T-member for use in an armrest or interior component of a vehicle
View Patent ↗A seam for use in a vehicle armrest or other interior component. The seam includes a first material and a second material joined to the first material. The seam also includes a T-member connected to the first material and the second material to form a French seam appearance on the outer surface of the material. The T-member is then used to align with a groove in a foam of an armrest or other interior component to create an exterior seam on an armrest or interior component of a vehicle. The seam is created using a guide member attached to a sewing machine that will allow for sewing of the first material and second material to the T-member in a simultaneous process at a predetermined speed thus increasing efficiency of manufacturing the upholstery panel and reducing costs to the manufacturer.
1. A seam for connecting material together for use on an armrest in a vehicle, said seam comprising:
a first material;
a second material connected by a joint sew line to said first material;
a T-member secured to said first material and said second material;
a stitch line through said first material and said T-member; and
a second stitch line through said second material and said T-member.
2. The seam of claim 1 wherein said T-member is an extrusion.
3. The seam of claim 1 wherein said T-member having a groove in a surface thereof.
4. The seam of claim 1 wherein the seam is a French seam.
5. The seam of claim 1 wherein said T-member is made of a plastic material.
6. An armrest for use in a vehicle, said armrest comprising:
a frame;
a foam arranged within predetermined portions of said frame;
a first and second fabric arranged over said frame and said foam;
a T-member arranged between said fabrics and a portion of said foam, said T-member having a groove in a surface thereof, said T-member having a second groove in a surface thereof;
a first stitch line passing through said first fabric and said groove; and
a second stitch line passing through said second fabric and said second groove.
7. The armrest of claim 6 wherein said foam having a groove therein.
8. The armrest of claim 7 wherein said T-member arranged within said groove.
9. The armrest of claim 6 wherein said second groove is parallel to said groove.
10. The armrest of claim 6 wherein said T-member is extruded from a plastic material.
11. The armrest of claim 6 wherein said first stitch line connects said first fabric to said T-member and said second stitch line connects said second fabric to said T-member.
12. The armrest of claim 11 wherein said stitch lines form a French seam.