Back support device and vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a back support device which can support a back without impairing comfort regardless of a posture of a seated person, and to provide a vehicle seat.SOLUTION: A back support device 10 includes: a frame portion 56 provided at a seat 12 on which a seated person P is seated, the frame portion 56 including an engaged portion 62A at an upper portion 62; an upper frame portion 64 fixed to the upper portion 62 of the frame portion 56 and extending in a seat width direction below the engaged portion 62A; a lumbar support portion 52 engaged with a lower portion of the frame portion 56 and configured to support the waist L of the seated person P from a seat rear side; and a pressure receiving portion 54 including, at an upper end portion 80A thereof, an engaging portion 82B engaged with the engaged portion 62A, the pressure receiving portion 54 supported by the upper frame portion 64 and the lumbar support portion 52 from the seat rear side and configured to be deformable by receiving a load from the back B of the seated person P.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a back support device and a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle seat provided with a lumbar support device inside a seat back. This lumbar support device is supported by a seat back frame and is configured to change the support state of the lumbar region by deforming the portion that contacts the lumbar region of the occupant.

[0003] This lumbar support device includes a pressure receiving plate (pressure receiving portion) that receives a load from the back of the occupant via a cushion member, and a support member that supports the pressure receiving plate and is configured to be able to deform the pressure receiving plate. The support member includes a U-shaped wire (skeleton portion) extending in the vertical direction and an upper connection portion (upper frame portion) that connects the upper portions of this wire in the seat width direction.

[0004] A support protrusion is provided on the front side of this upper connection portion. Also, a mounting hook is provided at the upper end portion on the rear side of the pressure receiving plate. By fitting this mounting hook to the support protrusion, the pressure receiving plate is attached to the upper connection portion so as to be rotatable with the mounting hook as a fulcrum. That is, when an occupant sits on the seat of Patent Document 1 below, the pressure receiving plate deforms with the mounting hook as a fulcrum due to the load received from the lumbar region of the occupant, and is configured to follow the lumbar region of the occupant.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, if an occupant sitting in the seat described in Patent Document 1 adopts a posture such as leaning heavily against the seatback or stretching and arching their back, the upper end of the pressure plate will press strongly against the occupant's back, potentially causing the occupant to feel a foreign object in the seatback. Therefore, there is room for improvement in supporting the occupant's back without compromising comfort, regardless of the occupant's seating posture.

[0007] In consideration of the above facts, the present invention aims to provide a back support device and a vehicle seat that can support the back of the occupant regardless of their posture without compromising comfort. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The back support device according to claim 1 is provided on a seat on which a person sits and comprises: a skeletal part having a locking part at its upper end; an upper frame part fixed to the upper part of the skeletal part and extending in the seat width direction below the locking part; a lumbar support part engaged with the lower part of the skeletal part and configured to support the lower part of the seat from the rear side of the seat; and a pressure receiving part having a locking part at its upper end that is locked to the locking part, supported from the rear side of the seat by the upper frame part and the lumbar support part, and configured to be deformable by receiving a load from the back of the seat. Furthermore, on the rear side of the pressure-receiving portion of the seat, a projection is formed at a position opposite to the upper frame portion, extending in the width direction of the seat and protruding toward the rear side of the seat.

[0009] According to the present invention as described in claim 1, when a person sits on the seat, the pressure-receiving portion deforms under the load from the person's back. A locking portion provided at the upper end of the pressure-receiving portion is locked to a locking portion provided at the upper part of the frame. The pressure-receiving portion is also supported from the rear side of the seat by the upper frame and lumbar support portions. Therefore, the load applied to the pressure-receiving portion is transmitted to the frame via the locking portion, the upper frame and lumbar support portions.

[0010] Here, the sitter's lower back is supported by the lumbar support. While this lumbar support is engaged with the lower part of the frame, the upper frame is fixed to the upper part of the frame. Therefore, the part of the sitter's back above the lower back is supported by the upper frame. In other words, the sitter's back is supported not only at the lower back but also over a wide area including the part above the lower back by the pressure-receiving parts supported from the rear of the seat by the lumbar support and the upper frame.

[0011] Furthermore, the pressure-receiving section is supported at at least three points in a side view: a locking section, a section supported by the upper frame, and a section supported by the lumbar support. Here, the locking section provided at the upper end of the pressure-receiving section is locked to a locking section of the skeletal structure even further above the upper frame. Therefore, the back of the seated person can be stably supported over a wide area.

[0012] Furthermore, since the locking portion provided at the upper end of the pressure-receiving portion is locked to the locking portion of the frame, the position of the locking portion relative to the frame remains constant regardless of the seated position of the person sitting. Therefore, even if the person sitting leans back heavily against the seatback or stretches and arches their back, the upper end of the pressure-receiving portion is prevented from protruding towards the person's back and causing discomfort. Furthermore, the pressure-receiving part rotates around the projection with the sheet width direction as the axis. Therefore, the pressure-receiving part can smoothly change direction on the front side of the upper frame.

[0015] Claim 2 The back support device according to the present invention described in Claim 1 In the invention described above, the pressure-receiving portion is provided with an opening formed through the projection on the upper side of the projection.

[0016] Claim 2 According to the present invention as described above, the pressure-receiving portion supports the seated person's back above the projection provided at a position corresponding to the upper frame portion, while the opening allows for weight reduction of the pressure-receiving portion. Furthermore, other devices can be provided in the opening.

[0017] Claim 3The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in 2 includes a backrest support device described in

[0018] and a seat back that includes a seat back frame to which the backrest support device is connected and that constitutes a skeleton, and a seat cushion connected to the lower end of the seat back and configured to support the buttocks and thighs of a seated person. 3

[0019] According to the present invention described in claim 4 the load transmitted from the back of the seated person to the skeleton part through the pressure receiving part is transmitted to the seat back frame connected to the skeleton part. Therefore, the back of the seated person is comfortably supported by the seat back provided with the backrest support device. As a result, it is possible to suppress giving discomfort to the seated person regardless of the posture of the seated person. 3 In the invention described in claim

[0020] the vehicle seat according to the present invention further includes an air conditioner that performs at least one of blowing air to the seating surface side where a person is seated and sucking air from the seating surface side, and a duct connected to the air conditioner and inserted through the opening of the pressure receiving part in the backrest support device. 4

[0021] According to the present invention described in claim

[0022] Also, the backrest support device according to the present invention described in claimThe back support device according to the present invention described in has an excellent effect of being able to comfortably support the back of a seated person above the waist.

[0023] Claim 2 The back support device according to the present invention described in has an excellent effect of being able to reduce weight and improve the design freedom and space efficiency.

[0024] Claim 3 The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in has an excellent effect of being able to support the back without impairing comfort regardless of the posture of the seated person.

[0025] Claim 4 The vehicle seat according to the present invention described in has an excellent effect of being able to comfortably support the back of the seated person while conditioning the seat back.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a front perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with the back support device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a left side view of the back support device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the back support device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged rear view of the main part of the pressure receiving part of the back support device shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is a side sectional view seen from the left side of the seat of the cross-section cut along the line X-X in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged view of the main part of the pressure receiving part in the back support device according to the first modification. FIG. 6(A) is a rear view, and FIG. 6(B) is a side sectional view seen from the left side of the seat. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged view of the main part of the pressure receiving part in the back support device according to the second modification. FIG. 7(A) is a rear view, and FIG. 7(B) is a side sectional view seen from the left side of the seat.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] The following description of a vehicle seat 12 equipped with a back support device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained using Figures 1 to 7. The arrows FR, UP, LH, and RH shown in each figure as appropriate indicate the front side of the vehicle seat 12, the upper side of the seat, the left side in the width direction of the seat, and the right side in the width direction of the seat. Furthermore, when the directions front / back, up / down, and left / right are used in the following description without special specification, they refer to the front / back direction of the seat, the up / down direction of the seat, and the left / right direction of the seat in the width direction, respectively.

[0028] First, the overall configuration of the vehicle seat 12 will be explained using Figure 1, then the overall configuration of the back support device 10 will be explained using Figures 2 and 3, and finally the main parts of the back support device 10 will be explained using Figures 4 to 7.

[0029] [Overall configuration of vehicle seat 12] The vehicle seat 12 shown in Figure 1 includes a seat cushion 14 configured to support the buttocks and thighs of an occupant P (see Figure 2), a seat back 16 connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14 and configured to support the back B (see Figure 2) of the occupant P, and a headrest 18 connected to the upper end of the seat back 16 and configured to support the head of the occupant P.

[0030] The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat frame 20, which is a skeletal member made of, for example, metal. This seat frame 20 includes a seat cushion frame (not shown) that constitutes the skeleton of the seat cushion 14, and a seat back frame 22 that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back 16. The seat back frame 22 is rotatably attached to the rear of the seat cushion frame via a recliner (not shown).

[0031] The seat cushion frame and seat back frame 22, which are not shown, are each fitted with pads (not shown) molded from a foam material such as urethane foam. These pads are covered with a surface 24, which is made up of multiple surface pieces made of fabric, knit material, synthetic leather, leather, etc., sewn together. In Figure 1, the pads and surface 24 attached to the seat back frame 22 are not shown in order to clearly show the internal structure of the seat back 16.

[0032] (Seat back frame 22) As shown in Figure 1, the seat back frame 22 comprises a pair of left and right side frames 26 that extend substantially vertically at both ends in the seat width direction, an upper frame 28 that connects the upper ends of the pair of left and right side frames 26 in the seat width direction, and a lower frame 30 that connects the lower ends of the pair of left and right side frames 26 in the seat width direction.

[0033] The upper frame 28 is formed in a roughly U-shape with its lower side open when viewed from the front-rear direction of the seat, and includes an upper pipe 28A extending in the seat width direction, and a pair of left and right upper side pipes 28B extending downward from both ends of the upper pipe 28A in the seat width direction. The lower parts of the pair of left and right upper side pipes 28B are fixed to the upper ends of the pair of left and right side frames 26, respectively.

[0034] A pair of left and right stay support parts 32, which extend approximately vertically, are fixed to the upper pipe 28A of the upper frame 28. Each of the left and right stay support parts 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a pair of left and right headrest stays 34 of the headrest 18 are inserted through them, respectively.

[0035] A bridging frame 36 extending in the sheet width direction is provided on the lower side of the upper pipe 28A. Both ends of the bridging frame 36 in the sheet width direction are fixed to a pair of upper side pipes 28B on the left and right sides, respectively.

[0036] The upper end of the bridging frame 36 is provided with a pair of left and right upper support portions 36A, which are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The support wires 56 (see Figure 3) of the back support device 10, which will be described later, are inserted through and fitted into these upper support portions 36A. In this way, the upper end of the back support device 10 is connected to the bridging frame 36 and supported by the seat back frame 22.

[0037] Furthermore, a lower support portion (not shown) is provided in the center of the seat width direction of the lower frame 30 of the seat back frame 22. This lower support portion has a pair of support holes (not shown) that penetrate approximately in the front-to-back direction. A connecting portion 68 (see Figures 2 and 3) provided at the lower end of the back support device 10 is superimposed on this lower support portion (not shown) of the lower frame 30. A pair of lower support holes 68A (see Figure 3) are formed in the connecting portion 68 (see Figures 2 and 3), and the pair of lower support holes 68A (see Figure 3) of the connecting portion 68 (see Figures 2 and 3) are superimposed on the pair of support holes (not shown) of the lower frame 30 and fastened together with bolts and nuts (not shown). In this way, the lower end of the back support device 10 is supported by the seat back frame 22 by being connected to the lower frame 30.

[0038] (Air conditioner 40) Here, the seat back 16 has a built-in air conditioning unit 40 that blows air towards the seat surface side of the seat back 16. The seat surface side of the seat back 16 refers to the side where the occupant P (see Figure 2) sits, that is, the front side of the seat back 16.

[0039] The air conditioning unit 40 is mounted on the rear side of the seat back frame 22 and includes a blower 42 which acts as an air conditioner to blow air, and a flow path forming unit 44 which is connected to the blower 42 and blows air toward the seating surface side of the seat back 16.

[0040] The blower 42 is fixed to a blower fixing plate 38, which is provided between the upper pipe 28A of the seat back frame 22 and the bridging frame 36 when viewed from the front-rear direction of the seat. The upper end of the blower fixing plate 38 is fixed to the rear side of the center of the seat width direction of the upper pipe 28A. The lower end of the blower fixing plate 38 is fixed to the rear side of the center of the seat width direction of the bridging frame 36.

[0041] The flow path forming section 44 comprises a duct section 44A whose upper end is connected to the blower 42, and a ventilation section 44B whose upper end is connected to the lower end (front end) of the duct section 44A. The ventilation section 44B extends along the back of the occupant P (see Figure 3) in the seat width direction and substantially in the vertical direction.

[0042] The duct section 44A is formed in a roughly rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction being vertical when viewed from the front-to-back direction of the seat. Furthermore, the duct section 44A is formed in a roughly J-shape when viewed from the left side in the width direction of the seat, and is inserted into an opening 50 (see Figure 3) formed in the upper part of the basket 54 (see Figures 2 and 3) of the back support device 10, which will be described later.

[0043] The ventilation section 44B is formed in a roughly rectangular shape, larger than the duct section 44A when viewed from the front-to-back direction of the seat. Multiple circular ventilation openings (not shown) are formed on the front side of the ventilation section 44B. Air sent from the blower 42 is sent to the ventilation section 44B via the duct section 44A, and then discharged from these ventilation openings in the ventilation section 44B towards the seating surface of the seat back 16.

[0044] [Overall configuration of the back support device 10] Next, the overall configuration of the back support device 10 built into the seat back 16 will be described.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2, the back support device 10 includes a lumbar support section 52 configured to support the lumbar region L, including the lumbar vertebrae of the occupant P, from the rear, and a basket 54 as a pressure receiving section, which is supported from the rear by the lumbar support section 52 and is configured to deform when it receives a load from the back B, including the lumbar region L, of the occupant P.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the back support device 10 includes a support wire 56 as a skeletal part formed in a substantially U-shape with the upper side open when viewed from the front-rear direction. The support wire 56 is composed of a lower wire 58 that extends in the seat width direction at its lower end, and a pair of left and right guide wires 60 that extend upward from both ends of the lower wire 58 in the seat width direction.

[0047] The upper ends 62 of the pair of left and right guide wires 60 are composed of a locking portion 62A extending in the sheet width direction and a supported portion 62B extending substantially upward from the outer end of the locking portion 62A in the sheet width direction. The locking portion 62A is locked to a locking portion 82 of the basket 54, which will be described later. The supported portion 62B is inserted through and fitted into the upper support portion 36A (see Figure 1) of the bridge frame 36.

[0048] Furthermore, the back support device 10 includes an upper frame portion 64 that extends in the seat width direction. Both ends of this upper frame portion 64 in the seat width direction are fixed to the upper part of a pair of left and right guide wires 60 below the locking portion 62A.

[0049] Furthermore, the back support device 10 includes a lower frame portion 66 that is connected to the lower wire 58 and extends in the seat width direction. In addition, a connecting portion 68 is connected to the center of the lower wire 58 in the seat width direction. A pair of left and right lower support holes 68A are formed in the connecting portion 68. The connecting portion 68 is fastened to the lower frame 30 of the seat back frame 22 (see Figure 1) by bolts (not shown) inserted through these lower support holes 68A.

[0050] (Lumbar support section 52) The lumbar support section 52 comprises an upper lifting section 70 provided at the top and a lower lifting section 72 provided at the bottom. The upper lifting section 70 and the lower lifting section 72 are slidably engaged with a pair of left and right guide wires 60 at both ends in the seat width direction. The upper lifting section 70 and the lower lifting section 72 are connected substantially vertically by a pair of left and right arch forming sections 74. The arch forming sections 74 are made of, for example, a strip-shaped elastic metal or resin plate with the vertical direction as its longitudinal direction.

[0051] The lumbar support section 52 further includes a support section lifting mechanism 76 located on the right side and an arch deformation mechanism 78 located on the left side, both in the center of the seat width direction.

[0052] The support section lifting mechanism 76 comprises a screw shaft 76A extending in the vertical direction, a motor 76B provided on the lower lifting section 72, and a gear mechanism (not shown) connecting the motor 76B and the screw shaft 76A. The screw shaft 76A is screwed into a nut (not shown) provided on the lower lifting section 72. The upper end of the screw shaft 76A is fixed to the upper frame section 64, and the lower end is fixed to the lower frame section 66. The support section lifting mechanism 76 is a feed screw mechanism that moves the upper lifting section 70 and the lower lifting section 72 up and down together when driven by the motor 76B.

[0053] On the other hand, the arch deformation mechanism 78 is composed of a screw shaft 78A extending in the vertical direction, a motor 78B provided on the lower lifting section 72, and a gear mechanism (not shown) connecting the motor 78B and the screw shaft 78A. The screw shaft 78A is screwed into a nut (not shown) provided on the lower lifting section 72. The upper end of the screw shaft 78A is fixed to the upper lifting section 70, and the lower end is fixed to the lower lifting section 72. The arch deformation mechanism 78 is a feed screw mechanism that moves the upper lifting section 70 in the vertical direction relative to the lower lifting section 72 when driven by the motor 78B. The arch deformation mechanism 78 is configured to deform the arch forming section 74 by changing the distance between the upper lifting section 70 and the lower lifting section 72 in this way.

[0054] (Basketball 54) The basket 54 of the back support device 10 is molded from, for example, a resin material and comprises a plate-shaped basket body 80 that is integrally molded. The basket body 80 is composed of an upper end portion 80A provided with a pair of left and right locking portions 82, a central lower portion 80B formed in the center of the sheet width direction from approximately the center in the vertical direction to the lower end, and a plurality of left and right pairs of side portions 80C extending in the left and right direction from both ends of the central lower portion 80B in the sheet width direction.

[0055] The pair of left and right locking parts 82 are provided on the basket 54 at both ends of the upper end portion 80A in the seat width direction. Specifically, each pair of left and right locking parts 82 comprises a base portion 82A provided on the rear side of the basket body 80 and a hook 82B that is formed in a substantially L-shape and faces downward in a side view. The hook 82B extends from the rear side of the base portion 82A toward the rear and downward.

[0056] The pair of left and right hooks 82B are hooked onto the locking portions 62A of the pair of left and right guide wires 60, thereby securing the locking portion 82 of the basket 54 to the locking portion 62A of the support wire 56. Note that the locking portion 82 is not limited to being secured to the pipe-shaped locking portion 62A by the hooks 82B; it may be secured to the locking portion by other means.

[0057] [Main components of the back support device 10] An opening 50 is formed in the upper part of the basket body 80, in the center in the sheet width direction, and penetrates in the thickness direction (approximately the front-to-back direction). The opening 50 is formed in an approximately rectangular shape, with the sheet width direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front-to-back direction. The duct portion 44A of the air conditioning unit 40 (see Figure 1) is inserted through this opening 50 of the basket 54.

[0058] Because the basket 54 has an opening 50, the upper end 80A of the basket body 80 is formed in a roughly U-shape with the lower side open when viewed from the front or rear. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the upper end 80A comprises an upper portion 84 extending in the width direction and side portions 86 extending downward from both ends of the upper portion 84 in the width direction. A locking portion 82 is provided on the upper part of the side portion 86. The lower end of the side portion 86 is integrally connected to the central lower part 80B of the basket body 80 and the upper end of the uppermost of the multiple side portions 80C.

[0059] Here, as shown in Figure 2, a projection 90 is integrally molded on the rear side of the basket 54, at a position opposite the upper frame portion 64, and protrudes toward the rear of the seat. As shown in Figure 5, the projection 90 is formed in a roughly triangular shape in a cross-sectional view from the side, and its tip is formed in an arc shape.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4, the projection 90 is formed at the upper end of the central lower part 80B and extends in the width direction of the sheet, at a position that is inward and downward in the width direction of the sheet compared to the locking portion 82. The projection 90 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the rear side of the sheet and is formed in pairs, one on the left and one on the right.

[0061] The lower edge 92 of the opening 50 of the basket 54 has its central portion 92A in the width direction of the sheet lower than the end portion 92B. The pair of left and right protrusions 90 are formed on the widthward side of the central portion 92A and below the end portion 92B relative to the lower edge 92 of the opening 50.

[0062] As shown in Figure 5, felt 94 is attached to the front side of the upper frame portion 64 of the seat. The felt 94 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape with the seat width direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front-to-back direction of the seat. The duct portion 44A of the air conditioning unit 40 (see Figure 1) is inserted into the opening 50, passing above the felt 94.

[0063] The basket 54 is supported from the rear by the upper frame portion 64 with the projection 90 in contact with the felt 94. The central lower part 80B of the basket body 80 is configured to be deformable using the projection 90 provided at its upper end as a pivot point. In Figure 5, the dashed line shows the state of the central lower part 80B of the basket body 80 when the occupant P is not seated. The solid line shows the state of the central lower part 80B when the occupant P is seated. Note that the back support device 10 does not necessarily have to be equipped with felt 94.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the projection 90 is described as being formed in a substantially rectangular shape with the sheet width direction as the longitudinal direction when viewed from the rear side of the sheet, and as being formed in a substantially triangular shape in a cross-sectional view when viewed from the side, but it is not limited to this. For example, the structure of the first modified example shown in Figure 6 or the second modified example shown in Figure 7 may be adopted. In the following descriptions of the first and second modified examples, components similar to those in this embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0065] (First variation) As shown in Figure 6(A), in this modified back support device 100, the projection 104 of the basket 102 is curved so that both ends in the width direction of the seat are convex outward in the width direction. As shown in Figure 6(B), the projection 104 is formed in a roughly semicircular shape when viewed in cross-section from the side.

[0066] (Second variation) As shown in Figures 7(A) and 7(B), in this modified back support device 200, the protrusions 204 of the basket 202 are formed in a hemispherical shape and arranged in a row of three in the width direction of the seat. However, the number of protrusions 204 is not limited to three.

[0067] (Operation and effects of this embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0068] According to the back support device 10 of this embodiment, when an occupant P sits on the vehicle seat 12 (see Figure 1), the basket body 80 of the basket 54 is deformed by the load from the occupant P's back B. At this time, the load on the basket 54 is transmitted to the support wire 56 via the locking portion 82, the upper frame portion 64, and the lumbar support portion 52.

[0069] Here, the occupant P's waist is supported by the lumbar support portion 52. The lumbar support portion 52 is engaged with the lower part of the support wire 56, while the upper frame portion 64 is fixed to the upper part of the support wire 56. Therefore, the occupant P's back B above the waist L is supported by the upper frame portion 64. In other words, the basket 54, supported from the rear side of the seat by the lumbar support portion 52 and the upper frame portion 64, supports the occupant P's back B over a wide area including not only the waist L but also the area above the waist L.

[0070] Furthermore, the basket 54 is supported at at least three points in a side view: the locking portion 82, the projection 90 supported by the upper frame portion 64, and the portion supported by the lumbar support portion 52. Here, the locking portion 82 provided at the upper end portion 80A of the basket 54 is locked to the locking portion 62A of the support wire 56 even further above the upper frame portion 64. Therefore, the back B of the occupant P can be stably supported over a wide area.

[0071] Furthermore, since the locking portion 82 provided on the upper end 80A of the basket 54 is locked to the locking portion 62A of the support wire 56, the position of the locking portion 82 relative to the support wire 56 remains constant regardless of the seating position of the occupant P. Therefore, even if the occupant P leans heavily against the seat back 16 while seated, or stretches and arches their back B, the upper end of the basket 54 is prevented from protruding toward the occupant P's back B and causing discomfort.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the back support device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the lower central part 80B of the basket 54 rotates around the projection 90 with the seat width direction as the axial direction. Therefore, the basket 54 can smoothly change direction on the front side of the upper frame portion 64.

[0073] Furthermore, the basket 54 supports the upper part of the occupant P's back B with the upper portion 84 and side portions 86 of the upper end 80A, while the opening 50 allows the basket 54 to be made lighter. Other devices can also be installed in the opening 50.

[0074] As described above, the position of the locking portion 82 relative to the support wire 56 remains constant regardless of the seating position of the occupant P, thus suppressing deformation of the upper end portion 80A. Since the basket body 80 is integrally molded, even if the central lower portion 80B rotates around the projection portion 90 in the basket body 80, deformation of the upper end portion 80A is suppressed, thereby preventing the lower edge 92 of the opening 50 from protruding forward. Therefore, while providing the opening 50, it is possible to prevent its lower edge 92 from protruding toward the back B of the occupant P and causing discomfort.

[0075] Furthermore, according to the vehicle seat 12 of this embodiment, the load transmitted from the occupant P's back B to the support wire 56 via the basket 54 is transmitted to the seat back frame 22 connected to the support wire 56. Therefore, the occupant P's back B is comfortably supported by the seat back 16 equipped with the back support device 10. This makes it possible to suppress discomfort to the occupant P regardless of their posture.

[0076] Furthermore, since the duct section 44A connected to the blower 42 is inserted through the opening 50 of the basket 54 in the back support device 10, the air conditioning unit 40 can be space-efficiently arranged within the seat back 16. In particular, since the opening 50 is located in the center of the basket body 80 in the seat width direction, it does not obstruct the airflow compared to a configuration in which the duct is routed through the outside of the back support device 10 in the seat width direction, thus improving air conditioning efficiency.

[0077] Furthermore, according to the back support device 10 of this embodiment, the projection 90 is integrally molded on the rear side of the sheet of the plate-shaped basket body 80, which is molded from a resin material. Therefore, compared to the case where the projection is provided on the upper frame portion 64, it is possible to easily accommodate design changes.

[0078] Furthermore, the duct portion 44A of the air conditioning unit 40 is inserted into the opening 50 by passing over the felt 94 attached to the upper frame portion 64. Therefore, compared to the case where the duct portion 44A is in direct contact with the upper frame portion 64, damage to the duct portion 44A can be suppressed.

[0079] [Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]

[0080] In the above embodiment, the back support device 10 was described as having a projection 90 on the rear side of the basket 54, but it is not limited to this, and it does not have to have a projection 90. Also, the projection 90 may be provided on the front side of the upper frame portion 64.

[0081] Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described as having an opening 50 in the basket 54 through which the duct of the air conditioning unit 40 is inserted, it is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle seat 12 does not have to be equipped with an air conditioning unit 40. Also, the basket 54 does not have to have an opening 50.

[0082] Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes the back support device 10 as being mounted on a vehicle seat 12, it is not limited to this and may be provided on other seats.

[0083] Furthermore, although the above embodiment described the air conditioning device 40 as one that blows air onto the seat surface side of the seat back 16, it is not limited to this and may be a device that draws air in from the seat surface side of the seat back 16. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] 10 Back support device 12 Vehicle seats 14 Seat Cushions 16 Seatback 22 Seat back frame 40 Air conditioner 42. Blower (Air Conditioner) 44 Flow channel forming section 50 openings 52 Lumbar Support Section 54 Basket (pressure receiving part) 56 Support wire (framework) 62A Locked part 64 Upper frame section 80A Upper end of the basket body (upper end of the pressure receiving section) 82 Locking part 90 Protrusion B Back L waist P Crew

Claims

1. A frame provided on the seat on which a person sits, with a locking part at the top, An upper frame portion fixed to the upper part of the frame portion and extending in the width direction of the sheet below the locking portion, A lumbar support portion is engaged with the lower part of the frame and configured to support the sitter's lower back from the rear side of the seat, A pressure-receiving portion is provided at its upper end, which is engaged with the aforementioned locking portion, and is supported from the rear side of the seat by the upper frame portion and the lumbar support portion, and is configured to be deformable by receiving the load from the back of the seated person, It has, On the rear side of the pressure-receiving portion, a projection is formed at a position opposite to the upper frame portion, extending in the width direction of the sheet and protruding toward the rear of the sheet. Back support device.

2. The pressure-receiving portion has an opening formed through it on the upper side of the projection. The back support device according to claim 1.

3. A seat back comprising a back support device as described in claim 2, and a seat back frame to which the back support device is connected and which constitutes the frame, and having these components inside, A seat cushion connected to the lower end of the seat back and configured to support the buttocks and thighs of the occupant, A vehicle seat having the following features.

4. An air conditioner is attached to the rear side of the seat back frame and performs at least one of blowing air and drawing in air, A flow path forming section is connected to the air conditioner and inserted into the opening in the back support device, and performs at least one of blowing air to the seat surface side on the seat back and drawing air in from the seat surface side, The vehicle seat according to claim 3, further comprising:

Images