Structure for arranging sensors in a seat and vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a structure, for arranging a sensor on a seat, which enables a sensor such as a position sensor to be arranged on a seat so as to enhance comfortable feeling of a passenger when the same sits in the seat.SOLUTION: A structure for arranging a sensor 1 on a seat 10 has: a cushion pad 12; and a plate-like member 18 or 25 arranged below the cushion pad 12. The plate-like member 18 or 25 has a concave section 20 or 26 on a surface thereof. The sensor 1 is arranged in the concave section 20 or 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure for arranging sensors in a seat. [Background technology]

[0002] In some cases, a sensor such as a position sensor that detects whether or not an occupant is seated in the seat is disposed in the seat (see Patent Document 1). Such sensors are used, for example, to detect whether an occupant is seated in a seat in seat belt reminder technology that issues a warning if the occupant is seated in the seat but has not fastened their seat belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-100941 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventionally, when such a sensor is arranged in a seat, it is sometimes arranged between a cushion pad and the surface of the seat cushion of the seat, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. However, if the sensor is placed between the cushion pad and the seat cover, i.e., just below the seat cover, a passenger sitting in the seat may feel something touching their buttocks or thighs through the seat cover, which may result in a poor seating feeling.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a sensor arrangement structure for a seat that can improve the seating feeling of the occupant when placing a sensor in the seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a structure for arranging a sensor in a seat including a cushion pad and a plate-shaped member provided under the cushion pad, On the upper surface of the plate-like member As a sensor mounting part A recess is provided. R, The sensor is disposed within the recess; before In the recess ,one A pair of first engagement portions is provided, The pair of first engagement portions are The recess has a claw portion extending from an outer edge portion of the recess toward the center and protruding above the bottom surface of the recess. Formed, The pair of first engagement portions are Opposite the side of is located at the position It is characterized by:

[0008] Claim 2 The invention described in claim 1 To the sheet described in Sensor layout And, The sensor is characterized in that the upper surface of the sensor is positioned flush with the upper surface of the plate-like member.

[0009] Claim 3 The invention described in claim 1 The arrangement of the sensor on the sheet according to claim 1, The sensor is characterized in that its upper surface is positioned above the upper surface of the plate-like member.

[0010] Claim 4 The invention described in claim 1 3 The arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet according to any one of the above, The sensor is disposed within the recess while being fixed to a mounting bracket; The mounting bracket is engaged with the plate-like member through a plurality of engaging holes, 5. The mounting bracket Includes the mounting bracket Between the plurality of locking holes that lock The recessIt is characterized by having a notch recessed inward.

[0011] Claim 5 The invention described in claim 1 4 The arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet according to any one of the above, The pair of first engagement portions are characterized by restricting the position of the sensor in the left-right direction.

[0012] Claim 6 The invention described in claim 1 5 In the arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet according to any one of the above, The sensor is disposed within the recess while being fixed to a mounting bracket; the mounting bracket is attached to the recess in a state of engaging with the pair of first engagement portions provided in the recess, The recess is characterized in that a rib is formed at a position overlapping with the mounting bracket in the vertical direction.

[0013] Claim 7 The invention described in claim 1 6 The arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet according to any one of the above, The plate-like member has an opening that is continuous with the recess, The stage in which a harness electrically connecting the sensor and an external device is inserted through the opening is characterized in that the numerical range or threshold value is corrected based on the judgment result of the judgment means which makes the judgment earlier.

[0014] Claim 8 The invention described in claim 1 7 In the arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet according to any one of the above, The plate-like member has an opening that is continuous with the recess, The opening is The cushion pad is characterized in that it is an opening through which a duct can pass for supplying air to the ventilation passage formed in the cushion pad.

[0015] Claim 9 The invention described in the above relates to a seat cushion having a seat cushion frame and a cushion pad disposed on the seat cushion frame; A sensor provided below the cushion pad; A seat back connected to the seat cushion; A headrest provided on the seat back; a plate-shaped member provided under the cushion pad and indirectly supported by the seat cushion frame, the seat cushion has a cover covering the seat cushion frame and the cushion pad, A blower for blowing air is disposed under the seat cushion, A recess is provided on the upper surface of the plate-like member, The sensor comprises: 8 The sensor is arranged in the recess of the plate-like member by the arrangement structure of the sensor on the sheet described in any one of the above. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the invention described in claim 1, in a sensor arrangement structure for a seat having a cushion pad and a plate-shaped member provided on the underside of the cushion pad, a recess is provided on the upper surface of the plate-shaped member, and the sensor is arranged in the recess. Therefore, unlike the conventional case in which the sensor is arranged between the cushion pad and the skin as described above, the cushion pad is interposed between the sensor and the buttocks or thighs of the occupant. This makes it difficult for the occupant to feel that the sensor is touching the buttocks or thighs of the occupant seated in the seat, and improves the seating feeling of the occupant compared to the conventional case. Furthermore, if a sensor is simply placed on the upper surface of the plate-shaped member, the cushion pad will rise by the amount of the sensor, which may give the occupant an uncomfortable feeling and result in a poor seating feeling. However, in the invention described in claim 1, the sensor is placed in a recess provided on the upper surface of the plate-shaped member, making it possible to improve the seating feeling without giving the occupant the above-mentioned uncomfortable feeling.

[0023] Claim 2 According to the invention described in the above, since the sensor does not protrude from the upper surface of the plate-like member, it is possible to improve the seating feeling without giving an uncomfortable feeling to the occupant.

[0024] Claim 3 According to the invention described in the above, when an occupant sits on the seat, the load on the cushion pad is applied directly to the sensor, so that the pressure applied to the sensor increases appropriately, making it easier for the sensor to detect that an occupant has sat on the seat.

[0025] Claim 4 According to the invention described in, the sensor is disposed in the recess while being fixed to the mounting bracket, and therefore it is easy to dispose the sensor in the recess because the sensor can be fixed to the mounting bracket and then the mounting bracket is attached to the recess. Also, when an occupant sits on the seat and the weight of the occupant is applied to the sensor via the cushion pad, part of the load is absorbed by the mounting bracket 15, so the effect of the occupant's weight on the sensor is less than when the sensor is directly attached to the recess. In addition, since the mounting bracket has notches between multiple engagement holes, even if a load is applied to the sensor or mounting bracket and a force that causes deformation of the mounting bracket is applied, the presence of the notches makes the mounting bracket more likely to deform.

[0026] Claim 5 According to the invention described in the above, it is possible to contribute to the positioning of the mounting bracket in the left-right direction.

[0027] Claim6 According to the invention described in the above, the main body of the mounting bracket is slightly raised from the recess in the portion other than the rib, so that the mounting bracket can easily absorb a part of the load of the occupant when the load of the occupant is applied to the sensor. Also, since the rigidity of the recess itself can be improved by providing the rib, the recess is less likely to be destroyed when the pan frame is deformed to bend due to the load of the occupant when seated on the seat.

[0028] Claim 7 According to the invention described in the above, it is not necessary to provide an opening in the pan frame for inserting the sensor harness. In addition, the plate-shaped member has an opening that is continuous with the recess, and the harness that electrically connects the sensor and the external device is inserted into the opening, so that the harness can be easily handled compared to when there is a distance between the recess and the opening. In addition, if there is a distance between the recess and the opening, the harness is sandwiched between the plate-shaped member and the cushion pad, and the harness may be damaged or broken due to friction between the plate-shaped member and the cushion pad. However, if the recess and the opening are continuous, such friction is less likely to occur, and the harness is less likely to be damaged or broken.

[0029] Claim 8 According to the invention described in the above, the opening is an opening through which a duct for supplying air to an air passage formed in the cushion pad can pass, so that there is no need to provide a new opening in the plate-like member; an opening for the duct that has already been formed can be utilized, and a harness can be inserted through that opening. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] 4 is a perspective view showing air passages and the like formed in a cushion pad of a seat cushion. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a perspective view showing sensors and the like arranged in recesses of a seat cushion frame and a pan frame (a plate-shaped member). FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the sensor and the mounting bracket. [Diagram 5] 4 is an enlarged view showing recesses and the like formed in a pan frame (plate-shaped member). FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mounting bracket is attached to a recess. FIG. [Figure 7] 9 is a perspective view showing the state of FIG. 8 as viewed from the back side of the pan frame (plate-shaped member). [Figure 8] 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mounting bracket to which a sensor and the like are attached is attached to a recess. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a bracket side engagement portion formed in a bent portion of the mounting bracket engages with the underside of the pan frame (plate-shaped member). FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sensor arranged in a recess of a pan frame (plate-shaped member) abuts against the lower surface of a cushion pad. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a sensor is disposed directly below a hollow portion formed in a cushion pad. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a seat cushion frame including a wire. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing modified examples of a plate-like member and the like provided so as to insert a wire therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0036] The seat 10 shown in Fig. 1 is provided in a vehicle such as an automobile, and is seated by an occupant such as a driver. As shown in Fig. 1, the seat 10 includes a seat cushion 11 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the occupant, a seat back 14 that serves as a backrest and has a lower end supported by the seat cushion 11, and a headrest 16 that is provided on the seat back 14 and supports the head of the occupant. In addition to the above, the seat 10 may include auxiliary supports such as a neck rest, an arm rest, a foot rest, and an ottoman.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat cushion 11 is mainly composed of a seat cushion frame 17 (see FIG. 3 described later) which serves as a skeleton, a cushion pad 12 provided on the seat cushion frame 17, and a skin 13 (not shown in FIG. 2; see FIG. 1) which covers the seat cushion frame 17 and the cushion pad 12 and forms the surface of the seat.

[0038] In this embodiment, the seat cushion 11 has an air passage 30 for air (hot air or cold air) between the cushion pad 12 and the cover 13, but the air passage 30 etc. are not necessarily required to be provided. 2, the cushion pad 12 is provided with an air passage recess 30A that forms a part of the air passage 30. A recess (not shown) that forms the remaining part of the air passage 30 is provided in the cover member 12A at a position corresponding to the air passage recess 30A, and the air passage 30 is formed by fitting the cover member 12A into a predetermined part of the cushion pad 12.

[0039] Moreover, a plurality of punched holes are formed in the cover member 12A, and these punched holes serve as the air outlets 30C of the air passage 30. The cushion pad 12 including the cover member 12A is covered with a breathable skin 13 at least in the portion corresponding to the air outlets 30C. Air sent from a blower (not shown) is sent through the through hole 30B into the air passage 30, and the air that has circulated through the air passage 30 is blown out from the air outlet 30C of the air passage 30 towards the occupant.

[0040] In the seat cushion 11 of this embodiment, a seat cushion frame 17 is provided below the cushion pad 12. As shown in Fig. 3, the seat cushion frame 17 is mainly composed of a pair of left and right side frames 17A, connecting members 17B that connect the front and rear ends of each side frame 17A (the connecting member 17B on the front end side is disposed below a pan frame 18), and a pan frame 18 that is installed between each side frame 17A and each connecting member 17B. In this embodiment, the pan frame 18 functions as a plate-like member provided on the underside of the cushion pad 12. However, a case in which the plate-like member is configured as a form other than the pan frame 18 will be described in a modified example described later.

[0041] A recess 20 is provided on the top surface of the pan frame 18 (a plate-shaped member), and the sensor 1 is disposed in the recess 20. The sensor 1 can be, for example, a position sensor capable of detecting whether or not an occupant is seated in the seat 10. It is possible to mount the sensor 1 directly in the recess 20, but in this embodiment, the sensor 1 is fixed to a mounting bracket 2, and the mounting bracket 2 to which the sensor 1 is fixed is positioned within the recess 20.

[0042] When mounting the sensor 1 directly in the recess 20 of the pan frame 18, the sensor 1 placed in the recess 20 must be screwed in, and this is not necessarily an easy installation. However, as described above, if the sensor 1 is fixed to the mounting bracket 2 and then attached to the recess 20, the sensor 1 can be easily fixed to the mounting bracket 2 and the mounting bracket 2 can be easily attached to the recess 20, making it easier to place the sensor 1 in the recess 20.

[0043] Furthermore, when the seat 10 is in an assembled state, the cushion pad 12 is disposed above the sensor 1. When an occupant sits on the seat 10, the weight of the occupant is applied to the sensor 1 via the cushion pad 12. At that time, if the sensor 1 is directly attached to the recess 20 of the pan frame 18, the entire weight would be applied to the sensor 1, which could adversely affect the sensor 1. However, if the sensor 1 is attached to the recess 20 via the mounting bracket 2 as described above, when the occupant's weight is applied to the sensor 1, the mounting bracket 2 absorbs part of the weight, and therefore the effect of the occupant's weight on the sensor 1 is reduced compared to when the sensor 1 is attached directly to the recess 20.

[0044] The following provides a detailed description of the configuration of the recess 20 and the mounting bracket 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the sensor 1 and the mounting bracket 2, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the recess 20 and the like formed in the pan frame 18 (plate-shaped member). The flat body 2a of the mounting bracket 2 is provided with a locking hole 2b into which the locking portion 1a of the sensor 1 is locked, and with holes 2c into which the screw portion 1b (not shown in FIG. 4; see FIG. 7 described later) of the sensor 1 is inserted. The sensor 1 can be easily attached to the mounting bracket 2 by inserting and locking the locking portion 1a of the sensor 1 into the locking hole 2b of the mounting bracket 2 and screwing the screw portion 1b, which is inserted into the hole 2c of the mounting bracket 2 in this state, from the back side (i.e., the bottom side) of the mounting bracket 2.

[0045] A harness 1A that electrically connects the sensor 1 to an external device (not shown, such as a power supply device or a device that processes signals from the sensor 1) is connected to the sensor 1, and the mounting bracket 2 has a guide portion 2d for the harness 1A. The guide portion 2d is gently inclined downward with respect to the main body portion 2a of the mounting bracket 2, so that the harness 1A is guided by the guide portion 2d and is inclined gently downward. If the guide portion 2d were not formed on the mounting bracket 2, the harness 1A would hang down due to its own weight at the portion connected to the sensor 1, and in that state, when the vehicle vibrates and the seat 10 vibrates, the harness 1A would vibrate significantly relative to the sensor 1, making the harness 1A more likely to be damaged or broken. In contrast, by supporting the harness 1A in a state in which it is gently inclined downward by the guide portion 2d of the mounting bracket 2 as described above, the harness 1A supported by the guide portion 2d is less likely to vibrate relative to the sensor 1 even if the seat 10 vibrates, making the harness 1A less likely to be damaged or broken.

[0046] Furthermore, the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2 is formed with a notch 2e on the outer periphery. By providing the notch 2e on the outer periphery of the mounting bracket 2 in this manner, even when a load is applied to the sensor 1 and the mounting bracket 2 as described above and a force that causes deformation is applied to the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2, the notch 2e absorbs the deformation of the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2. Therefore, when the force is no longer applied to the mounting bracket 2, the deformation that has occurred in the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2 is more likely to return to its original state, and deformation is less likely to remain in the mounting bracket 2.

[0047] On the other hand, the recess 20 of the pan frame 18 is provided with an engagement portion for engaging with the mounting bracket 2 to mount the mounting bracket 2 to the recess 20. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, a claw-shaped claw portion 20a is provided as an engagement portion on the upper surface of the recess 20. An engagement hole 2f that engages with the claw portion 20a is provided in the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2, and when the mounting bracket 2 to which the sensor 1 is attached is attached to the recess 20, the claw portion 20a of the recess 20 engages with the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 as shown in Fig. 6. Note that the sensor 1 and harness 1A are omitted in Fig. 6 so that the engagement between the claw portion 20a and the engagement hole 2f can be seen.

[0048] Thus, in this embodiment, as is the case with the second engagement portion 20b etc. described later, the mounting bracket 2 can be attached to the recess 20 by engaging the mounting bracket 2 (engagement hole 2f) with the engagement portion (claw portion 20a) provided in the recess 20, making it easier to attach the mounting bracket 2 to the recess 20. Furthermore, by attaching the mounting bracket 2 to the recess 20 with the claw portion 20a of the recess 20 engaged with the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2, the claw portion 20a can accurately position the mounting bracket 2 mainly in the front-rear direction. The claw portion 20a can also contribute to positioning the mounting bracket 2 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, by checking that the claw portion 20a protrudes upward from the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 when attaching the mounting bracket 2 to the recess 20, it is easy to check that the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 and the claw portion 20a are appropriately engaged and that the mounting bracket 2 is positioned in an appropriate position in the recess 20.

[0049] 3 to 5 show the case where the sensor 1 is disposed in the recess 20 with the harness 1A extending to the left of the sensor 1, but the sensor 1 may also be disposed in the recess 20 with the harness 1A extending to the right of the sensor 1. In this embodiment, the claw portion 20a is provided only on the rear side of the recess 20 as shown in Fig. 5, but since the orientation of the harness 1A, i.e., the orientation of the guide portion 2d, may be either leftward or rightward, the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 is provided not only on the rear side but also on the front side as shown in Fig. 4.

[0050] 5, a second engagement portion 20b is provided adjacent to the claw portion 20a on the upper surface of the recess 20. When the mounting bracket 2 is attached to the recess 20, the peripheral portion α of the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 is sandwiched between the claw portion 20a and the second engagement portion 20b, as shown in FIG. In this way, when the mounting bracket 2 to which the sensor 1 is attached is attached to the recess 20 of the pan frame 18, the peripheral portion α of the engagement hole 2f of the mounting bracket 2 is sandwiched between the claw portion 20a of the recess 20 and the second engagement portion 20b, which makes it easier to position the mounting bracket 2 more accurately in the front-rear direction. Also, the mounting bracket 2 is less likely to shift in position in the front-rear direction.

[0051] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the left and right ends of the recess 20 are formed slightly higher than the upper surface of the recess 20, and these portions serve as ribs 20c that support both ends (the left and right portions in this embodiment) of the main body portion 2a of the mounting bracket 2 (see FIG. 6) from below. By providing the rib 20c in this manner, the main body 2a of the mounting bracket 2 is slightly raised from the recess 20 in the areas other than the rib 20c, so that, as described above, the mounting bracket 2 can easily absorb part of the load of an occupant when that load is applied to the sensor 1. Also, by providing the rib 20c, the rigidity of the recess 20 itself can be improved compared to when the rib 20c is not provided, so that the recess 20 is less likely to be destroyed when, for example, the pan frame 18 is deformed to bend due to the load of the occupant when seated on the seat 1.

[0052] For example, it is also possible to form ribs on the lower surface side of the recess 20 so as to improve the rigidity of the recess 20. Further, the recess 20 has a recess 20d formed as an opening, and each recess 20d is formed so that when the mounting bracket 2 is attached to the recess 20, the locking portion 1a, the screw portion 1b, etc. of the sensor 1 protruding downward from the lower surface of the mounting bracket 2 are positioned within the recess 20d as shown in Fig. 7. In this embodiment, by configuring in this manner, it is possible to prevent the locking portion 1a, the screw portion 1b, etc. of the sensor 1 protruding downward from the lower surface of the mounting bracket 2 from interfering with the recess 20 when the mounting bracket 2 is attached to the recess 20.

[0053] In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 2 is also provided with a structure for engaging with the recess 20 of the pan frame 18. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the mounting bracket 2 has bent portions 2g bent downward at the left and right ends of the main body portion 2a. Note that in the state shown in Fig. 4, the bent portion 2g on the left side of the mounting bracket 2 is divided into two, front and rear, because a guide portion 2d is provided between them, but the bent portion 2g on the right side is formed in the shape of a single flat plate (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 described later). When the mounting bracket 2 is attached to the recess 20, these bent portions 2g sandwich the rib 20c (see FIG. 5) of the recess 20 from the left and right. In this way, the bent portions 2g mainly facilitate accurate positioning of the mounting bracket 2 in the left-right direction, making it difficult for the mounting bracket 2 to shift position in the left-right direction. Furthermore, by providing the bent portions 2g in the mounting bracket 2 and bending it, the rigidity of the mounting bracket 2 itself can be improved.

[0054] Furthermore, the bent portion 2g of the mounting bracket 2 is provided with bracket side engagement portions 2h that protrude forward from the front end portion of the bent portion 2g and rearward from the rear end portion of the bent portion 2g. 9, when the mounting bracket 2 is attached to the recess 20 of the pan frame 18, the bracket side engagement portion 2h of the mounting bracket 2 engages with the underside of the pan frame 18 (see β in FIG. 9. R in the figure indicates a rib provided on the underside of the pan frame 18). With this configuration, the bracket side engagement portion 2h primarily facilitates accurate positioning of the mounting bracket 2 in the up-down direction, making it less likely for the mounting bracket 2 to become misaligned in the up-down direction.

[0055] In this embodiment, by attaching the mounting bracket 2 to which the sensor 1 is attached in the recess 20 of the pan frame 18 as described above, the sensor 1 can be accurately and securely attached to the recess 20 of the pan frame 18 via the mounting bracket 2, as shown in Figure 8.

[0056] Incidentally, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, if an opening 18A is provided in the pan frame 18, the harness 1A can be guided to the underside of the seat 10 by inserting the harness 1A through the opening 18A. It is also possible to newly form an opening 18A for inserting the harness 1A in the pan frame 18. In addition, the following description will be given based on Fig. 3, Fig. 5, etc., but the present invention is not limited to the case where two openings 18A are provided as shown in Fig. 3, etc., and one opening 18A or three or more openings 18A may be provided. Moreover, the opening 18A does not have to be provided on the left and right of the recess 20 as shown in Fig. 3 etc., but may be provided in front of, behind, etc. of the recess 20. Furthermore, the opening 18A may be a notch (i.e., a shape cut inward from the end of the pan frame 18) or the like, and is not limited to a hole as shown in Fig. 3 etc. Moreover, the opening 18A does not have to be an opening for the duct 19 described below.

[0057] In the seat 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, an air passage 30 is provided between the cushion pad 12 of the seat cushion 11 and the cover 13, and air sent from a blower (not shown) provided on the underside of the pan frame 18 is sent into the air passage 30 through the through hole 30B, and the air that has circulated in the air passage 30 is blown out toward the occupant from the air outlet 30C of the air passage 30. An opening 18A is provided as a through hole through which a duct 19 (see Fig. 1) can pass for supplying air from the blower to the through hole 30B. Therefore, by using this opening 18A as an opening for inserting the harness 1A of the sensor 1, it is possible to utilize the opening 18A for the duct that is already formed without having to provide a new opening 18A in the pan frame 18, and the harness 1A can be inserted into that opening 18A.

[0058] Also, the blower is provided below the pan frame 18, but is usually provided on either the left or right side of the seat 10, so the position where the duct 19 penetrates the pan frame 18 also becomes to the left or right of the center depending on the position of the blower. Therefore, in the seat 10 of this embodiment, in order to be able to handle either of these cases, openings 18A through which the duct 19 can pass are provided in a total of two locations, one each on the left and right of the center of the pan frame 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. In this embodiment, the portion between the two openings 18A is made a recess, and the recess 20 of the bread frame 18 described above is formed in this portion.

[0059] In this embodiment, the opening 18A is thus provided continuous with the recess 20 of the pan frame 18. That is, the recess 20 in which the sensor 1 and the mounting bracket 2 are disposed is provided in a portion between a plurality of openings 18A provided close to one another (a portion bridging the front and rear portions of the pan frame 18 between the plurality of openings 18A). Generally, when multiple openings 18A are provided close to each other, the area between them becomes weak in rigidity and becomes more susceptible to deformation. However, as described above, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the recess 20 itself is improved by providing a rib 20c in the recess 20 formed in that area, so that such deformation is less likely to occur.

[0060] In addition, the harness 1A of the sensor 1 attached to the recess 20 of the pan frame 18 via the mounting bracket 2 is inserted through the opening 18A provided continuously with the recess 20, so that the harness 1A can be handled more easily than when there is a distance between the recess 20 and the opening 18A. If there is a distance between the recess 20 and the opening 18A, the harness 1A will be sandwiched between the pan frame 18 and the cushion pad 12 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 10 described later), and the harness 1A may be damaged or broken due to friction between the pan frame 18 and the cushion pad 12. However, if the recess 20 and the opening 18A are continuous as in this embodiment, the above-mentioned friction is less likely to occur, and the harness 1A is less likely to be damaged or broken.

[0061] 3, the duct 19 is inserted into one of the openings 18A. If the harness 1A is inserted into an opening 18A into which the duct 19 is not inserted, the harness 1A and the duct 19 do not interfere with each other and do not rub against each other, so that the harness 1A is less likely to be damaged or broken. The harness 1A may be configured to be inserted through the opening 18A through which the duct 19 is inserted.

[0062] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 , the duct 19 is passed through the opening 18A of the pan frame 18 and inserted from below into the through hole 30B formed in the cushion pad 12. However, inserting the duct 19 into the through hole 30B does not lift the cushion pad 12, so the upper surface of the sensor 1 remains in contact with the lower surface of the cushion pad 12. In addition, when an occupant sits on the seat 10, a load is applied from above to the cushion pad 12, compressing the cushion pad 12 and increasing the pressure applied from the cushion pad 12 to the sensor 1. Therefore, when an occupant sits on the seat 10, the sensor 1 can reliably detect the fact.

[0063] In addition, in Figure 10, the upper surface of pan frame 18 and the upper surface of sensor 1 are shown to be flush with each other, and cushion pad 12 with a flat bottom is placed on top of them. However, for example, it is also possible to arrange it so that the upper surface of sensor 1 is positioned higher than the upper surface of pan frame 18, and to provide a recess in cushion pad 12 at a position corresponding to sensor 1.

[0064] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, if the recess 20 of the pan frame 18 is located directly below a hollow portion such as the air passage 30 formed in the cushion pad 12, when an occupant sits on the seat 10, the portion of the cushion pad 12 above the hollow portion will bend downward to absorb the load, making it difficult for the load to be transmitted to the lower portion of the hollow portion. As a result, the pressure applied to the sensor 1 will be difficult to increase, and it may become difficult for the sensor 1 to detect that an occupant has sat on the seat 10. Therefore, it is desirable that the recess 20 in which the sensor 1 is disposed is provided at a position other than a position directly below a hollow portion such as the air passage 30 formed in the cushion pad 12. With this configuration, the load applied to the cushion pad 12 when an occupant sits on the seat 10 is applied directly to the sensor 1. Therefore, the pressure applied to the sensor 1 increases appropriately, making it easier for the sensor 1 to detect that an occupant has sat on the seat 10.

[0065] As described above, according to the arrangement structure of the sensor 1 on the seat 10 in this embodiment, the sensor 1 is arranged within the recess 20 provided on the upper surface of the plate-like member (pan frame 18) provided below the cushion pad 12 (see Figure 10). As described above, in the conventional sensor arrangement structure for a seat, the sensor 1 was arranged between the cushion pad 12 and the skin 13 (i.e., just below the skin), so that an occupant sitting in the seat 10 could sense something touching their buttocks or thighs through the skin 13 of the seat 10, resulting in a poor seating feeling.

[0066] However, in the arrangement of sensor 1 on seat 10 according to this embodiment, cushion pad 12 is interposed between sensor 1 and the buttocks or thighs of the occupant as described above, so that the occupant seated on seat 10 is less likely to feel that sensor 1 is touching the buttocks or thighs, improving the seating feeling of the occupant compared to the conventional case.

[0067] Furthermore, if the sensor 1 is simply placed on the upper surface of the plate-like member (pan frame 18), the cushion pad 12 will rise by the amount of the sensor 1, which may cause the occupant to feel uncomfortable and result in a poor seating feeling. However, in the arrangement structure of the sensor 1 on the seat 10 in this embodiment, as described above, a recess 20 is provided on the upper surface of the plate-like member (pan frame 18) and the sensor 1 is placed therein, making it possible to improve the seating feeling without causing the occupant to feel uncomfortable as described above.

[0068] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the pan frame 18 provided under the cushion pad 12 is used as the plate-like member. However, the structure of the seat cushion frame 17 under the cushion pad 12 (not shown in FIG. 12) may be composed of the pan frame 18 and wire 17C (also called an S-spring, etc.) as shown in FIG. 12, or may be composed of only the wire 17C without the pan frame 18. In such a case, it is possible to provide a plate-like member on the portion of the wire 17C.

[0069] 13, for example, a plate-like member 25 can be provided in the portion of wire 17C so that wire 17C can be inserted therein. As in the above embodiment, a recess 26 can be provided on the upper surface of plate-like member 25, and sensor 1 can be configured to be disposed in recess 26 while being fixed to mounting bracket 2. 13 omits the illustration of the engagement portion (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for attaching the mounting bracket 2 to the recess 26, but the engagement portion is appropriately formed on the recess 26 side or the mounting bracket 2 side so that the mounting bracket 2 can be appropriately attached to the recess 26. The illustration of the harness 1A of the sensor 1 is also omitted, but even in this case, it is possible to provide the mounting bracket 2 with a guide portion 2d (see FIG. 4, etc.). Furthermore, the configurations of the recess 20, mounting bracket 2, etc. according to the above embodiment can be appropriately applied to the recess 26, mounting bracket 2, etc. in this modified example.

[0070] 13, since wire 17C is inserted into plate-like member 25, the portion where wire 17C is inserted in recess 26 of plate-like member 25 is raised higher than other portions (see dashed line in the figure). Therefore, it is possible to form notch 2e (see FIG. 4) of mounting bracket 2 in the above embodiment at a position corresponding to the raised portion of wire 17C inserted into plate-like member 25 as shown in FIG. With this configuration, in addition to the effects described in the above embodiment, the mounting bracket 2 has a notch 2e in the raised portion of the wire 17C, which makes it possible to prevent interference between the mounting bracket 2 and the raised portion of the wire 17C, thereby preventing damage to the mounting bracket 2, the plate-like member 25, etc.

[0071] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Sensor 1A Harness 2 Mounting brackets 2d Guide section 2e Cutout 2g bent part 2h Bracket side engagement part 10 Sheets 12 Cushion pad 17C Wire 18 Pan frame (plate-shaped member) 18A opening 19 Duct 20 Recess 20a Claw part (engaging part) 20b Second engagement portion (engagement portion) 20c Rib 25 Plate-shaped members 26 Recess 30 Ventilation passage (hollow section) β Lower surface side of plate-shaped member

Claims

1. A structure for arranging a sensor in a seat including a cushion pad and a plate-shaped member provided under the cushion pad, A recess serving as a sensor mounting portion is provided on an upper surface of the plate-like member, The sensor is disposed within the recess; The recess is provided with a pair of first engagement portions, The pair of first engagement portions are formed to have claw portions extending from outer edge portions of the recess toward the center and protruding above a bottom surface of the recess, A structure for arranging a sensor on a seat, characterized in that the pair of first engagement portions are arranged at positions facing each other on the sides of the sensor.

2. 2. The arrangement of sensors on a seat according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged so that an upper surface of the sensor is flush with an upper surface of the plate-like member.

3. 2. The arrangement of sensors in a seat according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is arranged so that an upper surface of the sensor is positioned above an upper surface of the plate-like member.

4. The sensor is disposed within the recess while being fixed to a mounting bracket; The mounting bracket is engaged with the plate-like member through a plurality of engaging holes, A structure for arranging a sensor on a seat as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mounting bracket has a notch recessed toward the inside of the recess between the multiple engagement holes that engage the mounting bracket.

5. 5. The arrangement structure of a sensor on a seat according to claim 1, wherein the pair of first engagement portions restricts the position of the sensor in the left-right direction.

6. The sensor is disposed within the recess while being fixed to a mounting bracket; the mounting bracket is attached to the recess in a state of engaging with the pair of first engaging portions provided in the recess, 6. The arrangement of a sensor in a seat according to claim 1, wherein a rib is formed in the recess at a position overlapping with the mounting bracket in the vertical direction.

7. The plate-like member has an opening that is continuous with the recess, 7. The arrangement of a sensor in a seat according to claim 1, wherein a harness electrically connecting the sensor to an external device is inserted through the opening.

8. The plate-like member has an opening that is continuous with the recess, The opening is 8. The arrangement of sensors in a seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening is an opening through which a duct can pass for supplying air to the air passage formed in the cushion pad.

9. A seat cushion including a seat cushion frame and a cushion pad disposed on the seat cushion frame; A sensor provided below the cushion pad; A seat back connected to the seat cushion; A headrest provided on the seat back; a plate-shaped member provided under the cushion pad and indirectly supported by the seat cushion frame, the seat cushion has a cover covering the seat cushion frame and the cushion pad, A blower for blowing air is disposed under the seat cushion, A recess is provided on the upper surface of the plate-like member, 9. A vehicle seat, wherein the sensor is disposed in the recess of the plate-like member by the arrangement structure of the sensor in the seat according to claim 1.

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