Vehicle seats

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle seat that can efficiently transmit desired vibrations from the seat back to the upper body of an occupant seated on the seat cushion. [Solution] When the vibration unit inside the seat back is activated while the occupant's upper body is supported by the seat back while seated on the seat cushion, the vibrations generated by the vibration unit are directly transmitted to the entire pressure receiving member 30 and efficiently transmitted from the pressure receiving member 30 to the occupant's upper body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat such as a vehicle seat having at least a seat cushion and a seat back, and more particularly to a vehicle seat capable of transmitting vibration to an occupant sitting on the seat cushion.

Background Art

[0002] As a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back, a vehicle seat in which a vibrator for applying massage vibration to an occupant sitting on the seat cushion is built in the seat back has been generally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Here, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, upper and lower reinforcing frames are spanned left and right with respect to a seat back frame constituting the skeleton of the seat back, and a frame body is attached to these upper and lower reinforcing frames with clips or the like, and a vibrator is held on this frame body via a spring member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, although the frame body supports the occupant, since the vibrator (vibration unit) is held on the frame body via a spring member, the vibration of the vibrator may be absorbed by the spring member before being transmitted to the frame body, and there is a concern that the vibration transmission effect on the occupant is low. In addition, there is a problem that the number of parts increases by using a dedicated spring member for attaching the vibrator to the frame body.

[0006] Furthermore, if the vibration unit interferes with surrounding components, it may generate abnormal noises or cause discomfort to the occupants. Therefore, it is desirable to design the vibration unit to minimize interference with surrounding components.

[0007] This invention has been made in view of the above-described technical background, and aims to provide a vehicle seat that can efficiently transmit desired vibrations to an occupant seated on the seat cushion, and in which the vibration unit is less likely to interfere with surrounding members and the number of parts can be reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention, which solves the aforementioned problems, is a vehicle seat comprising at least a seat cushion and a seat back, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a frame constituting a skeleton, a pressure-receiving member disposed inside the frame to support the occupant, a support wire elastically supporting the pressure-receiving member on the frame, and a covering member covering the frame and the pressure-receiving member, wherein the pressure-receiving member comprises a bulging bead, and a vibration unit is attached to the pressure-receiving member in a state overlapping the bead.

[0009] In the vehicle seat according to the present invention, a vibration unit is attached to a pressure-receiving member that receives sufficient pressure from the occupant, and is configured to receive the load from the occupant and cause the occupant to sink into the vehicle seat. Therefore, when the vibration unit is activated while the occupant is seated on the seat cushion and supported by the pressure-receiving member, the vibrations generated by the vibration unit are directly transmitted to the entire pressure-receiving member that receives the load from the occupant, and are efficiently transmitted from the pressure-receiving member to the occupant via the covering member. Furthermore, since a spring member is not required to attach the vibration unit to the pressure-receiving member, the number of parts can be reduced. The covering members of the present invention include cushion pads, surface coverings provided on the outside of cushion pads, and back covers that cover the back side of the seat.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the bead may have a transverse bead extending along the left-right direction and a vertical bead extending in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and the vertical bead and the transverse bead may be continuous.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the bead may bulge outwards from the occupant.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the vibration unit may include a motor and an eccentric weight, and the rotation axis of the motor may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vertical bead.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the vibration unit may include a motor and an eccentric weight, and the rotation axis of the motor may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the transverse bead.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the vehicle seat includes a plurality of mounting members for attaching the vibration unit to the pressure-receiving member, and the plurality of mounting members may be arranged on one side and the other side with respect to the bead. Furthermore, in the above-described configuration, the frame may be a seat back frame, the vibration unit and the support wire may be arranged on the rear side of the pressure-receiving member, the support wire may have a recess that is bent downwards, and the vibration unit may be arranged above the recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] In this invention, when the vibration unit is activated with an occupant seated on the seat cushion and supported by the pressure-receiving member, the vibrations generated by the vibration unit are directly transmitted to the entire pressure-receiving member and efficiently transmitted from the pressure-receiving member to the occupant via the covering member. Therefore, according to this invention, the desired vibrations generated by the vibration unit can be efficiently transmitted to the occupant seated on the seat cushion. Furthermore, since a spring member for attaching the vibration unit to the pressure-receiving member is not required, the number of parts can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a vehicle seat showing an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front-side perspective view of a seat cushion frame and a seat back frame incorporated in the vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the seat back frame shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a front-side perspective view of the pressure-receiving member shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a rear-side perspective view of the pressure-receiving member shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view seen from the front side of the pressure-receiving member and the second cover member shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged perspective view of the vibration unit shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] As a modification of the vehicle seat of one embodiment, it is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a vibration unit and a first cover member attached vertically to the back surface of the pressure-receiving member as seen from the left side. [Figure 9] It is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vibration unit and the first cover member shown in FIG. 8 as seen from the right side. [Figure 10] As another modification of the vehicle seat of one embodiment, it is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a vibration unit and a first cover member attached horizontally to the back surface of the pressure-receiving member as seen from the right side.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The vehicle seat according to one embodiment is configured as a vehicle seat S disposed in the driver's seat of an automobile, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. This vehicle seat S includes a seat cushion S1, a seat back S2, and a headrest S3, where the seat cushion is covered with a skin such as synthetic leather or fabric, and the seat cushion is made of a cushion material such as urethane foam. Here, the cushion pad, the skin, and the back cover that covers the back surface of the vehicle seat S among the skins are examples of covering members. In the following description, the front-rear and left-right directions are assumed to be the directions as viewed from the occupant when the occupant is seated on the seat cushion S1.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat cushion S1 incorporates a seat cushion frame F1 that constitutes its skeleton, and the seat back S2 incorporates a seat back frame F2 that constitutes its skeleton. Although not shown in the figure, the headrest S3 also incorporates a headrest frame that constitutes its skeleton.

[0019] The seat cushion frame F1 is press-formed into a substantially U-shaped profile with an open rear portion in plan view and has a plate-shaped front frame 11 at the front. The rear portions between the cushion side frames 12, 12 extending rearward from the left and right portions of the front frame 11 are connected to each other left and right via a rear connecting pipe 13. And between this rear connecting pipe 13 and the front frame 11, four seat cushion springs 14 are stretched side by side left and right. Such a seat cushion frame F1 is provided on the floor of the driver's seat so as to be position-adjustable in the front-rear direction via a slide rail SL.

[0020] On the other hand, the seat back frame F2 has an upper pipe frame 21 formed by bending a pipe material into an inverted U-shape with the lower part open when viewed from the front, left and right back side frames 22, 22 which are connected by welding while enclosing the lower left and right sides of the upper pipe frame 21, and a lower frame 23 which connects the lower ends of the back side frames 22, 22, and these are framed in a vertically elongated rectangle. The lower part of this seat back frame F2 is rotatably connected to the rear ends of the left and right cushion side frames 12, 12 of the seat cushion frame F1 via a reclining unit RU, so that the seat back frame F2 can tilt forward and backward.

[0021] A pair of left and right support brackets 24, 24 are welded to the upper horizontal portion of the upper pipe frame 21 of the seat back frame F2 for attaching a pair of left and right headrest stays (not shown in the reference numerals) that protrude from the bottom of the headrest S3 shown in Figure 1. In addition, a reinforcing member 25 is installed above the pressure receiving member 30 between the upper parts of the left and right vertical portions of the upper frame 21. This reinforcing member 25 is made by bending a rod into a symmetrical shape that is almost perfectly aligned with the plane of the seat back frame F2.

[0022] Here, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pressure-receiving member 30 is positioned inside the frame-shaped seat back frame F2 to elastically support the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat cushion S1 so that it can move backward. To elastically support this pressure-receiving member 30 in the front-rear direction, an upper support wire 26 is stretched between the lower parts of the left and right vertical portions of the upper frame 21, and a lower support wire 27 is stretched between the left and right backside frames 22, 22. These upper support wires 26 and lower support wires 27 are linear members made by bending a wire such as piano wire, which has spring elasticity, into a symmetrical shape that is substantially aligned with the plane of the seat back frame F2. Here, it is desirable to curve the upper support wire 26 or the lower support wire 27 away from the vibration unit 50, as this improves the ease of installation of the upper support wire 26, the lower support wire 27, or the vibration unit 50.

[0023] The upper support wire 26 is bent downwards at both its left and right ends so as to follow the left and right vertical portions of the upper frame 21. The left and right ends of the upper support wire 26 are then connected and supported to the left and right vertical portions of the upper frame 21, encased in support tongues 28, 28 which are welded and fixed to the left and right vertical portions of the upper frame 21, respectively. The upper support wire 26 is bent in a V-shape vertically such that the middle portion supporting the pressure receiving member 30 is lower than the ends supported by the left and right support tongues 28, 28, and the central support portion 26B is higher than the support portions 26A, 26A on both sides of the middle portion.

[0024] The left and right ends of the lower support wire 27 are connected to toggle support mechanisms (shown only on the right side in Figure 2) 40 installed on the inner surfaces of the left and right backside frames 22, 22, respectively. The lower support wire 27 is bent in a V-shape vertically such that the middle section supporting the pressure receiving member 30 is lower than the ends connected to the toggle support mechanisms 40, and the central support section 27B is lower than the support sections 27A, 27A on both sides of the middle section.

[0025] The toggle support mechanism 40 is equipped with a swing link member that can swing backward over a point of uncertainty (a point in the mechanism where it is not determined which direction to move) while resisting the tension of the tension coil spring, and both ends of the lower support wire 27 are connected to this swing link member. Here, the tension of the tension coil spring of the toggle support mechanism 40 is set to an appropriate tension such that the swing link member can swing backward over the point of uncertainty when a backward movement load of a predetermined value or more is applied to both ends of the lower support wire 27.

[0026] Here, the pressure-receiving member 30 is a resin plate member that elastically supports the upper body of an occupant seated on the seat cushion S1 so that it can move backward. For example, it is molded into a shape as shown in Figures 4 and 5, that is, a roughly pentagonal shape with its apex pointing downward. On the rear surface (back) of this pressure-receiving member 30, hook-shaped holding parts 30A, 30A that engage from above with the left and right support parts 26A, 26A of the upper support wire 26 shown in Figure 3, and a hook-shaped holding part 30B that engages from below with the central support part 26B of the upper support wire 26 are integrally molded. Similarly, on the rear surface (back) of the pressure-receiving member 30, hook-shaped holding parts 30C, 30C that engage from above with the left and right support parts 27A, 27A of the lower support wire 27 shown in Figure 3, and a hook-shaped holding part 30D that engages from below with the central support part 27B of the lower support wire 27 are integrally molded.

[0027] Here, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pressure-receiving member 30 has an integrally molded housing recess 30E for housing the vibration unit 50. This housing recess 30E opens on the front (front) side of the pressure-receiving member 30 and bulges out on the rear (back) side, and its shape in front view is a horizontally elongated rectangle. Nuts N, which serve as mounting members for attaching the mounting bracket 54 described later, are insert-molded and embedded at the four corners of the rectangular opening of the housing recess 30E of the pressure-receiving member 30. The bottom of this housing recess 30E functions as a first cover member (interference suppression member), suppressing interference between the vibration unit 50 and the cushion pad covering the rear side of the seat back frame F2.

[0028] The vibration unit 50 consists of a drive motor (actuator) 51, a vibrating weight 53 attached to the rotating shaft 52 of the drive motor 51, and a mounting bracket 54 attached to the drive motor 51. The vibrating weight 53 is made up of multiple fan-shaped plates stacked together to form a block that is fan-shaped when viewed from the front. The rotating shaft 52 is mounted at an eccentric position from its center of gravity, so that vibrations of a predetermined frequency are generated as the rotating shaft 52 rotates. The vibrations generated by the vibration unit 50 can be adjusted to an appropriate frequency to provide a massage effect or an awakening effect to the occupant seated on the seat cushion S1 by changing the rotation speed of the drive motor 51. The controller for controlling the operation of the vibration unit 50 can be installed, for example, in the driver's seat in front of the vehicle seat S.

[0029] The mounting bracket 54 has bolt insertion holes 54A that match at least three of the four nuts N of the pressure receiving member 30 shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, a cover plate 55 is provided as a second cover member (interference suppression member) that is attached to the front surface of the pressure receiving member 30 together with the mounting bracket 54. This cover plate 55 is a rectangular plate member sized to cover the housing recess 30E of the pressure receiving member 30, and bolt insertion holes 55A that match the four nuts N are formed at each of its four corners. This cover plate 55 is attached to the front surface of the pressure receiving member 30 and covers the housing recess 30E by four bolts B that are screwed into the four nuts N of the pressure receiving member 30 through its bolt insertion holes 55A and the bolt insertion holes 54A of the mounting bracket 54. As a result, the vibration unit 50 is attached to the pressure receiving member 30 without the need for a spring member. This reduces the number of parts.

[0030] Next, the effects of a vehicle seat S configured as one embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention will be explained. In a vehicle in which the vehicle seat S shown in Figure 1 is installed in the driver's seat, during normal driving or when the vehicle is stopped, the upper support wire 26 and lower support wire 27 shown in Figures 2 and 3 elastically deform appropriately backward, so that the upper body of the occupant sinks appropriately into the seat back S2 and is maintained in a stable driving posture.

[0031] In this state, with the occupant seated on the seat cushion S1 of the vehicle seat S and their upper body moderately sunk into the seat back S2, the vibration unit 50 is activated by operating a controller (not shown) installed in the driver's seat in front of the vehicle seat S. When this is activated, the vibration weight 53 rotates together with the rotation shaft 52 of the drive motor 51, causing the vibration unit 50 to generate vibrations. These vibrations from the vibration unit 50 are then transmitted to the entire pressure receiving member 30 without directly going through a spring member, and are efficiently transmitted from the pressure receiving member 30 to the occupant's upper body and other parts of the body via the cushion pad.

[0032] In other words, according to one embodiment of the vehicle seat S, the vibration unit 50 generates desired vibrations to provide a massage effect or an awakening effect to the occupant seated on the seat cushion S1, and these vibrations can be efficiently transmitted from the seat back S2 to the occupant's upper body. In this case, the vibration unit 50 is housed in a receiving recess 30E that protrudes from the rear (back) side of the pressure receiving member 30, and the vibration unit 50 is positioned behind the front surface, which is the pressure receiving surface of the pressure receiving member 30. Therefore, the discomfort of the vibration unit 50 contacting the occupant's upper body, which is supported by the seat back S2, can be eliminated.

[0033] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the vehicle seat S, the cover plate 55 is attached (fixed) to the area around the housing recess 30E of the pressure receiving member 30 together with the mounting bracket 54 of the vibration unit 50, thereby suppressing interference between the vibration unit 50 and the cushion pad (not shown) and enabling the vibration unit 50 to operate stably. In addition, since the cover plate 55 covers the housing recess 30E in which the vibration unit 50 is housed, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the housing recess 30E. Moreover, the bottom of the housing recess 30E functions as a first cover member (interference suppression member), suppressing interference between the vibration unit 50 and the cushion pad covering the rear side of the seat back frame F2.

[0034] Furthermore, since the nut N, which is a mounting member for attaching the mounting bracket 54 of the vibration unit 50, is insert-molded around the opening of the receiving recess 30E of the pressure receiving member 30, the mounting work of the mounting bracket 54 can be easily performed, and moreover, the rigidity of the pressure receiving member 30 can be increased, allowing the vibration of the vibration unit 50 to be efficiently transmitted to the entire pressure receiving member 30.

[0035] Furthermore, since the vibration unit 50 is positioned so as not to overlap with the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27, that is, at a height between the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27, the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27 do not get in the way when assembling the vibration unit 50, thereby improving the ease of assembly of the vibration unit 50.

[0036] Furthermore, the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27 are provided to connect the left and right portions of the seat back frame F2, and a hook-shaped holding portion 30B that engages from below with the central support portion 26B of the upper support wire 26, and a hook-shaped holding portion 30D that engages from below with the central support portion 27B of the lower support wire 27 are arranged side by side above and below the vibration unit 50. Since the pressure receiving member 30 holds the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27 in the portion of the pressure receiving member 30 where large vibrations occur, the generation of abnormal noise due to interference between the pressure receiving member 30 and the linear members, the upper support wire 26 and the lower support wire 27, can be suppressed when the vibration unit 50 vibrates.

[0037] The above describes a vehicle seat S as one embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention. However, the vehicle seat of the present invention is not limited to the vehicle seat S of one embodiment, and its structure can be modified as appropriate.

[0038] For example, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the pressure-receiving member 30 may have multiple vertical beads 30F and horizontal beads 30G that bulge out on the rear (back) side. In this case, the presence of multiple vertical beads 30F and horizontal beads 30G increases the rigidity of the pressure-receiving member 30, so that vibrations generated by the vibration unit 50 can be transmitted to the entire pressure-receiving member 30.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the vibration unit 50 can be installed on the rear (back) side of the pressure receiving member 30 in a vertical orientation with its rotation axis facing up and down. In this case, in order to suppress interference between the vibration unit 50 and the cushion pad (not shown) and to ensure stable operation of the vibration unit 50, it is preferable to provide a cover member (first cover member, interference suppression member) 56 having a motor cover portion 56A that covers the drive motor 51 and a weight cover portion 56B that extends outward from the motor cover portion 56A and covers the rotation area of ​​the vibrating weight 53. In this case, the cover member 56 can be configured to bend and protrude outward in a stepped manner from the motor cover portion 56A to the weight cover portion 56B. This cover member 56 is attached to the pressure receiving member 30 by fastening together with the mounting bracket 57 of the vibration unit 50.

[0040] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the vibration unit 50 can be installed on the rear (back) side of the pressure receiving member 30 with its rotation axis facing left and right. In this case as well, in order to suppress interference between the vibration unit 50 and the cushion pad (not shown) and to ensure stable operation of the vibration unit 50, it is preferable to provide a cover member (first cover member) 58 having a motor cover portion 58A that covers the drive motor 51 and a weight cover portion 58B that extends outward from the motor cover portion 58A and covers the rotation area of ​​the vibrating weight 53. This cover member 58 is attached to the pressure receiving member 30 by fastening together with the mounting bracket 59 of the vibration unit 50. Here, a part of the vibration unit 50 fits into a recess formed between two vertically aligned horizontal beads 30G, and by effectively utilizing the space in this recess, the vehicle seat S can be made more compact.

[0041] As shown in these modified examples, by providing cover members 56 and 58 on the rear side of the vibration unit 50, interference between the rear cover (covering member) that covers the rear side of the seat back frame F2 and the vibration unit 50 is suppressed. Furthermore, since the cover members 56 and 58 consist of motor cover parts 56A and 58A and weight cover parts 56B and 58B, it is possible to achieve compactness while suppressing interference with the rear cover even if the eccentric weight vibrates. In addition, if the weight cover parts 56B and 58B protrude from the motor covers 56A and 58A, the rigidity of the cover members 56 and 58 can be increased.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the lower support wire 27 was supported at both ends by the toggle support mechanism 40, but it is also possible to support only one end by the toggle support mechanism 40, or to support both ends by the left and right side frames without using the toggle support mechanism 40.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the vibration unit 50 was located near the center in the vertical direction of the pressure receiving member 30, but it can also be located below the center. When the pressure receiving member 30 is located near the bottom of the seat back S2, the lower part of the occupant's upper body (around the waist) is usually in contact with the seat back S2, so the vibrations of the vibration unit 50 can be stably transmitted to the occupant.

[0044] The vehicle seat S in one embodiment is configured for vehicles where the driver's seat is located on the right side, but by reversing the left-right structure, it can be applied to vehicles where the driver's seat is located on the left side.

[0045] Furthermore, the vehicle seat S of one embodiment can also be configured as a bucket-type vehicle seat in which the seat cushion S1, seat back S2, and headrest S3 are integrated into a single unit.

[0046] Furthermore, the vehicle seat of the present invention can also be configured as a seat for ships or aircraft. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] F1 Seat Cushion Frame 11 Front Frame 12 Cushion Side Frames 13 Rear connecting pipe F2 Seat Back Frame 21 Upper frame 22 Backside Frame 23 Lower frame 24 support brackets 25 Reinforcement members 26 Upper support wire 27 Lower support wire 28 Support tongue piece 30 Pressure-receiving member 30A Engaging hook section 30B Engaging hook section 30C Engaging hook section 30D Engagement hook section 30E Receiving recess 40 Toggle support mechanism B bolt N Nut RU Reclining Unit S Vehicle Seat S1 Seat Cushion S2 Seatback S3 Headrest SL slide rail

Claims

1. A vehicle seat equipped with a seat cushion and a seat back, A frame that constitutes the skeleton, comprising a frame having a seat back frame, A pressure-receiving member positioned inside the seat back frame to support the occupant, comprising a pressure-receiving member extending in the left-right direction and in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, The seat back frame is provided with a support wire that elastically supports the pressure-receiving member, Multiple support parts for supporting the support wire on the seat back frame, A vibration unit that generates vibrations, The frame and the covering member that covers the pressure receiving member are provided, When a backward-moving load is applied to the seat back from the upper body of an occupant seated on the seat cushion, the pressure-receiving member is configured to move backward, causing the occupant's upper body to sink into the seat back. The plurality of support parts include a first support part and a second support part located to the right of the first support part. A vehicle seat characterized in that, in the left-right direction, the vibration unit is located between the first support portion and the second support portion.

2. A second support wire elastically supports the pressure-receiving member on the seat back frame, comprising a second support wire located below the aforementioned support wire, The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration unit is located between the support wire and the second support wire in the vertical direction.

3. The pressure-receiving member has recesses on its left and right edges that are recessed inward in the left-right direction. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration unit is located between the upper and lower ends of the recess in the vertical direction.

4. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration unit has a shape that is long in the direction in which the support wire extends.

5. With additional headrest supports, The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the vibration unit in the left-right direction is different from the position of the headrest stay in the left-right direction.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the support wire is located behind the pressure-receiving member.

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