together the peripheral rim  11  of the opening  10 , liable to be enclosed between the case  5  and the added-on rigid structure  12 . 
   On  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , this added-on structure  12  consists of a tubular frame  24 , here in the form of a parallelepiped one, whereof the general dimensions are very slightly greater than those of the surrounding structure formed by the four lateral walls  16  of the case  5 . 
   The front rim of this frame  24  comprises here a protruding peripheral collar  25 ; its rear rim is extended by a bottom element  26 . 
   One notices here the presence of an orifice  27  provided at the bottom  26  of the added-on structure  12 , to let through power supply cable(s)  8  of the case  5 . 
   The different parts are assembled by positioning the case  5  and the added-on structure  12  opposite the opening  10  of the cover  4 , respectively outside and inside ( FIG. 3 ). 
   It suffices then to embed the case  5  in the added-on structure  12  while pinching the peripheral rim  11  of the opening  10  of the cover to obtain a convenient assembly. 
   The leaves or flaps of material  22  which form the peripheral rim  11  of the opening  10  of the cover are enclosed, on the one hand, between both parallelepiped frames  16  and  24 , and on the other hand, between the rim  17  and the collar  25 , respectively the case  5  and the added-on structure  12 . This enclosing or this pinching system enables to maintain the case  5  on the protection cover  4  correctly. 
   The bottom  15  of the case  5  is in contact or almost in contact with the bottom element  26  of the added-on structure  12 . 
   Obviously, during this assembly, one takes care to run the power supply cable(s)  8  through the orifice  27  of the added-on structure  12 , to ensure its integration in the cover  4 . 
   Assembly of the case  5  with the added-on structure  12  and the cover  4  can be made simply by forcible embedding. 
   This assembly can also be made by means of appropriate latching members, whereof a possible embodiment is illustrated schematically in  28 , on  FIG. 5 , or still by means of added-on interconnection members, such as screws or clamping clips  29 , as illustrated on  FIG. 6 . 
   On this  FIG. 6 , the screws or clamping clips  29  assemble the bottom elements  15  and  26 , respectively of the case  5  and of the added-on structure  12 ; one can also contemplate to assemble in such a way both frames  16  and  24 , or still both protruding structures  17  and  25 . 
   In an embodiment variation illustrated on  FIG. 7 , the added-on structure can be in the form of a simple tubular parallelepiped frame  12 ′. There again, the different elements can be assembled by simple forcible embedding, by any appropriate latching means or by added-on interconnection elements such as screws, clips or others. 
   One can also contemplate to use an open frame, similar to a tightening strap, associated with means which allow clamping said frame on the case  5 . 
   As can be seen on  FIG. 8 , the added-on structure can also be in the form of a planar frame  12 ″ enclosing the cover  4 , in association with the peripheral rim  17  of the case  5 . 
   In another possible embodiment, illustrated on  FIG. 9 , the front rim of the added-on structure  12 ′″ can be fastened to the internal face of the cover  4 , before interconnection between said added-on structure  12 ′″ and the case  5 . In this case, the peripheral rim  11  of the opening  10  of the cover  4  can be fastened to the added-on structure  12 ′″ for example by gluing, by means of an appropriate glue or using a thermofusion technique. 
   Interconnection between the added-on structure  12 ′″ and the case  5  can here be performed by any appropriate means such as those listed and presented above. 
   During interconnection between the case  5  and the added-on structure  12 ′″, the protection cover  4  is preferably pinched to optimise the assembly of the different elements. 
   In another possible embodiment, schematised on  FIG. 10 , the peripheral rim  11  of the opening  10  of the cover can be directly fastened by gluing or other, on the collar  17  of the case  5 ; this enables then to dispense with the presence of an added-on structure  12 . 
   According to the technique adopted, if it enables to facilitate handling, the case  5  can be fastened to the cover  4  after turning over said cover. 
   Once the protection cover  4  is fitted with the case  5 , said cover can be mounted on the headrest cushion  2  quite conventionally. 
   A case can be mounted on a seat back cover similarly, in order to equip the upper section of the seat back. 
   It should also be noted that the assembly principle of this invention can be applied for adaptation on the protection cover of loudspeakers, remote control support(s) or other devices of the same type.