Cushion body

Abstract

A cushion body (2) for elastically supporting a seated person is divided into three divided elements: a top-sheet main section that forms a central portion in the widthwise direction of the seat; and top-sheet side sections (5) that form side portions on both sides in the widthwise direction of the seat. The top-sheet side sections (5) have: a base material (5B) that serves as a support base which is fitted, from the surface side of the seat, to the corresponding lower arm (3A) and tilt arm (3E) of a cushion frame (3); and a seat cover that directly or indirectly covers the base material (5B) from the surface side of the seat. The base material (5B) has: a base material inner section (B2) that extends to the rear-surface side of the seat so as to cover the lower arm (3A) and the tilt arm (3E) from the inside in the widthwise direction of the seat; and a slit (B3) which is formed in the base material inner section (B2) as a deformation-promoting part.

Description

Cushion body

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cushion body, and more particularly to a cushion body that elastically supports a seated person.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2024-59200 discloses a seat in which a cushion body consisting of a seat pad and a seat cover that encases the seat pad is divided into three sections in the seat width direction. Specifically, the cushion body is divided into a main top panel that forms the center section in the seat width direction and each of the side top panels that form both side sections in the seat width direction.

[0003] The main and side table tops have seat covers that encase the individual seat pads, and the ends of the seat covers are fastened to a resin base material laid on the back surface of the pads. As a result, the main and side table tops have a configuration in which the individual seat pads are encased between the seat covers and the base material.

[0004] In the configuration described in the above document, the base material has a shape that extends with a substantially constant cross section. Therefore, when a seating load is applied to the cushion body, stress tends to concentrate in a portion of the base material. Therefore, there has been a need for a cushion body that can appropriately distribute the seating load.

[0005] As a means for solving the above problems, the cushion body of the present disclosure takes the following measures.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cushion body that elastically supports a seated occupant, the cushion body including three divided elements: a main top plate that forms a central portion in the seat width direction, and side top plate portions that form both side portions in the seat width direction. The side top plate has a base material that serves as a support base and is attached to the corresponding frame side portion of a seat frame from the front side of the seat, and a seat cover that directly or indirectly covers the base material from the front side of the seat. The base material has a base material inner portion that extends to the back side of the seat so as to cover the frame side portion from the inside in the seat width direction, and a deformation promoting portion formed in the base material inner portion.

[0007] Therefore, the inner substrate portion can be deflected so that the deformation promoting portion is preferentially deformed in response to the input of the seating load, thereby distributing the seating load appropriately without concentrating it on one part of the substrate.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the deformation promoting portion is formed over the entire area in the extending direction of the base material inner portion.

[0009] Therefore, the base material inner portion can be flexibly bent over a wider range in response to the input of the seating load, thereby distributing the seating load more appropriately.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cushion body is applied to a seat cushion, and the deformation promoting portion is formed in an area directly above the center of rotation when adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame, or in an area behind the center of rotation.

[0011] Therefore, the base material can be bent so as to appropriately follow the tilting movement of the seat frame.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cushion body is applied to a seat cushion, and the deformation promoting portion is formed at a position where the rear end surface of a tilt arm that is moved to adjust the tilt angle of the seat frame overlaps with the seat front-rear direction arrangement.

[0013] Therefore, the base material can be bent so as to appropriately follow the tilting movement of the seat frame.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a cushion body according to a first embodiment; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the cushion body removed from the cushion frame; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the seat pad on the side of the top plate removed from the base material; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the base material is assembled to the cushion frame; Fig. 9 is a view seen from the arrow V in Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view seen from the arrow VI-VI in Fig. 5;

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] First Embodiment The configuration of a cushion body 2 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. In the following description, when referring to front, back, up, down, left, and right directions, these refer to the directions shown in the respective figures.

[0017] Furthermore, when a direction is indicated with the word "seat," it refers to a direction based on the seat cushion 1 described below. In the following description, when a specific reference drawing is not shown or when there is no reference symbol corresponding to the reference drawing, any of Figures 1 to 6 will be referred to as appropriate.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, a cushion body 2 according to this embodiment is applied to a seat cushion 1 that forms the seating portion of an automobile seat. As shown in Fig. 2, the seat cushion 1 includes the cushion body 2 that elastically supports the buttocks of a seated occupant, and a cushion frame 3 that supports the cushion body 2 from the back side (underside) of the seat.

[0019] The cushion body 2 is divided into three separate elements: a main top plate 4 that forms the center portion in the seat width direction, and left and right side top plate portions 5 that form both side portions in the seat width direction. The cushion frame 3 is made of metal members assembled into a frame shape in a plan view. Here, the cushion frame 3 corresponds to the "seat frame" in this disclosure.

[0020] Specifically, the cushion frame 3 has a pair of left and right lower arms 3A that form a framework along the left and right sides of the seat cushion 1. The cushion frame 3 has a front pipe 3B that is integrally bridging between the front portions of the lower arms 3A. The cushion frame 3 has a rear pipe 3C that is integrally bridging between the rear portions of the lower arms 3A.

[0021] The cushion frame 3 has a tilt panel 3D that forms a framework along the front portion of the seat cushion 1. The cushion frame 3 has a pair of left and right tilt arms 3E that extend from the left and right sides of the tilt panel 3D toward the rear of the seat and are rotatably connected to the corresponding lower arms 3A.

[0022] The rear end of each tilt arm 3E is connected to the corresponding lower arm 3A so as to be rotatable about an axis (rotation center 3R) extending in the seat width direction. Each tilt arm 3E rotates about the rotation center 3R by a rotational driving force transmitted from a drive unit (not shown). This adjusts the inclination angle (tilt angle) of the tilt panel 3D relative to each lower arm 3A.

[0023] As described above, the cushion body 2 is divided into the main top plate 4 and each side top plate 5, so that parts can be replaced according to the specifications of each divided element. The main top plate 4 and each side top plate 5 are individually assembled to the cushion frame 3 after their respective components are assembled into one divided element.

[0024] Specifically, each of the top side panels 5 is integrally fixed to the cushion frame 3 by fitting with clips (not shown) or fastening with bolts. After each of the top side panels 5 is assembled to the cushion frame 3, the main top panel 4 is snap-fitted between them from above the seat.

[0025] The main top plate 4 and each side top plate 5 have a common basic structure. The main top plate 4 and each side top plate 5 are configured to be flexible so as to appropriately follow the tilting operation that adjusts the tilt angle of the cushion frame 3. The configuration of each divided element of the cushion body 2 will be described in detail below, taking the right side top plate 5 as an example.

[0026] 3, the side table top 5 has a urethane foam seat pad 5A and a resin base material 5B that is laid on the back surface of the seat pad 5A. The side table top 5 also has a fabric seat cover 5C that covers the front surface of the seat pad 5A. The edge of the seat cover 5C is pulled into and secured to the back surface of the base material 5B.

[0027] As a result, the seat cover 5C is integrated with the base material 5B so as to enclose the seat pad 5A between the seat cover 5C and the base material 5B. As a result, the top side panel 5 is assembled into a single module.

[0028] The base material 5B provided on the back surface of the side top panel 5 is integrally fixed to the right tilt arm 3E of the cushion frame 3 shown in Fig. 2 from above the seat by fitting with a clip (not shown) or fastening with a bolt. As a result, the base material 5B is assembled to the right edge of the tilt panel 3D, the tilt arm 3E, and the lower arm 3A so as to cover them from above the seat.

[0029] The base material 5B is bent in a shape that protrudes above the seat in a bank-like shape so as to cover the right tilt arm 3E and lower arm 3A from both the inside and outside in the seat width direction (see FIG. 3). The seat pad 5A is also formed in a shape that protrudes along the bank shape of the base material 5B. The seat pad 5A is assembled so that the bank-shaped recessed back surface of the pad fits onto the bank-shaped protruding surface of the base material 5B.

[0030] Then, the seat cover 5C is placed over the seat pad 5A on the base material 5B from above the seat. The edge of the seat cover 5C is then pulled into and fastened to the back surface of the base material 5B. This completes the assembly of the side table top 5 into a single module.

[0031] 4 and 5 show the state in which only the base material 5B is assembled to the tilt arm 3E. As shown in these figures, the base material 5B has a base material top plate B1 that covers the right tilt arm 3E and lower arm 3A from above the seat, and a base material inner portion B2 that extends downward (to the back side of the seat) from the inner edge of the base material top plate B1. The base material inner portion B2 is shaped so that it extends downward from the inner edge of the base material top plate B1 and then bends diagonally inward in the seat width direction. Here, the tilt arm 3E and lower arm 3A correspond to the "frame side portions" in this disclosure.

[0032] The base material inner portion B2 extends to cover the right tilt arm 3E and the lower arm 3A from the inside in the seat width direction. More specifically, the base material inner portion B2 extends to cover the right tilt arm 3E and the lower arm 3A from the inside over substantially the entire area in the seat front-rear direction. More specifically, the rear region of the base material inner portion B2 is placed over the inner shield 6, which is placed over the lower arm 3A from the inside in the seat width direction, from the inside in the seat width direction.

[0033] A slit B3 is formed in the middle of the substrate inner portion B2 in the front-rear direction of the sheet, cutting the substrate inner portion B2 into two in the front-rear direction of the sheet. The slit B3 is formed in the substrate inner portion B2 so as to open downward (toward the back side of the sheet). The slit B3 is formed so as to cut straight across the entire area in the height direction (extension direction) of the substrate inner portion B2 (see FIG. 6). Here, the slit B3 corresponds to the "deformation promoting portion" of the present disclosure.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the slit B3 is formed in a region slightly rearward of the tilt rotation center 3R of the base material inner portion B2. Specifically, the slit B3 is formed at a position where the slit B3 overlaps with the rear end surface of the tilt arm 3E of the base material inner portion B2 in the seat front-rear direction. More specifically, the slit B3 is formed at a position where the slit B3 also overlaps with the front end surface of the inner shield 6, which faces the rear end surface of the tilt arm 3E from the rear.

[0035] Because the slits B3 are formed in the base material inner portion B2, the base material 5B is able to bend so as to appropriately follow the tilting movement of the cushion frame 3. Specifically, the base material 5B bends in a manner that opens the lower opening of the slits B3 in accordance with the movement of the tilt panel 3D being pulled up around the rotation center 3R.

[0036] Furthermore, as the tilt panel 3D is lowered from the raised position, the base material 5B bends to close the lower opening of the slit B3. By being able to bend in this manner, the base material 5B can appropriately follow the tilting movement of the cushion frame 3 without interfering with the tilting movement.

[0037] Furthermore, the slits B3 allow the base material 5B to bend so as to open the slits B3 even when a seating load is applied, thereby distributing the seating load appropriately without concentrating it on a part of the base material 5B.

[0038] To summarize the above, the cushion body 2 according to this embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0039] That is, the cushion body (2) that elastically supports the seat occupant is configured to be divided into three divided elements: a main top plate (4) that forms the center portion in the seat width direction, and each side top plate (5) that forms both side portions in the seat width direction. The side top plate (5) has a base material (5B) that serves as a support base that is assembled from the front side of the seat to the corresponding frame side portion (3A, 3E) of the seat frame (3), and a seat cover (5C) that directly or indirectly covers the base material (5B) from the front side of the seat.

[0040] The base material (5B) has a base material inner portion (B2) extending toward the rear side of the seat so as to cover the frame side portions (3A, 3E) from the inside in the seat width direction, and a deformation promoting portion (B3) formed on the base material inner portion (B2). According to the above configuration, the base material inner portion (B2) can be deflected so as to preferentially deform the deformation promoting portion (B3) in response to input of a seating load. This allows the seating load to be appropriately distributed without being concentrated on one part of the base material (5B).

[0041] In addition, the deformation promoting portion (B3) is formed over the entire area in the extension direction of the base material inner portion (B2). With this configuration, the base material inner portion (B2) can be flexibly deflected over a wider range in response to the input of the seating load, thereby more appropriately distributing the seating load.

[0042] The cushion body (2) is applied to a seat cushion (1). The deformation promoting portion (B3) is formed in a region directly above the rotation center (3R) when adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame (3), or in a region behind the rotation center (3R). With this configuration, the base material (5B) can be deflected to appropriately follow the tilt movement of the seat frame (3).

[0043] In addition, the deformation promoting portion (B3) is formed at a position where the rear end surface of the tilt arm (3E), which is moved to adjust the tilt angle of the seat frame (3), overlaps with the position in the front-rear direction of the seat. According to the above configuration, the base material (5B) can be deflected so as to appropriately follow the tilt movement of the seat frame (3).

[0044] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure can be embodied in various forms in addition to the above embodiment.

[0045] 1. The cushion body of the present disclosure can be applied to seats of vehicles other than automobiles, such as trains, airplanes, ships, etc. In addition to vehicles, the cushion body can also be applied to non-vehicle seats installed in various facilities, such as sports facilities, theaters, concert venues, and event venues.

[0046] The cushion body can also be applied to seat structures other than seat cushions, such as seat backs, headrests, ottomans, and armrests. The cushion body may not include a seat pad, and the base material may be directly covered with a seat cover. The cushion body may also be configured such that a thin sub-skin cushion made of elastomer or urethane is provided on the surface of the base material instead of the seat pad.

[0047] The cushion body may be applied to a seat cushion that does not have a mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle. Even in such a configuration, by forming a deformation promoting portion in the base material inner portion on the side of the top panel, the base material inner portion can be deflected so that the deformation promoting portion is preferentially deformed in response to the input of the seating load. This allows the seating load to be appropriately distributed without being concentrated in one part of the base material.

[0048] When the cushion body is applied to a seat back with an adjustable folding angle, the deformation promoting portion formed on the inner portion of the base material on the side of the top panel should be formed near the center of rotation when adjusting the folding angle, so that the base material on the side of the top panel can bend to appropriately follow the folding movement.

[0049] When the cushion body is applied to a seat cushion with an adjustable tilt angle, the deformation promoting portion may be formed in the area directly above the center of rotation when adjusting the tilt angle (a position where the center of rotation overlaps with the seat's longitudinal position).

[0050] 2. The deformation promoting portion may be formed in multiple separate locations on the substrate inner portion on the top plate side. The deformation promoting portion may be any portion that weakens a portion of the substrate inner portion so that it is preferentially deflected by an external load. Specifically, the deformation promoting portion may be a slit that removes weight from a portion of the substrate inner portion, or may be a portion of the substrate inner portion that is thinned or bent back to make it more deflectable. The deformation promoting portion does not necessarily have to be formed over the entire area in the extension direction of the substrate inner. When the deformation promoting portion is a slit, it may be a slit cut into the substrate inner in a linear manner, or may be a slit cut into a curved or broken line.

Claims

1. A cushion body that elastically supports a seated occupant, the cushion body having three divided elements: a main top plate that forms the center portion in the seat width direction, and side top plate portions that form both side portions in the seat width direction; the side top plate having a base material that serves as a support base and is attached to the corresponding frame side portion of the seat frame from the front side of the seat, and a seat cover that covers the base material directly or indirectly from the front side of the seat; the base material having a base material inner portion that extends to the back side of the seat so as to cover the frame side portion from the inside in the seat width direction, and a deformation promoting portion formed on the base material inner portion.

2. A cushion body according to claim 1, wherein the deformation promoting portion is formed over the entire area in the direction in which the base inner portion extends.

3. A cushion body as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cushion body is applied to a seat cushion, and the deformation promoting portion is formed in an area directly above the center of rotation when adjusting the tilt angle of the seat frame, or in an area behind the center of rotation on the seat.

4. A cushion body as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cushion body is applied to a seat cushion, and the deformation promoting portion is formed at a position where it overlaps with the rear end face of a tilt arm that moves to adjust the tilt angle of the seat frame in the longitudinal direction of the seat.

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