Seat back or seat cushion

Abstract

A seat back or seat cushion is provided, which, in a structure in which a seat cushion mounted on a support member is covered by a seat cover, can easily prevent the incorrect installation of multiple seat covers in combination. It has a frame (4) and a seat cushion structure (5), and the side structure (20) of the seat cushion structure has a side pad (22), a side cover (23), and a side support member (21). A resin plate (29) is inserted into a deformable portion (21c) disposed in the side support member. A plate-shaped rib (27) is disposed at a predetermined position in the deformable portion to prevent the resin plate (29) from being inserted. The side cover includes a first side cover (231) and a second side cover (232). A notch (29a) is formed on the first resin plate (291) of the first side cover (231) to prevent interference with the rib (27), while no notch (29a) is formed on the second resin plate (292) of the second side cover (232).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to seat backrests or seat cushions. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, in vehicle seats such as automobiles, it was known that the seat cushion, covered by a seat cover, was divided into three parts along the width of the seat and mounted to a seat back frame. Patent Document 1 discloses a seat back with the following structure: a main seat back portion at the center of the seat width and side seat back portions disposed on the sides of the main seat back portion, mounted to a seat back frame. The purpose of this type of vehicle seat is to provide good assemblability and ease of automation during assembly; and to facilitate replacement only of the side seat back portions, which are prone to deterioration during the passenger's getting in and out of the vehicle.

[0003] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-167380. Summary of the Invention The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0004] In the automobile seat described in Patent Document 1 above, the side portion of the seat back is formed by covering it from above with a cover while the padding is placed on a resin support member, and the end of the cover is secured to the underside of the support member. Here, if there is only one type of cover, there is no problem; however, if there are two covers with slightly different shapes, it is possible to mistakenly install an incorrectly combined cover.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a seat back or seat cushion that, in a structure in which the seat cushion mounted on a support member is covered by a seat cover, can easily prevent the installation of multiple seat covers in an incorrect combination. Methods for solving problems

[0006] The first technical solution of the present invention is a seat back or seat cushion, having a frame forming a skeleton and a seat cushion structure installed on the frame and elastically supporting a seated occupant. The seat cushion structure consists of a main structure at the center of the seat width direction and a pair of left and right side structures disposed on both sides of the main structure. The main structure has: a main pad as the seat cushion body, a main cover covering the main pad, and a main support member installed on the frame side of the main pad and providing surface support for the main pad. The side structures have: side pads as the seat cushion body, side covers covering the side pads, and side support members installed on the frame side of the side pads and providing surface support for the side pads. A fold-back portion is formed on the outer periphery of the side support member in the seat width direction, and the fold-back portion has a generally U-shaped cross-section opening in the direction opposite to the seat surface. The side liner is disposed on the seat side of the side support member, and the side cover is installed over the seat side. A strip-shaped resin plate, attached to the outer end of the side cover in the seat width direction, is inserted into the inner side of the generally U-shaped cross-section of the folding portion, thereby forming the side structure. At a predetermined position in the folding portion, a plate-shaped rib is disposed on the inner side of the generally U-shaped cross-section, which prevents the insertion of the resin plate. The side cover includes a first side cover and a second side cover with slightly different shapes. A notch is formed on the resin plate of the first side cover, i.e., the first resin plate, to prevent interference with the rib. The notch is not formed on the resin plate of the second side cover, i.e., the second resin plate.

[0007] According to the first technical solution, when the first side cover is installed on the side support member, since a notch is provided on the first resin plate, the first resin plate can be inserted and installed inside the generally U-shaped cross-section of the folding portion without interfering with the rib. On the other hand, when the second side cover is to be installed on the side support member, since no notch is provided on the second resin plate, the resin plate will interfere with the rib, and it will be impossible to insert and install the second resin plate inside the generally U-shaped cross-section of the folding portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second side cover from being mistakenly installed on the side support member. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a car seat with a seat back installed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the aforementioned seat back. Figure 3 This is a front view of the aforementioned seat back. Due to its symmetrical shape, only the right side is shown. Furthermore, only the side support components of the frame and side structure are shown. Figure 4 yes Figure 3A sectional view along line IV-IV. The figure shows the backrest padding, backrest cover, and main structure, including the side structure. Figure 5 yes Figure 3 VV-line sectional view. Figure 6 This is a plan view of the resin panel of the side cover. Detailed Implementation

[0009] based on Figures 1-6 The following description will focus on the seat back 3 of an automobile seat 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the directions are based on the up / down, front / back, left / right directions shown in the figures. Here, the up / down, front / back, left / right directions are determined with reference to the automobile seat 1 when it is mounted on the floor F of the automobile. The left / right direction is consistent with the seat width direction.

[0010] like Figure 1 As shown, the car seat 1 has a seat cushion 2 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant and a seat back 3 that supports the waist and back of the seated occupant.

[0011] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the seat back 3 has a frame 4 that forms the skeleton, a cushion structure 5 that is mounted on the frame 4 and has a cushioning function and defines the shape of the seat back 3, and a pair of left and right airbag devices 6.

[0012] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the frame 4 has a pair of left and right side frames 41 extending vertically on both sides of the seat back 3, an upper frame 42 connecting the upper ends of each side frame 41, and a lower frame 43 connecting the lower ends of each side frame 41. The frame 4 is generally rectangular when viewed from the front. A lumbar support plate 44 is disposed between the upper frame 42 and the lower frame 43 of the frame 4.

[0013] like Figures 1-4 As shown, the seat cushion structure 5 has a main structure 10 in the central part of the seat width direction and a pair of left and right side structures 20 on both sides of the main structure 10. The main structure 10 is the part that supports the waist and back of the seated occupant from the rear, and the pair of left and right side structures 20 are the parts that support the waist and back of the seated occupant from the side.

[0014] The main structure 10 has a resin main support member 11, a main cushion 12 which is disposed on the front side of the main support member 11 and supported on the frame 4 by the main support member 11, and a main cover 13 that covers the main cushion 12 from the front.

[0015] In the main support component 11, the upper rear part is fixed to the upper frame 42, the rear part of the part roughly in the middle in the vertical direction is fixed to the waist plate 44, and the lower rear part is fixed to the lower frame 43.

[0016] The main pad 12 is an elastomer made of polyurethane resin foam and has a shape that is approximately the same as that of the main support member 11 when viewed from the front. The main cover 13 is a bag-shaped cover member with a rear opening, formed by sewing together multiple pieces. The main cover 13 covers the main pad 12 located in front of the main support member 11 from the front side and locks the rear opening at the rear edge of the main support member 11, thereby forming the main structure 10.

[0017] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the side structure 20 has a resin side support member 21, a side pad 22 which is disposed on the front side of the side support member 21 and supported on the frame 4 by the side support member 21, and a side cover 23 that covers the side pad 22 from the front.

[0018] like Figure 3 As clearly shown, the side support member 21 is a member extending vertically, and has a through hole 21a extending vertically and penetrating horizontally in the front-rear direction at approximately the center in the left-right direction. To the left of the through hole 21a (inner side of the seat) is a base 21b extending vertically along the front side of the side frame 41 of the frame 4, and to the right of the through hole 21a (outer side of the seat) is a deformable portion 21c. The deformable portion 21c is formed in a roughly U-shape with a horizontal cross-section opening rearward (see [reference]). Figure 4 and Figure 5 Below the through hole 21a, a weakened portion 21d is formed, connecting the lower end of the base 21b to the lower end of the deformable portion 21c. Above the through hole 21a, the upper end of the deformable portion 21c gradually bends to the left (inward direction of the seat) towards the upper end, connecting to the upper end of the base 21b, and an R-shaped portion 21e is formed between the base 21b and the deformable portion 21c. In the side support member 21, the rear portion of the base 21b (not shown) approximately at its center in the vertical direction and the weakened portion 21d are fixed to the frame 4. The weakened portion 21d is prone to breakage due to the rightward (outward direction of the seat) load applied to the deformable portion 21c due to airbag deployment. Here, the deformable portion 21c corresponds to the "foldback portion" in the claims.

[0019] like Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the deformable portion 21c has a right side portion 24 (outer side of the seat), a left side portion 25, and a bottom portion 26 connecting the front ends (the ends opposite to the opening 28) of the right side portion 24 and the left side portion 25. At a predetermined position on the upper part of the deformable portion 21c, a plate-shaped rib 27 is disposed, connecting the right side portion 24, the left side portion 25, and the bottom portion 26. The rib 27 forms a rectangular opening 27a extending to near the center of the right side portion 24 in the front-rear direction. The width of the opening 27a in the left-right direction is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the resin plate 29, which will be described later. On the rear side of the left side (inner side of the seat) of the opening 27a, an inclined surface portion 27b is provided, connected to the end portion of the left side portion 25. The inclined surface portion 27b is used to guide the resin plate 29 when it is inserted into the opening 27a.

[0020] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the side liner 22 is an elastomer made of polyurethane resin foam, and has a shape approximately the same as the side support member 21 when viewed from the front. The portion of the side liner 22 corresponding to the through hole 21a of the side support member 21 is formed to cover the front of the airbag device 6, which is configured to block the through hole 21a, and does not have a through hole in the front-to-back direction. The side cover 23 is a bag-shaped cover member with a rearward opening, formed by sewing together multiple pieces. The side cover 23 is placed over the side liner 22 located in front of the side support member 21 from the front, and the rear opening is secured to the rear peripheral surface of the side support member 21, thereby forming the side structure 20. Figure 4 As shown, the side cover 23 has a first cover portion 23a covering the front and right sides of the side liner 22, and a second cover portion 23b covering the right side of the side support member 21. The right end of the first cover portion 23a is connected to the upper right end of the second cover portion 23b via a first sewing portion 23c. The upper left end of the second cover portion 23b is connected to the resin plate 29 via a second sewing portion 23d.

[0021] like Figures 4-6 As shown, the side cover 23 exists in two slightly different types. There is a first side cover 231 when a regular headrest is installed on the seat back 3, and a second side cover 232 when a reclining headrest is installed on the seat back 3. The resin plate 29 is a curved plate shape, including a first resin plate 291 installed on the second cover portion 23b of the first side cover 231 and a second resin plate 292 installed on the second cover portion 23b of the second side cover 232. Figure 6 As shown, a generally rectangular notch 29a is formed on the upper part of the first resin plate 291 at a position corresponding to the rib 27 of the deformable portion 21c. On the upper part of the second resin plate 292, the generally rectangular notch 29a is not formed at the position corresponding to the rib 27 of the deformable portion 21c.

[0022] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the airbag device 6 is mounted on the outer surface of the seat on both the left and right side frames 41. Since it has a roughly symmetrical shape, the airbag device 6 on the right side will be described as an example. Figures 2-4 As shown, the airbag device 6 is formed as a longitudinally elongated box extending in the vertical direction. Viewed from the front, its shape is approximately the same as the shape of the through hole 21a of the side support member 21. The airbag device 6 includes an airbag 61, an inflator 62, a housing 63, and a liner 64. In response to a collision detection signal received by the ECU of a vehicle (not shown), the airbag device 6 injects gas from the inflator 62 into the airbag 61, causing the airbag 61 to inflate and deploy forward toward the seat. The housing 63 is a longitudinally elongated box-shaped container that houses the airbag 61 and the inflator 62, with its left side fixed to the side frame 41. When the airbag 61 inflates and deploys, the housing 63 is pushed open by a slit (not shown), causing the airbag 61 to inflate and deploy forward.

[0023] like Figure 4 As shown, the lining 64 is a non-stretchable guide fabric that restricts the deployment direction of the airbag 61, and has a front lining 65 disposed on the front side and a rear lining 66 disposed on the rear side. The right end of the front lining 65, the right end of the first cover portion 23a, the right front end of the second cover portion 23b, and the right end of the rear lining 66 overlap in this order and are connected by a first sewing portion 23c. The left front end of the second cover portion 23b is connected to the resin plate 29 by a second sewing portion 23d. The resin plate 29 is disposed on the inner part of the U-shape of the deformable portion 21c of the side support member 21, thereby fixing the right side of the side cover 23 to the side support member 21. The left end of the front lining 65 is fixed to the frame 4 by a fixing member (not shown). The left end of the rear lining 66 is fixed to the frame 4 by a fixing member 66a.

[0024] The assembly steps for seat back 3 are explained. First, as follows... Figures 2-4 As shown, the airbag device 6 is installed on the outer surface of the seat of each side frame 41 of the frame 4. Next, the pre-assembled left and right side structures 20 are installed on the frame 4. At this time, each airbag device 6 is passed through the through hole 21a of each side support member 21 of each side structure 20, thereby placing each airbag device 6 inside the side structure 20. At this time, the left end of the front lining 65 is fixed to the frame 4 by a fixing member (not shown), and the rear lining 66 is arranged abutting against the front surface of the deformable part 21c, and the left end is fixed to the frame 4 by a fixing member 66a. Next, the main structure 10 is installed on the frame 4. Furthermore, when removing the main structure 10 and each side structure 20 from the frame 4, the steps are reversed from the above steps. Finally, a back panel (not shown) is installed on the rear side of the frame 4 to cover the rear side of the frame 4.

[0025] The seat back 3 is assembled as described above. Figure 1 As shown, it is installed on the seat cushion 2, forming a car seat 1 and fixed to the floor F. In this state, when a vehicle collision detection signal is received from the vehicle's ECU, gas is injected into the airbag 61 from the inflator 62, causing the airbag 61 to inflate and deploy forward of the seat. At this time, as... Figure 3 As shown, during the deployment of the airbag 61 to the deployed state 61E, due to the breakage of the weakened portion 21d, the deformable portion 21c of the side support member 21 rotates to the right with its upper end as the center, and becomes the deformed state 21cE. At the same time, during the deployment of the airbag 61 to the deployed state 61E, due to the pulling force applied by the front lining 65 and the rear lining 66, the first sewn portion 23c breaks, and the airbag 61 deploys from between the first cover portion 23a and the second cover portion 23b toward the front of the seat back 3.

[0026] The embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. When the first side cover 231 is installed on the side support member 21, since the first resin plate 291 has a notch 29a, the first resin plate 291 can be inserted and installed in the opening 27a without interfering with the rib 27. At this time, the first resin plate 291 can be easily inserted into the opening 27a along the inclined surface 27b. On the other hand, when the second side cover 232 is to be installed on the side support member 21, since the second resin plate 292 does not have a notch 29a, the second resin plate 292 will interfere with the rib 27, and it will be impossible to insert and install the second resin plate 292 in the opening 27a. Figure 5 The portion of the second resin plate 292 indicated by the double-dotted line is the interference part. This helps to prevent the second side cover 232 from being mistakenly installed onto the side support member 21.

[0027] The specific embodiments have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these appearances and structures. Various changes, additions, and deletions can be made without changing the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following can be listed.

[0028] 1. In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the seat back 3, but the present invention can also be applied to the seat cushion 2.

[0029] 2. In the above embodiments, one set of ribs 27 and notches 29a is provided, but it is not limited to this and multiple sets may also be provided.

[0030] 3. In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to automobile seat 1, but is not limited thereto, and can also be applied to seats of aircraft, ships, railway vehicles, etc. Symbol Explanation

[0031] 1. Car Seats 3. Seat backrest 4 Framework 5. Seat Cushion Structure 6. Airbag device 10. Main Structure 11 Main support components 12 Main Pads 13 Main Cover 20 Side Structures 21 Side support components 21b Base 21c Deformation section (foldback section) 22 Side Pads 23 Side Covers 24 Right side 25 Left side 26 Bottom 27 ribs 27a Opening 27b Tiltped face 28 Opening 29 Resin Board 29a Gap 231 First side mask 232 Second side shield 291 First Resin Board 292 Second resin board.

Claims

1. A seat back or seat cushion, comprising: The framework forms the skeleton; and The seat cushion structure, mounted on the frame, provides elastic support for the seated occupant. The seat cushion structure consists of a main structure in the central part of the seat width direction and a pair of left and right side structures disposed on both sides of the main structure. The main structure includes: a main cushion as the seat cushion body, a main cover covering the main cushion, and a main support component installed on the frame side of the main cushion and providing planar support for the main cushion. The side structure includes: a side pad as a seat cushion body, a side cover covering the side pad, and a side support member installed on the frame side of the side pad and providing planar support for the side pad. A fold-back portion is formed on the outer periphery of the side support member in the seat width direction. The fold-back portion has a generally U-shaped cross-section that opens in the direction opposite to the seat surface. The side liner is disposed on the seat side of the side support member, the side cover is placed over the seat side, and a strip of resin plate attached to the outer end of the side cover in the seat width direction is inserted into the inner side of the generally U-shaped cross-section of the folding part, thereby forming the side structure. At a predetermined position of the folding section, a plate-shaped rib is arranged on the inner side of the generally U-shaped cross-section. The rib prevents the insertion of the resin plate. The side shields include a first side shield and a second side shield with slightly different shapes. A notch is formed on the resin plate of the first side cover, i.e., the first resin plate, to prevent interference with the rib. No notch is formed on the resin plate of the second side cover, i.e., the second resin plate, to prevent interference with the rib.

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