Vehicle seats

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat including a rail device which can be attached to a floor without restricting movement of an upper rail.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat S includes: a seat frame F; and rail devices 4 each comprising a lower rail 5 fixed to a floor FL, and an upper rail 6 attached to the seat frame F and slidably engaging with the lower rail 5. The lower rail 5 is fixed to the floor FL by a fastening member 52. The lower rail 5 is formed with a receded part 54 into which a fastening member 52 is sunk from a bottom part 5a of the lower rail 5 in an area immediately below the lower rail 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat equipped with a rail device. [Background technology]

[0002] The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a headrest, and the seat back and the seat cushion are provided with seat frames that form their respective frameworks. The vehicle seat is also provided with a rail device that moves the vehicle seat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The rail device is composed of a lower rail fixed onto the vehicle floor and an upper rail that is slidable relative to the lower rail. Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the lower rail has a bolt provided on the bottom surface of the front end thereof for fixing to the vehicle floor or a bracket. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-160408 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional rail devices, the head of the bolt is located on the bottom surface of the lower rail, which causes interference between the upper rail and the bolt, limiting the range of motion of the upper rail. Another issue is how to improve the strength of the rails and the members surrounding the rails.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a rail device that can be attached to a floor without restricting the movement of the upper rail. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problem is solved by a vehicle seat of the present invention, which includes a rail device including a seat frame, a lower rail fixed to a floor, and an upper rail attached to the seat frame and slidably engaged with the lower rail, the lower rail being fixed to the floor by a fastening member, a retaining member being attached to the lower rail at a portion where the through hole is formed, the retaining member being a relief portion below the lower rail for allowing the fastening member to sink from a bottom portion of the lower rail, and having a recess for holding a head portion of the fastening member inserted through the through hole, a cover member being provided on the lower rail for covering the portion where the retaining member is attached, a cover engaged portion being formed on a side portion of the lower rail for engaging with an engaging portion of the cover member, and a step portion being formed on a side portion of the retaining member at a position not overlapping with the cover engaged portion, and fixing portions being provided on both sides of the lower rail for fixing the retaining member to the lower rail by welding, the fixing portions being provided in the vicinity of the cover engaged portions. A rib is formed on the inside of the cover member to come into contact with a side surface of the lower rail, and the fixing portion is located below the rib. This is resolved by

[0007] By attaching a retaining portion to the lower rail, which is a recess for allowing the fastening member to sink and has a recess for holding the head of the fastening member, the head of the fastening member is lowered and interference with the upper rail is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a rail device that can be attached to the floor without restricting the movement of the upper rail. By fixing the retaining member to the side portion of the lower rail by welding, no adhesive member is required in the vertical direction, and thus the vehicle can be made more compact in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the fixing portions for fixing the retaining member are provided on both sides of the lower rail, the lower rail is sandwiched between the fixing portions, thereby improving the strength of the lower rail. By providing a step portion on the side surface of the holding member that does not overlap with the cover engaged portion, attachment of the cover member is not hindered. Furthermore, by providing the fixing portion near the cover engaging portion, the strength of the periphery of the cover engaged portion is improved. Furthermore, by forming a rib on the inner side of the cover member, which abuts against the side surface of the lower rail, the strength of the periphery of the rib is improved.

[0008] In addition, in the above configuration ,before Head of the fastening member teeth Located within the recess The top of the fastening member disposed in the recess is located below the upper surface of the bottom of the lower rail. It would be good to do so.

[0009] By disposing the head of the fastening member within the recess, interference with the upper rail is reduced, and inhibition of movement of the upper rail is suppressed.

[0011] By positioning the top of the fastening member below the top surface of the bottom portion of the lower rail, hindrance to movement of the upper rail is suppressed.

[0014] In the above configuration, the fixing portions provided on both side portions of the lower rail may be provided at positions that sandwich the fastening member when viewed from above. By providing the fixing portion at a position where the fastening member is sandwiched, the strength of the periphery of the fastening member is improved.

[0017] In the above configuration, the fixing portion may be provided at the same height as the cover engaged portion. By providing the fixing portion at the same height as the cover engaged portion, a compact arrangement can be achieved. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, a recess for allowing the fastening member to sink is formed at the bottom of the lower rail, so that the head of the fastening member is lowered and interference with the upper rail is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat equipped with a rail device that can be attached to the floor without restricting the movement of the upper rail. In addition, by disposing the head of the fastening member within the recess, interference with the upper rail is suppressed, and inhibition of movement of the upper rail is suppressed. Furthermore, since the top of the fastening member is located below the top surface of the bottom portion of the lower rail, hindrance to movement of the upper rail is suppressed. Furthermore, by fixing the retaining member to the side portion of the lower rail by welding, no adhesive member is required in the vertical direction, and thus the vehicle can be made more compact in the vertical direction. Furthermore, since the fixing portions for fixing the retaining member are provided on both sides of the lower rail, the lower rail is sandwiched between the fixing portions, thereby improving the strength of the lower rail. Furthermore, by providing the fixing portion at a position that sandwiches the fastening member, the strength of the periphery of the fastening member is improved. Furthermore, by providing a step portion on the side surface of the holding member that does not overlap with the cover engaged portion, attachment of the cover member is not impeded. Furthermore, by providing the fixing portion near the cover engaging portion, the strength of the periphery of the cover engaged portion is improved. Furthermore, by providing the fixing portion at the same height as the cover engaged portion, a compact arrangement can be achieved. Furthermore, by forming a rib on the inner side of the cover member, which abuts against the side surface of the lower rail, the strength of the periphery of the rib is improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the seat frame as seen diagonally from the front. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a front view showing an upper frame to which a first mounting bracket is fixed. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first mounting bracket. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rail device as seen obliquely from the front. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rail device as seen from inside the vehicle seat. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a tip portion of the lower rail. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing engagement between a tip end of the lower rail and a cover member. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a pan frame to which a second blower is attached. [Figure 19] 19 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a portion A of FIG. 18 in an enlarged manner. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is an underside view of the pan frame with the second mounting bracket attached, showing the second blower removed. [Figure 21] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper surface side of the second mounting bracket. [Figure 22] 13 is a perspective view showing the lower surface side of the second mounting bracket. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, the configuration of a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is for the purpose of making the present invention easier to understand, and does not limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally includes equivalents thereof. In the following description, the contents regarding the materials, shapes and sizes of the seat components are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

[0022] In the following, a vehicle seat (hereinafter, vehicle seat S) that is mounted on a vehicle will be given as an example of a vehicle seat, and a configuration example thereof will be described. In the following description, the "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat S, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is traveling, and may also be referred to as the "front-rear direction of the seat." The "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat S, which coincides with the left-right direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. The "up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle seat S, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. In addition, when the term "outside" is used simply, it refers to the side closer to the outside in the direction from the center of the vehicle seat S alone to the outside, and when the term "inside" is used, it refers to the side closer to the center in the direction from the outside to the center of the vehicle seat S alone.

[0023] In addition, the shape, position, posture, etc. of each part of the vehicle seat S described below will be described assuming that the vehicle seat S is in a seated state, which will be described later, unless otherwise specified.

[0024] <Vehicle seat S> The basic configuration of a vehicle seat S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat S, and for convenience of illustration, a part of the vehicle seat S is shown in Fig. 1 with the cover material T and the pad member P removed.

[0025] The vehicle seat S is a seat that is placed on the floor of a vehicle and in which a vehicle occupant (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a seated person) sits. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is used as a front seat that corresponds to the front seat of the vehicle. However, the vehicle seat S is not limited to this, and can also be used as a rear seat, and can also be used as a second-row middle seat or a third-row rear seat in a vehicle that has three rows of seats in the front-rear direction.

[0026] 1, the main components of a vehicle seat S are a seat back 1 that serves as a backrest portion supporting the back of a seated occupant, a seat cushion 2 that serves as a seating portion supporting the buttocks of the seated occupant, and a headrest 3 that is disposed on the upper part of the seat back 1 and supports the head of the seated occupant. Note that the seat back 1, the seat cushion 2, and the headrest 3 may be collectively referred to as a seat body Sh. The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are connected to sandwich a reclining mechanism 7 (see FIG. 2). The reclining mechanism 7 allows the seat back 1 to rotate relative to the seat cushion 2, and the inclination angle of the seat back 1 can be adjusted. A headrest stay 3 a extends downward from the headrest 3 and is connected to the upper end of the seat back 1 .

[0027] In addition, a first blower 30 and a second blower 130 are provided inside the vehicle seat S to send air to the seated occupant (see Figure 2), and a first air outlet 40 is formed in the seating surface of the seat back 1 to blow out the air sent from the first blower, and a second air outlet 140 is formed in the seating surface of the seat cushion 2 to blow out the air sent from the second blower 130.

[0028] <Seat frame F> The basic structure of the seat frame F that forms the framework of the vehicle seat S will be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seat frame F as viewed diagonally from the front, Fig. 3 is a front view of the seat frame F, Fig. 4 is a rear view of the seat frame F, Fig. 5 is a top view of the seat frame F, and Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the seat frame F. As shown in Figures 2 to 6, a seat frame F is provided inside the vehicle seat S, and the seat frame F is composed of a seat back frame 10 that forms the skeleton of the seat back 1, and a seat cushion frame 20 that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 2.

[0029] <Seat back frame 10> As shown in FIG. 2, the seatback frame 10 is formed in a rectangular frame shape as a whole, and includes a pair of backside frames 11, 11 arranged on the left and right, an upper frame 12, and a lower frame 13. The upper frame and the lower frame 13 correspond to a connecting frame of the present invention. The upper frame 12 is formed in a plate shape, is arranged between the pair of backside frames 11, 11, and connects upper ends of the pair of backside frames 11, 11. The lower frame 13 is arranged between the pair of backside frames 11, 11, and connects lower ends of the pair of backside frames 11. In addition, a connecting frame (not shown) that connects the pair of backside frames 11, 11 may be provided between the upper frame 12 and the lower frame 13.

[0030] The upper frame 12 is provided with a pair of headrest holders 14 into which the headrest stays 3a of the headrest 3 are inserted. The headrest holders 14 are formed as high-strength metal members in order to maintain the holding strength of the headrest 3 and suppress rattling. Note that the headrest holders 14 are not limited to being made of metal and may be made of resin. In addition, a first blower 30 is attached to the upper frame 12 via a first mounting bracket 31. The configuration for attaching the first blower 30 to the upper frame 12 and the first mounting bracket 31 will be described in detail after the other configurations are described.

[0031] As described above, the pair of back side frames 11, 11 are disposed on the left and right sides of the seatback frame 10, and are basically symmetrical members. The pair of back side frames 11, 11 are provided extending in the up-down direction of the seat. The width of each of the pair of back side frames 11, 11 in the seat front-rear direction is formed to increase from the upper side of the seat toward the lower side of the seat. The peripheral edge portions on the front side and the rear side of the seat are formed in a curved shape so as to be convex toward the front side of the seat.

[0032] <Seat cushion frame 20> 3, the seat cushion frame 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from above, and is provided with a pair of cushion side frames 21, 21 (a pair of side frames) on the left and right. The pair of cushion side frames 21, 21 are basically members configured symmetrically, and are provided extending in the front-rear direction of the seat.

[0033] The seat cushion frame 20 also has a front connecting frame 22 that connects the pair of cushion side frames 21, 21 at the front, and a rear connecting frame 23 that connects them at the rear. The front connecting frame 22 and the rear connecting frame 23 are made of round pipes. A plate-shaped pan frame 24 is further provided in front of the front connecting frame 22. A second blower 130 is attached to the pan frame 24 via a second mounting bracket 131. The second blower 130 and the second mounting bracket 131 will be described in detail after the other configurations are described. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the seat cushion frame 20 is provided with a pressure-receiving member 25 arranged to bridge between the front connecting frame 22 and the rear connecting frame 23, and the pressure-receiving member 25 is capable of supporting the buttocks of a seated occupant.

[0034] <Rail device 4> 2, a rail device 4 is provided under the vehicle seat S. The rail device 4 allows the vehicle seat S to be attached to the vehicle floor FL in a state in which the seat body Sh can slide in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The rail device 4 is composed of a lower rail 5 fixed onto the vehicle body floor FL, and an upper rail 6 that is slidable relative to the lower rail 5. The structure for fixing the lower rail 5 to the vehicle body floor FL will be described later.

[0036] <Pad member P and cover material T> A pad member P and a skin material T (cushion cover) are provided on the outer sides of the seat back frame 10 and the seat cushion frame 20 to form the seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2. The pad member P is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using, for example, a urethane foam material, and the skin material T is made of, for example, cloth, synthetic leather, genuine leather, or the like.

[0037] The seat back frame 10 of the vehicle seat S of this embodiment will be described in more detail below. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a front view of the upper frame 12 to which the first mounting bracket 31 is fixed, showing the state in which the first blower 30 has been removed. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the first mounting bracket 31.

[0038] As described above, the seat back frame 10 includes the plate-shaped upper frame 12. The upper frame 12 also includes the first blower 30 attached to a surface 12a on the seat occupant's side.

[0039] Conventionally, when a functional part such as a blower is attached to an upper frame, the blower is attached below the upper frame so that the blower does not protrude forward (see, for example, JP 2019-6392 A). This poses a problem in that the installation position of the blower is limited.

[0040] In the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, a recess 15 that recesses the first blower 30 in a direction away from the seated occupant is formed in the surface 12a of the upper frame 12 on the seated occupant side. In other words, the upper frame 12 is formed with the recess 15 that positions the first blower 30 further rearward. The recess 15 corresponds to the relief portion of the present invention. The recess 15 is formed by bending the plate-shaped upper frame 12, and the first blower 30 is disposed within the recess 15. This allows the first blower 30 to be disposed compactly without protruding forward even at a position overlapping with the upper frame 12 in the front-rear direction.

[0041] The first blower 30 is fixed to the upper frame 12 in the recess 15 of the upper frame 12 via a plate-shaped first mounting bracket 31 (mounting member). A first bracket fixing portion 16 for fixing a first mounting bracket 31 is formed in the recess 15 of the upper frame 12. The first bracket fixing portion 16 corresponds to the mounting member fixing portion of the present invention.

[0042] The first bracket fixing portion 16 is composed of an upper bracket fixing portion 16a located on the upper side and a lower bracket fixing portion 16b located on the lower side. The upper bracket fixing portion 16a and the lower bracket fixing portion 16b located on the lower side have flat portions protruding forward and formed as a base for attaching the first mounting bracket 31. The upper bracket fixing portion 16a is fastened and fixed to the upper connecting portion 38a of the first mounting bracket 31 by a bolt 39. The lower bracket fixing portion 16b is fastened and fixed to the lower connecting portion 38b of the first mounting bracket 31 by the bolt 39. Although the bolt 39 is used as the fastening member, a tapping screw may also be used.

[0043] Providing the first bracket fixing portion 16 on the upper frame 12 improves the ease of installation of the first blower 30. In addition, a bead portion 18 that protrudes rearward is formed between the upper bracket fixing portion 16a and the lower bracket fixing portion 16b, and the recess 15 of the upper frame 12 is reinforced.

[0044] <First mounting bracket 31> A first mounting bracket 31 is used to fix the first blower 30 to the recess 15 of the upper frame 12. The first mounting bracket 31 is a resin member, and as shown in Fig. 10, is formed with a storage recess 31c and an opening 31d for storing the first blower 30. The first mounting bracket 31 has a first frame connecting portion 38 that connects to the first bracket fixing portion 16 of the upper frame 12.

[0045] More specifically, an upper end portion 31 a of the first mounting bracket 31 is formed with one upper connection portion 38 a that connects to the upper bracket fixing portion 16 a of the upper frame 12 . Further, two lower connection portions 38b are formed in the storage recess 31c of the first mounting bracket 31, which connect to the lower bracket fixing portion 16b of the upper frame 12. The two lower connection portions 38b are disposed at the left and right ends of the storage recess 31c. The upper connection portion 38a corresponds to a first connection portion of the present invention, and the lower connection portion 38b corresponds to a second connection portion of the present invention. The first mounting bracket 31 is attached to the upper frame 12 at three points, including one point at the upper connection portion 38a and two points at the lower connection portions 38b, so that it can be firmly fixed in a simple manner.

[0046] <Grommet 51> As described above, the upper connection portion 38a and the lower connection portion 38b of the first mounting bracket 31 are fastened to the first bracket fixing portion 16 of the upper frame 12 by the bolts 39. Since the first mounting bracket 31 is made of resin, it may be damaged if the bolts 39 come into direct contact with it. For this reason, grommets 51 are attached to the upper connection portion 38a and the lower connection portion 38b.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 10, the grommet 51 is a clip-shaped member, and is attached by pinching the upper connection portion 38a or the lower connection portion 38b. The grommet 51 has a through hole 51a that communicates with an insertion hole into which the bolt 39 is inserted when the grommet 51 is attached to the upper connection portion 38a or the lower connection portion 38b. The grommet 51 is applied around the bolt insertion hole, thereby protecting the upper connection portion 38a and the lower connection portion 38b. The grommet 51 also strengthens the fixing force of the upper connection portion 38a and the lower connection portion 38b, making the assembly easier. The grommet 51 is inserted from the outside of the first mounting bracket 31, and is configured to be attached by pinching the upper connection portion 38a and the lower connection portion 38b, making it easy to attach and remove the grommet 51.

[0048] <Positioning part 34> As shown in Fig. 10, positioning portions 34 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper connecting portion 38a in the seat width direction. The positioning portions 34 are formed with a T-shaped cross section and stand upright toward the rear. A T-shaped insertion hole 17 is formed in the upper bracket fixing portion 16a of the upper frame 12 at a position corresponding to the positioning portion 34 (see Fig. 4). After inserting the head portion 34a of the positioning portion 34 into the insertion hole 17, the support portion 34b of the positioning portion 34 is fitted into the recess of the insertion hole 17, thereby temporarily fixing the first mounting bracket 31 to the upper frame 12 before fastening and fixing with the bolt 39. The temporary fixing makes it easier to position the first mounting bracket 31 and improves the ease of installation.

[0049] 9, an upper portion of the first mounting bracket 31 is disposed between the headrest holders 14, 14 of the upper frame 12. In other words, the size W of the main body of the first mounting bracket 31 in the seat width direction is formed so as to fit between the headrest holders 14, 14. By disposing the first mounting bracket 31 between the pair of headrest holders 14, 14, the first mounting bracket 31 does not protrude toward the front side of the seat, and this makes it possible to make the vehicle seat S (more specifically, the seat back 1) compact.

[0050] Additionally, the upper connection portion 38a of the first mounting bracket 31 is sandwiched between the headrest holders 14, 14 in the seat width direction. On the other hand, the lower connection portion 38b is not sandwiched between the headrest holders 14, 14 in the seat width direction. The fixing strength can be improved by arranging the upper connection portion 38a between the headrest holders 14, 14. Since the grommet 51 is attached from the side at the lower connection portion 38b, and the lower connection portion 38b is not arranged between the headrest holders 14, 14, the headrest holders 14, 14 do not interfere with the attachment of the grommet 51, and as a result, the assembly of the first mounting bracket 31 is facilitated.

[0051] <Connector support part 33> The first mounting bracket 31 has a connector support portion 33 at the lower end portion 31b of the first mounting bracket 31, which supports a connector 49 connected to the first blower 30. The connector support portions 33 are provided on both the left and right sides of the lower end portion 31b of the first mounting bracket 31. More specifically, the connector support portions 33 are provided in tongue shapes so as to extend diagonally downward and outward from the left and right sides of the lower end portion 31b of the first mounting bracket 31. The connector support portions 33 extend diagonally downward and outward, so that they are configured to be located lower than the lower end of the upper frame 12.

[0052] Providing the connector support portion 33 on the first mounting bracket 31 makes it easier to attach the connector 49, improving the workability of attaching the first blower 30. Furthermore, by providing the connector support portions 33 on both the left and right sides, the connector 49 can be attached using the connector support portion 33 located close to the harness 50 regardless of whether the vehicle seat S is located on the left or right side of the vehicle, so that the first mounting bracket 31 can be shared by both the left and right seats. Furthermore, by being located below the lower end of the upper frame 12, interference with the upper frame 12 is suppressed.

[0053] <First blower fixing portion 32> As shown in Fig. 9, the first mounting bracket 31 is provided with four first blower fixing parts 32 on the surface facing the seat occupant. The first blower fixing parts correspond to the functional component fixing parts of the present invention. The first blower fixing parts 32 are disposed near the four corners of the first mounting bracket 31, and the two upper blower fixing parts 32a disposed on the upper side are disposed in positions sandwiching the upper connection part 38a. In other words, the upper connection part 38a is sandwiched between the two upper blower fixing parts 32a. Moreover, the two lower blower fixing parts 32b arranged on the lower side of the first mounting bracket 31 are arranged near the lower connection parts 38b. In other words, the two lower connection parts 38b are arranged adjacent to the lower blower fixing parts 32b. By arranging the upper connection parts 38a and the lower connection parts 38b in this manner, the fixing strength is improved.

[0054] In this embodiment, the recess 15 is formed in the upper frame 12 as the escape portion of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the escape portion may be a through hole formed in the upper frame 12. By inserting the first blower 30 into the through hole and fixing it by sinking it, it is possible to prevent the first blower 30 from protruding forward.

[0055] Furthermore, the frame in which the recess 15 (recess) for mounting the first blower 30 is formed is not limited to the upper frame 12, but may be the lower frame 13 disposed below the seatback frame 10, or a connecting frame (not shown) provided in the center. Furthermore, the functional component mounted in the recess 15 is not limited to the first blower 30, but may be a sensor for acquiring biological information of the seated occupant, or may be a vibration device, a heater, a speaker, or an air cell.

[0056] Next, the rail device 4 of the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 17. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the rail device 4 as viewed obliquely from the front, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the front end of the rail device 4 as viewed from inside the vehicle seat S. Fig. 13 is a top view showing the tip portion of the lower rail 5, Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing the tip portion of the lower rail 5, Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XV-XV in Fig. 13, and Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the tip portion of the lower rail 5. Fig. 17 is an explanatory view showing engagement between the tip of the lower rail 5 and a cover member 57.

[0057] As described above, the rail device 4 is composed of the lower rail 5 fixed onto the vehicle body floor FL, and the upper rail 6 attached to the seat frame F and slidably engaged with the lower rail 5. The upper rail 6 is provided with a connecting bracket 60 that connects to the seat frame F, and is configured such that the seat body Sh of the vehicle seat S moves in the front-rear direction by sliding the upper rail 6 in the front-rear direction.

[0058] Conventionally, the lower rail was fixed to the vehicle floor by directly attaching a fastening member such as a bolt to the bottom of the lower rail (see JP 2021-160408 A). However, because the bolt head was located at the bottom of the lower rail, the upper rail and the bolt head interfered with each other, which sometimes limited the range of motion of the upper rail. In addition, because a through hole was formed at the bottom of the lower rail, improving the rail and the members around the rail was also an issue.

[0059] 15, the lower rail 5 of the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment is fixed to the vehicle body floor FL by a bolt 52 (fastening member), and a recess 54 (relief portion) is formed directly below the lower rail 5, which allows the bolt 52 to sink from the bottom portion 5a of the lower rail 5. In other words, the lower rail 5 is provided with the recess 54 that positions the bolt 52 below the bottom portion 5a of the lower rail 5.

[0060] 13, an opening 5b through which the head 52a of the bolt 52 is inserted is formed in the bottom 5a at the tip portion of the lower rail 5. The opening 5b is formed in a circular shape, and a diameter R1 of the opening 5b is larger than a diameter R2 of the head of the bolt 52.

[0061] A retaining member 53 is attached below the bottom portion 5a to retain a head portion 52a of the inserted bolt 52. A recess 54 is formed in the bottom portion 53a of the retaining member 53, and the head portion 52a of the bolt 52 is configured to be disposed within the recess 54 when the lower rail 5 is fixed. By positioning the head 52a within the recess 54, the bolt 52 is sunk below the bottom 5a of the lower rail 5, and the top 52b of the bolt 52 is positioned below the upper surface of the bottom 5a of the lower rail 5.

[0062] <Retaining member 53> The holding member 53 is a metal member formed by bending a plate-like member. As shown in Fig. 15, a circular recess 54 is formed in the center of a bottom portion 53a of the holding member 53 when viewed from above. A through hole 54a through which the shaft portion of the bolt 52 is inserted is formed in the center of the recess 54.

[0063] The holding member 53 is formed to have a U-shaped cross section overall, and the lower rail 5 is sandwiched between both sides 53b, 53b formed by bending the holding member 53, and in this state the holding member 53 can be attached to the bottom 5a of the lower rail 5. The retaining member 53 attached to the bottom portion 5a of the lower rail 5 is fixed by welding to the side portion 5c of the lower rail 5. In other words, both side portions 53b, 53b of the retaining member 53 are fixed by retaining member fixing portions 56 by welding to both side portions 5c, 5c of the lower rail 5. By arranging the retaining member fixing portions 56 in this manner, the lower rail 5 can be made more compact and its strength can be improved.

[0064] 13, the two holding member fixing parts 56 are disposed at positions sandwiching the bolt 52 when viewed from above. By disposing the two holding member fixing parts 56 so as to sandwich the bolt 52, the strength of the vicinity of the bolt 52 is improved.

[0065] Further, a step portion 53c formed by a notch is formed in the side portion 53b of the holding member 53 at a position corresponding to the cover engaged portion 5d of the lower rail 5. By forming the step portion 53c, the cover engaged portion 5d is not covered by the side portion 53b, and engagement with the cover member 57 described later is not hindered.

[0066] In addition, the holding member fixing portion 56 is provided in the vicinity of the cover engaged portion 5d. Providing the holding member fixing portion 56 in the vicinity of the cover engaged portion 5d can improve strength. In addition, the holding member fixing portion 56 and the cover engaged portion 5d are provided at approximately the same height, allowing for a compact arrangement.

[0067] <Cover member 57> A cover member 57 is provided at the tip portion of the lower rail 5 to cover the portion of the lower rail 5 to which the holding member 53 is attached. The cover member 57 is made of resin and is formed so that its cross section is substantially U-shaped. The cover member 57 has a bottom portion formed with a through hole 57c into which the recess 54 of the holding member 53 is inserted.

[0068] Moreover, a claw-shaped engaging portion 57a ​​extending rearward from the tip is formed on the inside of the cover member 57. Moreover, a cover engaged portion 5d is formed at a position corresponding to the engaging portion 57a ​​at the tip of the lower rail 5. As shown in Fig. 17, when the cover member 57 is attached, the engaging portion 57a ​​engages with the cover engaged portion 5d of the lower rail 5, thereby fixing the cover member 57.

[0069] In addition, the side portion of the cover member 57 has a bulging portion that bulges outward to accommodate the holding member fixing portion 56. A rib 57b is formed on the inside of the bulging portion. The rib 57b is provided so that the tip of the rib 57b abuts against the side surface of the lower rail 5 when the cover member 57 is attached. The rib 57b is attached so as to be located above the holding member fixing portion 56. The strength of the cover member 57 is improved by having the holding member fixing portion 56 located below the rib 57b.

[0070] <Connecting bracket 60 and link 61> As shown in Fig. 11, a connecting bracket 60 is provided on the upper rail 6 that slides on the lower rail 5. In addition, as shown in Fig. 12, a plurality of links 61 that connect to the cushion side frames 21, 21 of the seat cushion frame 20 are rotatably attached to the connecting bracket 60. By rotating the links 61, the height of the seat cushion 2 can be changed.

[0071] The connecting bracket 60 of this embodiment is composed of a bottom portion 60a that connects to the upper rail 6, and a wall portion 60b that stands upright from the periphery of the bottom portion 60a. In addition, a flange 60c that extends outward in the seat width direction is formed at the upper end of the wall portion 60b. By forming the flange 60c, the strength around the rail is improved. As shown in FIG. 12, the link 61 is also formed with a flange 61b extending inward in the seat width direction from the side of the link body 61a, thereby improving the strength around the rail.

[0072] Next, the seat cushion frame 20 included in the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 18 to 22. Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing the pan frame 24 to which the second blower 130 is attached, and Fig. 19 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a portion A of Fig. 18 in an enlarged manner. Fig. 20 is a bottom view of the pan frame to which the second mounting bracket 131 is attached, showing a state in which the second blower 130 has been removed. Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing the top side of the second mounting bracket 131, and Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the second mounting bracket 131.

[0073] Conventionally, when a functional part such as a blower is attached to a seat cushion frame, the functional part is not directly attached, but is attached via a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is fastened to the seat frame using a fastening member such as a bolt, but is usually temporarily fixed to the seat frame using a locking claw or the like before fastening. In the vehicle seat disclosed in JP 2021-112586 A, the mounting bracket is temporarily fixed using one locking claw and then fastened. However, with a single locking claw, the temporary fastening precision and holding force when the mounting bracket is temporarily fastened are low, which may result in poor assembly performance.

[0074] The vehicle seat S according to this embodiment includes a second blower 130, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 19. The second blower 130 is attached to the pan frame 24. The second blower 130 is a device that blows air to a seated occupant, and corresponds to a functional component of the present invention. The air blown out from the second blower 130 is sent to a second air outlet 140 of the seat cushion 2 through a duct 130a provided in the seat cushion 2.

[0075] The vehicle seat S is fixed to the second blower 130 and includes a second mounting bracket 131 that mounts the second blower 130 to the pan frame 24. The second mounting bracket 131 is a resin member formed into a plate shape as a whole, and as shown in Figs. 21 and 22, an opening 137 is formed in the center through which the duct 130a extending from the second blower 130 is inserted.

[0076] The second mounting bracket 131 is fastened to the pan frame 24 of the seat cushion frame 20 by a plurality of bolts 139 (a plurality of fastening members). Although the bolts 139 are used as the fastening members, tapping screws may also be used for fastening. As shown in Fig. 21, the second mounting bracket 131 has a plurality of temporary fastening parts 135 that temporarily fasten the second mounting bracket 131 to the pan frame 24, and as shown in Fig. 18, the plurality of temporary fastening parts 135 are arranged in positions that sandwich the second blower 130. The second mounting bracket 131 is temporarily fastened to the pan frame 24 by the plurality of temporary fastening parts 135 before being fastened and fixed to the pan frame 24 by bolts 139. In this way, by arranging the plurality of temporary fastening parts 135 so that the second blower 130 is sandwiched between them, the temporary fastening accuracy and holding force around the second blower 130 are improved, and the ease of assembly can be improved.

[0077] 21, the tip of the temporary fastening portion 135 is formed in a claw shape. The second mounting bracket 131 can be temporarily fastened to the pan frame 24 by inserting the temporary fastening portion 135 into an insertion hole formed in the pan frame 24 at a corresponding position and hooking the tip of the temporary fastening portion 135 into the insertion hole.

[0078] The temporary fastening portions 135 are arranged in pairs on each side of the second blower 130 in the sheet width direction. The two temporary fastening portions 135 arranged on the left side of the second blower 130 are arranged side by side in the sheet front-rear direction. The two temporary fastening portions 135 arranged on the right side of the second blower 130 are also arranged side by side in the sheet front-rear direction. In this embodiment, two temporary fastening portions 135 are provided on each of the left and right sides of the second blower 130, but this is not limited to this, and one temporary fastening portion 135 may be provided on each of the left and right sides, or three or more temporary fastening portions 135 may be provided on each of the left and right sides. Arranging them side by side in the left-right direction allows for a compact arrangement, while arranging them side by side in the front-to-back direction improves the accuracy of temporary fastening.

[0079] The pan frame 24 is formed with a duct insertion portion 24a through which the duct 130a of the second blower 130 is inserted. The duct insertion portion 24a is a through hole formed in the pan frame 24. The pan frame 24 is also provided with a second bracket fixing portion 26 for fixing the second mounting bracket 131. The second bracket fixing portion 26 is composed of a left bracket fixing portion 26a formed on the left side of the duct insertion portion 24a and a right bracket fixing portion 26b formed on the right side. The left bracket fixing portion 26a and the right bracket fixing portion 26b are formed as recesses recessed downward. The multiple temporary fastening portions 135 of the second mounting bracket 131 are inserted into through holes formed in the second bracket fixing portion 26 and are hooked.

[0080] The second mounting bracket 131 has a second frame connection portion 138 that connects to the second bracket fixing portion 26 of the pan frame 24 . 20, the right side of the second mounting bracket 131 is provided with one right side connection portion 138b that connects to the right side bracket fixing portion 26b of the pan frame 24. The left side of the second mounting bracket 131 is provided with two left side connection portions 138a that connect to the left side bracket fixing portion 26a of the pan frame 24, arranged side by side in the seat front-rear direction. The second mounting bracket 131 is attached to the pan frame 24 at three points, including one point on the right connection portion 138b and two points on the left connection portion 138a, so that it can be firmly fixed in a simple manner.

[0081] <Grommet 151> As described above, the left connecting portion 138a and the right connecting portion 138b of the second mounting bracket 131 are fastened to the second bracket fixing portion 26 of the pan frame 24 by the bolts 139. Since the second mounting bracket 131 is made of resin, it may be damaged if the bolts 139 come into contact with it. For this reason, grommets 151 are attached to the left connecting portion 138a and the right connecting portion 138b. The configuration of the grommet 151 is similar to that of the grommet 51 provided on the first mounting bracket 31, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0082] The grommet 151 is applied around the bolt insertion holes of the left connecting portion 138a and the right connecting portion 138b, thereby protecting the left connecting portion 138a and the right connecting portion 138b. In addition, the fixing force of the left connecting portion 138a and the right connecting portion 138b is strengthened, making assembly easier. The temporary fixing portion 135 is disposed at a position that avoids the grommet 151, that is, at a position where the grommet 151 is not provided. This improves the ease of attachment.

[0083] 18, the temporary fastening portion 135 disposed on the right side of the second mounting bracket 131 is disposed in a position sandwiching the bolt 139 to be fastened by the right connecting portion 138b. By disposing it in this manner, the temporary fastening accuracy is improved. Further, the temporary fastening portion 135 arranged on the left side is arranged at a position sandwiched between two bolts 139 fastened by the left connecting portion 138a. By arranging the temporary fastening portion 135 in this way, it is possible to achieve a more secure fixation.

[0084] <Connector support portion 133> As shown in Fig. 20, the second mounting bracket 131 has connector support parts 133 at the rear end part 131b of the first mounting bracket 31, which support a connector 49 connected to the second blower 130. The connector support parts 133 are provided on both the left and right sides of the rear end part 131b of the second mounting bracket 131. The connector 49 is attached to the connector support parts 133, and a harness 50 extending from the connector 49 is connected to the vehicle power source, ECU, etc. The harness 50 is fixed to the lower surface of the second mounting bracket 131 by a clip 58.

[0085] Providing the connector support portion 33 on the second mounting bracket 131 makes it easier to attach the connector 49, improving the workability of mounting the second blower 130. Furthermore, providing the connector support portions 33 on both the left and right sides allows the connector 49 to be attached using the connector support portion 33 located near the harness 50 extending from a power source or the like, regardless of whether the vehicle seat S is placed on the left or right side of the vehicle. Therefore, the second mounting bracket 131 can be shared by the left and right seats. Furthermore, the connector support portion 133 is provided at a position that avoids the temporary fastening portion 135, thereby improving the ease of mounting.

[0086] As described above, the second mounting bracket 131 has an opening 137 formed in the center, through which the duct 130a of the second blower 130 passes. The multiple temporary fastening parts 135 provided on the second mounting bracket 131 are arranged at positions sandwiching the opening 137. By arranging the multiple temporary fastening parts 135 in this manner, it is possible to improve the temporary fastening accuracy and strength. In addition, by providing the temporary fastening parts 135 on the left and right of the duct insertion part 24a, a compact arrangement can be achieved.

[0087] <Rib 131d> 21, a rib 131d that protrudes downward is provided on the lower surface 131c of the second mounting bracket 131. In particular, a portion of the rib 131d is formed in a circular shape so as to surround the opening 137, thereby improving the rigidity of the periphery of the opening 137.

[0088] <Second blower fixing portion 132> 19 and 21, a second blower fixing portion 132 (functional component fixing portion) for fixing the second blower 130 to the second mounting bracket 131 is provided on a lower surface 131c of the second mounting bracket 131. In this embodiment, four second blower fixing portions 132 are provided around the opening 137.

[0089] <Guide part 136> The second mounting bracket 131 is provided with guide portions 136 that guide the temporary fastening portions 135 when the temporary fastening portions 135 are temporarily fastened. The guide portions 136 are columnar members that stand upright from the upper surface 131a of the second mounting bracket 131, and one guide portion 136 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the duct insertion portion 24a. Moreover, guide portion 136 is provided near at least one of the multiple temporary fastening portions 135. In particular, guide portion 136 provided on the left side is disposed between two temporary fastening portions disposed in front and behind. Providing guide portion 136 near temporary fastening portions 135 or disposing guide portion 136 between temporary fastening portions 135 makes temporary fastening easier.

[0090] In this embodiment, the second mounting bracket 131 is attached to the pan frame 24 of the seat cushion frame 20, but the second mounting bracket 131 may be attached to the upper frame 12 or the lower frame 13 of the seat back frame 10. In this case, the multiple temporary fastening portions 135 arranged on the left or right side of the opening 137 through which the duct passes will be aligned in the vertical direction of the vehicle seat S.

[0091] In addition, the functional part attached to the pan frame 24 is not limited to the second blower 130, and may be a sensor that acquires biological information of a seated occupant. In addition, the functional part may be a vibration device, a heater, a speaker, or an air cell. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] S Vehicle seat Seat frame, front T Skin material P Pad material FL Vehicle floor 1 Seat back 2 Seat cushion 3 Headrest 3a Headrest stay 4 Rail device 5 Lower rail 5a bottom 5b opening 5c Side 5d Cover engaged part 6 Upper Rail 7 Reclining mechanism 10 Seat back frame 11 Back side frame (side frame) 12 Upper frame (connecting frame) 12a Seat side 13 Lower frame 14 Headrest holder 15 Recess 16 First bracket fixing portion (mounting member fixing portion) 16a Upper bracket fixing part 16b Lower bracket fixing part 17 Insertion hole 18 Bead section 20 Seat cushion frame 21 Cushion side frame (side frame) 22 Front connecting frame 23 Rear connecting frame 24 Pan Frame 24a Duct insertion part 25 Pressure-receiving member 26 Second bracket fixing portion (mounting member fixing portion) 26a Left side bracket fixing part 26b Right side bracket fixing part 30 First blower (functional part) 31 First mounting bracket (mounting part) 31a Upper end 31b Lower end 31c Storage recess 31d opening 32 First blower fixing part (functional part fixing part) 32a Upper blower fixing part 32b Lower blower fixing part 33 Connector support 34 Positioning part 34a head 34b Post section 38 First frame connection 38a Upper connection part (first connection part) 38b Lower connection part (second connection part) 39 Bolts (fastening members) 40 First ventilation outlet 49 Connectors 50 Harness 51 Grommet 52 Bolt (fastening member) 52a head 52b Top 53 Retaining member 53a bottom 53b Side 53c Stepped section 54 Recess (relief) 54a through hole 56 Retaining member fixing part 57 Cover material 57a Engagement part 57b Rib 57c through hole 58 clips 60 Connecting bracket 60a bottom 60b wall 60c flange 61 Links 61a Link body 61b flange 130 Second blower (functional part) 130a Duct 131 Second mounting bracket (mounting part) 131a Top side 131b Rear end 131c Bottom surface 131d Rib 132 Second blower fixing part (functional part fixing part) 133 Connector support 135 Temporary fastening 136 Guide part 137 Opening 138 Second frame connection 138a Left side connection 138b Right side connection 139 Bolts (fastening members) 140 Second ventilation outlet

Claims

1. Seat frame and a rail device including a lower rail fixed to a floor and an upper rail attached to the seat frame and slidably engaged with the lower rail, The lower rail is fixed to the floor by a fastening member, A through hole through which the fastening member is inserted is formed in a bottom portion of the lower rail, A retaining member is attached to a portion of the lower rail where the through hole is formed, the retaining member has a recess that is a recess below the lower rail and that allows the fastening member to sink from a bottom portion of the lower rail and that retains a head portion of the fastening member that has passed through the through hole, a cover member that covers a portion of the lower rail to which the retaining member is attached, a cover engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion of the cover member is formed on a side portion of the lower rail, A step is formed on a side surface of the holding member at a position that does not overlap with the cover engaged portion, Fixing portions are provided on both sides of the lower rail to fix the retaining member to the lower rail by welding, The fixing portion is provided in the vicinity of the cover engaged portion, A rib is formed on the inner side of the cover member to come into contact with a side surface of the lower rail, A vehicle seat, characterized in that the fixing portion is located below the rib.

2. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a head of the fastening member is disposed within the recess, and a top of the fastening member disposed within the recess is located below an upper surface of the bottom of the lower rail.

3. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portions provided on both sides of the lower rail are provided at positions that sandwich the fastening member when viewed from above.

4. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion is provided at the same height as the cover engagement portion.

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