Outer hinge bracket and vehicle seat

Abstract

To inhibit deformation of an outer hinge bracket when luggage in a luggage compartment collides with a back surface of a split-folding seat back during a vehicle collision.SOLUTION: An outer hinge bracket 40 includes: a fixed wall part 40A fastened to a floor part of a vehicle body at the vehicle front side relative to a luggage compartment; and a vertical wall part 40B which extends from an outer end in a vehicle width direction of the fixed wall part 40A to the vehicle upper side and to which an outer hinge 34 of a seat back 14 is connected. The vertical wall part 40B has an expanding part 40B1 which expands to the outer side in the vehicle width direction in a substantially arc shape in a plan view at the vehicle front side relative to the outer hinge 34. The fixed wall part 40A has a fastening part 54 fastened to the floor part at a position located adjacent to a front end of the expanding part 40B1 at the inner side in the vehicle width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to an outer hinge bracket for connecting an outer hinge of a split reclining seat back to a floor portion of a vehicle body.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a center hinge of a split reclining seat back that is divided left and right at a ratio of 5:5 or 6:4 and is independently forward-reclinable. This center hinge includes a fixed hinge member fixed to the vehicle body side and a pair of left and right movable hinge members that fix the left and right seat backs. The fixed hinge member includes a base portion that forms a fixing surface on the vehicle body side, and a support portion that stands vertically perpendicular to an axis in the vehicle width direction from one side of the base portion via a bent portion, and each movable hinge member is pivotally supported on the support portion so as to be rotatable. A reinforcing bead is formed at a position where it intersects a straight line connecting the rotation center of the movable hinge member and the center of the bolt hole in a side view. Thereby, by improving the strength of the center hinge portion, damage or deformation of the seat back due to luggage in the luggage compartment colliding with the back surface of the seat back during a vehicle collision is prevented.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the split-folding seatbacks described above, the upper part of the left and right split seatbacks, on the side facing the vehicle width, is not supported by the vehicle body. Therefore, when luggage in the cargo area collides with the backs of the left and right seatbacks during a vehicle collision, the left and right seatbacks tend to deform forward in a double-door manner. At this time, an excessive load is applied to the outer hinge brackets that connect the outer hinges, which are located on the outside of the left and right seatbacks in the vehicle width direction, to the floor of the vehicle body. If the outer hinge brackets deform significantly due to this excessive load, the amount of deformation of the left and right seatbacks toward the front of the vehicle increases.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, the present invention aims to provide an outer hinge bracket capable of suppressing deformation when luggage in the cargo compartment collides with the back of a split-folding seatback during a vehicle collision, and a vehicle seat equipped therewith. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The outer hinge bracket of the first embodiment comprises a fixed wall portion fastened to the floor of the vehicle body, and a vertical wall portion extending upward from the outer end of the fixed wall portion in the vehicle width direction, to which the outer hinge of a split-folding seat back is connected. The vertical wall portion has a bulge that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction in a substantially arc shape in a plan view, on the vehicle front side of the outer hinge, and the fixed wall portion has a fastening portion to the floor at a location adjacent to the front end of the bulge portion on the vehicle width direction.

[0007] In the outer hinge bracket of the first embodiment, a vertical wall extends upward from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of a fixed wall that is fastened and fixed to the floor of the vehicle body. The outer hinge of the split-folding seat back is connected to the vertical wall. This vertical wall has a bulge that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction in a substantially arc shape when viewed from above, on the vehicle front side of the outer hinge. The fixed wall has a fastening portion to the floor at a location adjacent to the front end of the bulge in the vehicle width direction, on the inward side. As a result, for example, when luggage in the cargo compartment collides with the back of the split-folding seat back during a vehicle collision, the input from the split-folding seat back is not only transmitted forward along the vertical wall, but also becomes a component force moving from the front end of the bulge towards the fastening portion, and is transmitted from the fastening portion to the floor. As a result, deformation of the outer hinge bracket can be suppressed.

[0008] In the second embodiment, the outer hinge bracket is provided with a flange portion that is bent in the vehicle width direction at the upper end of the vertical wall portion, as in the first embodiment.

[0009] In the outer hinge bracket of the second embodiment, the aforementioned input from the seat back is more easily transmitted to the front of the vehicle via the flange portion provided at the upper end of the vertical wall portion.

[0010] A third embodiment of a vehicle seat comprises a seat cushion on which an occupant sits, a split-folding seat back that supports the occupant's back, and an outer hinge bracket of the first or second embodiment to which the outer hinge of the split-folding seat back is connected to the vertical wall portion and the fixed wall portion is fastened and fixed to the floor of the vehicle body.

[0011] In the third embodiment of the vehicle seat, the back of the occupant seated on the seat cushion is supported by a split-folding seatback. The outer hinge of this split-folding seatback is connected to the vertical wall portion of the outer hinge bracket. The fixed wall portion of this outer hinge bracket is fastened to the floor of the vehicle body. Since this outer hinge bracket is of the first or second embodiment, the aforementioned effects are obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As described above, according to the present invention, deformation of the outer hinge bracket can be suppressed when luggage in the cargo compartment collides with the back of the split-folding seatback during a vehicle collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing a part of the frame of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing a part of the configuration shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing a part of the frame of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment, and it shows the situation during a cargo compartment bulkhead strength test. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view illustrating the load transmission path of the outer hinge bracket according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing a part of the frame of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing a portion of the frame of a vehicle seat related to a comparative example. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view illustrating the load transmission path of an outer hinge bracket in a comparative example. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing a portion of the frame of a vehicle seat related to a comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Hereinafter, the vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of easy viewing of the drawings. Also, the arrows FR, RH, and UP appropriately shown in each figure indicate the front, right, and upper directions of the vehicle on which the vehicle seat 10 is mounted, respectively. Hereinafter, when simply describing the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions, it is assumed that the directions are with respect to the vehicle.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment is a rear seat for three persons, and includes a seat cushion 12 on which a vehicle occupant sits, a split reclining seat back 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as "seat back 14") that supports the occupant's back, and three headrests 16 that support the occupant's head. This vehicle seat 10 is disposed in front of the luggage compartment of the vehicle. The front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of this vehicle seat 10 coincide with the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the vehicle.

[0016] The seat back 14 is, for example, a 6:4 split reclining type, and is divided into a left seat back 14L for two persons and a right seat back 14R for one person. Two headrests 16 are attached to the upper end of the left seat back 14L, and one headrest 16 is attached to the upper end of the right seat back 14R.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the right seat back 14R includes a seat back frame 18 made of a metal pipe material or a plate material. The seat back frame 18 includes a pair of left and right side frame portions 20 extending in the up-down direction of the right seat back 14R, an upper frame portion 22 connecting the upper ends of the left and right side frame portions 20 in the vehicle width direction, and an intermediate frame portion 24 connecting the intermediate portions in the up-down direction of the left and right side frame portions 20 in the vehicle width direction. A seat back pad (not shown) made of a foam or the like is covered on the seat back frame 18. The seat back pad is covered with a seat back skin 26 (see FIG. 1) made of a cloth material, leather, or synthetic leather.

[0018] At the lower end of the left side frame portion 20, a center hinge 28 is provided, and at the lower end of the right side frame portion 20, an outer hinge 34 is provided. The center hinge 28 has a recliner 30 attached to the lower end of the left side frame portion 20 and a center B bracket 32 connected to the lower end of the left side frame portion 20 via the recliner 30. The outer hinge 34 has an outer B bracket 36 connected to the lower end of the right side frame portion 20 via a connecting shaft (not shown). The center B bracket 32 and the outer B bracket 36 are here constituted by a press-formed metal plate.

[0019] The center B bracket 32 is fixed to the floor portion F (see FIGS. 4 to 6) of the vehicle body via a center hinge bracket 38, and the outer B bracket 36 is fixed to the floor portion F via an outer hinge bracket 40. The center B bracket 32, the outer B bracket 36, the center hinge bracket 38, and the outer hinge bracket 40 are here constituted by a press-formed metal plate. A lower frame portion 25 extending in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the center hinge bracket 38 and the outer hinge bracket 40. The lower frame portion 25 is here constituted by a metal square pipe material.

[0020] When the lock of the recliner 30 of the center hinge 28 is released, the left seat back 14L can be tilted forward and backward around the center hinge 28 and the outer hinge 34 with respect to the floor portion F. Although detailed description is omitted, the right seat back 14R is also connected to the floor portion F of the vehicle body with basically the same configuration as the left seat back 14L. In FIG. 4, in the left seat back 14L, the same reference numerals are given to the same configuration as the right seat back 14R.

[0021] A latch mechanism (not shown) is provided at the upper part of the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L. When the right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L are in the upright position shown in Figure 1, the latch mechanisms of the right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L engage with strikers (not shown) fixed to the left and right sides of the vehicle body. This holds the right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L in the upright position. In this state, the upper part of the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L is supported by the vehicle body, while the upper part of the central end in the vehicle width direction is not supported by the vehicle body.

[0022] Next, the outer hinge bracket 40, which is the main part of this embodiment, will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the outer hinge bracket 40 has a fixed wall portion 40A fastened and fixed to the floor portion F, and a vertical wall portion 40B that extends integrally upward from the outer end of the fixed wall portion 40A in the vehicle width direction, and the cross section viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle is substantially L-shaped. The fixed wall portion 40A is a long plate with the longitudinal direction in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and the plate thickness direction in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Bolt holes 42 are formed in the front and rear of the fixed wall portion 40A. Bolts 46 (see Figures 5 and 6) inserted into these bolt holes 42 pass through the floor portion F of the vehicle body and are screwed into nuts (not shown), thereby fastening and fixing the fixed wall portion 40A to the floor portion F.

[0023] The vertical wall section 40B is shaped like a long plate with its longitudinal direction running in the vehicle's front-rear direction and its main thickness direction running in the vehicle's left-right direction. The lower end of the outer B bracket 36 is fixed to the upper rear end of the vertical wall section 40B. The lower end of the outer B bracket 36 overlaps the upper rear end of the vertical wall section 40B from the outside in the vehicle's width direction. A pair of front and rear bolts 50, which pass through the lower end of the outer B bracket 36 and the upper rear end of the vertical wall section 40B, are screwed into nuts 52. In this way, the outer B bracket 36 is fastened and fixed to the vertical wall section 40B.

[0024] The vertical wall portion 40B has a bulge portion 40B1 that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side of the outer B bracket 36, i.e., the outer hinge 34. As shown in Figure 3, the bulge portion 40B1 is substantially arc-shaped in plan view. The middle portion of the bulge portion 40B1 in the longitudinal direction extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction, the front part of the bulge portion 40B1 is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the vehicle front, and the rear part of the bulge portion 40B1 is inclined inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the vehicle rear. This bulge portion 40B1 is provided at the front of the vertical wall portion 40B. A flange portion 40C that is bent inward in the vehicle width direction is formed at the upper end of the vertical wall portion 40B, including the upper end of this bulge portion 40B1.

[0025] The fixed wall portion 40A protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction at the point where it connects to the lower end of the bulging portion 40B1. The fixed wall portion 40A has a fastening portion 54 to the floor portion F at a point adjacent to the front end of the bulging portion 40B1 on the inward side in the vehicle width direction. The aforementioned bolt hole 42 is formed in this fastening portion 54, and the fastening portion 54 is fastened and fixed to the floor portion F by a bolt 46 and a nut (not shown). Near the rear of the vehicle of this fastening portion 54, the fixed wall portion 40A has, for example, a stepped portion 40A1 that is bent in a roughly crank shape when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0027] In the vehicle seat 10 with the above configuration, the back of the occupant seated on the seat cushion 12 is supported by a split-foldable seat back 14. The outer hinge 34 of this seat back 14 is connected to the vertical wall portion of the outer hinge bracket 40. In this outer hinge bracket 40, a vertical wall portion 40B extends upward from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of a fixed wall portion 40A that is fastened and fixed to the floor portion F of the vehicle body. The outer B bracket 36 of the outer hinge 34 of the seat back 14 is fixed to this vertical wall portion 40B.

[0028] The vertical wall portion 40B of the outer hinge bracket 40 has a bulge portion 40B1 that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction in a substantially arc shape when viewed from above, on the vehicle front side of the outer B bracket 36. This improves the rigidity of the outer hinge bracket 40. The fixed wall portion 40A of the outer hinge bracket 40 has a fastening portion 54 to the floor portion F at a location adjacent to the front end of the bulge portion 40B1 on the vehicle width direction.

[0029] Here, Figure 4 shows a perspective view illustrating the situation when luggage C in the cargo compartment collides with the back of the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 10 according to the embodiment. The luggage C shown in Figure 4 is a standard luggage weighing 18 kg used in the cargo compartment bulkhead strength test specified in ECE-R17-07, for example. In this cargo compartment bulkhead strength test, luggage C is made to collide with the back of the seat back 14 by an inertial force similar to that of a frontal collision of a vehicle.

[0030] In this seatback 14, the upper parts of the left seatback 14L and the right seatback 14R, towards the center in the vehicle width direction, are not supported by the vehicle body. Therefore, when luggage C collides with the rear, the left and right seatbacks 14L and 14R attempt to deform forward in a double-door manner. At this time, an excessive load is applied to the outer hinge bracket 40, which connects the outer hinges 34, provided on the outer side of the left and right seatbacks 14L and 14R in the vehicle width direction, to the floor F of the vehicle body.

[0031] The above input is transmitted to the front of the vehicle along the vertical wall portion 40B, as shown by arrows F1 and F2 in Figure 5. A portion of this input becomes a component force (see arrow F3 in Figure 5) that travels from the front end of the bulging portion 40B1 towards the fastening portion 54, and is transmitted from the fastening portion 54 to the floor portion F. This suppresses the deformation of the outer hinge bracket 40, thereby preventing the left and right seat backs 14L and 14R from deforming forward in a double-door manner, and reducing the overall deformation of the seat back 14. Moreover, in this embodiment, the above input is more easily transmitted to the front of the vehicle via the flange portion 40C provided at the upper end of the vertical wall portion 40B, which also reduces the deformation of the seat back 14.

[0032] In this embodiment, the amount of deformation of the vertical wall portion 40B of the outer hinge bracket 40 outward in the vehicle width direction is reduced, so the amount of deformation of the outer hinge 34 outward in the vehicle width direction is also reduced, and the double-door-like deformation of the left and right seat backs 14L and 14R is suppressed.

[0033] The effects described above will be further explained using comparative examples shown in Figures 7 to 9. Figures 7 and 9 show a perspective view of a part of the frame of the vehicle seat in the comparative example, and Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the configuration around the outer hinge bracket 40 in the comparative example.

[0034] In this comparative example, the vertical wall portion 40B of the outer hinge bracket 40 does not have a bulging portion 40B1, but the other configurations are the same as in this embodiment. In this comparative example, when luggage C collides with the back of the seat back 14, the input is transmitted along the vertical wall portion 40B toward the front of the vehicle, as shown by arrow F4 in Figure 8, but no component force is generated toward the fastening portion 54. As a result, the amount of deformation of the vertical wall portion 40B of the outer hinge bracket 40 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction increases, and the amount of deformation of the outer hinge 34 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction also increases, so the double-door-like deformation of the left and right seat backs 14L and 14R increases. This can be avoided in this embodiment.

[0035] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14-way split foldable seatback 34 Outer hinge 40 Outer hinge bracket 40A fixed wall section 40B Vertical wall section 40B1 Bulge 40C flange section 54 Fastening part

Claims

1. A fixing wall portion that is fastened and secured to the floor of the vehicle body, A vertical wall portion extends upward from the outer end of the fixed wall portion in the vehicle width direction, to which the outer hinge of the split-foldable seat back is connected, Equipped with, The aforementioned vertical wall portion has a bulge that, in a plan view, bulges outward in a substantially arc shape in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side of the outer hinge, The fixed wall portion is an outer hinge bracket having a fastening portion to the floor portion at a location adjacent to the front end of the bulging portion on the inward side in the vehicle width direction.

2. The outer hinge bracket according to claim 1, wherein a flange portion bent in the vehicle width direction is provided at the upper end of the vertical wall portion.

3. The seat cushion on which the occupants sit, A split-folding seatback that supports the occupant's back, An outer hinge bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer hinge of the split-folding seatback is connected to the vertical wall portion, and the fixed wall portion is fastened and fixed to the floor portion of the vehicle body, A vehicle seat equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

Images