Vehicle seat structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat capable of mitigating impact on an occupant's neck when a vehicle sustains an impact due to a rear-end collision, with a simplified structure and reduced cost, without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: A lifter device includes a front link member provided at the front and a rear link member provided at the rear, allowing a seat cushion to move vertically relative to a slide device mounted on a vehicle body floor. An impact absorption part for absorbing impact when a vehicle has a rear-end collision, is integrally provided between a connection part on the seat cushion side of the front link member and a connection part on the slide device side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat structure for reducing the impact applied to the necks of passengers and enhancing the protection of passengers when the vehicle is rear-ended by a following vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicle seats have various structures for ensuring the safety of passengers in the event of a vehicle collision. For example, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the following structure is disclosed.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 7, the vehicle seat 201 is mounted on a vehicle body floor 210 such as an automobile. The vehicle seat 201 has a seat cushion 202, a seat back 203, and a slide device 207. The seat cushion 202 has side frames 202a on both the left and right sides, and a reclining device 209 is attached to the rear part of the side frame 202a.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 7, the seat back 203 has a back frame 203a. A headrest 208 is attached to the upper part of the back frame 203a. The lower left and right parts of the back frame 203a are connected to the reclining device 209. The reclining device 209 connects the seat back 203 to the seat cushion 202 so that the angle can be adjusted, and raises the seat back 203 upright at the rear of the seat cushion 202.

[0005]

[0006] The slide device 207 has a lower rail 207a attached to the vehicle body floor 210 as shown in FIG. 7, and an upper rail 207b slidably attached to the lower rail 207a. A base frame 206 is attached on the upper rail 207b. A lifter device 211 for adjusting the height of the seat cushion 202 is provided between the base frame 206 and the seat cushion 202. The lifter device 211 has a front link member 204 and a rear link member 205.As shown in Fig. 7, the front link member 204 is plate-shaped and has a first link connection portion 204a and a second link connection portion 204b at each end. The first link connection portion 204a is rotatably connected to the front portion of the side frame 202a of the seat cushion 202. The second link connection portion 204b is rotatably connected to the front portion of the base frame 206. The front link members 204 are provided on the left and right sides of the seat cushion 202 respectively, and by rotating, they change the height of the front portion of the seat cushion 202.

[0007] In addition, the rear link member 205 includes a third link connection portion 205a provided on the seat cushion 202, a fourth link connection portion 205b provided on a member on the vehicle body floor 201 side, and a connection mechanism 205c that connects the first link connection portion 205a to be movable upward and rearward with respect to the second link connection portion 205b and applies resistance when the first link connection portion 205a moves upward and rearward.

[0008] Therefore, as shown in Fig. 8, when the vehicle is rear-ended and the weight of the user M (not shown) sitting on the vehicle seat 201 is applied to the seat back 203 by inertial force, the rear link member 205 receives a force rearward through the seat cushion 202. Due to this force, the first link connection portion 205a receives an upward and rearward force with respect to the second link connection portion 205b, and the first link connection portion 205a moves upward and rearward while receiving resistance from the connection mechanism 205c. Therefore, the impact is absorbed by the connection mechanism 205c. The rear link member 205 lifts the rear portion of the seat cushion 202 from below as the first link connection portion 205a moves upward and rearward. As a result, the backward tilt of the seat back 203 is suppressed, the load on the neck of the user M (not shown) is reduced, and the occurrence of whiplash is alleviated.

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the rear link member 205 has a first link connection portion 205a connected to the seat cushion 202 and a second link connection portion 205b connected to a member on the vehicle body floor 201 side. As shown in FIG. 10, the second link connection portion 205b includes a pair of divided bodies 205b2 and 205b3. The divided bodies 205b2 and 205b3 are stacked in the thickness direction and connected by a fastening member 205b4. As shown in FIG. 9, the connection mechanism 205c guides the first link connection portion 205a with respect to the second link connection portion 205b when the first link connection portion 205a moves upward and rearward with respect to the second link connection portion 205b, and moves the first link connection portion 205a upward with respect to the extension direction line 205e connecting the first link connection portion 205a and the second link connection portion 205b.

[0010] Therefore, when the rear link member 205 receives a rearward force, the first link connection portion 205a moves upward and rearward from the second link connection portion 205b, and the first link connection portion 205a moves upward with respect to the extension direction line 205e. As a result, the rear link member 205 lifts the rear portion of the seat cushion 202 or reliably restricts the rear portion of the seat cushion 202 from moving downward. For example, the rear portion of the seat cushion 202 is lifted higher than when the first link connection portion 205a moves on the extension direction line 205e. Therefore, the rearward tilt of the seat back 203 can be reliably restricted.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connecting mechanism 205c includes a guide groove 205c1 formed in the second link connection portion 205b, a guide piece 205c2 provided in the first link connection portion 205a and inserted into the guide groove 205c1, and a breakage body 205c3 formed in the guide groove 205c1 and broken when the guide piece 205c2 moves with respect to the guide groove 205c1. Therefore, when the first link connection portion 205a receives a force greater than or equal to a predetermined value rearward, the breakage body 205c3 breaks and the energy due to the force is absorbed while the rear link member 205 extends. On the other hand, when the force applied to the first link connection portion 205a is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the movement of the first link connection portion 205a with respect to the second link connection portion 205b is restricted by the breakage body 205c3. Thereby, the length of the rear link member 205 is maintained at the initial length.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0012]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] When a vehicle is rear-ended, the impact on the occupant's neck is likely to be a so-called "whip lash", so it is necessary to appropriately absorb the impact.

[0014] In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to newly add a connecting mechanism having an impact absorbing function composed of a plurality of parts to the rear lifter link, which increases the number of parts and complicates the structure, leading to an increase in cost.

[0015] The present invention has been devised in view of such points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can reduce the impact applied to the occupant's neck when the vehicle is rear-ended with a simpler structure and at a lower cost without increasing the number of parts.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0016] In order to achieve the above object, in claim 1, in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion with a seating surface for an occupant's waist, a seat back with a backrest surface for the occupant that stands up at the rear of the seat cushion, a lifter device capable of adjusting the height of the seat cushion, and a slide device capable of adjusting the position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction, the lifter device has a front link member provided forward and a rear link member provided rearward so as to be able to move the seat cushion in the vertical direction with respect to a slide device attached to the vehicle floor, and an impact absorbing portion for absorbing an impact at the time of a vehicle rear-end collision is integrally provided between a connection portion on the seat cushion side and a connection portion on the slide device side of the front link member.

[0017] In claim 2, the impact absorbing portion of the front link member according to claim 1 is characterized in that both end portions of the connection portion on the seat cushion side and both end portions of the connection portion on the slide device side are integrally connected by a substantially flat belt member formed in a substantially arc shape in plan view.

[0018] In claim 3, it is characterized in that a deformation restraining portion for restraining an extension deformation of a predetermined amount or more due to a vehicle rear-end collision is provided on the belt member according to claim 2.

[0019] In claim 4, protrusions for restraining an extension deformation of a predetermined amount or more due to a vehicle rear-end collision by abutting against each other are integrally provided inside each of the belt members according to claim 3.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] As described above, according to the vehicle seat structure of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat structure that can relieve the impact applied to the occupant's neck when the vehicle is rear-ended with a simpler structure and at a lower cost without increasing the number of parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on preferred embodiments.

[0023] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 is mounted on the vehicle body floor 10. The vehicle seat 1 has a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a slide device 7. The seat cushion 2 has side frames 2a on the left and right sides, and a reclining device 9 is attached to the rear part of the side frame 2a.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat back 3 has a back frame 3a. A headrest 8 is attached to the upper part of the back frame 3a. The lower left and right parts of the back frame 3a are connected to the reclining device 9. The reclining device 9 connects the seat back 3 to the seat cushion 2 so that the angle can be adjusted, and raises the seat back 3 upright at the rear of the seat cushion 2.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the slide device 7 has a lower rail 7a attached to the vehicle body floor 10 and an upper rail 7b slidably attached to the lower rail 7a. A base frame 6 is attached on the upper rail 7b. A lifter device 11 for adjusting the height of the seat cushion 2 is provided between the base frame 6 and the seat cushion 2. The lifter device 11 has a front link member 4 and a rear link member 5.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the front link member 4 is in a flat plate shape and has a first connection part 4a and a second connection part 4b at each end. The first connection part 4a is rotatably connected to the front part of the side frame 2a of the seat cushion 2. The second connection part 4b is rotatably connected to the front part of the base frame 6. The front link member 4 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the seat cushion 2, and changes the height of the front part of the seat cushion 2 by rotating. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, both ends of the first connection part 4a and both ends of the second connection part 4b of the front link member 4 are connected by a flat belt member formed in a substantially arc shape in plan view, and this flat belt member forms a shock absorption part 4c.

[0027] The rear link member 5 is flat as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has a first connection portion 5a and a second connection portion 5b at each end. The first connection portion 5a is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the side frame 2a of the seat cushion 2. The second connection portion 5b is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the base frame 6. The rear link members 5 are provided on both the left and right sides of the seat cushion 2. One of the rear link members 5 is provided with a well-known angle adjusting device (not shown).

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, when the vehicle is impacted from the rear, the seat back 3 receives a force F1. In the reclining device 9 that connects the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2, a clockwise moment is generated, and the front link member 4 is pulled upward. Then, the shock absorption portion 4c of the front link member 4 extends and deforms, and the rear portion of the seat cushion 2 moves downward. As a result, the seat back 3 reclines. When the extension deformation of the shock absorption portion 4c of the front link member 4 reaches the limit, the downward movement of the rear portion of the seat cushion 2 is restricted, and thereby the reclining of the seat back 3 is restricted. Thus, the impact of a rear-end collision applied to the occupant's neck is alleviated, and the load on the occupant's neck is reduced.

[0029] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The vehicle seat 101 is mounted on the vehicle body floor 110 as shown in FIG. 4. The vehicle seat 101 has a seat cushion 102, a seat back 103, and a slide device 107. The seat cushion 102 has side frames 102a on the left and right portions, and a reclining device 109 is attached to the rear portion of the side frame 102a.

[0030] The seat back 103 has a back frame 103a as shown in FIG. 4. A headrest 108 is attached to the upper portion of the back frame 103a. The lower left and right portions of the back frame 103a are connected to the reclining device 109. The reclining device 109 connects the seat back 103 to the seat cushion 102 so that the angle can be adjusted, and stands the seat back 103 upright at the rear portion of the seat cushion 102.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, the slide device 107 has a lower rail 107a attached to the vehicle body floor 110 and an upper rail 107b slidably attached to the lower rail 107a. A base frame 106 is attached on the upper rail 107b. A lifter device 111 for adjusting the height of the seat cushion 102 is provided between the base frame 106 and the seat cushion 102. The lifter device 111 has a front link member 104 and a rear link member 105.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the front link member 104 is plate-shaped and has a first connection portion 104a and a second connection portion 104b at each end. The first connection portion 104a is rotatably connected to the front portion of the side frame 102a of the seat cushion 102. The second connection portion 104b is rotatably connected to the front portion of the base frame 106. The front link members 104 are provided on the left and right sides of the seat cushion 102 respectively, and by rotating, the height of the front portion of the seat cushion 102 is changed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, both ends of the first connection portion 104a and both ends of the second connection portion 104b of the front link member 104 are connected by flat belt members each formed in a substantially arc shape in plan view, and this flat belt member forms a shock absorption portion 104c. Further, on the inner side of each of these flat belt members, protrusions are provided to abut against each other and suppress extension deformation of a predetermined amount or more. This protrusion forms a deformation suppression portion 104d.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the rear link member 5 is plate-shaped and has a first connection portion 105a and a second connection portion 105b at each end. The first connection portion 105a is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the side frame 102a of the seat cushion 102. The second connection portion 105b is rotatably connected to the rear portion of the base frame 106. The rear link members 105 are provided on both the left and right sides of the seat cushion 102. A well-known angle adjusting device (not shown) is provided on one of the rear link members 105.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, when the vehicle is impacted from the rear, the seat back 103 receives a force F1. In the reclining device 109 that connects the seat back 103 and the seat cushion 102, a clockwise moment is generated, and the front link member 104 is pulled upward. Then, the shock absorption portion 104c of the front link member 104 extends and deforms, and the rear portion of the seat cushion 102 moves downward. As a result, the seat back 103 reclines. When the deformation restraining portions 104d provided inside the shock absorption portions 104c of the front link member 104 come into contact with each other and the extension deformation is restrained, the downward movement of the rear portion of the seat cushion 102 is restricted, and thereby the reclining of the seat back 103 is restricted. Thus, the impact of the collision on the occupant's neck is mitigated and the load on the occupant's neck is reduced.

[0035] As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples, and various modifications are possible.

Industrial Applicability

[0036] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat to be mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 1,101,201 Vehicle seat 2,102,202 Seat cushion 2a,102a Side frame 3,103,203 Seat back 3a,103a Back frame 4,104,204 Front link member 4a,104a,204a First link connection portion 4b,104b,204b Second link connection portion 4c,104c Shock absorption portion 104d Deformation restraining portion 5,105,205 Rear link member 5a,105a,205a Third link connection portion 5b, 105b, 205b Fourth link connection part 6, 106, 206 Base frame 7, 107, 207 Slide device 7a, 107a, 207a Lower rail 7b, 107b, 207b Upper rail 8 Headrest 9, 109, 209 Reclining device 10, 110, 210 Vehicle body floor 11, 111, 211 Lifter device

Claims

1. In a vehicle seat having a seat cushion with a seating surface for an occupant's waist, a seat back with a backrest surface for the occupant that stands up at the rear of the seat cushion, a lifter device capable of adjusting the height of the seat cushion, and a slide device capable of adjusting the position of the seat cushion in the front-rear direction, the lifter device has a front link member provided in the front and a rear link member provided in the rear so as to be able to move the seat cushion in the vertical direction with respect to a slide device attached to the vehicle body floor. An impact absorbing portion for absorbing an impact during a vehicle collision is integrally provided between a connection portion on the seat cushion side and a connection portion on the slide device side of the front link member. A vehicle seat structure characterized by this.

2. The impact absorbing portion of the front link member is integrally connected by a substantially flat belt member formed in a substantially arc shape that bulges outward in a plan view, with both ends of the connection portion on the seat cushion side and both ends of the connection portion on the slide device side. The vehicle seat structure according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The vehicle seat structure according to Claim 2, characterized in that a deformation restraining portion for restraining an extension deformation of a predetermined amount or more due to a vehicle collision impact is provided on the belt member.

4. The vehicle seat structure according to Claim 3, characterized in that the deformation restraining portion is integrally provided with protrusions that restrain an extension deformation of a predetermined amount or more due to a vehicle collision impact by abutting against each other on the inner side of each of the belt members.

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