Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat equipped with a headrest which is improved in appearance and to which a cartridge can be easily attached.SOLUTION: The vehicle seat S includes the headrest 3 and the cartridge 40 attachable to and detachable from the headrest 3, the headrest 3 has the cartridge mounting portion 50 to which the cartridge 40 is detachably mounted, and the cartridge mounting portion 50 is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3. Since the cartridge mounting part 50 is hardly seen, appearance is improved, and the cartridge 40 is easily attached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat equipped with a headrest. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle seat that is provided with a cartridge mounting portion that allows the cartridge to be replaced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-139220 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, the cartridge mounting portion is provided behind the headrest, which poses a problem that the cartridge mounting portion is visible to passengers seated in the rear. Also, because the cartridge mounting portion is located behind the headrest, it is difficult for the occupant to mount the cartridge while seated, and a structure that allows for easier mounting has been desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat having a headrest that has an improved appearance and to which a cartridge can be easily attached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problem is solved by the vehicle seat of the present invention, which comprises a headrest and a cartridge that is detachably attached to the headrest, wherein the headrest has a cartridge mounting portion to which the cartridge is detachably attached, and the cartridge mounting portion is positioned at the lower end of the headrest. By locating the cartridge mounting portion at the bottom end of the headrest, the cartridge becomes less visible from the outside and can be replaced from the front of the seat, which improves the appearance and makes it possible to provide a vehicle seat with a headrest that can easily mount a cartridge.

[0007] In the above configuration, the cartridge mounting portion may have a storage portion for storing the cartridge and an insertion opening for inserting the cartridge into the storage portion, and the insertion opening may be provided on the underside of the headrest. By providing the insertion port on the underside of the headrest, the cartridge can be installed from below the headrest, making it difficult to see the cartridge from the outside and allowing replacement from the front of the seat, improving the appearance and providing a vehicle seat with a headrest that allows for easy installation of the cartridge.

[0008] In the above configuration, an air passage extending from the storage section and passing air discharged from the cartridge is formed inside the headrest, and an outlet of the air passage is preferably provided on the underside of the headrest. By providing the outlet on the underside of the headrest, the appearance of the headrest can be improved.

[0009] In the above configuration, it is preferable that a connection portion be provided that connects the storage portion and the ventilation path, and that a heater be provided at the connection portion to form an airflow toward the ventilation path. By providing a heater at the connection portion and forming an air flow toward the ventilation path, gas can be discharged from the exhaust port through the ventilation path.

[0010] In the above configuration, the storage section may be formed so that, when the cartridge is stored therein, there is a gap of a predetermined size between the storage section and the cartridge. The gap between the cartridge and the housing portion allows the cartridge to be grasped and the cartridge to be easily attached and detached.

[0011] In the above configuration, the storage section may be formed to have a size such that, when the cartridge is stored therein, the insertion opening is positioned below a lower end of the cartridge. Since the insertion opening is located below the bottom end of the cartridge, the cartridge is difficult to see, thereby improving the appearance of the headrest.

[0012] In the above configuration, the cartridge mounting portion may have a holding portion that holds an upper end of the cartridge when the cartridge is housed in the housing portion. By providing a holding portion that holds the upper end of the cartridge, the cartridge can be easily attached.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the cartridge may contain a liquid and have a wick that sucks up the liquid, the tip of the wick protruding from the upper end of the cartridge, and the heater may be positioned so as to come into contact with the tip of the wick when the cartridge is stored in the storage section. The heater is positioned so that it contacts the tip of the wick, allowing for more efficient wicking of liquid.

[0014] In the above configuration, the headrest may include a pillar that serves as a framework of the headrest, and the cartridge mounting portion may be located outside the seat with respect to the pillar. The cartridge mounting portion is located outside the pillar, making it easy to attach and detach the cartridge.

[0015] In the above-described configuration, it is preferable that a mounting member be provided for mounting the cartridge mounting portion to the pillar, and that the mounting member be fixed to the pillar located closer to the seat inner side than the cartridge mounting portion. The mounting member allows the cartridge mounting portion to be mounted on the pillar in a compact manner. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, by locating the cartridge mounting portion at the lower end of the headrest, the cartridge is not easily visible from the outside and can be replaced from the front of the seat. This improves the appearance of the vehicle seat, i.e., makes it possible to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a headrest that allows for easy installation of a cartridge. Furthermore, according to the present invention, by providing the insertion port on the underside of the headrest, the cartridge can be installed from below the headrest, making it difficult to see the cartridge from the outside and allowing replacement from the front of the seat, improving the appearance and providing a vehicle seat with a headrest that allows for easy installation of the cartridge. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the discharge port is provided on the underside of the headrest, thereby improving the appearance of the headrest. Furthermore, according to the present invention, by providing a heater at the connection portion and forming an air flow toward the ventilation path, it is possible to exhaust gas from the exhaust port through the ventilation path. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the gap between the cartridge and the storage section allows the cartridge to be grasped, making it easy to attach and detach the cartridge. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the insertion opening is located below the bottom end of the cartridge, the cartridge is difficult to see, thereby improving the appearance of the headrest. Furthermore, according to the present invention, by providing a holding portion that holds the upper end of the cartridge, the cartridge can be easily attached. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the heater is positioned so as to come into contact with the tip of the wick, thereby enabling the liquid to be suctioned up more efficiently. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the cartridge mounting portion is located outside the pillar, so that the cartridge can be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the cartridge mounting portion can be attached to the pillar in a compact manner using the attachment member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a frame of the vehicle seat. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a cartridge mounting portion provided in the headrest. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1, showing the structure of a cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the cartridge is attached to the cartridge. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a top view of the cartridge mounting section. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is a side view of another example of the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is a side view of another example of the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the cartridge mounting portion, as viewed from the side. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a headrest of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a headrest frame and an ECU cassette. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a vehicle seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] <<First Embodiment>> The configuration of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment (present embodiment) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and of course, the present invention also includes equivalents thereof.

[0019] In the following, a vehicle seat S mounted on a vehicle will be taken as an example of a vehicle seat, and an example of the configuration thereof will be described. In the following description, the "seat front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat S, which is the direction that coincides with the traveling direction when the vehicle is traveling. The "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat S, which is the direction that coincides with the left-right direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. The "seat up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle seat S, which is the direction that coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. The outer and inner sides are defined based on the occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. That is, the direction toward the center of the seat width direction is defined as the inner side, and the direction away from the center is defined as the outer side.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle seat S is a seat placed on the floor of the vehicle and in which a vehicle occupant sits. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is a front seat located at the front of the vehicle, but it may also be used as a rear seat located at the rear. The vehicle seat S can also be used as a middle seat in the second row or a third seat in the third row in a vehicle with three rows of seats in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0021] Furthermore, the shape, position, posture, etc. of each part of the vehicle seat S described below will be described assuming that the vehicle seat S is in a normal state, unless otherwise specified.

[0022] <Vehicle seat S> The basic configuration of a vehicle seat S according to a first embodiment will be outlined with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment as seen obliquely from the front, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a seat frame F of the vehicle seat S. Note that, for convenience of illustration, Figure 1 shows a portion of the vehicle seat S with the cover T removed and the pad P exposed.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat S includes a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, a headrest 3, and a reclining device 4. The seat cushion 1 and the seat back 2 are connected to sandwich a reclining device 4. The seat back 2 is rotatable relative to the seat cushion 1 by the reclining device 4, and the inclination angle thereof is adjustable. The headrest 3 has a pillar 31 extending downward and connected to the upper end of the seat back 2.

[0024] 2, a slide device 5 that slides the vehicle seat S in the front-to-rear direction is provided below the vehicle seat S. The slide device 5 allows the vehicle seat S to be attached to the vehicle floor in a state where it can slide in the front-to-rear direction.

[0025] <Seat frame F> 2, a seat frame F that forms the framework of the vehicle seat S is provided inside the vehicle seat S. The seat frame F includes a cushion frame 10, a back frame 20, and a headrest frame 30.

[0026] 2, the cushion frame 10 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above the vehicle seat S, and is provided with a pair of cushion side frames 11, 11 on the left and right. The pair of cushion side frames 11, 11 are basically members configured symmetrically on the left and right, and are provided extending in the front-to-rear direction of the seat.

[0027] The cushion frame 10 also has a front frame 14 that connects the pair of cushion side frames 11, 11 at the front side, and a rear frame 13 that connects them at the rear side. A pan frame 12 is provided in front of the front frame 14. The cushion frame 10 is provided with a pressure-receiving member 15 for the cushion that is arranged to bridge between the pan frame 12 and the rear frame 13. The pressure-receiving member 15 is made of an S-spring, and can support the buttocks of a seated person from below.

[0028] 2, the back frame 20 is formed in a frame shape as a whole and includes a pair of back side frames 21, 21 arranged on the left and right, an upper frame 22, and a lower frame 23. The upper frame 22 is provided with a pair of headrest holders 26 into which pillars 31 of the headrest 3 are inserted. Additionally, a connecting frame 24 is provided on the upper frame 22 to connect the portions extending in the vertical direction. Also, a back pressure-receiving member 25 is provided to bridge between the connecting frame 24 and the lower frame 23. The back pressure-receiving member 25 makes it possible to support the back of the seated occupant from behind.

[0029] The vehicle seat S is provided with a pad P for a seat cushion 1 attached to a cushion frame 10, and a pad P for a seat back 2 attached to a back frame 20. The pad P for the seat cushion 1 and the pad P for the seat back 2 are each covered with a skin T. The pad P for the seat cushion and the pad P for the seat back 2 are made of a urethane base material formed by foam molding using, for example, a urethane foam material. The skin T is made of, for example, cloth, synthetic leather, or genuine leather. The headrest 3 is made up of a headrest frame 30 that forms a skeleton, a headrest pad P attached to the headrest frame 30, and the skin T that covers the pad P.

[0030] A speaker 70 is provided on the side of the headrest 3, and is capable of notifying the seated occupant of an alarm or playing music. A cover 71 for protecting the speaker 70 is provided in front of the speaker 70, i.e., on the side of the headrest 3. The location of the speaker 70 is not limited to the side of the headrest 3, and the speaker 70 may be provided in front of the headrest 3 or on the shoulder of the seat back 2. The speaker 70 does not have to be provided in the vehicle seat S.

[0031] Hereinafter, a cartridge mounting portion 50 provided in the headrest of a vehicle seat S will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 8. Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the cartridge mounting portion 50 provided in the headrest 3, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, mainly showing the structure of the cartridge mounting portion 50. Fig. 5 is a view showing a state in which the cartridge 40 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 50. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. Figs. 7A and 7B are views showing cartridges 40A and 40B and cartridge mounting portions 50A and 50B, which are other examples.

[0032] As described above, the vehicle seat S of this embodiment includes the headrest 3. The vehicle seat S also includes the cartridge 40 that is detachably attached to the headrest 3. The headrest 3 has a cartridge mounting portion 50 to which the cartridge 40 is detachably attached, and the cartridge mounting portion 50 is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3 as shown in FIG. Since the cartridge mounting part 50 is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3, the cartridge mounting part 50 is less visible from the outside, improving the appearance of the vehicle seat S. Furthermore, since it is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3, it becomes easy for a person seated in the vehicle seat S to attach or detach the cartridge 40.

[0033] <Cartridge 40> The cartridge 40 is a component that can be detachably attached to the cartridge attachment portion 50, and is specifically a perfume bottle that stores perfume. The cartridge 40 is mainly composed of a container portion 41, a neck portion 42, and a wick 43.

[0034] The container 41 is cylindrical and contains a liquid perfume 44 inside. The neck 42 is provided at the upper end of the container 41 and has an opening at the top. A screw thread is formed on the outer periphery of the neck 42, and is configured to be attached to a connecting portion 53 of the cartridge mounting portion 50, which will be described later. Although not shown, when the cartridge 40 is not in use, a lid can be attached to the neck 42 to seal it tightly. The neck 42 corresponds to the upper end of the cartridge 40.

[0035] The wick 43 is a long, slender member that draws up the liquid 44 in the container 41 up to a heater 54 of the cartridge mounting part 50, which will be described later. One end of the wick 43 is arranged at the bottom of the container 41, and the other end protrudes from the neck part 42. The protruding part of the wick 43 (tip 43a) comes into contact with the heater 54 of the cartridge mounting part 50 and is heated by the heater 54. Vaporization of the liquid 44 drawn up by the wick 43 is promoted, and the liquid is discharged from the outlet 58 through the ventilation path 62 inside the headrest 3.

[0036] The container portion 41 and neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40 are made of resin or glass, and if they are made of a transparent material, it is possible to visually check the remaining amount of liquid 44. The wick 43 uses capillary action to suck up the liquid and is made of a material with fine conduits, such as rattan or synthetic fiber. In this embodiment, the cartridge 40 is a perfume bottle, but is not limited to this, and the cartridge 40 may have other functions. For example, the cartridge 40 may be a bottle containing an insecticide or insect repellent instead of a perfume. Furthermore, cartridge 40 generates an airflow using heater 54, but instead of heater 54, a pump, sprayer, or the like may be used to spray or spray perfume into the car interior. Cartridge 40 may also be an exchangeable storage medium such as a USB memory or SD card. It may also be configured so that music is played from speaker 70 using music files stored in the USB memory. Alternatively, the cartridge 40 may be an ECU cassette equipped with an ECU. By replacing the ECU cassette, it is possible to improve the processing speed, or add functions by changing the software, for example.

[0037] <Cartridge mounting section 50> The cartridge mounting portion 50 is a member to which the cartridge 40 is detachably attached, and includes a storage portion 51, a connection portion 53, and a heater .

[0038] The storage section 51 is formed in a shape and size that allows it to store the container section 41 of the cartridge 40, and is formed in a cylindrical shape that matches the outer shape of the container section 41, as shown in FIG. The storage section 51 is provided at its lower end with an insertion opening 52 for inserting the cartridge 40 therein, and at its upper end with a cartridge holding section 59 for holding the neck section 42 of the cartridge 40 .

[0039] The cartridge holding portion 59 is formed with threads that correspond to the threads of the neck portion 42, and by rotating the cartridge 40 inserted into the storage portion 51, the cartridge 40 can be fixed within the storage portion 51. Note that the attachment method using the cartridge holding portion 59 is not limited to this, and the cartridge 40 may be attached by hooking the neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40 with a claw-like or hook-like member or by clamping the neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40 with a clamping member. By providing the cartridge holding portion 59 that holds the neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40, attachment of the cartridge 40 becomes easier.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the storage section 51 of the cartridge mounting section 50 is formed to have the same size as the outer shape of the container section 41 of the cartridge 40. This is just one example, and when the cartridges 40A and 40B are stored in the cartridge mounting sections 50A and 50B as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is preferable that a gap 63 of a predetermined size be formed between the storage sections 51A and 51B and the cartridges 40A and 40B. By forming the storage sections 51A and 51B to create the gap 63, the user can insert their fingers into the gap 63 and grasp the cartridges 40A and 40B. This allows the cartridges 40A and 40B to be easily attached to the cartridge mounting sections 50A and 50B.

[0041] The connection part 53 is a member that is connected to the pillar 31 of the headrest 3 by a mounting bracket 60 and supports the storage part 51 at its lower end. A heater 54 is provided inside the connection part 53 by a heater mounting part 55. The mounting bracket 60 corresponds to a mounting member. As shown in FIG. 5, with the cartridge 40 attached, the tip 43a of the wick 43 extending from the cartridge 40 is heated by the heater 54.

[0042] Furthermore, the upper end of the connection part 53 has a pipe connection part 56 for connecting a pipe 57. The liquid 44 is heated by the heater 54 and vaporized, and then rises and moves directly into the pipe 57. The vaporized liquid 44 passes through the ventilation path 62 formed by the pipe 57 and is delivered to the outlet 58.

[0043] The heater 54 is a device that heats air to form an airflow toward the air passage 62. As described above, the heater 54 can also heat the tip 43a of the wick 43 extending from the cartridge 40, thereby promoting the wicking and evaporation of the liquid 44. The heater 54 is attached to the inside of the connecting part 53 via a heater attachment part 55. Note that a fan for forming an airflow may be provided in place of the heater 54 at the connection portion 53. Also, both the heater 54 and the fan may be provided. A harness 54a extends from the heater 54, passes through a harness hole 32 formed in the pillar 31 via a mounting bracket 60, and extends downward through the interior of the pillar 31. A grommet 61 is provided in the harness hole 32 to protect the harness 54a. The harness 54a extending downward is connected to an ECU (not shown) and a power source (not shown) mounted on the vehicle seat S. The heater 54 is controlled by the ECU, and the temperature, heating time, etc. can be adjusted.

[0044] By providing a heater 54 at the connection part 53, it is possible to generate an air flow and send the vaporized liquid 44 to the air passage 62. It is also possible to heat the liquid 44 sucked up by the wick 43 and promote the vaporization of the liquid 44. By providing the heater 54, it is possible to discharge the vaporized liquid 44 from the outlet 58 through the air passage 62. Note that if there is no need to generate an air flow or heat the liquid 44, the heater 54 does not have to be provided.

[0045] The tip 43a of the wick 43 should be located in a position where it is sandwiched between the heaters 54, as shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, as with the cartridge 40A shown in Fig. 7A, the tip 43Aa of the wick 43A only needs to be in contact with part of the heater 54 when the wick is attached to the cartridge attachment part 50A. Even in this state, the liquid 44 can be drawn up to the tip 43Aa and heated by the heater 54. 7B, when the cartridge 40B is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 50A, the tip 43Ba of the wick 43B may exceed the upper end of the heater 54. Even in this state, the wicked liquid 44 can be heated by the heater 54.

[0046] The pipe 57 forms an air passage 62 inside the headrest 3. One end of the pipe 57 is connected to the pipe connecting portion 56 of the connection portion 53 as described above, and the other end is connected to the outlet 58. More specifically, the pipe 57 extends upward from the pipe connecting portion 56, then bends to the outside of the seat, and extends downward. The pipe 57 extending downward is connected to the outlet 58 formed at the lower end of the headrest 3. The vaporized liquid 44 (perfume) passes through the air passage 62 inside the pipe 57 and is discharged from the outlet 58.

[0047] As described above, the outlet 58 for discharging the vaporized liquid 44 is provided on the underside 3a of the headrest 3. By providing the outlet 58 on the underside 3a, the outlet 58 is less visible, and therefore the appearance of the headrest 3, i.e., the external appearance, is improved compared to when the outlet 58 is on the front or side of the headrest 3.

[0048] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the insertion opening 52 of the cartridge mounting portion 50 is provided on the underside 3a of the headrest 3. Conventionally, the cartridge mounting portion 50 has been provided behind the headrest 3, making it difficult for a person seated in the vehicle seat S to mount the cartridge 40. By providing the insertion opening 52 of the cartridge mounting portion 50 on the underside 3a of the headrest 3, a person seated in the vehicle seat S can easily attach the cartridge 40 to the cartridge mounting portion 50. Furthermore, because the insertion opening 52 is difficult to see from the outside, the appearance of the headrest 3, i.e., the design of the external appearance, can be improved.

[0049] 5, when the cartridge 40 is stored in the storage portion 51, the insertion opening 52 is located at approximately the same height as the lower end of the cartridge 40. More specifically, the insertion opening 52 is located at approximately the same height as the bottom surface of the container portion 41 of the cartridge 40. With this configuration, the cartridge 40 becomes less visible, improving the appearance of the headrest, for example.

[0050] 7A and 7B, the insertion openings 52A and 52B may be located below the lower ends of the cartridges 40A and 40B. In other words, the bottom surfaces of the cartridges 40A and 40B may be located above the insertion openings 52A and 52B. This configuration makes it difficult for the cartridges 40A and 40B to be seen from the outside, thereby improving the appearance of the headrest 3.

[0051] Furthermore, the cartridge mounting portion 50 is disposed on the outer side of the seat than the pillar 31. By disposing the cartridge mounting portion 50 on the outer side of the seat than the pillar 31, the cartridge 40 can be attached and detached more easily than, for example, when the cartridge mounting portion 50 is disposed on the inner side of the seat than the pillar 31. Furthermore, as described above, the cartridge mounting portion 50 is fixed to the pillar 31, which is disposed on the inner side of the seat than the cartridge mounting portion 50, by the mounting bracket 60. By using the mounting bracket 60, the cartridge mounting portion 50 can be attached to the pillar 31 more compactly.

[0052] <Modification> A modified cartridge mounting portion 50C will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting portion 50C. The cartridge mounting portion 50 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 was provided on the headrest 3 so that the neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40 was attached facing upward. The arrangement of the cartridge mounting portion 50 is not limited to this, and the cartridge mounting portion 50 may be provided so that the neck portion 42 of the cartridge 40 is attached facing outward in the seat width direction, as in the cartridge mounting portion 50C shown in FIG. 8. The occupant inserts the cartridge 40 into the storage portion 51C through the insertion opening 52C in a sideways state, and attaches the cartridge 40 to the cartridge holding portion 59 of the cartridge mounting portion 50C.

[0053] Such an arrangement can reduce the height occupied by cartridge mounting portion 50C within headrest 3, for example, and achieve a compact configuration. Also, the length of pipe 57C can be shortened, and the time it takes for vaporized liquid 44 to pass through ventilation path 62 and be discharged from outlet 58C can be shortened.

[0054] Although the cartridge mounting portion 50 is provided at the lower end of the headrest 3, the mounting position of the cartridge mounting portion 50 is not limited to this, and for example, if the vehicle seat S is provided with an armrest or an ottoman, the cartridge mounting portion 50 may be attached to the lower end of the armrest or the lower end of the ottoman.

[0055] <<Second embodiment>> A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 13. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a headrest 3A of a vehicle seat SA of the second embodiment. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a headrest frame 30A and an ECU cassette 80. Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the headrest 3A, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat SB, which is another example.

[0056] The vehicle seat SA of the second embodiment has a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, and a headrest 3A, similar to the vehicle seat S of the first embodiment. The vehicle seat SA also has a seat frame F similar to the vehicle seat S of the first embodiment. In the following description, components that are the same as or have similar functions to those of the vehicle seat S are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0057] The headrest 3A of the vehicle seat SA is equipped with a detachable ECU cassette 80. The headrest 3A also has a cassette receiving portion 85 to which the ECU cassette 80 is detachably attached, and the cassette receiving portion 85 is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3A, as shown in Figures 9 and 12. More specifically, an opening 88 into which the ECU cassette 80 is inserted in the cassette receiving portion 85 is formed in the lower surface 3Aa of the headrest 3A. The ECU cassette 80 corresponds to a cartridge, and the cassette receiving portion 85 corresponds to a cartridge mounting portion. Since the cassette receiving portion 85 is disposed at the lower end of the headrest 3A, the cassette receiving portion 85 is difficult to see from the outside, improving the appearance of the vehicle seat SA.

[0058] <ECUカセット80> As described above, the ECU cassette 80 is a member that is detachably attached to the cassette receiving portion 85. The ECU cassette 80 is a computer that includes a control device such as a CPU and storage devices such as a ROM and a RAM. Power is supplied when the ECU cassette 80 is attached to the cassette receiving portion 85. The ECU cassette 80 is configured to control the vehicle seat SA or various devices installed in the vehicle, for example, by the built-in CPU executing a program stored in the storage device.

[0059] The ECU cassette 80 includes a case 81 that houses a circuit board (not shown) on which a CPU and other components are arranged, an ECU side connector 82 provided at the upper end of the case 81, a flange portion 83 provided at the lower end of the case 81, and a lock portion 84 provided on the side of the case 81. The case 81 is a rectangular parallelepiped member formed to fit the built-in circuit board. The ECU side connector 82 is a terminal that connects to a receiving portion side connector 86 of the cassette receiving portion 85, which will be described later. The flange portion 83 is formed to be slightly larger than an opening 88 of the cassette receiving portion 85, and functions as a stopper when the ECU cassette 80 is inserted into the cassette receiving portion 85. The lock portion 84 engages with an engaging portion 89 of the cassette receiving portion 85 when the ECU cassette 80 is inserted into the cassette receiving portion 85, thereby preventing the ECU cassette 80 from falling out of the cassette receiving portion 85.

[0060] <Cassette receiving section 85> The cassette receiving portion 85 is configured to detachably mount the ECU cassette 80. A space for accommodating the ECU cassette 80 is formed inside the cassette receiving portion 85. The space for accommodating the ECU cassette 80 is formed to have approximately the same size as the case 81 of the ECU cassette 80, and an opening 88 for inserting the ECU cassette 80 is formed on the underside of the cassette receiving portion 85. A receiving portion-side connector 86 that connects to the ECU-side connector 82 of the ECU cassette 80 is provided on the upper part of the cassette receiving portion 85. A harness 87 extends from the receiving portion-side connector 86, and is configured to pass through the inside of the pillar 31 of the headrest frame 30A and be connected to a power supply unit or the like provided in the vehicle. Additionally, an engaging portion 89 that engages with the locking portion 84 of the ECU cassette 80 is provided on the inner side of the side wall of the cassette receiving portion 85. The cassette receiving portion 85 corresponds to a cartridge mounting portion.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cassette receiving portion 85 is located rearward of the headrest frame 30A within the headrest 3B. By lifting the headrest 3A from the seat back 2, the gap between the headrest 3A and the seat back 2 increases, making it possible to attach the ECU cassette 80 to the cassette receiving portion 85. By arranging the ECU cassette 80 behind the headrest frame 30A in the headrest 3A, the interior of the headrest 3A, which was conventionally filled with the pad P, can be effectively utilized. Furthermore, the ECU cassette 80 is replaceable, and by replacing it with an ECU cassette 80 having a higher performance CPU or new software, it is possible to easily improve functionality and update the software. Furthermore, if there is a change in the standard of the connector that connects the ECU cassette 80, the headrest 3A can be made compatible with the new standard by replacing the entire headrest 3A.

[0062] <Modification> The cassette receiving portion 85 may be mounted on a vehicle seat SB in which a headrest 3B is fixed to a seat back 2B as shown in Fig. 13. The cassette receiving portion 85 shown in Fig. 13 also has an ECU cassette 80 removably attached thereto. Both side portions of the headrest 3B are connected to the shoulder portions of the seat back 2B, and a hole 91 is formed below the headrest 3B. The cassette receiving portion 85 is located at the lower end of the headrest 3B, and an opening 88 of the cassette receiving portion 85 is provided on the lower surface of the headrest 3B, in other words, on the upper surface that forms the hole 91.

[0063] The headrest 3B is integrated with the seat back 2B, but has a hole 91 formed therein, so that the ECU cassette 80 can be attached to the cassette receiving portion 85 by passing the ECU cassette 80 through the hole 91.

[0064] Since the headrest 3B is fixed to the seat back 2B, for example, the harness 87 connected to the ECU cassette 80 is arranged along the frame. The harness 87 does not move, and therefore, for example, disconnection of the harness 87 can be suppressed. Furthermore, by providing a cassette receiving portion 85 in which the ECU cassette 80 can be replaced inside the headrest 3B, the interior of the headrest 3B can be utilized effectively.

[0065] 13, a head support portion 90 for supporting the occupant's head may be provided in front of the headrest 3B. The head support portion 90 is provided so as to be movable in the up and down direction relative to the headrest 3B. A slide rail device is provided behind the head support portion 90, so that the user can move it to match the position of their head and fix that position with the locking mechanism of the slide rail device.

[0066] By providing the head support portion 90 in a vertically movable manner on the front surface of the headrest 3B, the head support portion 90 can be positioned to match the curvature of the occupant's neck and minimize the curvature of the occupant's neck, even when the headrest 3B is fixed to the seat back 2B. Therefore, the occupant's head can be properly supported in the event of a rear-end collision, for example, and the neck injury value can be reduced.

[0067] As described above, the vehicle seats S, SA, and SB to be mounted in a vehicle have been given as embodiments of the present invention, and examples of their configurations have been described using the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to seats mounted in ground-traveling vehicles with wheels such as automobiles and trains, and may also be applied to seats mounted in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on non-ground surfaces, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] S, SA, SB Vehicle seats (vehicle seats) Front seat frame P Pad T epidermis 1 seat cushion 2, 2B seat back 3, 3A, 3B Headrest 3a, 3Aa bottom surface 4 Reclining device 5 Slide device 10 Cushion Frame 11 Cushion side frame 12 Pan Frame 13 Rear frame 14 Front Frame 15 Pressure-receiving member 20 Back Frame 21 Backside Frame 22 Upper frame 23 Lower frame 24 Connecting Frame 25 Pressure-receiving member 26 Headrest holder 30 Headrest frame 31 Pillar 32 Harness hole 40, 40A, 40B cartridges 41 Container section 42 Neck 43, 43A, 43B wick 43a, 43Aa, 43Ba tip 44 Liquid 50, 50A, 50B, 50C cartridge mounting section 51, 51A, 51B, 51C storage section 52, 52A, 52B, 52C insertion slots 53 Connection 54 Heater 54a Harness 55 Heater mounting part 56 Pipe connection 57 Pipe 58 Outlet 59 Cartridge holder (holder) 60 Mounting bracket (mounting member) 61 Grommet 62 Ventilation channel 63 Gap 70 Speaker 71 Cover 80 ECU cassette (cartridge) 81 cases 82 ECU side connector 83 Tsuba 84 Lock Section 85 Cassette receiving section (cartridge mounting section) 86 Receptor side connector 87 Harness 88 Opening 89 Engagement part 90 Head support 91 Hole

Claims

1. A headrest and a cartridge detachably attached to the headrest, The headrest is a cartridge mounting portion to which the cartridge is detachably mounted, The vehicle seat, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is disposed at a lower end of the headrest.

2. the cartridge mounting section has a storage section for storing the cartridge and an insertion opening for inserting the cartridge into the storage section, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the insertion opening is provided on a lower surface of the headrest.

3. an air passage extending from the storage portion and allowing gas discharged from the cartridge to pass therethrough is formed inside the headrest; 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the outlet of the air passage is provided on the underside of the headrest.

4. a connecting portion that connects the storage portion and the ventilation path; 4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein a heater is provided in the connection portion to form an air flow toward the air passage.

5. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the storage portion is formed so that, when the cartridge is stored therein, there is a gap of a predetermined size between the storage portion and the cartridge.

6. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the storage portion is formed to have a size such that, when the cartridge is stored therein, the insertion opening is positioned below a lower end of the cartridge.

7. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the cartridge mounting portion has a holding portion that holds an upper end of the cartridge when the cartridge is stored in the storage portion.

8. The cartridge contains a liquid, The cartridge has a wick that draws up the liquid, a tip of the wick protruding from the top end of the cartridge; 5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the heater is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the tip of the wick when the cartridge is stored in the storage section.

9. The headrest includes a pillar that forms a framework of the headrest, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is located outside the pillar.

10. 10. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, further comprising an attachment member for attaching the cartridge mounting portion to the pillar, the attachment member being fixed to the pillar positioned on the inner side of the seat than the cartridge mounting portion.

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