1. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of lines provided in a joining region on an outer surface of the first stitchable material, each of the plurality of lines being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of notches provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the plurality of lines and plurality of notches are mated such that each of the plurality of lines provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the plurality of notches provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches.
2. The upholstery of claim 1, wherein as part of alignment, the joining regions of the first and second stitchable materials are overlapped with one another and aligned based on positions of the plurality of lines and plurality of notches to receive the plurality of sequentially formed stitches to join the first stitchable material and the second stitchable material.
3. The upholstery of claim 2, wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting a top surface of the second stitchable material and a top surface facing away from the top surface of the second stitchable material and the plurality of lines are provided on the top surface of the first stitchable material.
4. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches,
wherein as part of alignment, the joining regions of the first and second stitchable materials are overlapped with one another and aligned based on positions of the plurality of first and second alignment features to receive the plurality of sequentially formed stitches to join the first stitchable material and the second stitchable material,
wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting a top surface of the second stitchable material and a top surface facing away from the top surface of the second stitchable material and the plurality of first alignment features is provided on the top surface of the first stitchable material, and
wherein each of the plurality of first alignment features comprises indicator means for providing a marking on the top surface of the first stitchable material that is visible to a sewing person using the alignment features during a sewing process and during alignment of the first stitchable material relative to the second stitchable material and formation of the flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials and is invisible to a person viewing the top surface of the first and second stitchable materials after formation of the flat seam.
5. The upholstery of claim 4, wherein the indicator means is established on the top surface of the first stitchable material using infrared marking visible to the sewing person using an infrared vision system during the sewing process and invisible to all observers unaided by the infrared vision system.
6. The upholstery of claim 4, wherein the indicator means is established by a temporary washable ink that is removed from the top surface of the first stitchable material after formation of the flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials.
7. The upholstery of claim 4, wherein the indicator means is a line.
8. The upholstery of claim 4, wherein the indicator means is one of a symbol and a series of symbols.
9. The upholstery of claim 1, wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting the second stitchable material and a top surface facing away from the second stitchable material and the plurality of lines are provided on the bottom surface of the first stitchable material.
10. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches,
wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting the second stitchable material and a top surface facing away from the second stitchable material and the plurality of alignment features is provided on the bottom surface of the first stitchable material, and
wherein each of the plurality of second alignment features is a notch formed in the second stitchable material, each notch is V-shaped to define an apex, and each of the plurality of first alignment features is a line established on the bottom surface of the first stitching material that is aligned with and intersects the apex of a companion one of the notches formed in the second stitching material.
11. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches,
wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting the second stitchable material and a top surface facing away from the second stitchable material and the plurality of alignment features is provided on the bottom surface of the first stitchable material, and
wherein each of the plurality of second alignment features is a notch formed in the second stitchable material, the second stitchable material includes a bottom surface facing away from the top surface thereof and each of the plurality of first alignment features formed on the bottom surface is arranged to align with and extend into a companion one of the notches and to be visible to an observer viewing the bottom surfaces of the first and second stitchable materials after formation of the flat seam to facilitate a quality inspection of the alignment of the first and second stitchable materials.
12. The upholstery of claim 1, wherein the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface contacting a top surface of the second stitchable material, a top surface facing away from the top surface of the second stitchable material, and an edge extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the first stitchable material and facing toward the top surface of the second stitchable material, and the plurality of lines are provided on the edge of the first stitchable material.
13. The upholstery of claim 1, wherein the second stitchable material includes a top surface and a bottom surface facing away from the top surface, the first stitchable material includes a bottom surface mating with the top surface of the second stitchable material, a top surface facing away from the bottom surface of the first stitchable material and an edge arranged to interconnect and extend between the top and bottom surfaces of the first stitchable material and face toward a portion of the top surface of the second stitchable material, and the plurality of lines are provided on each of the top and bottom surfaces and the edge of the first stitchable material.
14. The upholstery of claim 13, wherein, as part of alignment, the joining regions of the first and second stitchable materials are overlapped with one another and aligned based on positions of the plurality of first and second alignment features to receive the plurality of sequentially formed stitches to join the first stitchable material and the second stitchable material.
15. The upholstery of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of the first alignment features is a line segment and each of the line segments provided on the edge is arranged to interconnect companion line segments provided on the top and bottom surfaces of the first stitchable material.
16. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches
wherein a location of the plurality of second alignment features is indicated using infrared marking.
17. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches
wherein the plurality of first alignment features is formed via one of ink jet and airbrush.
18. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches
wherein the plurality of first alignment features is formed via washable ink.
19. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches
wherein the plurality of first alignment features is formed via infrared marking.
20. Upholstery comprising
first and second stitchable materials,
a plurality of first alignment features provided in a joining region on the first stitchable material, each of the first plurality of alignment features being a marking on the first stitchable material,
a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material, and
a plurality of sequentially formed stitches cooperate to couple the first and second stitchable materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second stitchable materials,
wherein the first and second pluralities of alignment features are mated such that each of the first alignment features provided on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features provided in the second stitchable material, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner to establish an alignment mechanism for alignment of the first and second stitchable materials that further enables formation of the flat seam which comprises a plurality of sequentially formed stitches
wherein the plurality of first alignment features is formed via one of burnishing and laser.
21. The upholstery of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second stitchable materials is a covering material for at least one of automotive door panels, automotive consoles, automotive armrests, automotive sun visors, automotive headrests, and automotive instrument panels.
22. A method for aligning first and second stitchable material portions of upholstery materials as part of joining the stitchable material portions via a flat seam, the alignment method comprising the steps of
forming a plurality of lines each being a marking in a joining region on an outer surface of the first stitchable material portion,
forming a plurality of notches provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material portion, and
mating the plurality of lines and plurality of notches such that each line on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the plurality of notches, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner that further enables formation of the flat seam, wherein, as part of alignment, the joining regions of the first and second stitchable materials are overlapped with one another and aligned based on positions of the plurality of lines and notches to receive stitches included in the flat seam to join the first stitchable material and the second stitchable material.
23. A method for aligning first and second stitchable material portions of upholstery materials as part of joining the stitchable material portions via a flat seam, the alignment method comprising the steps of
forming a plurality of first alignment features in a joining region on the first stitchable material portion, the plurality of first alignment features each being a marking,
forming a plurality of second alignment features provided in a joining region on the second stitchable material portion, and
mating the pluralities of first and second alignment features such that each marking on the first stitchable material is positioned to be aligned with a companion one of the second alignment features, thereby enabling alignment of the first and second stitchable material portions in a manner that further enables formation of the flat seam, wherein, as part of alignment, the joining regions of the first and second stitchable materials are overlapped with one another and aligned based on positions of the plurality of first and second alignment features to receive stitches included in the flat seam to join the first stitchable material and the second stitchable material, and
wherein the flat seam comprises a plurality sequentially formed stitches of each stitch comprising two outer threads, formed into first and second outer thread loops, and at least one inner thread, formed into at least one inner thread loop, the first and second thread loops spaced across a width of the joining region, the at least one inner thread loop being positioned between the first and second outer thread loops,
wherein each of the inner and outer thread loops transversely penetrate both the first and second stitchable materials in their respective joining regions and each of said inner and outer thread loops have a bight portion engaging a bottom surface of the first and second stitchable materials, and
wherein at least one looper thread formed on, and coplanar with the bottom surfaces of the first and second stitchable materials.
24. A method of aligning and joining first and second portions of upholstery materials comprising the steps of
providing first material having an outer top surface, an inner bottom surface and lines being a marking on the bottom surface,
providing second material having an outer top surface, an inner bottom surface and notches at an edge,
overlapping the first material and second material such that the top surface of the first material faces away from the second material and the top surface of the second material faces the bottom surface of the first material,
aligning at least one of the lines on the first material with a notch on the second material, and
forming stitches to couple the first and second materials to one another to establish a flat seam on the first and second materials and with the top surface of the first material facing in the same direction as the top surface of the second material.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A position-linked chat system for carrying out a chat using a plurality of terminals connected to a server device through a network, wherein said server device includes,
a chat room control unit which generates a plurality of chat rooms divided based on a geographical standard related to the current position of each user;
a chat room selecting unit which selects a chat room in which a user at a terminal is to participate, based on information relating to the current position of the terminal posted from each terminal; and
a sound control unit which mixes voices of users transmitted via terminals of respective users who participate in the same chat room selected by said chat room selecting unit.
2. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said chat room control unit generates a plurality of hierarchical chat rooms of which division ranges are mutually different and mutually superimposed.
3. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said chat room control unit generates a plurality of chat rooms that are divided based on a geographical standard, and that are further divided based on a standard of a purpose of each user.
4. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein when a chat room has been selected by said chat room selecting unit, said chat room control unit generates, combines or divides the chat room according to the number of users participating in the chat room.
5. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said chat room selecting unit selects a chat room corresponding to the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
6. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said server device further includes a move-destination position estimating unit which estimates a position of moving destination of a user based on a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, and
said chat room selecting unit selects a chat room corresponding to a position of a move destination of a user estimated by said move-destination position estimating unit, as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
7. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said chat room selecting unit changes over a chat room in which a user is to participate, according to a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal.
8. The position-linked chat system according to claim 7, wherein when said chat room selecting unit is to change over a chat room, said sound control unit posts to a terminal of a user participating in the chat room to be changed over that the chat room will be changed over.
9. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said server device further includes an inter-terminal distance calculating unit which calculates a distance between terminals based on the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, and
said sound control unit controls sound volume of sound output from each terminal according to a distance between terminals calculated by said inter-terminal distance calculating unit.
10. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein said server device further includes an inter-terminal distance calculating unit which calculates a distance between terminals based on the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, and
when a distance between terminals calculated by said inter-terminal distance calculating unit is within a predetermined distance, said sound control unit posts to each terminal of each user coming close to each other that the users are coming close to each other.
11. The position-linked chat system according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of chat rooms have been selected in which the terminal user is to participate, said sound control unit mixes the voice of this user transmitted via the user terminal with voices transmitted via terminals of users participating in the plurality of chat rooms.
12. A position-linked chat method for carrying out a chat using a plurality of terminals connected to a server device through a network, wherein said server device performs the steps of:
generating a plurality of chat rooms divided based on a geographical standard related to the current position of each user;
selecting a chat room in which a user at a terminal is to participate, based on information relating to the current position of the terminal posted from each terminal; and
mixing voices of users transmitted via terminals of respective users who participate in the same chat room selected at the step of selecting a chat room.
13. The position-linked chat method according to claim 12, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
14. The position-linked chat method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:
estimating a position of a move destination of a user based on a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, wherein
at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to a position of a move destination of a user estimated at the move-destination position estimating step is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
15. The position-linked chat method according to claim 12, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room in which a user is to participate is changed over according to a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal.
16. A computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program for carrying out a chat using a plurality of terminals connected to a server device through a network, wherein said server device stores a computer program for performing the steps of:
generating a plurality of chat rooms divided based on a geographical standard related to the current position of each user;
selecting a chat room in which a user at a terminal is to participate, based on information relating to the current position of the terminal posted from each terminal; and
mixing voices of users transmitted via terminals of respective users who participate in the same chat room selected at the step of selecting a chat room.
17. The computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program according to claim 16, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
18. The computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:
estimating a position of a move destination of a user based on a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, wherein
at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to a position of a move destination of a user estimated at the move-destination position estimating step is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
19. The computer-readable recording medium recorded with a program according to claim 16, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room in which a user is to participate is changed over according to a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal.
20. A program for carrying out a chat using a plurality of terminals connected to a server device through a network, wherein said server device stores a computer program for performing the steps of:
generating a plurality of chat rooms divided based on a geographical standard related to the current position of each user;
selecting a chat room in which a user at a terminal is to participate, based on information relating to the current position of the terminal posted from each terminal; and
mixing voices of users transmitted via terminals of respective users who participate in the same chat room selected at the step of selecting a chat room.
21. The program according to claim 20, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
22. The program according to claim 20, further comprising the step of:
estimating a position of a move destination of a user based on a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal, wherein
at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room corresponding to a position of a move destination of a user estimated at the move-destination position estimating step is selected as a chat room in which the user is to participate.
23. The program according to claim 20, wherein at the chat-room selecting step, a chat room in which a user is to participate is changed over according to a change in the current position of each terminal posted from each terminal.