Seat cushion

Abstract

To provide a seat cushion capable of more suitably preventing occurrence of decubitus in a seated person without impairing the air-conditioning performance of the seat.SOLUTION: A seat cushion 1 comprises: a cushion pad 2 that elastically supports a seated person; a recess 30 formed in a surface 13 of a top plate 10 of the cushion pad 2 that supports the seated person; a soft member 4 of non-ventilating type arranged in the recess 30 and configured to support the seated person more softly than the cushion pad 2; and a ventilation passage 20 formed so as to penetrate in the pad thickness direction through a first region of the top plate 10 outside the arrangement region of the soft member 4 of the cushion pad 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat cushion, and more particularly to a seat cushion having a cushion pad and a soft member that is provided on a top plate portion of the cushion pad and is softer than the cushion pad. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a seat cushion having an air vent penetrating the cushion pad in the thickness direction and an air blower provided on the back surface of the pad. These enable the seat cushion to perform seat air conditioning. The cushion pad has a recess formed in the top panel, and the air vent is provided so as to open from the bottom surface of the recess. The seat cushion also has an auxiliary pad provided in the recess of the cushion pad. The auxiliary pad thereby covers the air vent from above the seat. Therefore, the auxiliary pad prevents the opening of the air vent from coming into contact with the seat occupant, improving sitting comfort. The auxiliary pad is also breathable. Therefore, air can pass through the auxiliary pad and the air vent and circulate inside the pad. In this way, the auxiliary pad is less likely to impair the seat's air conditioning performance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-237444 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In seat cushions equipped with the above-described seat air conditioning function, there has been a demand for a more appropriate way to prevent bedsores that can occur when a seated person sits for long periods of time. To address this, a configuration has been considered in which a soft member softer than a cushion pad, such as a gel mat, is provided instead of the auxiliary pad. However, such soft members generally lack breathability, and there is a concern that covering the air vents with the soft member may impair the seat's air conditioning performance. Therefore, we provide a seat cushion that can more appropriately prevent bedsores for a seated person without impairing the seat's air conditioning performance. [Means for solving the problem]

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

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention is a seat cushion having a cushion pad that elastically supports a seated occupant, the seat cushion including: a recess formed in the surface of a top plate portion of the cushion pad that supports the seated occupant; a non-breathable soft member that is disposed in the recess and supports the seated occupant more softly than the cushion pad; and an air passage formed in a first region of the top plate portion that is outside the region where the soft member of the cushion pad is disposed, so as to penetrate in the pad thickness direction.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the soft member provided on the top panel portion supports the seated occupant more softly. This makes it possible to more appropriately prevent bedsores for the seated occupant. Furthermore, the opening of the air passage is formed in the first region outside the soft member. Therefore, air flowing through the air passage can be properly ventilated without being obstructed by the soft member. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the air conditioning performance of the seat due to the soft member. In this way, it is possible to more appropriately prevent bedsores for the seated occupant without impairing the air conditioning performance of the seat.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is a seat cushion according to the first aspect, wherein the air passage includes a concave ventilation groove formed in the center of the top panel in the seat width direction and a ventilation hole that opens from the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation groove and penetrates the cushion pad in the pad thickness direction. According to the above configuration, an air passage is formed in the center of the cushion pad. Therefore, the cushion pad can be ventilated by seat air conditioning to efficiently release heat trapped in the center and to direct air toward the seated occupant. This further enhances the comfort of the seat cushion.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is a seat cushion according to the first or second aspect, wherein the bottom surface of the recess is inclined obliquely upward toward the outside in the seat width direction. With this configuration, the bottom surface of the recess can support the seat occupant seated on the soft member from the outside in the seat width direction, thereby making it easier to suppress wobbling of the seat occupant in the seat width direction.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a seat cushion according to the third aspect, wherein the depth of the recessed portion gradually decreases toward the outer side in the seat width direction, and the thickness of the soft member gradually decreases toward the outer side in the seat width direction along the bottom surface of the recessed portion. According to the above configuration, the support provided by the soft member gradually becomes harder toward the outer side in the seat width direction. This can prevent a sudden change in the support hardness between the soft member and the area of the top panel outside the area where the soft member is disposed. This reduces the sensation of a foreign body to the seat occupant and improves sitting comfort.

[0011] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the seat cushion according to the first or second aspect, wherein the soft members are configured as a pair of left and right soft members arranged side by side in the seat width direction so as to be provided in high seating pressure areas where the left and right ischial tuberosities of a seated occupant are located. With this configuration, the pair of left and right soft members can appropriately receive the support pressure in the high seating pressure areas.

[0012] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the seat cushion according to the second aspect, wherein the soft members are configured as a pair of left and right soft members provided in high seating pressure areas where the left and right ischial tuberosities of a seated occupant are located, and the soft members are arranged at a distance from each other in the seat width direction to form the ventilation grooves. According to the above configuration, the ventilation grooves can be formed rationally by a simple configuration in which the pair of left and right soft members are arranged at a distance from each other. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a seat cushion according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cushion cover is removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cushion pad and the pressure-relieving mat. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the following description, when directions such as front, back, up, down, left, and right are indicated, they refer to the directions shown in each figure. Furthermore, when the term "seat width direction" is used, it refers to the left and right direction of the seat cushion 1, which will be described later.

[0015] First Embodiment First, a seat cushion 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 1 forms a seating portion of an automobile seat. The seat cushion 1 elastically supports a seated occupant from below. The seat cushion 1 includes a cushion frame (not shown) that forms the framework, a cushion pad 2 attached to the cushion frame from above, and a cushion cover 3 that covers the cushion pad 2 from above. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the seat cushion 1 includes two pressure-relieving mats 4 disposed on the top plate 10 of the cushion pad 2. Each pressure-relieving mat 4 is made of gel. Therefore, each pressure-relieving mat is softer and has a smaller elastic force than the cushion pad 2. This allows each pressure-relieving mat 4 to more softly support the body pressure of the seated occupant. This helps prevent bedsores from developing when the occupant sits for long periods of time. Here, the pressure-relieving mats 4 correspond to the "soft member" of the present invention.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2 , the cushion pad 2 has an air passage 20 that opens from the gap between each pressure-relieving mat 4. The air passage 20 has ventilation grooves 21 that extend in the front-rear direction and ventilation holes 22 that open from the ventilation grooves 21 and penetrate through the thickness direction of the pad. The air passage 20 can improve the breathability of the cushion pad 2. A blower (not shown) that is connected to the air passage 20 is provided on the back side of the cushion pad 2. The blower draws in air from the air passage 20 and exhausts it below the seat. This allows the blower to perform seat air conditioning, which actively ventilates the inside of the pad. This seat air conditioning efficiently releases heat trapped inside the pad, improving the comfort of the seat cushion 1.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the air passage 20 is formed in an area of the cushion pad 2 that is outside the area where the pressure-relieving mats 4 are arranged. As a result, the air passage 20 allows ventilation of the cushion pad 2 without being obstructed by the pressure-relieving mats 4. Although the pressure-relieving mats 4 are not configured to have breathability, the air passage 20 allows the seat cushion 1 to appropriately perform seat air conditioning. With this configuration, the seat cushion 1 can appropriately achieve both soft support by the pressure-relieving mats 4 and seat air conditioning by the air passage 20.

[0018] <Cushion Pad 2> Each component of the seat cushion 1 described above will be described in detail below. As shown in FIG. 2, the top panel portion 10 of the cushion pad 2 has a main top panel 11 that forms the center portion in the seat width direction, and a pair of left and right side top panel portions 12 that form both side portions of the top panel portion 10 in the seat width direction. The main top panel 11 has a relatively flat surface shape with its surface facing upward. The main top panel 11 elastically supports the seated occupant from below. Each side top panel 12 has a shape that protrudes upward in an arched shape beyond the main top panel 11. Each side top panel 12 elastically supports the seated occupant from both outer sides in the seat width direction.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the cushion pad 2 has a recess 30 formed in its top plate main 11. Each of the above-mentioned pressure-relieving mats 4 is placed in this recess 30. The recess 30 opens in a generally rectangular shape over a wide range in the seat width direction from the front to the center of the top plate main 11. The recess 30 has a bottom surface 31 at the end of the recess and side surfaces 32 rising like upright walls from the front and rear edges of the bottom surface 31.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface 31 is curved along the seat width direction so as to form a downwardly convex shape. The bottom surface 31 extends in a curved manner up to the surface 13 of the top panel portion 10. Therefore, the recess 30 is formed so that its depth is greatest at the center portion in the seat width direction and gradually decreases as it extends to both outer sides in the seat width direction. As a result, the bottom surface 31 slopes obliquely upward toward the outer sides in the seat width direction so as to face the center portion 14 of the top panel portion 10 in the seat width direction. Therefore, the recess 30 can support the seated occupant from both sides in the seat width direction. This can suppress wobbling of the seated occupant in the seat width direction.

[0021] <Relief Mat 4> As shown in Fig. 3, each decompression mat 4 is configured as a pair of left and right mats that are symmetrical to each other. Each decompression mat 4 is a columnar member that is elongated in the front-to-rear direction and has a generally triangular cross section. The lower surface of each decompression mat 4 forms a curved surface shape that follows the shape of the bottom surface 31 of the recess 30. This allows each decompression mat 4 to be appropriately positioned relative to the recess 30.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is arranged to extend from the front to the central portion of the tabletop main 11 along the recess 30. This allows the seated occupant's buttocks A and thighs B to be softly supported over a wide area in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is arranged at intervals on both sides of the recess 30 in the seat width direction. This allows a portion of the recess 30 to form a space extending in the front-to-rear direction in the central portion 14 of the tabletop 10 in the seat width direction. This space functions as the ventilation groove 21 of the above-mentioned air passage 20. With the above configuration, the ventilation groove 21 can be easily and rationally formed by utilizing a portion of the recess 30. Here, the central portion 14 corresponds to the "first region" of the present invention.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the ventilation grooves 21 are formed to extend to the front portion of the top panel main 11. Therefore, even when a seated person is seated, air above the seat can easily pass between the left and right thighs B of the seated person and enter the ventilation grooves 21 from above. This allows appropriate seat air conditioning. Furthermore, the ventilation grooves 21 actively ventilate the center portion 14 of the cushion pad 2, where heat from the seated person tends to build up. This allows heat from the cushion pad 2 to be efficiently released. The ventilation holes 22 of the air passage 20 open in a circular shape from the center portion in the seat width direction on the bottom surface 31 of the recess 30. This allows the ventilation holes 22 to be connected to the ventilation grooves 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the ventilation holes 22 have a cylindrical shape extending in the pad thickness direction and penetrate the cushion pad 2 to extend to the back surface of the pad.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5 , each pressure-relieving mat 4 adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the recess 30. This prevents each pressure-relieving mat 4 from shifting position within the recess 30. Therefore, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is less likely to shift inward in the seat width direction even when subjected to a seating load, and is less likely to narrow the ventilation grooves 21. Each pressure-relieving mat 4 is provided so as to be flush with the surface 13 of the table top 10. By being placed in the recess 30, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is supported in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions by the cushion pad 2. Therefore, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is less likely to wobble in the in-plane direction along the surface 13 of the table top 10. This allows each pressure-relieving mat 4 to more appropriately support the seated occupant.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is placed in a high seating pressure area 40 where the left and right ischial tuberosities C of the seated occupant are located on the main tabletop 11. Therefore, each pressure-relieving mat 4 can softly support the left and right ischial tuberosities C, which are subjected to high support pressure. In this way, each pressure-relieving mat 4 can softly absorb the high support pressure applied to the high seating pressure area 40 and its surroundings, and appropriately prevent bedsores in the seated occupant.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 5, each pressure-relieving mat 4 is configured so that its thickness gradually decreases as it extends outward in the seat width direction, following the shape of the bottom surface 31 of the recess 30. Therefore, the support provided by each pressure-relieving mat gradually becomes firmer toward the outside in the seat width direction. This prevents a sudden change in support firmness at the boundary between each pressure-relieving mat 4 and the top plate portion 10 in the seat width direction. This reduces the foreign body sensation felt by the seat occupant, and further improves the sitting comfort of the seat cushion 1.

[0027] To summarize the above, the seat cushion according to the first embodiment has the following configuration: In the following, the reference numerals in parentheses correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0028] That is, the seat cushion (1) has a cushion pad (2) that elastically supports a seated occupant, a recess (30) formed in the surface (13) of the top plate portion (10) that supports the seated occupant of the cushion pad (2), a non-breathable soft member (4) that is placed in the recess (30) and supports the seated occupant more softly than the cushion pad (2), and an air passage (20) that is formed so as to penetrate in the pad thickness direction in a first region (14) of the top plate portion (10) that is outside the arrangement region of the soft member (4) of the cushion pad (2).

[0029] According to the above configuration, the soft member (4) provided on the top panel portion (10) supports the seated occupant more softly. This makes it possible to more appropriately prevent bedsores for the seated occupant. Furthermore, the opening of the air passage (20) is formed in the first region (14) away from the soft member (4). This allows the air flowing through the air passage (20) to be properly ventilated without being obstructed by the soft member (4). This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the air conditioning performance of the seat due to the soft member (4). In this way, it is possible to more appropriately prevent bedsores for the seated occupant without impairing the air conditioning performance of the seat.

[0030] The air passage (20) includes a concave ventilation groove (21) formed in the center portion (14) of the top panel portion (10) in the seat width direction, and a ventilation hole (22) that opens from the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation groove (21) and penetrates the cushion pad (2) in the pad thickness direction. According to the above configuration, the air passage (20) is formed in the center portion (14) of the cushion pad (2). Therefore, the cushion pad (2) can be ventilated by seat air conditioning so as to efficiently release heat trapped in the center portion (14) and to blow air toward the seated occupant. This further enhances the comfort of the seat cushion (1).

[0031] In addition, the bottom surface (31) of the recess (30) is inclined obliquely upward toward the outside in the seat width direction. With this configuration, the bottom surface (31) of the recess (30) can support the seat occupant seated on the soft member (4) from the outside in the seat width direction. This makes it easier to suppress wobbling of the seat occupant in the seat width direction.

[0032] Furthermore, the depth of the recess (30) gradually decreases toward the outside in the seat width direction. The thickness of the soft member (4) gradually decreases toward the outside in the seat width direction along the inner circumferential surface of the recess (30). According to the above configuration, the support provided by the soft member (4) gradually becomes harder toward the outside in the seat width direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a sudden change in the support hardness between the soft member (4) and the area of the top panel portion (10) outside the area where the soft member (4) is arranged. This reduces the foreign body sensation felt by the seat occupant and improves sitting comfort.

[0033] The soft members (4) are configured as a pair of left and right soft members arranged side by side in the seat width direction so as to be provided in the high seating pressure region (40) where the left and right ischial tuberosities (C) of the seated person are located. With this configuration, the pair of left and right soft members (4) can appropriately receive the support pressure in the high seating pressure region (40).

[0034] Furthermore, the soft members (4) are configured as a pair of left and right soft members provided in the high seating pressure area (40) where the left and right ischial tuberosities (C) of the seated person are located, and are arranged at a distance from each other in the seat width direction so as to form the ventilation grooves (21). According to the above configuration, the ventilation grooves (21) can be formed rationally by a simple configuration in which the pair of left and right soft members (4) are provided at a distance from each other.

[0035] <Other embodiments> Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be embodied in various forms other than the above embodiment.

[0036] 1. Two or more recesses of the cushion pad may be provided on the surface of the top plate. The recesses may be formed so as to open to the in-plane end along the surface of the top plate. For example, by arranging each pressure-relieving mat of this embodiment in a recess that extends to the front end of the top plate, the ventilation groove opens from the front end of the top plate. This allows air to flow into the ventilation groove from the front. Only one soft member may be provided in one recess, or three or more soft members may be provided. Multiple soft members may be provided on the top plate by providing them in multiple recesses. The soft members do not need to be symmetrical and may be provided in any shape. The soft members may be provided across the main top plate and the side top plate.

[0037] 2. The ventilation passage may be configured to open from a location other than the center in the seat width direction, such as the edge of the top plate. For example, the soft member may be a single member widely arranged in the center of the top plate, and the ventilation passage may open from an edge located outside the soft member in the in-plane direction. The ventilation passage may not have ventilation grooves and may consist only of ventilation holes opening from the surface of the top plate.

[0038] 3. The ventilation groove is formed by a gap between two soft members in the above example. Alternatively, the ventilation groove may be formed by a through-hole that penetrates a single soft member in the thickness direction. The ventilation groove may also be formed in a region different from the recess. Multiple ventilation grooves may be formed on the top plate. The ventilation groove may have any shape, such as extending in the left-right direction, extending in a meandering pattern, having a groove width that varies along the extension direction, multiple ventilation grooves extending so that the distance between them increases or decreases, multiple ventilation grooves extending so as to intersect, or multiple ventilation grooves forming a lattice pattern. The ventilation hole may be configured to open from the side of the ventilation groove. The ventilation hole may be configured to open from two or more locations on the inner circumferential surface of the ventilation groove.

[0039] 4. The bottom surface of the recess may be curved along the seat width direction, or may be an inclined surface extending diagonally upward in a straight line toward the outside in the seat width direction, or may be a stepped surface rising in stages toward the outside in the seat width direction. The bottom surface of the recess may also be configured to slope diagonally upward toward the outside in the front-to-rear direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 seat cushion 2 cushion pads 3 cushion covers 4. Pressure relief mat (soft material) 10 Top plate 11 Main top 12 Top plate side 13 Surface 14 Central part (first area) 20 Ventilation Channel 21 Ventilation groove 22 Ventilation holes 30 recess 31 bottom 32 Side 40 High seat pressure area A buttocks B Thigh C ischial tuberosity

Claims

1. A seat cushion having a cushion pad that elastically supports a seated person, a recess formed on a surface of a top plate portion of the cushion pad that supports a seated person; a non-breathable soft member disposed in the recess and supporting the seated person more softly than the cushion pad; a ventilation passage formed in a first region of the top plate portion outside the area where the soft member of the cushion pad is disposed, the ventilation passage penetrating in the pad thickness direction.

2. 2. The seat cushion according to claim 1, The seat cushion has a concave ventilation groove formed in the center of the top plate portion in the seat width direction, and a ventilation hole that opens from the inner surface of the ventilation groove and penetrates the cushion pad in the pad thickness direction.

3. The seat cushion according to claim 1 or 2, The seat cushion has a bottom surface of the recessed portion that is inclined obliquely upward toward the outside in the seat width direction.

4. 4. The seat cushion according to claim 3, The depth of the recessed portion gradually decreases toward the outside in the sheet width direction, The thickness of the soft member of the seat cushion gradually decreases toward the outside in the seat width direction so as to follow the bottom surface of the recess.

5. The seat cushion according to claim 1 or 2, The seat cushion is configured as a pair of left and right soft members arranged side by side in the seat width direction so that the soft members are provided in high seating pressure areas where the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person are located.

6. 3. The seat cushion according to claim 2, The seat cushion is configured with a pair of soft members, one on the left and one on the right, that are provided in the high seating pressure area where the left and right ischial tuberosities of the seated person are located, and are arranged with a gap between them in the seat width direction so as to form the ventilation groove.

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