Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicular seat with a cushion-length varying function that can receive larger loads in comparison with a vehicular seat according to an invention described in a patent literature 1.SOLUTION: A vehicular seat comprises: a front panel 7 made of metal arranged at a front end side of a seat cushion 3 to constitute a framework of the seat cushion 3; a slide device 11 whose movable part 3a can be displaced, which has a slide member 12 made of resin that can be displaced in a longitudinal direction of the seat with respect to the front panel 7; and a bracket 14 made of metal, connected to the front panel 7 to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the seat and is displaced together with the slide member 12, which transmits loads acting on the movable part 3A to the front panel 7. This enables the vehicular seat to receive large loads.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat capable of changing the cushion length.

Background Art

[0002] For example, in the cushion length changing device described in Patent Document 1, the parts that receive the load are made of resin. Therefore, a vehicle seat equipped with this cushion length changing device cannot receive a large load.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In view of the above points, the present disclosure discloses an example of a vehicle seat capable of receiving a large load as compared with the invention described in Patent Document 1.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A vehicle seat having a movable part (3A) on the front end side of the seat cushion (3) and capable of changing the cushion length desirably includes at least one of the following constituent elements, for example.

[0006] That is, the constituent element is disposed on the front end side of the seat cushion (3), and includes a metal front panel (7) that constitutes the framework of the seat cushion (3), and a slide device (11) that enables the movable part (3A) to be displaced. The slide device (11) has a slide member (12) that is displaceable in the seat front-rear direction with respect to the front panel (7), and a metal bracket (14) that is connected to be displaceable in the seat front-rear direction with respect to the front panel (7) and is displaced integrally with the slide member (12). The bracket (14) is for transmitting the load acting on the movable part (3A) to the front panel (7).

[0007] As a result, in the vehicle seat, the load acting on the movable part (3A) is received by the metal bracket (14), and the received load is transmitted to the metal front panel (7). Therefore, the vehicle seat can receive a larger load compared to the invention described in Patent Document 1.

[0008] The vehicle seat may have, for example, the following configuration.

[0009] That is, it is desirable that the end shape at the front-rear end in the seat front-rear direction among the ends of the bracket (14) is configured in a substantially U shape or a substantially L shape.

[0010] Also, when the portion of the bracket (14) that is substantially parallel to the vertical direction is defined as the rising portions (14B, 14C), it is desirable that the vertical dimension (H1) on the front end side of the rising portions (14B, 14C) is larger than the vertical dimension (H2) on the rear end side of the rising portions (14B, 14C).

[0011] As a result, when the cushion length becomes short, that is, when the bracket (14) is stored, it is suppressed that the bracket (14) interferes with other members. Subsequently, in the vehicle seat, the necessary bending rigidity (= second moment of area) with respect to the vertical load can be ensured, and interference with other members can be avoided.

[0012] Further, in a portion of the bracket (14) facing the front panel (7), an oval through hole (14D) extending in the displacement direction of the bracket is provided, and a bolt (15) passing through the through hole (14D) is fixed to the front panel (7). Further, it is desirable that a burring portion (14E) extending toward the front panel (7) is provided at least at a portion of the outer edge of the through hole (14D) parallel to the major axis direction.

[0013] As a result, the second moment of area of the bracket (14) with respect to the vertical load increases, so the bending rigidity of the bracket (14) increases.

[0014] Further, between the bracket (14) and the front panel (7), there is provided a resin support portion (13A) fixed to the front panel (7) and capable of sliding contact with the bracket (14). It is desirable that a groove (13E) extending in the displacement direction of the bracket (14) is provided at a portion of the support portion (13A) that directly faces the bracket (14).

[0015] As a result, an increase in the contact area between the bracket (14) and the support portion (13A) is suppressed, so an increase in the sliding resistance between the bracket (14) and the support portion (13A) can be suppressed.

[0016] Furthermore, it is desirable that a resin spacer (16) is disposed between the head (15A) of the bolt (15) and the bracket (14). Thereby, an increase in the sliding resistance between the bracket (14) and the bolt (15) can be suppressed.

[0017] Incidentally, the reference numerals in the above parentheses are an example showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments to be described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations and the like indicated by the reference numerals in the above parentheses.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

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MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] The following "Embodiment of the Invention" shows an example of an embodiment belonging to the technical scope of the present disclosure. That is, the invention specific matters etc. described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations, structures, etc. shown in the following embodiments.

[0020] This embodiment is an example in which the vehicle seat according to the present disclosure is applied to a seat (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle seat) mounted on a vehicle such as a car. Arrows, hatching, etc. indicating directions attached to each figure are described to facilitate understanding of the relationship between the figures and the shape of members or parts.

[0021] Therefore, the vehicle seat is not limited to the directions attached to each figure. The directions shown in each figure are the directions in the state where the vehicle seat according to this embodiment is assembled to the vehicle. The figure with hatching does not necessarily show a cross-sectional view.

[0022] At least the members or parts described with reference numerals are provided with at least one, unless otherwise specified such as "one". That is, when there is no specification such as "one", two or more of the members may be provided. The vehicle seat shown in the present disclosure includes at least components such as members or parts described with reference numerals, and the illustrated structural parts.

[0023] (First Embodiment) (1. Overview of Vehicle Seat) As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 includes at least a seat cushion 3 and a seat back 5. The seat cushion 3 is a part for supporting the buttocks of the occupant. The seat back 5 is a part for supporting the back of the occupant.

[0024] A movable part 3A is provided on the front end side of the seat cushion 3. The movable part 3A is a part that can be displaced in the front-rear direction of the seat. The occupant can change the cushion length, that is, the front end position of the seat cushion 3, by displacing the movable part 3A.

[0025] The movable part 3A is configured to have a cushion length changing device 10 (see FIG. 2), a cushion material such as a pad (not shown), a skin part (not shown), etc. The cushion length changing device 10 is attached to a metal front panel 7 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] The front panel 7 is a member that constitutes a part of the cushion frame. The cushion frame is a member that constitutes the framework of the seat cushion 3. The cushion frame is configured to include two side frames 7A, the front panel 7, and the like.

[0027] Each of the two side frames 7A is a metal member that extends in the front-rear direction of the seat while being disposed at one end side and the other end side in the seat width direction. The front panel 7 is a panel-shaped member that extends in the seat width direction so as to connect the front end sides of the respective side frames 7A.

[0028] <2. Cushion length changing device> <2.1 Outline of the cushion length changing device> As shown in FIG. 4, the cushion length changing device 10 is configured to include at least a slide device 11, brackets 14, the same number of bolts 15 as the brackets 14, the same number of spacers 16 as the bolts 15, a movable panel 17, side panels 18, receiving brackets 7A, and the like.

[0029] Note that, as shown in FIG. 3, one bracket 14 and one side panel 18 according to the present embodiment are provided at each of one end side and the other end side in the seat width direction. Therefore, two bolts 15 and two spacers 16 according to the present embodiment are also provided respectively.

[0030] The movable panel 17 and the side panels 18 are shell structures that constitute the shape of the front end side of the movable part 3A. The cushion material and the skin part are disposed on the surfaces of the movable panel 17 and the side panels 18.

[0031] The receiving bracket 7A is fixed to the front panel 7 and transmits a downward load acting on the seat cushion 3 to the front panel 7. The cushion material and the skin part are disposed on the upper surface of the receiving bracket 7A. Note that the movable panel 17, the side panels 18, and the receiving bracket 7A are made of metal.

[0032] <2.1 Slide device, etc.> The slide device 11 is a mechanism for displacing the movable part 3A in the front - rear direction of the seat. As shown in FIG. 5, the slide device 11 is configured to include a slide member 12, a base member 13, a lock mechanism 19, etc.

[0033] <Base member, slide member> As shown in FIG. 6, the base member 13 is a resin - made member fixed to the front panel 7. The base member 13 is provided with a support portion 13A, a rail portion 13B, etc.

[0034] Note that the support portion 13A and the rail portion 13B are provided in the same number as the brackets 14. And the base member 13 is integrally formed of resin together with the support portion 13A and the rail portion 13B.

[0035] The support portion 13A is a portion that supports the bracket 14 in a state where it can be in sliding contact (hereinafter also referred to as sliding contact) with the bracket 14. The rail portion 13B is a portion that extends in the front - rear direction of the seat and supports the slide member 12 in a state where it is in sliding contact with the slide member 12.

[0036] Note that as shown in FIG. 7, the rail portion 13B is configured such that the cross - sectional shape orthogonal to the extending direction is substantially L - shaped. As shown in FIG. 8, the slide member 12 is provided with a fitting groove portion 12A.

[0037] The fitting groove portion 12A is a groove portion that can be fitted in sliding contact with the rail portion 13B. Specifically, the fitting groove portion 12A has two wall portions that sandwich the horizontal portion 13C (see FIG. 7) of the rail portion 13B from both sides in the vertical direction, and two wall portions that sandwich the horizontal portion 13C from both sides in the seat width direction, etc.

[0038] The slide member 12 is a resin member that can be displaced with respect to the front panel 7 in the seat front-rear direction, that is, in the extending direction of the rail portion 13B. A movable panel 17 is fixed to the slide member 12. The side panel 18 is fixed to the movable panel 17.

[0039] <Lock mechanism> The lock mechanism 19 is a mechanism for switching between a case where the slide member 12 can slide with respect to the base member 13, that is, the front panel 7, and a case where it cannot slide.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the lock mechanism 19 includes a lock lever 19A, an operation portion 19B, a holding spring 19C, and an assist spring (not shown). The assist spring exerts an elastic force to move the slide member 12 forward with respect to the base member 13 in the seat front direction.

[0041] The lock lever 19A is displaceable between a position where it engages with a plurality of recesses 13D (see FIG. 6) provided in the base member 13 (hereinafter referred to as the engagement position) and a position where the engagement is released (hereinafter referred to as the release position).

[0042] The operation portion 19B is a portion that is operated by an occupant or the like and to which an operating force for displacing the lock lever 19A is input. The holding spring 19C is an elastic body that exerts an elastic force to hold the lock lever 19A in the engagement position.

[0043] Therefore, when an operating force is input to the operation portion 19B, the lock lever 19A becomes the release position, and the assist spring displaces the movable portion 3A forward on the seat side. Then, when the operating force disappears, the lock lever 19A becomes the engagement position.

[0044] <2.2 About brackets, etc.> As shown in FIG. 5, each bracket 14 is a metal member that is connected to the front panel 7 so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction of the seat. Each bracket 14 is displaced integrally with the slide member 12 and transmits the load acting on the movable part 3A to the front panel 7.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 9, each bracket 14 has a substrate portion 14A and two rising portions 14B, 14C, etc. The substrate portion 14A is a portion that indirectly faces the front panel 7. An oval through-hole 14D is provided in the substrate portion 14A.

[0046] The major axis direction of the through-hole 14D coincides with the displacement direction of the bracket 14, that is, the front-rear direction of the seat. The bolt 15 passes through the through-hole 14D and is fixed to the front panel 7 (see FIG. 10).

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, a burring portion 14E is provided at least at a portion 14F parallel to the major axis direction on the outer edge of the through-hole 14D. The burring portion 14E is a ridge extending from the outer edge toward the front panel 7 side.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, the tip of the burring portion 14E in the extending direction is separated from the front panel 7 with a gap therebetween. The burring portion 14E according to the present embodiment is integrally formed on the substrate portion 14A by burring.

[0049] The lower surface of the substrate portion 14A, that is, the surface of the substrate portion 14A facing the front panel 7, is in slidable contact with the support portion 13A as shown in FIG. 11. Each bracket 14 according to the present embodiment is in contact with two support portions 13A.

[0050] Each support portion 13A is a protruding portion extending in the displacement direction of the bracket 14. A groove 13E is provided at a portion of each support portion 13A that directly faces the bracket 14. These grooves 13E extend parallel to the displacement direction of the bracket 14.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 9, each of the rising portions 14B and 14C constitutes a wall portion substantially parallel to the vertical direction. In other words, each of the rising portions 14B and 14C constitutes a wall portion substantially orthogonal to the substrate portion 14A. The vertical dimension H1 (see FIG. 12) on the front end side of the rising portions 14B and 14C is larger than the vertical dimension H2 (see FIG. 12) on the rear end side of the rising portions 14B and 14C.

[0052] The rising portion 14B is provided at one end side in the sheet width direction of the substrate portion 14A. The rising portion 14C is provided at the other end side in the sheet width direction of the substrate portion 14A. Therefore, the end shape at the end in the sheet front-rear direction among the ends of the bracket 14 is substantially U-shaped or substantially C-shaped.

[0053] At the upper ends of the rising portions 14B and 14C, flange portions 14G extending in the horizontal direction are provided. The lower surface of the movable panel 17 is fixed to the upper surface of the flange portion 14G by welding. Therefore, the slide members 12, the two brackets 14, and the movable panel 17 are displaced integrally in the sheet front-rear direction.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 10, the spacer 16 is disposed between the head portion 15A of each bolt 15 and each substrate portion 14A. The spacer 16 is made of resin. The spacer 16 is configured to have a cylindrical portion 16A, a flange 16B, a ring portion 16C, a connecting portion 16D, and the like, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0055] The cylindrical portion 16A is a substantially cylindrical portion surrounding the neck portion of the bolt 15. The flange 16B is a flange-shaped portion extending substantially horizontally from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 16A. The ring portion 16C is an annular portion surrounding the outer edge of the flange 16B.

[0056] The connecting portion 16D is a curved portion connecting the ring portion 16C and the outer edge of the flange 16B. The portions 16A, the flange 16B, the ring portion 16C, and the connecting portion 16D are integrally formed of resin.

[0057] <Operation of the Cushion Length Changing Device> When an operating force is input to the operation unit 19B, the lock lever 19A is in the release position, and the movable part 3A is displaced toward the front side of the seat by the assist spring. Therefore, each bracket 14 is slidably displaced toward the front side of the seat integrally with the slide member 12 via the movable panel 17.

[0058] At this time, each bracket 14 is displaced while the lower part of the bolt 15 (the cylindrical part 16A in this embodiment) and the portion 14F parallel to the major axis direction of the outer edge of the through hole 14D (the burring part 14E in this embodiment) are in sliding contact.

[0059] When the operating force to the operation unit 19B disappears, the lock lever 19A is in the engaged position, so the displacement of the movable part 3A is restricted. When displacing the movable part 3A toward the rear side of the seat, the seated person needs to press the movable part 3A toward the rear side of the seat with the lock lever 19A in the release position.

[0060] <3. Features of the Vehicle Seat (Particularly, the Cushion Length Changing Device) According to this Embodiment> In the vehicle seat 1 according to this embodiment, the load acting on the movable part 3A is received by each metal bracket 14, and the received load is transmitted to the metal front panel 7. Therefore, the vehicle seat 1 can receive a larger vertical load compared to the invention described in Patent Document 1.

[0061] In each bracket 14 according to this embodiment, the vertical dimension H1 at the front end side of the rising parts 14B and 14C is larger than the vertical dimension H2 at the rear end side of the rising parts 14B and 14C.

[0062] As a result, when the cushion length becomes short, that is, when the rear end side of each bracket 14 is located below the receiving bracket 7A and the bracket 14 is stored (see FIG. 2), interference between the bracket 14 and the receiving bracket 7A is suppressed.

[0063] Furthermore, in the vehicle seat 1, in the bracket 14, the necessary moment of inertia about the cross section with respect to the vertical load can be ensured, and interference between the bracket 14 and the receiving bracket 7A can be avoided.

[0064] At least a portion 14F parallel to the major axis direction of the outer edge of the through hole 14D of each bracket 14 is provided with a burring portion 14E extending toward the front panel 7 side. Thereby, since the moment of inertia about the cross section with respect to the vertical load of the bracket 14 increases, the bending rigidity of the bracket 14 increases.

[0065] A resin support portion 13A fixed to the front panel 7 is provided between each bracket 14 and the front panel 7, and a groove 13E extending in the displacement direction of the bracket 14 is provided at a portion of the support portion 13A that directly faces the bracket 14.

[0066] Thereby, an increase in the contact area between each bracket 14 and the corresponding support portion 13A is suppressed, so that an increase in the sliding resistance between each bracket 14 and the corresponding support portion 13A can be suppressed.

[0067] Furthermore, a resin spacer 16 is disposed between the head 15A of each bolt 15 and the corresponding bracket 14. Thereby, an increase in the sliding resistance between the bracket 14 and the bolt 15 can be suppressed.

[0068] (Other Embodiments) The cushion length changing device according to the above-described embodiment was a manual type. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured to displace the movable portion 3A with an actuator such as an electric motor.

[0069] The bracket 14 according to the above-described embodiment had a configuration having a substantially U-shaped cross section. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be, for example, a bracket 14 having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

[0070] The slide member 12 and the base member 13 according to the above-described embodiment were made of resin. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, at least one of the slide member 12 and the base member 13 may be made of metal or resin in which metal is integrally formed by insert molding.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the slide member 12 and the bracket 14 were separate members. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, the bracket 14 may be integrally formed with the slide member 12 by insert molding.

[0072] In the bracket 14 according to the above-described embodiment, the burring portion 14E was provided. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, the bracket 14 in which the burring portion 14E is abolished may be used.

[0073] In each bracket 14 according to the above-described embodiment, the vertical dimension H1 was larger than the vertical dimension H2. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, in the present disclosure, for example, the vertical dimension H1 and the vertical dimension H2 may be the same dimension, or the vertical dimension H1 may be smaller than the vertical dimension H2.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle seat according to the present disclosure was applied to a vehicle. However, the application of the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, seats used in vehicles such as railway vehicles, ships, and aircraft, and stationary seats used in theaters, households, and the like.

[0075] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it conforms to the gist of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments. Therefore, a configuration in which at least two of the above-described multiple embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the constituent elements illustrated or described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiments is abolished may also be acceptable.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0076] 1… Vehicle seat 3… Seat cushion 3A… Movable part 5… Seat back 7… Front panel 7A… Receiving bracket 10… Cushion length changing device 11… Slide device 12… Slide member 12A… Fitting groove portion 13… Base member 13A… Support portion 13B… Rail portion 13C… Horizontal portion 13D… Recess 13E… Groove 14… Bracket 14A… Substrate portion 14B, 14C… Upright portions 14D… Through hole 14E… Burring portion 14G… Flange portion 15… Bolt 16… Spacer 17… Movable panel 18… Side panel 19… Lock mechanism 19A… Lock lever 19B… Operating portion 19C… Holding spring

Claims

1. In a vehicle seat having a movable part on the front end side of a seat cushion and capable of changing the cushion length, a metal front panel disposed on the front end side of the seat cushion and constituting the framework of the seat cushion, a slide device that enables the movable part to be displaced, the slide device having a slide member displaceable in the front-rear direction of the seat with respect to the front panel, a metal bracket that is displaceably connected to the front panel in the front-rear direction of the seat and is displaced integrally with the slide member, the bracket being for transmitting a load acting on the movable part to the front panel, A vehicle seat in which the end shape of the end of the bracket in the front-rear direction of the seat is configured in a substantially U shape or a substantially L shape.

2. When a portion of the bracket that is substantially parallel to the vertical direction is defined as a rising portion, The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vertical dimension on the front end side of the rising portion is larger than the vertical dimension on the rear end side of the rising portion.

3. An oval through hole extending in the displacement direction of the bracket is provided in a portion of the bracket facing the front panel, and a bolt passing through the through hole is fixed to the front panel. Furthermore, a burring portion extending toward the front panel side is provided at least in a portion of the outer edge of the through hole parallel to the major axis direction. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A resin support portion fixed to the front panel is disposed between the bracket and the front panel, and a support portion slidably contactable with the bracket is arranged. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a groove extending in the displacement direction of the bracket is provided in a portion of the support portion directly facing the bracket.

5. A resin spacer is disposed between the head of the bolt and the bracket. The vehicle seat according to claim 3.

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