Vehicle seats

Abstract

A vehicle seat capable of suppressing a reduction in the pressing force of a bladder is provided. [Solution] The vehicle seat 1 has a skin 2 forming a surface layer, a pad 3 formed by foaming urethane and fixed to and integrated with the skin 2, a bladder 6 arranged between the skin 2 and the pad 3 and pressing against the seated occupant from the back side of the skin 2 as it expands, and a cover 4 covering at least a portion of the stretchable portion of the bladder 6 that expands and contracts before and after expansion to prevent the urethane from sticking. As a result, the cover 4 prevents urethane from sticking, which would hinder the expansion of the bladder 6, and therefore reduces the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder 6.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat in which a cover and a pad are integrated. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in vehicle seats installed in automobiles and the like, a technology is known in which a bladder provided inside the seat is inflated to provide a massage or relaxation effect, and the resulting pressure is used to give the seated person a feeling of finger pressure.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which a second bladder (air cell) with a larger outer diameter than the first bladder is placed below the first bladder (air cell) to create a two-tiered structure, and the deflection of the pad is reduced by the second bladder, thereby extending the stroke of the first bladder toward the epidermis.

[0004] Such vehicle seats are usually constructed by placing a bladder in a predetermined position on a foam-molded urethane pad and then covering it with a skin. However, to reduce labor and for other reasons, an integrated skin-bladder foaming method is being considered, in which the skin and bladder are set in a mold beforehand, and urethane raw materials are injected into it to foam, integrating the skin, urethane pad, and bladder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-83916 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with the integrated foaming of the skin and bladder, the foamed urethane clings to the bladder, preventing the bladder from expanding properly and reducing the bladder's compressive force, preventing sufficient massage or relaxation effects.

[0007] For example, it is possible to construct a two-tiered bladder as in Patent Document 1 and forcibly inflate the bladder, but this is not realistic due to cost issues and potential quality issues as the urethane would tear.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can suppress a reduction in the pressing force of the bladder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the vehicle seat of the present invention employs the following means.

[0010] That is, the first invention of the present invention is a vehicle seat having a surface skin forming a surface layer, a pad formed by foaming urethane and adhered to and integrated with the surface skin, a bladder disposed between the surface skin and the pad and pressing against the occupant from the back side of the surface skin as the bladder expands, and a cover portion that covers at least a portion of an expansion / contraction portion of the bladder that expands and contracts before and after expansion to prevent the urethane from adhering to the surface.

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the covering portion prevents urethane from sticking, which would hinder the expansion of the bladder, and therefore, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the pressing force of the bladder.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle seat according to the first aspect, wherein the stretchable portion is a bellows portion that is folded in a bellows shape in the bladder.

[0013] According to the second aspect of the present invention, urethane is prevented from entering and adhering to the bellows portion that provides more stroke, and therefore, reduction in the pressing force of the bladder having the bellows portion can be suppressed.

[0014] A third aspect of the present invention is a vehicle seat according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the covering portion protrudes from the periphery of the bladder when viewed from the back side of the seat so as to form an expansion space between the covering portion and the skin, which is a space in which the bladder can expand, and covers the bellows portion and an object facing the front side of the seat.

[0015] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the expansion space ensures the expansion margin of the bladder, and the necessary stroke can be obtained, so that the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder can be further suppressed.

[0016] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle seat according to the third aspect, further comprising an adhesive portion that adheres the object and the cover portion to prevent the urethane from entering the expansion space.

[0017] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the amount of urethane that gets in between the object and the cover and adheres thereto is reduced, so that the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder can be further suppressed.

[0018] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a vehicle seat according to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the cover portion is a nonwoven fabric impregnated with urethane, and the bladder is enclosed between the cover portion and the skin.

[0019] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the bottom surface of the bladder is supported by the nonwoven fabric that has been hardened by impregnation with urethane, preventing the pad from bending, thereby further suppressing a reduction in the pressing force of the bladder. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows the bladder inflated. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a view of the bladder and the cover portion from the back side of the seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, directions such as front, back, up, down, left, and right refer to the directions shown in each drawing. In the following description, when a specific reference drawing is not shown or when there is no reference symbol corresponding to a reference drawing, any of Figures 1 to 4 will be referred to as appropriate.

[0022] (Overview of Vehicle Seat 1) As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle seat 1 includes a seat cushion 1a that supports the buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant, and a seat back 1b that supports the back. The vehicle seat 1 is manufactured using a so-called foam-in-one skin method, and the skin 2 and pad 3 are integrated together. Furthermore, the vehicle seat 1 has a heating and refreshing function.

[0023] To achieve a heating function, the vehicle seat 1 has a heater 5 disposed on the back surface of the cover 2. The heater 5 is a flexible planar heating element that generates heat when electricity is applied, and is provided on each of the seat cushion 1a and the seat back 1b. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the heater 5 is formed by disposing a heater wire 5b on a planar heater base fabric 5a.

[0024] Vehicle seat 1 has multiple bladders 6 inside to achieve a refreshing function. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, bladders 6 are arranged between cover 2 and pad 3, i.e., on the back surface of heater 5, so as not to impede heat transfer from heater 5. Vehicle seat 1 also has cover 4 that ensures expansion space 8 in which bladders 6 can expand. When bladders 6 expand in such expansion space 8, a pressing force is generated on the seat surface, providing a feeling of acupressure to the seated occupant.

[0025] The vehicle seat 1 is manufactured using the foam-in-place method, so that the heater 5, bladder 6, and cover 4 are integrated with the skin 2 and pad 3. In other words, the heater 5, bladder 6, and cover 4 are set in advance in a mold along with the skin 2, and urethane raw material is injected into the mold and foamed to produce the vehicle seat 1.

[0026] (Details of the refresh function) 2 and 3, bladder 6 is formed into a bag shape from a resin material such as polyurethane or a rubber material, and expands when air is introduced into the interior. Specifically, a tube (not shown) is connected to bladder 6, and air is introduced into and expelled from bladder 6 through the tube by a pump (not shown). Bladder 6 is set in a mold with the tube connected, and the tube is also integrated with pad 3.

[0027] Bladder 6 has, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is formed by bellows portion 6a, upper surface portion 6b, and bottom surface portion 6c. Bellows portion 6a is provided on the side of bladder 6 and is folded and unfolded like bellows. Bladder 6 expands in a direction perpendicular to the seat surface (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3) due to the expansion and contraction of bellows portion 6a.

[0028] The top surface 6b faces the underside of the cover 2 and the heater 5, and presses against the seated person to provide a feeling of finger pressure. The bottom surface 6c faces the cover 4 and receives a reaction force from the cover 4. As will be described later, the cover 4 has a function of suppressing the deflection of the pad 3 so that the bladder 6 can brace itself using the cover 4 as a base.

[0029] 2 to 4, covering portion 4 covers bladder 6 so that bladder 6 is wrapped between covering portion 4 and skin 2, and has a bottom covering portion 4a, a bellows covering portion 4b, and an overhanging portion 4c. Bottom covering portion 4a covers the bottom portion 6c of bladder 6, and bellows covering portion 4b covers the bellows portion 6a of bladder 6. Overhanging portion 4c covers the back surface of heater base fabric 5a.

[0030] Bladder 6 has a certain degree of thickness even when bellows portion 6a is folded and contracted, so that a step occurs between bottom cover portion 4a and protruding portion 4c, but bellows cover portion 4b is formed to fill the step.

[0031] Such a cover 4 prevents the pad 3 (foamed urethane) from adhering and clinging to the bladder 6. If the urethane is injected and foamed without the cover 4 being set in the mold, the urethane will adhere around the bladder 6, preventing the bladder 6 from expanding.

[0032] Furthermore, the cover 4 forms an expansion space 8 between it and the skin 2, allowing the bladder 6 to expand. The bladder 6 expands freely in the expansion space 8, pushing up the skin 2 with the strokes required for the refreshing function. The periphery of the cover 4 is adhered to the heater 5 with adhesive tape 7, preventing urethane from entering the expansion space 8. Depending on the location and size of the cover 4, the object adhered with the adhesive tape 7 may be the heater 5 or the skin 2.

[0033] The cover portion 4 was originally a nonwoven fabric that was impregnated with urethane during molding of the vehicle seat 1, making it harder than the pad 3. Therefore, the cover portion 4 receives the load transmitted from the bottom surface 6c of the bladder 6, and furthermore, this load is distributed throughout the cover portion 4, effectively preventing the pad 3 from deflecting. Note that the hardness of the cover portion 4 can affect the riding comfort of the seated occupant. Therefore, it is desirable to appropriately adjust the thickness of the nonwoven fabric to a hardness that can adequately receive the load of the bladder 6 without affecting the riding comfort.

[0034] To summarize the above, the vehicle seat 1 according to this embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0035] That is, the vehicle seat (1) has a surface layer (2) of the seat cushion (1), a pad (3) formed by foaming urethane and fixed to the surface layer (2) and integrated with the surface layer (2), a bladder (6) disposed between the surface layer (2) and the pad (3) and pressing against the occupant from the back side of the surface layer (2) as the bladder (6) expands, and a cover (4) that covers at least a part of the expansion and contraction portion of the bladder (6) that expands and contracts before and after expansion to prevent the urethane from adhering to the bladder.

[0036] According to the above configuration, the cover portion (4) prevents urethane from adhering, which would hinder the expansion of the bladder (6), and therefore, the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder (6) can be prevented.

[0037] The stretchable portion is a bellows portion (6a) that is folded in a bellows shape in the bladder (6).

[0038] According to the above configuration, urethane is prevented from entering and adhering to the bellows portion (6a) which provides a larger stroke, and therefore, reduction in the pressing force of the bladder (6) having the bellows portion (6a) can be suppressed.

[0039] The covering portion (4) protrudes from the periphery of the bladder (6) when viewed from the back side of the seat so as to form an expansion space (8) between the covering portion (4) and the skin (2) in which the bladder (6) can expand, and covers the bellows portion (6a) and the object (5) facing the seat surface.

[0040] According to the above configuration, the expansion space (8) ensures the expansion margin of the bladder (6) and makes it possible to obtain the necessary stroke, thereby further suppressing the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder (6).

[0041] The device further includes an adhesive part (7) for adhering the object (5) and the cover part (4) together to prevent urethane from entering the expansion space (8).

[0042] According to the above configuration, the amount of urethane that gets between the object (5) and the cover (4) and adheres thereto is reduced, so that the reduction in the pressing force of the bladder (6) can be further suppressed.

[0043] The cover (4) is made of nonwoven fabric impregnated with urethane, and the bladder (6) is enclosed between the cover (4) and the skin (2).

[0044] According to the above configuration, the bottom surface (6c) of the bladder (6) is supported by the nonwoven fabric hardened by impregnation with urethane, preventing the pad (3) from bending, thereby further suppressing a reduction in the pressing force of the bladder (6).

[0045] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms other than the above embodiment.

[0046] 1. In the above embodiment, the covering portion extends from the periphery of the bladder and covers the heater in addition to the bellows portion of the bladder. However, it is sufficient if the covering portion is set to cover at least a portion of the bellows portion. Even in this case, urethane is prevented from entering and adhering to the bellows portion, thereby suppressing a reduction in the pressing force of the bladder having the bellows portion. Covering the entire bellows portion further prevents urethane from entering.

[0047] 2. In the above embodiment, the vehicle seat has a heater function, but it does not have to have a heater function. In other words, it is sufficient if the vehicle seat has a refreshing function in which at least the upholstery, pad, bladder, and cover are integrated by foaming urethane.

[0048] 3. In the above embodiment, the periphery of the cover is adhered to the heater with adhesive tape to prevent urethane from entering the expansion space, but it is acceptable if the infiltration of urethane is suppressed by some method other than adhesive tape, resulting in the formation of an expansion space.

[0049] 4. In the above embodiment, the covering portion includes a bottom covering portion that covers the bottom of the bladder. However, the covering portion may be composed of a bellows covering portion and a protruding portion without the bottom covering portion. In this case, urethane will adhere to the bottom of the bladder. However, the urethane adhered to the bottom does not affect the expansion of the bladder.

[0050] 5. In the above embodiment, the bladder is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped with bellows-like folds on the sides, but any type of bladder may be used as long as it presses against the seat occupant from the underside of the seat cover as it inflates. Even in the case of a bladder without a bellows-like fold, at least a portion of the expansion / contraction portion that expands and contracts before and after inflation may be covered with a cover portion to prevent the urethane from adhering.

[0051] 6. In the above embodiment, the cover portion is made of nonwoven fabric impregnated with urethane, but the cover portion may be made of a material other than nonwoven fabric impregnated with urethane. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Vehicle seats 1a Seat cushion 1b Seat back 2 Epidermis 3 Pad 4 Cover 4a Bottom cover 4b Bellows cover 4c Overhang 5 Heater 5a heater base fabric 5b Heater wire 6. Vlada 6a Bellows 6b Top part 6c Bottom part 7 adhesive tape 8 Expansion Space

Claims

1. A vehicle seat, The epidermis, which forms the surface layer, a pad formed by foaming urethane and fixed to the skin and integrated with the skin; a bladder disposed between the surface and the pad, the bladder pressing against the seat occupant from the rear side of the surface as it expands; a covering portion that covers at least a portion of the stretchable portion that stretches before and after inflation in the bladder to prevent the urethane from adhering; A vehicle seat having:

2. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, The stretchable portion is a bellows portion that is folded in a bellows shape in the bladder. Vehicle seat.

3. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, The vehicle seat has a covering portion that protrudes from the periphery of the bladder when viewed from the back side of the seat so as to form an expansion space between the covering portion and the skin, which is a space in which the bladder can expand, and covers the bellows portion and an object facing the front side of the seat.

4. 4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, The vehicle seat further comprises an adhesive portion that adheres the object and the cover portion to prevent the urethane from entering the expansion space.

5. 5. The vehicle seat according to claim 3 or 4, the cover portion is a nonwoven fabric impregnated with the urethane, The vehicle seat, wherein the bladder is enclosed between the covering portion and the skin.

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