Trim cover steam machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257525-A1
Application number	US-201815916459-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An assembly and method for steaming and/or heating a trim cover of an upholstered article is disclosed. The assembly includes a stand having a bottom end and a top end, an open frame attached to the top end of the stand and adapted to receive at least a portion of the trim cover, and a steam supply system. At least a portion of the steam supply system is adapted to fit within the frame and the steam supply system applies steam towards at least one interior steam zone of the trim cover.

First claim

1 . An assembly for heating a trim cover of an upholstered article, the assembly comprising:
a stand having a bottom end and a top end; an open frame attached to the top end of the stand and operable to receive at least a portion of the trim cover; and a steam supply system, wherein at least a portion of the steam supply system is adapted to fit within the frame of the assembly and the steam supply system is adapted to apply steam to an interior steam zone of the trim cover.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is comprised of metal tubing.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein said metal tubing includes a plurality of steam ports.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of interior steam zones of the trim cover.

5 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the metal tubing comprises a plurality of apertures disposed on the exterior of the metal tubing.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the upholstered article comprises a cushioned pad of a vehicle seat cushion.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is approximately the height, width, and length of the upholstered article.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a shield portion for containing a volume of steam within the assembly.

9 . The assembly of claim 4 wherein the applied steam may be directed to one of the plurality of the interior steam zones of the trim cover independently of the remaining plurality of interior steam zones.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a means for controlling an interval of time for which the steam supply system applies steam.

11 . The use of the assembly of claim 1 for de-wrinkling the trim cover.

12 . A method for heating a trim cover of an upholstered article, the method comprising:
providing a frame adapted to receive at least a portion of the trim cover; disposing the trim cover over at least a portion of the frame; providing a steam supply system wherein at least a portion of the steam supply system is adapted to fit within the frame; and applying steam to an interior steam zone of the trim cover.

13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising securing the trim cover in position over the frame.

14 . The method of clam 12 further comprising applying steam to a plurality of interior steam zones.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein steam is applied to one of the plurality of the interior steam zones of the trim cover independently of the remaining plurality of interior steam zones.

16 . The method of claim 12 further comprising controlling the interval of time steam is applied to the trim cover.

17 . The method of claim 12 wherein the step of applying steam to the trim cover is performed before the trim cover is placed over a cushioned pad of a vehicle seat cushion.

18 . An assembly for de-wrinkling a trim cover of a cushioned pad of a vehicle seat cushion, the assembly comprising:
a stand having a bottom end and a top end; an open frame attached to the top end of the stand, the frame being comprised of metal tubing, wherein the frame is approximately the height, width, and length of the vehicle seat cushion and is adapted such that the trim cover can be stretched tightly over the frame, and; a steam supply system, wherein at least a portion of the steam supply system is adapted to fit within the frame and the steam supply system is adapted to apply steam to a plurality of interior steam zones of the trim cover.

Assignees

• Magna Seating Inc

Inventors

• Borzy Stephan M
• Palowitz Richard J

Classifications

• B60N2/5816 Primary

  attachments thereof · CPC title

• B29D99/0092

  Producing upholstery articles, e.g. cushions, seats (B29C63/025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/5891 Primary

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

• B29C51/145

  having at least one layer of textile or fibrous material combined with at least one plastics layer · CPC title

• B29C51/421

  of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming (preheating sheets in general B29B13/023; B29C51/427 takes precedence) · CPC title