Structure under a vehicle seat and method for assembling a seat cushion

Abstract

To improve workability of a step for installing a seat cushion on a floor.SOLUTION: Buckles 24L and 24Ci of a seat belt device are connected to a floor 26 via webbings and anchor plates 28L and 28Ci connected to ends thereof. Lower ends of the buckles 24L and 24Ci are housed in a boot 38L with a cylindrical shape, and the webbings pass through the inside of the boot 38L. An under-cushion pad 36 is disposed on a floor panel 32. The buckles 24L and 24Ci support the boot 38L so as to be in a state of being lifted forward and upward by abutting a support surface 46L of a rear surface of the under-cushion pad 36 on a front surface 38La of the boot 38L. A seat cushion 12 is placed on the floor by fitting the buckles 24L and 24Ci supported in the lifted state into the seat cushion 12 with a through hole 31L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the structure under a vehicle seat, particularly to the structure of an inner belt of a seat belt device and its surrounding configuration.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles equipped with a seat belt device for restraining an occupant seated on a seat are known. The three-point seat belt device widely used in passenger cars and the like has an outer belt provided so as to connect the vehicle body near one of the left and right shoulders and the waist of the occupant, and an inner belt connected to the vehicle body near the waist on the other side of the occupant. By connecting the tongue provided on the outer belt to the buckle provided on the inner belt, either the left or right shoulder and the waist of the occupant are restrained.

[0003] In a bench seat, that is, an integral seat having a plurality of portions where an occupant sits, a through hole or a slit for passing the inner belt is provided in the seat cushion. One end of the inner belt is fixed to the vehicle body portion located under the seat cushion, and the other end (the end where the buckle is provided) is located above the seat cushion.

[0004] Patent Document 1 below shows a seat cushion (231) in which a slit (227) is formed for accommodating the lower portion of the inner belt (buckle means 30). Note that the member names and reference numerals in the above ( ) are the member names and reference numerals used in Patent Document 1 below, and are not related to the member names and reference numerals used in the description of the embodiments of the present application.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] When assembling the seat cushion of the seat to the vehicle body, the operator has to lift the inner belt with a buckle by himself and pass it through the through hole or the like of the seat cushion, and then place the seat cushion on the floor, resulting in poor workability.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to improve the workability of the work of installing the seat cushion of the seat on the floor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The structure under the seat of the vehicle of the present invention includes a buckle of a seat belt device, a webbing having one end coupled to the floor under the seat and the other end coupled to the buckle, a boot having a cylindrical shape and accommodating a part of the buckle at one end of the cylindrical shape, and a support portion provided on the floor. The support portion abuts against the front surface of the boot in a state where the seat cushion of the seat is not installed on the floor, and supports the boot so that the buckle is lifted upward and forward.

[0009] Since the buckle is maintained in a lifted state, it is not necessary for the operator to support the buckle when installing the seat cushion.

[0010] The floor may include a floor panel constituting a part of the vehicle body and a cushion under pad placed on the floor panel and supporting a part of the seat cushion from below. And the support portion can be provided on the cushion under pad.

[0011] Furthermore, the support portion can be formed in a concave shape facing the boot. The lateral fall of the buckle can be suppressed.

[0012] The structure under the seat of a vehicle according to another aspect of the present invention includes a buckle of a seat belt device, a webbing having one end coupled to a floor panel under the seat and the other end coupled to the buckle, a boot having a cylindrical shape and accommodating a part of the buckle at one end of the cylindrical shape, and through which the webbing passes inside the cylindrical shape, and a sub-cushion pad placed in front of a position on the floor panel where the webbing is coupled and supporting a part of the seat cushion from below, the sub-cushion pad having an inclined surface formed on a surface facing the boot.

[0013] A method for assembling a seat cushion of a vehicle according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a step of coupling the other end of a webbing passing through a cylindrical boot that accommodates a part of the buckle at one end, the webbing having one end coupled to a buckle of a seat belt device, to the floor of the vehicle, a step of supporting the boot by a support portion provided on the floor in front of the boot so that the buckle is in a lifted state facing forward and upward, and a step of placing the seat cushion on the floor while passing the buckle through a through-hole formed in the seat cushion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] When installing the seat cushion on the floor, it is not necessary for the operator to support the buckle himself / herself, and the work can be done with only the seat cushion, improving workability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, terms representing relative positions and directions such as front, rear, left, right, up, and down represent relative positions and directions with respect to a seated occupant. In each figure, the direction of arrow FR is forward, the direction of arrow UP is upward, and the direction of arrow LH is leftward.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle seat 10. The illustrated vehicle seat 10 is a rear seat of a passenger car. A rear seat of a passenger car is generally an integral seat assumed for two or three occupants to sit, and this type of seat is called a bench seat as opposed to a separate seat for one occupant. The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant from below, and a seat back 14 that supports the upper body of the occupant from behind. In the case of a bench seat, particularly the seat cushion 12, one seat cushion 12 corresponds to the seating of a plurality of occupants.

[0018] The vehicle is equipped with seat belt devices 16R, 16L, 16C for restraining the occupants seated on the vehicle seat 10 to the seat. Regarding the seat belt device and its components, in the reference signs, "R" indicates a configuration for the right seat, "L" indicates a configuration for the left seat, and "C" indicates a configuration for the center seat. In FIG. 1, the seat belt devices 16R, 16L, 16C Even the parts that are actually hidden by the vehicle seat 10 are depicted in a state where the vehicle seat 10 is seen through. The seat belt devices 16R, 16L, 16C include outer belts 18R, 18L, 18C provided so as to connect a vehicle body part near one shoulder of the seated occupant and a vehicle body part near the waist on the same side, and inner belts 20R, 20L, 20C fixed to a vehicle body part near the waist on the opposite side.

[0019] The outer belts 18R, 18L for the right and left seats have tongues 22R, 22L through which the webbing is passed, while the inner belts 20R, 20L have buckles 24R, 24L detachably coupled to the tongues 22R, 22L. By coupling the tongues 22R, 22L and the buckles 24R, 24L, the occupant is restrained by the vehicle seat 10 at one shoulder and the waist of the occupant. The inner belts 20R, 20L include anchor plates 28R, 28L fixed to the floor 26 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of the vehicle body on which the vehicle seat 10 is placed, and webbings 30R, 30L having one end coupled to the anchor plates 28R, 28L and the other end coupled to the buckles 24R, 24L.

[0020] The outer belt 18C for the center seat is divided vertically, with the upper outer belt 18Ct extending from the roof and a tongue 22Co provided at its tip being coupled to a buckle 24Co of the lower outer belt 18Cb to be integrated. The upper outer belt 18Ct for the center seat further has a tongue 22Ci for coupling to the inner belt 20C. The lower outer belt 18Cb includes an anchor plate 28Co fixed to the floor 26 and a webbing 30Co having one end coupled to the anchor plate 28Co and the other end coupled to the buckle 24Co. The anchor plate 28Co may be integral with the anchor plate 28R of the inner belt 20R for the right seat described above. The inner belt 20C for the center seat includes an anchor plate 28Ci fixed to the floor 26 and a webbing 30Ci having one end coupled to the anchor plate 28Ci and the other end coupled to the buckle 24Ci. The anchor plate 28Ci may be integral with the anchor plate 28L of the inner belt 20L for the left seat described above.

[0021] Figures 2 to 4 are diagrams showing the seat cushion 12 and the floor 26 of the vehicle on which the seat cushion 12 is placed. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the seat cushion 12 alone, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the floor 26 on which the seat cushion 12 is placed with the seat cushion 12 removed. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the center plane of the left or right seat of the vehicle seat 10.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2, through holes 31R and 31L that penetrate the front and back of the seat cushion 12 are formed at the rear end portions of the boundaries between the right seat and the center seat, and between the left seat and the center seat of the seat cushion 12, respectively.

[0023] On the floor panel 32 of the vehicle body, a battery pack 34, which is the power source of the electric motor for vehicle driving, and an under-cushion pad 36 are arranged. The battery pack 34 is located below the thighs of the passengers sitting on the vehicle seat 10. Also, the under-cushion pad 36 is positioned below the buttocks of the sitting passengers so as to fill the space between the seat cushion 12 and the floor panel 32, and supports the seat cushion 12. The upper surface of the battery pack 34, the upper surface of the under-cushion pad 36, and a part of the floor panel 32 form the surface of the floor 26 on which the seat cushion 12 is placed.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the buckle 24R of the right seat inner belt 20R and the buckle 24Co of the center seat lower outer belt 18Cb are housed together in one boot 38R. Also, the buckle 24L of the left seat inner belt 20L and the buckle 24Ci of the center seat inner belt 20C are housed together in one boot 38L.

[0025] The right seat inner belt 20R fixed to the floor 26 is passed through the through-hole 31R, and the buckle 24R is exposed on the upper surface side of the seat cushion 12. Further, the lower outer belt 18Cb of the middle seat is also passed through the through-hole 31R, and the buckle 24Co is exposed on the upper surface side of the seat cushion 12. The left seat inner belt 20L fixed to the floor 26 is passed through the through-hole 31L, and the buckle 24L is exposed on the upper surface side of the seat cushion 12. Further, the inner belt 20C of the middle seat is passed through the through-hole 31L, and the buckle 24Ci is exposed on the upper surface side of the seat cushion 12.

[0026] Figures 5 and 6 show the left seat inner belt 20L and the middle seat inner belt 20C, and the floor 26 around them. Figure 6 shows the state with the boot 38L removed from the state of Figure 5. By removing the boot 38L, the left seat webbing 30L and the middle seat webbing 30Ci passing through the inner space of the boot 38L appear. The left seat webbing 30L is hung on a hanging ring 40L formed in a generally oval or rectangular ring shape of the anchor plate 28L and is coupled to the anchor plate 28L. Also, at the other end, the left seat webbing 30L is hung on a hanging bar 42L disposed at the lower end of the buckle 24L and is coupled to the buckle 24L. The middle seat webbing 30Ci is hung on a hanging ring 40Ci formed in a generally oval or rectangular ring shape of the anchor plate 28Ci and is coupled to the anchor plate 28Ci. On the other hand, at the other end, the middle seat webbing 30Ci is hung on a hanging bar (not shown) disposed at the lower end of the buckle 24Ci and is coupled to the buckle 24Ci. The anchor plates 28L and 28Ci of the left seat and the middle seat may be integrally formed and fixed to the floor panel 32 by bolts 44, or may be formed separately and fixed by bolts 44 in a stacked state. The anchor plates 28L and 28Ci are fixed such that the hanging rings 40L and 40Ci are located in front of the positions fixed by the bolts 44, and the longitudinal directions of the hanging rings 40L and 40Ci are in the left-right direction.

[0027] The inner belt 20R on the right seat and the lower outer belt 18Cb on the center seat are also coupled to the floor panel 32, similar to the inner belt 20L on the left seat and the inner belt 20C on the center seat described above.

[0028] Figures 7 and 8 are views showing the inner belts 20L and 20C on the left seat and the center seat and their surroundings during the assembly operation of the seat cushion 12. Figure 7 shows the state during the assembly of the seat cushion 12, and Figure 8 shows the state where the seat cushion 12 is placed on the floor 26. In Figure 7, the front surface 38La of the boot 38L is in contact with the support surface 46L formed on the cushion lower pad 36. The support surface 46L is formed as a concave bottom surface that faces the boot 38L and forms a groove along the longitudinal direction of the boot 38L, as shown in Figure 3. The front edge of the lower end of the boot 38L is in contact with the floor panel 32, and due to the tension of the webbings 30L and 30Ci pulling the buckles 24L and 24Ci toward the anchor plates 28L and 28Ci and the reaction force from the support surface 46L of the cushion lower pad 36, the inner belts 20L and 20Ci are maintained in a state where the front ends are lifted upward and forward. The buckles 24L and 24Ci face forward and upward and are supported in a state away from the floor 26. The support surface 46L may be formed on an inclined surface, and the inclination angle may be made to coincide with the angle of the front surface 38La of the boot when the front ends of the inner belts 20L and 20Ci are lifted. The inner belt 20R on the right seat and the lower outer belt 18Cb on the center seat can also be supported by the support surface 46R of the cushion lower pad 36 and maintained in a state where the front ends are lifted, similar to the left seat side. Since the configuration and operation of the inner belt 20 on the right seat, the lower outer belt 18Cb on the center seat, and their surroundings are the same as those on the left seat side, the description of the configuration related to the right seat will be omitted below for simplicity.

[0029] In this embodiment, the portion where the supporting surface 46L of the under-cushion pad 36 is formed is a supporting portion that supports the boot 38L such that the supporting surface 46L abuts against the front surface 38La of the boot 38L and the buckles 24L and 24Ci are lifted upward and forward. Further, since the supporting surface 46L is formed as the bottom surface of the concave portion facing the boot 38L, the left and right side surfaces of this concave portion can suppress the lateral collapse of the inner belt 20L. The distance between the left and right side surfaces of the concave portion may coincide with the width of the boot 38L in the left-right direction, or may be wider.

[0030] With the front ends of the inner belts 20L and 20Ci lifted, the seat cushion 12 is lowered toward the floor 26. In this process, the buckles 24L and 24Ci, that is, the tips of the inner belts 20L and 20Ci, are passed through the through holes 31La. Since the inner belts 20L and 20Ci are supported by the supporting surface 46L and stand independently, there is no need for an operator to support them. The operator can hold the seat cushion 12 and align the through hole 31L with the position of the inner belts 20L and 20Ci, and then lower the seat cushion 12. Then, the work of placing the seat cushion 12 on the floor 26 with the inner belts 20L and 20Ci passing through the through hole 31L is completed. When the work is completed, the boot 38L separates from the supporting surface 46L of the under-cushion pad 36. Further, the entire lower end of the boot 38L abuts against the floor panel 32, supports the buckles 24L and 24Ci from below, and prevents the buckles 24L and 24Ci from falling below the seat cushion 12.

[0031] The under-cushion pad 36 may be configured such that only the rear edge of the upper surface abuts against the boot 38L.

[0032] The supporting portion that supports the inner belt in a state where the tip is lifted may be provided as a member other than the under-cushion pad 36, for example, as a part of the floor panel 32.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10 Vehicle seat, 12 Seat cushion, 14 Seat back, 16R, 16L, 16C Seat belt devices, 18R, 18L, 18C Outer belts, 20R, 20L, 20C Inner belts, 22R, 22L, 22Co, 22Ci Tongues, 23 Tongue 24R, 24L, 24Co, 24Ci Buckles, 26 Floor, 28R, 28L, 28Co, 28Ci Anchor plates, 30R, 30L, 30Co, 30Ci Webbing, 31R, 31L Through holes, 32 Floor panel, 34 Battery pack, 36 Cushion under pad, 38R, 38L Boots, 40L, 40Ci Hanging rings, 42L Hanging rod, 44 Bolt, 46R, 46L Supporting surfaces (supporting parts).

Claims

1. A structure under a vehicle seat, comprising: a buckle of a seat belt device; a webbing having one end coupled to the floor under the seat and the other end coupled to the buckle; a boot having a cylindrical shape, accommodating a part of the buckle at one end of the cylindrical shape, and through which the webbing passes inside the cylindrical shape; a support portion provided on the floor, which is capable of supporting the boot such that, in a state where the seat cushion of the seat is not installed on the floor, the support portion abuts against the front surface of the boot and the buckle is lifted upward and forward; and the floor includes a floor panel constituting a part of the vehicle body and a cushion under-pad placed on the floor panel and supporting a part of the seat cushion from below; the support portion is provided on the cushion under-pad, A structure under a vehicle seat.

2. The structure under a vehicle seat according to Claim 1, wherein the support portion is formed in a concave shape facing the boot.

3. A structure under a vehicle seat, comprising: a buckle of a seat belt device; a webbing having one end coupled to the floor panel under the seat and the other end coupled to the buckle; a boot having a cylindrical shape, accommodating a part of the buckle at one end of the cylindrical shape, and through which the webbing passes inside the cylindrical shape; a cushion under-pad placed on the floor panel in front of the position where the webbing is coupled, and supporting a part of the seat cushion of the seat from below, wherein a slope is formed on the surface of the cushion under-pad facing the boot; and A structure under a vehicle seat.

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