Vehicular seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicular seat as one example which can solve the problem in an electric connector and an electric socket in which they are likely to deteriorate in workability when work for connecting the electric connector and the electric socket which have been built in a seat back to each other, after a seat main body is mounted on a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicular seat comprises: a connector provided at a lower end side of a headrest stay 32 and for performing electrical connection; and a socket 5 that is electrically connected to the connector, the socket 5 having a part connected to the connector being provided on an extension line in an extending direction on a lower end side of a support bracket 45. The socket 5 is provided with a connection part 52 connected to the support bracket 45 to be displaceable in the extending direction of the support bracket 45.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat installed in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the headrest wiring structure described in Patent Document 1, an assembly worker must insert the headrest stay into the support bracket, and then fit an electrical socket into the electrical connector provided on the lower end side of the headrest stay.

[0003] The headrest stay is a rod-shaped member extending from the headrest body. The support bracket is a cylindrical member into which the headrest stay is inserted. In many cases, a resin headrest support is interposed between the headrest stay and the support bracket. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-30654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For example, in the case of a vehicle seat for a vehicle, after the portion of the vehicle seat other than the headrest (hereinafter referred to as the seat main body) is assembled to the vehicle, the headrest is assembled to the seat main body.

[0006] Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, after the seat body is assembled into the vehicle, the assembly worker must assemble the headrest to the seat body and connect the headrest's electrical connector to the electrical socket.

[0007] Since the electrical connector and the electrical socket are usually built into the seat back, there is a high possibility that the workability will be reduced if the electrical connector and the electrical socket are connected after the seat body is assembled to the vehicle. The present disclosure discloses an example of a vehicle seat that takes this into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vehicle seat to be installed in a vehicle preferably has the following configuration requirements. That is, an upper frame (43) constituting a part of the back frame (4), the upper frame (43) extending in the seat width direction at the upper end side of the back frame (4), a support bracket (45) provided on the upper frame (43) and into which a stay (32) of the headrest (3) is inserted so as to be freely displaceable, the support bracket (45) being a cylindrical support bracket extending in the vertical direction, a connector (34) provided on the lower end side of the stay (32), the connector (34) for making an electrical connection, and a socket (5) electrically connected to the connector (34), the socket (5) having a connection portion with the connector (34) provided on the lower end side of the support bracket (45), and the socket (5) is provided with a connecting portion (52) connected to the support bracket (45) so as to be displaceable in the extension direction of the support bracket (45).

[0009] As a result, in the vehicle seat, before the headrest (3) is assembled to the back frame (4), the socket (5) is held by the back frame (4) while being connected to the back frame (4).

[0010] When the stay (32) of the headrest (3) is inserted into the support bracket (45), the connector (34) provided on the lower end side of the stay (32) is connected to the connection portion of the socket (5) located on the lower end side of the support bracket (45).

[0011] In other words, in this vehicle seat, once the work of assembling the headrest (3) to the seat body is completed, the work of connecting the connector (34) and the socket (5) is completed without the assembly worker having to perform the work of connecting the connector (34) and the socket (5).

[0012] Therefore, in this vehicle seat, even if the headrest is assembled to the seat body after the seat body is assembled to the vehicle, it is possible to easily connect the connector (34) and the socket (5).

[0013] The vehicle seat may have the following configuration, for example. That is, it is desirable that the connection portion of the socket 5 into which the connector 34 is fitted be provided with a tapered portion 51B for guiding the connector 34. This allows the connector 34 to be connected to the socket 5 reliably and easily.

[0014] The socket 5 is preferably provided with a stopper portion 51D that contacts the upper frame 43 to restrict upward displacement of the socket 5. The stopper portion 51D is preferably provided on the upper end surface 51C of the connection portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the connecting portion (52) surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the support bracket (45) from at least three directions and has sliding contact surfaces (52A to 52E) that are in slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface, and it is desirable that the sliding contact surfaces (52A to 52E) are provided at the tops of the portions that bulge toward the outer peripheral surface.

[0016] This can prevent the sliding resistance from becoming excessively large when the connecting portion (52) is displaced relative to the support bracket (45). Incidentally, the symbols in each of the parentheses above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations, etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations, etc. shown by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a view showing a seat back of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a connection structure between a seat back and a headrest; [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a socket according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of a socket, a headrest stay, etc. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of a socket, a headrest stay, etc. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of the connecting portion and the support bracket 45, etc. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of the connecting portion and the support bracket 45, etc. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the structure of the connecting portion and the support bracket 45, etc. FIG. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams of a procedure for assembling the headrest. [Figure 10] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams of a procedure for assembling the headrest. [Figure 11] 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams of a procedure for assembling the headrest. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following "embodiments of the invention" are examples of embodiments that fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiments.

[0019] In this embodiment, a vehicle seat according to the present disclosure is applied to a seat mounted in a vehicle such as a car. Arrows and diagonal lines indicating directions are added to each figure to facilitate understanding of the relationships between the figures and the shapes of components or parts.

[0020] Therefore, the vehicle seat is not limited to the orientation shown in each drawing. The orientation shown in each drawing is the orientation when the vehicle seat according to this embodiment is assembled to a vehicle. Diagonally shaded drawings do not always represent cross-sectional views.

[0021] At least one of a component or part that is described with a reference numeral is provided unless otherwise specified, such as "one." The vehicle seat shown in the present disclosure includes at least one of the components such as the component or part that is described with a reference numeral and the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0022] (First embodiment) <1. Overview of vehicle seats> As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 1 includes at least a seat back 2, a seat cushion (not shown), and a headrest 3. The seat cushion is a portion for supporting the buttocks of a seated occupant. The seat back 2 is a portion for supporting the back of the seated occupant. The headrest 3 is a portion for supporting the back of the head of the seated occupant.

[0023] The seat back 2 is composed of a back frame 4, a cushioning material (not shown), a cover (not shown), etc. The back frame 4 forms the skeleton of the seat back 2. The cushioning material is made of urethane foam or the like, and is a shock-absorbing material that is elastically deformable. The cover is a member that covers the cushioning material.

[0024] The back frame 4 has at least two side frames 41 and 42, an upper frame 43, and a lower frame 44. The side frame 41 is a member disposed at one end of the seat width direction and extending in the vertical direction. The side frame 42 is a member disposed at the other end of the seat width direction and extending in the vertical direction.

[0025] The upper frame 43 is a member that extends in the seat width direction and connects the upper ends of the two side frames 41, 42. The lower frame 44 is a member that extends in the seat width direction and connects the lower ends of the two side frames 41, 42. The back frame 4 is formed in a rectangular frame shape by the above-mentioned frames 41 to 44.

[0026] <2. Headrest Surroundings Configuration> 2.1 Headrest fixing structure 2, the headrest 3 includes at least a headrest main body 31 and at least one (two in this embodiment) headrest stay 32, 33. The headrest main body 31 is the part that comes into contact with the back of the head of a seated occupant.

[0027] The headrest stays 32, 33 are members that support the headrest main body 31. The headrest stays 32, 33 according to this embodiment are pipe-shaped members that extend downward from the headrest main body 31.

[0028] Electrical equipment (not shown) is disposed inside the headrest main body 31. Electrical wires (hereinafter referred to as harnesses) connected to the electrical equipment are routed inside the headrest stay 32.

[0029] A connector 34 is provided on the lower end side of the headrest stay 32. A terminal (not shown) is provided on the connector 34. The terminal is a member for electrically connecting the harness routed inside the headrest stay 32 to another harness H.

[0030] The upper frame 43 is provided with support brackets 45, 46 in the same number as the headrest stays 32, 33. Each support bracket 45, 46 is a member into which the corresponding headrest stay 32, 33 is inserted so as to be freely displaceable. The support brackets 45, 46 are configured in a cylindrical shape (a rectangular cylindrical shape in this embodiment) that extends in the vertical direction.

[0031] Resin headrest supports 47, 48 are interposed between the headrest stays 32, 33 and the support brackets 45, 46. The headrest supports 47, 48 maintain the positions of the headrest stays 32, 33 relative to the support brackets 45, 46.

[0032] 1, a socket 5 is attached to the lower end side of the headrest stay 32. The socket 5 has a terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to a terminal of the connector .

[0033] When the socket 5 is attached to the lower end side of the headrest stay 32, the terminals of the connector 34 and the terminals of the socket 5 are electrically connected. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as "a state in which the connector 34 and the socket 5 are connected."

[0034] <2.2 Socket details> 3, the socket 5 has at least a socket body 51 and a connecting portion 52. The socket body 51 and the connecting portion 52 are integrated via a connecting portion 52K.

[0035] A gap into which the lower end wall 43A (see FIG. 5) of the upper frame 43 can fit is provided between the socket body 51 and the connecting portion 52. The socket body 51 is a housing that accommodates terminals (not shown) that are electrically connected to terminals of the connector 34.

[0036] 3, the socket body 51 is provided with a fitting opening 51A. The fitting opening 51A is an opening into which the connector 34 fits when the connector 34 and the socket 5 are connected.

[0037] The fitting opening 51A forms a part of the connection portion with the connector 34. The fitting opening 51A is located on the lower end side of the support bracket 45, on an extension line Lo in the extension direction of the support bracket 45.

[0038] A tapered portion 51B is provided at the top of the fitting opening 51A. The tapered portion 51B is a guide portion for guiding the connector 34 into the fitting opening 51A, i.e., into the socket body 51. Specifically, the tapered portion 51B is a conical curved surface that is inclined with respect to the extension line Lo in the extension direction.

[0039] The curved surface of tapered portion 51B has a smaller diameter as it approaches fitting opening 51 A. Hereinafter, fitting opening 51A and tapered portion 51B will also be referred to as a connection portion with connector .

[0040] An upper end surface 51C of the connection portion functions as a stopper portion 51D. As shown in Fig. 4, the stopper portion 51D comes into contact with the lower end wall 43A of the upper frame 43, thereby restricting the socket 5 from being displaced upward beyond a predetermined dimension.

[0041] 5, the connecting portion 52 is a portion connected to the support bracket 45. The connecting portion 52 is displaceable in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the support bracket 45. Therefore, the socket 5 is displaceable in the up and down direction relative to the upper frame 43.

[0042] The connecting portion 52 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the support bracket 45 from at least three directions. The surrounding portions are provided with sliding contact surfaces 52A to 52E (see FIG. 3).

[0043] Each of the sliding contact surfaces 52A to 52E is a portion that slidably contacts the outer peripheral surface of the support bracket 45. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the contact surfaces 52A to 52E are provided at the top of portions that bulge out toward the outer peripheral surface of the support bracket 45.

[0044] Each of the sliding contact surfaces 52A to 52E comes into contact with a flat, uneven surface of the outer circumferential surface of the support bracket 45. For this reason, recesses 52F and 52G are provided in the areas between the sliding contact surfaces 52A and 52B and between the sliding contact surfaces 52D and 52E. The recesses 52F and 52G are recesses for avoiding interference with protrusions on the outer circumferential surface of the support bracket 45.

[0045] 5, an opening 52H is provided in a side of the connecting portion 52 other than the above three directions (on the left side of the connecting portion 52 in FIG. 5). The opening 52H is an opening into which the support bracket 45 can fit. A retaining portion 52J such as a snap retainer (also called a potbelly pin) is provided on the opening 52H side.

[0046] 5, the socket body 51 is provided with a retaining portion 51E such as a snap retainer. The retaining portion 51E engages with the socket body 51 and the headrest stay 32, thereby maintaining the connection between the connector 34 and the socket 5.

[0047] 3. Features of the vehicle seat according to this embodiment <3.1 Headrest assembly procedure> When assembling the vehicle seat of this embodiment into a vehicle, a worker (including an automatic assembly device) first assembles the portion of the vehicle seat 1 other than the headrest 3 (hereinafter referred to as the seat body 6) into a predetermined position inside the vehicle cabin.

[0048] In this state, the headrest 3 is not attached to the seat body 6, and the socket body 51 is held by the upper frame 43 via the connecting portion 52. In this state, the socket body 51 is at the lower limit position of the movable range of the socket 5 (see FIG. 9).

[0049] In other words, when the vehicle seat 1 is transported from a vehicle seat manufacturer or the like to a vehicle assembly line, the headrest 3 is not attached to the seat body 6, and the socket body 51 is held by the upper frame 43 via the connecting portion 52.

[0050] Next, the worker inserts each headrest stay 32, 33 into the corresponding support brackets 45, 46. As a result, the connector 34 provided at the lower end of the headrest stay 32 begins to fit into the fitting opening 51A of the socket body 51 (see FIG. 10).

[0051] Then, when each headrest stay 32, 33 is inserted further downward, the connection between the connector 34 and the socket 5 is completed, and the engagement between the retaining portion 51E and the socket body 51 and the headrest stay 32 is completed (see Figure 11).

[0052] As a result, the socket 5, the headrest stay 32, and the connector 34 are able to move vertically as a unit. In other words, when the headrest 3 moves vertically, the socket 5 also moves vertically in unison with the headrest 3.

[0053] 3.2 Effects of the vehicle seat according to this embodiment In the vehicle seat 1 according to this embodiment, before the headrest 3 is assembled to the back frame 4, the socket 5 is held by the back frame 4 in a state where it is connected to the back frame 4.

[0054] When the headrest stay 32 is inserted into the support bracket 45 , the connector 34 provided on the lower end side of the headrest stay 32 is connected to the socket body 51 provided on the lower end side of the support bracket 45 .

[0055] In other words, in the vehicle seat 1, once the work of assembling the headrest 3 to the seat body 6 is completed, the work of connecting the connector 34 and the socket 5 is completed without the worker having to perform a separate work of connecting the connector 34 and the socket 5.

[0056] Therefore, in the vehicle seat 1, even if the headrest 3 is assembled to the seat body 6 after the seat body 6 has been assembled to the vehicle, it is possible to easily connect the connector 34 and the socket 5.

[0057] The connection portion of the socket 5 into which the connector 34 fits is provided with a tapered portion 51B for guiding the connector 34 into the fitting opening 51A. This allows the vehicle seat 1 to reliably and easily connect the connector 34 and the socket 5.

[0058] Furthermore, sliding surfaces 52A-52E that come into slidable contact with the outer peripheral surface of support bracket 45 are provided at the tops of the portions that bulge toward the outer peripheral surface, thereby preventing excessive sliding resistance when connecting portion 52 is displaced relative to support bracket 45.

[0059] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the stopper portion 51D is provided on the socket 5. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that the stopper portion 51D is provided on a portion other than the socket 5.

[0060] In the above-described embodiment, the stopper portion 51D is provided on the upper end surface 51C of the tapered portion 51B. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that the stopper portion 51D is provided at a location other than the upper end surface 51C.

[0061] In the above-described embodiment, the tapered portion 51B is provided at the connection portion. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that, for example, the tapered portion 51B is eliminated.

[0062] The sliding surfaces 52A to 52E according to the above-described embodiments are provided on the curved, bulging tops. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may have a configuration in which the sliding surfaces are provided on the tips of a plurality of protrusions, for example.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle seat according to the present disclosure is applied to a vehicle. However, the application of the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure can also be applied to seats used in vehicles such as railway cars, ships, and aircraft, as well as stationary seats used in theaters, homes, etc.

[0064] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the spirit of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure may be a configuration in which at least two of the above-described embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the components illustrated or described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiments is eliminated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1... Vehicle seat 2... Seat back 3... Headrest 4... Back frame 5... Socket 31... Headrest body 32... Headrest stay 34... Connector 43... Upper frame 51... Socket body 51A... Fitting opening 51B... Tapered portion 51D: Stopper portion 52: Connecting portion 52A to 52E: Sliding surfaces

Claims

1. In a vehicle seat to be mounted on a vehicle, an upper frame that constitutes a part of the back frame and extends in the seat width direction at an upper end side of the back frame; a support bracket provided on the upper frame, into which a headrest stay is displaceably inserted, the support bracket having a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction; a connector provided on a lower end side of the stay for electrical connection; a socket electrically connected to the connector, the socket having a connection portion with the connector provided on a lower end side of the support bracket; a connecting portion provided on the socket and connected to the support bracket, the connecting portion enabling the socket to be displaced in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the support bracket; A vehicle seat comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion of the socket into which the connector is fitted is provided with a tapered portion for guiding the connector.

3. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the socket is provided with a stopper portion that contacts the upper frame to restrict upward displacement of the socket.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the stopper portion is provided on an upper end surface of the connecting portion.

5. the connecting portion surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the support bracket from at least three directions and has a sliding contact surface that slidably contacts the outer peripheral surface, 5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the sliding surface is provided at a top of the portion that bulges out toward the outer circumferential surface.

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