US20030164630A1

US20030164630A1 - Automobile headrest cover with personalized logo

Info

Publication number: US20030164630A1
Application number: US10/087,517
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith McKinney; Larry Yopp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-01
Filing date: 2002-03-01
Publication date: 2003-09-04

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel automobile headrest cover comprising a material, which exactly matches the material of the original headrest of the vehicle, and which exactly covers said original headrest in such a manner as to provide a perfect fit as well as to not show the novel closure mechanism, and a personalized embroidered logo on the forward facing surface of the headrest cover.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the art that automobile enthusiasts customize and personalize their vehicles in many ways. Some examples of such customizing and personalizing include additions of pinstriping and names or logos to external painted surfaces and names or logos, in the form of a banner, to internal windshield surfaces. Customizing or personalizing the upholstery of a vehicle would normally be considered an expensive undertaking, requiring removal and disassembly of the article, followed by personalizing the article, and then reassembly and replacement of the article. It would then constitute a significant advance in the art if an inexpensive (relative to the above) personalized embroidered headrest cover could be placed in a vehicle, which appeared to be an OEM option. The present invention relates to an automobile headrest cover, bearing a personalized embroidered logo, said cover being manufactured from the identical material to that used in manufacturing the original vehicle. Said cover is manufactured to fit snugly over the existing OEM headrest and utilizes a novel closure system which is not readily visible thus giving the headrest cover, with its personalized logo, an OEM-like appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel automobile headrest cover comprising four pieces of material and two closure pieces. The four pieces of material are referred to as the front panel member (a), the rear panel member (b), the center panel member (c) and the bottom panel member (d). The four panel members are made of the same upholstery material as the headrest in the vehicle over which the headrest cover is to be placed. The two closure pieces are referred to as (e). The closure pieces may be two sections of Velcro® strip, one “hook” and the other “loop”, two pieces of material, one bearing button/socket snaps and the other bearing corresponding eyelet/stud snaps, or a zipper. Preferred are the two sections of Velcro® strip as these can be incorporated into the design of the cover such that the closure mechanism of the cover is virtually invisible. The general shapes of the four panel members are shown in FIGS. 1-4. When the six sections are sewn together and hemmed, the complete headrest cover with personalized embroidered logo appears as in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following example illustrates the present invention. This example is not construed to limit the scope of the appended claims in any manner whatsoever.

EXAMPLE 1

Four panels of black vinyl upholstery identical to the black vinyl upholstery of a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette were cut to the dimensions shown in Table I. In addition a 1″×10″ length of black Velcro® “hook” and a 1″×10″ length of black Velcro® “loop” were cut. [0005]

TABLE I

Front Panel (a) 10″ × 14⅜″

Rear Panel (b) 10″ × 14⅝″

Center Panel (c) 3½″ × 23⅝″

Bottom Panel (d) 3½″ × 10″
1) Panel members (a), (b), (c), and (d) were cut from the RIGHT side of the vinyl material, cutting notches into the panels as shown in FIGS. [0006] 1A-4A.
2) Chalk lines were drawn on the RIGHT side of panel member (a), from the top notch to the bottom notch and from the left side notch to the right side notch. These guide lines help in the placement of the embroidered personalized logo. [0007]
3) Panel member (d) was folded in half lengthwise, with the RIGHT side out. Matching up the raw edges, panel member (d) was sewn to panel member (a) along its bottom, using a ⅜″ seam. This flap was folded down and sewn on the RIGHT side of the vinyl material, ⅜″ from the folded edge, for the entire length. Extra material on the end was trimmed. [0008]
4) The 1″ black Velcro® “loop” strip was placed on the back of panel member (d), even with the bottom edge. The length of the strip was attached by top stitching, to catch the outer edges of the Velcro®. [0009]
5) With RIGHT sides facing, panel member (a) was sewn to panel member (c), matching notches. Sewing began at the top center notch and worked toward one end, then sewing again began from the top center notch to the other end of the material. This was finished by top stitching ⅜″ from the seam on panel member (c). [0010]
6) On the bottom of panel member (b) was placed the 1″ black Velcro® “hook” face up on the RIGHT side of the panel member, ⅜″ in from the edge. The length of the strip was stitched to catch the outer edges of the Velcro®. The other end of the Velcro® was trimmed to within ⅜″ from the end. [0011]
7) With RIGHT sides together panel member (b) was sewn to panel member (c), matching notches and using a ⅜″ seam. Sewing was begun at the top center notch and worked toward one end, then sewing was again begun from the top center notch to the other end of the material. This seam was NOT top stitched. [0012]
8) The assembled cover was turned to the RIGHT side. With the RIGHT side facing, ⅜″ of the material on the raw edges of the panel members (a), (b), and (c) was folded under making adjustments if necessary. A {fraction (3/16)}″ stitch line was sewn from the folded edge. This gave the cover a finished look on the bottom. Excess material found on the underside of the bottom edge was trimmed away. [0013]

Claims

1. An automobile headrest cover comprising

(a) a front panel member bearing an embroidered personalized logo; and

(b) a rear panel member; and

(c) a center panel member; and

(d) a bottom panel member; and

(e) two closure strips; and assembled to snugly fit over an automobile headrest.

2. The automobile headrest cover of claim 1, wherein said panel members (a), (b), (c), and (d) are made of the same material as the upholstery of the automobile headrest over which said cover is to be placed.

3. The automobile headrest cover of claim 2, wherein said panel members (a), (b), (c), and (d) are made of leather, vinyl, or cloth.

4. The automobile headrest cover of claim 1, wherein said two closure strips (e) further comprise a means for securing said automobile headrest cover over said automobile headrest.

5. The automobile headrest cover of claim 4, wherein said closure strips (e) are a strip of Velcro® “hook” and a strip of Velcro® “loop”.

6. The automobile headrest cover of claim 4, wherein said closure strips (e) are a zipper.

7. The automobile headrest cover of claim 5, wherein said panel members (a), (b), (c), and (d) are manufactured from the material identical to that supplied in a Chevrolet Corvette automobile.

8. The automobile headrest cover of claim 1, wherein said cover is assembled by;

(1) folding panel member (d) lengthwise and attaching it to panel member (a); and

(2) attaching a Velcro® “loop” strip to panel member (d); and

(3) attaching panel member (a) to panel member (c); and

(4) attaching a Velcro® “hook” strip to the bottom of panel member (b); and

(5) attaching panel member (b) to panel member (c); and

(6) folding over and sewing all remaining raw material edges; and

(7) trimming off any excess material.

9. The automobile headrest cover of claim 8, wherein said cover is assembled to fit snugly over the headrest of a Chevrolet Corvette automobile.