Vehicle seats

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle seat that ensures seating comfort regardless of the weight of the occupant, while keeping weight increase to a minimum. [Solution] The vehicle seat 10 comprises a pair of first seat cushion springs 22 installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame 12 on the outer side in the seat width direction, a second seat cushion spring 24 installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame 12 on the central side in the seat width direction and being more elastically deformable than the first seat cushion springs 22, and a third seat cushion spring 26 extending in the seat width direction and installed between the pair of first seat cushion springs 22, and capable of supporting the second seat cushion spring 24 which has elastically deformed toward the seat downwards from the seat downwards.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle seat provided with a cushion support member provided on a cushion frame for supporting a cushion material of a seat cushion, and a cushion spring provided on the cushion frame and having an intersection portion that intersects in an X shape when viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and supporting the cushion support member from below the vehicle with an elastic force generated by elastic deformation of the intersection portion, and a regulating spring that is locked to the cushion spring from above the vehicle and regulates the spring constant at the intersection portion of the cushion spring and supports the cushion support member from below the vehicle has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above configuration, when a passenger with a light weight sits down, the cushion material and the cushion support member are elastically supported by the support portion and the intersection portion of the cushion spring, and when a passenger with a heavy weight sits down, the cushion material and the cushion support member are elastically supported by the support portion, the intersection portion, and the regulating spring of the cushion spring. That is, according to the above configuration, a comfortable sitting feeling is ensured regardless of the weight of the sitting passenger. However, in the above configuration, the number of parts increases and the weight of the vehicle seat increases.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle seat that can ensure a comfortable sitting feeling regardless of the weight of the sitting passenger while suppressing an increase in weight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises: a pair of first seat cushion springs installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the outer side in the seat width direction; a second seat cushion spring installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the central side in the seat width direction and being more elastically deformable than the first seat cushion springs; and a third seat cushion spring extending in the seat width direction and installed between the pair of first seat cushion springs, capable of supporting the second seat cushion springs, which have been elastically deformed toward the seat, from the seat-down side.

[0007] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a pair of first seat cushion springs are installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the outer side in the seat width direction, and a second seat cushion spring, which is more elastically deformable than the first seat cushion springs, is installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the central side in the seat width direction. A third seat cushion spring extending in the seat width direction is installed between the pair of first seat cushion springs, and is capable of supporting the second seat cushion spring, which is elastically deformed toward the lower side of the seat, from below the seat.

[0008] Therefore, when a light-weight occupant sits down, they are elastically supported by the second and third seat cushion springs, and when a heavy-weight occupant sits down, they are elastically supported by the first seat cushion spring in addition to the second and third seat cushion springs. In other words, according to the present invention, it is only necessary to provide first and second seat cushion springs with different elastic forces and a third seat cushion spring installed between a pair of first seat cushion springs, thus ensuring seating comfort regardless of the weight of the occupant while suppressing an increase in weight compared to the prior art.

[0009] Furthermore, a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment, wherein, in a side view, the second seat cushion spring is located above the seat compared to the first seat cushion spring.

[0010] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the second seat cushion spring is located higher up on the seat than the first seat cushion spring. Therefore, it is possible to support lighter occupants more effectively than when the second seat cushion spring and the first seat cushion spring are located at the same height.

[0011] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention is a vehicle seat according to the first or second embodiment, wherein a leaf spring is installed between the second seat cushion spring and the third seat cushion spring, and the leaf spring contacts the second seat cushion spring when the second seat cushion spring is elastically deformed downwards from the seat.

[0012] According to the third embodiment of the invention, a leaf spring is installed between the second seat cushion spring and the third seat cushion spring, which contacts the second seat cushion spring when it elastically deforms downwards toward the seat. Therefore, it becomes possible to support lighter occupants more appropriately than when the leaf spring is not provided.

[0013] In this invention, "a pair" means that there are two first seat cushion springs installed between the front and rear parts of the seat cushion frame. Therefore, even if there are two independent first seat cushion springs, or even if there is a single first seat cushion spring with its rear end integrally connected to form a roughly "U" shape in plan view, the number of first seat cushion springs installed between the front and rear parts of the seat cushion frame remains two, and thus it is included in "a pair". [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to ensure seating comfort regardless of the weight of the seated occupant while suppressing an increase in weight. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the seat cushion spring of a vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a schematic side view showing the state of the seat cushion spring in a vehicle seat according to this embodiment before an occupant is seated. [Figure 4] This is a schematic side view showing the state of the seat cushion spring after a light-weight occupant has sat on the vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic side view showing the state of the seat cushion spring after a heavy occupant has sat on the vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. For the sake of explanation, in each figure, the arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle seat, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle seat, and the arrow LH indicates the left direction of the vehicle seat. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right refer to the up and down, front and back, and left and right directions of the vehicle seat. The left and right direction is synonymous with the seat width direction.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment has a seat cushion frame 12 provided inside a seat cushion (not shown). The seat cushion frame 12 includes a pair of left and right metal side frames (not shown), a metal cylindrical front rod 14 installed at the front end of the side frame (the front part of the seat cushion frame 12) with the seat width direction as the axial direction, and a metal cylindrical rear rod 16 installed at the rear end of the side frame (the rear part of the seat cushion frame 12) with the seat width direction as the axial direction.

[0018] Between the front rod 14 and the rear rod 16, a metal seat cushion spring 20 is installed to support a cushion pad (not shown) that constitutes the seat cushion together with the seat cushion frame 12 from below. The seat cushion spring 20 is composed of two sets (a plurality of sets) of spring steel wires that are integrally connected at the rear end and bent leftward or rightward at a plurality of positions in the middle in a plan view, forming a substantially "U" shape.

[0019] Specifically, the seat cushion spring 20 includes a pair of left and right first seat cushion springs 22 arranged on the outer side in the seat width direction, and a pair of left and right second seat cushion springs 24 arranged on the central side in the seat width direction. The second seat cushion spring 24 is configured to be more easily elastically deformed than the first seat cushion spring 22.

[0020] For example, the outer diameter of the second seat cushion spring 24 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first seat cushion spring 22 by a predetermined amount, and the spring constant of the second seat cushion spring 24 is lower than the spring constant of the first seat cushion spring 22 by a predetermined amount. The configuration for making the second seat cushion spring 24 more easily elastically deformed than the first seat cushion spring 22 is not limited to this.

[0021] Also, between the first seat cushion springs 22 and below the second seat cushion spring 24, a third seat cushion spring 26 that extends straight in the seat width direction is installed. The third seat cushion springs 26 are installed in a pair in the front and rear directions at predetermined positions on the rear side and the front side rather than the center in the front-rear direction of the first seat cushion spring 22, and are composed of spring steel wires like the first seat cushion spring 22 and the second seat cushion spring 24.

[0022] And the third seat cushion spring 26 is configured to be less likely to elastically deform than the second seat cushion spring 24. For example, the outer diameter of the third seat cushion spring 26 is made equivalent to the outer diameter of the first seat cushion spring 22, etc., and the spring constant of the third seat cushion spring 26 is made equivalent to the spring constant of the first seat cushion spring 22. This third seat cushion spring 26 functions as a stabilizer for suppressing roll, and can support the second seat cushion spring 24 that has elastically deformed downward by the seated occupant from below.

[0023] In the following, the rear side of the rear third seat cushion spring 26 is defined as the rear portion R in the first seat cushion spring 22 and the second seat cushion spring 24. And the front side of the front third seat cushion spring 26 is defined as the front portion F in the first seat cushion spring 22 and the second seat cushion spring 24. Also, the space between the third seat cushion springs 26 is defined as the center portion C in the first seat cushion spring 22 and the second seat cushion spring 24.

[0024] In side view, the first seat cushion spring 22 in the rear portion R extends inclined downward to the front, the first seat cushion spring 22 in the center portion C extends substantially horizontally, and the first seat cushion spring 22 in the front portion F extends inclined upward to the front (see FIG. 3). Also, at least the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center portion C is located above the first seat cushion spring 22, the third seat cushion spring 26, and the leaf spring 28 described later.

[0025] The first seat cushion spring 22 in the rear section R is bent such that the spacing along the seat width direction is larger at the rear and smaller at the front, and the second seat cushion spring 24 in the rear section R is bent such that the spacing along the seat width direction is smaller at the rear and larger at the front.

[0026] The rear end 22B of the first seat cushion spring 22 is integrally connected by a connecting portion 22C that extends in the seat width direction and is attached to the rear rod 16 by being locked from above. The rear end 24B of the second seat cushion spring 24 is also integrally connected by a connecting portion 24C that extends in the seat width direction and is attached to the rear rod 16 by being locked from above.

[0027] In the center section C, the first seat cushion springs 22 are bent such that the spacing along the seat width direction is larger at the rear and smaller at the front, and the spacing at the rear of the first seat cushion springs 22 in the center section C is larger than the spacing at the front of the first seat cushion springs 22 in the rear section R.

[0028] In other words, the portion of the first seat cushion spring 22 in the rear section R that is bent at approximately a right angle in a direction away from each other and extends in the seat width direction is the rear end of the first seat cushion spring 22 in the center section C. The ends of the rear third seat cushion spring 26 are then placed on the upper surface of the rear end that extends in the seat width direction and are integrally connected by a resin connecting member 18.

[0029] Furthermore, the front ends of the first seat cushion springs 22 in the center section C are also bent at approximately right angles in directions that separate them from each other and extend in the seat width direction. The ends of the front third seat cushion springs 26 are placed on the upper surface of these front ends that extend in the seat width direction and are integrally connected by a resin connecting member 17.

[0030] On the other hand, the second seat cushion springs 24 in the center section C are bent such that the spacing along the seat width direction is smaller at the rear and larger at the front, and the spacing of the second seat cushion springs 24 at the rear in the center section C is smaller than the spacing of the second seat cushion springs 24 at the front in the rear section R.

[0031] In other words, the portion of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the rear section R that is bent at approximately a right angle from the front end in a direction approaching each other and extends in the seat width direction is the rear end of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center section C. The rear third seat cushion spring 26 is positioned below this rear end that extends in the seat width direction.

[0032] Furthermore, the front end of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center section C is also bent at approximately a right angle toward the direction toward the other and extends in the seat width direction, and the front third seat cushion spring 26 is positioned below the front end that extends in the seat width direction.

[0033] The first seat cushion spring 22 in the front section F, including the front end of the first seat cushion spring 22 in the center section C, is bent in a roughly "S" shape or a roughly "S" shape with the front and back reversed when viewed from above. The front end 22A of the first seat cushion spring 22 in the front section F is attached to the front rod 14 by being locked from above.

[0034] The second seat cushion spring 24 in the front section F, including the front end of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center section C, is bent in a roughly "S" shape or a roughly "S" shape with the front and back reversed when viewed from above. The front end 24A of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the front section F is attached to the front rod 14 by being locked from above.

[0035] Furthermore, in the center section C, between the second seat cushion spring 24 and the third seat cushion spring 26, there are leaf springs 28 and 30, which are roughly rectangular in shape when viewed from above, and which come into contact with the second seat cushion spring 24 when it is elastically deformed downward by a seated occupant.

[0036] To explain in more detail, a resin first support member 32 is provided at the center of the rear third seat cushion spring 26 in the seat width direction, and a resin second support member 34 is provided at the rear side of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center section C. A leaf spring 28 is installed between the first support member 32 and the second support member 34.

[0037] Furthermore, a third resin support member 36 is provided outside the seat width direction of the center of the front third seat cushion spring 26 in the seat width direction, and inside the seat width direction of the connecting member 17, and a fourth resin support member 38 is provided on the front side of the second seat cushion spring 24 in the center section C. A leaf spring 30 is installed between the third support member 36 and the fourth support member 38 on the left side, and between the third support member 36 and the fourth support member 38 on the right side.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, the left and right third support members 36 are formed by insert molding, thereby integrally connecting the third seat cushion spring 26 and the front end of the leaf spring 30, and the left and right fourth support members 38 are formed by insert molding, thereby integrally connecting the second seat cushion spring 24 and the rear end of the leaf spring 30.

[0039] Similarly, the first support member 32 is formed by insert molding to integrally connect the third seat cushion spring 26 and the rear end of the leaf spring 28, and the second support member 34 is formed by insert molding to integrally connect the second seat cushion spring 24 and the front end of the leaf spring 28. Furthermore, the connecting members 17 and 18 described above are also formed by insert molding to integrally connect the first seat cushion spring 22 and the third seat cushion spring 26.

[0040] The vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment, which has the configuration described above, will now be explained in terms of its operation. In Figures 3 to 5, three dashed lines K are drawn to show a comparison of the differences in the amount of elastic deformation of the first seat cushion spring 22, the second seat cushion spring 24, the leaf spring 28, and the leaf spring 30 due to seated occupants with different weights.

[0041] As described above, the first seat cushion spring 22 is installed between the front rod 14 and the rear rod 16 on the outer side in the seat width direction, and the second seat cushion spring 24, which is more elastically deformable than the first seat cushion spring 22, is installed between the front rod 14 and the rear rod 16 on the central side in the seat width direction. Furthermore, the third seat cushion spring 26, which extends in the seat width direction, is installed between the first seat cushion springs 22, and is capable of supporting the second seat cushion spring 24 from below when it is elastically deformed downward by the seated occupant.

[0042] Therefore, when a light occupant is seated, they are elastically supported by the soft (low spring constant) second seat cushion spring 24 and further by the third seat cushion spring 26, as shown in Figure 4. When a heavy occupant is seated, they are elastically supported by the second seat cushion spring 24 and the third seat cushion spring 26, as well as the hard (high spring constant) first seat cushion spring 22, as shown in Figure 5.

[0043] In other words, according to this embodiment, the seat cushion frame 12 only needs to be equipped with first seat cushion springs 22 and second seat cushion springs 24 with different shapes and elastic forces (spring constants), and a third seat cushion spring 26 installed between the left and right first seat cushion springs 22. Therefore, compared to the conventional technology, it is possible to ensure and improve seating comfort regardless of the weight of the seated occupant while suppressing an increase in weight.

[0044] Furthermore, since the soft second seat cushion spring 24 is located above the hard first seat cushion spring 22, it can support the occupant before the first seat cushion spring 22 compared to when the second seat cushion spring 24 and the first seat cushion spring 22 are positioned at the same height, thus providing more appropriate support for lighter occupants.

[0045] Furthermore, leaf springs 28 and 30 are installed between the second seat cushion spring 24 and the third seat cushion spring 26, which come into contact with the second seat cushion spring 24 when it elastically deforms downward. Therefore, compared to a configuration where the leaf springs 28 and 30 are not provided, lighter occupants can be supported more appropriately by the second seat cushion spring 24 and the third seat cushion spring 26.

[0046] Furthermore, since the leaf springs 28 and 30 only connect the second seat cushion spring 24 and the third seat cushion spring 26 in the center section C, their size is small. Therefore, even with the addition of the leaf springs 28 and 30, the ability to maintain and improve seating comfort regardless of the weight of the seated occupant remains unchanged compared to conventional technology, while keeping the weight increase to a minimum.

[0047] The vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings, but the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one, and can be appropriately modified in design without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the first seat cushion spring 22 and the second seat cushion spring 24 are not limited to being formed in a substantially "U" shape in plan view, with their rear ends integrally connected and their front ends open, but may be provided independently (without their rear ends integrally connected).

[0048] In either case, the number of first seat cushion springs 22 and second seat cushion springs 24 installed between the front rod 14 and the rear rod 16 remains two each, so it can be said that the first seat cushion springs 22 and second seat cushion springs 24 are provided in pairs. In other words, in this embodiment, "pair" means that the number of first seat cushion springs 22 and second seat cushion springs 24 installed between the front rod 14 and the rear rod 16 is two each.

[0049] Furthermore, the third seat cushion spring 26 is not limited to being connected to the first seat cushion spring 22 by connecting members 17 and 18 formed by insert molding, but may also be joined by welding or adhesive, or by a resin clip (not shown) with a substantially "C" shaped cross-section. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 10 Vehicle seats 12 Seat Cushion Frame 22. First seat cushion spring 24. Second seat cushion spring 26. Third seat cushion spring 28 Leaf springs 30 leaf springs

Claims

1. A pair of first seat cushion springs are installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the outer side in the seat width direction, A second seat cushion spring is installed between the front and rear of the seat cushion frame on the center side in the width direction of the seat, and is more elastically deformable than the first seat cushion spring. A third seat cushion spring extends in the seat width direction and is installed between the pair of first seat cushion springs, and is capable of supporting the second seat cushion spring, which is elastically deformed toward the seat, from the seat-down side, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein, in a side view, the second seat cushion spring is located above the seat compared to the first seat cushion spring.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a leaf spring is installed between the second seat cushion spring and the third seat cushion spring, and the leaf spring contacts the second seat cushion spring when the second seat cushion spring elastically deforms downward toward the seat.

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