Vehicle seat assembly having a cushion with a colored coating and method of making the same

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a frame, a cushion supported on the frame, with the cushion having a surface area comprising a major portion and a minor portion, and a trim material secured over the cushion to cover the major portion of the surface area. The minor portion of the surface area is uncovered by the trim material and a colored coating is disposed on the minor portion of the surface area of the cushion.

1 . A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
 a frame;   a cushion supported on the frame;   the cushion having a surface area comprising a major portion and a minor portion;   a trim material secured over the cushion to cover the major portion of the surface area, the minor portion of the surface area being uncovered by the trim material; and   a colored coating disposed on the minor portion of the surface area of the cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the colored coating forms a first colored region on the cushion adjacent a second colored region, wherein the first colored region is darker in color than the second colored region. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second colored region is white or yellow. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 2  wherein the cushion has a plurality of first colored regions, wherein each of the first colored regions at a respective uncovered surface portion of the cushion. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 4  wherein the frame comprises a metal frame. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 1  wherein the colored coating has an average thickness of 0.1 to 3 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle seat assembly of  claim 2  wherein the first colored region has a length of 0.25 to 400 cm and an average width of 5 to 150 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing vehicle seat assembly, said method comprising:
 providing a cushion assembly having an average thickness of 0.5 to 4 cm and having a colored coating disposed at a predetermined location on the cushion,   supporting the cushion on a frame;   securing a trim material over the cushion assembly supported on the frame, the trim material not covering at least a portion of the colored coating disposed on the cushion.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the colored coating forms a first colored region on the cushion adjacent a second colored region, wherein the first colored region is darker in color than the second colored region. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second colored region is white or yellow. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the color of the trim material is at least substantially similar to the first color. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the cushion has a plurality of first colored regions, wherein each of the first colored regions is located at a respective uncovered surface portion of the cushion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the frame comprises a metal frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the colored coating has an average thickness of 0.1 to 3 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first colored region has a length of 0.25 to 400 cm and an average width of 5 to 150 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of providing a cushion assembly comprises spraying a colored coating composition in a seat cushion mold at a selected location, closing the mold and introducing foam forming materials into the mold, and curing the composition and the materials to form the cushion assembly having the colored coating thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of providing a cushion assembly comprises forming a cushion and spraying colored coating composition onto the cushion at a selected location. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing vehicle seat assembly, said method comprising:
 providing a cushion assembly having an average thickness of 0.5 to 4 cm and having a colored coating disposed at a predetermined location on the cushion,   supporting the cushion on a frame; and   securing a trim material over the cushion assembly supported on the frame, the trim material being sized such that the trim material, when secured over the cushion assembly, does not cover at least a portion of the coating;   wherein the colored coating forms a first colored region on the cushion adjacent a second colored region such that the first colored region is darker in color than the second colored region; and   wherein the color of the trim material is at least substantially similar to the first color.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the cushion has a plurality of first colored regions, wherein each of the first colored regions are located at a respective uncovered surface portion of the cushion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of first colored regions extend over 1 to 25% of the total surface area of the cushion.