Vehicle seat frame and vehicle seat

Abstract

To relax a load input to a cushion frame from a seat belt via a buckle.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat frame 11 includes: a cushion frame 22 forming a skeleton of a seat cushion; a back frame forming a skeleton of a seat back; and a hinge bracket 34 fixed to a rear end of the cushion frame 22 and attached with a buckle 20 to which a lower end of the back frame is connected and a seat belt is connected. The hinge bracket 34 includes: a bracket body part 36 arranged so as to be spaced in a lateral outside of the seat with respect to the cushion frame 22, having an upper part to which the lower end of the back frame is connected, and having a lower part to which the buckle 20 is attached; and a plurality of extension parts 42, 44, 46, 48 extending from the bracket body part 36 to a lateral inside of the seat and having a distal end fixed to the cushion frame 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a frame of a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle seat provided with a three-point seat belt. In this vehicle seat, a cushion frame constituting the skeleton of the seat cushion has left and right side frames. The left and right side frames are supported by the vehicle body via a slide rail mechanism. A buckle is fixed to the rear portion of one of the side frames. A tongue provided on the seat belt is connected to this buckle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above prior art, when the vehicle collides, an excessive load from the occupant who tries to move forward by inertia to the front side of the seat is input to other components such as the cushion frame and the slide rail mechanism via the seat belt, the tongue, and the buckle. Therefore, measures for suppressing damage to other components are required.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle seat frame and a vehicle seat that can relieve the load input from the seat belt to the cushion frame via the buckle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle seat frame according to the first aspect includes a cushion frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion, a back frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back, and a hinge bracket that is fixed to the rear end portion of the cushion frame, to which the lower end portion of the back frame is connected and to which a buckle to which a seat belt is connected is attached. The hinge bracket is disposed at a distance outward in the left-right direction of the seat with respect to the cushion frame, and has a bracket main body portion to which the lower end portion of the back frame is connected at the upper portion and to which the buckle is attached at the lower portion, and a plurality of extending portions that extend inward in the left-right direction of the seat from the bracket main body portion and whose tip ends are fixed to the cushion frame.

[0007] In the vehicle seat frame according to the first aspect, the cushion frame constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion, and the back frame constitutes the skeleton of the seat back. A hinge bracket to which the lower end portion of the back frame is connected is fixed to the rear portion of the cushion frame. A buckle to which a seat belt is connected is attached to this hinge bracket. This hinge bracket has a bracket main body portion and a plurality of extending portions. The bracket main body portion is disposed at a distance outward in the left-right direction of the seat with respect to the cushion frame. The lower end portion of the back frame is connected to the upper portion of the bracket main body portion, and the buckle is attached to the lower portion of the bracket main body portion. The plurality of extending portions extend inward in the left-right direction of the seat from the bracket main body portion, and their tip ends are fixed to the cushion frame. Therefore, when a load from the seat belt is input to the bracket main body portion via the buckle, the load is absorbed by the deformation of the plurality of extending portions. Thereby, the load input to the cushion frame can be alleviated.

[0008] The vehicle seat frame according to the second aspect includes, in the first aspect, an integrally extending portion integrally extending from the bracket main body portion among the plurality of extending portions.

[0009] In the vehicle seat frame according to the second aspect, the integrally extending portion included in the plurality of extending portions of the hinge bracket is integrally extended from the bracket main body portion. Therefore, for example, the bracket main body portion and the integrally extending portion can be integrally manufactured by press forming a sheet metal, and the manufacture of the hinge bracket becomes easy.

[0010] In the vehicle seat frame according to the third aspect, in the first aspect or the second aspect, the plurality of extending portions include a fixed extending portion fixed to the inner side surface of the bracket main body portion in the left - right direction of the seat.

[0011] In the vehicle seat frame according to the third aspect, the fixed extending portion included in the plurality of extending portions of the hinge bracket is fixed to the bracket main body portion. Therefore, the degree of freedom in setting the extending position of the fixed extending portion from the bracket main body portion is improved.

[0012] In the vehicle seat frame according to the fourth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, the plurality of extending portions include an insertion extending portion whose tip is inserted into a through - hole formed in the cushion frame.

[0013] In the vehicle seat frame according to the fourth aspect, the insertion extending portion included in the plurality of extending portions of the hinge bracket has its tip inserted into a through - hole formed in the cushion frame. By this insertion, the hinge bracket can be positioned with respect to the cushion frame, so that the fixing work of the hinge bracket to the cushion frame becomes easy.

[0014] The vehicle seat according to the fifth aspect includes a seat cushion on which a vehicle occupant sits, a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, and a vehicle seat frame according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion and the back frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back.

[0015] In the vehicle seat according to the fifth aspect, an occupant of the vehicle sits on the seat cushion, and the back of the occupant is supported by the seat back. This vehicle seat includes a vehicle seat frame having a cushion frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion and a back frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back. Since this vehicle seat frame is of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the above-described operations and effects can be obtained.

Effects of the Invention

[0016] As described above, in the vehicle seat frame and the vehicle seat according to the present invention, the load input from the seat belt to the cushion frame via the buckle can be alleviated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, a vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for ease of viewing the drawings. Also, the arrows FR, LH, RH, and UP appropriately shown in each figure indicate the front, left, right, and upper directions of the vehicle seat 10, respectively. Hereinafter, when simply describing using the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions, it shall indicate the directions with respect to the vehicle seat 10.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment is, for example, the driver's seat of a right-hand drive vehicle, and includes a seat cushion 12 on which an occupant sits, a seat back 14 that supports the occupant's back, and a three-point seat belt device 16 that restrains the occupant to the vehicle seat 10. This vehicle seat 10 includes a vehicle seat frame 11 having a cushion frame 22 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a back frame 28 shown in FIG. 2, and a hinge bracket 34 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. The cushion frame 22 constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion 12, and the back frame 28 constitutes the skeleton of the seat back 14. Note that when this vehicle seat 10 is, for example, the driver's seat of a left-hand drive vehicle, the configuration is symmetrical about the left and right with respect to the present embodiment.

[0020] The seat belt device 16 includes a retractor (not shown) provided inside the seat back 14. One longitudinal end of a seat belt (webbing) 18 is locked to the winding shaft of this retractor. The other longitudinal end of the seat belt 18 is locked to an anchor member (not shown) provided on one side (here, the right side) in the left-right direction of the seat cushion 12. The middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the seat belt 18 is wound around a belt anchor bracket (not shown) provided at the shoulder opening on one side (here, the right side) in the left-right direction of the seat back 14. A tongue plate (not shown) is attached to the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the seat belt 18 between the above-described anchor member and the belt anchor bracket. This tongue plate can be connected to a buckle 20 provided on the other side (here, the left side) in the left-right direction of the seat cushion 12.

[0021] In the seat belt device 16 configured as described above, when an occupant seated on the seat cushion 12 connects the tongue plate to the buckle 20, the longitudinal middle portion of the seat belt 18 is connected to the buckle 20 via the tongue plate, and the occupant is in a state of wearing the seat belt 18. In this worn state, the portion of the seat belt 18 from the belt anchor bracket to the tongue plate becomes a shoulder belt that restrains the upper body of the occupant, and the portion of the seat belt 18 from the tongue plate to the anchor member becomes a lap belt that restrains the waist of the occupant.

[0022] The cushion frame 22 has a pair of left and right side frames 24 (the right side frame 24 is not shown), a front frame (not shown) that connects the front end portions of the left and right side frames 24 in the left - right direction, and a rear frame 26 that connects the rear end portions of the left and right side frames 24 in the left - right direction. This cushion frame 22 is connected to the floor portion of the vehicle body via a seat slide mechanism and a suspension (not shown) as an example.

[0023] The left and right side frames 24 are in the shape of long plates with the longitudinal direction being the front - rear direction and the plate thickness direction being the left - right direction. The front frame is in the shape of a long plate with the longitudinal direction being the left - right direction and the plate thickness direction being the up - down direction. The rear frame 26 is in the shape of a cylinder with the axis direction being the left - right direction. The left and right side frames 24 and the front frame are made of, for example, press - formed metal plates, and the rear frame 26 is made of, for example, a metal pipe material. In this embodiment, as an example, each side frame 24 is formed in a closed cross - sectional shape by welding two metal plates.

[0024] The back frame 28 has a pair of left and right side frames 30 (see FIG. 2; the right side frame 30 is not shown), an upper frame (not shown) that connects the upper end portions of the left and right side frames 30 in the left - right direction, and a lower frame 32 that connects the lower end portions of the left and right side frames 30 in the left - right direction.

[0025] The left and right side frames 30 are in the form of long plates with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction and the horizontal direction as the plate thickness direction. The upper frame and the lower frame 32 are in the form of cylinders with the horizontal direction as the axis direction. The left and right side frames 30 are composed of, for example, press-formed metal plates, and the upper frame and the lower frame 32 are composed of, for example, metal pipe materials.

[0026] The lower end of one of the left and right side frames 30 (here, the left side frame 30) is connected to the rear end of one of the left and right side frames 24 (here, the left side frame 24) via the hinge bracket 34 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. The lower end of the other of the left and right side frames 30 (here, the right side frame 30 not shown) is connected to the rear end of the other of the left and right side frames 24 (here, the right side frame 24 not shown) via another hinge bracket not shown.

[0027] The above hinge bracket 34 is arranged on the left side (the outer side in the horizontal direction) with respect to the rear end of the left side frame 24 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "side frame 24"). This hinge bracket 34 is composed of a bracket main body 36 and a plurality (here, four) of extending portions (frame fixing portions) 42, 44, 46, 48. The bracket main body 36 is formed in the form of a long plate with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction and the horizontal direction as the plate thickness direction, and is arranged spaced apart to the left of the side frame 24. The four extending portions 42, 44, 46, 48 extend from the bracket main body 36 to the right side (the inner side in the horizontal direction), and the tip ends are fixed to the side frame 24. The bracket main body 36 and the three extending portions 42, 44, 46 are integrally formed by, for example, one press-formed metal plate. The remaining one extending portion 48 is manufactured by press-forming, for example, a metal plate different from the above plate, and is fixed to the bracket main body 36. This will be specifically described below.

[0028] The bracket main body 36 is substantially trapezoidal when viewed from the left - right direction, and the dimension in the front - rear direction increases toward the lower side. On the upper side of the bracket main body 36, a front flange portion 38 and a rear flange portion 40 are provided. The front flange portion 38 is formed by bending the front edge portion of the bracket main body 36 inward in the left - right direction, and the rear flange portion 40 is formed by bending the rear edge portion of the bracket main body 36 inward in the left - right direction. The upper end portion of the bracket main body 36 is arranged on the outer side in the left - right direction with respect to the lower end portion of the side frame 30 on the left side of the back frame 28. The upper end portion of the bracket main body 36 and the lower end portion of the side frame 30 are connected by using a stepped bolt 50 having the left - right direction as the axial direction, and the left - hand side frame 30 is rotatably connected to the bracket main body 36, that is, the hinge bracket 34, around the above - mentioned axis. Incidentally, the lower end portion of the side frame 30 on the right side (not shown) is connected to the upper end portion of another hinge bracket (not shown) via a well - known reclining mechanism.

[0029] At the lower part of the bracket main body 36, a front extension portion 36F extending forward from the upper part of the bracket main body 36 is provided. A through - hole 54 for attaching the buckle 20 of the seat - belt device 16 is formed in this front extension portion 36F. The buckle 20 has a stay 21 extending downward, and a stepped bolt 52 passing through the lower end portion of the stay 21 from the outer side in the left - right direction is inserted into the above - mentioned through - hole 54. This stepped bolt 52 has the left - right direction as the axial direction and is screwed into a nut (not shown) arranged on the inner side in the left - right direction of the front extension portion 36F. Thereby, the buckle 20 is attached to the bracket main body 36 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the stepped bolt 52. On the upper edge portion of the front extension portion 36F, a pair of front - rear stopper pieces 37 are provided. The upper parts of the front - rear stopper pieces 37 are bent outward in the left - right direction and face the stay 21 from both sides in the front - rear direction. Thereby, the rotation range of the buckle 20 is restricted.

[0030] From the front end of the front extension portion 36F, that is, the front end of the lower part of the bracket main body portion 36, an extension portion 42 extends integrally toward the right side (inward in the left-right direction). From the lower end of the bracket main body portion 36, an extension portion 44 extends integrally toward the right side. From the rear end of the lower part of the bracket main body portion 36, an extension portion 46 extends integrally toward the right side. This extension portion 46 is integrally connected to the rear flange portion 40 described above. The above extension portions 42, 44, and 46 correspond to the "integrally extending portion" in the present invention.

[0031] The tip of the extension portion 42 is bent forward and overlapped with the left side surface of the side frame 24, and is fixed to the side frame 24 by means such as welding. The tip of the extension portion 44 is bent downward and overlapped with the left side surface of the side frame 24, and is fixed to the side frame 24 by means such as welding. The tip of the extension portion 46 is inserted into a long-hole-shaped through hole 56 formed in the rear end portion of the side frame 24, and is fixed to the side frame 24 by means such as welding. This extension portion 46 corresponds to the "insertion and extension portion" in the present invention.

[0032] An extension portion 48 made of a metal plate different from the bracket main body portion 36 and the above three extension portions 42, 44, and 46 is arranged inward in the left-right direction with respect to the bracket main body portion 36. This extension portion 48 has a bracket fixing portion 48A overlapped with the left-right inward surface at the middle portion in the up-down direction of the bracket main body portion 36, and an extension portion main body 48B extending inward in the left-right direction from the lower end of the bracket fixing portion 48A, and forms an L shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The bracket fixing portion 48A is fixed to the bracket main body portion 36 by means such as welding. The tip of the extension portion main body 48B is overlapped with the upper surface of the side frame 24, and is fixed to the side frame 24 by means such as welding. This extension portion 48 corresponds to the "fixed extension portion" in the present invention.

[0033] In the hinge bracket 34 configured as described above, the bracket main body 36 to which the buckle 20 is attached is fixed to the side frame 24 via four extension parts 42, 44, 46, and 48, and the bracket main body 36 faces the side frame 24, that is, the cushion frame 22, with a gap (reference numeral omitted).

[0034] (Function and Effect) Next, the function and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the cushion frame 22 constitutes the framework of the seat cushion 12, and the back frame 28 constitutes the framework of the seat back 14. A hinge bracket 34 to which the lower end portion of the back frame 28 is connected is fixed to the rear portion of the cushion frame 22. A buckle 20 to which the seat belt 18 is connected is attached to this hinge bracket 34. This hinge bracket 34 has a bracket main body 36 and a plurality of extension parts 42, 44, 46, and 48.

[0036] The bracket main body 36 is arranged to be separated outward in the left - right direction of the seat with respect to the cushion frame 22. The lower end portion of the back frame 28 is connected to the upper portion of the bracket main body 36, and the buckle 20 is attached to the lower portion of the bracket main body 36. The plurality of extension parts 42, 44, 46, and 48 extend inward in the left - right direction from the bracket main body 36, and the tip ends are fixed to the cushion frame 22. Therefore, when the load from the seat belt 18 is input to the bracket main body 36 via the buckle 20, the plurality of extension parts 42, 44, 46, and 48 are deformed to absorb the above - mentioned load. Thereby, the load input to the cushion frame 22 and a slide rail (not shown) can be alleviated.

[0037] In addition, in the present embodiment, among the plurality of extending portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of the hinge bracket 34, three extending portions 42, 44, 46 are integrally extending portions integrally extending from the bracket main body portion 36. Therefore, for example, the bracket main body portion 36 and the above three extending portions 42, 44, 46 can be integrally manufactured by press forming of sheet metal, and the manufacture of the hinge bracket 34 becomes easy.

[0038] In addition, in the present embodiment, one of the plurality of extending portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of the hinge bracket 34, that is, the extending portion 48, is a fixed extending portion fixed to the bracket main body portion 36. Therefore, the degree of freedom in setting the extending position of the extending portion 48 from the bracket main body portion 36 is improved.

[0039] In addition, in the present embodiment, the tip of one of the plurality of extending portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of the hinge bracket 34, that is, the extending portion 46, is inserted into a through hole 56 formed in the side frame 24 of the cushion frame 22. By this insertion, the hinge bracket 34 can be positioned with respect to the cushion frame 22, so that the fixing work of the hinge bracket 34 to the cushion frame 22 becomes easy.

[0040] Note that in the above embodiment, the plurality of extending portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of the hinge bracket 34 are configured to include the integrally extending portions 42, 44, 46, the fixed extending portion 48, and the inserted extending portion 46, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the plurality of extending portions may be configured not to include the inserted extending portion.

[0041] In addition, in the above embodiment, the cushion frame 22 is configured to be connected to the floor portion of the vehicle body via a slide mechanism and a suspension (not shown), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cushion frame may be configured to be connected to the floor portion of the vehicle body via a lifter mechanism and a seat slide mechanism.

[0042] In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

Explanation of Symbols

[0043] 10 Vehicle seat 11 Vehicle seat frame 12 Seat cushion 14 Seat back 18 Seat belt 20 Buckle 22 Cushion frame 28 Back frame 34 Hinge bracket 36 Bracket main body 42 Extension part (integral extension part) 44 Extension part (integral extension part) 46 Extension part (integral extension part, insertion extension part) 46 Insertion extension part (fixed extension part) 56 Through hole

Claims

1. A cushion frame that constitutes the skeleton of a seat cushion, A back frame that constitutes the skeleton of a seat back, A hinge bracket that is fixed to the rear end portion of the cushion frame, to which the lower end portion of the back frame is connected and to which a buckle to which a seat belt is connected is attached, Comprising, The hinge bracket is, A bracket main body portion that is disposed at a distance outward in the left - right direction of the seat with respect to the cushion frame, to which the lower end portion of the back frame is connected at the upper part and to which the buckle is attached at the lower part, A plurality of extension portions that extend inward in the left - right direction of the seat from the bracket main body portion and whose tip portions are fixed to the cushion frame, A vehicle seat frame having the above.

2. The vehicle seat frame according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of extension portions include an integrally extending portion that extends integrally from the bracket main body portion.

3. The vehicle seat frame according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of extension portions include a fixed extension portion that is fixed to the inner side surface in the left - right direction of the seat of the bracket main body portion.

4. The vehicle seat frame according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of extension portions include an insertion extension portion whose tip portion is inserted into a through - hole formed in the cushion frame.

5. A seat cushion on which a vehicle occupant sits, A seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The vehicle seat frame according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having a cushion frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion and a back frame that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back, A vehicle seat provided with the above.

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