Vehicle seats

Abstract

To stabilize deployment behavior of an airbag module in a vehicular seat including the airbag module including an airbag and an inflator which causes the airbag to deploy.SOLUTION: A vehicular seat includes: a seat back frame part 19 forming a framework of a seat back; a frame bracket 34 coupled to one side as seen in a lateral direction of the seat back frame part; a module bracket 36 holding an airbag module 23 and fastened at fastening points P1, P2 of the frame bracket; and a pan frame 20 coupled to a back surface of the seat back frame part. The pan frame includes an extending part 32 extending from an upper part of the seat back frame part to the one side as seen in the lateral direction below the fastening points at the one side as seen in the lateral direction. At least a part of the airbag module is located in front of the extending part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] It relates to a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag.

Background Art

[0002] [[ID=第十二]]There is known a vehicle seat including a back frame serving as a skeleton of a seat back, and a pan frame (rear panel) that covers the back side of the back frame and is coupled to the back frame on the surface, and an airbag module (airbag device) is attached to the surface of the pan frame (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, since the airbag module is attached to the pan frame, there is a risk that the deployment behavior of the airbag module becomes unstable.

[0005] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to stabilize the deployment behavior of an airbag module in a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag and an inflator for deploying the airbag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the vehicle seat (1) according to the present invention comprises a seat back frame portion (19) that constitutes the framework of the seat back, a frame bracket (34) coupled to one side in the left-right direction of the seat back frame portion, a module bracket (36) that holds an airbag module (23) and is to be fastened at fastening points (P1, P2) of the frame bracket, and a pan frame (20) coupled to the back surface of the seat back frame portion, wherein the pan frame includes an extension portion (32) that extends from the upper part of the seat back frame portion to the left-right direction on one side in the left-right direction, below the fastening points, and at least a part of the airbag module is located in front of the extension portion.

[0007] In this embodiment, the airbag module is supported by the seatback frame, thus stabilizing its deployment behavior. Since a portion of the airbag module is covered from the rear by the extension, the airbag module can be protected from rearward loads. Furthermore, because the fastening points and the extension do not overlap in a rearward view, assembly of the airbag module becomes easier.

[0008] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a gap (S) in the front-rear direction is preferably provided between the extension portion and the airbag module.

[0009] In this configuration, when a load is applied to the extension from the rear, the load is not directly applied to the airbag module. Therefore, changes in the posture of the airbag module can be prevented, and occupant protection can be more reliably achieved.

[0010] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a molding member (80) is included which is connected to the seat back frame portion on one side in the left-right direction and defines the outer shape of the seat back, and the molding member is connected to the extension portion.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the rigidity of the extension can be increased because the extension is reinforced by the molded member.

[0012] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the molded member may be connected to the seat back frame portion in front of the extension portion.

[0013] According to this embodiment, when a load is applied from the rear, it is blocked by the extended portion, thus preventing the load from being applied to the joint between the molded member and the seat back frame.

[0014] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the upper edge of the extension portion is preferably located below the upper edge of the seat back frame portion.

[0015] According to this embodiment, space can be secured above the extended portion for installing components such as switches.

[0016] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the outer edge on one side in the left-right direction of the extension portion may be located in a position corresponding to the front and rear of the outer edge on one side in the left-right direction of the assembled airbag module.

[0017] According to this embodiment, by positioning the outer edges on one side of the extension portion and the outer edges on one side of the airbag module in corresponding front-to-back positions, the formation of a step in the lateral direction between the extension portion and the airbag module can be suppressed. This improves the aesthetic design of the seat back.

[0018] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the frame bracket and the pan frame are each formed from sheet metal members, and the thickness of the frame bracket is preferably greater than the thickness of the pan frame.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the airbag module can be more firmly supported by the seatback frame during deployment, resulting in more stable airbag deployment behavior.

[0020] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the seat back frame frame portion may have a pair of left and right side frames and an upper frame connecting the two side frames, and the frame bracket may be connected to the front edge and rear edge of the side frame located on one side in the left-right direction, respectively.

[0021] According to this embodiment, the frame bracket can be more firmly attached to the side frame, thereby making the deployment behavior of the airbag more stable.

[0022] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the molded member is a bent wire member, and the molded member has an upper part (81) and a lower part (83) of the molded member that are coupled to the side frame, and a central part (82) of the molded member that connects the upper part and the lower part of the molded member vertically on one side of the side frame in the left-right direction, the central part of the molded member includes an upper half (82A) that extends to the extension and a lower half (82B) that extends downward from the lower end of the upper half, and a through hole (X) is provided behind the fastening point, which is defined by the molded member, the extension and the side frame and penetrates in the front-rear direction.

[0023] According to this embodiment, since through holes are provided that penetrate in the front-to-back direction, the frame bracket and the module bracket can be easily fastened by inserting a fastening tool into the through holes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle seat according to the present invention includes a seat back frame portion that constitutes the framework of the seat back, a frame bracket coupled to one side in the left-right direction of the seat back frame portion, a module bracket that holds an airbag module and is to be fastened at a fastening point of the frame bracket, and a pan frame coupled to the back surface of the seat back frame portion. The pan frame includes an extension portion that extends from the upper portion of the seat back frame portion to one side in the left-right direction below the fastening point on one side in the left-right direction, and at least a part of the airbag module is located in front of the extension portion. According to this aspect, since the airbag module is supported by the side frame, the deployment behavior of the airbag module is stabilized. Since a part of the airbag module is covered from behind by the extension portion, the airbag module can be protected against loads from behind. Further, since the fastening point and the extension portion do not overlap in a rear view, the assembly of the airbag module becomes easy.

[0025] Also, according to an aspect in which a gap is provided in the front-rear direction between the extension portion and the airbag module, when a load is applied to the extension portion from behind, the load is not directly applied to the airbag module. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the posture of the airbag module from changing, and more reliably protect the occupant.

[0026] Also, according to an aspect including a molding member that is coupled to the seat back frame portion on one side in the left-right direction and defines the outer shape of the seat back, and the molding member is coupled to the extension portion, the extension portion is reinforced by the molding member, so that the rigidity of the extension portion can be increased.

[0027] Also, according to an aspect in which the molding member is coupled to the seat back frame portion in front of the extension portion, when a load is applied from behind, it is blocked by the extension portion, so that it can be prevented from being applied to the coupling portion between the molding member and the seat back frame portion.

[0028] Furthermore, in an configuration where the upper edge of the extension is located below the upper edge of the seat back frame, space can be secured above the extension for installing components such as switches.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the configuration in which the outer edge on one side of the extension portion in the left-right direction and the outer edge on one side of the airbag module in the left-right direction are positioned in front-rear correspondences, the formation of a step in the left-right direction between the extension portion and the airbag module can be suppressed by providing the outer edges on one side of the extension portion and the outer edges on one side of the airbag module in front-rear correspondences. This improves the aesthetic design of the seat back.

[0030] Furthermore, if the frame bracket and pan frame are each formed from sheet metal members, and the thickness of the frame bracket is greater than that of the pan frame, the airbag module can be more firmly supported by the seat back frame during deployment, thus making the airbag deployment behavior more stable.

[0031] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the seat back frame frame has a pair of left and right side frames and an upper frame connecting the two side frames, and the frame bracket is connected to the front and rear edges of the side frame located on one side in the left-right direction, respectively. In this configuration, the frame bracket can be more firmly connected to the side frame, thereby making the deployment behavior of the airbag more stable.

[0032] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the molded member is a bent wire member, and the molded member has an upper part and a lower part connected to the side frame, and a central part that connects the upper part and the lower part of the molded member vertically on one side in the left-right direction of the side frame, the central part of the molded member includes an upper half extending to the extension and a lower half extending downward from the lower end of the upper half, and a through hole is provided behind the fastening point, defined by the molded member, the extension and the side frame, and penetrating in the front-rear direction, so that a through hole is provided that penetrates in the front-rear direction, the frame bracket and the module bracket can be easily fastened by inserting a fastening tool into the through hole. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Front view of a vehicle seat with the pad and surface material removed. [Figure 3] Section III-III in Figure 1 [Figure 4] Perspective view of the upper left of a vehicle seat with the pad and surface material removed. [Figure 5] Exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the airbag module to the side frame when viewed from the front. [Figure 6] Exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the airbag module to the side frame as seen from the rear. [Figure 7] (A) Front view and (B) Rear view of the upper left of the vehicle seat with the pad and surface material removed. [Figure 8] Rear view of a vehicle seat with the pad and surface material removed. [Figure 9] Side view of the upper left of a vehicle seat with the pad material, surface material, and airbag module removed. [Figure 10] Rear view of a vehicle seat with the surface material removed. [Figure 11]Diagrams showing the airbag module (A) before assembly, (B) during assembly, and (C) after assembly. [Figure 12] Diagrams illustrating (A) the first modified form and (B) the second modified form of the reinforcing cloth. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention applied to the rear seat of an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the front, rear, left, right, and up and down directions will be described with reference to the front of the automobile.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat 1 according to the present invention constitutes the left side of the second-row rear seat in an automobile equipped with two rows of seats, front and rear. The vehicle seat 1 is installed on the floor 2 of the automobile and has a seat cushion 4 that supports the buttocks of the occupant, a seat back 5 supported at the rear of the seat cushion 4 and functioning as a backrest, and a headrest 6 provided on the upper part of each seat back 5.

[0036] The seat cushion 4 extends to the left and right, forming a seating surface 9 for two occupants. Below the seat cushion 4, a pair of lower rails 10 are provided, which are connected to the upper surface of the floor 2 and extend in the front-to-back direction. An upper rail is connected to each of the lower rails 10 so as to be slidable along the direction of extension of the lower rails 10. The seat cushion 4 is supported by the floor 2 via the lower rails 10 and the upper rails so as to be slidable in the front-to-back direction.

[0037] The seat back 5 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends vertically and has a forward-facing surface. A support surface 12 is formed on the front of the seat back 5 to support the backs of two occupants. At its lower end, the seat back 5 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the frame that constitutes the seat cushion 4 via a known reclining mechanism.

[0038] Two headrests 6 are provided side by side at the upper end of the seat back 5. Each headrest 6 is preferably rotatably connected to the seat back 5 at its lower end, with its axis in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the vehicle seat 1 may be an underfloor storage seat, where the seat back 5 can be folded forward and stored in a storage space formed in the floor 2 by operating a predetermined strap.

[0039] Next, the structure of the seat back 5 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the seat back 5 has a seat back frame 18 as a skeleton (see Figure 2), a pad member 21 supported by the seat back frame 18 (see Figure 3), a surface member 22 provided on the front of the pad member 21 and constituting the outer surface of the seat back 5 (see Figure 3), and an airbag module 23 supported by the seat back frame 18 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0040] As shown in Figure 2, the seat back frame 18 forms the skeleton of the seat back 5 and comprises a seat back frame section 19 that is roughly rectangular in shape and a pan frame 20 (plate) positioned behind the seat back frame section 19. The seat back frame section 19 includes a pair of left and right side frames 26 (side members) that extend vertically, an upper frame 27 that extends horizontally and connects to the upper ends of the left and right side frames 26, and a lower frame (not shown) that extends horizontally and connects to the lower parts of the left and right side frames 26. The upper side frame sections 26U and upper frame 27 that constitute the upper parts of the left and right side frames 26 are formed by bending a single circular pipe material 28 into an inverted U-shaped gate. The lower side frame sections 26D (see Figure 3) that constitute the lower parts of the left and right side frames 26 are formed by sheet metal members 29 having surfaces facing left and right. The sheet metal member 29 is welded at its upper end to the end of the pipe material 28, with each end facing inward towards the seat. The front and rear edges of the sheet metal member 29 are bent inward toward the seat. The lower ends of the left and right side frames 26 are rotatably connected to the frame constituting the seat cushion 4 via a reclining mechanism. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the lower part 26D of the side frame is formed by two sheet metal members 29 arranged facing each other on the left and right sides and connected to each other.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the lower part 26D of the left side frame is provided with a frame bend 30 that is folded inward in the left-right direction (i.e., to the right) at approximately the center in the vertical direction.

[0042] The pan frame 20 is a metal plate-shaped member, positioned on the rear sides of the two side frames 26 and the upper frame 27 with its surfaces facing front to back. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the pan frame 20 comprises a pan frame base 31 that covers the rear of the side frames 26, the upper frame 27, and the lower frame, and a pan frame extension 32 that extends from the pan frame base 31 to the left side of the side frame 26 on the outside (left side) of the vehicle. The pan frame base 31 is welded to the upper frame 27 at its upper edge, to the lower frame at its lower edge, and to appropriate locations on the left and right side frames 26 at its left and right side edges. In this way, the pan frame 20 is connected to the back of the seat back frame frame portion 19. As shown in Figure 2, multiple reinforcing beads 31A and weight-reducing holes 31B may be provided at appropriate locations on the pan frame base 31.

[0043] As shown in Figure 3, one side frame 26 (the left side in this embodiment) is directly connected to a single frame bracket 34. As shown in Figure 6, a module bracket 36 (retainer) that holds the airbag module 23 is fastened to the frame bracket 34. Thus, the airbag module 23 is connected to the side frame 26 via the module bracket 36 and the frame bracket 34. As shown in Figure 4, the airbag module 23 is in the shape of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped extending along the extending direction of the side frame 26, and is positioned so that its outer surface faces in the left-right direction.

[0044] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the frame bracket 34 is a bent sheet metal member, and as shown in Figure 3, the thickness of the frame bracket 34 is greater than the thickness of the pan frame 20. Because the thickness is set in this way, the frame bracket 34 has significantly higher rigidity than the pan frame 20 and is less prone to deformation.

[0045] The frame bracket 34 has a roughly rectangular plate-shaped bracket base 42 that generally faces left to right, a bracket front piece 43 (see Figure 5) connected to the front edge of the bracket base 42, and a bracket inclined piece 44 (see Figure 6) connected to the rear end of the bracket base 42.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the bracket front piece 43 is plate-shaped and extends to the right from the front end of the bracket base 42. As shown in Figure 7(A), the bracket front piece 43 is welded to the front surface of the sheet metal member 29 that forms the lower left side frame 26D. In this embodiment, the bracket front piece 43 is welded to the front surface of the sheet metal member 29 near the upper right edge and near the lower right edge, respectively. In Figures 7(A) and (B), the welded areas are colored with dot hatching.

[0047] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the bracket inclined piece 44 is plate-shaped and inclined to the right (inward towards the vehicle) towards the rear. As shown in Figure 7(B), the rear edge of the bracket inclined piece 44 is bent to the right and welded to the rear surface of the sheet metal member 29. In this embodiment, the bracket inclined piece 44 is welded to the rear surface of the sheet metal member 29 at its upper right edge and lower right edge, respectively. As a result, the frame bracket 34 is connected to the front edge and rear edge of the left side frame 26 of the seat back frame portion 19, respectively.

[0048] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, it is preferable that positioning holes 45 and 46 are provided in the frame bracket 34 and the sheet metal member 29, respectively. In this embodiment, the bracket base 42 is provided with two through-holes, which are positioning holes 45, and the sheet metal member 29 is also provided with two through-holes, which are positioning holes 46, at corresponding positions. During welding, by inserting a jig into the positioning holes 45 provided in the bracket base 42 and the corresponding positioning holes 46 provided in the sheet metal member 29, it becomes easy to maintain the frame bracket 34 in the appropriate position relative to the sheet metal member 29. This makes it easy to weld the frame bracket 34 to the sheet metal member 29 in the appropriate position. Furthermore, in order to facilitate welding between the frame bracket 34 and the sheet metal member 29, as shown in Figure 6, the pan frame 20 is provided with a welding work hole 47 that penetrates from front to back behind the frame bracket 34.

[0049] As shown in Figure 6, the bracket inclined piece 44 is provided with two stud bolts 48. More specifically, the stud bolts 48 are fixed to the bracket inclined piece 44 by passing them through holes provided in the bracket inclined piece 44 and welding them.

[0050] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the module bracket 36 is a bent sheet metal member and comprises a plate-shaped retainer base 50 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions, and a plate-shaped retainer inclined piece 51 connected to the rear edge of the retainer base 50 and inclined to the right toward the rear.

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the retainer inclined piece 51 is provided with a bolt hole 52 that penetrates in the thickness direction. The retainer inclined piece 51 is positioned along the rear surface of the bracket inclined piece 44. The module bracket 36 is fastened to the frame bracket 34 by passing stud bolts 48 through the bolt holes 52 and tightening nuts 49 (fasteners) onto each stud bolt 48. In this embodiment, cap nuts are used as nuts 49. Hereafter, the point at which the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36 are fastened together, more specifically the intersection of the axis center of the stud bolt 48 and the rear surface of the bracket inclined piece 44, will be referred to as the fastening point P.

[0052] The module bracket 36 is provided with bolt holes 52 at positions corresponding to the stud bolts 48 of the bracket inclined piece 44. As a result, the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36 are fastened together at two fastening points P1 and P2 (see Figure 7).

[0053] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the vertical width of the module bracket 36 and the vertical width of the frame bracket 34 are substantially the same. More specifically, the vertical width of the bracket base 42 and the vertical width of the retainer base 50 are approximately equal, and when the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36 are fastened together, the upper edge of the bracket base 42 and the upper edge of the retainer base 50, and the lower edge of the bracket base 42 and the lower edge of the retainer base 50 are positioned to be aligned vertically.

[0054] As shown in Figure 3, the airbag module 23 comprises an airbag 61, an inflator 62 that releases gas into the airbag 61 to inflate and deploy it, and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 63 that houses the airbag 61 and the inflator 62. The inflator 62 is substantially cylindrical and has a male threaded portion 64 that protrudes radially outward from its outer circumferential surface.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the case 63 is a bottomed rectangular tube and comprises a case body 63A with an opening and a lid 63B that closes the opening of the case body 63A. The airbag 61 and inflator 62 are housed inside the case body 63A. As shown in Figure 6, the airbag 61 is housed inside the case 63 in a folded state. The left front edge of the lid 63B is provided with a slit 65 that rips open when the airbag 61 inflates and deploys. The bottom wall of the case body 63A is provided with a through hole 66 that penetrates through its thickness at a predetermined position.

[0056] The male threaded portion 64 protrudes from the inside of the case 63 through the through hole 66 to the outside. As shown in Figure 5, the retainer base 50 is provided with a bolt hole 56 that penetrates in the thickness direction, and the male threaded portion 64 is inserted into the bolt hole 52. The case 63 is fastened to the retainer base 50 by tightening a nut 67 onto the male threaded portion 64. As a result, the airbag module 23 is coupled to the module bracket 36 and held on the left side of the retainer base 50. The airbag module 23 is assembled to the left side frame 26 by fastening the module bracket 36 and the frame bracket 34 at fastening points P1 and P2. At this time, the airbag module 23 is positioned so that the case 63 extends vertically and the opening of the case body 63A faces outward to the left (to the left in this embodiment), and is coupled to the left side of the retainer base 50. After assembly, the airbag module 23 is connected to the left side frame 26 via the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36, and is supported by the left side frame 26. In this embodiment, two through holes 58 are provided in the bracket base 42 to avoid interference between the male threaded portion 64 and the frame bracket 34 when the module bracket 36 is fastened to the frame bracket 34. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the through holes 58 and the positioning holes 45 may be connected and integrated.

[0057] As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the pan frame extension 32 extends to the left from the top of the left side frame 26 and reaches the rear left end of the assembled airbag module 23 in a rear view. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the pan frame extension 32 is located above both of the two stud bolts 48 (i.e., the two fastening points P1 and P2) in a rear view, and the stud bolts 48 (i.e., fastening points P1 and P2) are located at different positions vertically from the pan frame extension 32. In other words, as shown in Figure 8, the pan frame 20 has an extension 150 that extends to the left from the left side frame 26, and notches 152 are provided in the extension 150 at positions corresponding to the fastening points P1 and P2 so that the fastening points P1 and P2 are exposed. As shown in Figure 9, the pan frame extension 32 is located spaced apart behind the airbag module 23, and a gap S is provided in the front-rear direction between the pan frame 20 (more specifically the pan frame extension 32) and the airbag module 23.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2 and 8, the upper part of the airbag module 23 is positioned in front of the pan frame extension 32. As a result, the pan frame extension 32 overlaps the upper half of the airbag module 23 in a rear view, and the upper half of the airbag module 23 is covered from the rear by the pan frame extension 32. The upper edge of the pan frame extension 32 is positioned to be roughly aligned with the upper edge of the airbag module 23 in the vertical direction, and the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32 is positioned between the upper and lower edges of the airbag module 23 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32 is located approximately in the vertical center of the airbag module 23.

[0059] As shown in Figure 8, the left outer edge of the pan frame extension 32 extends along the upper left outer edge of the airbag module 23 after assembly. In this embodiment, the left outer edge of the pan frame extension 32 and the upper left outer edge of the airbag module 23 are aligned in the front-to-back direction, and they generally overlap when viewed from the rear. This prevents the formation of a step in the left-to-right direction between the pan frame extension 32 and the airbag module 23, improving the aesthetic design of the seat back 5.

[0060] As shown in Figure 2, the upper edge of the pan frame extension 32 is located below the upper edge of the pan frame base 31, and the upper edge of the pan frame extension 32 is located below the upper edge of the seat back frame 19. This makes it possible to secure space U for arranging a reclining switch knob N, etc., to the right of the left edge of the airbag module 23 and to the left of the right edge of the seat back frame 19, below the upper edge of the seat back frame 19, and above the airbag module 23.

[0061] The pad member 21 is formed from a flexible cushioning material such as polyurethane foam. As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the pad member 21 includes a front pad member 70 (see Figure 3) that covers the seat back frame 19 and the airbag module 23 from the front, a side pad member 71 (see Figure 3) that is connected to the left-right outer end (i.e., the left side) of the front pad member 70 and extends rearward, a rear pad member 72 (see Figures 3 and 8) that extends inward (i.e., to the right side) from the rear end of the side pad member 71, and an upper pad member 73 (see Figure 8) that connects the upper end of the front pad member 70, the upper end of the rear pad member 72, and the upper end of the side pad member 71. The rear pad member 72 covers the seat back frame 19 and the airbag module 23 from the rear, and the upper pad member 73 covers the seat back frame 19 and the airbag module 23 from above.

[0062] As shown in Figure 10, the rear pad member 72 is provided with a slit 75 extending outward (left side) from its inner edge (right edge). The slit 75 is a hole that penetrates the rear pad member 72 and is located below the frame bracket 34. As shown in Figure 8, the slit 75 is linear and extends substantially horizontally (i.e., extends in the left-right direction) and reaches the rear of the airbag module 23. In this embodiment, the slit 75 extends from the right edge of the rear pad member 72 to the left, along the lower end of the airbag module 23 in a rear view, and reaches the rear of the lower left end of the airbag module 23. As shown in Figure 8, the left-right width L1 of the slit 75 is set to be greater than or equal to the left-right width L2 of the airbag module 23. The slit 75 extends to the right from approximately the center of the rear pad member 72 in the left-right direction, reaching the right end of the rear pad member 72 and forming an open end 75A. That is, an open end 75A that opens to the right is formed on the right edge of the slit 75.

[0063] An auxiliary slit 76 is provided at the joint between the rear pad member 72 and the upper pad member 73, extending in the front-to-back direction. The auxiliary slit 76 is also a hole that extends in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, the auxiliary slit 76 extends from the upper inner edge (right edge) of the rear pad member 72 outward to the left and right (i.e., to the left). In this embodiment, the auxiliary slit 76 is linear and inclined upward from the upper right edge of the rear pad member 72 toward the left. At this time, the angle between the extension direction of the auxiliary slit 76 and the horizontal direction should be approximately 45 degrees.

[0064] Slit 75 is located below both of the two fastening points P1 and P2 when viewed from the rear, and auxiliary slit 76 is located above both of the two fastening points P1 and P2. In other words, the two fastening points P1 and P2 are located between slit 75 and auxiliary slit 76 when viewed from the rear.

[0065] The side pad member 71 (see Figure 3) is a rectangular parallelepiped that extends vertically on the left and right outer sides (i.e., the left side) of the airbag module 23, covering the airbag module 23 from the left outer side. As shown in Figure 3, a deployment hole 77 is provided at the front of the side pad member 71. The deployment hole 77 is a hole that penetrates the side pad member 71 in the left-right direction and is formed on the left and right outer sides (i.e., the left side) of the airbag module 23. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the deployment hole 77 is formed to extend vertically along the extending direction of the seat back 5, and as shown in Figure 3, the deployment hole 77 is located in front of the slit 75.

[0066] As shown in Figure 4, the vehicle seat 1 includes a molded member 80 connected to the seat back frame 19, more specifically to the left side frame 26. The molded member 80 is formed from a bent wire member and, as shown in Figure 7(A), is welded to the left side frame 26 at both ends. As shown in Figure 9, the molded member 80 is positioned behind the airbag module 23, and a gap T is formed in the front-rear direction between the airbag module 23 and the molded member 80. By constructing the molded member 80 from a wire member in this way, the weight of the molded member 80 can be reduced and the structure of the molded member 80 can be simplified.

[0067] As shown in Figure 4, the molded member 80 is welded to the upper part of the left side frame 26 and comprises a molded upper part 81 (upper part of the molded member) extending outward to the left from the left side frame 26, a molded central part 82 (central part of the molded member) extending downward from the left end of the molded upper part 81, and a molded lower part 83 (lower part of the molded member) extending downward to the right from the lower end of the molded central part 82 and welded to the lower part of the left side frame 26.

[0068] As shown in Figure 5, the left and right inner ends (right end in this embodiment) of the molded upper part 81 are provided with bent portions 81A formed by bending downward along the upper part of the left side frame 26. As a result, the molded upper part 81 is formed of a main body portion 81B that extends in the left-right direction and an extension portion 81C that extends downward from the left and right inner ends (right end) of the main body portion 81B at its inner end. As shown in Figure 7(A), the upper mounting portion 85 is provided on the bent portion 81A, more specifically on the extension portion 81C, and the molded upper part 81 is welded to the upper left side surface of the left side frame 26 at the upper mounting portion 85. As shown in Figure 5, the upper mounting portion 85 is located in front of the upper part of the pan frame extension portion 32, and the molded member 80 is joined to the left side frame 26 in front of the pan frame extension portion 32. As a result, the portion of the upper mounting portion 85 welded to the side frame 26 is covered from the rear by the pan frame extension portion 32, thus protecting the welded portion from loads from the rear. The central and left ends of the molded upper part 81 are positioned to align front to back with the upper edge of the pan frame extension 32, and in a rear view, the central part of the molded upper part 81 extends left to right along the upper edge of the pan frame extension 32.

[0069] As shown in Figure 4, the central molding section 82 connects the upper molding section 81 and the lower molding section 83 vertically on the left side (left) of the left side frame 26. The central molding section 82 extends downward from the left end of the upper molding section 81 and includes an upper half 82A that extends along the left edge of the pan frame extension section 32, and a lower half 82B that extends downward from the lower end of the upper half 82A. The upper half 82A is the portion provided in the range from the upper left edge to the lower left edge of the pan frame extension section 32 when viewed from the rear, and the lower end of the upper half 82A, i.e., the upper end of the lower half 82B, is positioned to align front to back with the lower left edge of the pan frame extension section 32. As a result, the central molding section 82 extends downward from the pan frame extension section 32. The upper half 82A and the lower half 82B are located to the left and right outer sides (i.e., to the left) of the left side frame 26, and as shown in Figure 8, a gap W is formed in the left-right direction between the lower half 82B and the left side surface of the left side frame 26.

[0070] In this embodiment, the upper half 82A of the molded central portion 82 is joined to the left edge of the pan frame extension 32. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7(B), the upper half 82A is welded to the left edge of the pan frame extension 32 at two locations (see the colored areas in Figure 7(B)).

[0071] As shown in Figure 7(A), the molded lower part 83 comprises a main body portion 86 extending roughly in a straight line downward and to the right from the lower end of the molded central portion 82, and a lower mounting portion 87 connected to the lower end of the main body portion 86 and welded to the left side surface of the left side frame 26. The main body portion 86 is inclined downward toward the right (inward in the left-right direction). The molded member 80 has a molded bend portion 88 that is bent inward to the left and right between the lower half portion 82B of the molded central portion 82 and the main body portion 86. The lower mounting portion 87 is formed by slightly bending the lower end of the molded member 80 downward along the left side frame 26. As shown in Figures 2, 7(B), and 8, the molded bend portion 88 is located above the frame bend portion 30, and the lower mounting portion 87 is located below the frame bend portion 30. The upper part of the main body portion 86 is located to the left of the left side frame 26, and a gap V is formed in the left-right direction between the upper part of the main body portion 86 and the left side frame 26.

[0072] As a result, as shown in Figures 7(B) and 8, the lower half 82B of the molded central portion 82 and the molded lower portion 83 connect to the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32 and the lower part of the left side frame 26. That is, the molded member 80 includes a portion that extends between the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32 and the lower part of the left side frame 26. Furthermore, a through hole X (see Figure 8) that penetrates in the front-rear direction is defined by the right edge of the lower half 82B of the molded central portion 82 and the right edge of the molded lower portion 83, the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32, and the lower left edge of the left side frame 26.

[0073] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, at least a portion of the molded central portion 82 (in this embodiment, approximately the entire area of ​​the molded central portion 82, including the upper half 82A and the lower half 82B) extends along the left and right outer edges (i.e., the left edge) of the airbag module 23 in a rear view.

[0074] The pan frame extension 32 covers the upper part (upper half in this embodiment) of the airbag module 23 from the rear. Therefore, when the pad member 21 and the skin member 22 are not provided, the lower part (lower half) of the airbag module 23 is visible from the rear through the through hole X, as shown in Figures 7(B) and 8. Also, as shown in Figure 8, the lower edge of the pan frame extension 32 is located above both of the two fastening points P1 and P2. Both stud bolts 48 (i.e., the two fastening points P1 and P2) are located in front of the through hole X. That is, the through hole X is located behind both of the stud bolts 48 (i.e., the two fastening points P1 and P2), and when the pad member 21 and the skin member 22 are not provided, both fastening points P1 and P2 are visible through the through hole X. As a result, either of the two stud bolts 48 (the two fastening points P1 and P2) can be accessed from the rear through the through hole X using a fastener (e.g., a universal wrench).

[0075] Furthermore, when the pad member 21 and the surface member 22 are not provided, the upper or lower edge of the module bracket 36 is visible from the rear through the gaps V and W between the left side frame 26 and the molded member 80. In this embodiment, the upper and lower edges of the module bracket 36 are visible from the rear through the through-hole X.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the left side frame 26 is provided with vertically extending groove-shaped beads 89 to increase its rigidity. The lower mounting portion 87 is connected to the left side frame 26 behind the beads 89. In this embodiment, the beads 89 are formed as side frame recesses 89A that are recessed inward on both sides, and the lower mounting portion 87 is welded near the edge 89B of the side frame recesses 89A. As a result, the connection between the molded member 80 and the side frame 26 is located near the edge 89B of the bead 89, which is a part with increased rigidity, and the molded member 80 is firmly supported by the side frame 26.

[0077] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, the molding member 80 is approximately flush with the pan frame 20. That is, the molding member 80 and the pan frame 20 are arranged on approximately the same plane. The lower end of the molding member 80, more specifically the rear end of the lower mounting portion 87, is located close to the pan frame 20 in a side view.

[0078] The side pad member 71 is connected to the front pad member 70 at its leading edge and to the rear pad member 72 at its trailing edge. As shown in Figure 3, when the pad member 21 is assembled, the front pad member 70 is positioned in front of the molding member 80, and the rear pad member 72 is positioned behind the molding member 80. The side pad member 71 is pulled inward (i.e., to the right) by the front pad member 70 and the rear pad member 72, and contacts the molding member 80 from the left side. The molding member 80 contacts the left and right inner surfaces of the side pad member 71, i.e., the right side, restricting the rightward movement of the side pad member 71. This determines the position of the side pad member 71 and shapes the outer shape of the seat back 5. When a load directed to the right is applied to the left side of the seat back 5, the side pad member 71 is supported from the left and right inner sides by the molding member 80, preventing deformation of the seat back 5. In other words, the molding member 80 defines the outer shape of the seat back 5 and plays the role of forming the shape of the seat back 5.

[0079] As shown in Figure 9, the molded member 80 is located behind the airbag module 23, and a gap R is formed in the front-rear direction between the molded member 80 and the airbag module 23.

[0080] Furthermore, when the pad member 21 is assembled to the seat back frame portion 19, the slit 75 is located below the upper end of the molded member 80 and above the lower end of the molded member 80. At this time, the slit 75 and the molded member 80 overlap in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the slit 75 overlaps the molded lower portion 83 in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the distance L3 between the left end R1 (outer end in the left-right direction) of the portion of the molded lower portion 83 that overlaps with the slit 75 and the left end R2 (outer end in the left-right direction) of the slit 75 is set to be greater than or equal to the left-right width L2 of the airbag module 23.

[0081] The outer skin member 22 is formed by connecting multiple sheet-like members such as cloth or leather. As shown in Figure 3, the outer skin member 22 includes a front outer skin member 91 that covers the front surface of the front pad member 70 and the front left side of the side pad member 71, a left outer skin member 92 (outer outer skin member) that covers the rear left side of the side pad member 71, a rear outer skin member 93 that covers the rear surface of the rear pad member 72 and the rear surface of the pan frame 20, and an upper outer skin member 94 (see Figure 8) that covers the upper surface of the upper pad member 73. The front edge of the upper outer skin member 94 is sewn to the upper edge of the front outer skin member 91, the left edge of the upper outer skin member 94 is sewn to the upper edge of the left outer skin member 92, and the rear edge of the upper outer skin member 94 is sewn to the upper edge of the rear outer skin member 93.

[0082] As shown in Figure 3, the left edge of the front skin member 91 and the front edge of the left skin member 92 are sutured together to form a suture portion 95. This suture portion 95 functions as a weak point that breaks under a smaller load compared to other parts of the skin member 22 (for example, the suture portion between the front edge of the upper skin member 94 and the upper edge of the front skin member 91). The suture portion 95 extends vertically and is housed inside an unfolding hole 77 provided in the front of the side pad member 71.

[0083] The rear edge of the left skin member 92 and the left edge of the rear skin member 93 are joined to each other by a vertically extending linear fastener 97. More specifically, the side pad member 71 is recessed inward (i.e., to the right) at the rear edge of its left surface, and the rear pad member 72 is recessed forward at the left edge of its rear surface. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the pad member 21 has a fastener housing recess 98 that is recessed inward at the connection point between the side pad member 71 and the rear pad member 72. The fastener housing recess 98 is at the connection point between the side pad member 71 and the rear pad member 72 and extends vertically at a position corresponding to the linear fastener 97. The linear fastener 97 is housed in the fastener housing recess 98.

[0084] As shown in Figure 10, the fastener housing recess 98 is located to the left of the opening end 75A. That is, the fastener housing recess 98 does not reach the right edge of the rear pad member 72, and the fastener housing recess 98 and the opening end 75A are located at different positions. This makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the area near the opening end 75A of the slit 75 of the rear pad member 72 compared to the case where the fastener housing recess 98 and the opening end 75A overlap, thereby preventing the pad member 21 from breaking.

[0085] As shown in Figure 5, the upper and lower parts of the bracket base 42 are each provided with hooking holes 100 that penetrate in the thickness direction, i.e., in the left-right direction. A reinforcing wire 102 is connected to the hooking holes 100. In this embodiment, the reinforcing wire 102 is a metal round pipe bent into a predetermined shape, but is not limited to this, and the reinforcing wire 102 may be a bent metal round bar. As shown in Figure 3, the reinforcing wire 102 includes a pair of upper and lower hooks 104 provided at both ends and each hooked into the hooking holes 100, a pair of upper and lower connecting parts 106 extending forward from each hook 104 and reaching the front of the airbag module 23, and a hooking part 108 that connects the front ends of the two connecting parts 106 vertically. The reinforcing wire 102 engages with the frame bracket 34 by the hooks 104 provided at both ends being hooked into each of the hooking holes 100 of the frame bracket 34. Each connecting portion 106 is connected to a hook 104 at its rear end, passes between the bracket base 42 and the retainer base 50, reaches the front right of the airbag module 23, and bends to the left at its front end. As shown in Figure 9, the connecting portion 106 is pressed against the bracket base 42 by the airbag module 23 between the bracket base 42 and the retainer base 50. As a result, the reinforcing wire 102 is held between the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36, and its movement is restricted.

[0086] As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle seat 1 is provided with a reinforcing fabric 110 for tearing the surface member 22 when the airbag 61 inflates and deploys. The reinforcing fabric 110 is made of a sheet-like material that is less elastic than the surface member 22. One end of the reinforcing fabric 110 is sewn to the front surface member 91 and the left surface member 92 at a seam 95. The reinforcing fabric 110 extends from one end toward the fastening portion 108 of the reinforcing fabric wire 102. The other end of the reinforcing fabric 110 is provided with a J-shaped hook 112, which is fastened to the fastening portion 108 of the reinforcing fabric wire 102.

[0087] In this embodiment, the latching portion 108 includes a portion located in front of the through-hole X, and the reinforcing cloth 110 is connected to the reinforcing cloth wire 102 in at least a portion in front of the through-hole X. As a result, as shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), by moving the rear pad member 72, the worker can visually see the connection portion of the reinforcing cloth 110 and the reinforcing cloth wire 102 from the rear through the through-hole X.

[0088] Next, the operation of the vehicle seat 1 will be described. For example, when it is necessary to deploy the airbag 61 to protect the occupant, such as in the event of a frontal collision, the inflator 62 is activated by a signal from a known control device installed in the vehicle, and gas is supplied to the inside of the airbag 61. As a result, the airbag 61 inflates, and the case 63 opens at the left front edge.

[0089] The airbag 61 inflates to the left by the gas supplied from the inflator 62, and a load is applied to the reinforcing fabric 110. The load applied to the reinforcing fabric 110 causes the seam 95 to rupture, and an opening is formed in the outer material 22. The airbag 61 inflates to the left of the seat back 5 through the deployment hole 77 and the opening formed in the outer material 22. As a result, the airbag 61 inflates and deploys between the occupant seated in the vehicle seat 1 and the side wall of the vehicle compartment.

[0090] Next, the assembly method for the vehicle seat 1 will be described. After welding the frame bracket 34 and the molded member 80 to the seat back frame 19, the worker places the pad member 21 over the seat back frame 19, frame bracket 34, and molded member 80, as shown in Figure 11(A). At this time, it is advisable to pre-bond (adhere) the rear surface of the front surface member 91 to the front surface of the front pad member 70, and the right surface of the left surface member 92 to the left surface of the side pad member 71. However, the surface member 22 is omitted in Figures 11(A) to (C).

[0091] When the pad member 21 is placed over the seat back frame portion 19, frame bracket 34, and molded member 80, the front pad member 70 is positioned on the front side of the seat back frame portion 19, bracket, and molded member 80, the side pad member 71 is positioned on the left side of the seat back frame portion 19, bracket, and molded member 80, and the rear pad member 72 is positioned on the rear side of the seat back frame portion 19, bracket, and molded member 80.

[0092] At this time, as shown in Figure 3, the front pad member 70 is in contact with the left side frame 26 on its rear surface. As a result, the front pad member 70 and the molded member 80, more specifically the rear surface of the front pad member 70 and the right end portion of the molded member 80 are separated in the front-rear direction. In addition, the left end of the molded member 80 is in contact with the right side surface of the side pad member 71, and the right side surface of the side pad member 71 and the left side surface of the left side frame 26 are separated in the left-right direction. As a result, a housing space Y is defined between the front pad member 70, the side pad member 71, the molded member 80, and the left side frame 26.

[0093] Next, the worker grasps the lower end of the rear pad member 72 and pulls it outward to the left and right, opening the slit 75. At this time, the load applied to the rear pad member 72 also opens the auxiliary slit 76 (see Figure 11(B)). As a result, the pad member 21 bends in the portion where the slit 75 and the auxiliary slit 76 are provided.

[0094] The bending of the rear pad member 72 at the slit 75 creates a through-hole Z1 in the rear pad member 72 that is wider than the left-right width of the airbag module 23. At the same time, an insertion opening Z2 is formed between the left end R2 of the slit 75 and the molded member 80 (molded lower part 83) that is wider than the left-right width L2 of the airbag module 23.

[0095] The worker, while pulling the lower end of the rear pad member 72 outward to the left and right, inserts the reinforcing cloth wire 102 through the slit 75 between the left side frame 26 and the side pad member 71, and hooks the hook 104 of the reinforcing cloth wire 102 into the hooking hole 100. Then, the worker pulls the reinforcing cloth 110 towards the reinforcing cloth wire 102 and hooks the hook 112 of the reinforcing cloth 110 onto the hooking portion 108 of the reinforcing cloth wire 102. At this time, the hooking portion 108 of the reinforcing cloth wire 102 is located in front of the through hole X and is visible from the rear through the through hole X. Therefore, when hooking the hook 112 onto the hooking portion 108 of the reinforcing cloth wire 102, the worker can visually see the joint between the reinforcing cloth wire 102 and the reinforcing cloth 110, more specifically the joint between the hook 112 and the hooking portion 108, through the through hole X. This allows the hook 112 to be easily attached to the fastening part 108, making it easier to assemble the vehicle seat 1.

[0096] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 11(B), the worker inserts the airbag module 23, which is fastened to the module bracket 36, between the left side frame 26 and the pad member 21 via the slit 75, while keeping the lower end of the rear pad member 72 pulled outward to the left and right. The worker then positions the airbag module 23 in the storage space Y by moving the airbag module 23 upward.

[0097] Next, the worker pulls the lower end of the rear pad member 72 outwards to the left and right, positions the airbag module 23 so that it aligns with the module bracket 36 and the frame bracket 34, and inserts the stud bolts 48 through the bolt holes 52. As shown in Figure 11(B), the worker pulls the lower end of the rear pad member 72 outwards to the left and right, and bends the pad member 21 at the portion where the slit 75 and auxiliary slit 76 are provided. This opens the slit 75 and auxiliary slit 76, making the two fastening points P1 and P2 more clearly visible and easier to access through the through-hole X. The worker fastens the module bracket 36 to the frame bracket 34 by inserting a fastening tool such as a universal wrench into the through-hole X and tightening the nut 49. As a result, the airbag module 23 is connected to the left side frame 26 via the module bracket 36 and the frame bracket 34. In this way, by providing the through-hole X, a fastening tool can be inserted from the rear to tighten the nut 49 onto the stud bolt 48, and the airbag module 23 can be easily fastened to the side frame 26.

[0098] Subsequently, the worker positions the rear surface member 93 along the rear surface of the rear pad member 72 and the rear surface of the pan frame 20, and connects the left and right side edges of the rear surface member 93 to the rear edge of the left surface member 92 using the wire fastener 97. This completes the assembly of the vehicle seat 1.

[0099] Next, the effects of the vehicle seat 1 will be explained. As shown in Figure 11(A), the operator can open the slit 75 by pulling the lower end of the rear pad member 72 downward and to the left. This makes it easier for the operator to pass the airbag module 23 through the slit 75 and insert it between the seat back frame 19, more specifically between the left side frame 26 and the pad member 21. This makes it easier to assemble the airbag module 23 to the side frame 26.

[0100] As shown in Figure 11(B), when the worker pulls the lower side of the rear pad member 72 downward and to the left, the lower part of the rear pad member 72 is pulled to the left, creating a gap between the rear pad member 72 and the pan frame base 31.

[0101] At this time, since the pan frame extension 32 and the stud bolt 48 do not overlap each other when viewed from the rear, as shown in Figure 11(C), the stud bolt 48, i.e., the fastening points P1 and P2, can be seen from the rear side through the through hole X. This prevents the worker from having their view obstructed by the pan frame extension 32 and being unable to see the position of the module bracket 36 when moving the airbag module 23 from the lower side (the side facing the pan frame extension 32 in the vertical direction via the fastening points P1 and P2) to the correct position where the bolt hole 52 and the stud bolt 48 are aligned (the position where the stud bolt 48 is passed through the bolt hole 52). Furthermore, when the worker fastens the module bracket 36 to the frame bracket 34, their view is not obstructed by the pan frame extension 32, making it easy to fasten the module bracket 36 to the frame bracket 34. In this way, moving the airbag module 23 to the correct position and fastening the module bracket 36 becomes easier, improving the assembly workability of the airbag module 23.

[0102] As shown in Figure 11(B), the lower part of the rear pad member 72 is pulled to the left, making the stud bolt 48 (i.e., the fastening point P) visible. At this time, as can be seen from Figure 11(B), the gap between the rear pad member 72 and the pan frame base 31 widens as you move downwards. In this invention, since the stud bolt 48 is located below the pan frame extension 32, it is easier to see the stud bolt 48 than if it were located above the pan frame extension 32.

[0103] Furthermore, the extension of the pan frame 32 makes it less likely for the movement of the airbag module 23 to be obstructed when moving the airbag module 23 from below and positioning it correctly. Therefore, assembly of the airbag module 23 from below, as shown in Figure 11(B), becomes easier.

[0104] When assembly is complete, as shown in Figure 7(B), at least a portion (the upper part) of the airbag module 23 is covered from the rear side by the pan frame extension 32. This protects the airbag module 23 from loads from the rear side. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, a gap S is provided in the front-rear direction between the pan frame extension 32 and the airbag module 23. The presence of the gap S makes it difficult for the load to be transmitted to the airbag module 23 when a forward load is applied to the rear surface of the pan frame 20. This protects the airbag module 23 from loads from the rear and makes it difficult for the load to be transmitted from the rear, thus making it difficult for the posture of the airbag module 23 to change. Therefore, the deployment behavior of the airbag 61 is stabilized, and occupant protection can be more reliably achieved. Furthermore, the presence of the gap S makes it less likely for the movement of the airbag module 23 to be hindered during assembly, making it easier to move the airbag module 23 to the correct position. Therefore, the workability of assembling the airbag module 23 is improved.

[0105] As shown in Figure 3, a rear pad member 72 is provided behind the airbag module 23. As a result, as shown in Figure 11(B), the airbag module 23 is covered from the rear by the rear pad member 72. Therefore, the back of the seat back 5 can be made elastic, thereby improving the comfort of the vehicle seat 1.

[0106] Furthermore, since the slit 75 is linear, its structure is simple. Also, the slit 75 is approximately horizontal and is located on the lower side of the frame bracket 34. This allows the airbag module 23 to be easily moved to the correct position by inserting it perpendicular to the slit 75 and pushing the airbag module 23 upward. Therefore, the direction of movement of the airbag module 23 during assembly is simplified. In addition, since the slit 75 extends horizontally, the slit 75 can be easily opened by pushing the lower end of the rear pad member 72 outwards to the left and right. This improves the workability of assembling the airbag module 23.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since auxiliary slits 76 are provided in the pad member 21, the lower part of the rear pad member 72 can easily move outward to the left and right. Moreover, the auxiliary slits 76 are provided at the upper ends of the left and right inner edges of the rear pad member 72. As a result, when the operator moves the lower part of the rear pad member 72 outward to the left and right, a load is easily applied to the auxiliary slits 76, making it easier for the auxiliary slits 76 to open. This makes it easier for the gap between the pad member 21 and the side frame 26 to open, and makes it easier to insert the airbag module 23 through the gap between the side frame 26 and the pad member 21. Thus, assembly of the airbag module 23 becomes easier.

[0108] Furthermore, since the auxiliary slit 76 is inclined upward from the inner edge of the rear pad member 72 toward the left and right outward, the auxiliary slit 76 is easily opened by the left and right outward movement of the lower part of the rear pad member 72. As a result, the lower part of the rear pad member 72 moves more easily toward the left and right outward, making it easier to insert the airbag module 23 into the gap between the side frame 26 and the pad member 21.

[0109] Furthermore, fastening points P1 and P2 are located below the auxiliary slit 76 when viewed from the rear. As the lower part of the rear pad member 21 moves outward to the left and right, the pad member 21 bends near the auxiliary slit 76, as shown in Figure 11(B), so that fastening points P1 and P2 are more exposed and easier to access. This makes it easier to fasten the frame bracket 34 and the module bracket 36.

[0110] Furthermore, since the slit 75 and the unfolding hole 77 are provided at different positions in the front and rear, the pad member 21 is less likely to deform near the unfolding hole 77 and the slit 75 compared to the case where the slit 75 and the unfolding hole 77 are provided at the same position in the front and rear, and the shape of the pad member 21 is more easily maintained. In addition, since the fastener housing recess 98 is provided at a different position from the opening end 75A of the slit 75, the rigidity of the portion of the rear pad member 72 where the opening end 75A of the slit 75 is provided can be increased compared to the case where the fastener housing recess 98 and the opening end 75A of the slit 75 are located at the same position.

[0111] As shown in Figure 2, the airbag module 23 is coupled to and supported by the side frame 26, which has higher rigidity than the pan frame 20. Therefore, the deployment behavior of the airbag 61 is more stable compared to when the airbag module 23 is coupled to the pan frame 20. As shown in Figure 3, the thickness of the frame bracket 34 is greater than the thickness of the pan frame 20. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the seat back 5 and to further increase the rigidity of the frame bracket 34. As a result, the airbag 61 can be more stably supported by the left side frame 26 (seat back frame frame portion 19) during deployment, thus making the deployment behavior of the airbag 61 more stable.

[0112] Furthermore, the frame bracket 34 is connected to the front and rear edges of the left side frame 26, respectively. This allows the airbag module 23 to be more firmly attached to the left side frame 26 compared to when the frame bracket 34 is connected to either the front or rear edge of the left side frame 26. As a result, the airbag 61 can be more stably supported by the left side frame 26 (seat back frame frame portion 19) when deployed, thus making the deployment behavior of the airbag 61 more stable.

[0113] This concludes the description of specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be broadly modified and implemented. In the above embodiments, the present invention was applied to the second row of rear seats, but it is not limited to the second row and may be applied to the third row and beyond of rear seats.

[0114] In the above embodiment, the reinforcing cloth 110 was provided with a hook 112 for attaching to the reinforcing cloth wire 102, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 12(A), a loop-shaped attachment string 612 may be provided on one end of the reinforcing cloth 110. In this case, the reinforcing cloth 110 can be attached to the reinforcing cloth wire 102 by passing the reinforcing cloth wire 102 through the loop 612A formed by the attachment string 612.

[0115] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 12(B), one end of the reinforcing fabric 110 may be folded back and sewn to form a loop, thereby creating a wire pass-through 613 on the reinforcing fabric 110. In this case, the reinforcing fabric 110 can be connected to the reinforcing fabric wire 102 by passing the reinforcing fabric wire 102 through the wire pass-through 613.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the airbag module 23 was provided on the left side of the seat back frame portion 19, but the embodiment is not limited to this. A frame bracket 34 may be connected to the right side of the seat back frame portion 19, and a module bracket 36 for holding the airbag module 23 may be fastened to the frame bracket 34.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the frame bracket 34 was configured as a separate sheet metal member from the side frame 26, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The frame bracket 34 may be connected to other members to form an integrated side frame 26 and function as part of the seat back frame 18. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 1: Vehicle seat 19: Seat back frame section 23: Airbag module 32: Pan frame extension 34: Frame Bracket 36: Module bracket 80: Molded member 81: Molded upper part 82: Central part of the molding 82A: Upper half 82B:Lower half 83: Molded lower part P1, P2: Fastening point S: Gap X:Through hole

Claims

1. The seat back frame section that constitutes the frame of the seat back, A frame bracket connected to one side of the seat back frame portion in the left-right direction, A module bracket that holds the airbag module and is to be fastened at the fastening point of the frame bracket, It has a pan frame connected to the back of the seat back frame portion, The pan frame comprises a base portion that covers the rear portion of the seat back frame frame, and an extension portion that extends from one side of the base portion in the left-right direction to the left-right direction beyond the seat back frame frame, The extension is located above the fastening point. At least a portion of the airbag module is located in front of the extension, The seat back frame portion includes a molding member that is connected to one side in the left-right direction and defines the outer shape of the seat back, A vehicle seat characterized in that the molded member is bonded to the extension portion.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that a gap is provided in the front-rear direction between the extension portion and the airbag module.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the molded member is connected to the seat back frame portion in front of the extension portion.

4. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper edge of the extension portion is located below the upper edge of the seat back frame portion.

5. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer edge of the extension on one side in the left-right direction is located in a position corresponding to the front-rear position of the outer edge of the airbag module on one side in the left-right direction after assembly.

6. The frame bracket and the pan frame are each formed from sheet metal members. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the thickness of the frame bracket is greater than the thickness of the pan frame.

7. The aforementioned seat back frame section has a pair of left and right side frames and an upper frame connecting the two side frames. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame bracket is connected to the front edge and rear edge of the side frame located on one side in the left-right direction, respectively.

8. The molded member is a bent wire member, The molding member has an upper part and a lower part connected to the side frame, and a central part on one side of the side frame in the left-right direction that connects the upper part and the lower part of the molding member vertically. The central portion of the molded member includes an upper half that extends to the extension portion and a lower half that extends downward from the lower end of the upper half. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, characterized in that a through hole is provided behind the fastening point, defined by the molded member, the extension portion, and the side frame, and penetrating in the front-rear direction.

9. A seat back frame portion that constitutes the frame of the seat back, A frame bracket connected to one side of the seat back frame portion in the left-right direction, A module bracket that holds the airbag module and is to be fastened at the fastening point of the frame bracket, It has a pan frame connected to the back of the seat back frame portion, The pan frame comprises a base portion that covers the rear portion of the seat back frame frame, and an extension portion that extends from one side of the base portion in the left-right direction to the left-right direction beyond the seat back frame frame, The extension is located above the fastening point. At least a portion of the airbag module is located in front of the extension, A vehicle seat characterized in that the extension portion is provided in a position that does not overlap with the fastening point when viewed from the rear.

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