Seat cushion

Abstract

To provide a seat cushion capable of following and operating a cushion cover according to change in cushion length adequately.SOLUTION: A seat cushion 1 including a cushion length variable mechanism 40 capable of adjusting a length of a cross direction of a seating surface, includes: a retractable member 50 which is spanned between a seam allowance part 33 of a cushion cover 30 and a cushion rear part 2; and a push-in member 12A which is provided on a cushion front part 3. The push-in member 12A operates pushing force on the retractable member 50 by operation in which the cushion front part 3 approaches the cushion rear part 2 and draws the cushion cover 30 via the retractable member 50 into clearance T between the cushion front part 3 and the cushion rear part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat cushion, and more particularly to a seat cushion having a cushion length adjusting mechanism that is capable of adjusting the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a seat cushion equipped with a cushion length adjustment mechanism that can adjust the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction. The cushion length adjustment mechanism connects the front part of the seat cushion to the rear part so that the front part can slide in the front-rear direction, and adjusts the overall length between the front part and the rear part by sliding the front part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-13803 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a cushion cover is placed across the front and rear of a seat cushion, it is necessary to devise a way to allow the cushion cover to be appropriately stretched and folded in response to changes in the cushion length. Therefore, the present invention provides a seat cushion that allows the cushion cover to be appropriately adapted to changes in the cushion length. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] As a means for solving the above problems, the seat cushion of the present invention has the following means. That is, the seat cushion is provided with a cushion length adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction. The seat cushion has a cushion rear portion forming the rear portion of the seating surface. The seat cushion has a cushion front portion forming the front portion of the seating surface and adapted to move toward and away from the cushion rear portion in the front-rear direction by the cushion length adjusting mechanism. The seat cushion also has a cushion cover as a skin material that is placed across the cushion front portion and the cushion rear portion.

[0006] The seat cushion also has a retracting member that is bridged between the underside of the cushion cover and one of the front and rear portions of the cushion. The seat cushion also has a pushing member that is provided on the other of the front and rear portions of the cushion. The pushing member applies a pressing force to the retracting member when the front portion of the cushion approaches the rear portion of the cushion, and retracts the cushion cover into the gap between the front and rear portions of the cushion via the retracting member.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the action of the cushion front part approaching the cushion rear part pushes the pushing member into the retracting member, and the cushion cover is retracted into the gap. As a result, the bridge portion of the cushion cover that is loosened in the gap accompanying the approaching action bends downward without bending upward, and is appropriately folded into the gap. Also, the action of the cushion front part moving forward away from the cushion rear part relieves or releases the pushing member from the retracting member. As a result, the bridge portion of the cushion cover is appropriately expanded according to the size of the gap in association with the moving away action without being caught by the pushing member. In this way, the cushion cover can be made to move appropriately in response to changes in the cushion length.

[0008] The seat cushion of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The retractable member is attached to the one of the frames by being attached to the one frame constituting the one of the frames.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the retracting member can be attached in a state in which it is more firmly fixed to the one side than when it is attached to a flexible member such as a padding material. Therefore, the retraction amount of the retracting member when the pushing member is pushed in can be more appropriately controlled, and the cushion cover can be more appropriately retracted.

[0010] The seat cushion of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The pushing member is made of a frame material fixed to the other frame constituting the other frame.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the pushing member can be provided in a state where it is firmly fixed in position relative to the other member, compared to a case where the pushing member is provided on a flexible member such as a padding material. Therefore, the amount by which the pushing member pushes in the retracting member can be more appropriately controlled, and the cushion cover can be more appropriately retracted.

[0012] The seat cushion of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The retracting member applies tension to the cushion cover to retract it into the gap even when the cushion front portion is at the farthest position from the cushion rear portion.

[0013] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the bridge portion of the cushion cover can be always kept in a taut state. The state in which the retracting member applies a retracting tension to the cushion cover at the maximum separation position of the front part of the cushion includes a state in which the retracting member is pushed in by the pushing member and a state in which the retracting member applies a retracting tension to the cushion cover even when not pushed in by the pushing member.

[0014] The seat cushion of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The retracting member includes a flexible portion that is bent in a bent shape when the pushing member is pressed against the flexible portion.

[0015] According to the above-mentioned configuration, since the retracting member is bent by the pressing of the pushing member, the cushion cover can be always retracted downward near the pushing member, compared to a configuration in which the retracting member is not bent. Therefore, the cushion cover can be more appropriately retracted into the gap according to the position of the front part of the cushion approaching or moving away from the cushion.

[0016] The seat cushion of the present invention may be further configured as follows: the retraction member has a first retraction portion sewn to extend continuously in the seat width direction along the back surface of the cover, a wire passed through a tubular portion extending in the seat width direction formed in the first retraction portion, and a second retraction portion bridged between a part of the wire in the seat width direction and the first retraction portion, and a push-in member is pressed against the second retraction portion.

[0017] According to the above configuration, the pushing member is pressed against the second retraction portion provided at a portion of the retraction member in the seat width direction, and a retraction force is applied to a wide range of the first retraction portion in the seat width direction via the wire. Therefore, it is possible to rationalize the retraction structure of the retraction member using the pushing member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a seat cushion according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the seat cushion after deployment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially illustrating the internal structure of the seat cushion. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially illustrating the internal structure of the seat cushion after it has been deployed. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] First Embodiment (Schematic configuration of seat cushion 1) First, the configuration of a seat cushion 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. 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 figure. In addition, in the following description, when a specific reference figure is not indicated or when there is no reference number corresponding to a reference figure, any of Figures 1 to 7 will be appropriately referred to.

[0021] 1, a seat cushion 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a seating portion of a seat of an automobile. The seat includes a seat back (not shown) that serves as a backrest for a seated person, and the seat cushion 1.

[0022] The seat cushion 1 has a metal cushion frame 10 that forms the framework of the seat cushion 1, and a urethane foam cushion pad 20 that is attached to the upper part of the cushion frame 10 and elastically supports the buttocks and thighs of a seated person from below. The seat cushion 1 also has a synthetic leather cushion cover 30 that is placed from above on the cushion pad 20 on the cushion frame 10 to cover the entire surface of the seat cushion 1.

[0023] The seat cushion 1 also includes an electrically-operated cushion-length varying mechanism 40 that can adjust the cushion length, which is the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction. The cushion-length varying mechanism 40 is configured to vary the cushion length by moving a cushion front portion 3, which forms the front portion of the seating surface, closer to or farther away from a cushion rear portion 2, which forms the rear portion of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1, in the front-rear direction.

[0024] The seat cushion 1 also has a retracting member 50 that applies tension downward to the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 that is placed from above to straddle the cushion front portion 3 and the cushion rear portion 2. The retracting member 50 is a member that controls the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 that straddles them so that it can be appropriately stretched or folded in accordance with the movement of the cushion front portion 3 to move toward and away from the cushion rear portion 2 in the front-rear direction by the cushion length varying mechanism 40 (see Figs. 2 to 7). Here, the cushion rear portion 2 corresponds to the "one side" of the present invention. Also, the cushion front portion 3 corresponds to the "other side" of the present invention.

[0025] (Configuration of each part of the seat cushion 1) The following describes the specific configuration of each part of the seat cushion 1. As shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 7, the cushion frame 10 has a rear frame 11 that forms the framework of the cushion rear part 2, and a front frame 12 that forms the framework of the cushion front part 3. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the rear frame 11 is configured to be assembled into a frame shape in a plan view that extends along the periphery of the cushion rear part 2.

[0026] The front part of the frame of the rear frame 11 is composed of a front panel 11A with the panel surface facing in the height direction. The front panel 11A supports the rear pad 21 of the cushion pad 20 provided on the upper part of the front panel 11A in a wide, planar manner from below, and supports the thighs of the seated person pressing against that area in a wide, planar manner from below.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, hook wires 11C are welded to the upper surface of the front panel 11A at two symmetrical positions on the left and right sides. The hook wires 11C are passed through and hooked onto the lower end portions of the tubular portions 53A of the corresponding second retraction portions 53 constituting the retraction member 50 described below. Each hook wire 11C is bent into an open frame shape with an open lower corner. Here, the rear frame 11 corresponds to the "one frame" of the present invention.

[0028] Each hook wire 11C is inclined forward, with its frame lower portion welded to the upper surface of the front panel 11A. The lower end portion of the tubular portion 53A of the corresponding second retraction portion 53 of the retraction member 50 is passed through the opening of the lower corner of each hook wire 11C, and set in a state of being passed through the upper portion of the frame. As a result, each hook wire 11C supports the tubular portion 53A of the corresponding second retraction portion 53 passed through it so that it can swing in the front-rear direction with the upper portion of the frame as a fulcrum.

[0029] 5, the front frame 12 is assembled into a U-shape in plan view that extends along the periphery of the cushion front part 3. The front edge of the U-shape of the front frame 12 is formed of a movable panel 12A made of a panel material folded into an inverted L-shape in side view.

[0030] The movable panel 12A supports the front pad 22 (see FIG. 6) of the cushion pad 20 provided on the upper portion of the movable panel 12A in a wide, planar manner from below, by means of a top plate portion with the panel surface facing in the height direction. As a result, the thighs of the seated person pressing against the area are supported in a wide, planar manner from below.

[0031] 5, guide pipes 12B extending straight toward the rear are welded to two symmetrical positions on the left and right of the movable panel 12A. These guide pipes 12B are made of round pipe material and form the left and right sides of the U-shape of the front frame 12.

[0032] Each guide pipe 12B is set in a state in which it is inserted from the front into each corresponding square tubular guide rail 11B formed on both left and right edges of the front panel 11A. As a result, each guide pipe 12B is supported so as to be slidable only in the front-rear direction along each corresponding guide rail 11B. With the above assembly, the front frame 12 is assembled to the rear frame 11 in a state in which it is slidable only in the front-rear direction.

[0033] The range of sliding movement of the front frame 12 relative to the rear frame 11 in the fore-and-aft direction is restricted to a range between a maximum approach position shown in Fig. 6 and a maximum separation position shown in Fig. 7 by a sliding direction abutment structure (not shown) provided between them. The front frame 12 is adapted to be moved toward or away from the rear frame 11 in the fore-and-aft direction, or to be stopped in a state where a braking force is applied at any position, by driving a cushion length varying mechanism 40 (described later).

[0034] 5, push-in portions 12C are formed at two symmetrical positions on the left and right sides of the top plate portion of the movable panel 12A, respectively, so as to extend obliquely downward and rearward from the rear edge of the top plate portion in a bent shape. These push-in portions 12C are formed in front of the second retraction portions 53 of the retraction member 50 described above.

[0035] 6, as the front frame 12 moves rearward toward the rear frame 11, these pushing portions 12C are pressed from the front against the corresponding second retraction portions 53 of the retraction member 50. As a result, each pushing portion 12C pushes and bends the pressing portion of each corresponding second retraction portion 53 of the retraction member 50 downward while bending it rearward.

[0036] As a result of this retraction, the bridge portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 is retracted into the narrow gap T between the front pad 22 and the rear pad 21 and folded into a V-shape in side view. Here, each second retraction portion 53 corresponds to a "flexible portion" of the present invention. Also, the movable panel 12A including each push-in portion 12C corresponds to a "pushing member" of the present invention.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 6, when the front frame 12 moves to the closest position to the rear frame 11, each of the pushing portions 12C moves to a position beyond each of the hooking wires 11C. As each of the pushing portions 12C moves to the above-mentioned positions, the pushing portions 12C gradually change the pressing position against the corresponding second retraction portions 53 of the retraction member 50. However, since each of the pushing portions 12C is shaped to extend obliquely downward and rearward from the top plate portion of the movable panel 12A in a bent shape, even when the front frame 12 moves to the closest position shown in Fig. 6, the pushing portions 12C do not come into contact with the wire 52 or the first retraction portion 51 of the retraction member 50 described later, but only come into contact with the corresponding second retraction portion 53.

[0038] 7, as the front frame 12 moves forward away from the rear frame 11, the push-in portions 12C are pulled forward away from the corresponding second pull-in portions 53 of the retracting member 50. This releases the second pull-in portions 53 of the retracting member 50 from the pushed-in state by the corresponding push-in portions 12C, thereby reducing the pulling force acting on the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30. This causes the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 to be stretched out flush across the wide gap T between the front pad 22 and the rear pad 21.

[0039] The cushion pad 20 is divided into two parts, a rear pad 21 that is assembled onto the rear frame 11 of the cushion frame 10, and a front pad 22 that is assembled onto the front frame 12. After the rear pad 21 and the front pad 22 are assembled onto the rear frame 11 and the front frame 12, respectively, a cushion cover 30 is placed over them from above. The rear pad 21 and the front pad 22 are held in a state of being individually fixed in position relative to the rear frame 11 and the front frame 12 by fastening the respective peripheral edges of the cushion cover 30 on the front, rear, left and right sides to the rear frame 11 and the front frame 12.

[0040] The cushion cover 30 is composed of a single cover structure having a rear cover 31 that is placed on the rear pad 21 and a front cover 32 that is placed on the front pad 22 in a continuous manner. The rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are joined together by sewing their edges together. A seam allowance 33 where the edges of the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are sewn together is sewn in a shape that protrudes from the back side of these covers (the lower side in the figure).

[0041] 7, the seam allowance 33 is formed to be located in the gap T between the cushion front part 3 and the cushion rear part 2 when the cushion front part 3 is moved to the maximum separation position, which is the furthest position forward from the cushion rear part 2. In other words, the rear cover 31 of the cushion cover 30 has an extension part (bridging part 30A) that extends forward from the rear pad 21 when the cushion front part 3 is moved to the maximum separation position.

[0042] Furthermore, the front cover 32 has an extension (bridging portion 30A) that extends rearward from the front pad 22 when the cushion front portion 3 is moved to the maximum separation position. As the cushion front portion 3 moves rearward toward the cushion rear portion 2, the cushion cover 30 is pulled into the gap T by the retracting member 50 sewn to the seam portion 33, so as to be folded in a V shape. Here, the seam portion 33 corresponds to the "back surface portion of the cover" of the present invention.

[0043] 5, the cushion-length varying mechanism 40 has a motor 41 fixed to the lower part of the front panel 11A, and a feed screw 42 that is connected to a rotation output part of the motor 41 so as to be capable of transmitting power and extends forward from the motor 41. The front end of the feed screw 42 is connected to the movable panel 12A.

[0044] In the cushion-length varying mechanism 40, a motor 41 is rotationally driven in a corresponding operating direction by operating an electric switch (not shown) provided on an outer side of the seat cushion 1 in the vehicle width direction. This causes the feed screw 42 to rotate in the corresponding operating direction and move in the front-rear direction relative to the motor 41. This causes the movable panel 12A connected to the front end of the feed screw 42 to move toward or away from the front panel 11A in the front-rear direction.

[0045] (Retractable member 50) 5, the retraction member 50 has a first retraction section 51 made of a strip of cotton cloth extending in the seat width direction, and a metal wire 52 passing along the lower end of the retraction section in a shape extending in the seat width direction. The retraction member 50 also has a pair of left and right second retraction sections 53 made of vertically elongated strips of cotton cloth stretched between two symmetrical positions on the left and right of the wire 52 and the corresponding hook wires 11C provided on the front panel 11A. The first retraction section 51 and each second retraction section 53 are each made of cotton cloth having lower stretchability than the cushion cover 30.

[0046] The first retracted portion 51 is sewn to extend continuously in the seat width direction along the seam allowance 33 between the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32. Specifically, the first retracted portion 51 is folded back into a U-shape in a side view, and both ends are sewn to the seam allowance 33. As a result, the first retracted portion 51 is formed into a shape having a cylindrical portion 51A that extends cylindrically in the seat width direction.

[0047] The wire 52 is provided in a state in which it is passed through the tubular portion 51A of the first retraction portion 51 in the seat width direction. More specifically, the wire 52 is provided in a state in which it is passed through the entire area of ​​the tubular portion 51A in the seat width direction. By the above assembly, the wire 52 is provided in a state in which it is exposed from each of the openings 51B formed at two symmetrical positions on the left and right sides of the lower part of the first retraction portion 51.

[0048] Each of the second retractions 53 is formed to have a tubular portion 53A sewn in a shape extending in a tubular shape in the seat width direction. The upper end portions of the tubular portions 53A of the second retractions 53 are assembled in a state where they are connected to the first retraction portion 51 through the wires 52 by passing the wires 52 through the tubular portions 51A of the first retraction portion 51 in the openings 51B of the first retraction portion 51. The lower end portions of the tubular portions 53A of the second retractions 53 are passed through the hook wires 11C provided on the front panel 11A, so that the second retractions 53 are assembled in a state where they are connected to the front panel 11A through the hook wires 11C.

[0049] By the above assembly, the retraction member 50 is provided in a state of being bridged between the seam allowance portion 33 on the back side of the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 and the front panel 11A. When the cushion front part 3 is in the state of being furthest forward as shown in Fig. 7, the retraction member 50 is not pushed by the push-in portions 12C described above, and takes a posture of being stretched straight between the seam allowance portion 33 of the cushion cover 30 and the hook wires 11C of the front panel 11A.

[0050] That is, the retraction member 50 is not in a slack state when the cushion front part 3 is in the farthest forward state, and the length is set so as to apply a tension that draws it downward to the seam part 33 of the cushion cover 30. Therefore, when the cushion front part 3 is in the farthest forward state, the bridging part 30A of the cushion cover 30 is stretched in a state in which tension is applied in different directions at three points: the upper corner of the front edge of the rear pad 21 with which it abuts, the upper corner of the rear edge of the front pad 22, and the seam part 33 connected to the retraction member 50.

[0051] As a result, the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 is stretched in a state where the surface rigidity is increased by the support at the above three points. Therefore, even if the thighs of a seated person press against the bridging portion 30A, the thighs can be appropriately supported by the bridging portion 30A with increased surface rigidity, and the cushioning feeling is less likely to be lost.

[0052] In detail, the retracting member 50 applies a tension that retracts downward to an extent that does not destroy the shape of the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 that is stretched out flush over the gap T by moving the cushion front portion 3 to the maximum separation position. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately increase the surface rigidity of the bridging portion 30A of the cushion cover 30 without impairing the appearance or cushioning feel of the bridging portion 30A.

[0053] 6, when the cushion front part 3 moves to the closest position where it is closest to the cushion rear part 2, the above-mentioned push-in parts 12C are pushed from the front into the corresponding second retraction parts 53. As a result, the retraction member 50 is pushed and bent so that the pushed-in parts of the second retraction parts 53 are bent backward with the hook wires 11C on the lower end side as fulcrums.

[0054] As a result, the retraction member 50 causes each of the second retraction portions 53 that have been pushed and bent to pull the wire 52 downward, and pulls the first retraction portion 51 downward via the wire 52. At that time, the retraction member 50 exerts a force to pull the first retraction portion 51 downward over a wide range in the seat width direction via the wire 52, even in a configuration in which each of the second retraction portions 53 provided in only a portion in the seat width direction is pushed in by each of the push-in portions 12C.

[0055] Therefore, the retracting member 50 can uniformly apply a force to the seam allowance portion 33 of the cushion cover 30 to pull it downward over a wide range in the seat width direction. In addition, since the retracting member 50 is configured to bend in a folded manner when pressed by the push-in portions 12C, the seam allowance portion 33 of the cushion cover 30 can always be pulled downward near the push-in portions 12C, compared to a configuration in which the retracting member does not bend. Therefore, the cushion cover 30 can be more appropriately pulled into the gap T according to the position of the cushion front portion 3 approaching or moving away from the cushion front portion 3.

[0056] To summarize the above, the seat cushion 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.

[0057] That is, the seat cushion (1) is equipped with a cushion length varying mechanism (40) capable of adjusting the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction. The seat cushion (1) also has a cushion rear portion (2) that forms the rear portion of the seating surface. The seat cushion (1) also has a cushion front portion (3) that forms the front portion of the seating surface and that operates by the cushion length varying mechanism (40) to move toward or away from the cushion rear portion (2) in the front-rear direction. The seat cushion (1) also has a cushion cover (30) as a skin material that is placed across the cushion front portion (3) and the cushion rear portion (2).

[0058] The seat cushion (1) also has a retraction member (50) that is bridged between the cover back surface portion (33) of the cushion cover (30) and one (2) of the cushion front portion (3) and the cushion rear portion (2). The seat cushion (1) also has a push-in member (12A) that is provided on the other (3) of the cushion front portion (3) and the cushion rear portion (2). The push-in member (12A) applies a pressing force to the retraction member (50) as the cushion front portion (3) approaches the cushion rear portion (2), and retracts the cushion cover (30) into the gap (T) between the cushion front portion (3) and the cushion rear portion (2) via the retraction member (50).

[0059] According to the above configuration, as the cushion front part (3) approaches the cushion rear part (2), the pushing member (12A) is pushed into the pulling member (50), and the cushion cover (30) is pulled into the gap (T). As a result, the bridging portion (30A) of the cushion cover (30), which is loosened in the gap (T) due to the approaching action, bends downward without bending upward, and is appropriately folded into the gap (T).

[0060] Furthermore, the action of the cushion front part (3) moving forward away from the cushion rear part (2) reduces or releases the pushing of the push-in member (12A) against the retraction member (50). As a result, the bridge portion (30A) of the cushion cover (30) is appropriately expanded in accordance with the size of the gap (T) in association with the above-mentioned moving away action without being caught by the push-in member (12A). In this way, the cushion cover (30) can be caused to move appropriately in response to changes in the cushion length.

[0061] In addition, the retracting member (50) is attached to the one side (2) by being attached to the one side frame (11) that constitutes the frame of the one side (2). With this configuration, the retracting member (50) can be attached in a state in which it is firmly fixed in position to the one side (2) compared to a case in which the retracting member (50) is attached to a flexible member such as a padding material. Therefore, the retraction amount of the retracting member (50) when the pushing member (12A) is pushed in can be more appropriately controlled, and the cushion cover (30) can be more appropriately retracted.

[0062] In addition, the pushing member (12A) is made of a frame material fixed to the other frame (12) that constitutes the frame of the other (3). With this configuration, the pushing member (12A) can be provided in a state where it is strongly fixed in position relative to the other (3) compared to a case where the pushing member (12A) is provided on a flexible member such as a padding material. Therefore, the pushing amount of the retracting member (50) by the pushing member (12A) can be more appropriately controlled, and the cushion cover (30) can be more appropriately retracted.

[0063] In addition, the retracting member (50) applies tension to the cushion cover (30) to retract it into the gap (T) even when the cushion front portion (3) is at the farthest position from the cushion rear portion (2). According to the above configuration, the bridge portion (30A) of the cushion cover (30) can be constantly kept taut.

[0064] In addition, the retracting member (50) has a flexible portion (53) that bends in a folded shape when the pushing member (12A) is pressed against it. According to the above configuration, the retracting member (50) bends when pressed by the pushing member (12A), so that the cushion cover (30) can always be retracted downward near the pushing member (12A) compared to a configuration in which the retracting member (50) does not bend. Therefore, the cushion cover (30) can be more appropriately retracted into the gap (T) according to the position of the cushion front part (3) approaching or moving away from the cushion.

[0065] The retraction member (50) has a first retraction portion (51) sewn to extend continuously in the sheet width direction along the cover back surface portion (33), a wire (52) passed through a tubular portion (51A) formed in the first retraction portion (51) and extending in a tubular shape in the sheet width direction, and a second retraction portion (53) bridged between a part of the wire (52) in the sheet width direction and the one side (2), and a pushing member (12A) is pressed against the second retraction portion (53).

[0066] According to the above configuration, the pushing member (12A) is pressed against the second retraction portion (53) provided at a part of the retraction member (50) in the sheet width direction, and a retracting force is applied to a wide range of the first retraction portion (51) in the sheet width direction via the wire (52). Therefore, it is possible to rationalize the retraction structure of the retraction member (50) using the pushing member (12A).

[0067] 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.

[0068] 1. The seat cushion of the present invention may be applied to seats installed in vehicles such as automobiles, as well as seats installed in vehicles other than vehicles such as airplanes, ships, etc. The seat cushion may also be applied to seats other than vehicles, such as spectator seats and massage seats installed in various facilities such as sports facilities, theaters, concert halls, and event venues.

[0069] 2. The cushion cover may be made of synthetic leather or natural leather. The cushion cover may be made of fabric. The back surface of the cover connected to the retractable member of the cushion cover may be the seam where the cover pieces are sewn together, or the general surface portion in the middle of the cover pieces.

[0070] 3. The retracting member may be bridged between the back surface of the cushion cover and the front part of the cushion, and the pushing member may be provided at the rear part of the cushion. Even with this configuration, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the pushing member is pushed into the retracting member by the rear movement of the front part of the cushion, and the cushion cover is retracted via the retracting member.

[0071] The retracting member may be attached to one of the front and rear portions of the cushion at a location other than the frame of the pad, etc. Also, the pushing member may be provided on a member other than the frame of the pad, etc., rather than on the frame of the other of the front and rear portions of the cushion.

[0072] The retracting member may be made of a rigid body that does not bend even when pressed by the pushing member. The retracting member may be configured to be in a slack state that does not apply tension to the cushion cover at the maximum separation position where the front part of the cushion is farthest from the rear part of the cushion. The retracting member may be configured to be in a state pressed by the pushing member even at the maximum separation position.

[0073] The retraction member may be configured such that two portions spaced apart in the sheet width direction are pushed in by the push-in member as shown in the above embodiment, or may be configured such that one portion in the center of the sheet width direction, or three or more portions spaced apart in the sheet width direction are pushed in by the push-in member. The retraction member may be configured such that the entire area in the sheet width direction is pushed in by the push-in member. The retraction member may be configured such that the retraction member has a retraction structure consisting of a first retraction portion, a wire, and a second retraction portion as shown in the above embodiment, or may be configured such that the retraction member is made of only a single piece of cotton cloth.

[0074] 4. The cushion length adjustment mechanism may be an electric type, or a manual type that allows the user to manually operate a lever to switch between lock and unlock, thereby moving the front part of the cushion to any position in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the rear part of the cushion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 seat cushion 2 Cushion rear (one side) 3 Cushion front (other side) 10 Cushion Frame 11 Rear frame (one-sided frame) 11A Front Panel 11B Guide rail 11C Hook wire 12 Front frame (other frame) 12A Movable panel (push-in member) 12B Guide pipe 12C Push-in section 20 Cushion Pad 21 Rear pad 22 Front Pad 30 Cushion Cover 30A bridge part 31 Rear cover 32 Front cover 33 Seam allowance (back side of cover) 40 Cushion length adjustment mechanism 41 Motor 42 Lead screw 50 Retractable member 51 First retraction section 51A Cylindrical part 51B opening 52 Wire 53 Second retraction section (flexible section) 53A Cylindrical part 53B Cylindrical part T Gap

Claims

1. A seat cushion having a cushion length adjustment mechanism that can adjust the length of the seating surface in the front-rear direction, A cushion rear portion forming a rear portion of the seating surface; a cushion front portion that forms a front portion of the seating surface and that is adapted to move toward and away from the cushion rear portion in a front-rear direction by the cushion length varying mechanism; A cushion cover as a skin material that is placed across the front and rear portions of the cushion; A retracting member that is bridged between a cover back surface portion of the cushion cover and one of the cushion front portion and the cushion rear portion; a push-in member provided on the other of the cushion front portion and the cushion rear portion, which applies a pressing force to the retraction member when the cushion front portion approaches the cushion rear portion, thereby pulling the cushion cover into the gap between the cushion front portion and the cushion rear portion via the retraction member.

2. 2. The seat cushion according to claim 1, The retractable member is attached to the one of the frames of the seat cushion.

3. The seat cushion according to claim 1 or 2, The seat cushion includes a frame material, the pushing member being fixed to the other frame that constitutes the other frame.

4. The seat cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The retracting member applies tension to the cushion cover to retract it into the gap even when the cushion front portion is at the maximum separation position where the cushion rear portion is farthest from the cushion rear portion.

5. The seat cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The retracting member has a flexible portion that is bent in a folded shape when the pushing member is pressed against the flexible portion.

6. The seat cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The retraction member has a first retraction portion sewn to extend continuously in the seat width direction along the back surface of the cover, a wire passed through a tubular portion formed in the first retraction portion and extending in a tubular shape in the seat width direction, and a second retraction portion bridged between a part of the wire in the seat width direction and the first retraction portion, and the push-in member is pressed against the second retraction portion.

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