Vehicle seat

Abstract

This vehicle seat comprises a pad (23) which is composed of a cushion material, a cover section (24) which covers the pad (23), and a hook-and-loop fastener (25) which is provided on the pad (23). The cover section (24) is provided with a back surface section (24B) which faces the pad (23). The back surface section (24B) is provided with a high-density section (24C) which is composed of a fiber structure or a net-like structure, and a low-density section (24D) which is composed of a fiber structure that has a lower density than the high-density section (24C) or a net-like structure that has a lower density than the high-density section (24C). The low-density section (24D) is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener (25).

Description

Vehicle seats

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle seat is known in which a pad made of a cushioning material is covered with a cover portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 177226

[0004] The cushioning material of the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1 is made of high-density nonwoven fabric, so even if you try to fasten the pad made of cushioning material to the cover portion with a hook-and-loop fastener, the hook-and-loop fastener does not easily fit on the high-density nonwoven fabric, and the cover portion ends up shifting relative to the padding material.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can prevent a cover portion from shifting relative to a pad.

[0006] In one embodiment of the vehicle seat of the present invention, the cover portion has, on the back surface facing the pad, a high-density portion made of a fiber structure or a mesh structure, and a low-density portion made of a fiber structure or a mesh structure having a lower density than the high-density portion, and the low-density portion is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener.

[0007] According to the above aspect, the back surface of the cover portion has a low-density portion composed of a low-density fiber structure or mesh structure at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener, so that the low-density portion makes it easier for the hook-and-loop fastener to be fastened to the cover portion, thereby preventing the cover portion from shifting relative to the pad.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a front view of a seat back of the vehicle seat; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front view of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a seat back of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a seat back of a vehicle seat according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the second and subsequent embodiments, the description of the same components as those in the embodiments already described will be simplified or omitted.

[0010] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat 1. The vehicle seat 1 includes a seat back 2, a seat cushion 3, and a headrest 4.

[0011] The seat back 2 is a portion against which a seated occupant leans backward. The seat back 2 includes a main support portion 21 and side support portions 22.

[0012] The main support portion 21 is a portion of the seat back 2 that includes the center portion in the seat width direction, and supports the back of a seated occupant from behind. The side support portions 22 support the back of a leaning occupant from the seat width direction, preventing the occupant from sliding in the seat width direction. The side support portions 22 are provided at positions on the end side of the main support portion 21 in the seat width direction, and protrude further forward than the main support portion 21.

[0013] The seat cushion 3 is a seating surface of the vehicle seat 1, on which an occupant sits. The seat cushion 3 includes a main support portion 31 and side support portions 32.

[0014] The main support portion 31 is a portion of the seat cushion 3 that includes the center portion in the seat width direction, and supports the buttocks of the occupant from below. The side support portions 32 support the buttocks of the seated occupant from the seat width direction, preventing the occupant from sliding in the seat width direction. The side support portions 32 are provided at positions on the end sides of the main support portion 31 in the seat width direction, and protrude above the main support portion 31.

[0015] [Configuration of seat back] Fig. 2 is a front view of the seat back 2, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 2. The seat back 2 includes a pad 23, a cover portion 24, and a hook-and-loop fastener 25.

[0016] The pad 23 is made of a cushioning material such as urethane foam, and is covered by a cover portion 24. The pad 23 has a shape in which the portion that constitutes the side support portion 22 protrudes more than the portion that constitutes the main support portion 21.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 24 includes a surface portion 24A and a back surface portion 24B facing the pad 23.

[0018] The surface portion 24A is the front side portion of the cover portion 24 and is made of natural leather, synthetic leather, cloth, etc. The surface portion 24A and the back portion 24B are joined to each other by adhesion or fusion bonding.

[0019] The back surface portion 24B includes a high-density portion 24C made of a fiber structure or a net structure, and a low-density portion 24D made of a fiber structure or a net structure having a lower density than the high-density portion 24C. The high-density portion 24C is provided in the main support portion 21 and the side support portion 22. The low-density portion 24D is provided in the main support portion 21. The low-density portion 24D is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener 25, faces the hook-and-loop fastener 25, and is engaged with the hook-and-loop fastener 25.

[0020] The fiber structure is a structure in which fibers are oriented in a certain direction or randomly entangled and accumulated, while the network structure is a structure in which resin is formed into a network in advance or curved fiber- or thread-like resin is joined by fusion or the like to form a network.

[0021] The hook-and-loop fastener 25 has a plurality of hook portions 25A that stand up from a base material 25B so that their tip portions are hook-shaped. The hook-and-loop fastener 25 is provided on the pad 23 and secures the cover portion 24 to the pad 23. That is, the base material 25B of the hook-and-loop fastener 25 is attached to the pad 23 at a position corresponding to the low-density portion 24D of the cover portion 24, and the hook portions 25A are hooked onto the low-density portion 24D, thereby securing the cover portion 24 to the pad 23. In the present embodiment, the hook-and-loop fasteners 25 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the main support portion 21 and at the end of the main support portion 21 on the side support portion 22 side, i.e., the end of the main support portion 21 in the seat width direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ).

[0022] 5 is a front view of the seat cushion 3. Similar to the seat back 2, the seat cushion 3 includes a main support portion 31, a side support portion 32, a pad 33, a cover portion 34, and a hook-and-loop fastener 35. Since each component of the seat cushion 3 is configured in the same manner as the corresponding component of the seat back 2, only the cover portion 34 and the hook-and-loop fastener 35 will be briefly described, and descriptions of the other components will be omitted.

[0023] The cover portion 34 includes a surface portion 34A and a back portion 34B. The back portion 34B includes a high-density portion 34C made of a fiber structure or a net structure, and a low-density portion 34D made of a fiber structure having a lower density than the high-density portion 34C or a net structure having a lower density than the high-density portion 34C. The high-density portion 34C is provided in the main support portion 31 and the side support portion 32. The low-density portion 34D is provided in the main support portion 31. The low-density portion 34D is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener 35, faces the hook-and-loop fastener 35, and is fastened to the hook-and-loop fastener 35.

[0024] The hook-and-loop fastener 35 has a plurality of hook portions 35A standing upright from a base material 35B. The hook-and-loop fasteners 35 are provided at the front and rear ends of the main support portion 31 and at the end of the main support portion 31 on the side of the side support portion 32 (see FIG. 1).

[0025] According to the above-described embodiment, the back surface portions 24B, 34B of the cover portions 24, 34 are provided with low-density portions 24D, 34D composed of a low-density fiber structure or mesh structure at positions corresponding to the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35. The low-density portions 24D, 34D make it easier for the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35 to be fastened to the cover portions 24, 34, thereby preventing the cover portions 24, 34 from shifting relative to the pads 23, 33.

[0026] Furthermore, since the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35 are provided at the ends of the main support parts 21, 31 on the side support part 22, 32 side, the cover parts 24, 34 can be prevented from floating up relative to the pads 23, 33 between the main support parts 21, 31 and the side support parts 22, 32.

[0027] In the cover parts 24, 34, low-density parts 24D, 34D that have a lower density and higher cushioning than the high-density parts 24C, 34C are provided in the main support parts 21, 31, thereby improving the cushioning properties of the main support parts 21, 31.

[0028] Furthermore, since the high-density portions 24C, 34C, which have a higher density and higher rigidity than the low-density portions 24D, 34D, are provided in the side support portions 22, 32, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the side support portions 22, 32. Therefore, it is possible to improve the ability of the side support portions 22, 32 to hold the occupant.

[0029] Second Embodiment Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a seat back 2A according to this embodiment, viewed in the same direction as Fig. 3. In this embodiment, the pad 23 and the back surface 24E of the cover portion 24 differ from those in the first embodiment.

[0030] The pad 23 of this embodiment has a recess 23A that accommodates the hook-and-loop fastener 25. The recess 23A is formed so that the opening area increases from the bottom 23B toward the opening 23C.

[0031] The back surface portion 24E is formed by compressing the fiber structure or the network structure in the thickness direction with pressures that vary depending on the location. The back surface portion 24E has a thickness that varies depending on the location, with the thinner portions constituting the high-density portions 24F and the thicker portions constituting the low-density portions 24G.

[0032] According to this embodiment, the hook-and-loop fastener 25 is housed in the recess 23A provided in the pad 23. Furthermore, the low-density portion 24G of the cover portion 24 is thicker than the high-density portion 24F and protrudes further than the high-density portion 24F, but because the low-density portion 24G is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener 25, the low-density portion 24G can be fitted into the recess 23A. This prevents the cover portion 24 from floating up relative to the pad 23.

[0033] Furthermore, since the recess 23A is formed so that the opening area increases from the bottom 23B toward the opening 23C, the low-density portion 24G can be easily fitted into the recess 23A.

[0034] [Third embodiment] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a seat back 2B according to this embodiment, viewed in the same direction as Fig. 4. In this embodiment, a rear surface portion 24H of a cover portion 24 differs from that of the first embodiment.

[0035] The back surface portion 24H includes a high-density portion 24J, a low-density portion 24K, and a variable-density portion 24L. The high-density portion 24J, the low-density portion 24K, and the variable-density portion 24L each have a different density and thickness. The high-density portion 24J is provided at the top of the side support portion 22. The low-density portion 24K is provided in the main support portion 21. The low-density portion 24K is provided over the entire main support portion 21, but may be provided only in a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener 25. The variable-density portion 24L is formed of a fiber structure formed so that the density decreases from the high-density portion 24J to the low-density portion 24K, or a network structure formed so that the density decreases from the high-density portion 24J to the low-density portion 24K.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the density gradually decreases from the high-density portion 24J provided at the top of the side support portion 22 to the low-density portion 24K provided in the main support portion 21, thereby maintaining the cushioning properties of the main support portion 21 and the ability of the side support portion 22 to hold the occupant while suppressing sudden changes in the density of the cover portion 24, thereby improving sitting comfort.

[0037] As described above, the best configurations, methods, and the like for implementing the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described mainly with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-disclosed descriptions limiting the shape, material, and the like are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, descriptions using names of components that are free from some or all of the limitations on shape, material, and the like are included in the present invention.

[0038] The pads 23 and 33 may be made of a cushioning material other than urethane foam, for example, a fiber structure or a net structure. The pad 33 may have a recess for accommodating the hook-and-loop fastener 35, similar to the recess 23A of the pad 23.

[0039] In the cover portion 24, 34, the entire back surface portion 24B, 24E, 24H, 34B may be composed of a fibrous structure or a net structure, or only the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D and the high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C may be composed of a fibrous structure or a net structure, as long as the density of the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D is lower than the density of the high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C. The cover portion 24, 34 may include an intermediate layer interposed between the surface portion 24A and the back surface portion 24B, and the surface portion 24A and the back surface portion 24B may be joined via the intermediate layer. The material of the intermediate layer is not particularly limited.

[0040] The back surface portion 34B of the cover portion 34 may be configured similarly to the back surface portions 24E and 24H of the seat backs 2A and 2B. That is, the back surface portion 34B may have a thickness that varies depending on the location, like the back surface portion 24E, with the thinner portions constituting the higher density portions and the thicker portions constituting the lower density portions. The back surface portion 34B may also have a higher density portion, a lower density portion, and a variable density portion, like the back surface portion 24H. In this case, the higher density portion, the lower density portion, and the variable density portion may have the same density, thickness, and arrangement as the higher density portion 24J, the lower density portion 24K, and the variable density portion 24L of the back surface portion 24H.

[0041] The high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C, the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D, and the variable-density portion 24L may be composed of either a fibrous structure or a net-like structure. For example, the high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C, the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D, and the variable-density portion 24L may all be composed of a fibrous structure or all be composed of a net-like structure. Alternatively, the high-density portions 24C, 24F, 34C may be composed of a fibrous structure, and the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 34D may be composed of a net-like structure, or vice versa. Alternatively, two of the high-density portion 24J, the low-density portion 24K, and the variable-density portion 24L may be composed of a fibrous structure, and the remaining one may be composed of a net-like structure. The high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C, the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D, and the variable-density portion 24L may have the same or different thicknesses as long as they have different densities. For example, the high-density portion 24J, the low-density portion 24K, and the variable-density portion 24L may each be formed to the same thickness. The high-density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C, the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D, and the variable-density portion 24L may have the same or different materials and structures of the fiber structures or network structures.

[0042] The high density portions 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C may be provided over the entire side support portions 22, 32, or may be provided only at the tops of the side support portions 22, 32.

[0043] The low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D may be provided over the entire main support portion 21, 31, or may be provided over a portion of the main support portion 21, 31 that is wider than the positions corresponding to the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35, or may be provided only at the positions corresponding to the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35.

[0044] The variable density portion 24L may be composed of a fibrous structure or a net-like structure formed so that the density decreases continuously from the high density portion 24J to the low density portion 24K, or may be composed of a fibrous structure or a net-like structure formed so that the density decreases intermittently from the high density portion 24J to the low density portion 24K. The variable density portion 24L may be composed of a fibrous structure or a net-like structure formed so that the density decreases from the high density portion 24J to the low density portion 24K while maintaining a constant thickness.

[0045] The hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35 may be provided on the side support portions 22, 32. In this case, recesses for accommodating the hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35 may be provided in the portions of the pads 23, 33 that constitute the side support portions 22, 32. The hook-and-loop fasteners 25, 35 may be provided with upstanding portions whose tips spread out in an umbrella or mushroom shape instead of or together with the hook portions 25A, 35A, and the upstanding portions may be configured to engage with the low-density portions 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D.

[0046] 1...vehicle seat, 21, 31...main support portion, 22, 32...side support portion, 23, 33...pad, 23A...recess, 24, 34...cover portion, 24B, 24E, 24H, 34B...back surface portion, 24C, 24F, 24J, 34C...high density portion, 24D, 24G, 24K, 34D...low density portion, 24L...variable density portion, 25, 35...hook and loop fastener.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising: a pad made of cushioning material; a cover portion covering the pad; and a hook-and-loop fastener provided on the pad; the cover portion having a back surface facing the pad; the back surface having a high-density portion made of a fiber structure or a mesh structure, and a low-density portion made of a fiber structure having a lower density than the high-density portion or a mesh structure having a lower density than the high-density portion; and the low-density portion is provided at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener.

2. A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the pad has a recess for accommodating the hook-and-loop fastener.

3. A vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the recess is formed so that the opening area increases from the bottom toward the opening.

4. A vehicle seat as described in claim 1, comprising: a main support portion that supports the back or buttocks of a seated occupant; and side support portions that are provided at positions on the end side of the main support portion in the seat width direction and that protrude further than the main support portion, and the low-density portion is provided on the main support portion.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the hook-and-loop fastener is provided at an end of the main support portion on the side of the side support portion.

6. A vehicle seat as described in claim 4, wherein the high density portion is provided at the top of the side support portion, the low density portion is provided at the main support portion, and the back surface portion is provided with a variable density portion made up of a fiber structure formed so that the density decreases from the high density portion toward the low density portion, or a mesh structure formed so that the density decreases from the high density portion toward the low density portion.

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