Vehicle seat blower mounting structure and vehicle seat

Abstract

The present invention provides a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat that can improve whiplash avoidance performance in a vehicle seat equipped with a duct and a blower on the seat back. [Solution] The blower mounting structure for the vehicle seat 10 comprises a duct 26 located on the rear side of the seat back pad 22 built into the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 10, a blower mounting member 30 provided on the surface of the duct 26 facing the rear side of the seat, and a blower 42 attached to the blower mounting member 30 to form an airflow inside the duct 26. The vehicle seat 10 is equipped with this blower mounting structure.

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 breathable seat structure in which a bag body is provided on the front side (the side where the back of the occupant contacts) of the seat back of a vehicle seat has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when a blower for forming an air flow is provided on the seat back frame inside the duct (bag body), or when the duct is provided on the front side of the seat back, when the vehicle is rear-ended, it becomes difficult for the seated occupant to enter the seat back. That is, it becomes easy to hit the seated occupant. Thus, in a vehicle seat provided with a duct and a blower in the seat back, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving the performance of avoiding hitting.

[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 improve the performance of avoiding hitting in a vehicle seat provided with a duct and a blower in the seat back.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a duct located on the rear side of a seat back pad built into the seat back of a vehicle seat, a blower mounting member provided on the surface of the duct facing the rear side of the seat, and a blower attached to the blower mounting member to form an airflow inside the duct.

[0007] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a duct is positioned on the rear side of the seat back pad, which is built into the seat back of a vehicle seat. A blower mounting member is provided on the surface of the duct facing the rear of the seat, and a blower that forms an airflow inside the duct is attached to this blower mounting member. Therefore, when a vehicle is rear-ended, the seated occupant is more likely to be pulled into the seat back, making whiplash less likely to occur in the seated occupant. In other words, according to the present invention, the whiplash avoidance performance is improved in a vehicle seat equipped with a duct and a blower in the seat back.

[0008] Furthermore, a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention is a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment, wherein the blower mounting member has a blower mounting hole and a locking portion, and the blower is mounted 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.

[0009] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the blower mounting member is provided with a blower mounting hole and a locking portion. The 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. Therefore, the workability when attaching the blower to the blower mounting member is improved.

[0010] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to the present invention is a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to the second embodiment, 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 of the blower in the one direction.

[0011] According to the third 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 rotated in one direction and is positioned relative to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole. Therefore, the workability when attaching the blower to the blower mounting member is improved.

[0012] Furthermore, the fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion on which an occupant sits, and a seat back that supports the occupant's back and has a blower mounting structure for any one of the first to third embodiments of the vehicle seat.

[0013] According to the fourth embodiment of the invention, the seat back has a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to any one of the first to third embodiments, thereby improving whiplash avoidance performance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, whiplash avoidance performance can be improved in a vehicle seat equipped with a duct and a blower on the seat back. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a side view showing a vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]It is a rear view showing the seat back of the vehicle seat according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the duct for air conditioning provided in the seat back of the vehicle seat according to this embodiment as viewed from the front side of the seat. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the duct and the blower as viewed from the rear side of the seat. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the 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 the 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 the completed state of the attachment of the blower to the blower mounting member as viewed from the rear side of the seat.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for ease of viewing 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.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, the front seat of a vehicle and comprises a seat cushion 12 on which the 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 sliding 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 as to be vertically adjustable.

[0018] The seat back 14 comprises a seat back frame (not shown) which is a skeletal member, a seat back pad 22 which is a cushioning material, and a trim cover 24 which is a surface material. The seat back frame is made of, for example, a press-formed metal plate, and both the left and right sides of the seat back frame are a pair of left and right side frames that extend in the vertical direction.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a pair of left and right side frames are each fitted with wire members 21 that extend in the vertical direction. Between the left and right wire members 21, several (five in the illustrated example) spring members 23 are installed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The middle section of the harness 62, which will be described later, is held by a clamp member 25 provided on one side (the left side in the illustrated example) of the wire member 21.

[0020] The seat back pad 22 is made of a foam material such as urethane foam and is placed over the seat back frame from above. The trim cover 24 is formed into a bag shape by sewing together multiple pieces of surface material such as cloth, leather, or synthetic leather and is placed over the seat back pad 22 from above.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a blower mounting member 30 is provided on the upper part of the rear surface 26B, which faces the rear of the duct 26, and in a position that does not interfere with the headrest stay (not shown) and the multiple spring members 23. 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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 (in one direction around the axis of the blower mounting hole 36, which will be described later).

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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).

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, this rotation in one direction 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, and the protrusions 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 of each other and then elastically return to their original state.

[0047] 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. 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. This prevents the blower 42 from being released.

[0048] Here, the duct 26 is located on the rear side of the seat back pad 22 which is built into the seat back 14. The blower mounting member 30 is located on the upper part of the rear portion 26B of the duct 26, in a position that does not interfere with the headrest stay and the multiple spring members 23, and as described above, the blower 42 is attached to the blower mounting member 30.

[0049] Therefore, when a vehicle is rear-ended, the duct 26 and blower 42 do not obstruct the phenomenon of a seated occupant being pulled into the seat back 14. As a result, the seated occupant is more likely to be pulled into the seat back 14, and whiplash is less likely to occur in that occupant. In other words, according to this embodiment, the whiplash avoidance performance can be improved in a vehicle seat 10 equipped with a duct 26 and a blower 42 in the seat back 14.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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]

[0053] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14 Seatback 22 Seat back pad 26 ducts 30 Blower mounting components 32. Protrusion (locking part) 36 Blower mounting holes 42 Blower 44D Locked part 54 long hole

Claims

1. A duct located on the rear side of the seat back pad, which is built into the seat back of a vehicle seat, A blower mounting member is provided on the surface of the duct facing the rear side of the seat, A blower is attached to the blower mounting member and forms an airflow inside the duct, A blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The blower mounting member has a blower mounting hole and a locking portion, The blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the blower is mounted 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 the blower mounting structure has a locking portion that is locked to the locking portion by the rotation in the one direction.

3. 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 The blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat according to claim 2, 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 it is positioned relative to the other end of the elongated hole by rotation of the blower in the one direction.

4. 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 any one of claims 1 to 3, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

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