IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,297
Granted Patent B1
US 12,466,297 · App. 19/002,877 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Removable trim cover with headrest guide

Inventors: William P. Dix (Highland Park, MI); Emily M. Deming (Ann Arbor, MI); Vasudeva S. Murthy (Ann Arbor, MI); John D. Harkleroad (Ypsilanti, MI); Alexander W. Schuyler (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
B60N2/6018B60N2/0034B60N2/5642B60N2/5657B60N2/5685B60N2/897B60N2/976B60N2002/981
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,297
App. No.
19/002,877
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A removable trim cover described herein includes a headrest guide to ensure alignment of the removable trim cover to the seat. In one embodiment, the removable trim cover includes a material body sized to cover a front face of a backrest of a seat. The material body has apertures forming a headrest guide. The headrest guide is adapted to align with headrest sleeves in the backrest. The removable trim cover also includes a first zipper portion, disposed around a border of the material body, adapted to be joined with a second zipper portion affixed to the backrest.

Claims (48)

1 . A removable trim cover, comprising:

a material body sized to cover a front face of a backrest of a seat, the material body having apertures forming a headrest guide that is adapted to align with headrest sleeves in the backrest; and

a first zipper portion, disposed around a border of the material body, adapted to be joined with a second zipper portion that is disposed on a base trim cover that envelops cushions of the backrest.

2 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , wherein:

the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is affixed to an outboard side surface, a top backside surface, and an inboard side surface of the base trim cover; and

a central portion of the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with a central portion of the second zipper portion that is behind a headrest of the seat.

3 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , wherein a headrest portion of the material body that is around the headrest guide and that is adapted to be disposed under a headrest, is formed of an elastically deformable material that is different from material of other portions of the material body.

4 . The removable trim cover of claim 3 , wherein the elastically deformable material is adapted to stretch and deform over headrest sleeve grommets on the backrest.

5 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , further comprising supplemental disengageable connection components on a cushion-facing surface of the material body, the supplemental disengageable connection components are adapted to connect to corresponding backrest disengageable connection components to affix the material body to the base trim cover.

6 . The removable trim cover of claim 5 , wherein the supplemental disengageable connection components, when joined to the corresponding backrest disengageable connection components, are adapted to be at least partially disposed within trenches between cushions of the backrest.

7 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , wherein:

the first zipper portion is a perimetric zipper portion disposed around a full boundary of the material body; and

the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is affixed to an outboard side surface, a top backside surface, an inboard side surface, and a bottom surface of the base trim cover.

8 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device disposed along a bottom edge of the material body, adapted to be joined with a mating attachment device on a bottom edge of a backrest center portion of a base trim cover or a lower edge of a rear portion of the base trim cover.

9 . A removable trim cover, comprising:

a material body sized to cover a front face of a backrest of a seat and a headrest of the seat; and

a first zipper portion, disposed around a border of the material body, adapted to be joined with a second zipper portion that is disposed on a base trim cover that envelops cushions of the backrest, a central portion of the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with a central portion of the second zipper portion that is behind the headrest of the seat.

10 . The removable trim cover of claim 9 , wherein the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is affixed to an outboard side surface, a top backside surface, and an inboard side surface of the backrest base trim cover.

11 . The removable trim cover of claim 9 , further comprising supplemental disengageable connection components on a cushion-facing surface of the material body, the supplemental disengageable connection components are adapted to connect to corresponding backrest disengageable connection components to affix the material body to the base trim cover.

12 . The removable trim cover of claim 11 , wherein the supplemental disengageable connection components, when joined to the corresponding backrest disengageable connection components, are adapted to be at least partially disposed within trenches between cushions of the backrest.

13 . The removable trim cover of claim 9 , wherein:

the first zipper portion is a perimetric zipper portion disposed around a full boundary of the material body; and

the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is affixed to an outboard side surface, a top backside surface, an inboard side surface, and a bottom surface of the base trim cover.

14 . The removable trim cover of claim 9 , further comprising an attachment device disposed along a bottom edge of the material body, adapted to be joined with a mating attachment device on a bottom edge of a backrest center portion of a base trim cover or a lower edge of a rear portion of the base trim cover.

15 . A removable cushion cover, comprising:

a material cover sized to cover an occupant-facing surface of a cushion of a seat;

a first zipper portion, disposed around a border of the material cover, adapted to be joined with a second zipper portion that is disposed on a trim cover that envelops the cushion of the seat; and

an accessory component integrated with the material cover.

16 . The removable cushion cover of claim 15 , wherein:

the material cover comprises a material body sized to cover a front surface of a cushion of a backrest of the seat; or

the material cover comprises a seat material body sized to cover a top surface of a cushion of a bottom of the seat.

17 . The removable cushion cover of claim 15 , wherein:

the accessory component is an electrical accessory; and

the removable cushion cover further comprises an electrical cable adapted to connect the electrical accessory to a power source of a vehicle in which the removable cushion cover is disposed.

18 . The removable cushion cover of claim 17 , wherein the electrical accessory comprises at least one of:

an occupant sensor;

a feedback device;

a massaging device;

a heating device; or

an electric air pump to drive air through a channel formed in the material cover.

19 . The removable cushion cover of claim 15 , wherein the accessory component is a storage pocket formed on a cushion-facing surface of the material cover.

20 . The removable cushion cover of claim 15 , wherein the accessory component comprises at least one bolster formed on a cushion-facing surface of the material cover.

21 . The removable cushion cover of claim 20 , wherein the at least one bolster comprises an attachment device to selectively attach the at least one bolster to a cushion-facing surface of the material cover.

22 . The removable cushion cover of claim 15 , wherein:

the accessory component is a material cover-shaped mid-layer disposed between the cushion and the material cover; and

the material cover-shaped mid-layer is selectively attachable to the material cover.

23 . The removable trim cover of claim 1 , wherein the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is inset from an edge of the base trim cover.

24 . The removable trim cover of claim 9 , wherein the first zipper portion is adapted to be joined with the second zipper portion that is inset from an edge of the base trim cover.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2026
From: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 073670/0071 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2025
From: DIX, WILLIAM P.; DEMING, EMILY M.; MURTHY, VASUDEVA S.; HARKLEROAD, JOHN D.; SCHUYLER, ALEXANDER W.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 069842/0382 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation In Part 18785470 · Jul 26, 2024
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