Vehicle seats

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle seat that can improve the upper body hold and head stability of the occupant while the vehicle is in motion, especially when turning. [Solution] The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat back frame 18 erected from the rear end of the seat cushion 12, a seat back pad 17 positioned on the front side of the seat back frame 18 to support the back of the occupant, a long first support member (wire 30A) positioned between the seat back frame 18 and the seat back pad 17, extending in a direction inclined with respect to the seat width direction and transmitting a reaction force to the back of the occupant M via tension, and a long second support member (wire 30B) positioned between the seat back frame 18 and the seat back pad 17, extending inclined with respect to the seat width direction so as to intersect with the first support member at the lumbar region L and transmitting a reaction force to the back of the occupant M via tension.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to suppress the fatigue feeling of the occupant against the rocking during vehicle running and the external force during turning, a vehicle seat capable of appropriately adjusting the posture of the occupant has been proposed.

[0003] As an example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1 below, when the seating posture of the occupant changes due to the rocking of the vehicle or the like, the posture of the occupant is stabilized by a wire stretched in parallel with the width direction of the seat back from the frame of the subframe.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above prior art, the method for stabilizing the posture of the occupant is only the elastic force adjustment means by the wires stretched in parallel, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving the stability in the vehicle vertical direction in the roll direction.

[0006] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle seat capable of improving the holding property of the upper body and the stability of the head of the occupant during vehicle running, particularly during turning.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The vehicle seat according to claim 1 comprises: a seat back frame erected from the rear end of a seat cushion; a seat back pad positioned on the front side of the seat of the seat back frame to support the back of the occupant; a long first support member positioned between the seat back frame and the seat back pad, extending in a direction inclined with respect to the seat width direction and transmitting a reaction force to the back of the occupant via tension; and a long second support member positioned between the seat back frame and the seat back pad, extending inclined with respect to the seat width direction so as to intersect the first support member at the lumbar region and transmitting a reaction force to the back of the occupant via tension.

[0008] According to the present invention as described in claim 1, generally, when an occupant operates the steering wheel for turning, the shoulder portion of the occupant's upper body on the outside in the direction of turning is displaced toward the front of the vehicle in a plan view, while the waist portion is displaced toward the rear of the vehicle. This makes it easier for the occupant to operate the steering wheel, but on the other hand, the seat reaction force near the waist portion on the inside in the direction of turning is reduced, and the pressure distribution on the backrest tends to be biased toward the outside in the direction of turning.

[0009] In this invention, a long first support member is positioned between the seat back frame and the seat back pad, extending in a direction inclined with respect to the seat width direction. Therefore, when the waist on the outside in the turning direction is displaced towards the rear of the vehicle, tension is generated in the first support member, which can be transmitted as a reaction force to the shoulder on the inside in the turning direction via the first support member. In other words, it is possible to secure a reaction force near the shoulder on the inside in the turning direction. As a result, the overall fit between the seat back and the occupant's upper body is improved.

[0010] Furthermore, since the first and second support members are positioned at an angle to the seat width direction so as to intersect at the occupant's lumbar spine, the center point of pressure on the occupant's back from the seat back is raised higher on the seat than when the support members extend horizontally in the seat width direction, making it easier to obtain a shear moment that can withstand turning G.

[0011] As a result of these findings, the present invention improves the upper body hold and head stability of the occupant when the vehicle is in motion, particularly when turning.

[0012] The vehicle seat according to claim 2 further comprises, in the invention described in claim 1, an elongated third support member that extends in the seat width direction through the sacrum of the occupant and supports the sacrum of the occupant.

[0013] According to the present invention as described in claim 2, the third support member extends in the seat width direction through the occupant's sacrum and supports the occupant's sacrum by following the displacement of the occupant's lumbar region during turning, thereby maintaining an upright posture.

[0014] The vehicle seat according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the intersection of the first support member and the second support member is positioned at a location corresponding to the fourth lumbar vertebra of the occupant.

[0015] According to the present invention as described in claim 3, the intersection of the first support member and the second support member is positioned at a location corresponding to the fourth lumbar vertebra of the occupant, so that the intersection can support the fourth lumbar vertebra, which is the axis of rotation of the occupant's waist during turning.

[0016] The vehicle seat according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the first support member and the second support member are made of wire.

[0017] According to the present invention as described in claim 4, since the first support member and the second support member are made of wire, the strength and durability of the members are increased, it is possible to maintain a structure that generates reaction force, and maintainability such as re-tensioning of the members is improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, the vehicle seat according to the present invention described in claim 1 has an excellent effect of being able to improve the holding property of the upper body and the stability of the head of the occupant when the vehicle is running, particularly when turning.

[0019] The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in claim 2 has an excellent effect of being able to improve the stability of the body balance of the occupant by maintaining the upright sitting posture of the occupant.

[0020] The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in claim 3 has an excellent effect of being able to suppress the rotation of the occupant in the yaw direction during turning.

[0021] The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in claim 4 has an excellent effect of being able to suppress a decrease in the performance of supporting the back against the load repeatedly applied from the occupant during turning.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] (A) is a rear perspective view of the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment, and (B) is a rear view of the vehicle seat in (A). [Figure 2] (A) is a plan view of the occupant during a left turn, (B) is a rear view of the occupant during a left turn, (C) is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the wire arrangement in the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment and the body of the occupant, (D) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between the body part of the occupant and the wire in (C), (E) is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the wire arrangement in the vehicle seat according to the proportionality and the body of the occupant, and (F) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the positional relationship between the body part of the occupant and the wire in (E). [Figure 3] (A) is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the wire arrangement and the occupant when the minimum configuration of the vehicle seat is adopted, and (B) is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the wire arrangement and the occupant when the number of wires in the vehicle seat is increased. [Figure 4](A) is a schematic diagram showing the situation when an external force acts on an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat during a right turn, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing the situation when an external force acts on an occupant sitting on the seat related to the proportionality during a right turn. [Figure 5] (A) is a front view of the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment, and (B) is a front view of the occupant during a right turn.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(A) to 5(B). The arrow UP appropriately shown in each figure indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the arrow FR indicates the front side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction.

[0024] (Overall Structure of Vehicle Seat 10) FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view showing the whole vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment. Further, FIG. 1(B) is a rear view of the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in these figures, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment includes a seat cushion 12 on which an occupant sits, a seat back 16 that is rotatably supported around a support shaft 14 at the rear end of the seat cushion 12 and serves as a backrest, and a headrest 20 that is vertically movably supported at the upper end of the seat back 16. The support shaft 14 shown in FIG. 1(A) schematically shows a connecting rod (not shown) arranged with the seat width direction as the axial direction at the rear end of the seat cushion frame, which is a skeletal member of the seat cushion 12.

[0025] The seat cushion 12 extends in the front-rear direction and the width direction of the seat, and is configured to support the buttocks and thighs of the occupant from below the seat. Further, the seat cushion 12 is movably supported by a pair of left and right seat slide rails (not shown) provided on the vehicle body floor.

[0026] The seat back 16 comprises a seat back pad 17 for supporting the occupant's back and a metal seat back frame 18 that serves as a skeletal member. A headrest 20 for supporting the occupant's head H is supported at the upper end of the seat back frame 18.

[0027] (Key structural components of the vehicle seat 10) Multiple wires 26 are stretched between the aforementioned seat back frame 18 and the seat back pad 17 located on the front side of the seat. More specifically, multiple wires 26 are stretched between a pair of left and right side walls facing each other in the seat width direction at the opening of the seat back frame 18, which is formed in a roughly rectangular frame shape when viewed from the rear. With these wires 26 in place, when the posture of the occupant's upper body changes, the seat back pad 17 deforms and is supported by the load applied to the wires 26. This point will be explained in detail below.

[0028] Figure 2(C) shows a schematic rear view illustrating the state in which multiple wires 26, as shown in Figures 1(A) and (B) above, are extracted and attached to the human body. As shown in this figure, the wires 26 consist of one horizontal wire 28 stretched approximately parallel to the sheet width direction and a total of six inclined wires 30 stretched at an angle in the vertical direction of the sheet relative to the sheet width direction. Each wire 26 is made of a material with low bending rigidity and high elasticity.

[0029] Of these, the horizontal wire 28 is tensioned so as to support the portion of the occupant's lumbar region L corresponding to the sacrum (sacral vertebra) LA in a rear view, passing in the width direction of the seat and supporting it from the rear side of the seat. In other words, the horizontal wire 28 is tensioned so as to generate tension while following the occupant's yaw displacement during rotation.

[0030] On the other hand, the inclined wire 30 is stretched to support the occupant's shoulder S to waist L diagonally. Specifically, the inclined wire 30 is composed of three inclined wires 30A as first support members and three inclined wires 30B as second support members. The inclined wires 30A and 30B are arranged symmetrically in their configuration. That is, the inclined wire 30A is stretched from the upper right side of the seat to the lower left side of the seat, and is positioned to pass between the occupant's right shoulder S and the left side of their waist L. On the other hand, the inclined wire 30B is stretched from the upper left side of the seat to the lower right side of the seat, and is positioned to pass between the occupant's left shoulder S and the right side of their waist L.

[0031] The multiple inclined wires 30A described above are all set to the same angle of inclination with respect to the sheet width direction and are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction of the sheet. The multiple inclined wires 30B are configured in the same way.

[0032] As an example, the angle of the inclined wire 30 in this embodiment is determined by the angle from the end of the occupant's pelvis to the diagonally opposite armpit. More specifically, the inclination angle is the angle of inclination on the back of the seat back frame 18 with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction of the seat, and is set to an angle not exceeding 55 degrees.

[0033] To further elaborate on the (seated) occupant mentioned above, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4(A), (B), and 5(B), a dummy figure, AM50, is seated in a standard posture on the vehicle seat 10, and the rotation center CA during turning is set based on the position of AM50's thoracic vertebrae C. In addition, the positions of the occupant's lumbar region (lumbar vertebrae) L and sacrum (sacral vertebrae) LA are set as measurement points.

[0034] Furthermore, because the inclined wire 30A and the inclined wire 30B are arranged at an angle so as to be symmetrical when viewed from the rear, they work together with the horizontal wire 28 to form multiple intersections 32 that serve as support points behind the occupants.

[0035] The intersection 32 is composed of an intersection 32A formed by the intersection of the suspended inclined wire 30A and inclined wire 30B, and an intersection 32B where the lowest inclined wire 30A, the inclined wire 30B, and the horizontal wire 28 intersect.

[0036] The intersection 32A is positioned where the part corresponding to the occupant's spine makes contact. The intersection 32A is formed with the inclined wire 30A on the front side in the front-rear direction of the seat and the inclined wire 30B on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the seat. Measurement points for the sacrum LA (see Figures 2(C), 3(A), and 4(A)) and the thoracic vertebra C (see Figures 4(A) and (B)) are located on the extension of the intersection 32A.

[0037] The crossing points 32B are located on both the left and right sides of the fourth lumbar vertebra L4 in the occupant's lumbar region L.

[0038] Figure 2(D) shows a schematic diagram of the occupant as seen from above. As shown in this figure, the shoulder area is supported by inclined wire 30A on the right side of the shoulder S, with the intersection 32 as the boundary, and by inclined wire 30B on the left side of the shoulder S. Furthermore, the waist area is supported by inclined wire 30B on the right side and by inclined wire 30A on the left side, with the intersection 32 as the boundary. Arrow P indicates the load applied from the occupant to the inclined wires 30A and 30B, and arrow F indicates the reaction force received by the occupant from the inclined wires 30A and 30B.

[0039] (Mechanism of Action and Effects) Next, the operation and effects of the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0040] Normally, when the occupant M operates the steering wheel to turn, as shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), the shoulder S on the outer side of the occupant M's upper body in the direction of the turn is displaced towards the front of the vehicle, while the waist L is displaced towards the rear of the vehicle. This makes it easier for the occupant M to operate the steering wheel. In addition, centrifugal force acts on the outer side of the body as the vehicle turns. At this time, as shown in Figure 2(E), in the case of a proportional arrangement where the wire 27 is stretched in a roughly horizontal direction, as shown in Figure 2(F), the seat reaction force F near the waist L on the inner side in the direction of the turn is reduced, and the pressure distribution on the backrest tends to be biased towards the outer side in the direction of the turn.

[0041] More specifically, the analysis results, as shown in Figure 4(B), show that in the case of proportionality, the distribution of the reaction force received from the seat back 16 appears as a reaction force section FA on the side of the occupant M on the outside in the direction of rotation. In other words, since the upper body of the occupant M is tilted around the reaction force section FA, the part corresponding to the inside in the direction of rotation does not come into contact with the seat back 16. As a result, as shown in Figure 2(F), the reaction force F from the wire 27 is reduced against the combined force P of the force due to the change in the occupant M's posture during rotation and the centrifugal force acting on the occupant due to the vehicle's rotation. Consequently, the occupant's shoulder S and waist L tilt outward in the direction of rotation.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2(C), inclined wires 30A and 30B are arranged between the seat back frame 18 and the seat back pad 17, extending in a direction inclined with respect to the seat width direction. Therefore, when the waist portion L on the outside in the turning direction is displaced toward the rear of the vehicle, tension is generated in the inclined wire 30B, which can be transmitted via the inclined wire 30B as a reaction force to the shoulder portion S on the inside in the turning direction.

[0043] More specifically, the analysis results show that, as shown in Figure 4(A), the reaction force received from the seat back 16 appears in two locations as reaction force sections FB and FC. Reaction force section FB is located above the center of the occupant M's back compared to reaction force section FA, while reaction force section FC is located on the shoulder S on the inside in the turning direction. In other words, it is possible to secure a reaction force near the shoulder S on the inside in the turning direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 2(D), a reaction force F from the inclined wire 30 is applied to the combined force P of the force due to the change in the occupant M's posture during turning and the centrifugal force acting on the occupant due to the vehicle's turning. Consequently, the part of the occupant M's upper body corresponding to the inside in the turning direction also comes into contact with the seat back 16, improving the overall fit between the seat back 16 and the occupant M's upper body.

[0044] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(C), since the inclined wires 30A and 30B are arranged at an angle to the seat width direction so as to intersect at the lumbar spine L of the occupant M, the center point of the pressure received by the occupant M's back from the seat back 16 is raised towards the upper side of the seat compared to when the wire 26 extends horizontally in the seat width direction, making it easier to obtain a shear moment MO that can withstand the turning G.

[0045] More specifically, as shown in Figure 5(A), the shear moment MO is generated parallel to the seat surface. Here, compared to the reaction force FA from the proportionally proportional wire 27, the reaction forces FB and FC from the inclined wire 30 in this embodiment appear to push upwards on the upper body of the occupant M, so the position where the lumbar region L and thoracic vertebrae C receive the reaction force is shifted upwards (see Figures 4(A) and (B)).

[0046] As described above, the center of pressure on the occupant M's upper body shifts upward, increasing the length of the arm receiving the shear moment MO. In addition, the contact surface between the occupant's back and the seat back 16 increases, resulting in greater friction due to the reaction force. This makes it easier to obtain a shear moment MO that can withstand the turning G, and makes it easier to support the head and upper body.

[0047] As a result, in these embodiments, the ability to hold the occupant M's upper body and the stability of the head H are improved when the vehicle is in motion, especially when turning.

[0048] As described above, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment can improve the holding ability of the occupant M's upper body and the stability of the head H when the vehicle is in motion, especially when turning.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the horizontal wire 28 extends in the seat width direction through the sacrum LA of the occupant M and supports the sacrum LA of the occupant M. It follows and supports the lumbar region L of the occupant M as it displaces during turning, thereby maintaining an upright posture.

[0050] As a result, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment can improve the stability of the occupant M's body balance by maintaining an upright posture for the occupant M.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the intersection 32 where the inclined wire 30A and the inclined wire 30B intersect is positioned at a location corresponding to the fourth lumbar vertebra L4 of the occupant M, so that the intersection 32 can support the fourth lumbar vertebra L4, which becomes the axis of rotation of the occupant M's waist during rotation.

[0052] As a result, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment can suppress the rotation of the occupant M in the yaw direction during turning.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the inclined wires 30A and 30B are made of wire 26, the strength and durability of the members are increased, it is possible to maintain a structure that generates reaction force, and maintainability such as re-tensioning of the members is improved.

[0054] As a result, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment can suppress a decrease in the performance of supporting the back against repeated loads from the occupant M during turning.

[0055] In the embodiment described above, a horizontal wire 28 was provided, but this is not limited to this, and the horizontal wire 28 may be omitted.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, wires 26 were used as the first, second, and third support members, but the invention is not limited to these, and belt-shaped members may also be used.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inclined wires 30A and 30B are set to three each, but this is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 3(A), the inclined wire 30 may be composed of one inclined wire each for 30A and 30B, or as shown in Figure 3(B), the inclined wire 30 may be composed of four inclined wires each for 30A and 30B, or any other number may be used. In addition, the inclination angle and vertical spacing of the inclined wires 30A and 30B can be arbitrarily changed to achieve the desired effect.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the wire 26 is composed of three inclined wires 30A and 30B and one horizontal wire 28, but it is not limited to this configuration, and as shown in Figure 3(B), two horizontal wires 28 may be arranged, one above the other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 16 Seatback 17 Seat back pad 18 Seat back frame 26 wires 28 Horizontal wire (third support member) 30 Inclined wires 30A Inclined wire A (first support member) 30B Inclined wire B (second support member) 32A Intersection H head S Shoulder C Chest (thoracic vertebrae) L Lumbar region (lumbar vertebrae) L4 4th lumbar vertebra LA Sacral region (sacral vertebral region)

Claims

1. A seat back frame erected from the rear end of the seat cushion, A seat back pad is positioned on the front side of the seat back frame and supports the occupant's back, A long, elongated first support member is positioned between the seat back frame and the seat back pad, extending in a direction inclined with respect to the seat width direction, and transmitting a reaction force to the occupant's back via tension. A long second support member is positioned between the seat back frame and the seat back pad, extending inclined with respect to the seat width direction so as to intersect with the first support member at the lumbar region, and transmitting a reaction force to the occupant's back via tension. A vehicle seat having [a certain feature].

2. It further comprises a third elongated support member that extends in the seat width direction through the occupant's sacrum and supports the occupant's sacrum. A seat for a vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The intersection where the first support member and the second support member intersect is positioned at a location corresponding to the fourth lumbar vertebra of the occupant. A seat for a vehicle according to claim 1.

4. The first support member and the second support member are made of wire. A seat for a vehicle according to claim 1.

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