IP Library Granted Patent US 11,541,789
Granted Patent B2
US 11,541,789 · App. 16/704,556 · Granted Jan 3, 2023

Extruded non-woven and J-clip

Inventors: Emily Robinson (Brighton, MI); Michael Kuranc (Saint Clair Shores, MI); Anup Viswanathan (Ann Arbor, MI); Glen Miller (Madison Heights, MI)
Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60N2/5825B29C65/70B60N2/5866B60N2/5883B60N2/6027B60N2/6072B29C65/62B60N2/5875B60N2/609B60N2/6081F16B2/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,541,789
App. No.
16/704,556
Granted
Jan 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one example, a vehicle seat includes a non-woven and a J-clip, wherein the non-woven is secured to the J-clip to define a single component. The vehicle seat includes a trim cover attached to the non-woven, and the J-clip is attached to a cushion frame to attach the trim cover to the cushion frame.

Claims (38)

1. A vehicle seat module comprising:

a non-woven material;

a J-clip including a substantially straight portion and a curved portion having an end region, the end region having a distal end that is distal to a cushion frame and a proximal end that is proximal to the cushion frame in an attached condition, wherein the non-woven material is secured to the J-clip to define a single component; and

a trim cover attached to the non-woven material, wherein the J-clip is attached to the cushion frame in the attached condition to attach the trim cover to the cushion frame,

wherein the proximal end of the end region includes a flat surface configured to contact a flat surface of the cushion frame and hold the J-clip and the cushion frame in the attached condition, and

wherein the flat surfaces are provided at an inclined angle with respect to a direction extending orthogonal to the extending direction of the substantially straight portion.

2. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the J-clip is polypropylene.

3. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-woven material is polyester.

4. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-woven material is secured to the J-clip with an adhesive.

5. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-woven material is secured to the J-clip with stitches formed by sewing.

6. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-woven material is secured to the J-clip by molding a portion of the J-clip around the non-woven.

7. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the non- woven material is attached to the trim cover with stitches along a sewing line.

8. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein a curved portion of the J-clip receives a portion of the cushion frame.

9. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein a foam pad is located between the trim cover and the cushion frame.

10. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the J-clip is attached to one side of the non-woven material.

11. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the J-clip is attached to both sides of the non-woven material.

12. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 11 wherein the non-woven material is secured to the J-clip by molding a portion of the J-clip around the non-woven material such that the non-woven material is inside a portion of the J-clip.

13. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 12 wherein the portion of the non-woven material is located within a straight portion of the J-clip.

14. A vehicle seat module comprising:

a polyester non-woven material comprising polypropylene;

a J-clip including a substantially straight portion and a curved portion having an end region, wherein the end region has a distal end that is distal to a cushion frame and a proximal end that is proximal to the cushion frame in an attached condition, the polyester non-woven material is located within the substantially straight portion of the J-clip such that the J-clip is attached to both sides of the polyester non-woven material to secure the polyester non-woven material to the J-clip, and the curved portion of the J-clip receives a portion of the cushion frame to attach a trim cover to the cushion frame in the attached condition;

the trim cover attached to the polyester non-woven material with stitches along a sewing line; and

a foam pad located between the trim cover and the cushion frame,

wherein the proximal end of the end region includes a flat surface configured to contact a flat surface of the cushion frame and hold the J-clip and the cushion frame in the attached condition, and

wherein the flat surfaces are provided at an inclined angle with respect to a direction extending orthogonal to the extending direction of the substantially straight portion.

15. A method of transferring a load on a vehicle seat comprising:

applying a load on a vehicle seat; and

transferring a force to a non-woven material attached to a J-clip to bend the non-woven material attached to a J-clip, wherein the J-clip includes a substantially straight portion and a curved portion having an end region, wherein the end region has a distal end that is distal to a cushion frame and a proximal end that is proximal to the cushion frame in an attached condition, the proximal end of the end region including a flat surface configured to contact a flat surface of the cushion frame and hold the J-clip and the cushion frame in the attached condition, wherein provided at an inclined angle with respect to a direction extending orthogonal to the extending direction of the substantially straight portion, and the J-clip is attached to the cushion frame.

16. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion of the J-clip engages the cushion frame and is blunt.

17. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 14 wherein the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion of the J-clip engages the cushion frame and is blunt.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion of the J-clip engages the cushion frame and is blunt.

19. A method as recited in claim 15 including positioning a solid foam pad between a trim cover and the cushion frame.

20. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein the distal end and the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion are connected by a flat surface.

21. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 14 wherein the distal end and the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion are connected by a flat surface.

22. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the distal end and the proximal end of the end region of the curved portion are connected by a flat surface.

23. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 1 wherein a most proximal end of the proximal end of the end region is blunt.

24. The vehicle seat module as recited in claim 14 wherein a most proximal end of the proximal end of the end region is blunt.

25. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein a most proximal end of the proximal end of the end region is blunt.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2022
From: TOYOTA BOSHOKU AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061448/0575 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2019
From: ROBINSON, EMILY; KURANC, MICHAEL; VISWANATHAN, ANUP; MILLER, GLEN
To: TOYOTA BOSHOKU AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 051192/0469 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62807525 · Feb 19, 2019
Related Publication 20200262323A1 · Aug 20, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,649,397