DESCRIPTION Technical field

This invention relates to a covering device for seats.

More specifically, the device according to this invention is used preferably, but not exclusively, in the sector of seats of automobiles or vehicles in general.

Background Art

Different types of prior art covering devices for seats are currently known. However, the type which has been most commonly used for decades comprises two independent portions: a portion designed to cover the backrest of the seat and a lower portion designed to cover the sitting part of the seat.

This solution is however very disadvantageous both in terms of ease of application on the seat and in terms of universality of the sizes.

It is known that various vehicles correspond to different measurements and dimensions of the seat.

Moreover, in order for the prior art type to remain in contact with the seat it uses a series of elastic means fixed on the edge of the two portions and carries on the end a metal or plastic hook.

By pulling and fixing the hooks in the surfaces of the seat opposite to the covered surfaces achieves a good hold of the covering device on the seat. Another prior art type differs from the previous type only in that the upper portion and the lower portion are connected together, for example by stitching, and on this connecting line there are further hooks for fixing on the seat.

Therefore, all the prior art covering devices have major drawbacks.

Both the solutions described were easily installable until a few years ago when the seats of the vehicles comprised a sort of metal mesh beneath the seat, similar to that found in beds.

This metal mesh provided a plurality of gripping points for the above- mentioned hooks and therefore allowed a relatively easy installation of the cover on the seat by the user.

Indeed, it should not be neglected that these covers must be installed on the seat without removing the latter from the vehicle and for this reason the manoeuvring space for the installation is quite restricted.

A further drawback is due to the fact that the presence of metallic or plastic hooks corresponds to a greater cost for the manufacturer.

An aim of this invention is to provide a covering device for seats, in particular, but without limiting the scope of the invention, for vehicles, which is easy to install without requiring further components apart from textile portions and elastic means of the device itself.

Further aims of the invention are to provide a universal device, that is to say, a device which can be used on all the seats of all the vehicles in circulation.

Moreover, the covering device according to this invention allows installation without having to access the lower surface of the sitting part of the seat, that is, the area of maximum difficulty of manoeuvring due to the absence of working space.

Further features and details of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a covering device according to this invention installed on a seat;

- Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a covering device removed from the seat but kept in the installation position for clarity of illustration,

- Figure 3 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the fixing element between the upper portion and the lower portion of the covering device according to this invention,

- Figure 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the fixing element between the upper portion and the lower portion of the covering device according to this invention and

- Figure 5 is a schematic front view of a covering device according to this invention.

The covering device for seats 2 is labelled in its entirety in the accompanying drawings with the numeral 1.

Detailed description

The term seat 2 means any seat preferably of a vehicle, but without limiting the scope of the invention, which comprises at least a backrest and a sitting part.

The covering device 1 for seats 2 according to the invention comprises an upper portion 4 and a lower portion 3 connected together.

The portions 4, 3 are respectively shaped to match the backrest 6 and the sitting part 5 of the seat 2.

Interposed between the upper portion 4 and the lower portion 3 of the device 1 there is a fixing element 7, designed to keep the device 1 removably connected to the seat 2.

More specifically, thanks to this geometry, all the lines and perimeter planes A, B, C, D, 12, 11 of the covering device 1 converge in a single pulling line X.

In this way, with reference to Figure 2, a resulting force F is obtained following the installation on the seat designed to hold the device 1 on the seat 2

As shown clearly in Figure 5, advantageously the upper portion 4 and lower portion 3 of the device 1 both comprise respective central portions 12 having longitudinal elasticity and lateral portions 11 having complete elasticity, both transversal and longitudinal.

The fact that the central portions 12 have longitudinal elastic characteristics is very important for the purposes of adaptability to different dimensions (height of the backrest and length of the sitting part) of seats 2. It is also very important that the central portions 12 are not transversely elastic as this would adversely affect the elastic performance of the covering device.

It is also important that the lateral portions 11 are elastic in every direction since these allow the gripping on the sitting part 5 and on the backrest 6 of the seat 2 and, therefore, generate the correct contact with the fixing element 7 in order to generate the force F.

Advantageously, in order to guarantee an even greater hold on the seat, the perimeter lines B, D of the upper portion and lower portion of the device 1 comprise an edge having elastic characteristics.

The fixing element 7 is described below with particular reference to Figures 3 and 4.

The element 7 comprises at least one rigid central body 10 which extends for the entire width of the connecting portion between the upper portion 4 and the lower portion 3 of the device 1.

This central body 10 basically creates a contact holding the device 1 in the zone towards the sitting part 5 and the backrest 6 of the seat 2.

The central body 10 may be of any shape but the preferred shapes are flat rectangular or cylindrical.

An alternative embodiment of the fixing element 7 also comprises an upper protrusion 8 extending from the central body 10.

The at least one upper protrusion 8 allows a greater fixing and contact on the backrest 6 of the seat 2, guaranteeing in a more optimum manner the generation of the contact force F.

The fixing element 7 may also comprise at least one lower protrusion 9 extending also from the central body 0.

The at least one lower protrusion 9 allows a greater fixing and contact on the sitting part 5 of the seat 2, guaranteeing in a more optimum manner the generation of the contact force F.

This invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art and brings important advantages. A first important advantage is the fact that installation of the covering device 1 is very easy and safe since does not require working under the seat (restricted zone and dangerous due to the presence of various connectors and electrical cables).

In effect, the seat 2 will be installed simply with the following sequence of steps: inserting the upper portion 4 on the backrest 6, inserting the lower portion 3 on the sitting part 5, inserting and arranging the fixing element 7 in the zone for moving the sitting part 5 towards the backrest 6 of the seat. Thus, for fitting purposes, it is sufficient for the user to access above the seat, that is, in the standard position of any seat on a vehicle.

Another important advantage is due to the fact that the different characteristics of elasticity of the central portions 12 and lateral portions 11 achieve a perfect universality, which allows the majority, if not all, the seats currently on the market to be covered.

Finally, it is clear that this invention may be modified, added to or adapted in ways obvious to technicians in the field, without thereby departing from the protective scope of the appended claims.