Vehicle seats

Abstract

To provide a vehicular seat including a seat back frame which achieves reduction of the weight while maintaining rigidity.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a vehicular seat S including: a seat back 1; and a seat back frame 10 forming a framework of the seat back. The seat back frame includes: a pair of back side frames 11; and an upper frame 12 which connects the pair of back side frames. The upper frame includes: a first member 13 connected to one of the pair of back side frames; a second member 14 connected to the other; and a third member 15 located between the first member and the second member and connected to the first member and the second member. The first member and the second member are made of metal, and the third member is made of a material which is lighter than the material of the first member and the second member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, some vehicle seats have been designed to be lightweight by using resin members in parts of the seat frame in order to improve fuel efficiency and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-150658 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is possible to reduce the weight by using resin members in some parts, as in the seat frame described in Patent Document 1. However, when resin members are used to connect the side frames and upper frame that make up the seat frame, it can be difficult to ensure sufficient rigidity against strong impacts such as those caused by accidents.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a vehicle seat including a seat back frame that is lightweight while maintaining rigidity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above problem is solved by a vehicle seat comprising a seat back and a seat back frame that forms the skeleton of the seat back, the seat back frame having a pair of back side frames and an upper frame connecting the pair of back side frames, the upper frame comprising a first member connected to one of the pair of back side frames, a second member connected to the other, and a third member located between the first member and the second member and connected to the first member and the second member, the first member and the second member being made of metal, and the third member being formed of a material that is lighter than the material of the first member and the second member.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the first member and the second member connected to the pair of side frames are made of metal, thereby maintaining rigidity, while the third member is made of a material that is lighter than the material of the first member and the second member, thereby making it possible to reduce the weight of the seat frame.

[0008] In the above vehicle seat, the third member may be made of resin. By making the third member out of resin, the seat frame can be made lighter.

[0009] In the vehicle seat described above, the third member is preferably made of a light alloy such as aluminum or magnesium. By making the third member out of a light alloy such as aluminum or magnesium, the seat frame can be made lighter.

[0010] In the vehicle seat described above, the first member and the second member may be preferably made of high tensile steel. By forming the first member and the second member from high tensile steel, it is possible to form an upper frame that is lighter and stronger than when the first member and the second member are formed from iron.

[0011] In the vehicle seat described above, the third member may be joined to the first member and the second member by a structural adhesive. By using a structural adhesive for bonding, the amount of welding required during assembly can be reduced, making it easier to assemble the seat frame.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the third member may have a first segment extending from an end thereof toward the first member or the second member, and the first member and the second member may have second segments extending from their ends toward the third member, and the third member may be connected to the first member and the second member by overlapping and adhering the first segment to the second segment. A stronger bond can be achieved by overlapping and adhering the first piece of the third component to the second piece.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the third member may have a first bulge portion that bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat and extends in a width direction of the vehicle seat and a first flange portion that extends from an upper end and / or a lower end of the first bulge portion, and the third member may have a hat-shaped longitudinal cross section due to the first bulge portion and the first flange portion. The third member has a hat-shaped cross section, which improves the rigidity of the third member.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the third member may include a holder portion that holds a headrest guide, and the holder portion may be configured with through holes that penetrate in the vertical direction on the upper and lower surfaces of the first bulge portion of the third member in accordance with an outer diameter of the headrest guide. The headrest guide can be held with a simple structure, and welding work can be reduced.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the first member and the second member have a second bulge portion that bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat and a second flange portion that extends from an upper end and / or a lower end of the second bulge portion, and the first member and the second member have a hat-shaped longitudinal cross section due to the second bulge portion and the second flange portion. The first member and the second member have a hat-shaped cross section, so that the rigidity of the first member and the second member is improved.

[0016] In the vehicle seat described above, a slit may be formed between the third member and the first member and / or between the third member and the second member. By forming the slits, the weight of the upper frame can be reduced. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat including a seat back frame that is lightweight while maintaining rigidity. In other words, with the vehicle seat having the above configuration, the first and second members that connect to the pair of side frames are made of metal, thereby maintaining rigidity, while the third member is made of a different, lighter material, thereby achieving weight reduction. Furthermore, by making the third member out of resin, the weight of the upper frame can be reduced. Furthermore, by making the third member from a light alloy such as aluminum or magnesium, the weight of the upper frame can be reduced. Furthermore, by forming the first and second members from high tensile steel, it is possible to form an upper frame that is lighter and stronger than an upper frame made of iron. In addition, by using a structural adhesive for bonding, the amount of welding required during assembly can be reduced, making it easier to assemble the frame. Furthermore, by bonding using the pieces extending from the ends, it is possible to achieve a stronger bond than by directly bonding the ends with a structural adhesive. Furthermore, since the third member has a hat-shaped cross section, the rigidity of the third member is improved. Furthermore, by forming the guide that holds the headrest guide by a through hole that penetrates the bulging portion, the headrest guide can be held with a simple structure. Furthermore, since the first member and the second member have a hat-shaped cross section, the rigidity of the third member is improved. Furthermore, by forming slits between the third member and the first member and / or between the third member and the second member, the weight of the upper frame can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a seat frame of a vehicle seat, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Diagram 3] 1 is a front view of an upper frame of a seat back frame. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a rear view of the upper frame of the seatback frame. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a front view of the upper frame with the headrest guide removed. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the third member taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third member taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] 8 is an end view of the first member taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] 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.

[0020] In the following, a vehicle seat mounted on a vehicle will be given as an example of a vehicle seat, and an example of the configuration will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats mounted on vehicles that have wheels and run on the ground, such as automobiles and trains, and can also be applied to seats mounted on aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on non-ground surfaces.

[0021] In the following description, the "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat, 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, 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, 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 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 alone.

[0022] In addition, the shape, position, posture, etc. of each part of the vehicle seat described below will be described assuming that the vehicle seat is in a seatable state, unless otherwise specified.

[0023] <Vehicle seat S> The basic configuration of a vehicle seat according to this embodiment (hereinafter, vehicle seat S) 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 cushion trim cover T and a pad P are removed from a portion of the vehicle seat S in Fig. 1.

[0024] The vehicle seat S is a seat that is placed on the vehicle body floor and in which a vehicle occupant 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.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the main components of a vehicle seat S are a seat back 1 which serves as a backrest supporting the back of a seated occupant, a seat cushion 2 which serves as a seating portion supporting the buttocks of the seated occupant, and a headrest 3 which is disposed on top of the seat back 1 and supports the head of the seated occupant. The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are connected to sandwich a reclining mechanism 7 (see Fig. 2). The seat back 1 is connected to the seat cushion 2 so that it can rotate and adjust the angle. The reclining mechanism 7 adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back 1.

[0026] <Seat frame F> As shown in FIG. 2, a seat frame F is provided inside the vehicle seat S. 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. In the following, first, the configuration other than the seat back frame 10, such as the seat cushion frame 20, will be described, and the details of the seat back frame 10 will be described after that.

[0027] <Seat cushion frame 20> The seat cushion frame 20 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and a cushion side frame 21 is provided on one side of the seat cushion frame 20. The seat cushion frame 20 also has a front connecting frame 22 that connects the cushion side frames 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 at the front and rear of the vehicle seat S are made of round pipes. A cushion pan frame 24 is provided in front of the front connecting frame 22. Although not shown, a pressure-receiving member is attached to bridge the cushion pan frame 24 and the rear connecting frame 23, and the pressure-receiving member supports the buttocks of a seated occupant from below.

[0028] <Headrest 3 and headrest frame 30> The headrest 3 is attached to the upper part of the seat back 1 so as to support the head of a seated occupant. A headrest frame 30 that forms the skeleton of the headrest 3 is provided inside the headrest 3, and two headrest pillars 31 (also called headrest stays) that hang down from the lower part of the headrest 3 are provided on both the left and right ends of the headrest frame 30. The headrest 3 is attached to the seat back frame 10 by inserting the headrest pillars 31 into headrest guides 17 that are attached to an upper frame 12 of the seat back frame 10, which will be described later.

[0029] <Pad P and cushion trim cover T> A pad P and a cushion trim cover T (cushion cover) are provided on the outer sides of the seat back frame 10, the seat cushion frame 20, and the headrest frame 30 to form the seat back 1, the seat cushion 2, and the headrest 3. The pad P is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using, for example, a urethane foam material, and the cushion trim cover T is made of a skin material such as cloth, synthetic leather, or genuine leather.

[0030] <Slide rail 4> 2, a slide rail 4 is provided under the vehicle seat S. The slide rail 4 allows the vehicle seat S to be attached to the vehicle floor in a state in which the vehicle seat S can slide in the front-rear direction.

[0031] The slide rail 4 is a device for sliding the vehicle seat S in the front-rear direction and has a known structure (the structure of a general slide rail mechanism). The slide rail 4 has a lower rail fixed onto the vehicle body floor and an upper rail that is slidable relative to the lower rail. The upper rail is slidable relative to the lower rail fixed to the vehicle body.

[0032] <Reclining mechanism 7> A reclining mechanism 7 is provided between the lower end of the seat back 1 and the rear end of the seat cushion 2. More specifically, the reclining mechanism 7 connects a seat back frame 10 of the seat back 1 and a seat cushion frame 20 of the seat cushion 2. The reclining mechanism 7 makes it possible to adjust the angle of the seat back 1 (seat back frame 10) relative to the seat cushion 2 (seat cushion frame 20). The reclining mechanism 7 can lock the seat back 1 at a predetermined angle to maintain the inclined state. In addition, the seat back 1 can be tilted forward or backward by releasing the lock.

[0033] Hereinafter, the seat back frame 10 included in the vehicle seat S of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 8.

[0034] <Seat back frame 10> 2, the seatback frame 10 is formed in a rectangular frame shape overall, and includes a pair of backside frames 11 arranged on both sides, an upper frame 12, and a lower frame 16. The upper frame 12 is arranged between the pair of backside frames 11 and connects upper ends of the backside frames 11. The lower frame 16 is arranged between the pair of backside frames 11 and connects lower ends of the pair of backside frames 11.

[0035] <Upper Frame 12> The upper frame 12 includes a first member 13 connected to the right side frame 11a of one of the pair of back side frames 11, and a second member 14 connected to the left side frame 11b of the other of the pair of back side frames 11. The upper frame 12 also includes a third member 15 located between the first member 13 and the second member 14 and connected to the first member 13 and the second member 14.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first member 13 and the second member 14 are made of iron and are formed by pressing a steel plate. Since the first member 13 and the second member 14 are made of iron, the upper frame 12 can be attached to the back side frame 11 while maintaining sufficient strength. Note that the first member 13 and the second member 14 are not limited to being made of iron, and may be made of, for example, high tensile steel. Since high tensile steel has tension even when thin, the plate thickness can be made thinner than that of a steel plate, and therefore weight can be reduced while maintaining rigidity.

[0037] In this embodiment, the third member 15 is made of resin. Since the third member 15 is made of resin, which is lighter than iron, the upper frame 12 is lighter in weight than when the entire upper frame is made of iron, and the seat frame F can be made lighter in weight. The third member 15 is not limited to being made of resin, and may be made of a light alloy such as aluminum or magnesium that is lighter than the material forming the first member 13 and the second member 14. By making the third member 15 out of a light alloy, the weight of the upper frame 12 is reduced, and the weight of the seat frame F can be reduced.

[0038] A structural adhesive is used to bond the first member 13 and the third member 15, and to bond the second member 14 and the third member 15. As the structural adhesive, for example, an adhesive containing an epoxy resin as a main component can be used, and the use of this structural adhesive can provide high adhesive strength and high durability at the joint. As the structural adhesive, in addition to epoxy adhesives, urethane-based, acrylic-based, and other structural adhesives may also be used. Furthermore, as a characteristic of structural adhesives, an electrically insulating layer is formed at the bonding surface, so that galvanic corrosion can be suppressed even if the third member 15 is formed from a metal other than iron, such as the above-mentioned light alloy of aluminum or magnesium.

[0039] In addition, the third member 15 has a first segment 15a extending from an end portion toward the first member 13 or the second member 14. In addition, the first member 13 and the second member 14 each have a second segment 13a, 14a extending toward the third member 15. The third member 15 is connected to the first member 13 and the second member 14 by overlapping and adhering the first piece 15a to the second pieces 13a, 14a. Three first segments 15a are provided at each of both left and right ends of the third member 15. Three second segments 13a, 14a are provided at each end of the first member 13 and the second member 14 so as to correspond to the positions of the first segments 15a. The number of first segments 15a and second segments 13a, 14a is not limited to three, and two or four or more segments may be provided. The number of first segments 15a and second segments 13a, 14a may be one, in which case it is preferable that the first segments 15a and second segments 13a, 14a have a shape that is elongated in the vertical direction.

[0040] In addition, slits 19 are formed between the third member 15 and the first member 13 and between the third member 15 and the second member 14 as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the slits 19 contribute to weight reduction.

[0041] In this embodiment, the first piece 15a is overlapped with the second pieces 13a and 14a, and the pieces are bonded together by applying a structural adhesive to the bonding surfaces. When the third member 15 is made of a metallic material such as aluminum, the first segment 15a and the second segments 13a and 14a may be joined by welding. By forming the third member 15 from a lighter material, the weight of the upper frame 12 can be reduced, and therefore the weight of the seat frame F can be reduced.

[0042] Next, a description will be given of the shape of the third member 15. As shown in Fig. 6, the third member 15 has a bulging portion 15b (first bulging portion) that bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat S formed near the center in the up-down direction. The bulging portion 15b is formed in the third member 15 so as to extend in the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle seat S. A flange portion 15c (first flange portion) is formed at each of the upper and lower ends of the bulging portion 15b, and the bulging portion 15b and the flange portion 15c form the third member 15 so as to have a hat-shaped vertical cross section. The hat-shaped vertical cross section of the third member 15 improves the rigidity of the third member 15. Although the flange 15c of the third member 15 extends from both the upper and lower ends of the bulging portion 15b, the flange 15c may extend from only one end. The third member 15 may be formed only from the bulging portion 15b without the flange 15c, in which case the vertical cross section is formed in a C-shape.

[0043] Similarly to the third member 15, the first member 13 and the second member 14 are formed with bulging portions 13b, 14b (second bulging portions) that bulge toward the front of the vehicle seat S at the center in the vertical direction. In addition, the flange portions 13c, 14c (second flange portions) are formed to extend upward or downward from the upper and lower ends of the bulging portions 13b, 14b. The first member 13 and the second member 14 are formed to have a hat-shaped vertical cross section by the bulging portions 13b, 14b and the flange portions 13c, 14c. By forming the cross sections of the first member 13 and the second member 14 in a hat shape, the rigidity of the first member 13 and the second member 14 is improved. Although the flange portions 13c, 14c extend from both the ends in the vertical direction, the flange portions 13c, 14c may extend only from one end. Furthermore, the first member 13 and the second member 14 may be formed only with the bulging portions 13b, 14b, in which case the vertical cross section is formed in a C-shape. <Headrest guide 17>

[0044] Next, a structure for holding the headrest guide 17 using the third member 15 will be described. Although the manufacturing process of vehicle seats is becoming more mechanized, in the conventional seat frame F, welding is required to attach the headrest guide 17, and the welding work is complicated and difficult to mechanize. Therefore, a structure for fixing the headrest guide 17 to the seat frame F in a simpler manner has been desired.

[0045] The headrest guide 17 is a tubular member provided with an insertion opening 17a through which the headrest pillar 31 is inserted. A head 17b having an outer diameter R2 larger than a diameter R1 of an opening (upper opening 18a) of a holder portion 18 of the upper frame 12 described later is provided at the upper portion of the headrest guide 17. This prevents the headrest guide 17 from falling off to the lower side of the upper frame 12 even when the headrest guide 17 is inserted into the holder portion 18 of the upper frame 12. The headrest guide 17 is made of a strong metal member in order to maintain the holding strength of the headrest 3 and suppress rattling. The headrest guide 17 is not limited to being made of metal and may be made of resin.

[0046] <Holder part 18> 3 to 5, the third member 15 is provided with a holder portion 18 that holds the headrest guide 17. The holder portion 18 is composed of a through hole 15f formed in the up-down direction on an upper surface 15d of the bulging portion 15b and a through hole 15g formed in a lower surface 15e. That is, the through hole 15f becomes an upper opening 18a of the holder portion 18, and the through hole 15g becomes a lower opening 18b of the holder portion 18.

[0047] Through hole 15f (upper opening 18a) in upper surface 15d and through hole 15g (lower opening 18b) in lower surface 15e are formed with a diameter R1 slightly larger than the outer diameter R0 of the main body of headrest guide 17. Furthermore, upper opening 18a and lower opening 18b are arranged such that their centers are positioned on axis C in the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, headrest guide 17 is attached by inserting the main body of headrest guide 17 through through hole 15f and through hole 15g. In addition, the outer diameter R2 of the head 17b of the headrest guide 17 is larger than the diameter R1 of the through hole 15f (upper opening 18a) formed in the upper surface 15d, and the head 17b is fitted around the through hole 15f, thereby preventing it from falling downward.

[0048] Conventionally, the headrest guide was attached by welding to an upper frame formed of a pipe. In the upper frame of this embodiment, the headrest guide 17 is attached by passing it through through holes 15f, 15g formed in the bulging portion 15b, so there is no need to attach it by welding. Therefore, if the upper frame is fabricated in advance at a factory, the number of places to be welded in the assembly process can be reduced. Since the structure fixes the headrest guide 17 in a simple manner, it is possible to mechanize the assembly work of the seat frame F.

[0049] The vehicle seat S of this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the bulging portion bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat S, but the bulging portion may be formed to bulge toward the rear. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] S Vehicle seats (vehicle seats) Seat frame, front T cushion trim cover P Pad 1 Seat back 2 Seat cushion 3 Headrest 4 Slide rail 7 Reclining mechanism 10 Seat back frame 11 Backside frame 12 Upper frame 13 First member 13a 2nd section 13b Bulge (second bulge) 13c Tsuba (second tsuba) 14 Second member 14a 2nd section 14b Bulge (second bulge) 14c Tsuba (second tsuba) 15 Third member 15a 1st section 15b Bulge (first bulge) 15c Tsuba (first tsuba) 15d top surface 15e Bottom side 15f through hole 15g through hole 16 Lower frame 17 Headrest guide 17a Insertion port 17b Head 18 Holder part 18a Upper opening 18b Lower opening 19 Slit 20 Seat cushion frame 21 Cushion side frame 22 Front connecting frame 23 Rear connecting frame 24 Cushion Pan Frame 30 Headrest frame 31 Headrest pillar

Claims

1. A vehicle seat including a seat back and a seat back frame forming a framework of the seat back, The seat back frame is A pair of back side frames and an upper frame connecting the pair of back side frames, the upper frame includes a first member connected to one of the pair of back side frames, a second member connected to the other of the pair of back side frames, and a third member located between the first member and the second member and connected to the first member and the second member, A vehicle seat, characterized in that the first member and the second member are made of metal, and the third member is formed of a material that is lighter than the material of the first member and the second member.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the third member is made of a resin.

3. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the third member is made of a light alloy such as aluminum or magnesium.

4. 4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member are made of high tensile steel.

5. 5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the third member is joined to the first member and the second member by a structural adhesive.

6. the third member has a first segment extending from an end toward the first member or the second member; the first member and the second member have second segments extending from the ends toward the third member; 6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the third member is connected to the first member and the second member by overlapping and adhering the first piece to the second piece.

7. The vehicle seat described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the third member has a first bulge portion that bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat and extends in the width direction of the vehicle seat and a first flange portion that extends from an upper end and / or a lower end of the first bulge portion, and the third member has a hat-shaped longitudinal cross section due to the first bulge portion and the first flange portion.

8. The third member includes a holder portion that holds a headrest guide, The vehicle seat according to claim 7, characterized in that the holder portion is constituted by a through hole penetrating in the vertical direction on the upper and lower surfaces of the first bulge portion of the third member in accordance with an outer diameter of the headrest guide.

9. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first member and the second member have a second bulge portion that bulges toward the front of the vehicle seat and a second flange portion extending from an upper end and / or a lower end of the second bulge portion, and the first member and the second member have a hat-shaped longitudinal cross section due to the second bulge portion and the second flange portion.

10. 10. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a slit is formed between the third member and the first member and / or between the third member and the second member.

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