Patent Application
20240209566
The present disclosure relates to a cover, and more particularly, seams for a waterproof cover.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and that various and alternative forms are possible. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ embodiments according to the disclosure.
“One or more” includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Except in the examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broadest scope of the invention. The term “substantially,” “generally,” or “about” may be used herein and may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed. In such instances, “substantially,” “generally,” or “about” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within +0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred.
It should also be appreciated that integer ranges (e.g., for measurements or dimensions) explicitly include all intervening integers. For example, the integer range 1-10 explicitly includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Similarly, the range 1 to 100 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 97, 98, 99, 100. Similarly, when any range is called for, intervening numbers that are increments of the difference between the upper limit and the lower limit divided by 10 can be taken as alternative upper or lower limits. For example, if the range is 1.1. to 2.1 the following numbers 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0 can be selected as lower or upper limits. In the specific examples set forth herein, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g. pressure, pH, flow rates etc.) can be practiced with plus or minus 50 percent of the values indicated rounded to three significant figures. In a refinement, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g., pressure, pH, flow rates, etc.) can be practiced with plus or minus 30 percent of the values indicated rounded to three significant figures of the value provided in the examples. In another refinement, concentrations, temperature, and reaction conditions (e.g., pressure, pH, flow rates, etc.) can be practiced with plus or minus 10 percent of the values indicated rounded to three significant figures of the value provided in the examples.
It is also to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
Generally, covers are used on various structures such as vehicle or boat seats, furniture (e.g., outdoor furniture), mattresses, and the like. In various instances, these covers require waterproof properties in order to prevent water or other fluids (e.g., bodily fluids) from contaminating the inner cushions of the structure to be covered. For example, the covers may be used on mattresses in the medical field, where fluid intrusion (e.g., water or other bodily fluids) would result in contamination of the inner mattress, on vehicle or boat seats where occupants or the environment may be wet, or on furniture that may be routinely exposed to rain. The waterproof covers are generally impervious to water, such that the inner components covered by the waterproof cover are not infiltrated by water.
In constructing these covers, in order to achieve particular shapes for the waterproof cover, multiple pieces of trim are typically secured together to form the desired shape of the cover. For example, for vehicle seat covers, there may be separate pieces of cover material forming the central region of the seat bottom and side bolsters of the seat bottom. The connection of multiple pieces to form a cover of a desired shape impacts the waterproof properties of the cover, as the joints (or, interchangeably, seams) between parts of the cover provide an opportunity for water to leak through the cover towards the inner component. Conventional solutions involve welding or sealing the seams to prevent water leakage therethrough.
Provided herein is a waterproof cover assembly including a watershed sub assembly and a top cover that are joined together by seams in such a way that water infiltration is limited through the cover assembly. The particular folding, exposure of a coated surface of the components, and location of the stitching limits water infiltration between the top cover watershed sub assembly and any fastening layers provided on the waterproof cover, while exposing the coated surface. A method of forming the waterproof cover is also provided.
According to one or more embodiments, a waterproof cover comprises a first component, such as a waterproof subassembly, having a coated side and an uncoated side. The first component includes a body region, a folding region, and a sewing region therebetween, with the folding region being folded onto and secured with the sewing region such that the coated side is exposed. The waterproof cover also includes a first seam securing the folding region with to the sewing region, and a second component, such as a top cover, secured to the first component to form the waterproof cover, the second component comprising an attachment region and a cover region. The top cover also has a coated side and an uncoated side, with the coated side of the attachment region contacting the coated side of the folding region of the first component. The waterproof cover also includes a second seam securing the second component to the first component to form the waterproof cover, wherein the first seam and the second seam limit water from leaking through the first component and the waterproof cover, respectively. Details of the waterproof cover will now be described with reference to the Figures.
Referring to
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Although shown as being folded one time on the first end 202 of the first component 200, and having two folds (e.g., the folding region 250 as a first fold, and the folding region 250 and sewing region 240 forming the second fold to form second distal end 204), this is not intended to be limiting, and each end may be folded any suitable number times such that the coated side 210 being exposed. As such, at each end, at least 2 layers of the first component 200 are stacked. In the example shown in
With reference again to the example shown in
With reference again to the example shown in
The first component 200 further includes a first seam 260 securing the folding region to the sewing region. The first seam 260 is any suitable seam formed from sewing or stitching of the layers together with any suitable material, such as, for example, nylon, bonded nylon (e.g., Tex 70), polyester, or bonded polyester, to form the seam. In at least one embodiment, the material forming the first seam 260 itself may be waterproof. In an example, the first seam 260 may extend through at least 2 layers of the first component 200. As such, the first seam 260 may pass through at least the folding region end part 252 and the body region end part 232. In another example, the first seam 260 may additionally pass through either the top side 206 or the body region part 254. In another example, the first seam 260 may extend through at least 4 layers of the first component 200. As such, the first seam 260 may extend through the top side 206, the folding region end 252, the body region end 232 and the body region part 234. Thus, depending on the number of folds for the first component 200, the number of layers the first seam 260 passes through may be selected according to the required layers for securing the folding region 250 to the sewing region 240. In variations, the first seam 260 may extend through at least four layers, extending from the top side 206 to a bottom side 242 of the sewing region 240 (for example, along the vertical axis Y). As such, the first component 200 is provided as a watershed subassembly for the waterproof cover 100.
Referring again to
In the examples shown in
Although shown as being folded one time to define the first cover end 302 of the second component 300, this is not intended to be limiting, and the second component 300 may be folded any suitable number times such that the coated side 310 being exposed. As such, at the first cover end 302, at least 2 layers of the second component 300 are stacked. In the example shown in
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In certain examples, as shown in
As such, according to various embodiments, a waterproof cover is provided. The waterproof cover includes a first component and a second component, secured together at a joint where both components have a coated waterproof side exposed. The first component is folded in such a way that the external surface of the first component is the coated side, with the uncoated side contacting itself. The first component also includes a folding region folded over a sewing region to form an end. A first seam connects the folding region and the sewing region of the first component. An attachment region of the second component is positioned over the folding region, and a second seam connects the attachment region to the first component to form the joint for the waterproof cover. The seams provided herein may pass through additional layers as based on the desired folding, but generally result in a joint that is impervious to water or fluids upon use of the waterproof cover. A method of forming the waterproof cover with the joint as described above is also provided.
Aspect 1. A waterproof cover comprises a first component comprising a coated side and an uncoated side, the first component comprising a body region, a folding region, and a sewing region therebetween, the folding region folded onto and secured with the sewing region such that the coated side is exposed. The waterproof cover also comprises a first seam securing the folding region to the sewing region. The waterproof cover comprises a second component comprising a coated side and an uncoated side, the second component secured to the first component to form the waterproof cover, and the second component comprising an attachment region and a cover region, with the coated side of the attachment region contacting the coated side of the folding region of the first component. The waterproof cover also comprises a second seam securing the second component to the first component to form the waterproof cover.
Aspect 2. The waterproof cover of aspect 1, where the cover region of the second component is folded over the attachment region of the second component such that the coated side is exposed.
Aspect 3. The waterproof cover of aspects 1 or 2, wherein the folding region of the first component comprises a folding region end and a folding region part between the folding region end and the sewing region, and the folding region end is folded under the folding region part.
Aspect 4. The waterproof cover of any of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the uncoated side of the folding region end contacts the uncoated side of the folding region part.
Aspect 5. The waterproof cover of any of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the coated side of the first component exposed at the folding region contacts the coated side of the second component exposed at the attachment region.
Aspect 6. The waterproof cover of any of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the body region of the first component comprises a body region end and a body region part between the body region end and the folding region, and the body region end is folded over the body region part to form the sewing region.
Aspect 7. The waterproof cover of aspect 6, wherein the uncoated side of the body region end contacts the uncoated side of the body region part.
Aspect 8. The waterproof cover of aspects 6 or 7, wherein the first seam extends through at least the folding region part, the folding region end, the body region end, and the body region part.
Aspect 9. The waterproof cover of any of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the attachment region of the second component comprises an attachment region end and an attachment region part between the attachment region end and the cover region, and the attachment region end is folded under the attachment region part.
Aspect 10. The waterproof cover of aspect 9, wherein the second seam extends through at least the attachment region end, the folding region part, the folding region end, the body region end, and the body region part.
Aspect 11. The waterproof cover of any of the preceding aspects, wherein each coated side includes a polyurethane coating.
Aspect 12. A waterproof cover comprises a first component comprising a continuous sheet with at least three folded sections such that the first component has at least four layers at a first component attachment region, and a first seam securing the at least four layers. The waterproof cover also comprises a second component secured to the first component to form the waterproof cover, the second component comprising at least one folded region such that the second component has at least two layers at a second component attachment region; and a second seam securing at least one layer of the second component to the first component to form the waterproof cover.
Aspect 13. The waterproof cover of aspect 12, where the second seam extends through at least four layers of the first component.
Aspect 14. The waterproof cover of aspects 12 or 13, further comprising a third component layer secured to the first component on a side opposite to the second component.
Aspect 15. The waterproof cover of aspect 14, wherein the third component layer is a zipper layer, and the second seam extends through the zipper layer to secure the zipper layer to the waterproof cover.
Aspect 16. The waterproof cover of any of aspects 12 to 15, wherein the first component is folded such that a coated side of the first component is exposed.
Aspect 17. The waterproof cover of aspect 16, wherein the second component is folded such that a coated side of the second component is exposed and in contact with the coated side of the first component.
Aspect 18. A method comprises securing a folding region of a first component to a sewing region of the first component via a first seam to expose a coated surface of the first component; positioning an attachment region of a second component on the coated surface of the folding region; securing the attachment region to the first component via a second seam passing through the attachment region of the second component and the folding region and sewing region of the first component; and folding a cover region of the second component over the attachment region to expose a coated surface of the second component.
Aspect 19. The method of aspect 18, further comprising securing a zipper layer to the first and second component via the second seam passing through the zipper layer, the attachment region, the folding region, and the sewing region.
Aspect 20. The method of aspects 18 or 19, wherein positioning the attachment region includes contacting a coated surface of the attachment region with the coated surface of the folding region.
Further aspects are also contemplated, consistent with the above disclosed embodiments and their combinations.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms according to the disclosure. In that regard, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments according to the disclosure.
