Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same. More specifically, in at least certain embodiments, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly having localized regions of an in-mold coatings to inhibit cushion show through and method of making the same.

2. Background Art

Generally speaking, a vehicle seat assembly includes three fundamental components: (a) a frame to support the seat assembly and to mount it to a vehicle; (b) a foam cushion to cover the frame; and (c) trim material to cover the foam cushion and provide a durable surface for contact with a vehicle occupant. Typically, the foam cushion is made from an expandable foam material, such as polyurethane, and is molded to a predetermined shape during a molded process. The resulting molded cushion is typically a relatively light color such as white or yellow and has a grey scale rating of less than 30%, and in particular less than 20%.

The trim material may include any number of materials, such as cloth, polymers, or leather. Often, the selection of trim material is governed by the sale price of the vehicle. For example, leather trim material may be used for luxury vehicles while cloth and polymeric materials may be used for less expensive vehicles. The trim material is secured over the cushion to cover the cushion however, often times there remains certain areas where the trim material does not completely cover the cushion. In these uncovered areas, because of the contrast of color between the trim material and the cushion, there can be cushion show through that is noticeable to vehicle occupants.

These areas of show through can occur in any number of areas, depending on a variety of factors such as, the design of the cushion, the trim material, and the trim material attachment scheme. Certain examples of some relatively likely show through areas are at the trim close out, i.e., in the corners or edges of the cushion where the trim material is wrapped, or places where clips and/or seat belt components are present.

Depending upon the relative colors of the trim material and the cushion, cushion show through may be visible at these uncovered locations. These uncovered areas are especially noticeable when the trim material is relatively dark, such as those having a grey scale rating of more than 30%, and in particular greater than 50%, such as the case for blue, black and brown trim.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a vehicle seat assembly which has a seat cushion and trim material of relative contrast that inhibits cushion show through which can be manufactured easily and relatively economically. Moreover, even in situations with light colored trim, it may be desirable to provide a vehicle seat assembly that masks the appearance of the light colored foam cushion.

According to at least one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle seat assembly is provided. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a vehicle seat assembly comprising a frame, a cushion supported on the frame, the cushion having a surface area comprising a major portion and a minor portion, a trim material secured over the cushion to cover the major portion of the surface area, the minor portion of the surface area being uncovered by the trim material, and a colored coating disposed on the minor portion of the surface area of the cushion.

According to at least another aspect of the present invention, a method of making a vehicle seat assembly is provided. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises providing a cushion assembly having an average thickness of 0.5 to 4 cm and having a colored coating disposed at a predetermined location on the cushion, supporting the cushion on a frame, and securing a trim material over the cushion assembly supported on the frame, the trim material not covering at least a portion of the colored coating on the cushion.

In at least another embodiment, the method comprises providing a cushion assembly having an average thickness of 0.5 to 4 cm and having a colored coating disposed at a predetermined location on the cushion. The method further comprises supporting the cushion on a frame, and securing a trim material over the cushion assembly supported on the frame. The trim material is sized such that the trim material, when secured over the cushion assembly, does not cover at least a portion of the coating, wherein the colored coating forms a first colored region on the cushion adjacent a second colored region such that the first colored region is darker in color than the second colored region, and wherein the color of the trim material is at least substantially similar to the first color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cut-away environmental view of a vehicle seat assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a vehicle seat assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of another vehicle seat assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a method of making the vehicle seat assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a portion of the method illustrated in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating another method.

Continue reading about Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same...
Full patent description for Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same patent application.
###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Frame side part of a vehicle seat
Next Patent Application:
Backrest device in a chair
Industry Class:
Chairs and seats

###

Design/code © 2009 FreshContext LLC/Freshpatents.com. Website Terms and Conditions - Also read: About this Page
Patent data source: patents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Information published here is for research/educational purposes only (and in conjunction with our Keyword Monitor) and is not meant to be used in place of the full USPTO patent document/images or a comprehensive patent archive search. Complete official applications are on file at the USPTO and often contain additional data/images (Freshpatents is currently text-only). FreshPatents.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO or firms/individuals or products/designs/ideas related to listed patents.

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 2.35312 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Computers:  Graphics ,  I/O ,  Processors ,  Dyn. Storage ,  Static Storage ,  Printers paws