Vehicle seats

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat in which a blowing area blown from a pad is enlarged.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat S includes a pad 20 supporting a sitting occupant, a skin material 2a coating the pad 20, and a blowing device 50. Inside the pad 20, a ventilation passage 41b for passing air blown from the blowing device 50 is formed, on a surface on the side of the sitting occupant of the pad 20, a plurality of blowing ports 41c which communicate with the ventilation passage 41b and blow air sent from the blowing device 50 are formed, and on the surface on the side of the sitting occupant of the pad 20, a hanging groove 41e for hanging the skin material 2a and a ventilation groove 44 for passing air blown from the blowing port 41c separately from the hanging groove 41e are formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat provided with a blower device.

Background Art

[0002] In order to improve the seating feeling, a seat having an air conditioning function configured to blow air from a seat cushion to a seated person is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a seat including a seat cushion pad having a ventilation passage formed therein and an air outlet on an upper surface, and configured to blow air from the air outlet in the ventilation passage.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the seat of Patent Document 1, on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad, a plurality of air outlets are provided at a portion that contacts the seated person, that is, a portion where the load of the seated person is applied. Therefore, the area where air can be blown (hereinafter referred to as the blowing area) on the surface of the pad on the side of the seated person is limited to the air outlets where the load of the seated person is applied, and in order to blow more air toward the seated person, it has been required to expand the blowing area.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle seat in which the blowing area blown from the pad is expanded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing a pad to support a seated person, a surface material covering the pad, and a blower, wherein a ventilation passage is formed inside the pad for air supplied from the blower, and a plurality of air outlets are formed on the seated side of the pad that communicate with the ventilation passage and blow out the air supplied from the blower, and the seated side surface of the pad is formed with a suspension groove for suspending the surface material and a ventilation groove separate from the suspension groove for passing the air blown out from the air outlets. The ventilation grooves are formed in multiple locations, and the pad is a seat cushion pad that supports the buttocks of the sitter, and the multiple ventilation grooves consist of a front ventilation groove located forward of the center in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion pad and a rear ventilation groove located backward, and the total area of ​​the rear ventilation groove is greater than the total area of ​​the front ventilation groove This will resolve the issue.

[0007] According to the above configuration, ventilation grooves are formed on the seat-side surface of the pad to allow air blown from the air outlet to pass through, so that air can be sent towards the seated person from a wider area, and a vehicle seat with an expanded airflow area from the pad can be provided.

[0008] Also , connoisseur By forming multiple air grooves, the air blown from the air vent can be distributed over a wider area on the seat-side surface of the pad.

[0009] Furthermore, when a person is seated, their buttocks are located behind the seat cushion, making the rear of the seat cushion prone to heat buildup. By making the total surface area of ​​the rear ventilation grooves located at the rear of the seat cushion pad larger than the total surface area of ​​the front ventilation grooves, more air can be sent to the areas prone to heat buildup.

[0010] Furthermore, the above problem is solved by providing a seat that supports a seated person, a surface material covering the pad, and a blower, wherein a ventilation passage is formed inside the pad for air supplied from the blower, and a plurality of air outlets are formed on the seated person-facing surface of the pad that communicate with the ventilation passage and blow out the air supplied from the blower, and a suspension groove for suspending the surface material and a ventilation groove separate from the suspension groove for air blown out from the air outlets are formed on the seated person-facing surface of the pad, and the pad comprises a first pad material and a second pad material arranged on top of the seated person-facing surface of the first pad material, the ventilation passage is formed in the second pad material between the first pad material and the second pad material, and the ventilation groove is formed on the seated person-facing surface of the second pad material. By constructing the pad from a first pad material and a second pad material, it becomes easier to form ventilation passages within the pad. Furthermore, by forming ventilation grooves on the seater-facing side of the second pad material, air can be sent towards the seater from a wider area.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the ventilation grooves are preferably extended in the width direction of the seat. Because the ventilation grooves extend in the width direction of the seat, the air blown from the air vents can be distributed over a wider area on the seat-side surface of the pad.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the ventilation grooves may connect adjacent air outlets. By connecting adjacent air vents with ventilation grooves, more air can be delivered.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the end of the ventilation groove may be connected to one of the plurality of air outlets. Because the end of the ventilation groove is connected to the air outlet, air blown out from the air outlet can easily flow into the ventilation groove, allowing more air to be delivered.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned vehicle seat, the ventilation groove may have a first groove and a second groove extending in a direction intersecting the first groove. The ventilation groove has a second groove that extends in a direction intersecting the first groove, allowing air to be delivered to the seated person from a wider area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, since ventilation grooves for passing air blown out from the air outlet are formed on the seating surface side of the pad, air can be sent out toward the seated person from a wider range, and a vehicle seat with an expanded air blowing area blown from the pad can be provided. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, by forming a plurality of ventilation grooves, air blown out from the air outlet can be sent over a wider range on the seating surface side of the pad. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, since the ventilation grooves extend in the seat width direction, air blown out from the air outlet can be sent over a wider range on the seating surface side of the pad. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, by making the total area of the rear ventilation grooves arranged at the rear larger than the total area of the front ventilation grooves, more air can be sent out to the portion where heat is likely to be trapped. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, by connecting adjacent air outlets with the ventilation grooves, more air can be sent out. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, since the ends of the ventilation grooves are connected to the air outlets, the air blown out from the air outlets can easily flow into the ventilation grooves, and more air can be sent out. Further, according to the vehicle seat of the present invention, by forming the pad from a first pad material and a second pad material, it becomes easier to form a ventilation path inside the pad. Also, by forming the ventilation grooves on the seating surface side of the second pad material, air can be sent out toward the seated person from a wider range.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view seen from obliquely forward showing the appearance of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view seen from obliquely rearward showing the frame of the vehicle seat. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view showing the seat pad and the air blowing device of the vehicle seat. [Figure 4] This is a bottom view showing the cushion frame with the blower attached. [Figure 5] This is a top view of the blower. [Figure 6] This is a front view showing the seat back pad. [Figure 7] This is a plan view showing a seat cushion pad. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the ventilation channels arranged in the second cushion pad material. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle with an occupant seated. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 7. [Figure 11] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XI-XI in Figure 7. [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] The configuration of a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. That is, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention. Furthermore, the descriptions below regarding the materials, shapes, and sizes of the components constituting the vehicle seat are merely examples and do not limit the present invention.

[0018] In the following, we will describe a vehicle seat installed in a vehicle as an example of a vehicle seat, and explain its configuration. Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front-to-back direction" refers to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is moving. Also, "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the left-to-right direction as seen from the perspective of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. Also, "up-down direction" refers to the up-and-down direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, when simply referred to as "outside," it refers to the side closer to the outside when moving outward from the center of the vehicle seat, and when referred to as "inside," it refers to the side closer to the center when moving from the outside of the vehicle seat towards the center.

[0019] Unless otherwise specified, the following descriptions of the shape, position, and orientation of each part of a vehicle seat will be based on the assumption that the vehicle seat is in a seated position.

[0020] <Vehicle seat S> The basic configuration of the vehicle seat (hereinafter referred to as the vehicle seat S) according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat S, and for illustrative purposes, a portion of the vehicle seat S in Figure 1 is shown with the surface materials 1a to 3a removed.

[0021] The vehicle seat S is a seat placed on the vehicle floor in which the vehicle's occupants (seatees H) sit. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is used as a front seat, corresponding to the front seats of the vehicle. However, it is not limited to this; the vehicle seat S can also be used as a rear seat, and in a vehicle with three rows of seats in the front-to-back direction, it can also be used as a middle seat in the second row or a rear seat in the third row.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle seat S mainly consists of a seat back 1 which is the backrest portion that supports the back of the occupant H, a seat cushion 2 which is the seat portion that supports the buttocks Hd of the occupant H, and a headrest 3 which is positioned on top of the seat back 1 and supports the head of the occupant H. The seat back 1, seat cushion 2, and headrest 3 together may be referred to as the seat body Sh.

[0023] The seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 are connected by sandwiching a reclining device 90 (see Figure 2). The reclining device 90 allows the seat back 1 to rotate relative to the seat cushion 2, and its tilt angle can be adjusted. The vehicle seat S also includes a rail device 70 that supports the seat body Sh so that it can move in the front-to-back direction relative to the vehicle floor.

[0024] The rail device 70 is a device for sliding the seat body Sh along the front-rear direction and has a known structure (a general rail device structure). The rail device 70 has a lower rail 71 fixed to the vehicle floor and an upper rail 72 that is slidable relative to the lower rail 71.

[0025] <Seat frame F> As shown in Figure 2, a seat frame F is provided inside the vehicle seat S. The seat frame F mainly consists of a seat back frame 10 which forms the skeleton of the seat back 1 and a seat cushion frame 30 which forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 2.

[0026] <Seat back frame 10> As shown in Figure 2, the seat back frame 10 is formed in a rectangular frame shape as a whole, and comprises a pair of back side frames 11, 11 arranged on the left and right sides, an upper frame 12, and a lower frame 13. The upper frame 12 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 11, 11 and connects the upper ends of the pair of back side frames 11, 11. The lower frame 13 is positioned between the pair of back side frames 11, 11 and connects the lower ends of the pair of back side frames 11. In addition, a connecting frame 14 is interposed between the left and right ends of the upper frame 12 on the upper side of the seat back frame 10.

[0027] A pressure-receiving member 16 is positioned below the connecting frame 14. The pressure-receiving member 16 is connected to the connecting frame 14 via a wire member 15. The pressure-receiving member 16 is a flexible plate member that supports the back of the seated person H from behind. The pressure-receiving member 16 is made of resin, but is not limited to resin. The pressure-receiving member 16 may also be made of metal.

[0028] The upper frame 12 is provided with a pillar support portion 17 through which the headrest stay 3d of the headrest 3 is inserted. The pillar support portion 17 is formed as a high-strength metal member to maintain the holding strength of the headrest 3 and suppress rattling. Note that the pillar support portion 17 is not limited to metal and may be made of resin.

[0029] The pair of backside frames 11,11 are positioned on the left and right sides of the seat back frame 10 as described above, and are basically symmetrical components. The pair of backside frames 11,11 are components that extend in the vertical direction of the seat, and the width of each of the pair of backside frames 11,11 in the front-to-back direction of the seat is formed to widen from the upper side of the seat towards the lower side of the seat.

[0030] <Seat cushion frame 30> As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the seat cushion frame 30 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from below, and a pair of cushion side frames 31, 31 are provided on the left and right sides. The pair of cushion side frames 31, 31 are members that extend in the front-to-back direction of the seat and are basically configured to be symmetrical. The pair of cushion side frames 31, 31 are spaced apart in the left-to-right direction in order to define the width of the seat cushion frame 30.

[0031] Furthermore, the seat cushion frame 30 includes a pan frame 32 located at the front end of the seat cushion frame 30, a front connecting frame 33 that connects the pair of cushion side frames 31, 31 at the front, and a rear connecting frame 34 that connects them at the rear end. The front connecting frame 33 and the rear connecting frame 34 are made of round pipes.

[0032] The pan frame 32 is primarily for supporting the thighs of the seated person H (occupant) and is a frame made of metal plates. The pan frame 32 is fixedly joined to the front side of the left and right cushion side frames 31, and the left and right cushion side frames 31 are connected at the front by the pan frame 32. More specifically, the left and right ends of the pan frame 32 are fixed to flanges 31a provided on the cushion side frames 31, 31 by fixing means such as welding.

[0033] The support member 35 has its front end locked to the front connecting frame 33 and its rear end locked to the rear connecting frame 34. The support member 35 is a flexible plate member that can support the seated person H by receiving the load from below. The support member 35 is made of resin, but is not limited to resin. The support member 35 may also be made of metal.

[0034] <Headrest 3> The headrest 3 is attached to the top of the seatback 1 to support the head of the occupant H. Inside the headrest 3 is a headrest frame 3c that forms the skeleton of the headrest 3, and at both ends of the headrest frame 3c are two headrest stays 3d (also called headrest pillars) that hang down from the bottom of the headrest 3. The headrest stays 3d are inserted through pillar support parts 17 attached to the upper frame 12 of the seatback frame 10, thereby attaching the headrest 3 to the seatback frame 10.

[0035] <Reclining device 90> The seat back frame 10 and the seat cushion frame 30 are connected via a reclining device 90. The reclining device 90 has a known configuration and rotatably supports the seat back 1 relative to the seat cushion 2. Furthermore, the reclining device 90 is covered at both ends in the seat width direction by a reclining device cover portion 91, which is a second pad material made of resin.

[0036] <Air blower 50> The blower 50 will be described using Figures 3 to 5. The blower 50 is positioned from below the seat cushion 2 to the rear of the seat back 1. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the blower 50 mainly consists of a mounting bracket 51, a blower 52, a duct 53, a first outlet 54, and a second outlet 55.

[0037] The mounting bracket 51 is a component that fixes the blower 52 to the lower surface of the pan frame 32, and has multiple frame assembly parts 51a for assembling the blower 52 to the lower surface of the pan frame 32. The frame assembly parts 51a are arranged to surround the blower 52, and can be assembled to the lower surface of the pan frame 32 by fastening bolts from below the mounting bracket 51.

[0038] The blower 52 is a propeller fan having rotating blades (not shown) that generate airflow by rotating the blades. When the rotating blades located inside the blower 52 rotate, air is drawn up from below, and the airflow generated by the centrifugal force of the rotating blades flows into the duct 53 and is sent out toward the first outlet 54 and the second outlet 55. The blower 52 may be a sirocco fan or a turbo fan.

[0039] The duct 53 is a hollow member that delivers air from the blower 52 to the first outlet 54 and the second outlet 55. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the duct 53 has a blower connecting portion 53a, a first extension portion 53b, a bent portion 53c, a second extension portion 53d, and a bent portion 53e.

[0040] The blower connection section 53a is connected to the blower 52 and is an air inlet into which the air delivered by the blower 52 flows. The first extension portion 53b extends below the seat cushion 2 to one side in the seat width direction (to the right of the seated person H) and to the rear of the vehicle seat S. By positioning the first extension portion 53b to one side in the seat width direction, interference with electrical components and electrical wiring located below the seat cushion 2 can be suppressed. Furthermore, as the first extension portion 53b bends and gradually moves toward the right of the seated person H, it becomes possible to guide the air delivered by the blower 52 toward the first and second outlet portions 54 and 55, which will be described later, without obstructing its flow. The orthogonal cross-section of the first extension portion 53b has a flattened shape in which the horizontal dimension is larger than the vertical dimension. This allows the first extension portion 53b to be positioned below the front connecting frame 33 while securing space below the vehicle seat S and preventing the first extension portion 53b from coming into contact with the vehicle floor.

[0041] A first outlet section 54, which serves as a branching path, is connected to the first extension section 53b. The first outlet section 54 extends upward and is inserted into a duct insertion hole 41a formed in the seat back pad 20 of the seat cushion 2. This allows a portion of the air delivered by the blower 52 to be sent from below the seat cushion 2 towards the occupant H via the ventilation passage 21b formed in the seat back pad 20.

[0042] The bent portion 53c connects the first extended portion 53b and the second extended portion 53d, which extend in different directions from each other. The bent portion 53c is located behind the seated person H and on the end side (right side) in the seat width direction, and extends so as to straddle the rear portion of the seat cushion 2 and the lower portion of the seat back 1. The bent portion 53c also extends further rearward than the seat cushion 2. By positioning the bent portion 53c on one side in the seat width direction (the right side of the seated person H), it is possible to prevent the feet of passengers seated in the rear seat from coming into contact with the bent portion 53c.

[0043] The bent portion 53c has a bellows structure in which peaks and valleys are formed alternately. By having a bellows structure in the bent portion 53c, it is possible to improve the elasticity and deformability while ensuring the strength of the duct 53. This allows the air that is moving backward through the first extension portion 53b to be redirected upward and smoothly guided to the second extension portion 53d. Furthermore, even when the seat back 1 is rotated relative to the seat cushion 2 by the reclining device 90, the bent portion 53c can flexibly deform to follow the seat back 1.

[0044] The second extension portion 53d extends upward at the rear of the seat back 1 and curves forward toward the duct insertion hole 21a formed in the seat back pad 20. The orthogonal cross-section of the second extension 53d has a flattened shape. This makes it possible to secure space behind the seat back 1 and to suppress interference between the second extension 53d and the electrical wiring located behind the seat back 1.

[0045] The bent portion 53e, located at the tip of the second extension portion 53d, is inserted into a duct insertion hole 21a (see Figure 6) formed to penetrate the seat back pad 20 of the seat back 1 in the front-rear direction. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the bent portion 53e bends to one side in the seat width direction (to the left hand side of the seated person H), guiding the air sent from the blower 52 to the second outlet portion 55. By forming a bent portion 53e such that the second air outlet 55 faces the left side of the seated person H, the direction in which the ventilation passage 21b formed in the seat back pad 20 extends can be made to match the direction in which the air is blown out. This makes it possible to smoothly guide the air sent from the duct 53 toward the seated person H. Furthermore, by forming the bent portion 53e, the fixation of the second air outlet portion 55 to the seat back pad 20 is improved, and the second air outlet portion 55 is prevented from unintentionally coming out of the duct insertion hole 21a.

[0046] The bent portion 53e, like the folded portion 53c, has a bellows structure. The bellows structure of the bent portion 53e ensures the strength of the duct 53 while improving its elasticity and deformability. As a result, even when the seat back pad 20 deforms due to the load of the seat occupant H on the seat back 1, the bent portion 53e deforms in accordance with the seat back pad 20, making it possible to displace the second air outlet 55 to an appropriate position. Furthermore, by providing a bellows structure in the bent portion 53e, it is possible to suppress any discomfort the seat occupant H may feel regarding the presence of the second air outlet 55, and to suppress damage to the duct 53.

[0047] <Seat back pad 20> As described above, the seat back 1 consists of a seat back pad 20 provided on the outside of the seat back frame 10 and a surface material 1a that covers the seat back pad 20. The surface material 1a has a two-layer structure, comprising a surface material made of fabric, synthetic leather, or genuine leather, and a backing material made of a sponge-like wadding material placed on the back side. The seat back pad 20 is a urethane base material molded by foam molding, for example, using urethane foam material.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the seat back pad 20 has a two-layer structure and consists of a first back pad material 22 (first pad material) which forms the main body, and a second back pad material 23 which is placed on top of the seater-side surface of the first back pad material 22. As shown in Figure 3, the first back pad material 22 is provided with a duct insertion hole 21a and an air passage 21b on the side facing the seated person. The duct insertion hole 21a is in communication with the second outlet 55 of the blower 50 and is configured to send air from the blower 52 of the blower 50 into the air passage 21b.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the second back pad material 23 has multiple air outlets 21c formed in accordance with the position of the ventilation passage 21b. This makes it possible to send air from the air outlets 21c through the ventilation passage 21b towards the seated person. Furthermore, the surface material 1a covering the second back pad material 23 is made of a highly breathable material, allowing air blown out from the air outlet 21c to be sent to the surface facing the sitter (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the seating surface). If the surface material is made of a less breathable material, holes for air passage are formed in the surface material at positions corresponding to the air outlet 21c.

[0050] <Headrest pad 3b> The headrest 3 consists of a headrest frame 3c, a headrest pad 3b provided on the outside of the headrest frame 3c, and a surface material 3a covering the headrest pad 3b. The surface material 3a, like the surface material 1a, has a two-layer structure and consists of a surface material 2aa made of fabric, synthetic leather, or genuine leather, and a back material 2ab made of a sponge-like wadding material. The headrest pad 3b is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using urethane foam material.

[0051] <Seat cushion pad 40> The seat cushion 2 consists of a seat cushion frame 30, a seat cushion pad 40 provided on the outside of the seat cushion frame 30, and a surface material 2a that covers the seat cushion pad 40. The surface material 2a of the seat cushion 2, like the surface material 1a of the seat back 1, has a two-layer structure, consisting of a surface material 2aa located on the front side, made of fabric, synthetic leather, or genuine leather, and a back material 2ab located on the back side, made of a sponge-like wadding material. The surface material 2a covering the seat cushion pad 40 is made of a highly breathable material, allowing air blown out from the air vents 41c and 41d (described later) to be directed to the seating surface. If the surface material 2aa is made of a less breathable material, holes for air passage are formed in the surface material 2aa at positions corresponding to the air vents 41c and 41d. The seat cushion pad 40, like the seat back pad 20, is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using urethane foam material.

[0052] The seat cushion pad 40 has a two-layer structure and consists of a first cushion pad material 42 (first pad material) which forms the main body, and a second cushion pad material 43 (second pad material) which is placed on top of the seater-side surface of the first cushion pad material 42. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the front end of the second cushion pad material 43 covers the front end of the first cushion pad material 42. In other words, the second cushion pad material 43 is positioned above the first cushion pad material 42, and the front end of the second cushion pad material 43 is formed to extend downward along the front end of the first cushion pad material 42.

[0053] As shown in Figure 3, the first cushion pad material 42 is provided with a duct insertion hole 41a that opens on the side facing the seated person. The duct insertion hole 41a is also connected to the first outlet 54 of the blower 50, which is located below the first cushion pad material 42.

[0054] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, multiple ventilation passages 41b extending in the front-to-back direction of the vehicle seat S are formed on the back surface of the second cushion pad material 43. In addition, multiple through holes extending to the seating surface are provided on the bottom surface of the ventilation passages 41b as air outlets 41c and 41d. By configuring the second cushion pad material 43 in this way, the air sent from the blower 52 passes through the ventilation passage 41b and is sent out from the air outlets 41c and 41d. Through the ventilation passage 41b, the air sent from the blower 52 circulates within the seat cushion pad 40. Then, the air is blown from the air outlets 41c and 41d, through the surface material 2a, towards the occupant H.

[0055] In conventional seat cushion pads, air vents were formed only on the upper surface where the occupant H sits, i.e., in the position that is in direct contact with the occupant. Therefore, when occupant H sits down, the air vents are blocked by occupant H's buttocks and thighs, which can increase the pressure inside the seat cushion pad and potentially impair air circulation.

[0056] <Air outlet 41d in the non-contact area> In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is provided with at least one air vent 41d in a location that is not easily blocked by the seated person H's body, that is, in a position that avoids contact with the seated person H (non-contact area). Specifically, an air outlet 41d is provided on the front surface 43a of the seat cushion pad 40 (more precisely, the second cushion pad material 43).

[0057] In other words, the ventilation passage 41b extends to the front end of the second cushion pad material 43 on the lower surface of the second cushion pad material 43, and the air outlet 41d provided on the front surface 43a allows air sent from the blower 50 to be blown out. As shown in Figure 9, for example, even when a seated person H is seated, the front surface 43a of the seat cushion pad 40 is often separated from the lower leg portion Hf of the seated person H, so there is little possibility that the air vent 41d will be blocked. In other words, even if the air vent 41c in the area where the load from the seated person H is applied (contact area) is blocked, air in the ventilation passage will escape from the air vent 41d formed in a position that avoids the load-bearing area (non-contact area), the pressure inside the seat cushion pad 40 will decrease, and the air circulation inside the pad will improve.

[0058] Furthermore, four air vents 41d are arranged symmetrically on the front surface 43a, with the line G passing through the center in the width direction of the seat as the axis. By arranging multiple air vents 41d symmetrically on the front surface 43a of the seat cushion pad 40 in this way, air in the ventilation passages can escape in a balanced manner, making it easier for the pressure (internal pressure) inside the pad to decrease. As a result, air circulation inside the pad is further improved compared to when the vents are arranged asymmetrically.

[0059] Furthermore, the total area of ​​the air outlets 41d located on the front surface 43a of the seat cushion pad 40 is smaller than the total area of ​​the air outlets 41c located in other places. By configuring the air outlets 41c and 41d in this way, the amount of air supplied to the seated person H is ensured by the air outlets 41c provided on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 40, while the air in the ventilation passage is removed by the air outlets 41d provided on the front surface 43a, thereby improving the circulation of air within the seat cushion pad 40.

[0060] As shown in Figure 3, the front end of the first cushion pad material 42 is provided with a projection 42a, and the front end of the second cushion pad material 43 has a recess 43b that engages with the projection 42a. When the second cushion pad material 43 is combined with the first cushion pad material 42, the projection 42a and the recess 43b engage, thereby suppressing misalignment in the width direction of the seat. Furthermore, the non-contact air outlet 41d provided on the front surface of the second cushion pad material 43 is positioned to avoid the recess 43b. By positioning the air outlet 41d to avoid the recess 43b, it prevents the air outlet 41d from being blocked, for example, by a projection 42a that engages with the recess 43b.

[0061] In this embodiment, the non-contact portion is the front surface 43a of the second cushion pad material 43, but the non-contact portion is not limited to this. The non-contact portion can be any position where no load is directly applied by the seated person H, for example, an air outlet 41d may be provided at the rear end or side of the second cushion pad material 43. By providing an air outlet 41d on the front surface 43a of the second cushion pad material 43, the blown air hits the lower leg Hf of the seated person H, thus allowing for effective use of the air.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an air vent 41d is provided on the front surface 43a of the seat cushion pad 40, but at least one air vent may be provided in the seat back pad 20, or more specifically, in the second back pad material 23, in a non-contact portion where the load of the seated person does not directly apply.

[0063] <Ventilation groove 44> Next, the ventilation groove 44 provided on the seat cushion pad 40 on the side facing the seated person will be explained with reference to the diagram. In conventional vehicle seats, air vents were provided on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad in the area that came into contact with the occupant H. Therefore, the area where air could be blown (airflow area) on the occupant-facing side of the pad was limited to the air vents where the weight of the occupant H was applied. To blow more air towards the occupant H, it was necessary to expand the airflow area.

[0064] In the vehicle seat S of this embodiment, in order to expand the airflow area, multiple ventilation grooves 44 are formed on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 40, separate from the suspension groove 41e, for passing air blown out from the air outlet 41c. Furthermore, a suspension groove 41e for suspending the upholstery material 2a is formed on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 40 (more specifically, the second cushion pad material 43) of the vehicle seat S, i.e., on the side facing the occupant. However, the ventilation groove 44 is provided separately from the suspension groove 41e.

[0065] The airflow when the ventilation groove 44 is formed and when it is not will be explained using Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line XX in Figure 7, showing the airflow when the ventilation groove 44 is not formed. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view along line XI-XI in Figure 7, showing the airflow when the ventilation groove 44 is formed.

[0066] As shown in Figure 10, the air flowing through the ventilation passage 41b flows upward (arrow A) through the air outlet 41c and is sent out towards the seating surface (arrow B) via the surface material 2a. Furthermore, the backing material 2ab of the surface material 2a is a sponge-like wadding material that allows air to pass through. The surface material 2aa of the surface material 2aa is also made of a highly breathable fabric or synthetic leather, and the tiny pores in the surface material 2aa allow the air blown out from the air outlet 41c to be sent to the seating surface. As a result, the air is sent out in a dispersed manner in the direction indicated by arrow B. If the surface material 2aa is made of a material with low breathability, pores will be formed in the surface material 2aa. In this way, air from the air outlet 41c can be sent to the surface of the seated person H, but the airflow area is limited to the contact area between the air outlet 41c and the surface material 2a.

[0067] As shown in Figure 11, when a ventilation groove 44 is formed between adjacent air outlets 41c, some of the air flows into the ventilation groove 44 in the direction indicated by arrow C1. The air that flows into the ventilation groove 44 is then sent out through the surface material 2a toward the seated side (arrow D). In this way, air can be supplied not only from the contact area with the air outlet 41c but also from the opening of the ventilation groove 44 to the side facing the seated person, allowing for airflow over a wider area and expanding the airflow area.

[0068] The ventilation grooves 44 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 9. Multiple ventilation grooves 44 are formed in the seat cushion pad 40, and each of the multiple ventilation grooves 44 has its longitudinal direction extending along the seat width direction and is positioned on the upper surface of the seat cushion pad 40. By providing multiple ventilation grooves 44 that extend in the width direction of the seat, air can be circulated over a wider area on the seating surface of the seat cushion 2.

[0069] Furthermore, the multiple ventilation grooves 44 are configured to blow more air from the rear portion of the seat cushion 2. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the multiple ventilation grooves 44 consist of a front ventilation groove 45 provided in front of the center line J in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion pad 40, and rear ventilation grooves 46a, 46b positioned behind the center line J. Furthermore, the multiple ventilation grooves 44 are configured such that the total area of ​​the rear ventilation grooves 46a and 46b, which are located on the rear side of the seat cushion 2, is larger than the total area of ​​the front ventilation grooves 45, which are located at the front.

[0070] When a occupant H is seated, the occupant H's buttocks Hd are located behind the seat cushion 2, which can cause heat to build up behind the vehicle seat S. Therefore, by making the total area of ​​the rear ventilation grooves 44 (rear ventilation grooves 46a, 46b) larger than the total area of ​​the front ventilation grooves 44 (front ventilation groove 45), more air can be sent towards the occupant H's buttocks Hd, thereby suppressing heat buildup.

[0071] Furthermore, the multiple ventilation grooves 44 are formed to connect adjacent air outlets 41c. Of the multiple ventilation grooves 44, both ends of the front ventilation groove 45 and the rear ventilation groove 46b are formed to connect directly to the air outlets 41c. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, some of the air blown out from the air outlets 41c flows into the front ventilation groove 45 and the rear ventilation groove 46b (arrow C1), and is then sent from the front ventilation groove 45 and the rear ventilation groove 46b through the surface material 2a to the surface facing the seated person (arrow D).

[0072] Note that the ends of the ventilation groove 44 do not necessarily have to be directly connected to the air outlet 41c. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view along the line XII-XII in Figure 7, and is an explanatory diagram illustrating the airflow when they are not directly connected. As shown in Figures 7 and 12, both ends of the rear ventilation groove 46a are close to the air outlet 41c but are not directly connected. However, because the backing material 2ab of the surface material 2a is a highly breathable sponge-like wadding material, although the air blown out from the air outlet 41c does not flow directly into the rear ventilation groove 46a, as shown by arrow C2, the air blown out from the air outlet 41c can flow into the rear ventilation groove 46a via the backing material 2ab.

[0073] Because air flows more easily through the rear ventilation groove 46a than through the backing material 2ab, the air that flows in via the backing material 2ab flows to the center of the rear ventilation groove 46a. As a result, the incoming air is sent from the entire rear ventilation groove 46a through the surface material 2a to the surface facing the seater, as shown by arrow D.

[0074] Furthermore, the ventilation groove 44 may consist of a first groove 44a extending in the width direction of the seat, and a second groove 44b extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat S and intersecting the first groove 44a, as in the rear ventilation grooves 46a and 46b. The first groove 44a and the second groove 44b of the rear ventilation grooves 46a and 46b are perpendicular, but the direction of intersection is not limited to the vertical direction, and the second groove 44b may intersect the first groove 44a at an angle of, for example, 30 degrees. By providing a second groove 44b that extends in a direction intersecting the first groove 44a, the area of ​​the opening of the ventilation groove 44 can be increased, and the airflow area can be expanded.

[0075] In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S had ventilation grooves 44 on the seat cushion pad 40 facing the occupant. However, ventilation grooves 44 may also be provided on the seat back pad 20 facing the occupant, in addition to the seat cushion pad 40, to expand the airflow area.

[0076] The vehicle seat S, which is an embodiment of the present invention, has been described above with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats S mounted on ground-running vehicles with wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but can also be applied to seats mounted on aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on surfaces other than the ground. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] S Vehicle Seat Sh Seat Body F Seat Frame H Seated person Hd Buttocks Hf lower leg 1 seat back 1a Skin material 2 seat cushions 2a Skin material 2aa surface material 2ab Back material 3 Headrests 3a Skin material 3b Headrest pad 3c Headrest Frame 3D headrest stay 10 Seat back frame 11. Backside frame 12. Upper frame 13 Lower frame 14 Connecting Frames 15 Wire members 16 Pressure-receiving member 17 Pillar support section 20 Seat back pads (pads) 21a Duct insertion hole 21b Ventilation channel 21c Air outlet 22. First back pad material (first pad material) 23. Second back pad material (second pad material) 30 Seat Cushion Frame 31 Cushion Side Frame 31a Flange 32 Pan Frames 33 Front connecting frame 34 Rear connecting frame 35 Support member 40 Seat Cushion Pads (Pads) 41a Duct insertion hole 41b Ventilation channel 41c Air outlet 41d Air outlet 41e Suspension groove 42. First cushion pad material (first pad material) 42a Protrusion 43. Second cushion pad material (second pad material) 43a Front (non-contact part) 43b Recess 44 Ventilation grooves 44a First groove 44b Second groove 45 Front ventilation groove 46a, 46b Rear ventilation grooves 50 Blower 51 Mounting bracket 51a Frame assembly section 52 Blower 53 Duct 53a Blower connection 53b 1st extension section 53c Bent section 53d 2nd extension section 53e Bending section 54 First speech bubble 55 Second speech bubble 70 Rail device 71 Lower Rail 72 Upper Rail 90 Reclining device 91 Reclining device cover

Claims

1. It comprises a pad to support the seated person, a surface material covering the pad, and a blower, Inside the pad, a ventilation passage is formed for air supplied from the blower, and on the side of the pad facing the seated person, a plurality of air outlets are formed that communicate with the ventilation passage and blow out the air supplied from the blower. On the seat-side surface of the pad, a suspension groove for suspending the surface material and a ventilation groove separate from the suspension groove for passing the air blown out from the air outlet are formed. Multiple ventilation grooves are formed, The aforementioned pad is a seat cushion pad that supports the buttocks of the seated person, The plurality of ventilation grooves are composed of front ventilation grooves located forward of the center in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion pad and rear ventilation grooves located at the rear. A vehicle seat characterized in that the total area of ​​the rear ventilation grooves is greater than the total area of ​​the front ventilation grooves.

2. A seat comprising a pad for supporting a seated person, a surface material covering the pad, and a blower, Inside the pad, a ventilation passage is formed for air supplied from the blower, and on the side of the pad facing the seated person, a plurality of air outlets are formed that communicate with the ventilation passage and blow out the air supplied from the blower. On the seat-side surface of the pad, a suspension groove for suspending the surface material and a ventilation groove separate from the suspension groove for passing the air blown out from the air outlet are formed. The pad comprises a first pad material and a second pad material placed on top of the seated side of the first pad material. The ventilation passage is formed in the second pad material between the first pad material and the second pad material. The seat for a vehicle is characterized in that the ventilation groove is formed on the seated side of the second pad material.

3. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventilation groove extends in the width direction of the seat.

4. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventilation groove connects adjacent air outlets.

5. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the end of the ventilation groove is connected to one of the plurality of air outlets.

6. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ventilation groove has a first groove portion and a second groove portion extending in a direction intersecting the first groove portion.

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