Element for covering a seat support element
A covering element intended to be fastened to a frame and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The covering element includes, from the inner surface to the outer surface, at least one foam layer, a skin made of synthetic material, and a paint layer. The covering element further includes at least one fastening element for fastening the covering element to the frame, the fastening element having at least one reinforcing portion that extends into the foam layer and is overmolded by the foam layer and at least one fastening portion that projects out of the inner surface of the foam layer.
1 . A covering element of a seat support element intended to be fastened to a frame of said support element, said covering element comprising an inner surface intended to be facing said frame and an outer surface, opposite the inner surface and intended to be facing outwardly of the support element, the covering element comprising, from the inner surface to the outer surface, at least one foam layer, a skin made of synthetic material and a paint layer, wherein the covering element further comprises at least one fastening element for fastening the covering element to the frame, said fastening element comprising at least one reinforcing portion extending into the foam layer and overmolded by said foam layer and at least one fastening portion extending from the inner surface of said foam layer.
2 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is made from a single piece, the fastening portion that projects out of the reinforcing portion and comprising at least one fastening hook extending at a free end of said fastening portion and outside the foam layer.
3 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the foam layer comprises a main portion bounded by a lower edge and an upper edge and by two lateral edges joining the lower edge and the upper edge, at least one fastening element extending in the vicinity of one of the lower, upper or lateral edges, the reinforcing portion stiffening a part of said edge and the fastening portion being arranged to fasten said edge to a frame of a seat support element.
4 . The covering element according to claim 3 , comprising a plurality of fastening elements each extending in the vicinity of a different edge of the foam layer.
5 . The covering element according to claim 3 , wherein each lateral edge of the foam layer extends in a direction different from the main portion, a lateral fastening element extending in the vicinity of one of the lateral edges comprising a first reinforcing portion extending into the main portion of the foam layer and a second reinforcing portion extending from the first reinforcing portion into the lateral edge of the foam layer, the fastening portion of the lateral fastening element projecting out from the first reinforcing portion.
6 . The covering element according to claim 3 , wherein a lower fastening element extending in the vicinity of the lower edge comprises a first reinforcing portion extending along a portion of the lower edge parallel to said lower edge and two second reinforcing portions extending on either side of the first reinforcing portion perpendicular to said first reinforcing portion, a fastening portion projecting out from each second reinforcing portion.
7 . The covering element of claim 3 , wherein an upper fastening element extending in the vicinity of the upper edge comprises a reinforcing portion extending along a part of said upper edge and a plurality of fastening portions projecting out from said reinforcing portion.
8 . The covering element according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing portion of the fastening element comprises at least one opening passing through said reinforcing portion, the foam of the foam layer extending into said opening and on either side of said reinforcing portion.
9 . A seat support element comprising a frame, comprising a lower cross-member and an upper cross-member fastened to each other by two lateral posts, and the covering element according to claim 1 , said covering element being fastened to at least one of the lower and upper beams and/or to at least one of the lateral posts by the fastening portion of at least one fastening element.
10 . A method for producing a covering element according to claim 1 —said method comprising the following steps:
applying at least one paint layer against a first surface of a molding cavity of a production tool, said first surface having the shape of the outer surface of the covering element to be made,
applying a skin made of synthetic material against the inner surface of the paint layer,
forming a molding cavity between the first surface and a second surface of the molding cavity, said second surface having the shape of the inner surface of the covering element to be made, at least one fastening element being placed in the production tool so that the reinforcing portion of said fastening element extends into the molding cavity and the fastening portion of said fastening element extends outside said molding cavity,
injecting a foam precursor material into said molding cavity so as to form a foam layer on the inner surface of the skin made of synthetic material, said foam layer overmolding the reinforcing portion of the fastening element.
11 . The production method according to claim 10 , wherein the skin made of synthetic material is made of a synthetic material free of water and the foam precursor material has a formulation containing water and a foaming catalyst at the time of its injection into the molding cavity.