Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat capable of performing massage and posture control for a seated person while reducing uncomfortable feel of a bladder.SOLUTION: A seat cushion includes: an upper pad 10; a bladder 30 arranged on a seat rear side of the upper pad 10 and pressing against the upper pad 10 from the seat rear side by expansion; and a lower pad 20 for supporting the bladder 30 from the seat rear side. Due to this configuration, the upper pad 10 is arranged on a seat front side of the bladder 30. Accordingly, uncomfortable feel caused by the bladder 30 is less likely to occur. Pressure generated by expansion of the bladder 30 is easily transmitted to the upper pad 10 due to the support by the lower pad 20. This enables massage and posture control for a seated person to be performed while reducing uncomfortable feel of the bladder 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat. More specifically, it relates to a vehicle seat having a seat pad that elastically receives a seated person, and a bladder provided on the seat pad that performs massage and posture control of the seated person by inflation.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a seat cushion including a cushion pad, a cushion cover covering the outer peripheral surface of the cushion pad, and a bladder disposed between the pad surface of the cushion pad and the cushion cover. The bladders are arranged horizontally according to the position of the thighs of the seated person. The bladder expands and contracts by air being introduced into and discharged from its interior. The inflated bladder pushes up a part of the cushion cover so as to protrude from the seating surface. By this pushing up, the bladder massages the thighs of the seated person.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above-mentioned bladder is provided on the upper part of the cushion pad. The bladder is less flexible than the cushion pad and may cause a foreign body sensation. Therefore, a vehicle seat is provided that can perform massage and posture control of a seated person while reducing the foreign body sensation of the bladder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle seat of the present invention takes the following means.

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a vehicle seat, which includes a seat pad, a bladder disposed on the back side of the seat from the seat pad and pressing the seat pad from the back side of the seat by inflation, and a base supporting the bladder from the back side of the seat. According to the above configuration, the seat pad is disposed on the front side of the seat from the bladder. Therefore, it is less likely to cause a foreign body sensation due to the bladder. And due to the support of the base, it is easy to transmit the pressure caused by the inflation of the bladder to the seat pad. Thereby, it is possible to perform massage and posture control of the seated person while reducing the foreign body sensation of the bladder.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is, in the first invention described above, a vehicle seat having a rigid member provided between the seat pad and the bladder and being harder than the seat pad, and pressing the seat pad partially from the back side of the seat by the inflation of the bladder. According to the above configuration, the rigid member can press the seat pad. Since the rigid member is harder than the seat pad, it is easy to press the seated person against the elastic force of the seat pad. Therefore, pressure can be effectively applied to the seated person.

[0008] The third invention of the present invention is, in the second invention described above, a vehicle seat in which the rigid member has a seat surface portion that extends planar along the back surface of the seat pad and is pressed from the back side of the seat by the bladder, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the seat surface portion toward the front side of the seat and presses the seat pad from the back side of the seat. According to the above configuration, the seat surface portion can receive the inflation pressure of the bladder in a wide range. Also, due to the protruding portion, pressure can be efficiently applied to the seat pad. For example, if the tip of the protruding portion is made smaller, the pressure application area to the seated person can be made smaller regardless of the size of the bladder. Thereby, it is difficult to disrupt the posture of the seated person, and a massage similar to acupressure can be performed.

[0009] The fourth invention of the present invention is, in the third invention described above, wherein the hard member is a resin-made flow path lid that covers the concave ventilation flow path formed on the back surface of the seat pad from the back side of the seat, the seat surface portion is a planar lid portion that extends along the back surface of the pad of the flow path lid, and the protruding portion is a protruding portion that protrudes from the lid portion of the flow path lid into the flow path of the ventilation flow path, which is a vehicle seat. According to the above configuration, the protruding portion of the flow path lid can transmit the inflation pressure of the bladder to the seat pad through the ventilation flow path. In addition, with a simple configuration of simply providing a protruding portion on the lid portion, the flow path lid can be reasonably used as a hard member.

[0010] The fifth invention of the present invention is, in the fourth invention described above, wherein the protruding portion of the flow path lid is a vehicle seat that abuts against the bottom surface of the recess of the ventilation flow path from the back side of the seat in the contracted state of the bladder. According to the above configuration, the protruding portion can suppress the collapse of the ventilation flow path due to the seating load.

[0011] The sixth invention of the present invention is, in the fourth or fifth invention described above, wherein the lid portion of the flow path lid has a pressure receiving portion that is pressed from the back side of the seat by the bladder, a non-pressure receiving portion that is separated from the pressure receiving portion, and a hinge portion that connects between the pressure receiving portion and the non-pressure receiving portion so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the direction along the back surface of the pad, which is a vehicle seat. According to the above configuration, the pressure receiving portion can be pushed out to the front side of the seat starting from the hinge portion. Therefore, it becomes easier for the protruding portion to press the seat pad.

[0012] The seventh invention of the present invention is, in the sixth invention described above, wherein the seat pad has a partition wall that protrudes into the flow path of the ventilation flow path so as to partition the ventilation flow path, and the non-pressure receiving portion of the lid portion is a vehicle seat that abuts against the partition wall from the back side of the seat in the contracted state of the bladder. According to the above configuration, the non-pressure receiving portion is supported by the partition wall, and the extrusion to the front side of the seat is suppressed. In addition, due to the hinge portion, the bladder can push out only the pressure receiving portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

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Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-14. In the following description, when indicating directions such as front and back, up and down, left and right, etc., the respective directions shown in each figure shall be referred to.

[0015] <First Embodiment> First, the seat cushion 1 (vehicle seat) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 1 forms the seating portion of an automobile seat. The seat cushion 1 is a vehicle seat having both a massage function and a seat air-conditioning function for the seated person. The seat cushion 1 includes a main module 2 forming a top plate main portion and a side module 3 forming a top plate side portion. The seat cushion 1 is a split seat in which the main module 2 and the side module 3 can be split from each other. The seat cushion 1 has a cushion frame 4 to which the main module 2 and the side module 3 are assembled from above, respectively.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 1 has a plurality of bladders 30 provided inside the main module 2. Each bladder 30 is a bag-shaped member made of a resin having elasticity such as polyethylene, and is a main component for implementing the above-described massage function. Each bladder 30 expands when air is fed into it. Each bladder 30 partially presses the seated person from below the seat by its expansion. Thereby, each bladder 30 can perform massage and posture control of the seated person.

[0017] <Main Module 2> As shown in FIG. 2, the main module 2 includes a main resin 2a forming a base, a main pad 2b assembled to the main resin 2a from above, and a main cover 2c covering the main pad 2b from above. The terminal of the main cover 2c is turned under the main pad 2b and locked to the main resin 2a. Further, the top plate cover portion of the main cover 2c is suspended and locked in the suspension groove 14 of the main pad 2b. Thereby, the main cover 2c is stretched in a state of being in close contact with the main pad 2b. The main module 2 has a heater 2d sandwiched between the main pad 2b and the main cover 2c. The heater 2d is configured to be divided into front and rear in accordance with the suspension groove 14 of the main pad 2b. The heater 2d has a heating wire. By the heating wire generating heat, the heater 2d can warm the seated person.

[0018] <Main pad 2b> As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the main pad 2b has an upper pad 10 and a lower pad 20 laminated in the vertical direction. The main pad 2b also has the bladder 30 sandwiched between the upper pad 10 and the lower pad 20. Each bladder 30 is substantially disk-shaped in the contracted state. Each bladder 30 is supported by the lower pad 20 from below the sheet. Thereby, each bladder 30 partially presses the upper pad 10 from below the sheet by its inflation. Each bladder 30 is provided below the upper pad 10 so as to reduce the foreign body sensation to the seated person. Each bladder 30 has a front bladder 31 disposed below the pad front portion 11 of the upper pad 10 and a rear bladder 32 disposed below the pad rear portion 12 of the upper pad 10. Here, the upper pad 10 corresponds to the "seat pad" of the present invention. Also, the lower pad 20 corresponds to the "base" of the present invention.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the main pad 2b has a flow path lid 40 that covers the back surface 19 of the upper pad 10 from below the sheet. The flow path lid 40 is a main component for implementing the seat air conditioning function together with the concave ventilation flow path 17 described later. The flow path lid 40 is made of resin and is a member harder than the upper pad 10. The flow path lid 40 has a planar lid portion 41 extending along the back surface 19 of the upper pad 10 and a plurality of protrusions 42 protruding from the lid portion 41 above the sheet. As shown in FIG. 7, the lid portion 41 covers the pad front portion 11 of the upper pad 10 from below the sheet. Thereby, the lid portion 41 covers the concave ventilation flow path 17 formed on the back surface 19 of the upper pad 10 from below the sheet. Here, the back surface 19 of the upper pad 10 corresponds to the "pad back surface" of the present invention.

[0020] <Pressing by the bladder 30> As shown in FIGS. 6-10, a plurality of front bladders 31 are arranged below the flow path cover 40. In particular, each front bladder 31 is provided so that its arrangement in plan view overlaps with each protrusion 42 of the flow path cover 40. Each front bladder 31 partially presses the lid portion 41 from below the seat by its expansion. Thereby, each protrusion 42 is pushed upward above the seat. Each pushed-up protrusion 42 partially presses the front pad 11 from below the seat. Since each protrusion 42 is harder than the upper pad 10, the front pad 11 can be appropriately pushed upward against the elastic force of the upper pad 10. As a result, a raised portion 13 that partially bulges upward toward the seat is formed on the front pad 11 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). By each raised portion 13, the front pad 11 can appropriately press the thigh portion B of the seated person. Here, the flow path cover 40 corresponds to the "rigid member" of the present invention. Also, the lid portion 41 corresponds to the "seat surface portion" of the present invention. Also, the protrusion 42 corresponds to the "protruding portion" of the present invention.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, each protrusion 42 is configured such that the area of its tip is narrower than that of each front bladder 31. Therefore, each protrusion 42 can more pinpointedly press the seated person within a range narrower than each front bladder 31. Thereby, it becomes difficult to disrupt the posture of the seated person, and a massage can be performed in a form similar to acupressure.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a rear bladder 32 is provided below the pad rear portion 12 of the upper pad 10. A rigid member such as a flow path cover 40 is not provided between the pad rear portion 12 and the rear bladder 32. Therefore, the rear bladder 32 directly presses the pad rear portion 12 from below the seat by its expansion. In this case, it is conceivable that the pad rear portion 12 absorbs the expansion pressure of the rear bladder 32. However, the pad rear portion 12 receives a relatively large seating load from the buttocks A of the seated person. Therefore, the pad rear portion 12 is crushed by the buttocks A. Thereby, it becomes difficult for the pad rear portion 12 to absorb the expansion pressure of the rear bladder 32. Also, the buttocks A of the seated person sink relatively deeply downward under the seat. Therefore, the buttocks A of the seated person are brought closer to the rear bladder 32. Due to these, even if a rigid member such as the flow path cover 40 is not provided between the pad rear portion 12 and the rear bladder 32, the rear bladder 32 can appropriately apply the expansion pressure to the buttocks A.

[0023] <upper pad 10> Hereinafter, each configuration of the main pad 2b described above will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 11, the upper pad 10 has a concave suspension groove 14 extending in the left-right direction along the upper pad top surface 18. The suspension groove 14 is formed at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the upper pad 10. The upper pad 10 has a plurality of upper ventilation holes 15 penetrating in the pad thickness direction at the pad front portion 11.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the upper pad 10 has a concave ventilation flow path 17 extending along the back surface 19 of the upper pad. The ventilation flow path 17 is formed in the pad front portion 11. The ventilation flow path 17 has a bottom surface 17a at the recessed tip and side surfaces 17b rising up in a wall shape from the periphery of the bottom surface 17a. The ventilation flow path 17 also has a plurality of partition walls 17c rising in a stepped manner from various places on the bottom surface 17a. The ventilation flow path 17 is formed so as to branch and extend in five directions from the central portion by each partition wall 17c. Each upper ventilation hole 15 of the upper pad 10 opens toward the bottom surface 17a of the ventilation flow path 17. Further, the upper pad 10 has a lid fitting groove 16 recessed with respect to the back surface 19 of the upper pad along the side surfaces 17b and the partition walls 17c of the ventilation flow path 17 around the ventilation flow path 17.

[0025] <Flow path lid 40> As shown in FIGS. 12 and 5, the flow path lid 40 is attached so that the peripheral portion thereof is overlapped from below the sheet with the lid fitting groove 16 of the upper pad 10. The flow path lid 40 is adhered to the lid fitting groove 16 with an adhesive. Thereby, the flow path lid 40 is joined to the lid fitting groove 16 in a state of being hermetically sealed without a gap.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 14, the flow path lid 40 has a lid portion 41 having a substantially trapezoidal shape with a relatively wide front side, and a plurality of protrusion portions 42 protruding upward from the lid portion 41. Each protrusion portion 42 has two circular protrusion portions 42a formed in a circular cross-sectional shape and two angular protrusion portions 42b formed in a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. The circular protrusion portion 42a and the angular protrusion portion 42b are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. Further, the flow path lid 40 has a plurality of hinge portions 43 forming convex folds extending linearly along the lid portion 41. The hinge portions 43 have two vertical hinge portions 43a extending along the front and rear and two horizontal hinge portions 43b extending along the left and right.

[0027] Each vertical hinge portion 43a is provided so as to be arranged in the left - right direction. Each vertical hinge portion 43a is formed in a flaring shape such that the distance between them increases as it extends forward. This flaring shape is along the left - and - right side edges of the lid portion 41. Each horizontal hinge portion 43b is formed so as to extend outward in the left - right direction from approximately the center in the front - rear direction of each vertical hinge portion 43a. By each hinge portion 43, the lid portion 41 is generally divided into five regions: a left - front lid portion 41a, a left - rear lid portion 41b, a central lid portion 41c, a right - front lid portion 41d, and a right - rear lid portion 41e. Each circular protrusion 42a protrudes from the left - front lid portion 41a and the right - front lid portion 41d. Each angular protrusion 42b protrudes from the left - rear lid portion 41b and the right - rear lid portion 41e. Also, the flow - path lid 40 has a connection port 44 formed in the central lid portion 41c. The connection port 44 penetrates the lid portion 41 in the thickness direction. The connection port 44 is in a substantially elliptical shape that is long in the left - right direction. The connection port 44 communicates with the ventilation flow - path 17 by the attachment of the flow - path lid 40 to the upper pad 10 (see FIG. 12).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, each protrusion 42 of the flow - path lid 40 protrudes into the flow - path of the ventilation flow - path 17. Therefore, each protrusion 42 makes it easier to transmit the expansion pressure of the front bladder 31 to the upper pad 10. Also, each protrusion 42 abuts against the bottom surface 17a of the ventilation flow - path 17 from below the seat when the front bladder 31 is in a contracted state. Thereby, each protrusion 42 supports the upper pad 10 from below the seat when a seating load is applied to the upper pad 10. Therefore, each protrusion 42 can suppress the collapse of the ventilation flow - path 17 due to the seating load. Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the central lid portion 41c abuts against the partition wall 17c of the upper pad 10 from below the seat. Thereby, the central lid portion 41c is supported by the partition wall 17c from above the seat.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, the left front lid portion 41a, the left rear lid portion 41b, the right front lid portion 41d, and the right rear lid portion 41e are pressed from below the seat by the front bladder 31. Thereby, the left front lid portion 41a, the left rear lid portion 41b, the right front lid portion 41d, and the right rear lid portion 41e are pushed up so as to curve around each hinge portion 43. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the right front lid portion 41d curves with respect to the right rear lid portion 41e around the horizontal hinge portion 43b. Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the right front lid portion 41d curves with respect to the center lid portion 41c around the vertical hinge portion 43a. In this way, the lid portion 41 becomes partially flexible around each hinge portion 43. Thereby, the lid portion 41 is partially pushed up by the expansion pressure of the front bladder 31. Therefore, the lid portion 41 can be pushed up for each position of each protrusion portion 42. In addition, it is possible to suppress the uniform narrowing of the ventilation passage 17 due to the pushing up of the lid portion 41. Here, the left front lid portion 41a, the left rear lid portion 41b, the right front lid portion 41d, and the right rear lid portion 41e correspond to the "pressure-receiving portion" of the present invention. Also, the center lid portion 41c corresponds to the "non-pressure-receiving portion" of the present invention.

[0030] <Lower pad 20> As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower pad 20 has concave depressions 21 along the shape of each bladder 30 on the top surface 23 of the lower pad. Each bladder 30 is fitted into each depression 21. Thereby, each bladder 30 is positioned with respect to the lower pad 20. Each bladder 30 fitted into each depression 21 is provided flush with the top surface 23 of the lower pad in its contracted state. Also, the lower pad 20 has lower ventilation holes 22 penetrating in the pad thickness direction. The lower ventilation holes 22 open in a substantially elliptical shape that is long in the left-right direction. The lower ventilation holes 22 communicate with the connection port 44 of the flow path lid 40 by overlapping with the upper pad 10 of the lower pad 20. Therefore, the lower ventilation holes 22 are flow path-connected to the ventilation passage 17 via the connection port 44.

[0031] Below the lower pad 20, an air conditioning control unit equipped with a blower (not shown) or the like is provided. The lower vent hole 22 is connected to the air conditioning control unit. The air conditioning control unit operates to actively ventilate the inside of the ventilation flow path 17. For example, the air conditioning control unit sucks the air inside the flow path through the lower vent hole 22 and exhausts it below the main pad 2b. Thereby, a flow of wind is generated from the upper vent hole 15 through the ventilation flow path 17 toward the lower vent hole 22. As a result, the comfort of the seat cushion 1 is improved.

[0032] The air conditioning control unit also has a pump (not shown) that supplies air to each bladder 30. The pump supplies air to each bladder 30 through a tube (not shown). This tube extends from the pump and is then connected to each bladder 30 through the gap between the upper pad 10 and the lower pad 20. Therefore, the tube can be connected to each bladder 30 without passing through the inside of the lower pad 20. The pump can send air to each bladder 30 independently. Therefore, each bladder 30 can expand and contract independently.

[0033] As described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the bladder 30 of the present embodiment is configured not to be provided on the upper pad top plate surface 18 but to be provided below the upper pad 10. For this reason, the foreign body sensation of the bladder 30 to the seated person can be reduced. In addition, the upper vent hole 15 of the upper pad 10 can be provided at an appropriate position regardless of the arrangement position of the bladder 30. Thereby, the efficiency of seat air conditioning can be enhanced. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, contact between the heater 2d and the bladder 30 can be avoided. Thereby, heat absorption of the heater 2d by the bladder 30 can be suppressed. Therefore, a decrease in the heat generation efficiency of the heater 2d can be suppressed.

[0034] Summarizing the above, the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment is configured as follows. In the following, the reference numerals shown in parentheses correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0035] That is, the vehicle seat (1) includes a seat pad (10), a bladder (30) disposed on the back side of the seat pad (10) and pressing the seat pad (10) from the back side of the seat by inflation, and a base (20) supporting the bladder (30) from the back side of the seat. According to the above configuration, the seat pad (10) is disposed on the front side of the seat relative to the bladder (30). Therefore, it is less likely to cause a foreign body sensation due to the bladder (30). And with the support of the base (20), the pressure caused by the inflation of the bladder (30) can be easily transmitted to the seat pad (10). Thereby, while reducing the foreign body sensation of the bladder (30), massage and posture control of the seated person can be performed.

[0036] Also, the vehicle seat (1) has a rigid member (40) provided between the seat pad (10) and the bladder (30) and harder than the seat pad (10), and the bladder (30) presses the seat pad (10) partially from the back side of the seat. According to the above configuration, the rigid member (40) can press the seat pad (10). Since the rigid member (40) is harder than the seat pad (10), it is easy to press the seated person against the elastic force of the seat pad (10). Therefore, pressure can be effectively applied to the seated person.

[0037] Further, the rigid member (40) has a seat surface portion (41) that extends planar along the back surface (19) of the seat pad (10) and is pressed against the bladder (30) from the back side of the seat, and a protruding portion (42) that protrudes from the seat surface portion (41) toward the front side of the seat and presses the seat pad (10) from the back side of the seat. According to the above configuration, the seat surface portion (41) can receive the inflation pressure of the bladder (30) in a wide range. Also, due to the protruding portion (42), pressure can be efficiently applied to the seat pad (10). For example, if the tip of the protruding portion (42) is made smaller, the pressure application area to the seated person can be made smaller regardless of the size of the bladder (30). Thereby, it is difficult to disrupt the posture of the seated person, and a massage similar to acupressure can be performed.

[0038] Further, the rigid member (40) is a resinous flow path lid (40) that covers the concave ventilation flow path (17) formed on the back surface (19) of the seat pad (10) from the back side of the seat. The seat surface portion (41) is a planar lid portion (41) that extends along the back surface (19) of the flow path lid (40), and the protruding portion (42) is a protruding portion (42) that protrudes from the lid portion (41) of the flow path lid (40) into the flow path of the ventilation flow path (17). According to the above configuration, the protruding portion (42) of the flow path lid (40) can transmit the inflation pressure of the bladder (30) to the seat pad (10) through the ventilation flow path (17). Also, with a simple configuration of merely providing the protruding portion (42) on the lid portion (41), the flow path lid (40) can be rationally utilized as the rigid member (40).

[0039] Further, the protruding portion (42) of the flow path lid (40) abuts against the bottom surface (17a) of the recess of the ventilation flow path (17) from the back side of the seat in the contracted state of the bladder (30). According to the above configuration, the protruding portion (42) can suppress the collapse of the ventilation flow path (17) due to the seating load.

[0040] Further, the lid portion (41) of the flow path lid (40) has pressure receiving portions (41a, 41b, 41d, 41e) that are pressed from the back side of the seat by the bladder (30), a non-pressure receiving portion (41c) that is separated from the pressure receiving portions (41a, 41b, 41d, 41e), and a hinge portion (43) that connects between the pressure receiving portions (41a, 41b, 41d, 41e) and the non-pressure receiving portion (41c) so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the direction along the back surface (19) of the seat pad. According to the above configuration, the pressure receiving portions (41a, 41b, 41d, 41e) can be pushed out to the front side of the seat starting from the hinge portion (43). Therefore, it becomes easier for the protruding portion (42) to press the seat pad (10).

[0041] Further, the seat pad (10) has a partition wall (17c) protruding into the flow path of the ventilation flow path (17) so as to partition the ventilation flow path (17), and the non-pressure receiving portion (41c) of the lid portion (41) abuts against the partition wall (17c) from the back side of the seat in the contracted state of the bladder (30). According to the above configuration, the non-pressure receiving portion (41c) is supported by the partition wall (17c), suppressing the extrusion to the front side of the seat. In addition, due to the hinge portion (43), the bladder (30) can extrude only the pressure receiving portions (41a, 41b, 41d, 41e).

[0042] <Other Embodiments> As described above, the present invention has been described using one embodiment, but the present invention can be implemented in various forms in addition to the above embodiment.

[0043] 1. The vehicle seat can be applied not only to the seat cushion but also to the seat back. Further, the vehicle seat can be widely applied not only to the seats of automobiles but also to seats for various vehicles other than automobiles such as railways, aircraft, ships, etc.

[0044] 2. The vehicle seat may have a configuration without a rigid member. The seat pad may have a configuration without a ventilation flow path. In that case, the bladder may directly press the seat pad without passing through a rigid member, or a rigid member may be provided between the seat pad and the bladder, for example, by a configuration in which a rigid member is provided in a depression on the back surface of the pad.

[0045] 3. The base was exemplified as a configuration that becomes the lower pad in the embodiment. Instead of this, a main resin or a cushion frame may be used. When the present invention is applied to the seat back, a back frame or a lumbar support may be used as the base.

[0046] 4. The rigid member is not limited to the flow path cover and may be another member having any shape. For example, it may be a columnar member or a frustum-shaped member. Two or more rigid members may be provided. The rigid member may be made of metal in addition to resin. The protruding portion was exemplified as having a configuration that protrudes in a stepped shape in the embodiment. Instead of this, a configuration that protrudes in a tapered shape or a dome shape may be used.

[0047] 5. The hinge portion of the flow path cover may be a concave notch formed in the lid portion.

[0048] 6. The bladder may be provided below the main pad including the lower pad. The number of bladders is not limited to eight and may be any number. The bladder may have, for example, a shape that extends longitudinally back and forth along the back surface of the pad in a contracted state or any other shape. For example, one bladder that is long in the front-back direction may be configured to press a plurality of protrusions from the back side of the sheet by its expansion. Also, when a plurality of rigid members are provided, a configuration in which one bladder presses a plurality of rigid members from the back side of the sheet may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1 Seat cushion (vehicle seat) 2 Main module 2a Main resin 2b Main pad 2c Main cover 2d Heater 3 Side module 4 Cushion frame 10 Upper pad (seat pad) 11 Pad front part 12 Pad rear part 13 Raised portion 14 Suspension groove 15 Upper ventilation hole 16 Lid mating groove 17 Ventilation flow path 17a Bottom surface 17b Side surface 17c Partition wall 18 Upper pad top surface 19 Upper pad back surface (pad back surface) 20 Lower pad (base) 21 Depression 22 Lower vent hole 23 Top surface of the lower pad 30 Bladder 31 Front bladder 32 Rear bladder 40 Flow path cover (rigid member) 41 Cover part (seating surface part) 41a Left front cover part (pressure receiving part) 41b Left rear cover part (pressure receiving part) 41c Center cover part (non - pressure receiving part) 41d Right front cover part (pressure receiving part) 41e Right rear cover part (pressure receiving part) 42 Protrusion part (projecting part) 42a Circular protrusion part 42b Angular protrusion part 43 Hinge part 43a Vertical hinge part 43b Horizontal hinge part 44 Connection port A Hip B Thigh

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat pad; a bladder disposed on the back side of the seat relative to the seat pad and pressing the seat pad from the back side of the seat by inflation; a base for supporting the bladder from the back side of the seat.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising: a rigid member provided between the seat pad and the bladder, the rigid member being harder than the seat pad and partially pressing the seat pad from the back side of the seat by inflation of the bladder.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein: the rigid member has a seating surface portion extending in a planar shape along the back surface of the seat pad and being pressed against the bladder from the back side of the seat, and a protruding portion protruding from the seating surface portion toward the front side of the seat and pressing the seat pad from the back side of the seat.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein: the rigid member is a resinous flow path cover that covers a concave ventilation flow path formed on the back surface of the seat pad from the back side of the seat; the seating surface portion is a planar cover portion extending along the back surface of the seat pad of the flow path cover; the protruding portion is a protruding portion protruding from the cover portion of the flow path cover into the flow path of the ventilation flow path.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein: the protruding portion of the flow path cover abuts against the bottom surface of the recess of the ventilation flow path from the back side of the seat in a contracted state of the bladder.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein: the cover portion of the flow path cover has: a pressure receiving portion pressed against by the bladder from the back side of the seat; a non-pressure receiving portion separated from the pressure receiving portion; a hinge portion connecting the pressure receiving portion and the non-pressure receiving portion so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in a direction along the back surface of the seat pad.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein: the seat pad has a partition wall protruding into the flow path of the ventilation flow path so as to partition the ventilation flow path; the non-pressure receiving portion of the cover portion abuts against the partition wall from the back side of the seat in a contracted state of the bladder.

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