Anchor bracket and vehicle seat

Abstract

This prevents the anchor bracket from tilting inward on the exterior wall without adding beads or patches. [Solution] The anchor bracket 30 comprises a lower wall portion 30A fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail 24 of the slide rail 20 of the vehicle seat, an outer wall portion 30C extending upward from the outer end of the lower wall portion 30A in the seat width direction and to which the buckle of the seat belt device is connected, and a cut-up portion 30F formed by cutting and bending a part of the lower wall portion 30A upward from the seat and joined to the outer wall portion 30C.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to an anchor bracket to which a buckle of a seat belt device is connected.

Background Art

[0002] The vehicle seat structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a seat, a seat rail having a lower rail and an upper rail, and an anchor bracket that fixes a first anchor, which is an anchor of a seat belt device, to the upper rail. The anchor bracket includes a first bracket having a first bottom portion fixed to the upper rail and a first side portion erected upward from the first bottom portion, and a second bracket having a second bottom portion fixed to the upper rail, a second side portion erected upward from the lower wall portion, and an anchor attachment portion to which the anchor is attached. The first side portion and the second side portion overlap each other in the vehicle width direction and are joined to each other, and the first bracket extends forward of the vehicle more than the second bracket. Thereby, without increasing the size of the anchor bracket, a sufficient reaction force is generated against the load applied to the anchor bracket.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the prior art described above, when an excessive load is applied to the seat belt during a frontal collision, it acts on the anchor mounting portion (outer wall portion) of the second bracket via the seat belt device's anchor, causing the anchor mounting portion to deform and tilt toward the second side portion (inner wall portion). To prevent this deformation (inward tilting), one could consider adding a bead or patch to the second bracket. However, adding a bead presents challenges in terms of space requirements and moldability, while adding a patch presents challenges in terms of increased parts and mass.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an anchor bracket capable of suppressing inward tilting of the outer wall portion without adding beads or patches, and a vehicle seat equipped with the anchor bracket. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The anchor bracket of the first embodiment comprises a lower wall portion fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail of the slide rail of a vehicle seat, an outer wall portion extending upward from the outer end of the lower wall portion in the seat width direction and to which the buckle of the seat belt device is connected, and a cut-up portion formed by cutting and bending a part of the lower wall portion upward toward the seat and joined to the outer wall portion.

[0007] In the first embodiment of the anchor bracket, the lower wall portion is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail of the vehicle seat's slide rail. An outer wall portion extends upward from the outer end of the lower wall portion in the seat width direction. The seat belt buckle is connected to the outer wall portion. A cut-up portion, formed by cutting and bending a part of the lower wall portion upward toward the seat, is joined to the outer wall portion. This prevents the outer wall portion from tilting inward in the seat width direction when excessive load applied to the seat belt during a frontal collision acts on the outer wall portion via the seat belt buckle, without adding beads or patches to the anchor bracket.

[0008] The anchor bracket in the second embodiment includes an inner wall portion extending upward from the inner end of the lower wall portion in the sheet width direction, and the cut-out portion is joined to the inner wall portion.

[0009] In the anchor bracket of the second embodiment, the inner wall extends upward from the inner end of the lower wall in the width direction of the seat, and the cut-out portion of the lower wall is joined to the outer wall and the inner wall. As a result, the excessive load applied to the outer wall during a frontal collision of the vehicle is distributed to the inner wall via the cut-out portion, thereby more effectively suppressing the inward tilting of the outer wall.

[0010] In the third embodiment of the anchor bracket, the lower wall portion is fixed to the upper rail at a plurality of fixed points spaced apart in the front-rear direction of the seat, and the cut-out portion is positioned between the fixing points of the lower wall portion to the upper rail.

[0011] In the third embodiment of the anchor bracket, the lower wall portion is fixed to the upper rail at multiple fixed points spaced apart in the front-rear direction of the seat, and cut-out portions are arranged between the fixing points of the lower wall portion to the upper rail. Since it is easy to secure space between the fixing points and not much rigidity is required, it is suitable for providing cut-out portions.

[0012] The anchor bracket of the fourth embodiment is such that, in any one of the first to third embodiments, the cut-out portion is formed so that the upper part is wider in the sheet width direction than the lower part, and the upper part is joined to the outer wall portion.

[0013] In the anchor bracket of the fourth embodiment, the upper part of the cut-out portion, which is formed to be wider in the sheet width direction than the lower part of the cut-out portion, is joined to the outer wall portion. As a result, for example, the curved radius between the outer wall portion and the lower wall portion does not affect the joining of the outer wall portion and the cut-out portion, thus simplifying the manufacture of the anchor bracket.

[0014] The fifth embodiment of the vehicle seat comprises a seat body on which the occupant of the vehicle sits, a slide rail to which the seat body is connected, with an upper rail slidably connected to a lower rail fixed to the floor of the vehicle body, and the lower wall portion fixed to the upper rail, and an anchor bracket of any one of the first to fourth embodiments.

[0015] In the fifth embodiment of the vehicle seat, the seat body on which the vehicle occupant sits is connected to the floor of the vehicle body via a slide rail. The lower wall portion of an anchor bracket is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail of the slide rail. Since this anchor bracket is of any one of the first to fourth embodiments, the aforementioned effects are obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, the inward tilting of the outer wall portion of the anchor bracket can be suppressed without adding beads or patches. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a first perspective view showing the configuration around the anchor bracket of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a second perspective view showing the configuration around the anchor bracket of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing the configuration around the anchor bracket of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing the configuration around the anchor bracket of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the configuration around the anchor bracket of a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-section along the line F7-F7 in Figure 6. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the F8 - F8 line in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the structure around the anchor bracket of the vehicle seat according to the comparative example. [Figure 10] It is a front view of the anchor bracket according to the comparative example. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing the structure around the anchor bracket of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a plan view showing the structure around the anchor bracket of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a front view showing the structure around the anchor bracket of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] <The First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the vehicle seat 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of easy viewing of the drawings. Also, the arrows FR, LH, RH, and UP appropriately shown in each figure indicate the front, left, right, and upper directions of the vehicle seat 10, respectively. Hereinafter, when simply using the directions of front, rear, left, right, up, and down for explanation, it shall indicate the directions with respect to the vehicle seat 10.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment includes a seat body 12 on which an occupant (not shown) of the vehicle sits, a pair of left and right slide rails 20 that connect the seat body 12 to the floor portion F of the vehicle body so as to be slidable, and an anchor bracket 30 attached to one (here, the right side) of the slide rails 20. A buckle 26 that constitutes a part of the seat belt device is attached to the anchor bracket 30. This vehicle seat 10 is, for example, a front seat of the vehicle and is arranged on the left side of the passenger compartment. When this vehicle seat 10 is arranged on the right side of the passenger compartment, the configuration is symmetrical with the present embodiment about the left - right axis.

[0020] The seat body 12 includes a seat cushion 14 that supports the occupant's buttocks and thighs, a seat back 16 that supports the occupant's back, and a headrest 18 that supports the occupant's head. The left and right slide rails 20 are located below the left and right sides of the seat cushion 14. The left and right slide rails 20 include a lower rail 22 fixed to the floor F of the vehicle body and an upper rail 24 that is slidably connected to the lower rail 22. The lower rail 22 and the upper rail 24 are elongated with their longitudinal side in the front-rear direction, and the upper rail 24 is slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the lower rail 22. The seat cushion 14 is connected to this upper rail 24 via a well-known lifter mechanism (not shown).

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the anchor bracket 30 is made of, for example, a press-formed metal plate and has a long, rectangular shape with its longitudinal side in the front-to-back direction. This anchor bracket 30 has a lower wall portion 30A fixed to the upper rear surface of the upper rail 24 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "upper rail 24") of the right-side slide rail 20, an inner wall portion 30B extending upward from the left end of the lower wall portion 30A (the end on the inside in the sheet width direction), and an outer wall portion 30C extending upward from the right end of the lower wall portion 30A (the end on the outside in the sheet width direction), and has a roughly U-shape (roughly U-shape) that opens upward when viewed in the front-to-back direction. As shown in Figure 5, bent R portions 30D and 30E are provided between the lower wall portion 30A and the inner wall portion 30B, and between the lower wall portion 30A and the outer wall portion 30C, respectively.

[0022] The lower wall portion 30A is a rectangular plate with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction and its thickness direction in the up-to-down direction, and is superimposed on the upper surface of the rear of the upper rail 24. As shown in Figure 4, the lower wall portion 30A is offset to the right (outward in the sheet width direction) relative to the upper rail 24. The lower wall portion 30A is fastened and fixed to the upper rail 24 by two bolts 32 and 34 that pass through the upper rail 24 and the lower wall portion 30A, and two nuts 36 and 38 that are screwed onto these bolts 32 and 34. The front bolt 32 and nut 36 fix the lower wall portion 30A to the upper rail 24 in a position slightly forward of the center in the front-to-back direction, while the rear bolt 34 and nut 38 fix the rear of the lower wall portion 30A to the upper rail 24. As a result, the lower wall portion 30A is fixed to the upper rail 24 at multiple (in this case, two) fixed points (fastening points) that are spaced apart in the front-rear direction.

[0023] The inner wall portion 30B is plate-shaped with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction and its thickness direction in the up-to-down direction. The inner wall portion 30B is roughly triangular in a left-to-right view, and its projection height from the lower wall portion 30A is highest at the center in the front-to-back direction. The outer wall portion 30C is plate-shaped with its longitudinal direction in the front-to-back direction and its thickness direction in the up-to-down direction. The outer wall portion 30C is roughly triangular in a left-to-right view, and its projection height from the lower wall portion 30A is highest at the rear. The rear of the outer wall portion 30C protrudes upward from the center of the inner wall portion 30B in the front-to-back direction.

[0024] A stepped bolt 40 for connecting the buckle 26 is fixed to the upper rear part of the outer wall portion 30C. The stepped bolt 40 is positioned with its axis in the left-right direction, penetrates the outer wall portion in the left-right direction, and protrudes to the right side of the outer wall portion 30C. As shown in Figure 1, the buckle 26 has a buckle body 26A to which a seat belt tongue plate (not shown) is connected, and a stay 26B extending diagonally downward and rearward from the buckle body 26A. The stay 26B is plate-shaped with its thickness in the left-right direction. The stepped bolt 40 passes through the lower end of the stay 26B, and the stay 26B is rotatably connected to the outer wall portion 30C by screwing a nut (not shown) onto the stepped bolt 40. A stopper portion 30G bent to the right is provided at the rear of the outer wall portion 30C. This stopper portion 30G limits the range of rotation of the stay 26B relative to the outer wall portion 30C to a certain range.

[0025] The lower wall portion 30A is provided with a cut-up portion 30F, which is formed by cutting and bending a part of the lower wall portion 30A upward. The cut-up portion 30F is located between two fixing points fixed to the upper rail 24 on the lower wall portion 30A, that is, between the front bolt 32 and nut 36 and the rear bolt 34 and nut 38. The cut-up portion 30F is located slightly rearward from the front-rear center of the anchor bracket 30. This cut-up portion 30F is located near the front side of the stepped bolt 40 provided at the rear of the outer wall portion 30C. On the front side of the cut-up portion 30F on the lower wall portion 30A, there is an opening 31 formed when the cut-up portion 30F was formed.

[0026] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the upper part of the cut-out section 30F is wider in the left-right direction (sheet width direction) than the lower part of the cut-out section 30F, and the cut-out section 30F is roughly T-shaped when viewed in the front-to-back direction. The opening 31 formed in the lower wall section 30A due to the formation of the cut-out section 30F is roughly T-shaped when viewed in the up-down direction, and the front part of the opening 31 is wider in the left-right direction than the rear part of the opening 31. The vertical dimension of the cut-out section 30F is set to be slightly smaller than the vertical dimension of the inner wall section 30B, and is set to be about half the vertical dimension of the outer wall section 30C.

[0027] The width dimension of the upper part of the cut-out section 30F in the left-right direction is set to be the same as the left-right dimension between the inner wall section 30B and the outer wall section 30C, and the width dimension of the lower part of the cut-out section 30F is set to be smaller than the left-right dimension between the inner wall section 30B and the outer wall section 30C. The upper left end of the cut-out section 30F is in contact with the right side of the inner wall section 30B and is joined to the inner wall section 30B by means of arc welding, laser welding, etc. The upper right end of the cut-out section 30F is in contact with the left side of the outer wall section 30C and is joined to the outer wall section 30C by means of arc welding, laser welding, etc.

[0028] In the vehicle seat 10 with the above configuration, the seat body 12 on which the occupant sits is connected to the floor F of the vehicle body via left and right slide rails 20. The lower wall portion of an anchor bracket is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail 24 of the right slide rail 20. In this anchor bracket 30, the lower wall portion 30A is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail 24. An inner wall portion 30B extends upward from the left end of the lower wall portion 30A, and an outer wall portion 30C extends upward from the right end of the lower wall portion 30A. A seat belt buckle 26 is connected to the rear of the outer wall portion 30C.

[0029] A cut-up portion 30F is provided in the lower wall portion 30A. The cut-up portion 30F is formed by cutting and bending a part of the lower wall portion 30A upward and is joined to the outer wall portion 30C. This prevents the outer wall portion 30C from tilting inward toward the inner wall portion 30B (inward in the seat width direction) when an excessive load applied to the seat belt during a frontal collision of the vehicle acts on the outer wall portion 30C via the buckle 26, without adding beads or patches to the anchor bracket 30.

[0030] Furthermore, in this anchor bracket 30, the cut-out portion 30F is also joined to the inner wall portion 30B. As a result, the excessive load applied to the outer wall portion 30C during a frontal collision of a vehicle is distributed to the inner wall portion 30B via the cut-out portion 30F, thereby more effectively suppressing the inward tilting of the outer wall portion 30C.

[0031] Furthermore, in this anchor bracket 30, multiple (two in this case) fixing points (fastening points) spaced apart in the front-rear direction on the lower wall are fixed to the upper rail 24 by front and rear bolts 32, 34 and front and rear nuts 36, 38, and the cut-out portion 30F is positioned between the two fastening points. The space between the two fastening points is easy to secure and does not require much rigidity, making it suitable for providing the cut-out portion 30F. Moreover, because the cut-out portion 30F is positioned between the two fastening points, the cut-out portion 30F is positioned near the front side of the stepped bolt 40 (i.e., the connecting portion of the buckle 26) provided at the rear of the outer wall portion 30C, so that the inward tilting of the outer wall portion 30C can be effectively suppressed.

[0032] The effects described above will be further explained using comparative examples shown in Figures 9 and 10. The anchor bracket 30' in this comparative example has the same configuration as the anchor bracket 30 according to this embodiment, except that it does not have a cut-out portion 30F. In this anchor bracket 30', the space for adding beads or patches to prevent the outer wall portion 30C from tilting inward is limited to the spaces labeled A1 and A2 in Figure 9. In this anchor bracket 30', when an excessive load applied to the seat belt during a frontal collision of a vehicle acts on the outer wall portion 30C via the buckle 26 (not shown in Figures 9 and 10), the outer wall portion 30C tilts significantly inward toward the inner wall portion 30B (see arrow FD in Figure 10).

[0033] Furthermore, in the above comparative example, in order to set a bead to prevent the outer wall portion 30C from tilting inward, it is necessary to increase the length dimension of the anchor bracket 30' in the longitudinal direction of the slide rail 20. Also, due to the limitations on the height of the bead from the formability of the pressing process, it is difficult to effectively prevent the outer wall portion 30C from tilting inward. In addition, in the above comparative example, if a patch is added to prevent the outer wall portion 30C from tilting inward, the number of parts, mass, and manufacturing cost will increase, worsening the ease of manufacturing (convenience for workers).

[0034] In contrast, in this embodiment, the space between the two fastening points of the anchor bracket 30 and the upper rail 24 is effectively utilized, and the inward tilting of the outer wall portion 30C is prevented by the cut-out portion 30F, thereby suppressing the displacement of the buckle 26 in the front, rear, left, right, up, and down directions during a frontal collision of the vehicle. As a result, it becomes possible to ensure good occupant restraint performance of the seat belt device.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper part of the cut-out portion 30F is formed to be wider in the left-right direction (sheet width direction) than the lower part of the cut-out portion 30F, and the upper part of the cut-out portion 30F is joined to the inner wall portion 30B and the outer wall portion 30C. As a result, for example, the bent R portions 30D and 30E between the inner wall portion 30B and the outer wall portion 30C and the lower wall portion 30A will not affect the joining of the inner wall portion 30B and the outer wall portion 30C and the cut-out portion 30F, thus making it easier to manufacture the anchor bracket 30.

[0036] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 13. Note that components and operations that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0037] As shown in Figures 11 to 13, in the anchor bracket 30 according to the second embodiment, the inner wall portion 30B is omitted, and the cut-out portion 30F is joined only to the outer wall portion 30C. The cut-out portion 30F and the opening 31 are positioned offset to the right side of the anchor bracket 30.

[0038] In this embodiment, the configuration other than that described above is the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment as well, since the cut-out portion 30F is joined to the outer wall portion 30C, when an excessive load acts on the outer wall portion 30C during a frontal collision of a vehicle, the inward tilting of the outer wall portion 30C can be suppressed without adding beads or patches to the anchor bracket 30.

[0039] In the above embodiments, the anchor bracket 30 is provided with only one cut-out portion 30F, but the configuration is not limited to this, and the anchor bracket 30 may be provided with multiple cut-out portions 30F. Increasing the number of cut-out portions 30F can improve rigidity.

[0040] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the anchor bracket 30 is provided with a cut-out portion 30F, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a resin component having a grid-like rib may be attached between the inner wall portion 30B and the outer wall portion 30C to reinforce the outer wall portion 30C. In that case, the resin component will be fixed to the anchor bracket 30 by means such as a claw fitting.

[0041] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from its essence. Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 10 Vehicle seats 12-seat main unit 20 slide rails 22 Lower Rail 24 Upper Rail 26 Buckles 30 Anchor Brackets 30A Lower wall part 30B Inner wall 30C External wall part 30F incision part F Floor

Claims

1. The lower wall portion is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail of the vehicle seat slide rail, An outer wall portion extending upward from the outer end of the lower wall portion in the width direction of the seat, to which the seat belt buckle is connected, A portion of the lower wall is cut and raised towards the upper side of the sheet, and the raised portion is joined to the outer wall, An anchor bracket equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The lower wall portion includes an inner wall portion extending upward from the inner end in the sheet width direction, The anchor bracket according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion is joined to the inner wall portion.

3. The lower wall portion is fixed to the upper rail at multiple fixed points spaced apart in the front-rear direction of the sheet. The anchor bracket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cut-out portion is arranged between the fixing points of the lower wall portion to the upper rail.

4. The anchor bracket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper part of the cut-out portion is wider in the sheet width direction than the lower part, and the upper part is joined to the outer wall portion.

5. The seat itself in which the vehicle's occupants sit, An upper rail is slidably connected to a lower rail fixed to the floor of the vehicle body, and the seat body is connected to the upper rail as a slide rail, An anchor bracket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lower wall portion is fixed to the upper surface of the upper rail, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

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