Chair, vibrator, and moving body

Abstract

To stably transmit vibration to a seated person.SOLUTION: A chair 100 comprises a cushion member 110, a spring member 120 arranged along the cushion member 110, and a vibrator 130 arranged between the cushion member 110 and the spring member 120. The vibrator 130 comprises a fixing part 131 for fixing the vibrator 130 to the spring member 120, and vibrates the spring member 120 on the basis of an inputted electric signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a chair capable of imparting vibrations to a seated person, a vibrator provided in the chair, and a mobile body equipped with a chair capable of imparting vibrations to a seated person. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there exists a cushion that is attached to a chair and has a vibration unit that generates vibrations (sounds) built in, as described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-096945 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, simply placing a vibration unit on the buttocks or back, as with conventional cushions, can change the load that presses on the vibration unit depending on the occupant's physique, weight, sitting posture, etc., making it difficult for the vibration to be transmitted to the occupant, or suppressing the vibration unit's operation by suppressing it.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a chair, a vibrator, and a moving body that can stably transmit vibrations to an occupant regardless of the occupant's physique, weight, sitting posture, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a chair comprising a cushion member, a spring member arranged along the cushion member, and a vibrator arranged between the cushion member and the spring member, the vibrator having a fixing portion for fixing the vibrator to the spring member and vibrating the spring member based on an input electrical signal.

[0007] One of the vibrators disclosed herein is a vibrator that is arranged between a cushion member and a spring member that is arranged along the cushion member, and has a fixing portion that fixes the vibrator to the spring member, and vibrates the spring member based on an input electrical signal.

[0008] One moving body disclosed herein includes a cushion member, a spring member arranged along the cushion member, and a vibrator arranged between the cushion member and the spring member, the vibrator having a fixing portion that fixes the vibrator to the spring member, and a chair that vibrates the spring member based on an input electrical signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, vibrations can be transmitted to the seated person stably regardless of the physique, weight, sitting posture, etc. of the seated person. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cushion member provided in the chair in a see-through state. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a spring member and a vibrator. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a moving object. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the vibrator. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating a moving body according to another example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of a chair, a vibrator, and a moving body according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are presented as examples to explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not imply mathematical precision and include substantially acceptable errors, deviations, and the like. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

[0012] The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions has been appropriately made to explain the present disclosure, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings represent Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of illustrating the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

[0013] In addition, multiple inventions may be collectively described below as one embodiment, and some of the content described below may be described as optional components related to the present disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a chair 100. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing, in a see-through state, a cushion member 110 provided in the chair 100. The chair 100 includes the cushion member 110, a spring member 120, and a vibrator 130.

[0015] The type of chair 100 is not limited. In this embodiment, chair 100 includes seat portion 111, backrest portion 112, side support portions 113, and headrest portion 114. Note that chair 100 is only required to include at least seat portion 111, and may be a stool-like chair 100 that does not include backrest portion 112, side support portions 113, and headrest portion 114. Chair 100 may also include armrest portions. Furthermore, in this embodiment, chair 100 is attached to moving body 200 (see FIG. 4 ) such as a vehicle via base structural member 140, and therefore does not include legs that maintain seat portion 111 at a predetermined height, but chair 100 may also include legs.

[0016] The cushion member 110 is a flexible and elastic member that is placed under the seated occupant's buttocks (including thighs), behind the seated occupant's back, at the sides of the seated occupant's body, under the seated occupant's arms (including elbows), behind the seated occupant's head, or elsewhere to support parts of the seated occupant's body. The material constituting the cushion member 110 is not limited, but examples thereof include urethane foam. The surface of the cushion member 110 may be covered with a covering material. The covering material is a member that covers the outer surface of the cushion member 110 and is a sheet-like member that is harder than the cushion member 110. The covering material maintains the shape of the cushion member 110 without impairing the cushioning properties of the cushion member 110 and improves the design of the chair 100. The material of the covering material is not limited, but examples include woven fabric, artificial leather, and natural leather. In this embodiment, the cushion member 110 is attached to a base structural member 140 that provides the structural strength of the chair 100. In this embodiment, cushion members 110 are respectively arranged in seat portion 111, backrest portion 112, side support portion 113, and headrest portion 114. Base structural member 140 holds each of cushion members 110 arranged in seat portion 111, backrest portion 112, side support portion 113, and headrest portion 114. Note that only base structural member 140 of seat portion 111 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0017] The spring member 120 is disposed on the opposite side of the cushion member 110 from the seated occupant, and is disposed along the cushion member 110. The spring member 120 has a stronger elastic force than the cushion member 110, and supports part of the body of the seated occupant via the cushion member 110. In the present embodiment, the spring member 120 is attached to a frame-shaped basic structural member 140 disposed below the seat portion 111. Note that the spring member 120 may be attached not only to the underside of the seat portion 111, but also to a basic structural member (not shown) disposed on the rear side of the backrest portion 112, at least one of the rear and lateral sides of the side support portion 113, behind the headrest portion 114, or below the armrest portion.

[0018] The type of spring member 120 is not limited, and examples thereof include an S-spring, a flat mat, and the formed wire shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the formed wire employed as spring member 120 is obtained by forming a hard steel wire, which is a type of spring steel wire, into a desired shape. A plurality of spring members 120 are arranged below seat 111 of chair 100, and as shown in FIG. 3, each spring member 120 is attached in a bridging manner between beam-shaped front member 141 located at the front side and beam-shaped rear member 142 located at the rear side in the fore-and-aft direction (X-axis direction in the figure) of frame-shaped foundation structural member 140 located below seat 111 of chair 100.

[0019] The spring member 120 also includes a so-called sub-wire that connects a plurality of formed wires. That is, the vibrator 130 may be attached to the sub-wire that serves as the spring member 120.

[0020] The vibrator 130 is disposed between the cushion member 110 and the spring member 120, and is a device that applies vibrations including sound to a person seated on the chair 100. The vibrator 130 has a fixing portion 131 that fixes the vibrator 130 to the spring member 120. The vibrator 130 vibrates the spring member 120 via the fixing portion 131 based on an input electrical signal, thereby generating vibrations that are transmitted to the person seated. In the present embodiment, the spring member 120 is attached to the spring member 120 that is disposed below the seat portion 111. The chair 100 is provided with two vibrators 130, each fixed to two portions of the spring member 120 that face the thighs of a person seated on the chair 100. In addition, each vibrator 130 is fixed to a portion of the spring member 120 facing the buttocks side of the center of the thigh of a person seated on the chair 100, that is, closer to the backrest 112 side than the center of the seat 111 in the front-to-back direction.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of vibrator 130. Note that Fig. 5 shows the main body portion and fixed portion 131 of vibrator 130 in a single view, but for ease of explanation, the cut surface of fixed portion 131 is cut at a different plane from the cut surface of the main body portion of vibrator 130.

[0022] The vibrator 130 is a so-called actuator (exciter) that is attached to the spring member 120 and vibrates the spring member 120 based on an input electric signal. The type of the vibrator 130 is not limited, and examples include one that uses a magnet and a coil, one that uses a piezoelectric element, and one that uses a magnetostrictive element. In the present embodiment, the vibrator 130 is a magnetic actuator that includes a magnetic circuit 132, a frame 138, and a suspension 150.

[0023] Magnetic circuit 132 includes cylindrical magnet 133, which is a magnetized permanent magnet, disk-shaped top plate 134 attached to one end face of magnet 133 so that the periphery protrudes, and cylindrical bottom plate 135 with a bottom attached to the end face of top plate 134 opposite magnet 133. Bottom plate 135 houses magnet 133 and top plate 134 coaxially, and an annular magnetic gap 136 is formed between top plate 134 and bottom plate 135. A coil 137 is arranged in magnetic gap 136.

[0024] Frame 138 is a structural member that holds magnetic circuit 132 and coil 137. The shape of frame 138 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is cylindrical with a bottom when viewed from the overall perspective. The outer periphery of bottom plate 135 of magnetic circuit 132 is located in a position surrounded by the edge of the open end of frame 138. Frame 138 and bottom plate 135 are bonded together via annular suspension 150 so that they are arranged coaxially.

[0025] An electric signal indicating vibration or sound is input to coil 137. A force corresponding to the electric signal is generated in the direction of the winding axis of coil 137 due to the interaction between the magnetic force generated in coil 137 and the magnetic force present in magnetic gap 136. In the present embodiment, coil 137 is wound around the outer periphery of cylindrical bobbin 139 and is attached to the center of frame 138 via bobbin 139.

[0026] With the above configuration, vibrator 130 generates vibrations by relatively reciprocating magnetic circuit 132 and frame 138 in the direction of the winding axis of coil 137 based on the force generated in coil 137. Vibrator 130 can impart vibrations to spring member 120 joined to frame 138 in response to an electric signal.

[0027] The structure of the vibrator 130 has been described as including the magnetic circuit 132 of an internal magnet type, but the structure is not limited to this, and the magnetic circuit 132 included in the vibrator 130 may be an external magnet type.

[0028] The fixing portion 131 is a portion for attaching the vibration exciter 130 to the spring member 120. The fixing portion 131 is provided so as to protrude from the frame 138 of the vibration exciter 130. In this embodiment, the vibration exciter 130 includes a plurality of fixing portions 131, each having a different length so that it can be fixed to the spring member 120 bent into a predetermined shape. The method for joining the vibration exciter 130 and the spring member 120 is not limited, but in this embodiment, the fixing portion 131 and the spring member 120 are fixed with a fastening member 151. If the vibration exciter 130 and the spring member 120 are firmly fixed by adhesive or the like, the spring will not be able to follow the expansion and contraction of the spring when a seated person sits or stands, and the joint may be damaged. Therefore, a flexible and compliant structure is desirable for the connection structure between the vibration exciter 130 and the spring member 120.

[0029] In the present embodiment, a filling member 160 is disposed between a fixed portion 131, which is a part of the vibrator 130, and a part of the spring member 120. The filling member 160 is a member that fills the gap between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120. The filling member 160 is in an elastically deformed state when the vibrator 130 is attached to the spring member 120. The filling member 160 suppresses contact noises such as so-called rattle noises that are generated by intermittent contact between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120 due to vibrations applied to the chair 100 when the moving object 200 moves, etc.

[0030] The filling member 160 is adhered to at least one of the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120. The adhesion method is not limited, and examples include adhesion using double-sided tape or adhesive. The material constituting the filling member 160 is not limited, but is preferably a material that follows the deformation and bending of the spring member 120 when a person sits on the chair 100 and follows the change in the distance between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120 when vibration is applied to the chair 100. Specific examples of the material constituting the filling member 160 include rubber and elastomer, and more specifically, ethylene propylene rubber foam can be mentioned.

[0031] It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present disclosure may be embodied in another embodiment realized by any combination of the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present disclosure also includes modifications obtained by applying various modifications to the above-described embodiments that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0032] For example, the vibrator 130 may be attached not only to the underside of the seat portion 111 but also to the rear side of the cushion member 110 constituting the backrest portion 112, as shown in Fig. 6, on the spring member 120 arranged along the rear side of the backrest portion 112. The vibrator 130 may also be attached to the spring member 120 arranged at least one of the rear and lateral sides of the side support portion 113, behind the headrest portion 114, or below the armrest portion.

[0033] Furthermore, the vibrator 130 may be fixed without using the filling member 160. The vibrator 130 may be fixedly attached to the spring member 120 by adhesive bonding, welding, crimping, or the like. In this case, the fixing part 131 may be flexible or have an expandable mechanism so that it can follow the deformation of the spring member 120 that occurs when a person sits on the chair or when vibrations are applied to the chair 100.

[0034] Furthermore, the filling member 160 may be disposed not only between the fixed portion 131 and the spring member 120 but also between the main body of the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120.

[0035] Furthermore, although an automobile is given as an example of the moving body 200, the moving body 200 may be a bus, a truck, an airplane, a ship, a train, construction machinery, agricultural machinery, or the like.

[0036] (summary) The chair 100 of the first embodiment comprises a cushion member 110, a spring member 120 arranged along the cushion member 110, and a vibrator 130 arranged between the cushion member 110 and the spring member 120, and the vibrator 130 has a fixing portion 131 that fixes the vibrator 130 to the spring member 120, and vibrates the spring member 120 based on an input electrical signal.

[0037] According to the first aspect, the spring member 120, which is at least harder than the cushion member 110, is vibrated by the vibrator 130, so that vibrations can be transmitted stably to the occupant sitting on the chair 100 regardless of the physique, weight, sitting posture, etc. of the occupant.

[0038] The chair 100 of the second embodiment includes the chair of the first embodiment, and is provided with a filling member 160 that is arranged in an elastically deformed state between a part of the vibrator 130 and a part of the spring member 120 and that suppresses sound caused by intermittent contact between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120.

[0039] According to the second aspect, abnormal noises that are generated by intermittent contact between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120 due to vibrations applied to the chair 100 or the like can be suppressed.

[0040] The third embodiment of the chair 100 includes the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and the vibrator 130 is fixed to a portion of the spring member 120 that faces the part of the thigh of a person seated on the chair 100 that is closer to the buttocks than the center of the thigh.

[0041] According to the third aspect, the vibrations generated by the vibrator 130 can be effectively transmitted to the seated occupant, and a sense of realism and impact can be given to the seated occupant.

[0042] The fourth embodiment of the chair 100 includes any of the first to third embodiments, and the vibrators 130 are fixed to two parts of the spring member 120 that face the thighs of a person sitting on the chair 100.

[0043] According to the fourth aspect, by applying different signals to the two vibrators 130, it is possible to apply different vibrations to the left and right sides of the seated person in accordance with the stereoscopic image, thereby enhancing the so-called stereoscopic sense of presence.

[0044] The chair 100 of the fifth embodiment includes any of the first to fourth embodiments, and the vibrator 130 is fixed to a portion of the spring member 120 that faces the back of a person seated on the chair 100.

[0045] According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to apply vibrations to the back of a seated person who comes into contact with the chair 100 over a relatively wide area.

[0046] The sixth embodiment of the vibrator 130 is attached to any one of the chairs 100 from the first embodiment to the fifth embodiment, and is arranged between the cushion member 110 and the spring member 120 arranged along the cushion member 110, and is provided with a fixing portion 131 that fixes the vibrator 130 to the spring member 120, and vibrates the spring member 120 based on an input electrical signal.

[0047] According to the sixth aspect, the vibrator 130 can vibrate the relatively hard spring member 120, and therefore can transmit vibrations to the occupant stably regardless of the physique, weight, sitting posture, etc. of the occupant sitting on the chair 100.

[0048] The seventh embodiment of the vibrator includes the sixth embodiment and includes a filler member 160 that is arranged between a portion of the vibrator 130 and a portion of the spring member 120 and that suppresses noise caused by intermittent contact between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120.

[0049] According to the seventh aspect, abnormal noises that are generated by intermittent contact between the vibrator 130 and the spring member 120 due to vibrations applied to the chair 100 or the like can be suppressed.

[0050] The moving body 200 of the eighth embodiment includes the chair 100 of any one of the first to fifth embodiments.

[0051] According to the eighth aspect, even inside the moving body 200 where vibrations and noises are generated, it is possible to effectively transmit the vibrations generated by the vibrator 130 to the seated person. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] The present disclosure is applicable to chairs arranged in listening rooms, chairs installed in theaters, chairs attached to moving bodies, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100 chairs 110 Cushion member 111 Seat area 112 Backrest 113 Side support part 114 Headrest section 120 Spring member 130 Vibrator 131 Fixed part 132 Magnetic Circuit 133 Magnet 134 Top Plate 135 bottom plate 136 Magnetic Gap 137 Coil 138 frames 139 Bobbin 140 Foundation structural members 141 Front member 142 Rear member 150 Suspension 151 Fastening members 160 Filler material 200 Mobile

Claims

1. A cushion member; a spring member disposed along the cushion member; a vibrator disposed between the cushion member and the spring member, The vibrator is a fixing portion that fixes the vibrator to the spring member, The spring member is vibrated based on an input electrical signal. chair.

2. a filler member disposed in an elastically deformed state between a part of the vibrator and a part of the spring member, for suppressing noise caused by intermittent contact between the vibrator and the spring member; The chair of claim 1.

3. The vibrator is The spring member is fixed to a portion of the spring member facing the buttocks side of the thighs of a person seated on the chair.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The vibrator is The spring member is fixed to two portions of the spring member facing the thighs of a person seated on the chair.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The vibrator is It is fixed to the part of the spring member that faces the back of the person sitting in the chair.

3. A chair according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A vibrator disposed between a cushion member and a spring member disposed along the cushion member, a fixing portion that fixes the vibrator to the spring member, The spring member is vibrated based on an input electrical signal. Vibrator.

7. a filler member disposed between a portion of the vibrator and a portion of the spring member, the filler member suppressing noise caused by intermittent contact between the vibrator and the spring member; The vibrator according to claim 6.

8. A cushion member; a spring member disposed along the surface of the cushion member; a vibrator disposed between the cushion member and the spring member, The vibrator is a fixing portion that fixes the vibrator to the spring member, A chair that vibrates the spring member based on an input electrical signal is provided. Mobile object.

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