Vehicle seats

Abstract

In a vehicle seat having a side frame composed of multiple divided members, the present invention provides a side frame with a connection structure that allows for various welding methods when connecting the members and improves the connection strength after welding. [Solution] Each of the pair of side frames 13 of the vehicle seat S is composed of at least a first member 14 and a second member 16 divided in the longitudinal direction. The first member 14 has a first connecting portion 15 that connects to the second member 16, and the second member 16 has a second connecting portion 17 that connects to the first member 14. The first connecting portion 15 and the second connecting portion 17 each have planar portions 15a and 17a that extend in the longitudinal direction, and the first member 14 and the second member 16 are connected in a state where the planar portions 15a of the first connecting portion 15 and 17a of the second connecting portion 17 face each other and overlap.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a vehicle seat having a side frame.

Background Art

[0002] The back frame that forms the skeleton of the back seat of a vehicle seat is composed of a pair of side frames arranged on the left and right, an upper frame, and a lower frame that connect them. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a side frame that is divided in the vertical direction and consists of a plurality of members.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The side frame described in Patent Document 1 is formed by abutting and welding a plurality of members together. However, when abutting and welding members together, since the welding method is limited to laser welding, it is difficult to connect them by various welding methods, and there is also a concern that the strength after joining may be insufficient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a side frame having a connection structure that can accommodate various welding methods and improves the connection strength after welding when connecting members in a vehicle seat having a side frame composed of a plurality of divided members.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The aforementioned problem is solved by providing a vehicle seat comprising a seat body and a seat frame forming the skeleton of the seat body, wherein the seat frame has a pair of side frames spaced apart in the seat width direction, each of the pair of side frames is composed of at least a first member and a second member divided in the longitudinal direction, the first member has a first connecting portion that connects to the second member, the second member has a second connecting portion that connects to the first member, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion each have a planar portion extending in the longitudinal direction, and the first member and the second member are connected in a state where the planes of the planar portion of the first connecting portion and the planar portion of the second connecting portion face each other and overlap.

[0007] According to the above-described vehicle seat, the first and second members of the side frame are connected in a state where the planes of the first connecting section and the second connecting section, which extend in the longitudinal direction, face each other and overlap. Because the connection is made over a wider area than when joining by butting, it can accommodate various welding methods, and the connection strength after welding is also improved. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a side frame that has a connection structure that can accommodate various welding methods when connecting members and improves the connection strength after welding.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the first member and the second member may be formed from different plate thicknesses or types of materials. By forming the first and second members with different plate thicknesses or material types, the side frame can be formed with the appropriate weight or strength as needed.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, it is preferable that either the first connecting portion of the first member or the second connecting portion of the second member be located on the inside of the other. The strength of the connection can be improved by having either the first or second connection point located inside the other.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the innermost of the first and second connecting portions is formed as a stepped portion, and when the first member and the second member are connected, the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member are flush. By forming one of the first and second connection sections as a stepped section, the size of the side frame in the seat width direction is made more compact. Furthermore, positioning becomes easier, improving assembly efficiency. This improved assembly efficiency shortens the manufacturing time for vehicle seats, leading to cost reductions.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, it is preferable that a flange extending inward from the side is formed on one of the first and second connecting portions, which is located on the inside, while a flange is not formed on the other. By forming a flange on one of the two connecting parts, the one located on the inside, and not on the other, the two parts can be overlapped not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the sheet width direction, improving the ease of assembly of the first and second members.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, it is preferable that the length in the width direction of one of the first and second connecting portions, which is located on the inside, is longer than the length in the width direction of the other seat. The length of one of the two connecting sections, the first and second, located on the inside, in the sheet width direction is longer than the length of the other in the sheet width direction, which facilitates welding.

[0013] Furthermore, in the side frame of the above-mentioned vehicle seat, it is preferable that the opening be formed in a position that avoids the first connection portion or the second connection portion. By forming openings used for harness clips and the like in positions that avoid the first or second connection point, a reduction in connection strength is suppressed.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the seat frame is a seat back frame that forms the skeleton of the seat back which serves as the backrest, and the pair of side frames are the back side frames of the back frame. By dividing the backside frame, it is possible to form the backside frame by combining, for example, different board thicknesses and material types.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the seat frame is a seat cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion that serves as the seating area, and the pair of side frames are cushion side frames of the seat cushion frame. By dividing the cushion side frame, it is possible to form a cushion side frame by combining, for example, different board thicknesses and material types. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] In the vehicle seat of the present invention, the first and second members of the side frame are connected in a state where the planes of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, which extend in the longitudinal direction, face each other and overlap. Because the connection is made over a wider area than when joining by butting, it can accommodate various welding methods, and the connection strength is also improved after welding. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a side frame that has a connection structure that can accommodate various welding methods when connecting members and improves the connection strength after welding. Furthermore, by forming the first and second members with different plate thicknesses or material types, the side frame can be formed with the appropriate weight or strength as needed. Furthermore, the strength of the connection can be improved by having either the first or second connection point located inward of the other. In addition, by forming one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion as a stepped portion, the size of the side frame in the seat width direction is made compact. Also, positioning becomes easier and the assemblability is improved. By improving the assemblability, the manufacturing time of the vehicle seat can be shortened and cost reduction can be achieved. Further, by forming a flange portion on one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion that is located inside and not forming it on the other, it is possible to overlap not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the seat width direction, and the overlapping of the first member and the second member becomes easy and the assemblability is improved. Further, by making the length in the seat width direction of one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion that is located inside longer than the length in the seat width direction of the other, welding becomes easy. Further, by forming an opening used for a clip hole or the like for a harness at a position avoiding the first connecting portion or the second connecting portion, a decrease in connection strength is suppressed. Also, by dividing the back side frame, for example, it is possible to form the back side frame by combining different plate thicknesses and material types. Also, by dividing the cushion side frame, for example, it is possible to form the cushion side frame by combining different plate thicknesses and materials.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the seat frame of a vehicle seat. [Figure 3] It is a front view showing the seat frame of a vehicle seat. [Figure 4] It is a side view showing the seat frame as viewed from the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view of the seat frame taken along the line V-V in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged perspective view of the joint portion of the side frame as viewed from the front diagonal direction. [Figure 7]This is an enlarged perspective view of the side frame joint area, seen from a rearward oblique angle. [Figure 8] This is a view of the side frame joint from the rear. [Figure 9] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the side frame along the line IX-IX. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the cushion side frame with the reclining cover attached, seen from the inside of a vehicle seat. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the base cover as seen from the inside of the vehicle seat. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view of the base cover as seen from the outside of the vehicle seat. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XIII-XIII in Figure 10. [Figure 14] This is a cross-sectional view along line XIV-XIV in Figure 10. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view showing the cushioned side frame to which the switching unit is mounted. [Figure 16] This is an exploded perspective view showing a cushion side frame containing a switching unit, etc. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view of the vehicle seat from the outside, showing the unit cover (inner cover) attached to the base cover. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view from the inside of a vehicle seat, showing the unit cover attached to the reclining cover. [Figure 19] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XIX-XIX in Figure 15. [Figure 20] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XX-XX in Figure 15. [Figure 21] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XXI-XXII in Figure 15. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] The configuration of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. That is, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. Furthermore, the descriptions below regarding the material, shape, and size of the seat components are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

[0019] In the following, we will describe vehicle seats S, SA, and SB, which are installed in vehicles, as examples of vehicle seats, and explain their configuration examples. However, the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats S installed in ground vehicles with wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but can also be applied to seats installed in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on surfaces other than the ground.

[0020] Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front-to-back direction" refers to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle seat S, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is in motion. Also, "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat S (in other words, the width direction of the seat body), which coincides with the left-to-right direction as seen from the perspective of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S, SA, or SB. Also, "up-down direction" refers to the up-and-down direction of the vehicle seat S, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane.

[0021] Furthermore, in the seat width direction, "outside of the vehicle" refers to the side closer to the outside of the vehicle body (more simply, the side closer to the nearest door), while "inside of the vehicle" refers to the side closer to the inside of the vehicle body (more simply, the side further away from the nearest door). Furthermore, in the following explanation, "rotation" refers to rotational movement around an axis along the width direction of the sheet, unless otherwise specified.

[0022] Unless otherwise specified, the following descriptions of the shape, position, and orientation of each part of the vehicle seat will be based on the assumption that the vehicle seat S is in the seated position described later.

[0023] <<First Embodiment>> <Vehicle Seat S> The basic configuration of the vehicle seat (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle seat S) according to the first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as this embodiment) will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat S, and for illustrative purposes, a portion of the vehicle seat S in Figure 1 is shown with the cushion trim cover T and pad P removed.

[0024] The vehicle seat S is a seat placed on the vehicle floor in which the vehicle's occupants sit. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is used as a front seat, corresponding to the front seats of the vehicle. However, it is not limited to this; the vehicle seat S can also be used as a rear seat, and in a vehicle with three rows of seats in the front-to-back direction, it can also be used as a middle seat in the second row or a rear seat in the third row.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat S mainly consists of a seat back 1, which is the backrest portion that supports the occupant's back; a seat cushion 2, which is the seat portion that supports the occupant's buttocks; and a headrest 3, which is positioned above the seat back 1 and supports the occupant's head. The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are connected so as to sandwich a reclining mechanism 7 (see Figure 2). The seat back 1 is connected to the seat cushion 2 so as to be rotatable and angle-adjustable. The reclining mechanism 7 adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back 1. The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 together are referred to as the seat body Sh.

[0026] <Seat frame F> As shown in Figure 2, a seat frame F is provided inside the vehicle seat S, and the seat frame F consists of a seat back frame 10 which forms the skeleton of the seat back 1 and a seat cushion frame 20 which forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 2. Below, we will first describe the components other than the seat back frame 10, such as the seat cushion frame 20, and then explain the details of the seat back frame 10 afterwards.

[0027] <Seat cushion frame 20> The seat cushion frame 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and a pair of cushion side frames 21, 21 are provided on its sides. It also has a front connecting frame 22 that connects the pair of cushion side frames 21, 21 at the front and a rear connecting frame 23 that connects them at the rear. The front connecting frame 22 and rear connecting frame 23 located at the front and rear of the vehicle seat S are made of round pipes. A cushion pan frame 24 is provided in front of the front connecting frame 22. Although not shown, a pressure receiving member is attached that spans the cushion pan frame 24 and the rear connecting frame 23, and the pressure receiving member supports the buttocks of the seated occupant from below.

[0028] <Headrest 3 and headrest frame 30> The headrest 3 is attached to the top of the seatback 1 to support the occupant's head. Inside the headrest 3, as shown in Figure 2, there is a headrest frame 30 that forms the skeleton of the headrest 3, and at both ends of the headrest frame 30 there are two headrest pillars 31 (also called headrest stays) that hang down from the bottom of the headrest 3. The headrest pillars 31 are inserted into headrest guides 11a attached to the upper frame 11 of the seatback frame 10, which will be described later, thereby attaching the headrest 3 to the seatback frame 10.

[0029] <Pad P and cushion trim cover T> The seat back 1, seat cushion 2, and headrest 3 are formed by providing a pad P and a cushion trim cover T (cushion cover) on the outside of the seat back frame 10, seat cushion frame 20, and headrest frame 30. The pad P is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using, for example, urethane foam, and the cushion trim cover T is made of a surface material such as cloth, synthetic leather, or genuine leather.

[0030] <Slide Rail 4> Furthermore, a slide rail 4 is installed beneath the vehicle seat S, as shown in Figure 2. This slide rail 4 allows the vehicle seat S to be mounted to the vehicle floor in a state where it can slide in the front-to-back direction.

[0031] The slide rail 4 is a device for sliding the vehicle seat S along the front-rear direction and has a known structure (a general slide rail mechanism structure). The slide rail 4 has a lower rail 41 fixed to the vehicle floor and an upper rail 42 that is slidable relative to the lower rail 41. The upper rail 42 is slidable relative to the lower rail 41 which is fixed to the vehicle body.

[0032] <Reclining mechanism 7> A reclining mechanism 7 is provided between the lower end of the seat back 1 and the rear end of the seat cushion 2. More specifically, the reclining mechanism 7 connects the seat back frame 10 of the seat back 1 and the seat cushion frame 20 of the seat cushion 2. The reclining mechanism 7 allows adjustment of the angle of the seat back 1 (seat back frame 10) relative to the seat cushion 2 (seat cushion frame 20). The reclining mechanism 7 allows the seat back 1 to be locked at a predetermined angle and maintained in a tilted position. By releasing the lock, the seat back 1 can be tilted forward or backward.

[0033] <Seat back frame 10> The seat back frame 10, and in particular the back side frame 13, of the vehicle seat S of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 2 to 9. As shown in Figure 2, the seat back frame 10 is formed in a rectangular frame shape as a whole and comprises an upper frame 11, a lower frame 12, and a pair of back side frames 13, 13 (a pair of side frames). The pair of back side frames 13, 13 are spaced apart in the seat width direction (left-right direction). The upper frame 11 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 13, 13 and connects the upper ends of the back side frames 13, 13. The lower frame 12 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 13, 13 and connects the lower ends of the pair of back side frames 13, 13.

[0034] Each of the pair of backside frames 13, 13 is divided along its longitudinal direction (in the direction of arrows A and B in Figure 2) and consists of a first member 14 located on the upper side and a second member 16 located on the lower side. In this embodiment, it is divided into two members, but this is just an example, and each of the backside frames 13 may be divided into three or more members. Since each of the pair of backside frames 13, 13 has a similar configuration, the following description will mainly focus on the backside frame 13 located on the right side, and the description of the backside frame 13 located on the left side will be omitted.

[0035] <Backside frame 13> As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first member 14 is located above the backside frame 13, and the upper end of the first member 14 is connected to the right end of the upper frame 11. The second member 16 is located below the backside frame 13, and the lower end of the second member 16 is connected to the right end of the lower frame 12. The first member 14 and the second member 16 are connected to form a backside frame 13. The first member 14 has a first connecting portion 15 that connects to the second member 16, and the second member 16 has a second connecting portion 17 that connects to the first member 14.

[0036] The first connecting portion 15 and the second connecting portion 17 each have planar portions 15a and 17a extending in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow A and direction of arrow B). The planar portions 15a of the first connecting portion 15 and 17a of the second connecting portion 17 are joined by welding in a state where they face each other and overlap, as shown in Figures 6 to 9. By joining the first connecting portion 15 and the second connecting portion 17, the first member 14 and the second member 16 are connected to form the back side frame 13.

[0037] <Welding Method> The first connecting portion 15 and the second connecting portion 17 are connected, for example, by laser overlap welding or MIG end welding. Since welding can be performed with the planes facing each other and overlapping, not only butt welding but also fusion welding such as arc welding, laser welding, and electron beam welding, as well as pressure welding such as resistance welding, can be performed.

[0038] <Regarding plate thickness and material type> The first member 14 and the second member 16 are made of iron and are formed by press-forming steel plates. The fact that the first member 14 and the second member 16 are made of iron results in a backside frame 13 with sufficient strength. The first member 14 and the second member 16 are not limited to iron; for example, they may be formed from high-tensile steel. High-tensile steel has rigidity even when thin, so the plate thickness can be made thinner than that of steel plates, thus enabling weight reduction while maintaining rigidity. The first member 14 and the second member 16 may be made of different materials. For example, the first member 14 may be made of high-tensile steel and the second member 16 may be made of iron.

[0039] Furthermore, they may be formed with different plate thicknesses. For example, the first member 14 may be made of high-tensile steel and the second member 16 may be made of iron, so that the plate thickness of the first member 14 is thinner than that of the second member 16.

[0040] Furthermore, the first member 14 or the second member 16 may be made of a lightweight aluminum or magnesium alloy. By using a lightweight alloy, the seat back frame 10 can be made lighter than when it is made of iron. Alternatively, the first member 14 or the second member 16 may be made of resin. By using resin, it can be made lighter than when it is made of iron. In this way, by forming the first member 14 and the second member 16 with different plate thicknesses or material types, the back side frame 13 can be formed with the appropriate weight or strength as needed.

[0041] <First connection part 15 and second connection part 17> Furthermore, as can be seen from Figures 6 to 9, the second connecting portion 17 of the second member 16 is located inside the first connecting portion 15 of the first member 14. By positioning the second connecting portion 17 inside the first connecting portion 15, contact is made over a wider area compared to when they are butted together, thereby improving the strength of the connection between the first member 14 and the second member 16. Note that the configuration in which the second connection portion 17 is located inside the first connection portion 15 is just one example; the first connection portion 15 may also be configured to be located inside the second connection portion 17.

[0042] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the second connecting portion 17 of the second member 16 is formed as a stepped portion and is made slightly smaller than the first connecting portion 15 so that it is located inside the first connecting portion 15. When the first member 14 and the second member 16 are connected, the first member 14 and the second member 16 are formed such that the outer surface 14a of the first member 14 and the outer surface 16a of the second member 16 are flush with each other, as shown in Figure 8.

[0043] The second connecting portion 17 is formed as a stepped portion, which makes the size of the backside frame 13 more compact in the seat width direction and the front-to-back direction. It also makes positioning easier when inserting it into the first connecting portion 15. This improves assembly efficiency, thereby shortening the manufacturing time for the vehicle seat S and reducing costs. In addition, the outer surface 14a of the first member 14 and the outer surface 16a of the second member 16 are flush, improving the aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, if the first connecting portion 15 is located inside the second connecting portion 17, the first connecting portion 15 may be formed as a stepped portion.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, a flange 17b is formed on the side of the second connecting portion 17, extending toward the inside of the second member 16. The formation of the flange 17b improves the rigidity of the second connecting portion 17. This flange 17b is not formed on the first connecting portion 15. By not forming a flange on the first connecting portion 15, for example, the first connecting portion 15 of the first member 14 can be inserted not only from the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow A), but also from the sheet width direction, that is, moved from right to left and superimposed on the second connecting portion 17 of the second member 16. This improves the ease of assembly between the first member 14 and the second member 16.

[0045] Furthermore, if the first connecting portion 15 is configured to be located inside the second connecting portion 17, a flange may be formed extending from the side of the first connecting portion 15 toward the inside of the first member 14. In this case, by not forming a flange on the second connecting portion 17, the second member 16 is superimposed on the first member 14 from the sheet width direction.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the length L2 of the second connecting portion 17 in the sheet width direction is formed to be longer than the length L1 of the first connecting portion 15 in the sheet width direction. By making the length L2 of the second connecting portion 17, which is located inside the first connecting portion 15, longer than the length L1 of the first connecting portion 15, welding becomes easier. Furthermore, if the first connecting portion 15 is configured to be located inside the second connecting portion 17, it is preferable to configure the length L1 of the first connecting portion 15 in the sheet width direction to be longer than the length L2 of the second connecting portion 17 in the width direction.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the backside frame 13 has multiple openings 14b and 16b formed therein, which are used for passing harnesses or as clip holes for harnesses. These openings 14b and 16b are formed in positions that avoid the first connection part 15 and the second connection part 17 that connect the first member 14 and the second member 16. This suppresses a decrease in connection strength.

[0048] The backside frame 13 of this embodiment has been described above with reference to the figures. In this embodiment, the backside frame 13 is divided into two members, but this is just one example, and the cushion side frame 21 that constitutes the seat cushion frame 20 may also be divided into multiple members. By dividing the cushion side frame 21 into multiple members, similar to the backside frame 13, it is possible to form the cushion side frame 21 by combining different plate thicknesses and material types, thereby creating a cushion side frame 21 with appropriate strength and weight.

[0049] <<Other Embodiments>> Next, other embodiments will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 21. The other embodiments relate to a vehicle seat having a reclining cover provided on a seat cushion frame.

[0050] Traditionally, the reclining cover that encloses the reclining mechanism of a vehicle seat was attached by supporting a reinforcing wire frame that extends along the edge of the reclining cover with a bracket fixed to the cushion side frame. However, this attachment structure had the drawback of increasing the number of parts and complicating the assembly process due to the use of brackets and reinforcing wire frames for attaching the reclining cover.

[0051] Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-44534 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 2) discloses a structure in which a reclining cover (referred to as a seat side garnish in Patent Document 2) is supported by a metal bracket bent in a crank shape.

[0052] In recent years, vehicle seats have increasingly been equipped with electric mechanisms that automatically move the seat cushion or seat back using motors, etc., and there has been a growing need to place switching units and other functional components that operate the electric mechanism inside the reclining cover. However, with the support structure using brackets disclosed in Patent Document 2, it has been difficult to place the switching units and other components inside the reclining cover.

[0053] Therefore, a structure is still required that can support the reclining cover and withstand the load input to the reclining cover, both when the vehicle is equipped with an electric mechanism having functional components such as a switching unit (power specification) and when it does not have an electric mechanism (manual specification).

[0054] Other embodiments of the vehicle seat have been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and their purpose is to provide a vehicle seat having a structure that supports a reclining cover and receives load input to the reclining cover, both with and without an electric mechanism.

[0055] The aforementioned problem is solved by providing a seat cushion, a seat cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion and has a pair of cushion side frames, a reclining mechanism provided at the rear end of the seat cushion, a reclining cover that covers the end of the reclining mechanism and one side of the pair of cushion side frames, and a base cover that covers a functional component and can be attached to the cushion side frame, wherein the base cover fixes the reclining cover to the cushion side frame between the reclining cover and the cushion side frame, and the load applied to the reclining cover is supported by the cushion side frame.

[0056] According to the above-described vehicle seat, the reclining cover is fixed to the cushion side frame by a base cover that covers the functional components and can be attached to the cushion side frame, and the load input to the reclining cover is supported by the cushion side frame. Therefore, parts such as reinforcing wire frames and brackets can be eliminated, making installation easier. Furthermore, by using a base cover that fixes the reclining cover, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat that supports the reclining cover and receives the load input to the reclining cover, both with and without an electric mechanism.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the reclining cover has a support portion with a groove formed on its upper inner side, and the base cover has a flange portion extending in the front-rear direction of the seat on its upper side, and the flange portion is inserted into the groove formed in the support portion of the reclining cover, thereby fixing it to the cushion side frame. The flange portion, which extends in the front-to-back direction, is inserted into the groove of the reclining cover, thereby stably regulating the position of the reclining cover.

[0058] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the base cover may have a cross-section that includes the flange portion supporting the reclining cover and the fixing portion attached to the cushion side frame, which is formed in a crank shape. The crank-shaped cross-section of the base cover improves its rigidity. Furthermore, a space is created between it and the reclining cover, allowing functional components such as a switching unit to be placed in that space.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the base cover has a boss formed on its inner side surface, and the cushion side frame has a through hole formed at a position corresponding to the boss, and the boss of the base cover is inserted through the through hole of the cushion side frame, thereby restricting the front-rear and up-down position of the base cover relative to the cushion side frame. By inserting the boss through the through-hole, the base cover can be easily assembled to the cushion side frame.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the base cover has a tapping fixing portion that is fixed to the cushion side frame by screwing, and an engaging claw portion that is fixed by engaging the claw portion, and it is preferable that the tapping fixing portion and the engaging claw portion are arranged to overlap in the front-rear direction. By arranging the tapping fixing portion and the engaging claw portion to overlap in the front-to-back direction, the base cover can be more firmly fixed to the cushion side frame.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, an inner cover is provided between the base cover and the reclining cover, and the inner cover is preferably fixed to the outer side surface of the base cover. By fixing the inner cover to the outer side of the base cover, the rigidity of the base cover is improved, allowing it to withstand load input more stably.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the base cover and the inner cover may be engaged by resin claws. The base cover and inner cover are engaged by resin claws, resulting in a simple structure that facilitates assembly.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, a switching unit is provided as the functional component, and the switching unit is positioned between the inner cover and the reclining cover and fixed to the inner cover. The switching unit is protected from external load inputs by being secured to the inner cover.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above-described vehicle seat, the switching unit is preferably positioned inside the base cover in a side view and is arranged to overlap with the fixing position where the base cover is fixed to the cushion side frame. By positioning the switching unit inside the base cover and overlapping with the base cover's fixing points, the switching unit is better protected from external load inputs.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the reclining cover is preferably secured by fastening claws provided at the front end of the reclining cover, which are then hooked onto the base cover. The fixing claws provided at the front end of the reclining cover are hooked onto the base cover, thereby ensuring that the front position of the reclining cover is securely controlled.

[0066] In other embodiments of the vehicle seat, the reclining cover is fixed to the cushion side frame by a base cover that covers the functional components and can be attached to the cushion side frame, and the load input to the reclining cover is supported by the cushion side frame. Therefore, parts such as reinforcing wire frames and brackets can be eliminated, making installation easier. Furthermore, by using a base cover to fix the reclining cover, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat that supports the reclining cover and has a structure that receives the load input to the reclining cover, both when there is an electric mechanism and when there is no electric mechanism. Furthermore, the flange portion extending in the front-to-back direction is inserted into the groove of the reclining cover, allowing for stable positioning of the reclining cover. The crank-shaped cross-section of the base cover improves its rigidity. Additionally, a space is created between the base cover and the reclining cover, allowing for the placement of components such as a switching unit. Furthermore, by inserting the boss through the through-hole, the base cover can be easily assembled to the cushion side frame. Furthermore, by arranging the tapping fixing portion and the engaging claw portion to overlap in the front-to-back direction, the base cover can be more firmly fixed to the cushion side frame. Furthermore, by fixing the inner cover to the outer side of the base cover, the rigidity of the base cover is improved, allowing it to withstand load input more stably. Furthermore, the base cover and inner cover are engaged by resin claws, making assembly easy with a simple structure. Furthermore, the switching unit is protected from external load inputs by being fixed to the inner cover. Furthermore, by positioning the switching unit inside the base cover and aligning it with the base cover's fixing points, the switching unit is better protected from external load inputs. Furthermore, the fixing claws provided at the front end of the reclining cover are secured to the base cover, thereby ensuring that the front position of the reclining cover is properly controlled.

[0067] <<Second Embodiment>> The following description of the vehicle seat SA according to the second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "this embodiment"), which is one of the other embodiments, will be given with reference to Figures 1 and 10 to 14. The basic configuration of the vehicle seat SA according to this embodiment is the same as that of the vehicle seat S according to the first embodiment. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the similar parts will be omitted. The following description will mainly focus on the parts that differ from the vehicle seat S of the first embodiment.

[0068] <Vehicle Seat SA> Vehicle seat SA, like vehicle seat S shown in Figure 1, mainly consists of a seat back 1, which is the backrest portion that supports the back of the occupant; a seat cushion 2, which is the seat portion that supports the occupant's buttocks; and a headrest 3, which is positioned above the seat back 1 and supports the occupant's head. The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are connected so as to sandwich a reclining mechanism 7 (see Figure 2). The seat back 1 is connected to the seat cushion 2 so as to be rotatable and angle-adjustable. The reclining mechanism 7 is a mechanism that adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back 1. In addition, the seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are sometimes collectively referred to as the seat body Sh.

[0069] <Seat frame FA> As shown in Figure 2, a seat frame FA is provided inside the vehicle seat SA. The seat frame FA consists of a seat back frame 10 that forms the skeleton of the seat back 1 and a seat cushion frame 20 that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 2. The configuration of the seat back frame 10 and the seat cushion frame 20 is the same as that of the vehicle seat S, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Similarly, the headrest 3, headrest frame 30, pad P, cushion trim cover T, slide rail 4, and reclining mechanism 7 are the same as those of the vehicle seat S, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0070] <Reclining cover and base cover> The reclining cover 50 and base cover 60 of the vehicle seat SA of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 10 to 14. As shown in Figures 1 and 10, the reclining cover 50 is a component that covers the end of the reclining mechanism 7 and the side of the cushion side frame 21. By attaching the reclining cover 50, the reclining mechanism 7 and the cushion side frame 21 are protected from being exposed to the outside.

[0071] Conventionally, the reclining cover was attached by attaching a bracket to the cushion side frame 21, and using the bracket to support a reinforcing wire frame provided along the upper edge of the reclining cover. However, because brackets and reinforcing wire frames were used to secure the reclining cover, the number of parts increased, and assembly work was required.

[0072] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 10, the reclining cover 50 is attached to the left cushion side frame 21 of the pair of cushion side frames 21. The rear end of the reclining cover 50 is fixed by resin claws or the like provided around the reclining mechanism 7. On the other hand, the front part of the reclining cover 50 is fixed by a base cover 60 provided between the reclining cover 50 and the cushion side frame 21. The reclining cover 50 may also be fixed to the right cushion side frame 21.

[0073] The base cover 60 is a component that covers functional components such as the switching unit and allows these functional components to be attached to the cushion side frame 21. The base cover 60 also has the function of fixing the reclining cover 50 and the function of supporting the input load on the reclining cover 50 with the cushion side frame 21.

[0074] Since the reclining cover 50 is supported by the base cover 60, there is no need to provide brackets and reinforcing wire frames as in conventional designs, which reduces the number of parts and shortens the assembly time.

[0075] As shown in Figures 10, 11, and 13, the upper inner surface of the reclining cover 50 is provided with a plurality of ribs 51 (support parts), and grooves 52 are formed below the ribs 51. The base cover 60 is provided with a flange portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction of the seat at its upper surface, and the flange portion 61 is inserted into the grooves 52 formed below the ribs 51, as shown in Figure 6. By inserting the flange portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction of the seat into the grooves 52 formed by the plurality of ribs 51, the reclining cover 50 can be supported over a wide area, and its position can be controlled more stably.

[0076] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, the base cover 60 has a crank-shaped (S-shaped) cross-section that includes a flange portion 61 that supports the reclining cover 50 and a fixing portion 62 that is attached to the cushion side frame 21. By forming the base cover 60 in a crank shape, the rigidity of the base cover 60 is improved, and as shown in Figure 13, a space SP is formed between the reclining cover 50 and the fixing portion 62. Functional components, such as a switching unit, can be placed in this space SP. However, in the case of a manual specification in which functional components are not attached to the vehicle seat SA, for example, a switching unit that operates the electric mechanism is not provided, nothing is attached to the base cover 60, and the space SP between it and the reclining cover 50 may be left empty.

[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, a position-fixing boss 63 is formed on the inner side surface 62a of the fixing portion 62 of the base cover 60. The boss 63 is provided protruding toward the inside of the vehicle seat SA. In addition, a through hole 21a is formed on the side surface of the cushion side frame 21 at a position corresponding to the boss 63, specifically at a position connected to the front connecting frame 22. The base cover 60 is attached to the cushion side frame 21 by inserting the boss 63 through the through hole 21a. The insertion of the boss 63 through the through hole 21a restricts the position of the base cover 60 in the front-rear and up-down directions. This makes it easy to assemble the base cover 60 to the cushion side frame 21.

[0078] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the base cover 60 is provided with two tapping fixing portions 64 for fastening to the cushion side frame 21 with screws. The tapping fixing portions 64 protrude inward and are positioned to communicate with through holes 21b formed in the cushion side frame 21.

[0079] Furthermore, the base cover 60 is provided with two engaging claws 65 that engage with the cushion side frame 21. The two engaging claws 65 are positioned to overlap with the tapping fixing part 64 in the upper and lower, or in other words, in the front and rear directions. In other words, the tapping fixing part 64 is positioned to be sandwiched between the two engaging claws 65. By arranging the tapping fixing part 64 and the engaging claws 65 in this way and screwing them together, the base cover 60 can be more firmly fixed to the cushion side frame 21. Furthermore, a contact projection 66 (boss) is provided in front of the tapping fixing portion 64, which abuts against the side of the cushion side frame 21 and supports the base cover 60.

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the reclining cover 50 has a fixing claw 53 at its front end, and the reclining cover 50 is secured by the fixing claw 53 hooking onto the tip of the base cover 60. The fixing claw 53 at the front end of the reclining cover 50 ensures that the front position of the reclining cover 50 is properly controlled.

[0081] As shown in Figure 12, the base cover 60 has a wall portion 69 that extends outward around the fixing portion 62, and is formed to have an overall box shape. This box shape allows it to cover, for example, the unit cover 80 (inner cover) which will be described later.

[0082] <<Third Embodiment>> <Vehicle seat with electric mechanism> Next, a third embodiment of the vehicle seat SB, which is another embodiment, will be described using Figures 15 to 21. The vehicle seat SB differs from the vehicle seat SA in that it has an electric mechanism. The vehicle seat SB, like the vehicle seat SA shown in Figure 1, is equipped with a seat back 1, a seat cushion 2, and a headrest 3, and has a reclining mechanism 7 between the seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2. The vehicle seat SA shown in Figures 10 to 14 is a manual specification in which the height of the seat cushion 2 and the reclining of the seat back 1 are manually adjusted. On the other hand, the vehicle seat SB shown in Figures 15 to 21 is a power specification in which an electric mechanism such as an actuator 90 is mounted on the seat body Sh, and the height of the seat cushion 2 and the reclining angle are automatically adjusted.

[0083] The vehicle seat SB has a configuration that is almost identical to the vehicle seat SA shown in Figures 10 to 14, except that it is equipped with an actuator 90 and a switching unit 70 on the cushion side frame 21 of the seat cushion frame 20A. Therefore, a detailed explanation of the seat back 1, seat cushion 2, etc. will be omitted.

[0084] As shown in Figure 15, the vehicle seat SB has an actuator 90 located on the outer side of the cushion side frame 21 of the seat cushion frame 20A, in front of the reclining mechanism 7. The actuator 90 is, for example, an electric mechanism that changes the height of the seat cushion 2. Furthermore, a switching unit 70 that operates the actuator 90 is located even further forward than the actuator 90.

[0085] <Switching Unit 70> The switching unit 70 is a modularized component with multiple switches 71. The switching unit 70 is connected to the actuator 90 by a cable, allowing the actuator 90 to be operated by the seated person's switching operation. The switching unit 70 and the actuator 90 are covered by the reclining cover 50. As shown in Figure 15, the switching unit 70 is attached to the base cover 60 via a unit cover 80 (inner cover).

[0086] The switching unit 70 is located inside the base cover 60 in a side view, and is positioned so as to overlap with the fixing position where the base cover 60 is fixed to the cushion side frame 21. The switching unit 70 is positioned inside the base cover 60 and overlaps with the fixing position of the base cover 60, thereby protecting the switching unit 70 from external load input. The switching unit 70 is fixed to the unit cover 80 with tapping screws, but it may also be fixed to the reclining cover 50 with resin claws.

[0087] <Unit cover 80> The unit cover 80 covers and protects the switching unit 70 and is a component for fixing the switching unit 70 to the base cover 60. The unit cover 80 is fixed to the outer side surface 62b of the base cover 60 and is positioned on the reclining cover 50 side. By fixing the unit cover 80 to the outer side surface 62b of the base cover 60, the rigidity of the base cover 60 is improved, allowing it to withstand load input more stably.

[0088] As shown in Figures 15 and 17, the unit cover 80 is provided with tapping fixing parts 81 at its front and rear ends, allowing it to be screwed to the reclining cover 50. Furthermore, the upper part of the unit cover 80 has two engagement holes 83. As shown in Figure 18, resin claws 54 protruding from the reclining cover 50 are inserted into the engagement holes 83 and engage, thereby attaching the unit cover 80 to the reclining cover 50. Additionally, two resin claws 82 protrude from the inner wall of the unit cover 80. These resin claws 82 are inserted into engagement holes 68 in the base cover 60 and engage, fixing the unit cover 80 to the base cover 60.

[0089] A wall portion 84 is provided around the outer periphery of the unit cover 80, forming a box shape. As shown in Figures 19 to 21, the switching unit 70 attached to the unit cover 80 is covered and protected from the front, back, top, and bottom. Furthermore, since the switching unit 70 is positioned between the reclining cover 50 and the unit cover 80 and is fixed to the unit cover 80, the switching unit 70 can be protected from external load inputs.

[0090] The vehicle seats SA and SB of this embodiment have been described above with reference to the figures. As described above, the base cover 60 can be used for both the manual specification vehicle seat SA and the power specification vehicle seat SB. In both specifications, the base cover 60 can restrict and fix the position of the reclining cover 50 and can withstand the load input to the reclining cover 50. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a switching unit 70 is given as a functional component attached to the base cover 60, but the functional component is not limited to this, and may be a touch sensor, ECU, actuator 90, etc.

[0091] The second and third embodiments described above are described below. (Note 1) Seat cushion and, A seat cushion frame that forms the framework of the seat cushion and has a pair of cushion side frames, A reclining mechanism provided at the rear end of the seat cushion, A reclining cover that covers the end of the reclining mechanism and one of the sides of the pair of cushion side frames, A vehicle seat comprising a base cover that covers a functional component and can be attached to the cushion side frame, wherein the base cover secures the reclining cover to the cushion side frame between the reclining cover and the cushion side frame, and the load applied to the reclining cover is supported by the cushion side frame. (Note 2) The reclining cover has a support portion in which a groove is formed on the upper inner side, The vehicle seat according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the base cover has a flange portion extending in the front-rear direction of the seat at its upper part, and the flange portion is fixed to the cushion side frame by being inserted into the groove formed in the support portion of the reclining cover. (Note 3) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 2, characterized in that the cross-section of the base cover, which includes the flange portion that supports the reclining cover and the fixing portion that is attached to the cushion side frame, is formed in a crank shape. (Note 4) The base cover has a boss formed on its inner side surface, The cushion side frame has through holes formed at positions corresponding to the bosses, A vehicle seat according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that the boss of the base cover is inserted through the through hole of the cushion side frame, thereby restricting the front-rear and up-down position of the base cover relative to the cushion side frame. (Note 5) The base cover has a tapping fixing portion that is fixed to the cushion side frame by screwing, and an engaging claw portion that is fixed by engaging the claw portion. A vehicle seat according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, characterized in that the tapping fixing portion and the engaging claw portion are arranged to overlap in the front-rear direction. (Note 6) An inner cover is provided between the base cover and the reclining cover. The vehicle seat according to any one of the appendices 1 to 5, characterized in that the inner cover is fixed to the outer side surface of the base cover. (Note 7) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 6, characterized in that the base cover and the inner cover are engaged by resin claws. (Note 8) The aforementioned functional component includes a switching unit, The vehicle seat according to appendix 6 or 7, characterized in that the switching unit is disposed between the inner cover and the reclining cover and fixed to the inner cover. (Note 9) The vehicle seat according to Appendix 8, characterized in that the switching unit is located inside the base cover in a side view and is positioned to overlap with the fixing position where the base cover is fixed to the cushion side frame. (Note 10) The vehicle seat according to any one of the appendices 1 to 9, characterized in that the reclining cover is fixed by a fixing claw provided at the front end of the reclining cover hooking onto the base cover. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] S, SA, SB Vehicle seats (seats for vehicles) T Cushion Trim Cover (Cushion Cover) P Pad F, FA seat frame Sh Seat Body 1 seat back 2 seat cushions 3 Headrests 4 slide rails 7. Reclining mechanism 10 Seat back frame 11 Upper Frame 11a Headrest Guide 12 Lower Frame 13. Backside frame (side frame) 14 First component 14a External surface 14b opening 15 First connection section 15a Flat part 16 Second Member 16a External surface 16b opening 17 Second connection section 17a Flat part 17b Flange 20 Seat Cushion Frame 21 Cushion side frame (side frame) 22 Front connecting frame 23 Rear connecting frame 24 Cushion Pan Frame 30 Headrest Frame 31 Headrest Pillar 41 Lower Rail 42 Upper Rail 50 Reclining Covers 51 Ribs (support section) 52 Groove 53 Fixed claw 54 Resin claws 60 Base Cover 61 Flange section 62 Fixed part 62a Medial side 62b Outer side 63 Boss 64 Tapping fixing part 65 Engaging claw portion 66 Contact protrusion 68 Engagement holes 69 Wall 70 Switching Units 71 switches 80 Unit Cover (Inner Cover) 81 Tapping fixing part 82 Resin nails 83 Engagement hole 84 Wall 90 Actuators

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a seat body and a seat frame that forms the skeleton of the seat body, The aforementioned seat frame has a pair of side frames that are spaced apart in the seat width direction, Each of the pair of side frames is composed of at least a first member and a second member divided in the longitudinal direction. The first member has a first connecting portion that connects to the second member, The second member has a second connecting portion that connects to the first member, A vehicle seat characterized in that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion each have a planar portion extending in the longitudinal direction, and the first member and the second member are connected in a state where the planar portions of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion face each other and overlap.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the first member and the second member are formed of different plate thicknesses or types of materials.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that either the first connecting portion of the first member or the second connecting portion of the second member is located on the inside of the other.

4. Of the first and second connecting portions, the one located on the inside is formed as a stepped portion. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that when the first member and the second member are connected, the outer surface of the first member and the outer surface of the second member are flush with each other.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, characterized in that a flange extending inward from the side is formed on one of the first and second connecting portions that is located on the inside, and a flange is not formed on the other.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the length in the seat width direction of one of the first and second connecting portions located on the inside is longer than the length in the seat width direction of the other.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening in the side frame is formed at a position that avoids the first connection portion or the second connection portion.

8. The aforementioned seat frame is a seat back frame that forms the skeleton of the seat back, which is the backrest portion. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of side frames are the back side frames of the seat back frame.

9. The aforementioned seat frame is a seat cushion frame that forms the framework of the seat cushion, which is the seating area. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the pair of side frames are cushion side frames of the seat cushion frame.

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