Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat which can easily and properly improve the sitting pressure dispersibility.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat 1 comprises: a back pad 20 which elastically supports a seating person; and a back frame 10 which supports the back pad 20 from the seat rear side by a pair of right and left side frames 11. The back pad 20 comprises: a pad body 21 which is made of a foamed body; and a rear surface material 22 which is integrally molded in a lamination shape on the seat rear side surface of the pad body 21 and forms a contact part with the pair of side frames 11. The pair of side frames 11 are arranged so as to deviate to one side (right side) in a seat width direction with respect to a center position CL in the seat width direction of a top plate part 20A of the back pad 20. The rear surface material 22 includes a first opening 22A which is in a continuous shape that continuously extends in the seat width direction between the pair of side frames 11 and lowers the reinforcement strength of the pad body 21 than that in a region on one side in a region on the other side (left side) in the seat width direction from the center position CL thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat including a seat pad that elastically supports a seat occupant, and a seat frame that supports the seat pad from a rear side of the seat by a pair of side frames aligned in the seat width direction. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A configuration is known for vehicle seats in which a hard material such as EPP (expanded polypropylene) is integrally embedded in a seat pad to improve seat pressure dispersion (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-54188 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is necessary to mold a hard material into a shape that can appropriately distribute the seating pressure, which is time-consuming to manufacture. Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle seat that can easily and appropriately improve the seating pressure distribution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle seat of the present invention takes the following measures.

[0006] That is, the vehicle seat of the present invention is a vehicle seat having a seat pad that elastically supports a seat occupant, and a seat frame that supports the seat pad from the back side of the seat with a pair of side frames aligned in the seat width direction. The seat pad has a pad main body made of a foam, and a back surface material that is integrally molded in a laminated form on the surface of the seat back side of the pad main body and forms an abutment portion with the pair of side frames. The pair of side frames are disposed offset to one side in the seat width direction with respect to the center position in the seat width direction of the top plate part of the seat pad. The back surface material has a continuous shape that extends continuously in the seat width direction between the pair of side frames, and has a first opening in a region from the center position to the other side in the seat width direction that reduces the reinforcing strength of the pad main body compared to the region on one side.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the pair of side frames are offset to one side in the seat width direction, so that the seat pad is configured such that the distance from the surface to the side frame is long and the deflection allowance is large in the region on one side in the seat width direction, and the seat pad is configured such that the distance from the surface to the side frame is short and the deflection allowance is small in the region on the other side in the seat width direction.

[0008] However, the seat pad has a first opening that reduces the reinforcing strength of the backing material that reinforces the other side area, so that the flexibility of the other side area can be made closer to that of the one side area, thereby appropriately improving the seating pressure dispersion of the seat pad.

[0009] The vehicle seat of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The first opening is an elongated hole extending in a direction intersecting with the seat width direction.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the hardness of the seat pad can be easily adjusted in a wide range in the seat length direction in response to a misalignment in the seat width direction.

[0011] The vehicle seat of the present invention may further be configured as follows: The backing material has a second opening portion that reduces the reinforcing strength also in a central region along the central position thereof.

[0012] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the seat pad can be configured so that the body of the seated occupant can easily enter into it without making the seat pad thick.

[0013] The vehicle seat of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The first opening and the second opening are each formed in the seat back at a position higher than the hip point of a seated occupant and extend in the height direction.

[0014] According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to improve the seating pressure dispersion of the seat back while ensuring an appropriate level of support firmness in the portion of the seat back that supports the lumbar region of the seated occupant.

[0015] The vehicle seat of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The pad thickness at a portion of the pad main body that abuts against the side frame on one side is thinner than the pad thickness at a portion of the pad main body that abuts against the side frame on the other side.

[0016] According to the above configuration, even if the seat pad is configured to have different degrees of flexure on one side and the other side in the seat width direction due to differences in pad thickness, the seat pressure distribution can be appropriately improved without changing the shape of these pads.

[0017] The vehicle seat of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The first opening is formed in the backing material in a region between the pair of side frames.

[0018] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the reinforcing strength of the backing material that reinforces the other side area of ​​the seat pad can be more effectively reduced, thereby adjusting the seating pressure distribution. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] First Embodiment (Schematic configuration of vehicle seat 1) First, the configuration of a vehicle seat 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. In the following description, when directions such as front, back, up, down, left and right are indicated, they refer to the respective directions shown in each drawing. In addition, when directions such as the "seat width direction" are indicated with the word "seat", they refer to a direction based on the orientation of the vehicle seat 1 described later. In addition, in the following description, when a specific reference drawing is not indicated or when there is no reference symbol corresponding to a reference drawing, any of Figs. 1 to 5 will be appropriately referred to.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle seat 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a right-side seat in the front row of an automobile. The vehicle seat 1 includes a seat back 2 forming a backrest for a seated person, a seat cushion 3 forming a seating portion, and a headrest 4 forming a headrest.

[0023] The lower ends of both left and right sides of the seat back 2 are connected to the rear ends of both left and right sides of the seat cushion 3 via electric reclining mechanisms (not shown), respectively. This allows the seat back 2 to freely adjust the backrest angle relative to the seat cushion 3 in the front-rear direction of the seat in accordance with the operation of each reclining mechanism (not shown).

[0024] The seat cushion 3 is connected to the floor of the vehicle via an electric lifter mechanism and a slide mechanism (not shown). This allows the seat cushion 3 to adjust its height relative to the floor by operating the lifter mechanism (not shown) and its front-rear position relative to the floor by operating the slide mechanism (not shown). The headrest 4 is attached to the upper part of the seat back 2.

[0025] 2, the seat back 2 has a metal back frame 10 that forms the framework of the seat back, and a back pad 20 that is attached to the front of the back frame 10 and elastically supports the back of the seated occupant from behind. The seat back 2 also has a fabric back cover 30 that is placed over the back pad 20 from above to cover the entire surface of the seat back 2.

[0026] 3 to 5, the seat back 2 is provided with a side airbag 40 in its right side portion. The side airbag 40 is provided in the seat back 2 and is configured to break through the seat back 2 and inflate and deploy forward in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, thereby protecting the body of the seated occupant from the side.

[0027] The seat back 2 is configured such that the above-mentioned back frame 10 is disposed shifted to the right with respect to the center position CL in the seat width direction of the back pad 20. As a result, the seat back 2 is configured such that the right side frame 11 of the back frame 10 is disposed at a position farther away from the center position CL of the back pad 20 in the seat width direction than the left side frame 11.

[0028] 5, the back pad 20 is configured such that a central portion A1 in the seat width direction of the top plate portion 20A, which supports the back of the seated occupant from behind, is positioned between the left and right side frames 11 of the back frame 10 and overlaps each side frame 11 in the front-rear direction. The back pad 20 is configured such that the left and right side portions of the top plate portion 20A are respectively configured as bank portions A2, A3 that protrude forward in a bank-like shape.

[0029] Each bank portion A2, A3 protrudes obliquely forward in a bank-like shape from an inner position to an outer position in the seat width direction of the corresponding side frame 11, and is set in a shape that covers the front side of each side frame 11. Then, each bank portion A2, A3 extends rearward from the tip that protrudes obliquely forward along the outer surface of each side frame 11, and is set in a shape that covers each side frame 11 from the outside and rear.

[0030] The central portion A1 of the top plate portion 20A of the back pad 20 has a generally flat surface shape facing forward. The front surface of the central portion A1 of the top plate portion 20A is located between the side frames 11 and rearward of the front edges of the side frames 11.

[0031] The back pad 20 supports the back of the seated person straight from behind with the central portion A1 of the top plate portion 20A. The back pad 20 also supports the back of the seated person diagonally from both the left and right sides with the left and right bank portions A2, A3 of the top plate portion 20A. Each bank portion A2, A3 is configured to appropriately receive the lateral load from the back of the seated person by the corresponding side frame 11 located diagonally behind (diagonally rearward of) them.

[0032] The back pad 20 is configured such that the back frame 10 is shifted to the right side with respect to the center position CL, so that the pad thickness T2 between the inclined surface of the left bank portion A3 of the top plate portion 20A and the portion that abuts against the left side frame 11 is thinner than the pad thickness T1 of the corresponding portion of the right bank portion A2. As a result, the back pad 20 is configured such that the left bank portion A3 of the top plate portion 20A has a short distance to the corresponding side frame 11 and has a small deflection allowance.

[0033] On the other hand, the back pad 20 is configured such that the bank portion A2 on the right side of the top plate portion 20A is far from the corresponding side frame 11 and has a large deflection margin. If the pad thicknesses T1, T2 of the back pad 20 are different between the left and right, the seating pressure distribution when supporting the back of the seated person tends to become uneven between the left and right, which is not appropriate.

[0034] In order to correct the unevenness of the seating pressure distribution, the back pad 20 has a first opening 22A formed in the left area of ​​the backing material 22 that is integrally molded on the seat back surface of the pad main body 21, to reduce the reinforcing strength of the left area of ​​the pad main body 21. This first opening 22A makes the flexibility of the thin pad thickness T2 area to the left of the center position CL of the back pad 20 closer to the flexibility of the thick pad thickness T1 area on the right side, thereby improving the seating pressure dispersion of the back pad 20.

[0035] 2, the back cover 30 is formed in a bag shape that opens downward. After the back pad 20 is assembled to the back frame 10, the back cover 30 is placed over the back pad 20 from above and stretched. As a result, the back cover 30 is configured to press the back pad 20 against the back frame 10 and hold it in a fixed position.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 5, the back cover 30 is hung and fixed at two left and right portions of the portion that is to be placed on the top plate portion 20A of the back pad 20 into hanging grooves 21A formed at two corresponding left and right portions of the back pad 20. Specifically, each hanging groove 21A is formed to extend in the height direction along the boundary between the central portion A1 of the back pad 20 and each of the left and right bank portions A2, A3. By hanging the back cover 30 into these hanging grooves 21A, the back cover 30 is tensioned against the top plate portion 20A of the back pad 20, which is concave, without floating.

[0037] (Configuration of each part of seat back 2) The specific configuration of each part of the seat back 2 will be described in detail below. As shown in Fig. 2, the back frame 10 is assembled into a vertically long frame shape when viewed from the front. Specifically, the back frame 10 has a pair of left and right side frames 11, an upper frame 12 bridging between upper ends of the side frames 11, and a lower frame 13 bridging between lower ends of the side frames 11.

[0038] Each side frame 11 is made of a press-molded metal plate formed into a shape that is elongated in the height direction. Each side frame 11 forms a vertically elongated skeleton along each of the left and right sides of the seat back 2. The side frames 11 are disposed facing each other in the seat width direction. Each side frame 11 has a frame shape in which the front and rear edges are bent inward in the seat width direction to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0039] The upper frame 12 is made of a press-molded metal plate formed into a long shape extending in the seat width direction. The upper frame 12 forms a horizontally elongated skeleton along the upper side of the seat back 2. The upper frame 12 has a frame shape with a U-shaped cross section that opens rearward. The upper frame 12 bridges the upper ends of the side frames 11 and is welded to them integrally.

[0040] The lower frame 13 is made of a press-molded metal plate formed into an elongated shape extending in the seat width direction. The lower frame 13 forms a horizontally elongated skeleton along the lower side of the seat back 2. The lower frame 13 has a frame shape with a J-shaped cross section whose lower end portion curves forward.

[0041] The lower frame 13 bridges between the lower ends of the side frames 11 and is integrally welded to them. More specifically, the lower frame 13 is welded across a flange portion bent inwardly at the lower rear edge of each side frame 11 and a flange portion bent inwardly at the lower front edge of each side frame 11.

[0042] The back frame 10 further includes a contact mat 14 that spans between the upper frame 12 and the lower frame 13 and elastically supports the back pad 20 in a planar manner from the rear. The contact mat 14 is supported in a suspended state by the upper frame 12, and is also elastically supported by the lower frame 13 from the rear via a spring (not shown).

[0043] The contact mat 14 is configured so that the central portion A1 of the back pad 20, which is within the frame of the back frame 10, is elastically supported in a planar manner from the rear by the contact mat 14. Also, the outer peripheral portion of the back pad 20, which is within the frame of the back frame 10, is firmly supported by the back frame 10 from the rear.

[0044] The back pad 20 is composed of a pad main body 21 made of urethane foam, and a backing material 22 made of nonwoven fabric integrally molded in a laminated state on the sheet rear surface of the pad main body 21. The backing material 22 is molded in a laminated state integrally with the pad main body 21 by being set in a mold and integrally molded during foam molding of the pad main body 21.

[0045] In detail, the back surface material 22 is formed in a state where it is impregnated with the foaming resin material of the pad body 21 and solidified integrally with the pad body 21 by being integrally molded with the pad body 21. As a result, the back surface material 22 is formed into a layer harder than the pad body 21, and functions as a reinforcing part that can widely distribute and receive a load applied locally to the pad body 21 over the entire surface.

[0046] The backing material 22 is provided so as to extend continuously over almost the entire area of ​​the back surface of the seat of the pad main body 21. As a result, the backing material 22 forms the contact portion with the contact mat 14 of the back pad 20 and each side frame 11, and is configured to provide a smooth contact with these with surface rigidity. In addition, felt 23 is laminated on the inside of the contact portion with each side frame 11 of the backing material 22 in order to further increase the structural strength of each portion (see FIG. 5).

[0047] 3 and 5, the above-mentioned first opening 22A is formed in the region to the left of the center position CL of the back surface material 22. Also, a second opening 22B for reducing the reinforcing strength of the center region of the pad main body 21 is formed in the central region along the center position CL of the back surface material 22. Note that in FIG. 3, the contact mat 14 described above in FIG. 2 is omitted in order to clearly show the internal structure of the seat back 2.

[0048] The first opening 22A and the second opening 22B are formed as elongated through-holes that penetrate in the thickness direction of the back surface material 22. More specifically, the first opening 22A and the second opening 22B each have a generally rectangular elongated hole shape that extends straight in the height direction of the back pad 20.

[0049] The first opening 22A and the second opening 22B are each formed to extend continuously from a lower region to an upper region across the center position in the height direction of the back pad 20. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the first opening 22A and the second opening 22B are each formed to extend straight upward from a position slightly higher than the height position of the back pad 20 corresponding to the hip point HP of the seated person.

[0050] 5, the first opening 22A is formed to extend straight in the height direction at a position (position farther to the right than the left side frame 11) to the right (inner side of the seat) of the left end of the center portion A1 of the back pad 20. The second opening 22B is formed to extend straight in the height direction at a position slightly shifted to the right from the center position CL of the back pad 20.

[0051] The first opening 22A and the second opening 22B are formed in a state in which the foaming resin raw material of the pad body 21 is filled in the openings, by the back material 22 being set in a mold for the pad body 21 and being molded integrally with the pad body 21. Due to the above-mentioned first opening 22A, when a seated person leans against the seat back 2, the left side region of the back pad 20, where the pad thickness T2 is thinner, is easily deflected in a manner that widens the opening of the first opening 22A.

[0052] As a result, the left side region of the back pad 20, which has a thinner pad thickness T2, can bend largely backward, similar to the right side region, which has a thicker pad thickness T1. The flexibility of the left side region of the back pad 20 can be adjusted appropriately by changing the width and length of the first openings 22A and the number of openings formed therein. The flexibility of the left side region of the back pad 20 increases as the total opening area of ​​the first openings 22A increases.

[0053] In addition, the back pad 20 is configured such that the central region can also be largely deflected backward due to the second opening 22B formed in the central region. As described above with reference to Fig. 3, the second opening 22B is shaped to extend upward from a position slightly higher than the height position corresponding to the hip point HP of the seated person. Therefore, the back pad 20 is usually configured to bend backward more easily than when the second opening 22B is not provided when the seated person is loaded by leaning against the seat back 2, but is configured to be able to support the lower back, which is subjected to a relatively high seating pressure, with an appropriate degree of firmness.

[0054] However, when a large load is input such that the back of the seated occupant is forced to enter the seat back 2 from the front, such as during a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the back pad 20 can easily accommodate the back of the seated occupant through the second opening 22B. Therefore, the back pad 20 can appropriately support the back of the seated occupant.

[0055] (summary) To sum up, the vehicle seat 1 according to this embodiment has the following configuration: In the following, the reference characters in parentheses correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0056] That is, the vehicle seat (1) has a seat pad (20) that elastically supports a seat occupant, and a seat frame (10) that supports the seat pad (20) from the back side of the seat with a pair of side frames (11) aligned in the seat width direction. The seat pad (20) has a pad main body (21) made of a foam, and a back surface material (22) that is integrally molded in a laminated form on the back surface of the pad main body (21) and forms an abutment portion with the pair of side frames (11).

[0057] The pair of side frames (11) are arranged shifted to one side (right side) in the seat width direction with respect to the center position (CL) in the seat width direction of the top plate portion (20A) of the seat pad (20). The backing material (22) is formed in a continuous shape extending continuously in the seat width direction between the pair of side frames (11), and has a first opening (22A) in an area from the center position (CL) to the other side (left side) in the seat width direction that reduces the reinforcing strength of the pad main body (21) compared to the area on one side (right side).

[0058] According to the above configuration, the pair of side frames (11) are arranged offset to one side (right side) in the seat width direction, so that the seat pad (20) is configured such that the distance from the surface to the side frame (11) is long and the deflection margin is large in the region on one side (right side) in the seat width direction, while the seat pad (20) is configured such that the distance from the surface to the side frame (11) is short and the deflection margin is small in the region on the other side (left side) in the seat width direction.

[0059] However, in the seat pad (20), the first opening (22A) that reduces the reinforcing strength is formed in the backing material (22) that reinforces the other side (left side) area, so that the flexibility of the other side (left side) area is made closer to the flexibility of the one side (right side) area, thereby appropriately improving the seating pressure distribution of the seat pad (20).

[0060] In addition, the first opening (22A) is an elongated hole extending in a direction intersecting the seat width direction. According to the above configuration, the hardness of the seat pad (20) can be easily adjusted over a wide range in the seat length direction (height direction of the seat back 2) in response to misalignment in the seat width direction.

[0061] In addition, the back surface material (22) has a second opening (22B) that reduces the reinforcing strength in a central region along the center position (CL) of the back surface material (22). According to the above configuration, the seat pad (20) can be configured to easily accommodate the body of a seated occupant without increasing its thickness.

[0062] Moreover, the first opening (22A) and the second opening (22B) are each formed to extend in the height direction at a position higher than the hip point (HP) of the seated occupant in the seat back (2). According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve the seating pressure dispersion of the seat back (2) while ensuring an appropriate support firmness in the portion of the seat back (2) that supports the lumbar region of the seated occupant.

[0063] In addition, the pad thickness (T2) of the portion of the pad main body (21) that abuts against the side frame (11) on the other side (left side) is thinner than the pad thickness (T1) of the portion of the pad main body (21) that abuts against the side frame (11) on one side (right side). According to the above configuration, even if the seat pad (20) is configured such that the ease of bending differs between one side (right side) and the other side (left side) in the seat width direction due to the difference in pad thicknesses (T1, T2), it is possible to appropriately improve the seating pressure distribution without changing the pad shapes.

[0064] In addition, the first opening (22A) is formed in the backing material (22) in a region between the pair of side frames (11). According to the above configuration, the reinforcing strength of the backing material (22) that reinforces the other side (left side) region of the seat pad (20) can be more effectively reduced, thereby adjusting the seating pressure distribution.

[0065] Other embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms as described below in addition to the above embodiment.

[0066] 1. The vehicle seat of the present invention may be applied to vehicles other than automobiles, such as trains. The vehicle seat may constitute a left seat as well as a right seat of an automobile. The seat pad and the seat frame may be applied to a seat cushion as well as a seat back.

[0067] 2. The direction in which the pair of side frames are shifted in the seat width direction with respect to the center position in the seat width direction of the top plate portion of the seat pad may be the left side as well as the right side of the vehicle seat. In other words, the shifting direction may be on either side regardless of whether the vehicle seat is a left or right seat.

[0068] 3. The pad body of the seat pad may be made of foamed rubber in addition to foamed urethane. The backing material that is integrally formed in a laminated form on the back surface of the pad body may be made of felt in addition to nonwoven fabric.

[0069] 4. The first opening and the second opening formed in the backing material may each be configured as a long hole extending in the sheet width direction. They may also be configured as a shape with a narrow opening width, such as a slit. They may also be configured as a long hole, a slit, a round hole, or other irregular hole shape. There may be a plurality of first openings and second openings. In that case (when there are a plurality of openings), the shapes of each opening do not necessarily need to be the same, and each shape may differ depending on the part where it is formed.

[0070] 5. The pad body may be configured so that even if the seat frame is positioned shifted to one side in the seat width direction, the thickness of the pad at the portion abutting the side frame on the other side is the same as the thickness of the pad at the portion abutting the side frame on one side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat back 3 Seat cushion 4 Headrest 10 Back frame (seat frame) 11 Side frame 12 Upper frame 13 Lower frame 14 Contact Mat 20 Back pad (seat pad) 20A Top plate 21 Pad body 21A Hanging groove 22 Backing material 22A 1st opening 22B 2nd opening 23 Felt 30 Back Cover 40 Side airbag CL center position T1, T2 Pad thickness A1 center part A2 Bank part A3 Bank section HP Hip Point

Claims

1. A vehicle seat having a seat pad that elastically supports a seated occupant, and a seat frame that supports the seat pad from a back side of the seat by a pair of side frames aligned in a seat width direction, The seat pad has a pad main body made of a foam material, and a backing material that is integrally formed in a laminated shape on a back surface of the pad main body and forms an abutment portion with the pair of side frames, The pair of side frames are disposed to be shifted to one side in the seat width direction with respect to a center position in the seat width direction of the top plate portion of the seat pad, The backing material is formed in a continuous shape extending continuously in the seat width direction between the pair of side frames, and has a first opening in an area on the other side of the center position in the seat width direction that reduces the reinforcing strength of the pad main body compared to the area on one side.

2. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, The vehicle seat, wherein the first opening is an elongated hole extending in a direction intersecting with a seat width direction.

3. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, The backing material has a second opening that also reduces the reinforcing strength of a central region along the central position.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, The vehicle seat has the first opening and the second opening each formed to extend in the height direction at a position on the seat back higher than the hip point of a seated occupant.

5. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A vehicle seat in which the pad thickness at a portion of the pad main body that abuts against the side frame on the other side is thinner than the pad thickness at a portion of the pad main body that abuts against the side frame on the one side.

6. A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The first opening is formed in the backing material in a region between the pair of side frames.

Images