Vehicle seats

Abstract

To allow occupants to sit comfortably without feeling pressure on the back of their thighs. [Solution] A vehicle seat 1 having a seat cushion 2 that elastically supports a sitter and cushion frames 7 and 8 that support the seat cushion 2, wherein recesses 22 that are recessed toward the rear of the vehicle are formed at both left and right sides of the front edge 21 of the seat cushion 2, and the cushion frames 7 and 8 have bent portions 8 that are arranged along the front edge 21 of the seat cushion 2 and the recesses 22 formed at both left and right sides of the front edge 21.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle seat has, for example, a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat cushion has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. (See, for example, Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional vehicle seat, the front edge of the seat cushion is formed in a substantially straight line shape. Therefore, when sitting, a seated person such as a driver may feel a sense of pressure on the back side of the thigh. When the seated person is a driver, it is not comfortable to maintain a posture in which the pedal operation is possible, that is, a posture in which the foot reaches the accelerator pedal or the brake pedal, with a sense of pressure on the back of the thigh.

[0005] Also, when the driver is small, it is necessary to raise the seat height in order to secure the forward field of view during driving. In such a case, in particular, the driver will feel a sense of pressure on the back side of the thigh.

[0006] This case was conceived by paying attention to such problems, and one of the objectives is to provide a vehicle seat that allows a seated person to sit comfortably without feeling a sense of pressure on the back of the thigh.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This project was undertaken to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and can be implemented in the following forms or applications.

[0008] The vehicle seat according to this application example is a vehicle seat having a seat cushion that elastically supports a sitter and a cushion frame that supports the seat cushion, wherein recesses are formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge of the seat cushion, and the cushion frame has a bent portion that is arranged along the front edge of the seat cushion and the recesses formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge.

[0009] According to this application example, recesses are formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge of the seat cushion, indenting toward the rear of the vehicle. This reduces the pressure the driver feels on the back of their thighs when seated, thereby improving comfort. Furthermore, if the seated person is the driver of the vehicle, reducing pressure on the back of the driver's thighs allows the driver to assume a comfortable posture for pedal operation and reduces fatigue during driving. Additionally, the bending portion of the cushion frame is positioned along the front edge of the seat cushion and the recesses, ensuring that the seat cushion with the recesses is securely supported, allowing the seated person to sit stably.

[0010] Furthermore, in the vehicle seat according to this application example, it is desirable that the bent portion be axially supported by the seat frame and formed to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

[0011] In this case, the bending section moves up and down to match the sitter's physique and posture, causing the seat cushion to deform to suit the sitter's body and posture, thereby improving the sitter's comfort.

[0012] Furthermore, it is desirable that the vehicle seat according to this application example has a pressing portion that presses to rotate the bent portion upward.

[0013] In this case, the bent portion of the cushion frame is pressed upwards towards the vehicle, so simply by the occupant sitting on the seat cushion, the seat cushion deforms to a shape that matches the occupant's physique, thereby improving the occupant's comfort. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this case, the sitter can sit comfortably without feeling any pressure on the back of their thighs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a top view of a vehicle seat according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view showing the internal structure of the seat cushion. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of the internal structure of the seat cushion shown. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the support section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] The embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These embodiments are merely illustrative and do not preclude the application of various modifications or technologies not explicitly shown in the following embodiments. Each component of these embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from their intended purpose. Furthermore, components can be selected or combined as needed.

[0017] [1. Structure] In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle is designated as the front FR, the opposite direction (the reverse direction of the vehicle) as the rear RR, and the left and right (left LH and right RH) are defined based on the state in which the vehicle faces the front FR. Also, the front-rear direction is also referred to as the vehicle length direction, and the left-right direction is also referred to as the vehicle width direction. Further, the direction orthogonal to both the vehicle length direction and the vehicle width direction is referred to as the vertical direction (upward UP and downward DW). The vehicle is on a horizontal road surface and is in a posture where the vertical direction coincides with the gravitational direction (the downward direction coincides with the direction of the gravitational force). In this posture, the vertically upward direction is taken as the height direction.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle seat 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the seat cushion 2, and FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the internal configuration of the seat cushion 2. Further, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the support portion 10 shown in FIG. 3.

[0019] In FIG. 1, the seat cushion 2 is shown by a solid line, and the other configurations are shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 has a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3.

[0021] The seat cushion 2 elastically supports the seated occupant. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 2 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. Of the four sides forming this rectangular shape, the front side may be referred to as the seat front edge portion 21. Also, of the four sides forming the rectangular shape of the seat cushion 2, the rear side may be referred to as the rear side 24, the right side may be referred to as the right side 23R, and the left side may be referred to as the left side 23L. The seat front edge portion 21 is an example of the front edge portion of the seat cushion 2.

[0022] That is, in the seat cushion 2, two notch portions 22 are formed by cutting out each of two vertex portions adjacent to the front edge portion 21 of the seat. It can be said that notch portions 22 are formed at positions on the front side of the seat cushion 2, respectively, on the left and right sides sandwiching the front edge portion 21 of the seat. In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the notch portion 22 on the right side of the front edge portion 21 of the seat is formed at the corner formed by the front edge portion 21 of the seat and the right side 23R, and the notch portion 22 on the left side of the front edge portion 21 of the seat is formed at the corner formed by the front edge portion 21 of the seat and the left side 23L. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 1, it can also be said that the seat cushion 2 has a shape combining a substantially rectangular shape and a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from above.

[0023] Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, each notch portion 22 has an arc or a substantially arc shape, and these arcs are oriented such that the radius side is on the front side of the seat cushion 2. That is, each notch portion 22 is formed as a concave portion that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0024] These notch portions 22 are formed at positions corresponding to the back side of the thigh of the seated person (for example, the driver or a passenger) when the seated person sits on the vehicle seat 1.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat cushion 2 incorporates a seat frame 7, a crank frame 8, and a stopper frame 9. In FIG. 2, the seat frame 7L, the crank frame 8, and the stopper frame 9 are shown by solid lines, and other configurations are shown by two-dot chain lines.

[0026] The seat frame 7 is formed in two rod shapes and is arranged along the front-rear direction in the vicinity of the right side 23R and the left side 23L of the seat cushion 2, respectively. Of the seat frame 7, the seat frame 7 arranged in the vicinity of the right side 23R may be referred to as the seat frame 7R. Also, of the seat frame 7, the seat frame 7 arranged in the vicinity of the left side 23L may be referred to as the seat frame 7L.

[0027] The seat frames 7R and 7L extend from the rearward position of the seat cushion 2 to the vicinity of the point where the right side 23R and the left side 23L connect to the notch 22, respectively.

[0028] A crank frame 8 is attached to the front of the seat frame 7, connecting seat frame 7R and seat frame 7L. The seat frame 7 and crank frame 8 together constitute a cushion frame that supports the seat cushion 2.

[0029] In the example shown in Figure 1, the crank frame 8 has a roughly U-shape and is positioned along the front edge 21 of the seat and the notches 22 formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge 21. The crank frame 8 is an example of a bent portion positioned along the front edge (front edge 21) of the seat cushion 2 and the notches 22 (recesses) formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge 21.

[0030] The crank frame 8 is positioned with its U-shaped opening facing rearward, with one end pivotally supported by a support 10 in front of the seat frame 7R, and the other end pivotally supported by a support 10 in front of the seat frame 7L.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the support portion 10 includes a bolt 11, a nut 12, a kickback spring (torsion coil spring) 13, and a spring stopper 14.

[0032] Each end portion of the crank frame 8 and the front portion of each seat frame 7 have shaft holes (not shown) running in the left-right direction. The kickback spring 13 is inserted with the shaft holes at the ends of the crank frame 8 and the seat frame 7 in communication. One end arm of the kickback spring 13 is fixed to the outside of the seat frame 7 (opposite side from the crank frame 8) by a spring stopper 14. The other end arm of the kickback spring 13 is fixed to the inside of the crank frame 8 (opposite side from the seat frame 7) by a spring stopper 14.

[0033] Furthermore, a bolt 11 is inserted into the kickback spring 13, which is inserted with the shaft hole at the tip of the crank frame 8 and the shaft hole at the tip of the seat frame 7 in communication, and a nut 12 is screwed onto the tip of this bolt 11. The bolts 11 are arranged along the left-right direction.

[0034] As a result, the crank frame 8 is pivotally supported at each rear end by bolts 11 (pivotally supported to the seat frame 2 via bolts 11), and the front side is formed to be rotatable up and down with these bolts 11 as the axis of rotation. The kickback spring 13 is positioned to press against a spring retainer 14 fixed to the crank frame 8 in a direction that rotates the crank frame 8 upward, thereby working to maintain the crank frame 8 horizontally. The kickback spring 13 is an example of a pressing part that presses to rotate the crank frame 8 upward.

[0035] Furthermore, a stopper frame 9 is fixed to the seat frame 7 at a forward position, behind the support portion 10, so as to protrude forward at a position below the crank frame 8.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 3, the stopper frame 9 has a roughly V-shape, and with the opening of the V-shape facing rearward, one end is fixed to a position rearward of the support portion 10 of the seat frame 7R, and the other end is fixed to a position rearward of the support portion 10 of the seat frame 7L.

[0037] Furthermore, the front portion of the stopper frame 9 protrudes further forward than the front portion of the crank frame 8. As a result, when the crank frame 8 rotates downward on the bolt 11 of the support portion 10 as its axis and its front portion descends, the lower part of the crank frame 8 comes into contact with the upper part of the stopper frame 9, preventing the crank frame 8 from descending any further. In other words, the stopper frame 9 prevents the crank frame 8 from descending more than necessary from below the crank frame 8.

[0038] A seat back 3 is erected on the side of the seat cushion 2 opposite to the front edge 21 of the seat. An armrest 4 may be attached to the seat back 3. The seat back 3 may also be equipped with a reclining mechanism.

[0039] Furthermore, the seat 1 for this vehicle is equipped with a seat height adjustment mechanism (not shown), which allows the height of the seat cushion 2 to be changed as desired. The seat height adjustment mechanism is known, and its explanation is omitted.

[0040] [2. Action and Effects] The embodiment described above provides the following effects and advantages.

[0041] In the vehicle seat 1 according to this application example, notches 22 that are recessed toward the rear of the vehicle are formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge 21 of the seat cushion 2. This reduces the feeling of pressure on the back of the occupant's thighs when they sit down, thereby improving comfort.

[0042] Furthermore, when the seated person is the driver of the vehicle, reducing pressure on the back of the driver's thighs allows the driver to assume a comfortable posture for pedal operation and reduces fatigue during driving. Also, even when the driver is short and the seat height is raised to ensure a clear view of the road ahead, the pressure on the back of the driver's thighs can be reduced, improving comfort.

[0043] The crank frame 8 is positioned along the front edge 21 of the seat cushion 2 and each of the notches 22, thereby securely supporting the seat cushion 2 with the notches 22 formed therein, allowing the occupant to sit stably.

[0044] Furthermore, since the crank frame 8 is configured to rotate vertically relative to the seat frame 7 using the bolt 11 of the support part 10 as the axis of rotation, the crank frame 8 moves up and down to match the occupant's physique and posture, and the seat cushion 2 deforms to match the occupant's physique and posture, thereby improving the occupant's comfort. In addition, when the driver extends their legs downward to operate the pedals, the crank frame 8 moves downward following the driver's legs, making it easier to reach the pedals. This also improves the operability of the pedals.

[0045] Furthermore, the kickback spring 13 presses against the spring stopper 14 fixed to the crank frame 8 in a direction that rotates the crank frame 8 upward. As a result, simply by the occupant sitting on the seat cushion 2, the seat cushion 2 deforms to a shape that matches the occupant's physique, thereby improving the occupant's comfort.

[0046] [3. Others] The disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the spirit of this embodiment.

[0047] For example, the above-described embodiment shows an example in which the notch 22 has an arc shape or a substantially arc shape, but it is not limited to this, and the shape and size of the notch 22 can be modified in various ways. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 1. Vehicle seat 2 seat cushions 3 Seatback 4. Armrests 5. Operating lever 6. Slide mechanism 7 Seat Frame 8 Crank Frame 9 Stopper Frame 10 Support part 11 volts 12 nuts 13 Kickback Spring 14 Spring stopper 21 Front edge of the seat 22 Notch 23R Right side 23L Left side 24 Back side

Claims

1. A vehicle seat having a seat cushion that elastically supports a occupant and a cushion frame that supports the seat cushion, In the aforementioned seat cushion, recesses are formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge, respectively, that are recessed toward the rear of the vehicle. The cushion frame has a bent portion that is positioned along the front edge of the seat cushion and the recesses formed on both the left and right sides of the front edge. A vehicle seat characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned bent portion is pivotally supported by the seat frame and is formed to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized by its features.

3. It has a pressing part that presses to rotate the bent portion upward. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, characterized by its features.

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