Vehicle seat and manufacturing method for vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat which blocks the movement of a seat back on an impact occurrence time and improves operability when inclining the seat back on a normal time.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat S comprises an inclinable seat back 1 and a lock device 50 provided on a side a seat back 10R. The lock device 50 has an engaging target member 53 arranged on an adjacent another seat back 10L or a vehicle body and an engaging member 51 so provided as to be engaged and disengaged, where the engaging member 51 is supported by the seat back 10R in a desorption member state with respect to the engaging target member 53, and, when an impact is applied on the seat backs 10R, 10L, the engaging member 51 moves to engage with the engaging target member 53, thus fixing seat backs 10R, 10L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat having a tiltable seat back. [Background technology]

[0002] Some two-box vehicles have rear seat backs that can be folded forward, and the luggage compartment floor behind the rear seats can be expanded by folding the rear seats forward. When the luggage compartment floor is not expanded, a locking device provided on the seat backs prevents the rear seat backs from folding forward due to impact in the event of an accident, etc., and maintains the upright position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-127727 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, under normal circumstances, every time the seat back is folded forward, all locks, including the locking device, must be released, which is time-consuming.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent movement of the seat back when an impact occurs and to improve operability when tilting the seat back under normal circumstances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above-mentioned problem is solved by a vehicle seat according to the present invention, which includes a reclining seat back and a locking device provided on a side of the seat back, the locking device having an engaging member provided so as to be engageable with and disengageable from an engaged member provided on another adjacent seat back or on a vehicle body, The engaging member has a claw portion formed at an end of the engaging member, The engaging member is normally engaged with the engaged member. Disengaged state and supported by the seat back, In the disengaged state, a distance from a center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the claw portion is greater than a distance from the center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the engaged member, When an impact is applied to the seat back, the engaging member moves and engages with the engaged member, thereby fixing the seat back, thereby solving the problem.

[0007] The above-mentioned object is achieved by a method for manufacturing a vehicle seat according to the present invention, which comprises a reclining seat back and an engaging member that can be engaged with and disengaged from an adjacent seat back or an engaged member that is disposed on a vehicle body, The engaging member has a claw portion formed at an end of the engaging member, Normally, the engaged member Disengaged state Supported by an engaging member, in the disengaged state, a distance from a center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the claw portion is greater than a distance from the center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the engaged member; When an impact is applied to the seat back, The above The problem is solved by including the steps of preparing a locking device having an engaging member that moves to engage with the engaged member, and attaching the locking device to a side portion of the seat back.

[0008] Since the engaging member of the locking device is normally supported in a detached state and is not engaged with the engaged member, there is no need to unlock the locking device when tilting the seat back, improving operability when tilting the seat back. On the other hand, when a large impact is applied due to an accident, etc., the engaging member moves and engages with the engaged member, so that the seat back is fixed and safety can be ensured.

[0009] In the above vehicle seat, the engagement member End of The side portion of the seat back It can rotate around a rotation axis extending in the sheet width direction from It is supported by a The claw portion is formed on an end portion of the engaging member opposite to an end portion pivotally supported by the rotating shaft. Good 。

[0010] In the above vehicle seat, In the disengaged state, the claw portion is disposed at an upper end of the engaging member, and the rotation shaft is disposed at a lower end of the engaging member. Good。

[0011] In addition, in the above vehicle seat, The seat back has a back frame as a skeleton, the back frame has a frame-shaped main frame and a vehicle body connecting bracket attached to an outer surface of the main frame in the seat width direction, and the rotation shaft is attached above an upper end of the vehicle body connecting bracket. Good 。

[0012] In addition, in the above vehicle seat, A bulge that protrudes forward is formed at the end opposite to the claw portion. Good 。

[0013] In addition, in the above vehicle seat, In the disengaged state, the bulge is disposed at a front end of the engaging member, and the rotation shaft is disposed at a rear end of the engaging member. Good 。

[0014] In addition, in the above vehicle seat, the vehicle seat is comprised of a right seat constituting a right seat and a left seat adjacent to the right seat and constituting a left seat, a right main frame forming a framework of the right seat and a left main frame forming a framework of the left seat are disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween, The locking device is A gap is provided between the right main frame and the left main frame. It is good to 。

[0015] In the above vehicle seat, the locking device is a support portion that movably supports the engaging member and is integrally fixed to the back frame; and a biasing member that biases the engaging member in a direction opposite to a movable direction of the engaging member, The biasing member may have one end connected to the engaging member and the other end connected to the hook portion of the support portion. 。

[0016] In addition, in the above vehicle seat, The seat cushion includes a seat cushion, a headrest, support legs that are attached between the seat cushion and a vehicle body floor and support the seat cushion, and a switching device that is attached to an outer portion of the seat back in the seat width direction and switches the seat body from an in-use state to a stored state. The seat back is configured by placing a pad on a back frame that serves as a skeleton and covering the pad with a trim cover. The seat cushion is configured by placing a pad on a cushion frame that serves as a skeleton and covering the pad with a trim cover. The headrest is configured by placing a pad on a headrest pillar that serves as a core material and covering the pad with a trim cover. Good 。 Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, since the engaging member of the locking device is supported in a detached state and is not engaged with the engaged member under normal circumstances, there is no need to unlock the locking device when tilting the seat back, improving operability when tilting the seat back. On the other hand, when a large impact is applied due to an accident or the like, the engaging member moves and engages with the engaged member, so that the seat back is fixed and safety can be ensured. Furthermore, since the shaft about which the engaging member rotates is fixed, it becomes easier to determine the locking position. Furthermore, since the engaged member is a striker, it is possible to achieve a strong lock with a simple structure. Furthermore, since the engaging member is located above the engaged member, the engaging member can smoothly engage with the engaged member when an impact occurs. Furthermore, by providing a cover member around the engaging member, the engaging member is not visible, and the appearance can be improved.

[0018] In addition, the opening for inserting and removing the engaging member does not impede the engagement with the engaged member, and the cover member covers the engaging member, improving the appearance. In addition, the biasing member prevents the engaging member from accidentally engaging with the engaged member. Furthermore, since the engaging member returns to the detached state when the impact is released, the engaging member can be maintained in the detached state under normal circumstances. Furthermore, by joining the support portion that supports the engaging member to the frame, the biasing member is indirectly supported by the frame of the seat back, so that sufficient strength can be ensured. Furthermore, by positioning the hook portion on the opposite side to the engaging member, the biasing member can bias the engaging member without interfering with the operation of the engaging member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a frame of the vehicle seat. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the locking device in a normal state, illustrating an unlocked state. [Figure 3B] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the locking device when an impact is received, and shows a locked state. [Figure 4A] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the locking device in a normal state, illustrating the unlocked state. [Figure 4B] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the locking device when it receives an impact, and shows the locked state. [Diagram 5] 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the operation of the locking device. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 shows a height-adjustable back frame, with the left side showing a rear view and the right side showing a cross-sectional view along line AA. [Figure 6B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a back frame with its height adjusted, with the left side showing a rear view and the right side showing a cross-sectional view along line BB. [Figure 7A] 1 is a rear view of a back frame having a support base on which a fuse portion is provided. FIG. [Figure 7B] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which energy is absorbed by a fuse portion; FIG. [Figure 7C] 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 7A, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining the mounting structure of the striker provided on the back frame and its operation. FIG. [Figure 8A] FIG. 11 is a rear view showing another example of the back frame. [Figure 8B] 8B is a cross-sectional view of the back frame taken along line BB in FIG. 8A. [Figure 9] 13 is a rear view of the back frame provided with a plate member that covers the hole of the trunk through. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a vehicle seat according to the present invention is applied to a rear seat (including the second and third rows) of an automobile vehicle seat will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention naturally includes equivalents. In addition, in the following description, the contents regarding the material, shape, and size of the seat components are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats installed in vehicles that run on the ground and have wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but may also be applied to seats installed in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on non-ground surfaces, for example.

[0021] In the following description, the "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat (in other words, the front-rear direction of the seat body), which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is traveling. The "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat (in other words, the width direction of the seat body), which coincides with the left-right direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. The "up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. In addition, the left and right are defined based on the position of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. In addition, in the left-right direction, the center side of the seat is called the inner side, and the opposite side is called the outer side. In addition, the "outside side of the vehicle" in the seat width direction means the side closer to the outside of the vehicle body (or, more simply, the side closer to the nearest door), and the "inside side of the vehicle" means the side closer to the inside of the vehicle body (or, more simply, the side away from the nearest door). In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "rotation" refers to a rotational movement about an axis along the sheet width direction.

[0022] The vehicle seat S of this embodiment is a seat that is placed on the vehicle body floor and in which a vehicle occupant sits. The vehicle seat S is used as a rear seat that corresponds to the rear seat of the vehicle. However, the vehicle seat S is not limited to this, 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.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle seat S has a right seat S1 constituting a right seat, and a left seat S2 constituting a left seat and a center seat. For convenience of illustration, a part of the right seat S1 for a vehicle is shown in Fig. 1 with a trim cover T removed.

[0024] The right seat S1 and the left seat S2 each have a seat body Sh1, Sh2 that constitutes a main body of the seat S1. The seat body Sh1 of the right seat S1 includes a seat back 1R that is rotatably provided with respect to the vehicle floor of the automobile, a seat cushion 2R, and a headrest 3R. The left seat S2 includes a seat back 1L, a seat cushion 2L, and head rests 3LA and 3LB. As shown in FIG. 2, the seat cushions 2R, 2L are attached between the seat cushions 2R, 2L and the vehicle floor, and are provided with support legs 30 for supporting the seat cushions 2R, 2L, a support base 40 for rotatably supporting the seat backs 1R, 1L, and a switching device 45 attached to the outer portions of the seat backs 1R, 1L in the seat width direction, for switching the seat body from an in-use state to a stored state.

[0025] Further, a storage floor (not shown) of a recess is provided on the front side of the vehicle seat S and is positioned lower than the vehicle body floor. The vehicle seat S is a seat that can be arranged in at least two different forms: a use state in which an occupant can sit, and a storage state in which the seat bodies Sh1 and Sh2 are stored in a storage floor. Specifically, when the occupant pulls the operation lever 46 shown in Fig. 1 from the use state, the vehicle seat S switches to a storage state in which the seat bodies Sh1 and Sh2 are folded forward and stored in the storage floor. Also, the occupant manually raises the seat bodies Sh1 and Sh2 upward from the storage state to return to the use state.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat backs 1R, 1L are backrests that support the occupant's back from behind, and are configured by placing a pad P on back frames 10R, 10L shown in FIG. 2, which serve as the skeleton, and covering them with a trim cover T. The seat cushions 2R, 2L are seating portions that support the occupant from below, and are configured by placing a pad P on cushion frames 20R, 20L shown in Figure 2, which serve as the framework, and covering the pad P with a trim cover T. The head rests 3R, 3LA, 3LB are head rests that support the head of an occupant from behind, and are configured by placing a pad P on a head rest pillar (not shown) that serves as a core material, and covering the pad P with a trim cover T.

[0027] The back frames 10R, 10L are made of a substantially rectangular frame-like body that serves as the framework of the seat backs 1R, 1L, and are mainly made up of a frame-like main frame 11R, 11L made of a pipe material and a panel bracket 14R, 14L that is disposed within the frame of the main frame 11R, 11L and supports a seated occupant, as shown in Fig. 2. The panel brackets 14R, 14L are formed with a plurality of reinforcing protrusions 15 that protrude toward the front side of the seat.

[0028] The left seat S2 is provided with a connecting frame 12 that connects the upper frame and the lower frame of the main frame 11L. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting frame 12 is made of a long pipe material, and the upper and lower end portions thereof are formed with approximately flat surfaces that are partially crushed by press working. These approximately flat surfaces are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the main frame 11 while being slightly curved along the outer circumferential surface. More specifically, both end portions of these approximately flat surfaces in the seat width direction are attached to the front surface of the main frame 11 by welding.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 is made of a sheet metal member extending in the vertical direction, and an upper portion of the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 is attached to the outer surface of the main frame 11 in the seat width direction, and a lower end portion of the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 is attached so as to be rotatable relative to the inner surface of the support base 40. More specifically, the upper portion of the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 extends in the vertical direction along the outer circumferential surface of the main frame 11 and is joined to the outer circumferential surface by welding.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 is sandwiched between the main frames 11R, 11L and the cushion frames 20R, 20L in the seat width direction. A seat rotation shaft 18 is provided at the lower end of the left body connecting bracket 17, and is supported on the support base 40 in the seat width direction. A reclining device 19 is attached to the lower end of the right body connecting bracket 17, which rotatably connects the back frames 10R, 10L to the support base 40.

[0031] The reclining device 19 is a known device, and is attached to the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 as shown in Fig. 2. The reclining device 19 is equipped with a spiral spring (not shown) that urges the back frames 10R, 10L to the stored state by rotating them forward about the seat rotation shaft 18. The reclining device 19 is activated when the seat backs 1R, 1L are unlocked by operating the operating lever 46, and the urging force of the spiral spring rotates the back frames 10R, 10L forward, allowing them to be folded toward the vehicle floor.

[0032] The cushion frames 20R, 20L are each made of a roughly rectangular frame-like body that serves as the skeleton of the seat cushions 2R, 2L, and as shown in FIG. 2, are mainly composed of left and right side frames 21R, 21L arranged on the left and right sides, forward connecting pipes 22R, 22L that connect the front portions of the side frames 21R, 21L, central connecting pipes 23R, 23L that connect approximately the central portions of the side frames in the fore-and-aft direction, and pan frames 24R, 24L as plate-like frames that connect the front connecting pipes 22R, 22L and the central connecting pipes 23R, 23L.

[0033] The side frames 21R, 21L are made of sheet metal members with an approximately U-shaped cross section extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat, with their front portions connected to the front connecting pipes 22R, 22L and their rear portions attached to the outer surfaces of the main frames 11R, 11L via the vehicle body connecting bracket 17.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the front connecting pipes 22R, 22L are made of approximately U-shaped pipe members, and a leg rotation device 28 is attached to the inner surface in the seat width direction, which connects the support leg 30 to the cushion frame 20 so that the support leg 30 can rotate around a leg rotation axis 29.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the support legs 30 are approximately C-shaped pipe members that support the seat cushions 2R and 2L, and are equipped with leg body portions 31 arranged on the left and right sides and leg connecting portions 32 that connect the lower ends of each leg body portion 31. The upper end of the leg body 31 is connected to the approximate center in the front-rear direction on the left and right inner surfaces of the cushion frame 20. In addition, the center in the seat width direction of the leg connecting part 32 is detachably held by a leg holding member 33 on the vehicle floor. The upper end of the support leg 30 projects further forward than the lower end of the support leg 30 and is inclined upward and forward from the lower end of the support leg 30 toward the upper end of the support leg 30.

[0036] The support base 40 is a member that supports the seat backs 1R and 1L, and is made of a generally L-shaped sheet metal member that is long in the front-rear direction as shown in Fig. 2, and is disposed on the side in the seat width direction and connected to the vehicle floor. The support base 40 is mainly composed of a connecting wall portion 41 connected to the upper surface of the vehicle floor, and an outer wall portion that bends upward and extends from the left and right inner ends of the connecting wall portion 41 and is connected to the lower end portion of the vehicle body connecting bracket 17 via the seat rotation shaft 18.

[0037] The switching device 45 is a known device for switching the vehicle seat S from an in-use state to a stored state, and is attached to the upper portion of the back frames 10R, 10L as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The switching device 45 is equipped with an operating lever 46, and is configured to be switchable between a lockable state in which the seat can be locked and an unlockable state in which the seat cannot be locked by the operating lever 46.

[0038] When the occupant operates the operation lever 46 in the vehicle seat S from the in-use state, the back frames 10R, 10L are released from the locked state by the switching device 45. When the seat backs 1R, 1L are released from the locked state, the reclining device 19 shown in Fig. 2 operates, and specifically, the back frames 10R, 10L can be rotated forward and folded by the biasing force of a spiral spring (not shown). In addition, in conjunction with the rotation of the back frames 10R, 10L, the cushion rotation device 26 and leg rotation device 28 shown in Figure 2 each operate, and specifically, the support leg 30 can be rotated toward the cushion frames 20R, 20L around the leg rotation axis 29 by the biasing force of a spiral spring (not shown), thereby folding it. Through the above series of operations, the seat body is stored in the storage floor, and the vehicle seat S is switched from the in-use state to the stored state.

[0039] <Locking device> Hereinafter, the locking device 50 attached to the vehicle seat S of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing the locking device 50 in a normal state, and Fig. 3B is a perspective view showing the locking device 50 when an impact is applied and in a locked state. Fig. 4A is a side view showing the locking device 50 in a normal state and in an unlocked state, and Fig. 4B is a side view showing the locking device 50 when an impact is applied and in a locked state. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the locking device 50.

[0040] 1 and 2, the locking device 50 is provided between the seat back 1R of the right seat S1 and the seat back 1L of the left seat S2. The locking device 50 mainly includes an engaging member 51 and a striker 53 with which the engaging member 51 engages. The striker 53 is the engaged member of the present invention.

[0041] The engagement member 51 is attached to a side of the seat back 1R (more specifically, the back frame 10R) of the right seat S1. The engagement member 51 is supported rotatably about a rotation shaft 52 extending from a support portion 57 attached to the back frame 10R. The rotation shaft 52 extends in the seat width direction, and the engagement member 51 is attached rotatably in the front-rear direction. The engaging member 51 is adjusted so that when an impact is applied to the seat back due to an accident or the like, the force of the impact causes the engaging member 51 to tilt forward and rotate until it engages with the striker 53.

[0042] The striker 53 is provided on a side of the seat back 1L of the left seat S2. The side of the seat back 1L faces the side of the seat back 1R to which the engagement member 51 is attached. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B, the striker 53 is located below the engagement member 51. In other words, the engagement member 51 is located above the striker 53. The striker 53 is fixed to the back frame 10L of the seat back 1L by welding.

[0043] The engaging member 51 has a claw portion 51a formed at an end opposite to the end connected to the rotating shaft 52, and is capable of engaging with and disengaging from the striker 53. When an impact is applied to the seat back 1R, the engaging member 51 rotates forward from the state of FIG. 3A in the direction of arrow A. After the engaging member 51 rotates, as shown in FIG. 3B, the claw portion 51a engages with the striker 53. When the engaging member 51 engages with the striker 53, a locked state is established, and the seat back 1R is fixed to the seat back 1L, which is another adjacent seat. When fixed, the seat back 1R of the right seat S1 and the seat back 1L of the left seat S2 move together as a unit. Moreover, a bulge 51b that protrudes forward is formed at the end opposite to the claw portion 51a.

[0044] Under normal circumstances, the engaging member 51 is not engaged with the striker 53, so there is no need to unlock the locking device 50 when the seats are folded down to expand the luggage compartment. On the other hand, when an impact is applied to the seat backs 1R, 1L due to an accident or the like, the seat backs 1R, 1L are fixed by the locking device 50, thereby ensuring safety.

[0045] In the locking device 50 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3A to Fig. 4B, a cover member 55 that covers the engaging member 51 is attached around the engaging member 51. The cover member 55 is provided in a size that covers the engaging member 51 so as not to impede the rotational movement of the engaging member 51 of the locking device 50. In Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the engaging member 51 is shown through the cover member 55 in order to show it, but in reality it is an opaque member and the engaging member 51 cannot be seen from the outside. This improves the appearance of the vehicle seat S. In addition, it prevents an occupant who is seated inadvertently from touching the locking device 50.

[0046] The cover member 55 is disposed above the striker 53, and an opening 55a is formed at the lower end of the cover member 55, allowing the engagement member 51 to be inserted and removed. Therefore, the engagement of the engagement member 51 with the striker 53 is not hindered.

[0047] As described above, the locking device 50 has a support portion 57 that rotatably supports the engaging member 51. The support portion 57 is fixed to the back frame 10R by welding. At this time, a part of the panel bracket 14R of the back frame 10R is cut out. A torsion spring 56 is provided on the rotation shaft 52 of the support portion 57 as a biasing member, and one end 56a of the torsion spring 56 is connected to the locking piece 51c of the engaging member 51, and the other end 56b is connected to the hook portion 58 of the support portion 57. The torsion spring 56 biases the engaging member 51 clockwise (in the direction of the arrow B) in FIG. 4A. That is, the torsion spring 56 biases the engaging member 51 in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the engaging member 51 when an impact is applied. Therefore, the engaging member 51 is adjusted not to move even if a small inertial force is applied, as is applied during normal driving. Also, when a large impact force is applied during a collision, the engaging member 51 returns to the original detached state when the load disappears. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the engaging member is maintained in the detached state, and the occupant does not unlock the locking device 50. The seat backs 1R, 1L can be tilted simply by operating the lever of the switching device 45, improving operability.

[0048] The operation of the locking device 50 when an impact is applied will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The upper left side of Fig. 5 shows the state before an impact is applied to the seat back (normal state), and the upper right side shows the state of the engaging member 51. Before an impact is applied, the claw portion 51a of the engaging member 51 is not engaged with the striker 53.

[0049] Next, as shown in the middle left of Fig. 5, when luggage 70 in the luggage compartment moves forward (in the direction of arrow C) during a collision and hits the seat back 1R, the impact causes the engagement member 51 to rotate forward as shown in the middle right of Fig. 5. The claw portion 51a engages with the striker 53, and the seat back is fixed by this engagement.

[0050] Thereafter, when the load is removed after enduring a 6:4 collision, the engaging member 51 rotates clockwise (in the direction of arrow C) by the action of the torsion spring 56, automatically releasing the engagement. By operating the engaging member 51 in this manner, the detached state is maintained under normal circumstances, but in the event of a collision, the seat back 1R can be fixed, ensuring safety.

[0051] <Method of manufacturing vehicle seat> A manufacturing method of a vehicle seat S equipped with a locking device 50 will be described. A reclining seat back 1R of a right seat S1 and a seat back 1L of an adjacent left seat are prepared. A striker 53, which is an engaged member attached to the seat back 1L, and a locking device having an engaging member 51 that engages with the striker 53 are also prepared (preparation step). Next, the engaging member 51 is rotatably attached to the side surface of the seat back 1R of the right seat S1. The striker 53 is attached to the side surface of the seat back 1L of the left seat (locking device attachment step). Other devices such as a reclining device are attached to complete the vehicle seat S.

[0052] The following describes devices other than the lock device 50 that are attached to the vehicle seat S of this embodiment. In addition to the lock device 50, the vehicle seat S is also equipped with a seat belt device 61, an ISO wire 62, a tether anchor 63, a seat heater 64, an air cell 65, and a blower 66.

[0053] <Seatbelt device> The vehicle seat S is provided with a seat belt device 61. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat belt device 61 is composed of a seat belt 61a that restrains the upper body of a seated person, a belt winding device 61b, and a belt guide 61c. The belt winding device 61b is attached to the back frame 10L and winds up the seat belt 61a so that it can be withdrawn. As shown in FIG. 2, the belt guide 4c is attached to a position above the belt retractor 4b on the back frame 10L and guides the seat belt 4a withdrawn from the belt retractor 4b. In addition, a belt tongue plate (not shown) is attached to the tip of the seat belt 61a, and this belt tongue plate is configured to be detachably connected to a belt buckle (not shown). The belt winding device 61b is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the lock device 50 in the seat width direction.

[0054] <ISOワイヤ> The vehicle seat S is also provided with an attachment member (ISO wire 62) for attaching a child seat to the seat cushion. The ISO wire 62 is a mechanism for attaching a child seat to a vehicle, which is defined by an international standard called ISOFIX. As shown in FIG. 2, the ISO wire 62 formed of a wire is provided behind the vehicle seat S and attached to the main frame 11R of the back frame 10R. The ISO wire 62 is provided below the locking device 50.

[0055] <Tether Anchor> The vehicle seat S is also provided with a tether anchor 63 for fixing a child seat. In this embodiment, the tether anchor 63 is attached to the main frames 11R, 11L of the back frames 10R, 10L as shown in FIG. 2. The tether anchor 63 is a metal tubular member having a substantially U-shape. An extension portion of the tether anchor 63 extending in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) serves as an engagement portion for engaging a tether strap for fixing the child seat. The tether anchor 63 is provided below the locking device 50.

[0056] <Seat heater> As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat S is provided with a seat heater 64 in the seat cushion 2R. The seat heater 64 is disposed between the pad and the covering material covering the pad. In the figures, the seat heater 64 is disposed in the right seat S1, but the seat heater 64 may be disposed in the left seat S2. The seat heater 64 is composed of a support member and a base fabric sandwiching the pad P therebetween, and a heating wire fixed to the base fabric. The heating wire is electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system. The seat heater 64 is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the lock device 50 in the front-rear direction of the seat.

[0057] <Air cell> In addition, an air cell 65 as a bag is arranged inside the seat cushion 2L of the vehicle seat S. The air cell 65 expands when compressed air is enclosed as a fluid, and contracts when the compressed air is discharged. The shape of the seating surface of the seat cushion 2L changes due to the expansion and contraction of the air cell 65. Normally, each air cell 65 is in a contracted state (uninflated state), but when an occupant sits on the vehicle seat S and performs a predetermined start-up operation, a massage operation starts. The air cell 65 is formed by laminating highly elastic resin films in a bag shape. The air cell 65 is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the locking device 50 in the seat width direction.

[0058] <Blower> A blower 66 is provided inside the seat back 1L of the vehicle seat S. The blower 66 is fixed to the main frame 11L, and is configured such that, when the blower 66 is operated, air flows between the seated occupant and the contact surface. This prevents the humidity in the area where the occupant contacts the upholstery material from increasing, improving the comfort of the seated occupant. In this embodiment, the blower 66 is disposed at approximately the same height as the locking device 50.

[0059] <Example of back frame> Next, another example of the back frame 10R, 10L which is the framework of the seat back 1R, 1L will be described. Conventionally, the size of the back frame 10R, 10L was determined according to the size of the seat back 1R, 1L. However, as the number of vehicle models increased, the number of types of vehicle seats mounted thereon also increased, and it was necessary to manufacture the back frame according to the type of vehicle seat. However, as the number of types increased, the management of the seats became complicated. The left side of Fig. 6A shows a rear view of the back frames 110R and 110L, and the right side shows a cross-sectional view along line AA. The left side of Fig. 6B shows a rear view of the back frames 110R and 110L with the height adjusted, and the right side shows a cross-sectional view along line BB. In the back frames 110R, 110L shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the frame is divided into upper and lower parts. The size of the overlapping part K is adjusted according to the height of the vehicle seat to be installed. After adjusting to the desired height, the overlapping part K is welded. This allows the back frames 110R, 110L to be manufactured at various heights, making it possible to accommodate various vehicle models with the same specifications.

[0060] <Examples of different support bases> Next, another example of the support base 40 supporting the seat backs 1R and 1L will be described. The support base 40 is a part that receives a strong impact force during a collision because it is used to attach the seat back 1R to the vehicle floor. In the support base 240 shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, a fuse portion 242 is formed in a part that supports the pivot shaft 218 of the support base 240. When a load of a predetermined value or more acts on the seat backs 1R and 1L, the fuse portion 242 of the support base 240 deforms as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 7B, and the seat backs 201R and 201L can be displaced forward. By providing the fuse portion 242 as in the support base 140, energy during a collision is absorbed, and damage to the back frames 210R and 210L of the seat backs 201R and 201L, etc. is prevented.

[0061] <Strike> Next, the striker 245 provided on the back panels 214R, 214L of the seat backs 201R, 201L will be described. When the vehicle seat S is a rear seat, a striker may be provided on the rear surface of the back panels 214R, 214L to engage with a locking device provided on the rear wall of the vehicle. Fig. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in Fig. 7A, and shows the mounting structure of the striker 245 and its operation. Strikers are usually attached directly to the back panel, but striker 245 shown in Fig. 7C is attached via bracket 246 having a bead 247 formed in a W-shaped (accordion-folded) cross section. Striker 245 is attached to a recess in the center of bead 247, and when seat backs 201R, 201L receive an impact, bead 247 expands as shown by the dotted line, thereby absorbing energy.

[0062] <Example of back frame> Next, another example of the back frame of the seat back will be described. FIG. 8A is a rear view showing the back frames 310R and 310L which are another example, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 8A. Conventional back frames are formed of tubular members, but the back frames 310R and 310L in FIG. 8B eliminate the tubular vertical frame and form a bead 315 around the plate-shaped panel brackets 314L and 314R to maintain the shape of the back frames 310R and 310L. Strength is ensured by forming the bead 315 instead of the conventional vertical frame. Weight is reduced by eliminating the vertical frame.

[0063] <Example of back frame> Another example of the seat back will be described with reference to FIG. 9. When there is a luggage compartment behind the vehicle seat, a trunk through 415 may be provided as in the seat back 401L shown in FIG. 9. In that case, the strength may be insufficient because the panel bracket 414L cannot be provided on the entire surface inside the back frame 410L. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, a removable plate member 416 is arranged to close the hole that becomes the trunk through 415. By attaching the plate member 416, the periphery of the trunk through is reinforced and rigidity is ensured. When the trunk through function is used, the plate member 416 is removed from the seat back 401L. In this way, the rigidity of the back frame 410L can be ensured while providing the trunk through function.

[0064] The vehicle seat S and the manufacturing method of the vehicle seat S according to the present embodiment have been described above with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the locking device 50 is provided between the seat back 1R of the right seat S1 and the seat back 1L of the adjacent left seat S2, but the location of the locking device 50 is not limited thereto, and for example, the locking device 50 may be provided between the seat back 1R of the right seat S1 and the vehicle body. In this case, the striker 53, which is the engaged member, is attached to the vehicle body side. Also, the engaging member 51 rotatably supported on the vehicle body side may be provided, and the striker 53 may be attached to the side of the seat back 1R. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] S Vehicle seat S1 Right seat Sh1 sheet body S2 left seat Sh2 seat body T trim cover P Pad 1R, 1L, 101R, 101L seat back 2R, 2L seat cushion 3R, 3LA, 3LB Headrest 10R, 10L back frame 11R, 11L main frame 12 Connecting Frame 14R, 14L Panel bracket 15 Reinforcement protrusion 17 Vehicle connection bracket 18 Seat pivot shaft 19 Reclining device 20R, 20L cushion frame 21R, 21L side frame 22R, 22L front connecting pipe 24R, 24L Pan Frame 28 Leg rotation device 29 Leg rotation axis 30 Support legs 31 Script body part 32 Leg connection part 33 Leg support member 40 Support Base 45 Switching Device 46 Operating lever 50 Locking device 51 Engagement member 51a Claw part 51b Bulge 51c Locking piece 52 Rotating shaft 53 striker (engaged member) 55 Cover material 55a opening 56 Torsion spring (biasing member) 56a, 56b end 57 Support part 58 Hook 61 Seat belt device 61a Seat belt 61b Belt winding device 61c Belt guide 62 ISO Wire 63 Tether Anchor 64 Seat heater 65 Air Cell 66 Blower 70 Luggage 101R, 101L seat back 110R, 110L back frame 201R, 201L seat back 210R, 210L back frame 214R, 214L Panel bracket 217 Body connection bracket 218 Rotating shaft 240 Support Base 242 Fuse section 245 Striker 246 Bracket 247 Bead 310R, 310L back frame 314R, 314L Panel bracket 315 Bead 401R, 401L seat back 410R, 401L back frame 414R, 414L Panel bracket 415 Trunk Through 416 Plate member

Claims

1. A reclining seat back; A locking device is provided on a side portion of the seat back, The locking device is The seat back seat has an engaging member that is provided so as to be engageable with and disengaged from an engaged member that is provided on another adjacent seat back or on a vehicle body, The engaging member has a claw portion formed at an end of the engaging member, The engaging member is supported by the seat back in a disengaged state in which the engaging member is not engaged with the engaged member under normal circumstances, In the disengaged state, a distance from a center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the claw portion is greater than a distance from the center of the seat back in a vertical direction to the engaged member, A vehicle seat, characterized in that, when an impact is applied to the seat back, the engaging member moves and engages with the engaged member, thereby fixing the seat back.

2. an end portion of the engagement member is supported rotatably about a rotation axis extending in a seat width direction from a side portion of the seat back, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the claw portion is formed at an end portion of the engaging member opposite to an end portion pivotally supported by the rotating shaft.

3. A vehicle seat as described in Claim 2, characterized in that in the non-engaged state, the claw portion is positioned at an upper end of the engaging member, and the pivot axis is positioned at a lower end of the engaging member.

4. The seat back has a back frame that serves as a skeleton, The back frame has a frame-shaped main frame and a vehicle body connecting bracket attached to an outer surface of the main frame in a seat width direction, 4. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the pivot shaft is attached above an upper end of the vehicle body connecting bracket.

5. A vehicle seat as described in claim 2, characterized in that a bulge portion protruding forward is formed at the end opposite the claw portion.

6. A vehicle seat as described in Claim 5, characterized in that in the non-engaged state, the bulge portion is positioned at the front end of the engaging member, and the pivot axis is positioned at the rear end of the engaging member.

7. The vehicle seat is composed of a right seat constituting a right seat and a left seat adjacent to the right seat and constituting a left seat, a right main frame that forms a framework for the right seat and a left main frame that forms a framework for the left seat are disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween, 7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is provided in the gap between the right main frame and the left main frame.

8. the locking device includes a support portion that movably supports the engaging member and is integrally fixed to the back frame, and a biasing member that biases the engaging member in a direction opposite to a movable direction of the engaging member, 5. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member has one end connected to the engaging member and the other end connected to the hook portion of the support portion.

9. A seat cushion, A headrest and a support leg attached between the seat cushion and a vehicle body floor and supporting the seat cushion; A switching device is attached to an outer portion of the seat back in a seat width direction and switches the seat body from a use state to a storage state, The seat back is configured by placing a pad on a back frame serving as a skeleton and covering it with a trim cover, The seat cushion is configured by placing a pad on a cushion frame that serves as a skeleton, and covering the pad with a trim cover.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the headrest is configured by placing a pad on a headrest pillar that serves as a core material, and covering the pad with a trim cover.

10. a step of preparing a locking device having an engaging member that can be engaged and disengaged with an adjacent seat back or an engaged member disposed on a vehicle body, the engaging member having a claw portion formed at an end thereof and supported in a disengaged state in which it is not engaged with the engaged member under normal circumstances, the distance from the center of the seat back in the vertical direction to the claw portion being greater than the distance from the center of the seat back in the vertical direction to the engaged member in the disengaged state, and the engaging member moving to engage with the engaged member when an impact is applied to the seat back; and attaching the locking device to a side portion of the seat back.

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