Hoover Universal, Inc.

Annette H Holbrook

Gregary A Haupt

David H Eggleston

Peter A Pehur

Paul E Koenig

A method for manufacturing automotive seat assemblies using fabrics with pre-bonded adhesives. Adhesives are pre-bonded to the back surface of fabric material using a variety of processes. The fabric with pre-bonded adhesive is then cut into pieces, which may be joined with other pieces, to form a trim cover assembly. Heat is then applied to activate the adhesive and attach the trim cover assembly to a cushion pad to manufacture a complete automotive seat assembly. The invention methodology allows the use of shorter bonding cycle times to achieve a suitable bond and reduces the likelihood of omitting, improperly positioning or wrinkling the adhesive.

Method for manufacturing automotive seat assemblies using pre-bonded

A method for bonding a cover fabric to a cushion body to form a seating component, preferably a seat cushion of a vehicle seat assembly, includes the step of supplying a heated atmosphere, preferably steam under pressure, to a forming tool of a forming apparatus, the forming tool diffusing the heated atmosphere and passing the heated atmosphere out of the tool, through the cover fabric, and into the cushion body to melt an adhesive layer between the cushion body and the cover fabric, while the cushion body and cover fabric are subjected to a pressurized environment, preferably by locating the forming apparatus, the cover fabric, and the cushion body in a pressure chamber maintained at relatively high pressure.

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Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Annette H Holbrook