Removing wrinkles adjacent to a joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12011865-B2
Application number	US-202117326958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2021
Priority date	May 21, 2021
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A system and method for removing a wrinkle adjacent to a joint between a first surface material and a second surface material, different from the first surface material. The system and method may include directing a flow of air creating an air wall across the first surface material adjacent to the joint where the wrinkle is being removed from the second surface material; directing heat onto the wrinkle in the second surface material; and working out the wrinkle from the second surface material while the second surface material is at an elevated temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing a wrinkle adjacent to a joint between a first surface material and a second surface material, different from the first surface material, the method comprising:
(a) directing a flow of air creating an air wall across the first surface material adjacent to the joint where the wrinkle is being removed from the second surface material;
(b) directing heat onto the wrinkle in the second surface material; and
(c) working out the wrinkle from the second surface material while the second surface material is at an elevated temperature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises employing a heat gun to direct the heat onto the wrinkle via heated air, with the heated air having a velocity lower than a velocity of the air flow creating the air wall.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (b) further comprises activating a laser to indicate a location on the second surface material where the heat is being directed from the heat gun.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein step (a) further comprises employing an air knife to direct the flow of air, with the air knife having a head directed toward the first surface material adjacent to the joint.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step (a) further comprises locating the air wall by positioning the air knife with a fixture.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the air knife includes a second head directing the flow of air creating the air wall across the first surface material adjacent to the joint.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises employing an air knife to direct the flow of air, with the air knife having a head directed toward the first surface material adjacent to the joint.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (a) further comprises locating the air wall by positioning the air knife with a fixture.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the air knife includes a second head directing the flow of air creating the air wall across the first surface material adjacent to the joint.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second surface material can withstand higher heat without damage than the first surface material.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second surface materials are on a seat.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface material is vinyl, the second surface material is leather, and the joint is a seam securing the vinyl to the leather.

Assignees

• Lear Corp

Inventors

• Williams Kevin L
• Williams Andrew
• Humphrey Christopher Giles
• Ramsden Mark

Classifications

• D06C27/00

  Compound processes or apparatus, for finishing or dressing textile fabrics, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60N2/5891

  characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B29C53/18 Primary

  of plates or sheets · CPC title

• B60N2/5816 Primary

  attachments thereof · CPC title