This invention provides a knitted wire carrier for use in constructing a (e.g.) automotive weather seal that incorporates a locking stitch formed from a relatively incompressible and expansion-resisting material that passes through at least one of the warp threads adjacent to the wire weft. In an embodiment, the locking stitch constructed from a steel (or another metal) wire that is solid or braided. In other embodiments, the locking stitch can be constructed from fiberglass, monofilament polymer or another similarly performing material. In an embodiment, the lockstitch wire is constructed from approximately 0.5-millimeter diameter steel and the wire carrier is constructed from approximately 0.5-0.91-millimeter diameter steel. The wire lockstitch can be woven through a center warp yarn that is surrounded by other knitted warp yarns along the overall weft of the wire carrier. The wire carrier is coated with an adhesive, e.g., latex to maintain the knit in place.
F16J 15/10 - Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing
D04B 21/12 - Open-work fabrics characterised by thread material
D04B 21/14 - Fabrics characterised by the incorporation by knitting, in one or more thread, fleece, or fabric layers, of reinforcing, binding, or decorative threadsFabrics incorporating small auxiliary elements, e.g. for decorative purposes
D04B 21/20 - Warp knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machinesFabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration
B60J 10/18 - Sealing arrangements characterised by the material provided with reinforcements or inserts
This invention provides a locking seat cover securing system that includes a listing bead with a notch removed from the bead, and a stop clip with a nub in an inner surface of the stop clip. The notch is curved so as to maintain the structural integrity of the listing bead. The nub is sized, shaped, and located to correspond to the notch on the listing bead, so that the nub can engage within the listing bead when the listing bead is inserted into the notch. The engagement of the nub within the notch prevents the listing bead from sliding within the locking stop clip. The listing bead with the stop clip can be inserted into an upholstery clip within a foam seat, and the stop clip can abut the upholstery clip so that the listing bead cannot move relative to the upholstery clip.
F16B 21/07 - Releasable fastening devices with snap action in which the socket has a resilient part
F16B 2/22 - Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material
This invention provides a locking seat cover securing system that includes a listing bead with a notch removed from the bead, and a stop clip with a nub in an inner surface of the stop clip. The notch is curved so as to maintain the structural integrity of the listing bead. The nub is sized, shaped, and located to correspond to the notch on the listing bead, so that the nub can engage within the listing bead when the listing bead is inserted into the notch. The engagement of the nub within the notch prevents the listing bead from sliding within the locking stop clip. The listing bead with the stop clip can be inserted into an upholstery clip within a foam seat, and the stop clip can abut the upholstery clip so that the listing bead cannot move relative to the upholstery clip.
B60R 13/02 - Trim mouldingsLedgesWall linersRoof liners
F16B 2/22 - Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material
F16B 5/06 - Joining sheets or plates to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
A listing bead for use in securing upholstery trim covers to upholstery clips embedded in a foam substrate that includes finger-friendly formations on its surface. The formation in an illustrative embodiment defines a flat top at the upper end of a neck that extends between the bead and the top. Illustratively, the top is formed in two outwardly bent L-shapes extending at right angles in opposing directions from the neck. The bead, neck and flat top define confronting halves, joined at the bottom edge, which encase a web that is constructed and arranged to be secured to the trim cover by adhesives, and/or welding stitching. The web illustratively includes punched and/or cut holes (tactile indicia) at predetermined intervals therealong that provide visual and tactile feedback to the installer on the approximate location of clips in the substrate during assembly.
This provides a system and method for constructing and employing a wire carrier for use in reinforcing the attachment channel of weather seals that includes an expansion and compression resisting element located along at least one bending axis of the carrier when it is folded and molded into the attachment channel of the weather seal. The resisting element can be combined with warp yarns that allow limited expansion and compression along other axes, but in combination with the element prevent collapse of the seal that results in and uneven surface and/or visible kinks. The resisting element can comprise at least one undulating (sinusoidal) wire that is attached (e.g. by welding, soldering, etc.) to the individual crossing carrier wires. Alternatively, the resisting element can comprise another type of structure, such as a thin metal or polymer strip. Likewise, the undulating wire(s) can be constructed from a polymer.
B60J 10/18 - Sealing arrangements characterised by the material provided with reinforcements or inserts
D04B 21/14 - Fabrics characterised by the incorporation by knitting, in one or more thread, fleece, or fabric layers, of reinforcing, binding, or decorative threadsFabrics incorporating small auxiliary elements, e.g. for decorative purposes
D04B 21/20 - Warp knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machinesFabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration
6.
Knitted wire carrier for weather seal insert support with lockstitched reinforcing wire
This invention provides a knitted wire carrier for use in constructing a (e.g.) automotive weather seal that incorporates a locking stitch formed from a relatively incompressible and expansion-resisting material that passes through at least one of the warp threads adjacent to the wire weft. In an embodiment, the locking stitch constructed from a steel (or another metal) wire that is solid or braided. In other embodiments, the locking stitch can be constructed from fiberglass, monofilament polymer or another similarly performing material. In an embodiment, the lockstitch wire is constructed from approximately 0.5-millimeter diameter steel and the wire carrier is constructed from approximately 0.5-0.91-millimeter diameter steel. The wire lockstitch can be woven through a center warp yarn that is surrounded by other knitted warp yarns along the overall weft of the wire carrier. The wire carrier is coated with an adhesive, e.g., latex to maintain the knit in place.
D04B 21/20 - Warp knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machinesFabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration
D04B 21/12 - Open-work fabrics characterised by thread material
D04B 23/12 - Flat warp knitting machines with provision for incorporating unlooped wefts extending from selvedge to selvedge
D04B 21/14 - Fabrics characterised by the incorporation by knitting, in one or more thread, fleece, or fabric layers, of reinforcing, binding, or decorative threadsFabrics incorporating small auxiliary elements, e.g. for decorative purposes
F16J 15/10 - Sealings between relatively-stationary surfaces with solid packing compressed between sealing surfaces with non-metallic packing
B60J 10/18 - Sealing arrangements characterised by the material provided with reinforcements or inserts
A listing bead for use in securing upholstery trim covers to upholstery clips embedded in a foam substrate that includes finger-friendly formations on its surface. The formation in an illustrative embodiment defines a flat top at the upper end of a neck that extends between the bead and the top. Illustratively, the top is formed in two outwardly bent L-shapes extending at right angles in opposing directions from the neck. The bead, neck and flat top define confronting halves, joined at the bottom edge, which encase a web that is constructed and arranged to be secured to the trim cover by adhesives, welding or stitching. The web illustratively includes punched and/or cut holes (tactile indicia) at predetermined intervals therealong that provide visual and tactile feedback to the installer on the approximate location of clips in the substrate during assembly.
A locking structure for the removable attachment of listing beads to structures comprising an upholstery clip that is provided with a clip base (120) with attached counterpoised clip arm assemblies (130) and a key assembly (140). The clip arm assemblies are constructed and arranged of legs (134) and hooks (132) and the key assembly is provided with a neck (142) and a key (144). The clip arm assemblies have a narrow gap between the hooks to receive a listing and attached material. The upholstery clip removably engages with a hard anchor base that is attached to a rigid surface. The hard anchor base is provided with a receiving slot that is sized to removably receive and engage the key of the upholstery clip. The key assembly is inserted into the receiving slot and rotated through ninety degrees of motion to a locking position and is held in position by at least one detent.
This invention provides a low-profile clip (410) adapted to secure a listing bead to a foam substrate. Such a low-profile clip (410) employs a novel geometry and is constructed from a material that affords resilience, durability, high resistance to a wide range of temperatures during field use and seat assembly and ease of bead installation with high pull-out strength. In an illustrative embodiment, the clip includes a base and a pair of legs (416) extending upwardly from the base (520) and defining therebetween a central region constructed and arrangement to capture the listing bead. Each of the legs (416) extends upwardly from the base (520) to a top barb (420) that defines a gap (418) narrower than central region. In this embodiment, the legs (416) each extend upwardly from the base (520) at a first angle of approximately 80 to 85 degrees and therefrom to each of the respective barbs (420) at a second angle, with respect to a plane parallel to the base (520) of approximately 88 to 90 degrees. Each of the legs (416) has an approximate thickness taken along a direction of the parallel line of between approximately 1.0 and 2.0 millimeters. In this manner the clip (410) exhibits high performance while defining an overall height from tops of the legs to a bottom of the base of approximately ten millimeters or less making the clip (410) particularly desirable for use in modern, thinner foam substrates. The clip (410) can be part of a festooned arrangement and can be constructed from a blended polycarbonate.
A low-profile clip adapted to secure a listing bead to a foam substrate and is constructed from a material that affords resilience, durability, high resistance to a wide range of temperatures during field use and seat assembly and ease of bead installation with high pull-out strength. The clip includes a base and a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base to a top barb. In this embodiment, the legs each extend upwardly from the base at a first angle of approximately 80 to 85 degrees and therefrom to each of the respective barbs at a second angle, with respect to a plane parallel to the base of approximately 88 to 90 degrees. In this manner the clip exhibits high performance while defining an overall height from tops of the legs to a bottom of the base of approximately ten millimeters or less making the clip particularly desirable for use in modern, thinner foam substrates.
This invention provides a single or multi-ganged clip that can be grouped into a festooned arrangement. That is, a plurality of clips are arranged together into a discrete assembly along a line of extension so that a human or automated handler can retrieve a grouping, separate one-clip-at-a-time from the grouping, and apply the separated clip to a mold cavity, or other assembly, structure. Each clip can include a base with opposing ends aligned in the direction of extension and transverse to an elongation direction for a connecting segment (if any) between ganged clip members. In an illustrative embodiment, these base ends include opposing male and female connectors. In this embodiment the male connector is a cylinder with an axis that extends transverse to the direction of elongation and the female connector defines a conforming cylindrical inner diameter, which allows it to nest over the male cylinder.
This invention provides a single or multi-ganged clip that can be grouped into a festooned arrangement. That is, a plurality of clips are arranged together into a discrete assembly along a line of extension so that a human or automated handler can retrieve a grouping, separate one-clip-at-a-time from the grouping, and apply the separated clip to a mold cavity or other assembly structure. Each clip can include a base with opposing ends aligned in the direction of extension and transverse to an elongation direction for a connecting segment (if any) between ganged clip members. In an illustrative embodiment, these base ends include opposing male and female connectors. In this embodiment the male connector is a cylinder with an axis that extends transverse to the direction of elongation and the female connector defines a conforming cylindrical inner diameter, which allows it to nest over the male cylinder. A gap opening is provided at the far edge of the female connector to provide clearance for the base that connects the male cylinder to the clip member base end. This gap can be sized to allow a predetermined range of angular rotation of the male connector within the female connector. Clips can be stored as discrete groupings that are stacked in a container, or paid out in a continuous grouping from a spool.
B32B 3/06 - Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions for securing layers togetherLayered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shapeLayered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support
This invention provides a clip (100) for joining tubular members that employs living hinges that are part of a unitary clip including jaws and a base spring. The jaws (110) are joined by a center living hinge (120) and each jaw (110) is also joined along a surface opposite its gripping surface to a cantilevered end (134) of the base spring (130) by a side-mounted living hinge (132). When the clip jaws (110) are in a fully open orientation, with the center hinge (120) at a maximum distance away from the base spring (130), the user biases the central hinge (120) toward the base spring. The base spring ends (134) are thereby biased away from each other, and after the jaws (110) rotate about their living hinges (132) through a position of maximum spread in the base spring ends (134), the spring ends rebound, forcing the jaws (110) downward toward the base spring (130), and into a fully closed orientation. The clip (100) includes a base (140) that can be an anchor that embeds in foam of an upholstery cushion, or can have an adhesive that allows it to be secured to a structure, in the case of a pipe or conduit clamp. The clip can be formed by extrusion, with the hinges optionally coextruded from a more-resilient material. The extrusion can define a strip (610) with cut lines (632) therein that nearly separate the individual clip segments (620), enabling the clip strip (610) to be stored on a spool (1630) and paid out as needed.
F16L 3/12 - Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
patents
