SEAT

Abstract

Seat (1) with: a backrest (2) configured to support the back of an occupant; a headrest (3) attached to an upper portion of the backrest (2) and configured to support the back of the occupant's head; an overhang portion (4) configured to laterally cover the occupant's head from a side portion of the headrest (3); an overhang adjustment mechanism (10) capable of adjusting an amount of overhang of the overhang portion (4); a height adjustment mechanism (20) which can adjust a height position of the headrest (3) relative to the backrest (2), characterized by a fixed tube (2C) fixed in the backrest (2) and configured to allow air to flow towards the headrest (3); a movable pipe (3C) provided in the headrest (3) and attached from above to a projecting portion (2C1) of the fixed pipe (2C) to connect flow paths; wherein the overhang portion (4) further comprises an air outlet opening (4A) configured to blow out the air supplied from the movable tube (3C) inward in a seat width direction, and the movable tube (3C) is superimposed with the projecting portion (2C1) of the fixed tube (2C) in the height direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a seat having a backrest configured to support the back of an occupant and a headrest attached to an upper portion of the backrest and configured to support the back of the occupant's head. BACKGROUND

[0002] Patent Literature JP 2019-1378 A discloses a seat in which overhang portions that overhang forward to surround the head of an occupant are formed on both left and right portions of a headrest. The overhang portions narrow the occupant's field of vision to the left and right, providing privacy.

[0003] In the prior art described above, the positions of the overhang sections can be shifted from the head by a displacement of the occupant's back, which is accompanied by the adjustment or tilting of a backrest.

[0004] The documents US 8 985 622 B1, US 2014 / 0 179 212 A1, DE 10 2016 205 935 A1 and DE 10 2017 102 214 A1 disclose further seats. SHORT EXPLANATION

[0005] Starting from the seat with a height-adjustable headrest described in US 8 985 622 B1, it is the object of the present disclosure to appropriately adjust a position of an overhang portion, which laterally covers the head of an occupant, according to a sitting position of the occupant or to enable ventilation of the occupant's head.

[0006] A seat having a configuration according to claim 1 solves the above-mentioned problem.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the overhang of the overhang portion can be adjusted in a front-and-rear direction or a longitudinal direction by the overhang adjustment mechanism. Furthermore, the height position of the headrest and the overhang portion can be adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism. Thus, through these position adjustments, a position of the overhang portion that laterally covers the occupant's head can be adjusted according to a seated state of the occupant. According to the above configuration, since the air outlet port is provided in the overhang portion, a structure that allows air to be blown toward the occupant's face can be efficiently achieved.

[0008] The present disclosure may be further configured as follows. The seat further includes a backrest tilt angle adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting a backrest angle of the backrest.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the overhang portion can be adjusted to a position corresponding to the occupant's head by the height adjustment mechanism even if the occupant's back shifts due to the inclination of the backrest.

[0010] The present disclosure can be further configured as follows. In the seat according to claim 1, the fixed pipe is inserted into the headrest so that the flow path merges into the headrest, and the height adjustment mechanism is provided inside the headrest.

[0011] Since the headrest is provided with the height adjustment mechanism and a release structure of the flow path of the pipe when the mechanism is moved, it is easy to construct the backrest according to the above configuration.

[0012] The overhang adjustment mechanism may be electrically operated and provided in the headrest. The overhang portion may be movable to any position between a retracted position and an overhang position by the electrical overhang adjustment mechanism.

[0013] The present disclosure can be further configured as follows. The overhang portion is provided on both side portions of the headrest.

[0014] According to the above configuration, adequate privacy can be created by narrowing the occupant's field of vision to the left and right.

[0015] The present disclosure may be further configured as follows. The overhang adjustment mechanism has a structure that can operate each overhang portion individually.

[0016] According to the above configuration, a comfortable visual field adjustment such as narrowing the visual field on one side and expanding the visual field on the other side can be improved by the overhang portion.

[0017] The present disclosure can be further configured as follows. The height adjustment mechanism includes: a headrest bracket; a fixed body attached to an upper portion of the headrest bracket; and a movable body attached to a lower portion of the headrest bracket and slidable in a height direction with respect to the fixed body, wherein the headrest is mounted on the movable body, and the height adjustment mechanism is capable of adjusting the height position of the headrest with respect to the fixed body. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a seat according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of the seat in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the seat in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of the seat in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a headrest is removed from the seatback; Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the seat in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section along the line VII-VII in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a side view schematically showing a sitting state when the backrest is in a neutral position; Fig. 9 is a side view schematically showing a sitting state when the backrest is tilted backward; and Fig. 10 is a side view showing a state in which a height position of the headrest is changed from the state in Fig. 9 is set. DETAILED EXPLANATION

[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] First, a configuration of a seat 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to 10. In the following description, directions such as front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right are referred to as the directions shown in the drawings. In addition, a "seat width direction" indicates a left-right direction of the seat 1. (Schematic representation of seat 1)

[0020] The seat 1 according to the present embodiment is designed as a rear seat of an automobile. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the seat 1 includes a backrest 2 serving as a backrest for an occupant, a seat cushion (not shown) serving as a seating portion, and a headrest 3 supporting the back of the occupant's head. Here, the backrest 2 corresponds to the "backrest" and the headrest 3 to a "headrest" of the present disclosure.

[0021] The lower end portions of the left and right sides of the backrest 2 are connected to the rear end portions of the left and right sides, respectively, via recliners 5. Through the above-described connection, the backrest 2 is configured so that a backrest angle relative to the seat cushion (not shown) can be adjusted in a front-and-rear direction or a longitudinal direction. The recliners 5 can be electric or manual, but an electric configuration is adopted in the present embodiment.

[0022] The recliners 5 are operated by a user through an electric switch provided at a position such as an outer side portion (not shown) of a seat cushion, and the reclining angle of the seatback 2 is tilted backward or raised forward according to the operation. The recliners 5 correspond to a "seatback reclining angle adjustment mechanism" of the present disclosure.

[0023] The headrest 3 is attached to an upper portion of the backrest 2 by inserting it from above. As shown in Fig. 3, the headrest 3 is formed to be recessed into a concave surface shape such that a cover plate main surface supporting the back of the occupant's head can accommodate the back of the head to be covered from both sides. Both the left and right sides of the headrest 3 are respectively provided with resin panels 4 that protrude forward from the side members of both sides and laterally cover the occupant's head. Each panel 4 corresponds to an "overhang portion" of the present disclosure.

[0024] Each panel 4 is formed in a curved plate shape that overhangs so as to protrude forward in a concave curved surface shape from both sides of the cover plate main surface of the headrest 3, which is recessed into the concave curved surface shape. Each panel 4 is individually drive-controlled to be moved to any position between a retracted position P2 indicated by a virtual line and an overhang position P1 indicated by a solid line by an electric overhang adjusting mechanism 10 provided in the headrest 3. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 can be moved.

[0025] Each screen 4 retracts or can be retracted to the retracted position P2, allowing the field of vision to be expanded to the left and right of the occupant. Each screen 4 extends to the overhang position P1 or one of its intermediate positions, allowing privacy to be created by narrowing the occupant's field of vision on both the left and right sides. One of the screens 4 protrudes and the other is retracted, allowing the screen 4 to shield from the outside window while opening a field of vision to an adjacent seat, or vice versa, depending on the shape of the screen 4.

[0026] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, the headrest 3 is further provided with an electric height adjustment mechanism 20, which allows the height of the headrest 3 relative to the backrest 2 to be adjusted to any desired position. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the headrest 3 can be freely adjusted to an optimal height position according to the occupant's body type by the height adjustment mechanism 20. Even if the head position changes due to a shift of the occupant's back, as shown in Fig. 9 is accompanied by the tilting of the backrest 2 backwards, the headrest 3 can be adjusted as shown in Fig. 10 can be adjusted accordingly to a position adapted to the head of the occupant.

[0027] Thus, the headrest 3 can always be adjusted to a position suitable for the occupant's head, and each panel 4 protruding from the headrest 3 can also be adjusted to a position suitable for the occupant's head. (Exact configuration of each section)

[0028] Below, a detailed configuration of each of the sections described above is described. As described in the Fig. 5 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 6, an upper surface portion of the seatback 2 is provided with headrest supports 2A to which a pair of left and right leg portions 21A of a headrest bracket 21 can be mounted, suspended from a lower surface portion of the headrest 3 by being inserted from above. In addition, a fixed tube 2C made of synthetic resin is fixed inside the seatback 2, through which air can flow toward the headrest 3. Here, the fixed tube 2C corresponds to a "tube" of the present disclosure.

[0029] As in Fig. 7, the fixed pipe 2C is provided so as to pass through a central portion of the backrest 2 on a rear side from a lower side to an upper side. A blower 2D is connected to an intermediate path of the fixed pipe 2C, which passes through a rear upper portion of the backrest 2. The air in the fixed pipe 2C is blown by the blower 2D toward the headrest 3. As shown in the Fig. 5 to 7, the fixed pipe 2C is provided so that an end portion (projecting portion 2C1) of a piping of the fixed pipe 2C projects upward from a central portion of the upper surface of the seat back 2.

[0030] A rear cover 2B made of synthetic resin is attached to the rear of the upper portion of the backrest 2 so as to cover the central portion provided with the fixed pipe 2C from the top of the upper portion to a rear portion of the backrest 2 in an inverted L shape. The rear cover 2B serves as a maintenance cover that can be detached from the backrest 2 to facilitate maintenance of the blower 2D and the fixed pipe 2C. A portion of the rear cover 2B covering the upper central portion of the backrest 2 has a shape that extends to cover a peripheral portion on a base side of the protruding portion 2C1 of the fixed pipe 2C protruding from the central portion of the upper surface.

[0031] Due to this shape, the portion of the rear cover 2B covering the edge portion of the protruding portion 2C1 of the fixed tube 2C functions as a trim that attractively surrounds the edge portion of the protruding portion 2C1 so that no gap is formed therebetween. In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 2C1 of the fixed tube 2C forms the piping that blows air toward the headrest 3, but the protruding portion 2C1 can be removed from a main portion of the fixed tube 2C when such a function is not required. By mounting a cap (not shown) on an opening of an end portion of the removed fixed tube 2C, the opening of the end portion of the fixed tube 2C can be attractively covered.

[0032] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the headrest 3 has openings 3A, each opening in a vertically elongated shape toward the front as the entrance and exit of the panel 4, along the side edges on the left and right sides of a concavely curved portion of the main body. The overhang adjustment mechanism 10, which drives each panel 4 individually, is provided inside the headrest 3. The height adjustment mechanism 20, which adjusts the height position of the headrest 3 relative to the seatback 2, is provided inside the headrest 3. As shown in Figures Fig. 5 to 7, in the headrest 3, a movable pipe 3C is provided in a fixed state, which is attached from above to the projecting portion 2C1 of the fixed pipe 2C to connect the flow paths.

[0033] As in Fig. 6, the overhang adjusting mechanism 10 includes motors 11 mounted in the headrest 3 on the left and right sides, operating members 12 each rotationally operated, one end of which is connected to an output shaft 11A of each motor 11, and pairs of upper and lower curved rails 13 mounted at both left and right positions in the headrest 3. Each curved rail 13 has a forward curved shape and is directed outward in the seat width direction along the curved shape of the headrest 3.

[0034] Sliders 4C attached to the panels 4 are each attached to the curved rails 13 so that they can slide in a longitudinal direction of the curved rails 13. Each curved rail 13 guides each panel 4 so that the panel 4 can be moved between the overhang position P1 and the retraction position P2, which is Fig. 1, can slide along the curved shape of each curved rail 13. As shown in Fig. 6, operating pins 12A provided at the other ends of the operating members 12 are respectively mounted by inserting them into elongated holes 4B formed in an intermediate portion of the panels 4 and extending in a height direction.

[0035] In the above configuration, each operating member 12 is individually moved by the drive control of each motor 11, and each shutter 4 is individually moved between the overhang position P1 and the retraction position P2 shown in Fig. 1. Each shutter 4 is stopped at an arbitrary position while each operating member 12 is moved.

[0036] The height adjustment mechanism 20 includes the substantially M-shaped bent headrest bracket 21, a fixed body 22 fixed to an upper portion of the headrest bracket 21, a movable body 23 mounted to a lower portion of the headrest bracket 21 so as to be slidable in the height direction, and a motor 24 fixed to the movable body 23. Leg portions 21A of the substantially M-shaped headrest bracket 21 are inserted into corresponding headrest brackets 2A provided on the upper surface of the seatback 2, and the headrest bracket 21 is mounted in a state of being fixed to the headrest brackets 2A.

[0037] The fixed body 22 includes fixed guides 22A, each fixedly attached to an upper portion of each leg portion 21A of the headrest bracket 21. The movable body 23 includes movable guides 23A, each slidably attached to a lower portion of each leg portion 21A of the headrest bracket 21 in the height direction. The movable body 23 is connected to the fixed body 22 via a feed screw mechanism (not shown) that is connected to an output shaft of the motor 24 and drive-controlled. The feed screw mechanism (not shown) is configured to guide an axis in the height direction of the headrest 3 and, through the drive control of the motor 24, pull the movable body 23 upward toward the fixed body 22 or push the movable body 23 downward away from the fixed body 22.

[0038] A pair of left and right support rods 23B extending in the height direction through the fixed body 22 are mounted on the movable body 23. A bracket 23C, on which the headrest 3 is mounted, is fixed between the extended tip portions of the support rods 23B. With the above configuration, the height position of the headrest 3 relative to the seatback 2 is adjusted by the movement of the movable body 23, whose position in the height direction relative to the fixed body 22 is adjusted. The height adjustment mechanism 20 is provided at a central portion of a rear side of the headrest 3.

[0039] A resin rear cover 3B is attached to the central portion of the rear of the headrest 3, covering the height adjustment mechanism 20 from behind. The rear cover 3B serves as a maintenance cover that can be removed from the headrest 3 for easy operation during maintenance of the height adjustment mechanism 20 and the overhang adjustment mechanism 10.

[0040] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 5, the movable tube 3C is provided in front of the height adjustment mechanism 20 in the headrest 3. The movable tube 3C is provided in a central lower portion of the headrest 3 so that a lower end portion of its piping opens. Since the leg portions 21A of the headrest bracket 21 are mounted by inserting them into the headrest support 2A of the seatback 2, the movable tube 3C is attached from above to the protruding portion 2C1 of the fixed tube 2C and mounted in a flow-path-connected state in which the flow paths of the movable tube 3C and the fixed tube 2C are connected to each other, as shown in Fig. 7 is shown.

[0041] Through the above-described assembly, the movable tube 3C is in a state in which the piping of the movable tube 3C is superimposed on that of the protruding portion 2C1 of the fixed tube 2C in the height direction. Thereby, even when the height position of the headrest 3 relative to the seatback 2 is adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism 20, the movable tube 3C can maintain the flow path connection state in which the flow path of the movable tube 3C is connected to that of the fixed tube 2C, so that the movement of the movable tube 3C is released with a margin of overlap with the fixed tube 2C. As shown in Fig. 5, the movable pipe 3C is branched left and right in the headrest 3, and the branched pipes are inserted into the left and right panels 4 in a superimposed state.

[0042] At this time, even if each panel 4 is moved with respect to the headrest 3 by the overhang adjustment mechanism 10, the movable pipe 3C can maintain a flow path connection state in which the flow path of the movable pipe 3C is connected to that of each panel 4 so that the movement of the movable pipe 3C is released by an interference clearance of piping with each panel 4. As shown in Fig. 1, each panel 4 blows out the air guided inward in the seat width direction from the movable pipe 3C to an area in front of the occupant's head from each air outlet port 4A formed at an end edge portion of the forwardly extending panel 4.

[0043] Specifically, each air outlet opening 4A is vertically opened in a slit shape along an inner surface from the end edge portion of each forwardly extending visor 4. Each visor 4 is configured such that the air blown out from each outlet opening 4A is always blown toward a fixed point position in front of the occupant's head regardless of an overhang of the visor 4, and such that a movement trajectory of the visor 4 moved by the overhang adjustment mechanism 10 is circular arc-shaped.

[0044] At this time, the air discharged from each air outlet 4A is always directed to the fixed point position in front of the occupant's head, regardless of the overhang of each panel 4. Thus, the air discharged from the left and right panels 4 can collide at the fixed point position in front of the occupant's head, and the air swirled by the collision can be gently directed toward the occupant's head. (Brief overview)

[0045] The seat 1 of the present embodiment is configured as follows. More specifically, a seat 1 includes: a backrest 2 configured to support the back of an occupant; a headrest 3 provided at an upper portion of the backrest 2 and configured to support the back of the occupant's head; an overhang portion 4 configured to overhang forward to laterally cover the occupant's head from a side portion of the headrest 3; an overhang adjustment mechanism 10 capable of adjusting an overhang of the overhang portion 4; and a height adjustment mechanism 20 capable of adjusting a height position of the headrest 3 relative to the backrest 2.

[0046] According to the above configuration, the overhang of the overhang portion 4 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction by the overhang adjustment mechanism 10. The height positions of the headrest 3 and the overhang portion 4 can be adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism 20. Thus, through these position adjustments, a position of the overhang portion 4 that laterally covers the occupant's head can be appropriately adjusted according to a seated state of the occupant.

[0047] The seat 1 further includes a backrest tilt angle adjustment mechanism 5 that can adjust a backrest angle of the backrest 2. Even if the occupant's back shifts due to the inclination of the backrest 2, the overhang portion 4 can be adjusted by the height adjustment mechanism 20 to a position suitable for the occupant's head.

[0048] The overhang portion 4 further includes an air outlet 4A configured to discharge air inward in a seat width direction. According to the above configuration, since the air outlet 4A is provided in the overhang portion 4, a configuration that discharges air toward the occupant's face can be appropriately achieved.

[0049] The seat 1 further includes a pipe 2C through which air can flow in a flow path through the backrest 2, wherein the pipe 2C is inserted into the headrest 3 such that a flow path is superimposed on the headrest 3. The height adjustment mechanism 20 is provided in the headrest 3. Since the height adjustment mechanism 20 and a trigger structure of the ventilation path of the pipe 2C accompanying the movement of the mechanism are provided in the headrest 3, a structure of the backrest 2 according to the above configuration is not complicated.

[0050] The overhang portion 4 is provided for both side portions of the headrest 3. According to the above configuration, good privacy can be formed by narrowing the occupant's field of vision on the left and right sides.

[0051] The overhang adjustment mechanism 10 has a structure that can individually operate each overhang portion 4. According to the above configuration, the overhang portion 4 can enhance comfortable adjustment of the field of view, such as narrowing the field of view on one side and expanding the field of view on the other side.

[0052] The height adjustment mechanism 20 includes: a headrest bracket 21; a fixed body 22 attached to an upper portion of the headrest bracket 21; and a movable body 23 attached to a lower portion of the headrest bracket 21 and slidable in a height direction relative to the fixed body 22. The headrest 3 is attached to the movable body 23, and the height adjustment mechanism 20 can adjust the height position of the headrest 3 relative to the fixed body 22. <Sonstige Ausführungsformen>

[0053] Although an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms besides the above-mentioned embodiment. 1. The seat according to the present disclosure can be widely applied not only to seats for motor vehicles, but also to seats for other vehicles, such as rail vehicles, as well as to seats in various means of transportation such as aircraft and ships. Furthermore, in addition to vehicle seats, the seat can be applied to various seats, such as spectator seats in sports facilities and facilities such as cinemas, concert and event venues, and massage seats. 2. A dividing line between the backrest and the headrest may be separated such that the headrest has a wide shape that supports the back of the head and the upper part of the back of the occupant, that is, the back of the occupant is supported by both the backrest and the headrest. 3. The overhang portion may be formed in a shape that overhangs forward from the side portion of the headrest, in a concave curved surface shape, or in a straight plate shape or other forward overhanging shape. The overhang portion may be provided only on one side portion of the headrest. Furthermore, if overhang portions are provided on both sides of the headrest, both overhang portions can only be moved synchronously. The overhang portion may have a configuration that does not include an air outlet port. 4. The overhang adjustment mechanism and the height adjustment mechanism can be electrically operated or manually operated. The height adjustment mechanism can be installed in the backrest to adjust the headrest height. 5. The pipe can release the movement of the height adjustment mechanism in the connected state of the flow path by a so-called telescopic structure or by another telescopic structure such as a bellows structure. List of reference symbols: 1 seat 2 backrest 2A Headrest support 2B rear cover 2C fixed pipe 2C1 Pointing section 2D blower 3 headrest 3A opening 3B rear cover 3C movable tube 4 Overhang section, panel 4A Air outlet opening 4B slot 4C slider 5 tilt adjusters 10 Overhang adjustment mechanism 11 Engine 11A Output shaft 12 operating link 12A operating pin 13 curved rail 20 Height adjustment mechanism 21 Headrest mount 21A leg section 22 fixed body 22A fixed guide 23 movable body 23A movable guide 23B Support rod 23C bracket 24 engine P1 overhang position P2 feed position

Claims

A seat (1) comprising: a backrest (2) configured to support the back of an occupant; a headrest (3) attached to an upper portion of the backrest (2) and configured to support the back of the occupant's head; an overhang portion (4) configured to laterally cover the occupant's head from a side portion of the headrest (3); an overhang adjustment mechanism (10) capable of adjusting an amount of overhang of the overhang portion (4); a height adjustment mechanism (20) capable of adjusting a height position of the headrest (3) relative to the backrest (2); characterized by: a fixed tube (2C) fixed in the backrest (2) and configured to allow air to flow toward the headrest (3); a movable tube (3C) provided in the headrest (3) and attached from above to a projecting portion (2C1) of the fixed tube (2C) to connect flow paths;wherein the overhang portion (4) further includes an air outlet port (4A) configured to blow out the air supplied from the movable tube (3C) inward in a seat width direction, and the movable tube (3C) is superimposed on the projecting portion (2C1) of the fixed tube (2C) in the height direction; The seat (1) according to claim 1, further comprising:a backrest inclination angle adjustment mechanism (5) capable of adjusting a backrest angle of the backrest (2). Seat (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed tube (2C) is inserted into the headrest (3) such that the flow path merges into the headrest (3), wherein the height adjustment mechanism (20) is provided inside the headrest (3). Seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the overhang adjustment mechanism (10) is electric and is provided in the headrest (3), and the overhang portion (4) is movable by the electric overhang adjustment mechanism (10) to any position between a retracted position (P2) and an overhang position (P1). Seat (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the overhang portion (4) is provided on both side portions of the headrest (3). Seat (1) according to claim 5, wherein the overhang adjustment mechanism (10) has a structure that can actuate each overhang portion (4) individually. The seat (1) according to claim 1, wherein the height adjustment mechanism (20) comprises: a headrest bracket (21); a fixed body (22) attached to an upper portion of the headrest bracket (21); and a movable body (23) attached to a lower portion of the headrest bracket (21) and slidable in a height direction relative to the fixed body (22), wherein the headrest (3) is mounted on the movable body (23), and wherein the height adjustment mechanism (20) can adjust the height position of the headrest (3) relative to the fixed body (22).

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