Cushion and seat

Abstract

To prevent a user sitting on a cushion having a sensor from feeling uncomfortable.SOLUTION: The cushion (seat cushion SC) includes the elastically deformable pad 20 and the sensor (pressure sensor P1) that acquires information for specifying the physical condition of the user and is fixed to the pad 20. The pad 20 has a support surface F11 for supporting the user and a back surface F11 located opposite to the support surface F12. The distances from the sensors to the back surface F12 are smaller than the distances from the sensors to the support surface F11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cushion having an elastically deformable pad and a seat including the cushion. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a cushion is known that includes a pad, a cover member that covers the pad, and a sensor that is disposed between the cover member and the pad (see Patent Document 1). In this technology, the sensor is disposed on the surface of the pad that faces the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-182167 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the sensor is placed on the surface of the pad facing the user, the user sitting on the cushion may feel the sensor as a foreign object and may feel uncomfortable.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent a user from feeling uncomfortable when sitting on a cushion equipped with a sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the cushion of the present invention comprises an elastically deformable pad and a sensor that acquires information to identify the user's physical condition, the sensor being fixed to the pad. The pad has a support surface that supports the user and a back surface that is positioned opposite the support surface. The distance from the sensor to the back surface is less than the distance from the sensor to the support surface.

[0007] With this configuration, the sensor can be placed away from the support surface, which can prevent the user sitting on the cushion from feeling uncomfortable.

[0008] The sensor may be fixed to the rear surface.

[0009] This configuration allows the sensor to be further away from the support surface.

[0010] The cushion may further include a harness connected to the sensor, the sensor being positioned laterally offset from the left-right center of the pad, and the harness extending outward from the sensor in the left-right direction.

[0011] This configuration makes it difficult for pressure from the user to be applied to the harness, thereby preventing the harness from breaking. Also, since the harness is not located in the center of the pad in the left-right direction, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling that the harness is a foreign object.

[0012] The sensor may include a left sensor located to the left of the left-right center of the pad and a right sensor located to the right of the left-right center of the pad, and the harness may include a left harness that extends outward in the left-right direction from the left sensor and then extends in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and a right harness that extends outward in the left-right direction from the right sensor and then extends in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and one of the left harness and the right harness may extend in the left-right direction toward the other harness and be bundled with the other harness at the left-right end of the pad.

[0013] According to this configuration, the left harness and the right harness can be pulled out together from the left and right ends of the cushion, thereby preventing the harnesses from coming into contact with the user.

[0014] The cushion may further include an adhesive tape for fixing at least the harness out of the sensor and the harness to the pad.

[0015] According to this configuration, the harness can be easily fixed to the pad with the adhesive tape.

[0016] The pad may have a recess recessed from the rear surface, and at least a portion of the harness may be inserted in the recess.

[0017] This configuration can further reduce pressure from the user being applied to the harness.

[0018] The sensor may have a detection surface for detecting the physical state of the user, and the detection surface may face the support surface.

[0019] According to this configuration, the sensor can accurately detect the physical condition of the user.

[0020] The cushion may be detachable from the seat or the backrest of a seat having a seat and a backrest.

[0021] The seat according to the present invention may include the cushion and a seat frame that supports the back surface of the cushion. The seat frame may include a pan frame that supports the back surface of the cushion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a user from feeling uncomfortable when sitting on a cushion having a sensor.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the present invention, by fixing the sensor to the rear surface of the pad, the sensor can be located farther away from the support surface.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the present invention, by extending the harness outward in the left-right direction from the sensor located at a position offset in the left-right direction from the center of the pad, pressure from the user is less likely to be applied to the harness, thereby preventing the harness from breaking. Also, since the harness is not located at the center of the pad in the left-right direction, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling that the harness is a foreign object.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the present invention, by extending one of the left and right harnesses in the left-right direction toward the other harness and bundling it with the other harness at the left-right end of the pad, the left and right harnesses can be pulled out together from the left-right end of the cushion, thereby preventing the harnesses from coming into contact with the user.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the harness can be easily fixed to the pad by fixing the harness to the pad with adhesive tape.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the present invention, by placing at least a portion of the harness in the recess recessed from the rear surface of the pad, pressure from the user applied to the harness can be further suppressed.

[0028] Furthermore, according to the present invention, by orienting the detection surface of the sensor toward the support surface, the sensor can accurately detect the physical condition of the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a seat cushion according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] 1A is a plan view of the back cushion pad seen from the rear side, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the seat cushion pad seen from the rear side. [Figure 4]4(a) is a diagram showing the pad of the seat cushion according to the first modified example, FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along III-III in FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 4(c) is a cross-sectional view showing the pad of the seat cushion according to the second modified example. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a sensor according to a third modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a seat cushion according to a fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the terms "front, back, left, right, top, bottom" refer to the front, back, left, right, top, bottom as seen from a user sitting on a seat cushion arranged in a seat.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a seat cushion SC, which is an example of a cushion, is placed on the seating surface of a chair 1 when in use. Chair 1 has a seat 11, a backrest 12, two front legs 13 (left and right), and two rear legs 14 (left and right). The seating surfaces of seat 11 and backrest 12 are both flat. Backrest 12 is positioned at a distance from seat 11 in the vertical direction. The rear legs 14 are made up of a rear leg 14 extending downward from seat 11 and a pillar 15 located above rear leg 14 and extending vertically to connect seat 11 and backrest 12.

[0032] The seat cushion SC has a seat cushion SC1 placed on the seating surface of the seat 11 and a back cushion SC2 placed on the seating surface of the backrest 12. The seat cushion SC1 is detachable from the seat 11 of the chair 1. The back cushion SC2 is detachable from the backrest 12 of the chair 1.

[0033] The seat cushion SC1 has an elastically deformable pad 20, a cover member 30 covering the pad 20, and six pressure sensors P1. The six pressure sensors P1 are sensors that acquire pressure, which is information used to identify the user's physical condition (the user's physical posture and movement). The six pressure sensors P1 include three left sensors PL1 and three right sensors PR1.

[0034] The three left sensors PL1 are located to the left of the center of the pad 20 in the left-right direction. The three left sensors PL1 are lined up at intervals in the front-rear direction. The three right sensors PR1 are located to the right of the center of the pad 20 in the left-right direction. The three right sensors PR1 are lined up at intervals in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The backrest cushion SC2 has an elastically deformable pad 40, a cover member 50 covering the pad 40, and four pressure sensors P2. The four pressure sensors P2 include two left sensors PL2 and two right sensors PR2.

[0036] The two left sensors PL2 are located to the left of the center of the pad 40 in the left-right direction. The two left sensors PL2 are lined up with a gap between them in the up-down direction. The two right sensors PR2 are located to the right of the center of the pad 40 in the left-right direction. The two right sensors PR2 are lined up with a gap between them in the up-down direction.

[0037] 2(a) and 2(b), each pad 20, 40 has a support surface F11, F21 that supports the user and a back surface F12, F22 located opposite the support surface F11, F21. The support surfaces F11, F21 form the user-facing surfaces of the pads 20, 40.

[0038] The distance from the pressure sensors P1, P2 to the back surfaces F12, F22 is shorter than the distance from the pressure sensors P1, P2 to the support surfaces F11, F12. In this embodiment, the pressure sensors P1, P2 are fixed to the back surfaces F12, F22 with double-sided tape or the like (not shown).

[0039] The pressure sensors P1 and P2 have detection surfaces F13 and F23 for detecting pressure from the user, respectively. The detection surfaces F13 and F23 have elements for detecting pressure and face the support surfaces F11 and F21.

[0040] 3(b) is a view of the seat cushion SC1 and the back cushion SC2 as viewed from the rear surfaces F12 and F22. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the seat cushion SC1 further includes a harness H1 connected to the pressure sensor P1 and an adhesive tape T1 for fixing the harness H1 to the pad 20.

[0041] The harness H1 has three left harnesses HL1 and three right harnesses HR1. Each left harness HL1 extends laterally outward from a corresponding left sensor PL1 and then extends rearward. Each right harness HR1 extends laterally outward from a corresponding right sensor PR1 and then extends rearward.

[0042] The three left harnesses HL1 are bundled together at the rear end of the pad 20 to form a single left cable CL1. The left cable CL1 extends toward the center of the pad 20 in the left-right direction.

[0043] The three right harnesses HR1 are bundled together at the rear end of the pad 20 to form a single right cable CR1. The right cable CR1 extends toward the center of the pad 20 in the left-right direction.

[0044] The left cable CL1 and the right cable CR1 are bundled together to form a single main cable C1 at the center in the left-right direction of the pad 20. The main cable C1 extends outward from the center in the left-right direction at the rear end of the seat cushion SC1 (see FIG. 1).

[0045] The pad 20 has recesses 21 on each of its left and right sides. As shown in FIG. 2(b), each recess 21 is recessed from the rear surface F12. Returning to FIG. 3(b), each recess 21 is a stepped recess that opens outward in the left-right direction. Each recess 21 is formed from approximately the center of the pad 20 in the front-to-rear direction to the rear end of the pad 20. Each recess 21 opens rearward.

[0046] The portion of each left harness HL1 extending in the front-rear direction is received in the left recess 21. The portion of each right harness HR1 extending in the front-rear direction is received in the left recess 21. The depth of each recess 21 from the back surface F12 is greater than the diameter of the harness H1. The depth of each recess 21 from the left and right side surfaces of the pad 20 is greater than the diameter of the harness H1.

[0047] The adhesive tape T1 is a rectangular tape that is long in the front-to-rear direction. A film, nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used as the base material of the adhesive tape T1. One adhesive tape T1 is provided on each side of the pad 20. The left adhesive tape T1 collectively adheres the portions of the three left harnesses HL1 that extend in the left-to-right direction along the back surface F12 to the back surface F12. The right adhesive tape T1 collectively adheres the portions of the three right harnesses HR1 that extend in the left-to-right direction along the back surface F12 to the back surface F12.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the backrest cushion SC2 further includes a harness H2 connected to the pressure sensor P2 and an adhesive tape T2 for fixing the harness H2 to the pad 40.

[0049] The harness H2 has two left harnesses HL2 and two right harnesses HR2. The right harnesses HR2 are longer than the left harnesses HL2. Each left harness HL2 extends outward in the left-right direction from the corresponding left sensor PL2 and then extends downward. Each right harness HR2 extends outward in the left-right direction from the corresponding right sensor PR2 and then extends downward.

[0050] The two left harnesses HL2 are bundled together at the lower end of the pad 40 to form a single left cable CL2. The left cable CL2 extends slightly toward the center of the pad 20 in the left-right direction.

[0051] The two right harnesses HR2 are bundled together at the lower end of the pad 40 to form a single right cable CR2. The right cable CR2 extends in the left-right direction toward the left cable CL2.

[0052] The left cable CL2 and the right cable CR2 are bundled together at the left and right ends of the pad 40 to form a single main cable C2. The main cable C2 extends outward from the left and right ends at the lower end of the backrest cushion SC2 (see FIG. 1).

[0053] The adhesive tape T2 is a rectangular tape that is long in the vertical direction. A film, nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used as the base material of the adhesive tape T2. One adhesive tape T2 is provided on each side of the pad 40. The left adhesive tape T2 adheres the portions of the two left harnesses HL2 that extend in the horizontal and vertical directions along the back surface F22 to the back surface F22. The right adhesive tape T2 adheres the portions of the two right harnesses HR2 that extend in the horizontal and vertical directions along the back surface F22 to the back surface F22.

[0054] These cables C1 and C2 are connected to a control device (not shown). The control device includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. The control device also includes a communication unit that enables short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The control device acquires measured values ​​from the pressure sensors P1 and P2 and outputs them to a terminal (not shown) such as a smartphone. This allows the smartphone or other terminal to execute an application program that uses the measured values ​​from the pressure sensors P1 and P2. The control device is placed under the seat 11 of the chair 1, for example, by being held by a band extending from the seat cushion SC1.

[0055] As described above, the following effects can be obtained in this embodiment. By making the distance from the pressure sensors P1, P2 to the back surfaces F12, F22 smaller than the distance from the pressure sensors P1, P2 to the support surfaces F11, F21, the pressure sensors P1, P2 can be moved away from the support surfaces F11, F21, thereby preventing a user sitting on the seat cushion SC from feeling uncomfortable.

[0056] Because the pressure sensors P1, P2 are fixed to the back surfaces F12, F22, the pressure sensors P1, P2 can be disposed at the farthest position from the support surfaces F11, F21. Furthermore, compared to a structure in which the pressure sensors are disposed on the support surfaces, for example, there is no need to form holes in the pads for passing the harnesses through, which reduces the cost of manufacturing the pads and improves the durability of the pads.

[0057] Since the harnesses H1, H2 extend outward in the left-right direction from the pressure sensors P1, P2, pressure from the user is less likely to be applied to the harnesses H1, H2, which makes it possible to prevent the harnesses H1, H2 from breaking. Also, since the harnesses H1, H2 are not located in the left-right center of the pads 20, 40, it is possible to prevent the user from sensing the harnesses H1, H2 as a foreign object.

[0058] The left harness HL2 and right harness HR2 of the backrest cushion SC2 are pulled out together as the cable C2 from the left and right ends of the lower end of the backrest cushion SC2, so the cable C2 can be arranged along one of the pillars 15 of the chair 1. This prevents the cable C2 from coming into contact with the user even if part of the user's body enters the space between the seat 11 and the backrest 12 of the chair 1.

[0059] Since the harnesses H1, H2 are attached to the pads 20, 40 by the adhesive tapes T1, T2, the harnesses H1, H2 can be easily fixed to the pads 20, 40.

[0060] Since a part of the harness H1 is placed in the recess 21 of the pad 20, pressure from the user applied to the harness H1 can be further suppressed.

[0061] Since the detection surfaces F13, F23 of the pressure sensors P1, P2 face the support surfaces F11, F21, the pressure sensors P1, P2 can detect the pressure from the user with high accuracy.

[0062] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be used in various forms as exemplified below. In the following description, members having substantially the same structure as those in the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0063] 4(a) and 4(b), in addition to the recess 21, the seat cushion SC1 may have a second recess 22 for accommodating other portions of the harness H1 and a third recess 23 for accommodating the pressure sensor P1. The third recess 23 is disposed on the rear surface F12 at a position corresponding to each pressure sensor P1. The depth of the third recess 23 is greater than the vertical dimension of the pressure sensor P1. Note that, in order to firmly support the rear side surface F14 opposite the detection surface F13 of the pressure sensor P1 on the planar seating surface of the chair 1, it is preferable to dispose the rear side surface F14 so that it is approximately flush with the rear surface F12. Therefore, the depth of the third recess 23 may be slightly smaller than the vertical dimension of the pressure sensor P1.

[0064] The second recess 22 extends outward in the left-right direction from the third recess 23 and is connected to the recess 21. The second recess 22 accommodates a portion of the harness H1 that extends from the pressure sensor P1 to the recess 21. The depth of the second recess 22 from the back surface F12 is greater than the diameter of the harness H1 and is smaller than the depth of the recess 21 from the back surface F12.

[0065] In this configuration, the pressure sensor P1 is accommodated in the third recess 23, which further reduces the user's perception of the pressure sensor P1 as a foreign object. Also, the portions of the harness H1 that overlap with the back surface F12 when viewed from the top and bottom can be stored in the recesses 21 and 22, which further reduces the pressure from the user being applied to the harness H1.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 4(c), a plate 60 harder than the pad 20 may be provided on the back surface F14 of the pressure sensor P1. In this configuration, the plate 60 is large enough to cover the entire back surface F14 of the pressure sensor P1 and to be able to be housed in the third recess 23. The outer surface of the plate 60 opposite the pressure sensor P1 is substantially flush with the back surface F12. This allows the back surface F14 of the pressure sensor P1 to be firmly supported by the flat seating surface of the chair 1, thereby improving the responsiveness of the pressure sensor P1.

[0067] The plate 60 may be large enough to cover all the pressure sensors P1 arranged on the rear surface F12 of the pad 20, for example, large enough to cover the entire rear surface F12. In this case, the plate 60 does not need to be covered by the cover member 30. In other words, the plate 60 may be in direct contact with the seat portion 11 of the chair 1. The modified examples shown in Figs. 4(a) to (c) may also be applied to the back cushion SC2.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 5, the left and right pressure sensors P1 may be integrated into a single sensor unit SU. Specifically, the sensor unit SU has left and right pressure sensors P1 and a flat flexible cable 70 that connects the left and right pressure sensors P1. Wiring 71 connected to each pressure sensor P1 is formed on the flat flexible cable 70 using a printing technique. This reduces the time required to attach multiple pressure sensors P1 to the pad 20. Note that three or more pressure sensors may be connected by a flat flexible cable with wiring.

[0069] As shown in Fig. 6, the present invention may be applied to a seat cushion 80 constituting a vehicle seat SH. Specifically, the seat SH includes the seat cushion 80 having a pressure sensor P1 fixed to the back surface 81F side of a pad 81, and a seat frame 90 supporting the back surface of the seat cushion 80. For convenience, the cover member of the seat cushion 80 is not shown in Fig. 6.

[0070] The seat frame 90 includes left and right side frames (not shown), a front pipe 91 connecting the front ends of the left and right side frames, a rear pipe 92 connecting the rear ends of the left and right side frames, and a pan frame 93 supported by the front pipe 91 and the rear pipe 92. The pan frame 93 supports the underside of the seat cushion 80. According to this configuration, in addition to the same effects as the above-described embodiment, by fixing the pressure sensor P1 to the pad 81, it is possible to obtain an effect that the pressure sensor P1 can be positioned with greater precision relative to the seating surface of the seat cushion 80 compared to, for example, a structure in which the pressure sensor is fixed to the seat frame.

[0071] The cushion is not limited to the seat cushion described above, but may be, for example, a cushion-like cushion used on tatami mats or floors.

[0072] In the above embodiment, pressure sensors P1 and P2 are used as examples of sensors, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sensors may be, for example, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, radio wave sensors, sound sensors, etc. The information for identifying the user's physical condition is not limited to pressure values, and any information may be used. For example, if a radio wave sensor is used as the sensor, information regarding the user's heart rate, which is a physical condition of the user, may be obtained by the radio wave sensor.

[0073] In the above embodiment, a plurality of sensors are provided on one cushion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and one sensor may be provided on one cushion.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the harness is fixed to the pad by adhesive tape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sensor and harness may be fixed to the pad together by a single wide piece of adhesive tape.

[0075] The elements described in the above-described embodiment and modified examples may be implemented in any combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 20,40 pads 40 pads F11,F21 Support surface F12,F22 back side P1, P2 pressure sensors SC seat cushion

Claims

1. an elastically deformable pad; a sensor for acquiring information for identifying a physical condition of the user, the sensor being fixed to the pad; a harness connected to the sensor, The pad is a support surface for supporting a user; a back surface located opposite the support surface; a recess recessed from the rear surface, At least a portion of the harness is inserted into the recess, The harness extends in the left-right direction from the sensor, The cushion is characterized in that the recess has a first portion that accommodates a portion of the harness that extends in the left-right direction.

2. The recess has a second portion that houses the sensor, 2. The cushion of claim 1, wherein the second portion is connected to the first portion.

3. The sensor a left sensor located to the left of the center of the pad in the left-right direction; a right sensor located to the right of the center of the pad in the left-right direction, The harness is a left harness extending outward in the left-right direction from the left sensor and then extending in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction; a right harness extending outward in the left-right direction from the right sensor and then extending in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, The cushion according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the left harness and the right harness extends in the left-right direction toward the other harness and is bundled with the other harness at the left-right end of the pad.

4. A cushion described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises adhesive tape for fixing at least the sensor and the harness to the pad.

5. A plurality of the harnesses are provided, The cushion according to claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive tape that collectively attaches portions of the harnesses that extend in the left-right direction to the back surface.

6. The pad is disposed on the back of a chair, The harness has a portion extending in a vertical direction, The cushion according to claim 1, further comprising adhesive tape for affixing the portions of the harness extending in the left-right direction and the up-down direction together to the rear surface.

7. A cushion described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the left and right sides of the pad have external recesses that are recessed from the back surface.

8. A cushion as described in Claim 7, characterized in that the outer recess is a stepped recess that opens outward in the left and right directions.

9. A cushion as described in claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the outer recess is perpendicular to the left-right direction and opens in one direction along the back surface.

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