EP0764733A1 - Textile upholstery for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

The fitted fabric covering material, especially for automobile use, is a material (2) with a right (2a) and a left (2b) surface together with an intermediate transfer layer (7) not visible at the right (2a) surface, and continuously across it. An underlay (3) is bonded to the left surface (2b). The intermediate layer (7) has a synthetic multifilament (6) where each separate filament has the same thickness. The right surface (2a) is composed of a further synthetic multifilament (5), with filaments also of equal thickness but of a different thickness from the filaments in the intermediate layer (7), in a ratio of ≥ 1.5.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of seats, in particular automobile seats, which are covered with a textile covering. It relates more particularly to a textile covering based on knitting, in particular velor knits, or of double-sided fabric whose bottom or back respectively is provided with a comfort or protective undercoat.

Textile coverings for seats generally have a foam as an underlay which is attached to the bottom ply of the knitted fabric or to the reverse side of the double-sided fabric by buckling, according to the well-known foaming technique. When the textile covering is intended to be mounted on an existing seat, the foam has a determined thickness, generally one or more millimeters with, in addition, an external lining which constitutes the reverse side of the covering.

In the case where the covering is intended for a seat in situ, that is to say a seat which is produced in a mold in which the covering has been placed, in a first variant, the foam has a reduced thickness and adheres to an impermeable film which constitutes the external face of the coating. In this case, the outer film serves as a barrier to the materials introduced into the mold for the production of the seat in situ. In a second variant, the foam is a microcellular foam which acts as a barrier.

In the field of seats and in particular automobile seats, there is an increasing search for user comfort. Among the parameters entering into this notion of comfort, we note the capacity for the seat cover to absorb and evacuate moisture as and when it is produced by the user during his stay on the seat. .

Of course, one can think of using particularly absorbent textile materials. However, this choice is often the opposite of another. property necessary for seat coverings which is resistance to abrasion. This is why most of the textile seat coverings are made of synthetic materials, which are more resistant to abrasion, dirt and also at a lower price.

One can also think of carrying out specific treatments, in particular primer, to improve the properties of absorption of moisture by the materials constituting the coating. However, this significantly increases the cost price on the one hand by additional treatment operations and on the other hand by the cost of the primer. In addition, the effectiveness of such treatments is limited.

The aim set by the applicant is to provide a textile seat covering which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks while significantly improving the capacity for absorbing and removing moisture produced by the user.

This object is perfectly achieved by the coating of the invention which comprises on the one hand a fabric, having a right side and a reverse side, and on the other hand an underlayer secured to the reverse side of the fabric.

Typically, the fabric comprises a so-called transfer ply which does not appear on the face side and which has transverse continuity, that is to say in a direction parallel to the underlayer. In addition, the transfer ply is produced from at least one first multi-strand synthetic yarn, each unit strand of which has a given first count, and the right side of the fabric is produced from at least one second synthetic yarn. multi-strand, each unit strand of which has a second titration given, which is in a ratio of at least 1.5 with respect to the first titration.

The humidity produced by the user is absorbed and diffused through the threads forming the right side of the fabric, until it reaches the transfer sheet. Surprisingly, the humidity is somehow pumped by the transfer ply and migrates transversely with respect to the wires of the face side according to the plane of the transfer sheet, parallel to the sub-layer. We obtain in a way a drainage of the humidity coming from the surface threads of the right side by the transfer ply, due to a more pronounced capillary effect caused by the variation in titration of the unit strands, in accordance with the invention. This result is all the more surprising since the underlay is attached to the reverse side of the fabric and one would have expected that the presence of this underlay would prevent the diffusion of moisture. .

Preferably, the ratio between the second and the first titration is between 1.8 and 3.5.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and the second son have the same overall titration, differing only in the number of unit strands which is lower for the second wire compared to the first in the proportion of the titration ratio of at least 1.5.

In an exemplary embodiment, in the case of polyester yarns having a titration of 167 dtex, the number of unit strands was 32.48 or 68 for the second yarn forming the face side, and respectively 96.96 or 128 for the first wire forming the transfer ply.

The fabric may in particular be a knitted fabric, made on a circular knitting loom or else on a chain type loom, single or double needle bed. It can be a flat Jacquard knit or one with reliefs. It can also be knitting with insertion of long wefts, over the entire width of the knitting, between the constituent yarns of the right and wrong sides of the knitting. In the latter case, the transfer ply may consist either of weft threads or of weft threads and also of threads constituting the reverse side of the knitted fabric which does not appear on the right side.

The fabric is preferably a velvet knit, consisting of a base ply, on which are looped, forming the pile of velvet after shaving. In this case, it is the base ply which acts as both the transfer ply and the reverse side of the fabric, while the loops, forming the pile of the velvet, act as the right side of the fabric. In this case in the case of polyester threads having a titration of 167 dtex, the number of unit strands is preferably 32.48 or 68 for the loop thread and respectively 96.96 or 128 for the bottom thread.

The fabric can also be a double-sided fabric.

The sub-layer is preferably a foam which is joined to the reverse side of the fabric by buckling. It is for example a foam at least one millimeter thick comprising an outer lining, itself secured to the foam by buckling. It may also be a foam having a thickness of less than one millimeter secured to the reverse side and to an impermeable film for buckling protection.

• Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues schématiques en coupe d'un premier et d'un deuxième modes de réalisation d'un revêtement textile pour siège, mettant en oeuvre un tricot , non velours,
• Les figures 3 à 6 sont des représentations sous forme de diagrammes de tricots Jacquard entrant dans la structure du revêtement textile pour siège , des premier et deuxième exemples
• Et les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues schématiques en coupe d'un troisième et d'un quatrième exemples de réalisation d'un revêtement textile pour siège , mettant en oeuvre un tricot velours.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which will be given of several exemplary embodiments of a textile covering for seats, illustrated by the appended drawing in which:

• FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic sectional views of a first and a second embodiment of a textile covering for a seat, using knitted fabric, not velvet,
• Figures 3 to 6 are representations in the form of Jacquard knit diagrams entering the structure of the textile covering for seat, of the first and second examples
• And Figures 7 and 8 are schematic sectional views of a third and a fourth embodiment of a textile covering for seat, using a velvet knit.

The textile covering 1, specially adapted for car seats, shown in FIG. 1, comprises three successive layers.

The first layer is a velvet knit 2 that is obtained in a conventional manner on a loom in circular knitting or warp knitting machine, with a plurality of son which are meshed together to form a material having a given volume, a place two facing and reverse side 2 b .

The second layer 3 is a polyurethane foam and the third layer 4 is a lining, for example a blocked mesh.

The assembly of the three layers 2, 3, 4 is carried out according to the foaming technique, by surface buckling of the foam 3 and application under pressure of the face of the corresponding layer 2, 4 having to be secured with the foam 3. During the buckling, there is a localized melting on the surface of the foam which acts as a sort of adhesive for the attachment either of the reverse side 2b of the knitted fabric 2 or for the lining 4.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, the knitted fabric 2 comprises a so-called transfer ply 7 which does not appear on the right side 2a of the knitted fabric 2 and which has transverse continuity in a direction DD 'which is parallel to the general direction underlay 3.

According to a second characteristic of the invention, the threads 5 form the right side 2 a of the knitted fabric 2 - hereinafter called straight threads - and the threads 6 constituting the transfer ply 7 - hereinafter called transfer threads - are made of a multifilamentary synthetic material, each unitary strand of which has a differentiated titration, the titration of the place threads 5 being in a ratio of at least 1.5 with respect to the titration of the transfer threads 6.

The effect produced by the titration difference between the unitary strands of the face yarns 5 and the transfer yarns 6 consists in an increase in the capillary effect in the presence of moisture. When moisture appears at the place 2 face knit 2, it is absorbed by the son of place 5, moisture by capillary progressing inward knitting 2. In an attempt to explanation, the humidity which comes to accumulate inside the knitted fabric 2, is in a way pumped by the transfer ply 7, the capillarity of the threads 6 constituting said ply 7 being greater than that of the place threads 5. In view of the structure of the wires 6 of the transfer ply 7, the moisture thus sucked in progresses in the general direction D, D ′ of said transfer ply 7, diffusing into this transfer ply 7 beyond the zone where the humidity was created. We have therefore a wicking or draining effect which evacuates the moisture created at the level of the place wires 5. Thus the moisture created in a given area is very quickly absorbed and evacuated. This results in particularly interesting comfort for the user.

When the yarns 6 constituting the transfer ply 7 also form the reverse side 2b of the knitted fabric 2, the diffusion of moisture in the direction D, D 'of the transfer ply 7, beyond the zone where it has was generated, however, is not prevented by the partial blocking of the reverse side 2 a which is in contact with the foam 3. Since the foaming, the foam 3 is applied, in the substantially molten state, by pressure against the reverse side 2 b of the knitted fabric, a substantial overlapping of the foam is obtained on the threads forming this reverse side 2 b . Unexpectedly, this interference of the foam 3 does not modify the effect of accelerated capillarity and the feeling of comfort provided by the characteristic of the invention.

A fortiori, there is no difficulty in transverse capillary diffusion in the transfer ply 7, when the threads 6 constituting the latter are only weft threads, inserted in the interior volume of the knitted fabric, between threads forming the reverse sides 2 b and place 2 a thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 2, there is shown schematically a second embodiment of textile covering for seats 9 also comprising three layers. The first layer 10 is a knit of the same type as knit 2 of the first example. The second layer 11 is a foam of much thinner thickness than that 3 of the first example. The third layer 12 is a plastic film, for example made of polyurethane. In the foaming technique which is used to make the reverse side 10b of the knitted fabric 10 integral, the foam 11 is generally called the foam zero. In reality it is a thin foam which, after buckling, is further reduced substantially so that the adhesion between the reverse side 10 b and the film 12 is almost by point-to-point bonding, using residual foam.

The foam 3 of the coating 1 of the first example was of the order of 2.5 mm, while the foam 11 of the second example was before foaming, of the order of 1 millimeter.

De préférence, les fils d'endroit et les fils de transfert ont des titrages globalement identiques et ne diffèrent que par le nombre de brins unitaires par fil , ce nombre de brin étant lui-même dans le rapport de titrage correspondant , selon l'invention.In the table below, the values of the titrations of the constituent yarns of the face side and of the constituent yarns of the transfer ply have been given for three exemplary embodiments, as well as for each example the value of the titration ratio of the unitary strands of the place wires compared to that of transfer wires.

Preferably, the place wires and the transfer wires have globally identical titrations and differ only in the number of unit strands per wire, this number of strands itself being in the corresponding titration ratio, according to the invention .

The first example of knitting which is illustrated by the diagram in FIG. 3 is a Jacquard knitting with three colors, flat, knitted on a circular double needle bed. The yarns from the falls A, B, C, E, F, G which knit on the plate and in the cylinder of the loom, are in particular multifilament yarns 310dtex 58 strands or 240dtex 64 strands while the falling threads D and H, which constitute the reverse side of the knit, with homogeneous transverse continuity, are multifilaments of 167dtex 96 strands. The titration ratio is 3.08 in the first case and 2.16 in the second case.

The knitting, the knitting diagram of which is illustrated in FIG. 4, is a three-color Jacquard in relief, obtained on a double needle circular knitting machine. We use the same type of wire, with the same titrations, as in the first example above, except that for falls B and D we use a 160dtex 96 strand wire in two ends.

The knit shown in the diagram illustrated in Figure 5 is a Jacquard two colors single needle. The drop wires A, B, D and E are for example multi-strand 310dtex 58 strands or 240dtex 64 strands while the drop wires C and F are multi-strand 167dtex 96 strands in two ends.

The fourth knit which is the subject of the diagram illustrated in FIG. 6 is a two-colored Jacquard in double wall relief, with weft insertion.

According to a first variant, the drop wires A to H are multi-strand 167dtex 32 strands and the two wefts T ₁ and T ₂ incorporated between the plate and the quilting cylinder are multi-strand 167dtex 96 strands in three or four ends.

In accordance with the characteristic of the invention, the diffusion of the moisture coming from the face side of this knitted fabric is captured by the transfer ply which is constituted by all of the weft threads. This moisture therefore remains trapped between the two sides, right side and back side of the knitted fabric.

According to a second variant, the falls A, B, C, E, F, G are multi-strand 167dtex 32 strands while the two wefts T ₁ and T ₂ incorporated between the plate and the quilting cylinder are multi-strand 167dtex 96 strands in three or four ends and the drop wires D and H are multi-strand 167dtex 96 strands in two ends.

In this case, the transfer ply consists of both the weft threads T ₁ and T ₂ and the drop threads D and H.

In the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the textile fabric which constitutes the first layer of the textile covering 13 is a knitted fabric velvet 14 which is conventionally obtained on a circular knitting loom with loop threads 15 which are meshed on a base ply 16. In the example illustrated, the mesh part 16a of the base ply 16 passes under the part mesh 15a of the loop threads 15. Conventionally, after knitting, one or more shaves of the loop threads 15 were carried out so as to eliminate the upper end portions of the loops and possibly the floats in the case of a Jacquard effect. and to get the pile short of velvet. The second 17 and third 18 layers are similar to those described in the first example, as is the assembly of the three layers 14, 17 and 18, the foam of the second layer 17 hanging mainly on the mesh part 16a of the base ply 16, which constitutes the reverse side of the velvet knit 14.

According to the invention, the loop wires 15 and the wires constituting the base ply 16 are made of a multifilament synthetic material, each unitary strand of which has a differentiated titration, the titration of the loop wires 15 being in a ratio of at least minus 1.5 with respect to the titration of the bottom yarns 19 constituting the bottom ply 16. This bottom ply 16 acts as a transfer ply: it does not appear on the right side of the velvet knit, constituted by short pile velvet and has a transverse continuity in the direction DD 'which is parallel to the general direction of the underlay 17. The loop threads 15 and the bottom threads 19 provide the same capillary effect, due to the difference in titration between their unit strands, as that which was described previously for the place son 5 and the transfer son 6 of the first example.

In the figure, there is shown schematically a fourth embodiment of a textile covering 19 for seats, similar in structure to that of the second example illustrated in FIG. 2. The first layer 21 is a velvet knit of the same type as the velvet knit 14 from the third example. The second layer 22 is a foam of much thinner thickness than that 17 of the third example. The third layer 23 is a plastic film, for example in polyurethane. The joining of the mesh part 24a of the base ply 24 of the velvet knit 21 with the second layer 22 is also carried out by the foaming technique, of the zero foam type.

De préférence, le titrage global des fils de boucles et des fils de fond sont identiques et ne diffèrent que par le nombre de brins unitaires par fil, ce nombre de brin étant lui-même dans le rapport de titrage correspondant.In the table below, the values of the titrations of the loop wires and of the bottom wires have been plotted for ten exemplary embodiments, as well as for each example the value of the titration ratio of the unit strands of the loop wires relative to that background wires.

Preferably, the overall titration of the loop threads and of the bottom threads are identical and differ only in the number of unit strands per thread, this number of strands itself being in the corresponding titration ratio.

The textile fabric is not necessarily a knitted fabric, but can also be a double-sided fabric, produced on suitable looms, the threads of the reverse side of which constitute the transfer ply, not found on the right side.

The technical effect provided by the characteristic of the invention appears immediately when a quantity of the textile covering is dropped determined water. On a traditional textile covering, not comprising the titration gap in accordance with the invention, the water forms a stain having a determined surface. This task disappears only very gradually by simple evaporation. In the case of a textile coating having the structure and the titration ratio in accordance with the invention, the task initially formed extends over a much larger surface, of the order of several times the surface of the initial task; when touched, after a few minutes, it is very difficult to perceive moisture, while the stain on the traditional coating is constantly wet until it disappears.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described by way of non-exhaustive examples, in particular, in the case where the covering is intended for the production of a seat in situ, the sub- layer may also be a microcellular foam having a thickness of about 2.5 to 10 mm which acts as a barrier to the materials introduced into the mold for the manufacture of the seat in situ. Furthermore, even if the preferred application of the textile covering of the invention relates to the car seat, this is not limiting. The textile covering of the invention can find other outlets, in which the property of absorption and diffusion of moisture by differentiated capillarity will be emphasized.

Claims (12)

Seat textile covering comprising on the one hand a fabric (2), having a right side (2 a ) and a reverse side (2 b ), with a so-called transfer ply (7) which does not appear on the right side (2 a ) and which has transverse continuity and on the other hand a sub-layer (3) secured to the reverse side (2 b ) of the fabric (2), the transfer ply (7) being produced from at least one first multi-strand synthetic yarn (6), each unitary strand of which has a given first titration, and the face side (2 a ) being produced from at least one second multi-strand synthetic yarn (5), each of which single strand has a second given titration, which is at least 1.5 times the first titration. Coating according to claim 1 characterized in that the ratio between the second and the first titrations is between 1.8 and 3.5. Coating according to one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the first and the second son have the same overall count, differing only in the number of unit strands which is lower for the second wire (5) compared to the first ( 6) in the proportion of the titration ratio of at least 1.5. Coating according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the transfer ply (7) consists of threads forming the reverse side (2 b ) of the fabric (2). Cover according to Claim 3, characterized in that the fabric is a knitted fabric, with the exception of a velvet knitted fabric and in that, in the case of polyester yarns having a count of 167dtex, the number of unitary strands is 32,48 or 68 for the second place thread (5), and respectively 96,96 or 128 for the first transfer thread (6). Covering according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fabric (2) being a knitted fabric, with the exception of a velvet knitted fabric, the transfer ply (7) consists of weft threads inserted between the yarns forming the right side (2 a ) and reverse (2 b ) of the knitted fabric (2). Covering according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fabric is a double-sided fabric. Cover (13) according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the fabric is a velvet knit (14), consisting of a base ply (16) acting as a transfer ply, on which are meshed loops (15) forming the pile of velvet after shaving, serving as the right side. Cover (13) according to Claim 8, characterized in that, in the case of polyester threads having a titration of 167dtex, the number of unit strands is 30.48 or 68 for the loop thread (15) and respectively 96, 96 or 128 for the bottom wire (19) of the bottom ply (16). Covering according to Claim 1, characterized in that the underlayment is a foam (3) at least one millimeter thick which is joined upside down by buckling and which comprises an external lining (4), itself secured to the foam by buckling. Covering according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sub-layer is a foam having a thickness of less than one millimeter secured by buckling on one side to the reverse side ( 2b ) of the knitted fabric (2) and on the other to a waterproof protective film. Coating according to one of claims 1 or 10 characterized in that the sub-layer is a microcellular foam having a thickness of the order of 2.5 to 10 mm.

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