Integrated tie for fastening the upholstery of a vehicle seat cushion and/or seatback, and relative fabrication method

Abstract

A tie for fastening the upholstery of a vehicle seat cushion and/or seatback; the tie including a portion of wire, of predetermined length, fitted integrally at opposite ends with respective mutually connectable end heads, and a portion of tape shorter than the portion of wire and folded longitudinally about the portion of wire, between the heads, to enclose the portion of wire inside a tubular sleeve defined by a U-folded intermediate longitudinal portion of the portion of tape and closed by a flat connecting strip defined by superimposed mutually fixed opposite longitudinal lateral portions of the portion of tape; the connecting strip being stitchable to the upholstery in a conventional manner. The heads are molded, adjacent to and oriented head-to-tail with respect to each other, onto a first portion of wire held taut between the half-molds of an injection press; the wire is drawn and curved 90° to unwind, between the half-molds, a second portion of wire from a reel; and, while one head is gripped so as to maintain the second portion of wire taut, the other head is gripped by a supporting device, which cuts the wire between the adjacent heads, and keeps the first portion of wire taut while rotating it onto a precut portion of tape parallel to an assembly surface, with respect to which the edges of the portion of tape are raised and welded to each other so as to form the tubular sleeve about the portion of wire.