Vehicle seat

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle seat that can suppress unsteadiness of a sitting occupant.　A vehicle seat (10) comprises: a cushion pad (24) that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant from the seat lower side; and cushion springs (20) and support wires (22) that support the cushion pad (24) from the seat lower side. The cushion springs (20) bend and deform when a load is input toward the seat lower side. The support wires (22) span the seat in the seat front-rear direction and are located to the outer side of the cushion springs (20) in the seat width direction, and, when a load that causes the cushion pad (24) to deform is transmitted, the support wires (22) resist the load.

Description

Vehicle seats

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle seats.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2020-104740 discloses a vehicle seat that suppresses wobbling of a seated occupant. The vehicle seat described in this document is provided with a pair of left and right side reinforcement portions that partially reinforce the cushion pad on the outer side in the seat width direction and diagonally downward relative to the center of the thighs of the seated occupant. The vehicle seat described in this document also is provided with a pair of left and right underside reinforcement portions that partially reinforce the underside of the cushion pad on the outer side in the seat width direction and diagonally downward relative to the occupant's buttocks. This makes it possible to suppress wobbling of the seated occupant.

[0003] In consideration of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle seat that can suppress wobbling of a seated occupant.

[0004] A vehicle seat of a first aspect includes a cushion pad that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant from below the seat, a cushion spring that supports the cushion pad from below the seat and flexes and deforms when a load is input to the below the seat, and a support wire that is suspended in the front-to-rear direction of the seat outside the cushion spring in the width direction of the seat, supports the cushion pad from below the seat, and resists a load that tends to deform the cushion pad when the load is transmitted.

[0005] In the vehicle seat of the first aspect, when the cushion pad is pressed downward by the seated occupant's buttocks, the cushion spring is flexed and deformed. Furthermore, when the seated occupant's buttocks press against a portion of the cushion pad facing the support wire, a load is transmitted to the support wire, and the support wire resists the load. This prevents the portion of the cushion pad facing the support wire from sinking, thereby preventing the seated occupant's buttocks from swaying in the seat width direction. In this way, the vehicle seat of the first aspect can prevent the seated occupant from wobbling.

[0006] A vehicle seat of a second aspect is the vehicle seat of the first aspect, wherein the cushion pad includes a cushion pad main body and a hard portion that is formed of a member harder than the cushion pad main body and is integrated with the cushion pad main body, and the hard portion is provided in a position facing the support wire.

[0007] In the vehicle seat of the second aspect, the hard portion integral with the cushion pad is provided at a position facing the support wire. In this configuration, a wider area of ​​the cushion pad main body can be supported by the hard portion and the support wire compared to a configuration in which the hard portion is not provided.

[0008] A vehicle seat of a third aspect is the vehicle seat of the first or second aspect, wherein a portion of the support wire that resists a load that attempts to deform the cushion pad extends linearly from the rear side of the seat to the front side.

[0009] In the vehicle seat of the third aspect, deformation of the support wire due to the load can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the portion of the support wire that resists the load is curved in the seat width direction or the up-down direction, thereby further suppressing wobbling of the seated occupant.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the vehicle seat is a vehicle seat according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the cushion spring and the support wire are connected in the seat width direction via a connecting member.

[0011] In the vehicle seat of the fourth aspect, the cushion spring and the support wire are connected in the seat width direction via a connecting member. With this configuration, for example, a work procedure can be adopted in which the cushion spring and the support wire connected via the connecting member are attached to the cushion frame. This makes it possible to easily assemble the vehicle seat.

[0012] The vehicle seat according to the present disclosure has the excellent effect of suppressing wobbling of a seated occupant.

[0013] 1 is a side view schematically showing a vehicle seat; 2 is a perspective view showing a cushion frame, a cushion spring, a support wire, etc.; 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the seat cushion taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 2; 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, in which a deflected cushion wire is depicted by a two-dot chain line.

[0014] A vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment of the present disclosure will be described using Figures 1 to 4. Note that in the figures, the arrow FR indicates the front side of the seat, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the seat, the arrow RH indicates the right side in the seat width direction, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the seat width direction. Furthermore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, when referring to front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions, these refer to front-rear in the front-rear direction of the seat, up-down in the up-down direction of the seat, and left-right in the seat width direction.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12 that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant from below, a seat back 14 that supports the back of the seated occupant from the rear, and a headrest 16 that supports the head of the seated occupant.

[0016] 2 and 3, the seat cushion 12 includes a cushion frame 18 that forms the framework of the seat cushion 12, a plurality of cushion springs 20 attached to the cushion frame 18, and a pair of left and right support wires 22 attached to the cushion frame 18. The seat cushion 12 also includes a cushion pad 24 attached to the cushion frame 18.

[0017] The cushion frame 18 includes a pair of left and right side frame portions 26 spaced apart in the seat width direction and extending in the front-rear direction, a front frame portion 28 connecting the front portions of the pair of left and right side frame portions 26 in the left-right direction, and a rear frame portion 30 connecting the rear ends of the pair of left and right side frame portions 26 in the left-right direction. The front frame portion 28 is provided with a plurality of front locking portions 28A to which front ends of a plurality of cushion springs 20 (described later) are engaged. In this embodiment, four front locking portions 28A are provided, and these four front locking portions 28A are arranged at intervals in the seat width direction. Furthermore, to the right of the rightmost front locking portion 28A in the front frame portion 28, a front locking portion 28B to which a front end of one of the support wires 22 (described later) is engaged is provided. Furthermore, to the left of the leftmost front locking portion 28A in the front frame portion 28, a front locking portion 28B to which a front end of the other support wire 22 (described later) is engaged is provided.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2 , the cushion spring 20 is formed by, for example, bending a round steel bar. The rear end of the cushion spring 20 forms a rear locking portion 20A that is bent into a generally U-shape so that the lower end is open. The front end of the cushion spring 20 forms a front locking portion 20B that is bent to one side in the seat width direction. Furthermore, the portion of the cushion spring 20 between the rear locking portion 20A and the front locking portion 20B forms a flexible portion 20C that is repeatedly bent left and right from the rear to the front. When a load from a cushion pad 24 (described later) is input to the flexible portion 20C, the flexible portion 20C is flexed downward. In this embodiment, four cushion springs 20 are arranged spaced apart in the seat width direction. Of the four cushion springs 20, the front locking portions 20B of the two right-side cushion springs 20 are bent leftward relative to the flexible portion 20C. Furthermore, of the four cushion springs 20, the front locking portions 20B of the two cushion springs 20 on the left side are bent to the right with respect to the flexible portions 20C. The rear locking portions 20A of the four cushion springs 20 are respectively locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portions 20B of the four cushion springs 20 are respectively locked to four front locked portions 28A provided on the front frame portion 28, so that the four cushion springs 20 are suspended in the front-to-rear direction between the rear frame portion 30 and the front frame portion 28. In other words, the rear locking portions 20A of the four cushion springs 20 are respectively locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portions 20B of the four cushion springs 20 are respectively locked to four front locked portions 28A provided on the front frame portion 28, so that the four cushion springs 20 are attached to the cushion frame 18. The central portions in the front-rear direction of the flexible portions 20C of the four cushion springs 20 are connected in the seat width direction via a connecting wire 32. As an example, the connecting wire 32 is formed by bending a round steel bar, similar to the cushion springs 20. In this embodiment, the connecting wire 32 is formed in a rectangular shape with the longitudinal direction being the seat width direction when viewed from above.

[0019] As an example, the support wire 22 is formed by bending a round steel rod similar to the cushion spring 20. The rear end of the support wire 22 forms a rear locking portion 22A that is bent into a generally U-shape so that the lower end is open. The front end of the support wire 22 forms a front locking portion 22B that is bent downward. The portion of the support wire 22 between the rear locking portion 22A and the front locking portion 22B forms a support portion 22C that extends linearly from the rear side to the front side. The rear locking portion 22A of one support wire 22 is locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portion 22B of the other support wire 22 is locked to a right-side front locked portion 28B provided on the front frame portion 28, so that the one support wire 22 is suspended in the front-rear direction between the rear frame portion 30 and the front frame portion 28. That is, the rear locking portion 22A of one support wire 22 is locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portion 22B of one support wire 22 is locked to the right-side front locked portion 28B provided on the front frame portion 28, thereby attaching one support wire 22 to the cushion frame 18. Furthermore, the rear locking portion 22A of the other support wire 22 is locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portion 22B of the other support wire 22 is locked to the left-side front locked portion 28B provided on the front frame portion 28, thereby allowing the other support wire 22 to be hung in the front-to-rear direction between the rear frame portion 30 and the front frame portion 28. That is, the rear locking portion 22A of the other support wire 22 is locked to the rear frame portion 30, and the front locking portion 22B of the other support wire 22 is locked to the left front locked portion 28B provided on the front frame portion 28, thereby attaching the other support wire 22 to the cushion frame 18. Here, as shown in Figure 3, when one support wire 22 is attached to the cushion frame 18, the support portion 22C of the one support wire 22 is located between the right side frame portion 26 and the rightmost cushion spring 20.Furthermore, when one support wire 22 is attached to the cushion frame 18, the support portion 22C of the one support wire 22 is positioned above the flexible portions 20C of each cushion spring 20. Although not shown, when the other support wire 22 is attached to the cushion frame 18, the support portion 22C of the other support wire 22 is positioned between the left side frame portion 26 and the leftmost cushion spring 20. Furthermore, when the other support wire 22 is attached to the cushion frame 18, the support portion 22C of the other support wire 22 is positioned above the flexible portions 20C of each cushion spring 20.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the four cushion springs 20 and the pair of left and right support wires 22 are connected in the seat width direction via a rear connecting member 34 and a front connecting member 36, which also serve as connecting members.

[0021] The rear connecting member 34 is formed using a resin material, for example. The rear connecting member 34 includes cushion spring covering portions 34A that cover the rear locking portions 20A of the four cushion springs 20, respectively, and support wire covering portions 34B that cover the rear locking portions 22A of the pair of left and right support wires 22. The rear connecting member 34 also includes a connecting portion 34C that connects the cushion spring covering portions 34A that cover the rear locking portions 20A of the four cushion springs 20, respectively, and the support wire covering portions 34B that cover the rear locking portions 22A of the pair of left and right support wires 22, respectively, in the seat width direction.

[0022] The front connecting member 36 is formed, for example, using a resin material, similar to the rear connecting member 34. The front connecting member 36 includes cushion spring covering portions 36A that cover the front locking portions 20B of the four cushion springs 20, respectively, and support wire covering portions 36B that cover the front locking portions 22B of the pair of left and right support wires 22. The front connecting member 36 also includes a connecting portion 36C that connects, in the seat width direction, the cushion spring covering portions 36A that cover the front locking portions 20B of the four cushion springs 20, respectively, and the support wire covering portions 36B that cover the front locking portions 22B of the pair of left and right support wires 22.

[0023] As described above, in this embodiment, the rear connecting member 34 and the front connecting member 36 are provided only at the rear end and front end of the four cushion springs 20, thereby preventing the rear connecting member 34 and the front connecting member 36 from interfering with the flexural deformation of the four cushion springs 20.

[0024] The cushion pad 24 is, for example, an integrally molded product including a cushion pad main body 38 and a hard portion 40 formed of a material harder than the cushion pad main body 38. The cushion pad main body 38 is, for example, formed of urethane foam or the like. The cushion pad main body 38 includes a main portion 38A constituting a central portion in the seat width direction and side support portions 38B constituting both side portions in the seat width direction. Upper portions of the side support portions 38B protrude upward relative to the upper surface of the main portion 38A. Furthermore, outer portions of the lower surface of the main portion 38A in the seat width direction and the lower surfaces of the side support portions 38B form raised surfaces 38C that rise upward toward the outer sides in the seat width direction. The hard portions 40 are, for example, formed of foamed polypropylene, a hard plastic plate, a steel plate, or the like. The hard portions 40 are provided along the raised surfaces 38C of the cushion pad main body 38, thereby covering the raised surfaces 38C. 3 and 4 , the trim covering the cushion pad main body 38 is omitted. The cushion pad 24 is attached to the cushion frame 18 from above. When the cushion pad 24 is attached to the cushion frame 18, the flexible portions 20C of the multiple cushion springs 20 and the support portions 22C of the pair of left and right support wires 22 are located below the main portion 38A. The support portions 22C of the pair of left and right support wires 22 are disposed opposite to the inner ends of the hard portions 40 in the seat width direction in the up-down direction (see the area surrounded by line C1). The pair of left and right side frame portions 26 are disposed opposite to the outer ends of the hard portions 40 in the seat width direction in the up-down direction (see the area surrounded by line C2).

[0025] (Operations and Effects of the Present Embodiment) Next, operations and effects of the present embodiment will be described.

[0026] 1 to 3, in the vehicle seat 10 described above, when the cushion pad 24 is pressed downward by the seat occupant's buttocks, the flexible portion 20C of the cushion spring 20 is flexed and deformed, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4. Furthermore, when the seat occupant's buttocks press a portion of the cushion pad 24 facing the support portion 22C of the support wire 22, a load is transmitted to the support portion 22C of the support wire 22. This prevents the portion of the cushion pad 24 facing the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 from sinking, thereby preventing the seat occupant's buttocks from swaying in the seat width direction. In this way, the vehicle seat 10 of this embodiment can prevent the seat occupant from wobbling.

[0027] Furthermore, in the vehicle seat 10 of this embodiment, the hard portion 40 that is integrated with the cushion pad main body 38 is provided in a position facing the support wire 22. In this configuration, compared to a configuration in which the hard portion 40 is not provided, the rising surface 38C of the cushion pad main body 38 can be supported by the hard portion 40 and the support wire 22. This makes it possible to further suppress wobbling of the seated occupant compared to a configuration in which the hard portion 40 is not provided.

[0028] Furthermore, in the vehicle seat 10 of this embodiment, the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 extends linearly from the rear side to the front side. This configuration can suppress deformation of the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 in response to a load, compared to a configuration in which the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 is curved in the seat width direction or the up-down direction. This further suppresses wobbling of the seated occupant.

[0029] 2, in the vehicle seat 10 of this embodiment, the plurality of cushion springs 20 and the pair of left and right support wires 22 are connected in the seat width direction via a rear connecting member 34 and a front connecting member 36. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to employ a procedure in which an assembly in which the plurality of cushion springs 20 and the pair of left and right support wires 22 are connected via the rear connecting member 34 and the front connecting member 36 is attached to the cushion frame 18. This makes it possible to facilitate the assembly work of the vehicle seat 10.

[0030] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the plurality of cushion springs 20 and the pair of left and right support wires 22 are connected in the seat width direction via the rear connecting member 34 and the front connecting member 36, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, depending on the positional relationship between the plurality of cushion springs 20 and the pair of left and right support wires 22, the two may not be connected to each other.

[0031] In the above-described embodiment, the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 extends linearly from the rear side to the front side, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Whether the support portion 22C of the support wire 22 is formed linearly may be determined appropriately in consideration of the seating comfort felt by the occupant, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the hard portion 40 is provided in the cushion pad 24, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Whether or not to provide the hard portion 40 in the cushion pad 24 may be determined as appropriate, taking into consideration the rigidity of each portion of the cushion pad 24, etc.

[0033] The above describes one embodiment of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that it can be implemented in various other modified forms within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0034] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-007034, filed on January 19, 2024, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. All documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a cushion pad that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant from below the seat, a cushion spring that supports the cushion pad from below the seat and flexes and deforms when a load is input from below the seat, and a support wire that is spanned in the longitudinal direction of the seat on the outer side in the seat width direction with respect to the cushion spring, supports the cushion pad from below the seat, and resists the load when a load that attempts to deform the cushion pad is transmitted.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion pad includes a cushion pad body and a rigid portion formed of a member harder than the cushion pad body and integrated with the cushion pad body, and the rigid portion is provided at a position facing the support wire.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the support wire that resists a load that attempts to deform the cushion pad extends linearly from the rear side to the front side of the seat.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion spring and the support wire are connected in the seat width direction via a connecting member.

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