Vehicle seat blower mounting structure and vehicle seat

Abstract

In a configuration where the blower mounting is locked by rotating it in one direction, the objective is to provide a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat that can prevent the lock from being released. [Solution] A blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat 10, comprising: a blower mounting member 30 disposed within the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 10 and having a blower mounting hole and a locking portion 32; and a blower 42 configured to be attached to the blower mounting member 30 by being rotated in one direction around the axis of the blower mounting hole while fitted into the blower mounting hole, and having a locking portion 44D that is locked by the locking portion 32 by the rotation in the one direction, wherein the blower 42 has a connector portion 44C protruding in the one direction on its upper side, and the other end of a harness 62, one end of which is connected to the connector portion 44C, extends downward toward the seat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] A structure in which a blower for air conditioning is attached to an upper frame of a seat back frame built into a seat back of a vehicle seat has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The harness connected to the connector of this blower extends downward along the side frame of the seat back frame.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a blower mounted on a vehicle seat, there is a configuration in which its attachment is locked by rotating it in one direction. In such a configuration, if the harness extending from the blower extends so as to bias in the rotational direction opposite to the one direction, there is a possibility that the lock will be released.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat that can prevent the lock from being released in a configuration in which the attachment of the blower is locked by rotating it in one direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a blower mounting member disposed within the seat back of a vehicle seat and having a blower mounting hole and a locking portion, and a blower configured to be attached to the blower mounting member by being fitted into the blower mounting hole and rotated in one direction about the axis of the blower mounting hole, and having a locking portion that is locked to the locking portion by the rotation in the one direction, wherein the blower has a connector portion on its upper side that protrudes toward the one direction, and the other end of a harness, one end of which is connected to the connector portion, extends toward the lower side of the seat.

[0007] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a blower mounting member, which is positioned inside the seat back of a vehicle seat, is provided with a blower mounting hole and a locking portion. A blower is fitted into the blower mounting hole. The blower is attached to the blower mounting member by rotating it in one direction about the axis of the blower mounting hole while it is fitted into the blower mounting hole. This rotation in one direction causes the locking portion provided on the blower to lock into the locking portion of the blower mounting member.

[0008] Here, a connector is provided on the upper side of the blower, protruding in one direction. The other end of the harness, which is connected to the connector, extends downwards towards the seat. As a result, the connector is pulled downwards by the weight of the harness, and a rotational biasing force acts on the blower in one direction (locking direction) around the axis. Therefore, the blower's lock is prevented from being released.

[0009] Furthermore, a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to a second aspect of the present invention is a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to the first aspect, wherein the locking portion is a projection, and the locked portion has an elongated hole into which the projection can be inserted, and the projection is inserted into one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole when the blower is fitted into the blower mounting hole, and is held at the other end in the longitudinal direction when the blower is positioned relative to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole by rotation in the one direction.

[0010] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the locking portion is a projection, and the locked portion has an elongated hole into which the projection can be inserted. The projection is inserted into one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole when the blower is fitted into the blower mounting hole, and is held at the other end in the longitudinal direction when the blower is positioned relative to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole by rotation in one direction of the blower. Therefore, the workability when attaching the blower to the blower mounting member is improved.

[0011] Furthermore, a vehicle seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a seat cushion on which an occupant sits, and a seat back that supports the occupant's back and has the blower mounting structure of the vehicle seat according to the first or second embodiment.

[0012] According to the third embodiment of the invention, since the seat back has the blower mounting structure of the vehicle seat according to the first or second embodiment, in a configuration in which the mounting of the blower is locked by rotating it in one direction, the lock is prevented from being released. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] As described above, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which the blower is locked by rotating it in one direction, it is possible to prevent the lock from being released. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a rear view showing the seat back of a vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing an air conditioning duct provided on the seat back of a vehicle seat according to this embodiment, as viewed from the front of the seat. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the duct and blower as seen from the rear of the seat. [Figure 5]It is a perspective view showing a state where the blower is removed from the duct. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the blower mounting member provided on the duct as viewed from the rear side of the seat. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the blower mounting member as viewed from the front side of the seat. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing the blower as viewed from the rear side of the seat. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the blower as viewed from the front side of the seat. [Figure 10] It is a first perspective view showing a part of the blower. [Figure 11] It is a second perspective view showing a part of the blower. [Figure 12] It is a rear view showing a state during the attachment of the blower to the blower mounting member as viewed from the rear side of the seat. [Figure 13] It is a rear view showing a state where the attachment of the blower to the blower mounting member is completed as viewed from the rear side of the seat.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawings. Also, the arrows FR, LH, RH, and UP appropriately shown in each figure indicate the front, left, right, and upper directions of the vehicle seat 10, respectively. Hereinafter, when simply using the directions of front and rear, left and right, and up and down for explanation, it shall indicate the directions with respect to the vehicle seat 10.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, a front seat of a vehicle, and includes a seat cushion 12 on which an occupant sits, a seat back 14 that supports the occupant's back, and a headrest 16 that supports the occupant's head. The seat cushion 12 is connected to the floor of the vehicle via a well-known slide mechanism 18. The lower end of the seat back 14 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 12 via a well-known reclining mechanism 20. The headrest 16 is connected to the upper end of the seat back 14 so that its vertical position can be adjusted.

[0017] The seat back 14 includes a seat back frame (not shown) which is a skeletal member, a seat back pad 22 which is a cushion material, and a trim cover 24 which is a skin material. The seat back frame is constituted by, for example, a press-formed metal plate, and both left and right sides of the seat back frame are a pair of left and right side frames extending in the vertical direction.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, wire members 21 extending in the vertical direction are attached to each of the pair of left and right side frames. And between the left and right wire members 21, a plurality (five in the illustrated example) of spring members 23 are installed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The middle part of a harness 62 described later is configured to be held by a clamp member 25 provided on the wire member 21 on one side (the left side in the illustrated example).

[0019] The seat back pad 22 is constituted by, for example, a foam such as urethane foam, and is covered on the seat back frame from above. The trim cover 24 is formed in a bag shape by sewing a plurality of skin pieces made of, for example, a cloth material, leather, or synthetic leather, and is covered on the seat back pad 22 from above.

[0020] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2, 3 to 5, the seat back 14 includes an air conditioning duct 26 attached to the seat back frame and a blower 42 attached to the duct 26. The duct 26 is formed in the shape of a long, thin bag using a fabric material such as nonwoven fabric, with its length in the vertical direction and its thickness in the front-to-back direction, and is positioned on the rear side of the seat back pad 22 inside the seat back 14. Inside the duct 26, a flow path (flow) for air conditioning is formed by the operation of the blower 42.

[0021] The front portion 26A of the duct 26 is in contact with the back of the seat back pad 22, and as shown in Figure 3, a plurality of intake holes 28 are formed in the front portion 26A of the duct 26. Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of ventilation holes are formed in the seat back pad 22 at locations opposite to the plurality of intake holes 28. The plurality of intake holes 28 communicate with the front of the seat back pad 22 through these ventilation holes.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5, a blower mounting member 30 is provided on the upper part of the rear portion 26B of the duct 26. The blower mounting member 30 is manufactured, for example, by resin injection molding, and is formed in a ring-shaped plate form as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The blower mounting member 30 is positioned with the front-to-back direction as the plate thickness direction. This blower mounting member 30, together with the blower 42, constitutes the "blower mounting structure" according to this embodiment.

[0023] The outer periphery of the blower mounting member 30 is a flange portion 30A. This flange portion 30A is located inside the duct 26 and is fixed to the rear portion 26B of the duct 26 by means of adhesive or other means. A projection 32 is provided on a part of this flange portion 30A (in this case, the lower right portion) that penetrates the rear portion 26B of the duct 26 and protrudes toward the rear side of the duct 26. This projection 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the front-to-back direction as its axis. This projection 32 corresponds to the "locking portion" in this embodiment.

[0024] The inner circumference portion of the blower mounting member 30 is a blower mounting portion 30B that protrudes further rearward than the flange portion 30A. Corresponding to this blower mounting portion 30B, a circular through-hole 34 is formed in the rear portion 26B of the duct 26, when viewed from the front-to-rear direction. The blower mounting portion 30B is fitted into the through-hole 34 and is exposed on the rear side of the duct 26.

[0025] In the center of the blower mounting portion 30B, a roughly circular blower mounting hole 36 is formed when viewed from the front or back direction. Multiple (four in this case) notches 36A are formed on the edge of the blower mounting hole 36. The multiple notches 36A are formed in a roughly rectangular shape with the circumferential direction of the blower mounting hole 36 as the longitudinal direction, and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the blower mounting hole 36.

[0026] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, multiple (four in this case) blower locking portions 38 are provided on the edge of the blower mounting hole 36 between multiple notches 36A. Each blower locking portion 38 has a protrusion 38A that projects radially inward from the blower mounting hole 36. A slit 40 extending in the circumferential direction of the blower mounting hole 36 is formed on the edge of the blower mounting hole 36, radially outward from each blower locking portion 38. This configuration makes it easier for each blower locking portion 38 to elastically deform radially outward from the blower mounting hole 36.

[0027] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the case 44 of the blower 42 has a roughly disc-shaped case body 44A with the front-to-back direction as its axis. Inside the case body 44A are a sirocco fan (not shown) and a motor that rotates the sirocco fan. A circular air intake port 46 is formed on the front of the case body 44A when viewed from the front-to-back direction.

[0028] An exhaust pipe section 44B is provided on the outer circumference of the case body 44A, protruding radially outward from the case body 44A. As shown in Figure 4, this exhaust pipe section 44B is provided so as to protrude downward from the lower left side of the case body 44A when the case body 44A of the blower 42 is attached to the duct 26. An exhaust port (not shown) is formed at the tip of this exhaust pipe section 44B.

[0029] Furthermore, a connector portion 44C is provided on the upper side of the outer periphery of the case body 44A, protruding radially outward from the case body 44A. As shown in Figure 4, this connector portion 44C is provided so as to protrude upward and to the left from the upper left of the case body 44A when the case body 44A of the blower 42 is attached to the duct 26.

[0030] A connector 64, attached to one end of a harness 62 that supplies power to the motor, is connected to this connector section 44C. The other end of the harness 62 extends downward. In other words, the weight of the harness 62 pulls the connector section 44C downward.

[0031] Furthermore, multiple (for example, two) retaining portions 44E are formed on the lower side of the outer periphery of the case body 44A to hold the harness 62. In addition, the middle portion of the harness 62 that extends below the case body 44A is held by the wire member 21 by the clamp member 25.

[0032] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, multiple (four in this case) locking claws 48 are formed on the front surface of the case body 44A at the edge of the air intake port 46. The multiple locking claws 48 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the case body 44A. Each locking claw 48 protrudes forward from the front surface of the case body 44A (i.e., one side in the axial direction of the case body 44A). At the location where each locking claw 48 is formed on the edge of the air intake port 46, a through hole 50 (see Figure 11) is formed for forming each locking claw 48.

[0033] Each locking claw 48 is composed of a plate-shaped forward projection 48A whose longitudinal direction is the circumferential direction of the case body 44A and whose thickness direction is the radial direction of the case body 44A, and an outward projection 48B that protrudes radially outward from the front-rear intermediate part of the forward projection 48A. As shown in Figure 10, two protrusions 52 are formed at the base end of the forward projection 48A, protruding radially outward from the case body 44A. The two protrusions 52 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the case body 44A.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the outer circumference of the case body 44A is provided with a locking portion 44D that protrudes radially outward from the case body 44A. The locking portion 44D is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape with the circumferential direction of the case body 44A as the longitudinal direction and the axial direction of the case body 44A as the thickness direction.

[0035] The locking portion 44D is positioned at a circumferential distance from the exhaust pipe portion 44B on the case body 44A. As shown in Figure 4, the locking portion 44D is provided so as to protrude downward and to the right from the lower right portion of the case body 44A when the case body 44A of the blower 42 is attached to the duct 26.

[0036] Furthermore, the locking portion 44D has an elongated hole 54 formed therein, with the circumferential direction of the case body 44A as its longitudinal direction. The elongated hole 54 is curved concentrically with the case body 44A. At one end of the elongated hole 54 in the longitudinal direction, a roughly circular widened portion 54A is formed when viewed from the front-to-back direction. In this widened portion 54A, the width of the elongated hole 54 is increased.

[0037] An inner slit 56A and an outer slit 56B are formed on the other end of the elongated hole 54 in the longitudinal direction. The inner slit 56A is positioned radially inward of the case body 44A relative to the longitudinal center and other end of the elongated hole 54, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 54. The outer slit 56B is positioned radially outward of the case body 44A relative to the longitudinal center and other end of the elongated hole 54, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 54. The inner slit 56A and the outer slit 56B are connected to the other end of the elongated hole 54 in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] An inner elastic piece 58A is formed between the elongated hole 54 and the inner slit 56A, and an outer elastic piece 58B is formed between the elongated hole 54 and the outer slit 56B. The inner elastic piece 58A and the outer elastic piece 58B are elastically deformable in the radial direction of the case body 44A. A projection 60 is formed at the tip of each of the inner elastic piece 58A and the outer elastic piece 58B, projecting toward the elongated hole 54. The projection 32 is designed to catch on this projection 60.

[0039] The vehicle seat 10 and blower mounting structure according to this embodiment, configured as described above, will now be described in terms of their operation (including the mounting method).

[0040] In the vehicle seat 10 with the above configuration, the back of the occupant seated on the seat cushion 12 is supported by the seat back 14. The blower mounting member 30 located inside the seat back 14 is provided with a blower mounting hole 36 and a projection 32 that serves as a locking part. The blower 42 is fitted into the blower mounting hole 36.

[0041] The blower 42 is attached to the blower mounting member 30 by rotating it in one direction around the axis of the blower mounting hole 36 (counterclockwise when viewed from the rear: in the direction of arrow L in Figures 12 and 13) with the multiple locking claws 48 of the case 44 fitted into the multiple notches 36A of the blower mounting hole 36. This rotation in one direction locks the locking portion 44D provided on the blower 42 into the projection 32 provided on the blower mounting member 30.

[0042] More specifically, the mounting method is described as shown in Figure 12. When the blower 42 is attached to the blower mounting member 30, multiple locking claws 48 of the case 44 are fitted into multiple notches 36A of the blower mounting hole 36, and the projection 32 of the blower mounting member 30 is inserted into the widened portion 54A of the elongated hole 54 of the locked portion 44D. In this state, the blower 42 is rotated in one direction (arrow L direction) around the axis of the blower mounting hole 36.

[0043] This rotation in one direction causes the outward projections 48B of the multiple locking claws 48 to catch on the edge of the blower mounting hole 36 from the front, and the edge of the hole of the blower mounting member 30 is sandwiched between the outward projections 48B of each locking claw 48 and the case body 44A. As a result, the blower 42 is restrained in the front-rear direction relative to the blower mounting member 30.

[0044] Furthermore, the protrusions 38A formed on each blower locking portion 38 of the blower mounting member 30 fit between the two protrusions 52 formed on the forward projection 48A of each locking claw 48. During this fitting, each blower locking portion 38 elastically deforms radially outward from the blower mounting hole 36 and then elastically returns to its original position. This fitting restrains the blower 42 relative to the blower mounting member 30 in the circumferential direction of the blower mounting hole 36.

[0045] Furthermore, this unidirectional rotation causes the projection 32 of the blower mounting member 30 to be positioned relative to the other end of the elongated hole 54 of the locked portion 44D in the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 13, and the projections 60 of the inner elastic piece 58A and the outer elastic piece 58B to catch on the projection 32. At this time, the inner elastic piece 58A and the outer elastic piece 58B elastically deform toward opposite sides and then elastically return to their original state. This catch holds the projection 32 at the other end of the elongated hole 54 in the longitudinal direction, and the locked portion 44D is locked (restrained) by the projection 32. This completes the attachment of the blower 42 to the blower mounting member 30.

[0046] Here, as shown in Figure 13, the blower 42, once attached to the blower mounting member 30, is biased by the harness 62 in one direction (arrow L direction) around the axis of the blower mounting hole 36. That is, the connector portion 44C that protrudes radially outward from the upper side of the case body 44A of the blower 42 is provided to protrude upward and to the left (one direction, arrow L direction) from the upper left side of the outer circumference of the case body 44A.

[0047] Furthermore, the other end of the harness 62, to which the connector 64 at one end is connected, extends downward to the connector portion 44C. As a result, the connector portion 44C is pulled to the left and downward by the weight of the harness 62, thereby acting a rotational biasing force on the blower 42 in one direction around the axis, or in other words, a rotational biasing force on the blower mounting member 30 in the locking direction of the blower 42. Thus, it is possible to prevent the blower 42 from being unlocked.

[0048] Furthermore, when attaching the connector 64 of the harness 62 to the connector portion 44C of the blower 42, if the excess length of the harness 62 is short, the installation workability will be poor, and problems such as disconnection or detachment of the harness 62 may occur. However, in this embodiment, the harness 62 extends downward, and sufficient excess length can be secured, so the installation workability is good, and there is no risk of problems such as disconnection or detachment of the harness 62.

[0049] Furthermore, as described above, when the blower 42 is fitted into the blower mounting hole 36 of the blower mounting member 30, the projection 32 acting as a locking part is inserted into the widened portion 54A formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 54 of the locked portion 44D. Then, when the blower 42 is rotated in one direction around the axis of the blower mounting hole 36, the projection 32 is positioned relative to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 54, and the projection 32 is held at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 54.

[0050] In this embodiment, with this configuration, when fitting the multiple locking claws 48 of the blower 42 into the multiple notches 36A of the blower mounting hole 36, the positions of the widened portion 54A of the elongated hole 54 and the projection 32 can be aligned to position the multiple locking claws 48 in the fitting position for the multiple notches 36A. In other words, the widened portion 54A and the projection 32 can function as alignment markers when attaching the blower 42 to the blower mounting member 30. Therefore, the workability when attaching the blower 42 to the blower mounting member 30 can be improved.

[0051] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments described, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from its essence. In other words, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those of the embodiments described above. Furthermore, although the above embodiments described the case in which the present invention is applied to seats for vehicles, the present invention can also be applied to seats for vehicles other than vehicles (for example, aircraft and ships). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14 Seatback 30 Blower mounting components 32. Protrusion (locking part) 36 Blower mounting holes 42 Blower 44C connector section 44D Locked part 54 long hole 62 Harness

Claims

1. A blower mounting member is positioned inside the seat back of a vehicle seat and has a blower mounting hole and a locking part. The blower is configured to be attached to the blower mounting member by being fitted into the blower mounting hole and rotated in one direction about the axis of the blower mounting hole, and has a locking portion that is locked to the locking portion by the rotation in the one direction, Equipped with, The blower has a connector portion that protrudes in one direction on its upper side, A blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat, in which one end of a harness is connected to the connector and the other end extends downwards toward the seat.

2. The locking portion is a projection, and the locked portion has an elongated hole into which the projection can be inserted. The aforementioned protrusion is A blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the blower is inserted into one end of the elongated hole when fitted into the blower mounting hole, and is held at the other end of the elongated hole when the blower is positioned relative to the other end of the elongated hole by rotation in the one direction.

3. The seat cushion on which the occupants sit, A seat back that supports the back of the occupant and has a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat as described in claim 1 or claim 2, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

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