Sheet

Abstract

To provide a seat with good sitting comfortability capable of relieving the feeling of fatigue even if a person sits thereon for a long period of time.SOLUTION: A seat includes: a cushion frame (F1); a first support member (31) supported by the cushion frame (F1) and arranged in the center in the lateral direction to support a person sitting on the seat; a deformable second support member (32) arranged on both right and left sides of the first support member; and a restraining part (34) for restraining each second support member such that an outer side in the lateral direction more hardly sinks downward than a center side in the lateral direction. The seat is configured such that an upper support surface for supporting the person sitting on the seat takes a first posture when the person does not sit thereon and takes a second posture in that the upper support surface faces more inwardly in the lateral direction as compared with the first posture when the person is sitting thereon by the restraining part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat that causes little fatigue even when sitting for a long time.

Background Art

[0002] Seats are required to not get tired even when sitting for a long time. Particularly in the case of seats adopted in automobiles and the like, such performance is important. Generally, in automobile seats, a structure in which a plurality of springs are stretched back and forth or left and right across a seat cushion is often used. In such a structure, for example, springs are arranged at a predetermined interval on the left and right with equivalent springs (Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).

[0003] In addition, a structure has also been proposed in which tension springs arranged at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction of the seat and locked to the left and right side frame portions are embedded in a resin plate formed into a curved surface along the seating line (Patent Document 3).

[0004] In addition, a seat having a structure in which a planar spring is attached to a seat frame by a hook and a resin support panel that supports the body pressure part (ischial tuberosity part) of a seated person is provided at approximately the center of the planar spring has also been proposed (Patent Document 4).

[0005] In addition, there is also a structure in which a large shallow recess along the curve of the body is provided in a pan frame constituting a seat cushion, and this pan frame attempts to support the load around the buttocks (Patent Document 5).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

[0007] However, when springs are simply arranged uniformly on the cushion frame as in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the ischium protrudes downward, only the area around the ischium is supported by a large load. This causes poor blood flow around the ischium of the seated person, and there is a problem that fatigue occurs after sitting for a long time. The configurations provided with resin support members that support the ischium and its vicinity as in Patent Documents 3 and 4 also have the same problem.

[0008] Also, when supporting the load of a person sitting on a non-deformable pan frame as in Patent Document 5, there is a problem that the sitting feeling is hard and a feeling of having a bottom is felt.

[0009] In view of the above technical background, it is desired to provide a seat that is comfortable to sit on and causes little fatigue even after sitting for a long time. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] A seat is proposed that includes a cushion frame, a first support member supported by the cushion frame and supporting a seated person, second support members arranged on both left and right sides of the first support member and being deformable, and a restraint portion that restrains each second support member so that it is less likely to sink downward on the outer side in the left-right direction than on the central side in the left-right direction. Preferably, due to the restraint portion, the upper support surface that supports the seated person takes a first posture when the seated person is not seated, and takes a second posture that faces inward in the left-right direction more than the first posture when the seated person is seated.

[0011] According to such a configuration, since the outer portions of the second support member in the left-right direction are less likely to sink downward due to the restraining portion, after a person sits down, the upper surface of the second support member is likely to be in a second posture facing the inner side in the left-right direction. That is, when a person sits on the seat, the second support member bends, so that the upper support surface of the second support member changes from the first posture to the second posture and becomes inclined facing the inner side in the left-right direction more than the first posture. As a result, the second support member supports the sides of the buttocks and thighs of the seated person obliquely upward so as to sandwich them from the outside, and thus supports the sides of the buttocks and thighs of the seated person stronger as compared with the case where the second support member does not become inclined. As a result, the pressure around the ischium relatively decreases, and the seated person is supported in a well-balanced manner by the periphery of the ischium and the whole of the buttocks and thighs. For this reason, the blood circulation does not deteriorate, and the fatigue can be reduced.

[0012] Further, in this seat, since the second support member is deformed obliquely, the seat cushion approaches a shape along the shapes of the buttocks and thighs of the seated person, so that a comfortable sitting feeling can be realized regardless of the body type of the seated person.

[0013] In the above-described seat, each second support member may include an S spring that is stretched in the front-rear direction on the cushion frame and extends while bending alternately in the left-right direction.

[0014] In the above-described seat, the cushion frame has a pair of side frames that are spaced apart from each other left and right and extend in the front-rear direction, and the restraining portion includes a pair of third support members each having a first portion and a second portion located more inward in the left-right direction than the first portion. Each of the third support members may be arranged such that the first portion located on the outer side in the left-right direction is connected to the side frame, and the second portion located on the inner side in the left-right direction supports the second support member.

[0015] According to such a configuration, the third support member is connected to the side frame at the first part, so that the first part is restrained from descending, and by supporting the second support member at the second part, the connected part of the second support member is made less likely to descend downward. As a result, when a person sits on the seat, the second support member is more likely to take the second posture.

[0016] In the above-described seat, it is desirable that each third support member is connected to the corresponding second support member at a position on the left and right outer sides rather than at the center position in the left-right direction of the second support member.

[0017] According to such a configuration, the left and right outer portions of the second support member are made less likely to descend downward, so that when a person sits on the seat, the second support member is more likely to take the second posture.

[0018] In the above-described seat, each third support member may be made of a band, a resin plate, or a metal wire.

[0019] In the above-described seat, the cushion frame has a pair of side frames that are spaced apart from each other left and right and extend in the front-rear direction, and each second support member is an elastically deformable member whose left and right outer ends are non-rotatably fixed to the corresponding side frames, and the restraining portion may be a portion that non-rotatably fixes the second support member to the side frame.

[0020] In this case, the side frame and the second support member may be made of an integral member.

[0021] In the above-described seat, the first support member may include an S-shaped spring that is stretched in the front-rear direction on the cushion frame and extends while bending alternately in the left-right direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, a vehicle seat as an example of a seat will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [First Embodiment] A vehicle seat according to an embodiment is configured as a vehicle seat S disposed on the driver's seat of an automobile, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. This vehicle seat S includes a seat cushion S1, a seat back S2, and a headrest S3, where the seat cushion S1 made of a cushion material such as urethane foam is covered with a skin 52 (see FIG. 3) such as synthetic leather or fabric. In the following description, the front-rear and left-right directions are based on an occupant as an example of a seated person sitting on the seat cushion S1.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle seat S has a seat frame F as shown in FIG. 2 built therein. The seat frame F includes a cushion frame F1 that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion S1 and a seat back frame F2 that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back S2. Although not shown, the headrest S3 also has a headrest frame that constitutes its skeleton built therein.

[0025] The cushion frame F1 includes a pair of side frames 21 that are spaced apart left and right and extend in the front-rear direction, a front frame 22 that connects the front end portions of the respective side frames 21, and a rear frame 23 that connects the rear end portions of the respective side frames 21.

[0026] Each side frame 21 includes a side wall portion 21A facing the left-right direction, an upper flange 21B extending from the upper end of the side wall portion 21A toward the left and right inner sides, and a lower flange 21C extending from the lower end of the side wall portion 21A toward the left and right inner sides. A hook 21E for hanging a suspension wire 34 described later is formed on the upper flange 21B closer to the rear than the center in the front-rear direction.

[0027] The front frame 22 is a frame made of a metal plate, a so-called pan frame. On the upper surface of the front frame 22, four hooks 22A arranged side by side at intervals in the left-right direction are provided by raising the sheet metal constituting the front frame 22. The rear frame 23 is a frame made of pipes. The rear frame 23 is provided with four hooks 23A arranged side by side with a space therebetween left and right.

[0028] On the cushion frame F1, four elastically deformable S springs, specifically, a first S spring 31 and a second S spring 32, which extend in the front-rear direction while bending alternately in the left-right direction, are spanned between the front frame 22 and the rear frame 23. The first S spring 31 is arranged in two on the center in the left-right direction of the cushion frame F1. The first S spring 31 is an example of a first support member that supports the occupant, and specifically, it is arranged so as to pass near the lower part directly under the ischial bone of the occupant. The second S springs 32 are arranged one on each of the left and right sides of the first S spring 31, for a total of two. The second S spring 32 is an example of a deformable second support member, and is arranged entirely on the left and right outer sides (the center positions in the left-right direction of each second S spring 32 are on the left and right outer sides of the part that protrudes most downward of the ischial bone of the occupant) from the part that protrudes most downward of the ischial bone of the occupant. For this reason, for example, the distance (pitch) D1 between the center positions in the left-right direction of the two second S springs 32 is 21 to 27 cm, preferably 22 to 26 cm. The front ends of the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are respectively hooked on the hook 22A, and the rear ends of the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are respectively hooked on the hook 23A.

[0029] Further, the cushion frame F1 includes a metal reinforcing wire 33 that connects the two first S springs 31 to each other, and a suspension wire 34 that connects the rear ends of the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 to each other and also connects the second S spring 32 to the side frame, which is an example of a restraining portion and a third support member.

[0030] The reinforcing wire 33 is a wire bent into a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is fixed to the first S spring 31 by a caulking member 39 made of a metal plate. Specifically, the reinforcing wire 33 is formed to have a size that surrounds one S-shaped portion at the rear end of the left first S spring 31 and one S-shaped portion at the rear end of the right first S spring 31, and is fixed to the first S spring 31 by the caulking member 39 at a total of four locations, i.e., the rear side and the front side of each S-shaped portion.

[0031] The suspension wire 34 is a metal wire having a shape in which U-shaped openings facing left and right are partially connected. The suspension wire 34 is connected to the side frame 21 by being hooked on the hook 21E at the first portion (the portion hooked on the hook 21E) located on the left and right outer sides, and is connected to the second S spring 32 at the second portion (the portion of the caulking member 39S) located more inward in the left and right directions than the first portion.

[0032] Specifically, the suspension wire 34 includes left and right connecting portions 34A extending horizontally in the left and right directions, rear suspension portions 34B extending obliquely upward from the left and right ends of the left and right connecting portions 34A in the left and right directions, front and rear extending portions 34C extending forward from the left and right ends of each rear suspension portion 34B, and front suspension portions 34D extending obliquely downward from the front end of the front and rear extending portions 34C to the inside in the left and right directions and extending horizontally in the left and right directions.

[0033] The suspension wire 34 has almost no elongation in the left and right directions, and the elastic coefficient of the suspension wire 34 in the left and right directions is smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second S spring 32 in the front and rear directions.

[0034] The left and right connecting portions 34A are fixed by caulking members 39, 39S to the portions extending in the left and right directions at the rear ends of each first S spring 31 and each second S spring 32. Each front and rear extending portion 34C is hooked on the hook 21E of the side frame 21. Each front suspension part 34D is fixed by caulking members 39S to the portion extending in the left-right direction at a position in front of the left-right connecting part 34A among the S-shaped portions of each second S-spring 32. The left and right inner ends of each front suspension part 34D are interrupted at the position of each second S-spring 32 and do not reach the first S-spring 31. The position of the front suspension part 34D in the front-rear direction is around the position of the ischium of a normal seated person or slightly in front of it.

[0035] Since the left-right connecting part 34A connects each first S-spring 31 and each second S-spring 32 at the rear end parts, the rear end parts of the four S-springs (the first S-spring 31 and the second S-spring 32) are integrated and have high rigidity.

[0036] On the other hand, at positions in front of the left-right connecting part 34A, the two first S-springs 31 are connected by a reinforcing wire 33 and thus have relatively high rigidity. However, the second S-spring 32 is relatively easily bent because it is not connected to the adjacent first S-spring 31. Further, the suspension wire 34 connects the rear part of the second S-spring 32 (here, the portion within a predetermined range on the front side of the left-right connecting part 34A) to the side frame 21 located on the outer side in the left-right direction, thereby restraining each second S-spring 32 so that it is less likely to sink downward on the outer side in the left-right direction than on the center side in the left-right direction. Due to this restraint, as will be described in detail later, the second S-spring 32 is configured such that the upper support surface that supports the occupant takes the first posture when the occupant is not seated, and takes the second posture in which the support surface faces the inner side in the left-right direction more than the first posture when the occupant is seated.

[0037] The operation and effect of the vehicle seat S configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0038] When no occupant is sitting on the seat cushion S1, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the first S-spring 31 and the second S-spring 32 are not bent, and the support surface 32S of the second S-spring 32 faces straight up (the first posture). Note that the support surface 31S of the first S-spring 31 also faces straight up.

[0039] When the occupant P sits on the seat cushion S1, as shown in Fig. 3(b), the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are deflected and lowered by the weight of the occupant P. At this time, the first S spring 31 moves downward while the support surface 31S faces directly upward, but the second S spring 32 is connected to the side frames 21 located on the left and right outer sides of the second S spring 32 by the front suspension part 34D of the suspension wire 34. Therefore, the outer side is less likely to sink downward than the inner side in the left - right direction, and the support surface 32S becomes inclined with the inner side in the left - right direction facing inward from directly upward (second posture). For this reason, the second S spring 32 supports the sides of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs obliquely upward so as to sandwich them from the outside. Compared with the case where it is not restricted by the front suspension part 34D of the suspension wire 34, the second S spring 32 strongly supports the sides of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs. As a result, the pressure around the ischium P1 (accurately, the most downward - protruding part of the ischium P1. The same applies hereinafter) relatively decreases, and the seat supports the seated person in a well - balanced manner between the area around the ischium P1 and the entire buttocks and thighs. Thus, according to the vehicle seat S of the present embodiment, the blood circulation in the occupant P's buttocks and thighs is not deteriorated, so that the fatigue of the occupant P can be reduced.

[0040] Also, since the second S spring 32 is deformed obliquely so that the support surface 32S faces the inner side in the left - right direction according to the weight and size of the occupant P, the seat cushion S1 approaches a shape along the shapes of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs, and a comfortable sitting feeling can be realized regardless of the body type of the occupant P.

[0041] In the present embodiment, the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are attached to the front frame 22 and the rear frame 23 by hooks 22A and 23A, but these attachment methods are not particularly limited. They may be screw - fastening or welding, or other attachment parts may be used. Also, the suspension wire 34 is connected to the side frame 21 by being hooked on the hook 21E, but this connection method is not particularly limited, and screw - fastening, tie - bands, etc. may be used.

[0042] [Second Embodiment] Next, the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same reference numerals will be given to the common parts as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, in the cushion frame F1 of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment, a second reinforcing wire 134 corresponding to the suspension wire 34 is not connected to the side frame 21. Instead, a resinous support plate 140 as an example of a third support member connects the side frame 21 and the second S spring 32.

[0043]

[0044] The second reinforcing wire 134 includes a left - right connecting portion 134A that extends horizontally in the left - right direction, a front - rear extending portion 134C that extends forward from both left and right ends of the left - right connecting portion 34A, and a front - side connecting portion 134D that extends horizontally inward in the left - right direction from the front end of the front - rear extending portion 34C.

[0045] The left - right connecting portion 134A is fixed to the portions extending in the left - right direction at the rear ends of each first S spring 31 and each second S spring 32 by caulking members 39, 39S. Each front - rear extending portion 134C extends in the front - rear direction along the left - right outer ends of the second S spring 32.

[0046] Each front - side connecting portion 134D is fixed to the portion extending in the left - right direction at a position in front of the left - right connecting portion 134A in the S - shaped portion of each second S spring 32 by a caulking member 39S. The left - right inner ends of each front - side connecting portion 134D are interrupted at the position of each second S spring 32 and do not reach the first S spring 31. For this reason, the second reinforcing wire 134 connects the rear ends of the two first S springs 31 and the two second S springs 32 to increase the rigidity of the rear ends. In a predetermined range in front of the rear end of the second S spring 32, due to the presence of the front - rear extending portion 134C, the rigidity of the left - right outer portions of the second S spring 32 is slightly increased.

[0047] The support plate 140 is made of an elastically deformable resin plate, and includes a fixing portion 141 placed on the upper flange 21B of the side frame 21, an extending portion 142 obliquely extending downward from the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the fixing portion 141, and a support portion 143 horizontally extending inward in the left-right direction from the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the extending portion 142.

[0048] The fixing portion 141 is fixed to the upper flange 21B of the side frame 21 by a fixing member 151 such as a clip or a screw.

[0049] The support portion 143 is fixed to the second S spring 32 by a fixing member 152 such as a clip or a tie band. Note that the support portion 143 has a through hole 143A for passing the fixing member 152 as shown in Fig. 5(a). Returning to Fig. 4, the location where the fixing member 152 is arranged, that is, the location where the support plate 140 is connected to the second S spring 32, is located on the left and right outer sides rather than at the center position in the left-right direction of the second S spring 32. Thereby, when the weight of the occupant is applied to the second S spring 32 from above, the left and right outer sides rather than the center position in the left-right direction are restricted, so that the support surface 32S of the second S spring 32 is likely to face inward in the left-right direction.

[0050] The operation and effect of the vehicle seat configured as described above will be described. When no occupant is sitting on the seat cushion S1, as shown in Fig. 5(a), the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are not bent, and the support surface 32S of the second S spring 32 faces straight up (the first posture). Note that the support surface 31S of the first S spring 31 also faces straight up.

[0051] When the occupant P sits on the seat cushion S1, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the first S spring 31 and the second S spring 32 are deflected and lowered by the weight of the occupant P. At this time, the first S spring 31 moves downward while the support surface 31S faces directly upward. However, the second S spring 32 is connected to the side frames 21 located on the left and right outer sides of the second S spring 32 by the support plate 140. Therefore, the outer side is less likely to sink downward than the inner side in the left-right direction, and the support surface 32S becomes inclined with the inner side in the left-right direction facing more inward than directly upward (second posture). For this reason, similar to the case of the first embodiment, the pressure around the ischium P1 decreases, and the occupant is supported in a well-balanced manner by the area around the ischium P1 and the entire buttocks and thighs. Thus, also with the vehicle seat of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the fatigue feeling of the occupant P by preventing the blood circulation in the buttocks and thighs of the occupant P from deteriorating.

[0052] In addition, since the second S spring 32 is deformed obliquely so that the support surface 32S faces the inner side in the left-right direction according to the weight and size of the occupant P, the seat cushion S1 approaches a shape along the shapes of the buttocks and thighs of the occupant P, and a comfortable sitting feeling can be realized regardless of the body type of the occupant P.

[0053] The inventor compared the fatigue feeling of the driver between a seat provided with the support plate 140 like the vehicle seat of the second embodiment and a seat of a comparative example in which the support plate 140 was removed from the vehicle seat of the second embodiment. Specifically, the same route was driven by the same driver for 3 hours, and the lactic acid value of the driver during driving was measured. As a result, when the support plate 140 was provided, the lactic acid value after driving for 3 hours was about half that of the comparative example without the support plate 140.

[0054] Note that the support plate 140 using a resin plate as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is not limited to being fixed to the side frame 21 by a clip or the like, and may be configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. The support plate 140 in FIG. 6 has side wall portions 144 extending downward from both left and right end portions of the fixing portion 141, and engaging claws 145 protruding inward from the lower end portions of the side wall portions 144. On the other hand, the side wall portion 21A of the side frame 21 has an engaging hole 21F at a position corresponding to the engaging claw 145. The support plate 140 is connected to the side frame 21 by the engaging claw 145 engaging with the engaging hole 21F.

[0055] In this way, when the support plate 140 wraps around to the left and right outer sides of the side frame 21 and is provided along the side frame 21, since the support plate 140 is difficult to rotate at both left and right end portions like a fixed beam, at the left and right inner end portions, the fixing of the support plate 140 and the second S spring 32 may be omitted.

[0056] Also, as in the example shown in FIG. 7, the support plate 140 using a resin plate may be further formed into other shapes. The support plate 140 in FIG. 7 has a hook 146 provided at a portion corresponding to the fixing portion 141. On the other hand, a rod 21G extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper flange 21B of the side frame 21. The support plate 140 is connected to the side frame 21 by engaging the hook 146 with the rod 21G.

[0057] According to such a configuration, the support plate 140 can be connected to the side frame 21 by a simple operation.

[0058] [Third Embodiment] Next, a vehicle seat according to the third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, only the points different from the second embodiment will be described, and the same reference numerals will be given to the parts common to the second embodiment in the drawings, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), in the cushion frame F1 of the vehicle seat according to the third embodiment, the third support member that connects the second S spring 32 to the side frame 21 is constituted by a band. The support band 240 includes a strip-shaped cloth band 241 with a small elongation and hooks 242 fixed to both ends of the cloth band 241. The elastic coefficient of the cloth band 241 in the left-right direction is smaller than the elastic coefficient of the second S spring 32 in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, a rod 21G is fixed to the side frame 21 in the same manner as in the second modification of the second embodiment. One hook 242 of the cloth band 241 is hooked on the rod 21G, and the other hook 24 2 is hooked on the front-rear extending portion 134C of the second reinforcing wire 134.

[0060] Thereby, the support band 240 supports the second S spring 32 via the second reinforcing wire 134. Since the second reinforcing wire 134 reinforces the S-shaped portion at the rear of the second S spring 32 and increases its rigidity, the second portion where the support band 240 supports the second S spring 32 corresponds to the portion where the hook 242 and the front-rear extending portion 134C are engaged.

[0061] Even with such a configuration, the support band 240 can be assembled with a simple operation. Also, as shown in FIG. 9, when the occupant P sits, the support band 240 restrains the left and right ends of the second S spring 32 from easily lowering, so that the support surface 32S of the second S spring 32 can be directed inward in the left-right direction.

[0062] In this embodiment, the second S spring 32 is supported by the support band 240 via the second reinforcing wire 134, but the hook 242 may be directly engaged with the second S spring 32. In this case, it is desirable to provide a straight-shaped portion instead of continuously bending the portion extending in the front and rear of the second S spring 32 into an arc shape.

[0063] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, the vehicle seat according to the fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same reference numerals will be given to the common parts as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 10, the cushion frame F1 of the vehicle seat according to the fourth embodiment is provided with no second S spring 32, and instead, a side support member 340 as an example of a second support member made of an elastically deformable leaf spring whose left and right ends are fixed to the side frame 21 is provided.

[0065] The side support member 340 includes a fixing portion 341 placed on the upper flange 21B of the side frame 21, an extending portion 342 extending obliquely downward from the inner ends in the left - right direction of the fixing portion 341, and a support portion 343 extending horizontally inward in the left - right direction from the inner ends in the left - right direction of the extending portion 342.

[0066] The side support member 340 is positioned at or slightly in front of the position of the occupant's ischium in the front - rear direction.

[0067] The fixing portion 341 is non - rotatably fixed to the upper flange 21B by welding or the like. That is, the side support member 340 is fixed to the side frame 21 in a cantilever beam shape. In this form, the portion where the side support member 340 is fixed to the side frame 21 (the portion corresponding to the fixing portion 341 of the side support member 340) corresponds to the restraint portion.

[0068] According to such a configuration, when no occupant is sitting on the seat cushion S1, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the first S spring 31 and the support portion 343 are not deflected, and the support surface 343S, which is the upper surface of the support portion 343, faces straight up (the first posture). Note that the support surface 31S of the first S spring 31 also faces straight up.

[0069] When the occupant P sits on the seat cushion S1, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the first S spring 31 and the side support member 340 are deflected and lowered by the weight of the occupant P. At this time, the first S spring 31 descends downward while the support surface 31S faces directly upward, but since the outer ends in the left - right direction of the side support member 340 are fixed to the side frame 21, the outer side is less likely to sink downward than the inner side in the left - right direction, and the support surface 343S becomes inclined with the inner side in the left - right direction facing more inward than directly upward (second posture). This Therefore, the support surface 343S supports the sides of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs obliquely upward so as to sandwich them from the outside, strongly supporting the sides of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs. As a result, the pressure around the ischium P1 relatively decreases, and the occupant is supported in a well - balanced manner between the area around the ischium P1 and the entire buttocks and thighs. Thus, according to the vehicle seat of the present embodiment, the blood circulation of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs is not deteriorated, and the fatigue of the occupant P can be reduced.

[0070] Also, the side support member 340 is deformed obliquely so that the support surface 343S faces the inner side in the left - right direction according to the weight and size of the occupant P. Thus, the seat cushion S1 approaches a shape along the shapes of the occupant P's buttocks and thighs, and a comfortable sitting feeling can be realized regardless of the body type of the occupant P.

[0071] [Fifth Embodiment] Next, the vehicle seat according to the fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same reference numerals will be given to the common parts as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0072] In the first embodiment, the reinforcing wire 33 connected the two first S springs 31, and the suspension wire 34 also connected the two first S springs 31. However, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the reinforcing wire 133 reinforces the rear end portions of the respective first S springs 31 but does not connect the two first S springs 31, it may be configured like this. Also, the suspension wire 134 may also be configured not to connect the two first S springs 31. By thus configuring not to connect the rear end portions of the two first S springs 31 with a wire, the first S spring 31 becomes more easily bendable, and the supporting force of the first S spring 31 positioned directly below the ischium can be reduced. When the supporting force of the first S spring 31 is reduced, the supporting force of the second support spring 32 becomes larger, and the occupant can be supported in a well-balanced manner not only directly below the ischium but also from the buttocks to the entire thigh portion, and the pressure for supporting the ischium can be reduced. Thereby, since blood circulation does not deteriorate, the sense of fatigue can be reduced.

[0073] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications without being limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0074] For example, in the fourth embodiment, the side support member 340 was fixed to the side frame 21 by welding or the like, but the side support member 340 may be composed of a member integral with the side frame 21.

[0075] Also, the vehicle seat S can be configured as a bucket-type vehicle seat in which the seat cushion S1, the seat back S2, and the headrest S3 are integrally formed.

[0076] Furthermore, the seat of the present invention may be a seat for a vehicle other than a car, or may be a seat other than for a vehicle.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the first support member and the second support member were directly supported by the seat cushion frame. However, the first support member and the second support member do not necessarily have to be directly supported by the seat cushion frame. For example, the first support member and the second support member may be directly supported by the seat cushion pad and supported by the seat cushion frame via the seat cushion pad.

[0078] The first support member and the second support member may be springs other than the S-spring. Also, the restraining portion is not limited to the case where it is connected to the side frame. A connecting member such as a pipe for connecting the left and right side frames may be provided, and a member for supporting a part of the second support member may be provided as the restraining portion on this connecting member. For example, a restraining member protruding upward may be fixed to a pipe connecting the left and right side frames, and the upper end of the restraining member may be configured to be able to contact the laterally outer portion of the second support member from below. It is also possible to configure it such that the upper end of the restraining member can contact the laterally outer portion of the second support member from below.

[0079] Moreover, the respective elements described in the above-described embodiment and modification examples may be implemented in any combination.

Claims

1. A cushion frame having a pair of side frames arranged spaced apart on the left and right and extending in the front-rear direction; a support member that is supported by the cushion frame and extends in a front-rear direction to support a seated occupant, the support member having a first support member and a deformable second support member that is disposed on both the left and right sides of the first support member; a resin support plate having a fixing portion fixed to the side frame and an extending portion extending obliquely downward from an inner end portion of the fixing portion in the left-right direction, the inner end portion being fixed to the second support member; a cushion pad covering the side frame and the support member from above, the cushion pad having an upper surface formed with a groove recessed downward and extending in the front-rear direction; The seat, wherein the support plate supports a cushion pad and is not connected to the first support member.

2. A sheet as described in claim 1, characterized in that the support plate is connected to a linearly extending portion of the second support member.

3. The support plate is arranged so as to overlap the groove when viewed from the up-down direction, 3. The seat according to claim 2, wherein the groove is disposed laterally inward of a portion where the support plate is fixed to the side frame.

4. A sheet described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support plate includes a support portion extending from the left and right inner ends of the extension portion toward the left and right inner sides and connected to the support member.

5. A sheet as described in Claim 4, characterized in that the support portion is arranged so as to overlap the groove when viewed from the top and bottom directions.

6. The first support member is provided in a plurality of parts, and further includes a reinforcing member connecting the plurality of first support members, The seat according to claim 1 , wherein a position of the reinforcing member in the front-rear direction overlaps a position of the support plate in the front-rear direction.

7. The first support member is provided in a plurality of parts, and further includes a reinforcing member connecting the plurality of first support members, 6. The sheet according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing member has a portion parallel to the support portion.

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