Vehicle seat

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle seat capable of preventing performance deterioration of an air flow generation device by suppressing application of an excessive load of a seated person to the air flow generation device while arranging the air flow generation device inside a seat back.　A vehicle seat (S) is provided with a seat back (2) having a seat back frame (30) and a seat back module (2M) replaceably attached to the seat back frame (30). The seat back module (2M) has flexible pad materials (2a, 2b), a skin material (2c), a blower device (100), and a first back cover (40) that covers the rear of the seat back module (2M), supports the blower device (100), and is attached to the seat back frame (30). The first back cover (40) has a blower device accommodation recess (42b) that is recessed rearward. The blower device (100) is accommodated in the blower device accommodation recess (42b).

Description

Vehicle seats

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a vehicle seat provided with an air flow generating device.

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle seat has been proposed that includes a blower and an air outlet that blows the air blown by the blower toward a seated occupant. Specifically, the blower is provided inside a seat cushion (sitting portion) or a seat back (backrest portion) that supports the weight of an occupant, and multiple air outlets that blow air toward the occupant's buttocks or back are formed in the seat cushion and the seat back, and ventilation paths through which air passes between the blower and the air outlets are formed in the seat cushion and the seat back. This allows the occupant seated in the vehicle seat to spend the travel time until they reach their destination comfortably while receiving the blower.

[0003] Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle seat in which a blower is disposed at the upper end of the seat back. A typical seat back is configured to deform backward when a seat occupant leans against the seat back to absorb the weight of the seat occupant. Therefore, by disposing the blower at the upper end of the seat back, it is possible to obtain the effect of preventing the rotation of the blower from being hindered by deformation caused by the seat occupant's weight when the seat occupant leans against the seat back.

[0004] JP 2009-291310 A

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 has the effect of suppressing the performance degradation of the air blower caused by the weight of the seated passenger being applied to the air blower. However, in recent years, as seat backs have become lighter and thinner, there has been a demand for further suppression of the load applied to the air blower in order to suppress the performance degradation of the air blower disposed inside the seat back.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle seat that can position an air flow generating device inside the seat back while preventing the seated person from applying excessive load to the air flow generating device, thereby preventing a decrease in the performance of the air flow generating device.

[0007] The above problem is solved by the vehicle seat of the present invention, which is a vehicle seat equipped with a seat back having a seat back frame and a seat back module replaceably attached to the seat back frame, wherein the seat back module has a flexible padding material, a skin material covering the padding material, an air flow generating device disposed behind the padding material, and a cover member covering the rear of the seat back module, supporting the air flow generating device, and attached to the seat back frame, wherein the cover member has a recess recessed toward the rear, and the air flow generating device is housed in the recess.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the seatback module replaceably attached to the seatback frame includes an airflow generating device and a cover member that covers the rear of the seatback module and supports the airflow generating device, the cover member having a recess that is recessed rearward, and the airflow generating device is housed in the recess. As a result, because the airflow generating device is housed in the recess that is recessed rearward, it is possible to realize a thin seatback while locating the airflow generating device inside the seatback, and further to prevent excessive load from being applied to the airflow generating device by the seat occupant, thereby preventing a decrease in performance of the airflow generating device.

[0009] The cover member may have a reinforcing rib behind the recess, and the airflow generating device may be fixed to the reinforcing rib and housed in the recess. According to the above configuration, the rigidity of the cover member is improved by the reinforcing rib provided behind the recess. Therefore, it is possible to improve the stability when the airflow generating device is attached to the cover member.

[0010] Furthermore, the reinforcing ribs may be orthogonal ribs, each consisting of a vertical reinforcing rib extending in the up-down direction and a horizontal reinforcing rib extending in the left-right direction, and the airflow generating device may be fixed to an intersection of the vertical reinforcing rib and the horizontal reinforcing rib by a fixing member that fixes the airflow generating device. According to the above configuration, the cover member has orthogonal ribs, each consisting of a vertical reinforcing rib and a horizontal reinforcing rib that intersect perpendicularly, and the airflow generating device is fixed to an intersection of the vertical reinforcing rib and the horizontal reinforcing rib by a fixing member, thereby improving the stability of the airflow generating device when attached to the cover member.

[0011] Furthermore, the longitudinal dimension of the reinforcing rib may be greater than the longitudinal dimension of the airflow generating device. According to the above configuration, the reinforcing rib having a sufficient dimension can improve the rigidity of the cover member, and it becomes possible to prevent damage to the airflow generating device due to an external force applied from behind.

[0012] Furthermore, the tip of the reinforcing rib to which the air flow generating device is fixed may be positioned at the same position as the seatback frame in the seat thickness direction. With this configuration, the seatback can be made thinner while the air flow generating device is disposed inside the seatback module. Furthermore, the highly rigid seatback frame surrounds the air flow generating device, protecting it and preventing damage to the air flow generating device.

[0013] Furthermore, the recess may be recessed rearward along the seatback frame inside the seatback frame, and the rear surface of the recess may be located rearward of the seatback frame. According to the above configuration, the highly rigid seatback frame surrounds the airflow generating device housed in the recess, and the rear of the airflow generating device is covered with a reinforcing rib. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the seatback while suppressing the application of excessive external force to the airflow generating device, thereby preventing damage to the airflow generating device.

[0014] The airflow generating device may further include a connection cable electrically connected to the airflow generating device, the connection cable being arranged to extend along the side wall of the recess. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent external forces such as the weight of a seated occupant from being applied to the connection cable extending along the side wall of the recess, thereby preventing the connection cable from breaking.

[0015] The cover member may have a cable penetration portion through which the connection cable passes, the cable penetration portion being provided at a lower end of the recess. According to the above configuration, the connection cable is inserted through the cable penetration portion provided at the edge of the recess to the rear side of the cover member, thereby preventing external forces such as the weight of a seated person from being applied to the connection cable and preventing breakage of the connection cable.

[0016] The cover member may further include a cable holding member that holds the connection cable, and the cable holding member may be provided adjacent to the cable penetration portion. According to the above configuration, since the cable holding member is provided adjacent to the cable penetration portion, it is possible to prevent the connection cable from being broken due to contact between the connection cable and the cable penetration portion.

[0017] Furthermore, the seatback module may have a mounting bracket that protrudes forward from the seating surface and to which a headrest can be attached, and the airflow generating device may be positioned rearward of the headrest attached to the mounting bracket when housed in the recess. According to the above configuration, the front side of the airflow generating device is covered by the padding material of the seatback and the padding material of the headrest. Therefore, the load of the seated occupant applied to the airflow generating device can be reduced by the two padding materials.

[0018] Furthermore, the seatback module may have a pressure-receiving member disposed behind the padding for receiving the weight of a seated occupant, and the airflow generating device may be attached to the cover member at a position below the bracket and above the upper end of the pressure-receiving member. With the above configuration, the airflow generating device is attached to a position that avoids the bracket and the pressure-receiving member to which a large weight of a seated occupant is applied, thereby preventing a decrease in performance of the airflow generating device due to the weight of the seated occupant.

[0019] According to the present invention, while arranging an airflow generating device inside a seat back, it is possible to prevent excessive load from being applied to the airflow generating device by a seat occupant, thereby preventing a deterioration in performance of the airflow generating device. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the stability when the airflow generating device is attached to a cover member. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the cover member, thereby preventing damage to the airflow generating device due to a rear impact. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the seat back while arranging the airflow generating device inside a seat back module. Furthermore, a highly rigid seat back frame can protect the airflow generating device by surrounding it, thereby preventing damage to the airflow generating device. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the seat back while preventing excessive external force from being applied to the airflow generating device, thereby preventing a deterioration in performance of the airflow generating device. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent external force, such as the weight of a seat occupant, from being applied to a connection cable, thereby preventing disconnection of the connection cable. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent disconnection of the connection cable due to contact between the connection cable and the cable penetration portion. Furthermore, the weight of the seated person applied to the airflow generating device can be reduced by the two pad materials.

[0020] 11A and 11B are perspective views of a vehicle seat according to the present embodiment, as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 11B are perspective views of a vehicle seat as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 11C are exploded perspective views of a seat cushion as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 11D are exploded perspective views of a seat back as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 11E are exploded perspective views of a seat back module as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 11F are exploded perspective views of a headrest as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 11F are perspective views of a seat back module as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 11G are a front view of a first back cover to which a blower device is attached. FIG. 11H are enlarged views of essential parts of the first back cover to which a blower device is attached. FIG. 11H are enlarged perspective views of a portion A of FIG. 9. FIG. 11H are side cross-sectional views of a seat back. FIG. 11H are side cross-sectional views of essential parts of the seat back. FIG. 11H are cross-sectional views taken along XIII-XIII in FIG. 11. FIG. 11H are rear view views of a seat back according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11H are perspective views showing the relationship between a pressure-receiving plate, a first back cover, and a second back cover. FIG. 11H are front views of the first back cover as viewed from the front. FIG. 11H are rear views of the first back cover as viewed from the front. FIG. 11H are front views of the first back cover with the pressure-receiving plate removed. FIG. 11H are views of the pressure-receiving plate as viewed from the front. FIG. 11H are enlarged perspective views of a portion of the seat back. Fig. 21 is a rear view of a seat back module according to a third embodiment, as seen from the rear. Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of a portion of the seat back module. Fig. 23 is a view showing an enlarged view of portion A of Fig. 21. Fig. 24 is a rear view of the mounting bracket. Fig. 25 is a side view of the mounting bracket attached to the first back cover. Fig. 26 is a top view of the mounting bracket attached to the first back cover. Fig. 27 is a view showing a state in which a seat back frame is arranged behind the mounting bracket. Fig. 28 is a perspective view showing a state in which a coupler mounting portion is attached to a position close to an electrical component.

[0021] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 13. A vehicle seat S of this embodiment includes a seat back 2 having a seat back frame 30 and a seat back module 2M replaceably attached to the seat back frame 30. The seat back module 2M includes a blower device 100 and a first back cover 40 that supports the blower device 100. The first back cover 40 has a recessed portion recessed rearward, and an airflow generating device is housed in the recessed portion. This prevents excessive load from being applied to the blower device 100 by the seated occupant, thereby preventing a deterioration in the performance of the blower device 100.

[0022] The configuration of a vehicle seat S according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present invention naturally includes equivalents thereof. Furthermore, in the following description, descriptions regarding the materials, shapes, and sizes of seat components are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] In the following description, the term "seat front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat S, and is the direction that coincides with the front-rear direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. The term "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat S, and is the direction that coincides with the left-right direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. The term "up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle seat S, and is the direction that coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane. The term "outside" simply refers to the side closer to the outside in the direction from the center of the vehicle seat S to the outside, and the term "inside" refers to the side closer to the center in the direction from the outside to the center of the vehicle seat S.

[0024] <Overall Configuration of Vehicle Seat S> Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat S seen obliquely from the front, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat S seen obliquely from the rear. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat S according to this embodiment mainly comprises a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, a headrest 3, a rail device 4, and a reclining device 5.

[0025] <<Seat Cushion 1>> The seat cushion 1 is a support member that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant and supports the seated occupant from below. The seat cushion 1 mainly includes a seat cushion frame 10 (see FIG. 3 ) that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 1, and a seat cushion module 1M that is replaceably attached to the seat cushion frame 10.

[0026] The seat cushion frame 10 is a frame body having a rectangular shape in a top view. The seat cushion frame 10 includes left and right side frames 11, a pan frame 12 connecting the front ends of the left and right side frames 11, and a rear connecting frame 13 connecting the rear ends of the left and right side frames 11. The seat cushion frame 10 also includes a support plate 15 connected to the rear connecting frame 13 via elastic springs 14 and supported by the left and right side frames 11. The support plate 15 is a flexible pressure-receiving member that receives the load of a seat occupant applied via a seat cushion module 1M (described later). Cushion module assembly portions 16 are provided on both sides in the seat width direction in front of the pan frame 12. The cushion module assembly portions 16 can be connected to assembly portions 24 formed on a cushion base cover 20 of the seat cushion module 1M (described later). This allows the seat cushion module 1M to be replaceably assembled to the seat cushion frame 10. The seat cushion frame 10 constitutes a seat frame F together with a seat back frame 30 and a headrest frame 70, which will be described later.

[0027] The seat cushion module 1M mainly comprises a cushion base cover 20, a first pad material 1a, a second pad material 1b, and a cover material 1c (see FIG. 1). The seat cushion module 1M is attached to a seat cushion frame 10 to function as a seat portion of the vehicle seat S. Furthermore, the seat cushion module 1M can be removed and replaced, making it easy to change the design and functionality of the vehicle seat S, and enabling the vehicle seat S to be configured to be optimal for each seated occupant.

[0028] The cushion base cover 20 has a rectangular shape in top view and includes left and right cover side portions 21, a cover front portion 22, and a cover rear portion 23. The cover front portion 22 is provided with an assembly portion 24 for fixing the cushion base cover 20 to the pan frame 12, and the cover rear portion 23 is provided with a frame detachment portion 25 that detachably engages with the rear connecting frame 13. Therefore, the cushion base cover 20 can be attached to the seat cushion frame 10 by engaging the frame detachment portion 25 with the rear connecting frame 13 and assembling the assembly portion 24 to the pan frame 12.

[0029] A control device 90 that controls the vehicle seat S is attached via a bracket 91 below the cushion base cover 20. The control device 90 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that acquires output signals from detection sensors (such as temperature sensors) built into the vehicle, and controls a blower device 100 and a seat heater 110 (described later) based on the output signals to improve the comfort of an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat S.

[0030] The first padding 1a and the second padding 1b are cushioning materials that are placed on the cushion base cover 20 and cover the cushion base cover 20. The first padding 1a and the second padding 1b are foamed resin molded bodies with different properties (breathability and flexibility). By stacking multiple foamed resin molded bodies with different properties in this way, it is possible to reduce manufacturing costs while improving seating comfort and comfort. The cover material 1c is made of a stretchable synthetic leather material and covers the first padding 1a and the second padding 1b.

[0031] <<Seat Back 2>> The seat back 2 is a support member that supports the back of a seated occupant and supports the seated occupant from behind. The seat back 2 has a seat back frame 30 (see FIG. 4 ) that forms a skeleton, a seat back module 2M that is replaceably attached to the seat back frame 30 from the front, and a second back cover 50 that covers the seat back 2 from the rear. The second back cover 50 corresponds to a seat back cover.

[0032] The seatback frame 30 is a frame body having a generally rectangular shape in a front view. The seatback frame 30 includes left and right backside frames 31, an upper frame 32 connecting the upper ends of the left and right backside frames 31, and a lower frame 33 connecting the lower ends of the left and right backside frames 31.

[0033] The backside frames 31 are elongated frame members extending vertically and arranged spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction. Each backside frame 31 is an angled bar formed by bending a plate vertically, and the front edge is bent outward to improve the strength of the backside frame 31. A reclining body 5a, a back rotation shaft 5b, and a spiral spring 5c ​​(see FIG. 1) of the reclining device 5 (described later) are attached to the lower end of the backside frame 31.

[0034] The upper frame 32 is a frame material having a generally inverted U shape, and connects the upper ends of the left and right back side frames 31. The upper frame 32 is made of a round pipe material. The upper frame 32 is provided with four module assembly portions 34 arranged at generally equal intervals from one another. The module assembly portions 34 protrude outward from the upper frame 32 and are assembled to a cover assembly portion 45 (see FIG. 7 ) provided on the first back cover 40 (described later) and an assembly portion 55 provided on the second back cover 50 by being connected and fixed thereto.

[0035] The lower frame 33 is a long frame member extending laterally and connecting the lower ends of the left and right back side frames 31. The lower frame 33 has a recess formed by bending a plate-like body so as to be recessed downward. The back rotation shaft 5b of the reclining device 5, which will be described later, is housed inside the recess.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the seatback module 2M. As shown in FIG. 5, the seatback module 2M mainly comprises a first back cover 40, a first padding material 2a, a second padding material 2b, a seat heater 110, and an upholstery material 2c (see FIG. 1). The seatback module 2M is attached to the seatback frame 30 to function as the backrest of the vehicle seat S. The seatback module 2M can be easily removed and replaced to easily change the design and functionality of the vehicle seat S, enabling the vehicle seat S to be optimized for each occupant. In recent years, technologies for reducing the thickness of the seatback 2 have been attracting attention in order to reduce the weight of the seatback 2. The seatback module 2M of this embodiment incorporates a blower device 100, improving the comfort of the occupant seated in the seatback 2 while achieving a thinner seat back and a thinner design than conventional seatbacks 2. The reduction in thickness of the blower device 100 and the seat back module 2M will be described later.

[0037] The first back cover 40 is a cover member that supports the electrical components housed in the seat back module 2M and protects the electrical components by covering the seat back module 2M from the rear. Specifically, the seat back module 2M supports a blower device 100 (described later), an electric motor 108 (see FIG. 7 ), and a seat heater 110. The first back cover 40 has a synthetic resin cover main body 40a and a first opening 44 formed in the approximate center of the cover main body 40a. The cover main body 40a has an outer dimension slightly larger than the seat back frame 30, and is provided on its rear side with a rear reinforcing rib 40b that improves the strength of the cover main body 40a and a cover assembly portion 45 that is fixed to the module assembly portion 34 of the seat back frame 30.

[0038] The first opening 44 is formed in a position facing a pressure-receiving plate 60 attached to the front side of the first back cover 40. Therefore, when the weight of a seated occupant is applied to the pressure-receiving plate 60, the pressure-receiving plate 60 can deform rearward in accordance with the posture of the seated occupant's back and waist. The cover main body 40a has left and right cover side portions 41 on the outer sides of the first opening 44 in the seat width direction, an upper cover portion 42 above, and a lower cover portion 43 below.

[0039] The left and right cover side portions 41 extend in the vertical direction and are recessed rearward on the inside. The left and right cover side portions 41 are connected to the plate mounting portion 61 of the pressure plate 60 to support the left and right side edges of the pressure plate 60. An electric motor 108 is attached to and supported on the back side of the cover side portion 41 located on the right side when viewed from the front.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 5, the cover upper portion 42 has a generally triangular shape that protrudes upward, and its ends in the seat width direction connect the upper ends of the left and right cover side portions 41. A bracket 46 to which the headrest 3 is attached is fixed to the upper end of the cover upper portion 42. As will be described later with reference to Fig. 11, the bracket 46 protrudes forward from the cover upper portion 42, and the headrest 3 can be fixed to the upper end of the seat back 2 so that it protrudes forward from the seating surface 2d.

[0041] A blower device 100 is attached below the bracket 46. The blower device 100 draws air from the front of the seat back 2 and blows it downward from the rear (back side) to generate an airflow. Specifically, the blower device 100 is attached to a recessed rearward position in the cover upper portion 42. This allows the seat back 2 to be thinned while incorporating the blower device 100 into the seat back 2. Furthermore, the blower device 100 is attached to a recessed rearward position to avoid the bracket 46 and the pressure plate 60, and its front is covered by the padding 3a of the headrest 3, thereby preventing the weight of the seated occupant from being applied to the blower device 100. The attachment position of the blower device 100 and the weight of the seated occupant applied to the blower device 100 will be described in detail later. The blower device 100 corresponds to an airflow generating device.

[0042] The cover lower portion 43 extends in the seat width direction and connects the lower ends of the left and right cover side portions 41 at both ends in the seat width direction. The cover lower portion 43 supports the lower end of the pressure-receiving plate 60. Front reinforcing ribs 40c that improve the strength of the first back cover 40 are provided on the front sides of the cover side portions 41, the cover upper portion 42, and the cover lower portion 43.

[0043] The first pad material 2a and the second pad material 2b are cushion materials that are placed on the first back cover 40 and cover the first back cover 40. The first pad material 2a and the second pad material 2b are foamed resin molded bodies that have different properties (breathability and flexibility). The first pad material 2a is formed with a blower covering portion 2aa that faces the blower device 100, and a space that can supply air to an area facing an intake port 102 of the blower device 100 (described later) is provided.

[0044] The seat heater 110 is an electric heating wire heater that receives electrical energy via a heater connection cable 111 and heats the back and waist of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat S. The cover material 2c is made of a stretchable synthetic leather material and covers the first pad material 2a and the second pad material 2b.

[0045] Returning to FIG. 4 , the second back cover 50 covers the entire seat back 2 from the rear. More specifically, the seat back 2 is assembled by fastening the second back cover 50 and the seat back module 2M while sandwiching the seat back frame 30 in the front-rear direction. The second back cover 50 has a synthetic resin cover main body 50a and a second opening 54 formed in approximately the center of the cover main body 50a. The cover main body 50a protects the seat back module 2M by covering the first back cover 40 from the rear and serves to improve the strength of the seat back 2. An assembly portion 55 that is fixed to the module assembly portion 34 of the seat back frame 30 is provided on the front side of the second back cover 50.

[0046] The second opening 54 is formed at approximately the same position and with approximately the same dimensions as the first opening 44 of the first back cover 40, allowing the pressure plate 60 to deform rearward in accordance with the posture of the seat occupant's back and waist when the weight of the seat occupant is applied to the pressure plate 60. The cover main body 50a has left and right cover side portions 51 on both sides of the second opening 54 in the seat width direction, an upper cover portion 52 above, and a lower cover portion 53 below. The left and right cover side portions 51, upper cover portion 52, and lower cover portion 53 of the second back cover 50 respectively cover the left and right cover side portions 41, upper cover portion 42, and lower cover portion 43 of the first back cover 40 from behind.

[0047] <<Headrest 3>> The headrest 3 is a support member that supports the head of a seated occupant and supports the seated occupant from behind. As shown in Fig. 6 , the headrest 3 mainly comprises a headrest frame 70 that forms the skeleton of the headrest 3, a padding material 3a, a skin material 3b (see Fig. 1 ), and a headrest cover 80.

[0048] The headrest frame 70 is a plate-like body having a substantially rectangular shape in a front view, and includes a frame main body 71 and an outer edge flange 72 that is bent rearward relative to the frame main body 71 at the outer edge of the frame main body 71. A bracket assembly portion 73 is provided in the center of the frame main body 71 and is attached to a bracket 46 fixed to the seat back 2. A fastener (screw) is inserted through the bracket assembly portion 73 to fix the frame main body 71 to a front surface 46a of the bracket 46. In addition, cover assembly portions 74 are provided at the four corners (upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left) of the frame main body 71, to which a headrest cover 80 that covers the rear of the headrest frame 70 is attached. The headrest frame 70 and the headrest cover 80 are assembled by engaging the cover assembly portion 74 with an assembly portion 84 provided on the headrest cover 80.

[0049] The headrest cover 80 is a cover material made of synthetic resin that covers the headrest frame 70 from behind and forms the outer shell of the headrest 3 by being assembled to the headrest frame 70. The headrest cover 80 has approximately the same outer dimensions as the headrest frame 70, and includes a cover body 81 and an outer edge flange 82 that is bent forward relative to the cover body 81 at the outer edge of the cover body 81.

[0050] An attachment opening 83 that allows the bracket 46 to pass through is formed in approximately the center of the headrest cover 80. This allows the bracket 46 and the bracket assembly portion 73 to be joined and connected, making it possible to attach the headrest 3 to the first back cover 40 of the seat back 2 via the headrest cover 80 and the bracket 46. In addition, assembly portions 84 that allow the headrest cover 80 and the headrest frame 70 to engage with each other are provided at the four corners (upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left) of the headrest cover 80. The assembly portions 84 protrude forward and can engage with the cover assembly portions 74 of the headrest frame 70.

[0051] The padding 3a is a cushioning material that covers the front of the headrest frame 70. The padding 3a is a flexible foamed resin molding. The skin material 3b (see FIG. 1) is made of a stretchable synthetic leather material and covers the entire headrest 3.

[0052] <<Rail Device 4>> Returning to Fig. 1 , the rail device 4 connects the vehicle seat S to the floor of the vehicle so that the seat S can slide in the front-rear direction. The rail device 4 has a known structure (the structure of a general slide rail mechanism). In detail, the rail device 4 has a lower rail 4a fixed to the floor and an upper rail 4b that can slide in the front-rear direction relative to the lower rail 4a.

[0053] The rail device 4 also includes a locking member 4c that locks the upper rail 4b against sliding movement relative to the lower rail 4a. The upper rail 4b is normally locked by the locking member 4c so that it cannot slide relative to the lower rail 4a. When the occupant performs a predetermined operation, the upper rail 4b transitions to an unlocked state in which it can slide relative to the lower rail 4a. The locking member 4c has a known locking mechanism.

[0054] <<Reclining Device 5>> The reclining device 5 rotatably connects the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 1. More specifically, the seat back 2 can be displaced between an upright position in which the seat back 2 is upright, a forward-tilting position in which the seat back 2 is tilted forward, and a rearward-tilting position in which the seat back 2 is tilted backward.

[0055] The reclining device 5 has a known reclining mechanism. Specifically, the reclining device 5 has a reclining main body 5a that is driven to rotate the seat back 2, a back rotation shaft 5b, and a spiral spring 5c ​​that biases the seat back frame 30 forward around the back rotation shaft 5b.

[0056] <Blower Device 100> Next, the blower device 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The blower device 100 includes a blower body 101, an inlet 102 formed in front of the blower body 101, and an outlet 103 formed on the lower side with an opening toward the right. In other words, by rotating the blower body 101, the blower device 100 draws air from the front (from the seating surface 2d toward the inlet 102) and generates an airflow that flows downward (from the cover upper portion 42 toward the first opening 44). This allows warm air warmed by the body temperature of the seated occupant to be drawn in from the seating surface 2d and discharged downward from the vehicle seat S, thereby improving the comfort of the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat S.

[0057] Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of Fig. 8. The blower body 101 is a propeller fan having a rotary shaft 101a extending in the front-rear direction and a plurality of rotary blades 101b that rotate around the rotary shaft 101a. However, the blower body 101 is not limited to this, and may also be a sirocco fan.

[0058] Furthermore, the blower device 100 is electrically connected to a blower connection cable 120 that supplies electrical energy to the blower device 100 via a blower connection connector 121. Therefore, when inspecting the blower device 100, the inspection can be easily performed by simply unplugging the blower connection cable 120 from the blower device 100 and connecting an inspection cable.

[0059] Next, we will explain the mounting structure of the blower device 100. As described above, the blower device 100 is supported by the first back cover 40 of the seat back module 2M. More specifically, the blower device 100 is mounted to the cover upper portion 42 of the first back cover 40.

[0060] 8, 9, and 11, the cover upper portion 42 has a flat plate portion 42a and a blower device accommodating recess 42b located below the flat plate portion 42a. The flat plate portion 42a has an umbrella-like shape that protrudes upward and has a flat surface that is flat in the sheet thickness direction.

[0061] The blower device accommodating recess 42b forms a recess recessed rearward from the flat plate portion 42a (see FIG. 11 ), and the blower device 100 is accommodated within the recess and fixedly supported therein. This positions the blower device 100 rearward from the flat surface of the flat plate portion 42a. The blower device accommodating recess 42b is located below the bracket 46 to which the headrest 3 is attached and above the pressure-receiving plate 60. In other words, the blower device 100 is located away from the bracket 46 and the pressure-receiving plate 60, which are subjected to a large load when an occupant sits in the vehicle seat S. Specifically, the bracket 46 receives weight from the occupant's head via the headrest 3. The pressure-receiving plate 60 receives weight from the occupant's back and waist. The blower device 100 is attached at a position (height) corresponding to the occupant's neck, which is located forward of the occupant's head and back. As a result, it is possible to prevent the seated person from applying excessive load to the blower device 100, thereby preventing a decrease in performance of the blower device 100.

[0062] Additionally, an upper reinforcement rib 42c is provided behind the blower device accommodating recess 42b to improve the strength of the cover upper portion 42. The upper reinforcement rib 42c is an orthogonal rib consisting of a vertical reinforcement rib 42c1 extending vertically through the cover upper portion 42 and a horizontal reinforcement rib 42c2 extending in the seat width direction, which intersect at right angles. The blower device 100 is fixed at the intersection where the vertical reinforcement rib 42c1 and the horizontal reinforcement rib 42c2 intersect at right angles. More specifically, the blower device 100 is fixed at the intersection of the upper reinforcement ribs 42c by a blower device fixing portion 104. The blower device fixing portion 104 has a first blower device fixing portion 104a, a second blower device fixing portion 104b, and a third blower device fixing portion 104c that protrude upward, downward, and leftward from the blower device 100, and is fastened to the upper reinforcement rib 42c with fasteners (screws). This makes it possible to improve the strength of the cover upper portion 42 while realizing a reduction in the weight and thickness of the seat back 2, and further makes it possible to stably fix the blower device 100 to the cover upper portion 42. The blower device fixing portion 104 corresponds to a fixing member.

[0063] 11 , the dimension Dr of the upper reinforcing rib 42c in the seat thickness direction is larger than the dimension Db of the blower device 100 in the seat thickness direction. Therefore, the upper reinforcing rib 42c has a sufficient dimension in the seat thickness direction, and can ensure the strength required for the cover upper portion 42. To explain this in concrete terms, even if an external force is applied from behind the cover upper portion 42 by an occupant sitting in the rear seat, the blower device 100 is protected and can be prevented from being damaged.

[0064] 8 and 11, the blower device accommodating recess 42b that accommodates the blower device 100 is recessed rearward along the upper frame 32 inside the seatback frame 30. The tip of the upper reinforcing rib 42c to which the blower device 100 is fixed is positioned at the same position as the seatback frame 30 in the seat thickness direction. In other words, the blower device 100 is surrounded by the highly rigid seatback frame 30. As shown in FIG. 11, the rear surface 42b2 of the blower device accommodating recess 42b is positioned rearward of the seatback frame 30, and the rear end of the seatback frame 30 is positioned rearward of the rear end of the blower device 100. In other words, the rear of the blower device 100 is covered by the blower device accommodating recess 42b, which is reinforced by the seatback frame 30 and the upper reinforcing rib 42c. As a result of the above, the blower device 100 is protected from external forces around it by the seat back frame 30 and the upper reinforcing rib 42c, preventing damage to or performance degradation of the blower device 100 due to excessive external forces being applied to the blower device 100.

[0065] Next, the routing of the blower connection cable 120 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, which is an enlarged view of portion A of Fig. 9. The blower connection cable 120 is routed so as to extend along the side wall (specifically, the inclined wall 42b1) of the blower device-accommodating recess 42b, which is located between the flat plate portion 42a and the blower device-accommodating recess 42b. The blower connection cable 120 also passes through a cable penetration portion 42d provided at the lower end of the blower device-accommodating recess 42b, is inserted into the rear side of the first back cover 40, and extends downward.

[0066] 10, a cable holder 42e that holds the blower connection cable 120 is provided adjacent to the cable penetration portion 42d. The cable holder 42e is a cable tie that ties together the blower connection cable 120, which is made up of two electric cables. The cable holder 42e ties together the blower connection cable 120 and guides it in the direction of passing through the cable penetration portion 42d. This prevents the blower connection cable 120 from coming into contact with the cable penetration portion 42d and becoming disconnected. The cable holder 42e corresponds to a cable holding member.

[0067] 11, the blower device 100 is located rearward in the seat thickness direction from the headrest 3, which is attached via a bracket 46 so as to protrude forward (toward the occupant) from the seating surface 2d of the seatback 2. As a result, the front of the blower device 100 is covered by the first pad material 2a and the second pad material 2b of the seatback 2 and the pad material 3a of the headrest 3. Therefore, the first pad material 2a, the second pad material 2b, and the pad material 3a can reduce the load of the occupant applied from the front to the blower device 100.

[0068] Next, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13 , the airflow blown out from the outlet 103 of the blower device 100 will be described. The airflow generated by the blower device 100 passes through a gap G formed below the blower device 100 and is discharged to the outside of the first back cover 40. More specifically, the first back cover 40 has a gap G formed between the first opening 44 and the second opening 54 located in an area facing the pressure-receiving plate 60 and the outlet 103. More specifically, the gap G extends in the seat width direction and is formed at a position equal to that of the blower device 100 (specifically, the outlet 103) in the seat thickness direction. This allows the airflow generated by the blower device 100 to pass to the outside without stagnation inside the first back cover 40. Therefore, the blower device 100 can generate an airflow without being affected by the rear being covered by the first back cover 40, thereby improving the comfort of an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat S.

[0069] Furthermore, a gap G is formed between the upper end 60a of the pressure plate 60 and the first back cover 40. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13 , the pressure plate 60 has a curved portion 62 at the center of the upper end 60a in the seat width direction, which deforms rearward to receive the weight of the seated occupant when the weight of the seated occupant is applied. Therefore, the gap G is formed between the first pad material 2a and the curved portion 62, and between the curved portion 62 and the first back cover 40. This allows airflow to pass through the gap G both when the pressure plate 60 is deformed rearward due to the weight of the seated occupant and when the pressure plate 60 is not deformed rearward without receiving the weight of the seated occupant.

[0070] Here, the dimension in the sheet thickness direction of the gap G formed between the upper end 60a of the pressure-receiving plate 60 and the first back cover 40 is smaller than the dimension in the sheet thickness direction of the air outlet 103 of the blower device 100. Furthermore, the gap G extends in the vertical direction, and the first cover member faces the gap G and has a vertical wall 40e that extends along the gap G. In other words, the vertical wall 40e faces the pressure-receiving plate 60. By arranging the first back cover 40 in this manner, the gap G becomes less noticeable and the air flow passing through the gap G can be effectively guided.

[0071] Additionally, a second back cover 50 is attached to the rear of the seat back frame 30 and the seat back module 2M behind the first back cover 40. The second back cover 50 covers the first back cover 40 from behind, and a lower end 50b of the second back cover 50 overlaps with the gap G in the front-to-rear direction below the lower end 40d of the first back cover 40 and the lower end of the vertical wall 40e. By arranging the second back cover 50 in this manner, the gap G becomes less noticeable, and it is possible to prevent the gap G from damaging the appearance of the vehicle seat S.

[0072] Furthermore, the lower end 50b of the second back cover 50 is located further rearward than the lower end of the vertical wall 40e of the first back cover 40. This prevents the gap G from being blocked by the lower end of the second back cover 50, and allows the airflow generated by the blower device 100 to pass through the gap G effectively.

[0073] <Method of Manufacturing Vehicle Seat> Next, a method of manufacturing the vehicle seat S will be described. First, the seatback module 2M is assembled. Specifically, electrical components including the blower device 100 and the electric motor 108 are attached to the first back cover 40. The blower device 100 is fixed to an upper reinforcing rib 42c at the rear of the blower device accommodating recess 42b formed in the cover upper portion 42 of the first back cover 40 so as to be accommodated in the blower device accommodating recess 42b. Meanwhile, the electric motor 108 is attached to the lower end portion on the rear side of the left cover side portion 41.

[0074] Next, the pressure-receiving plate 60 is attached to a position facing the first opening 44 formed in the first back cover 40. The first back cover 40 and the pressure-receiving plate 60 are covered from the front by the first pad material 2a, the seat heater 110, and the second pad material 2b, and are also covered by the upholstery material 2c. This completes the assembly of the seat back module 2M.

[0075] At this time, a gap G is formed behind the seat back module 2M, through which the airflow blown out from the outlet 103 of the blower device 100 passes. Specifically, in the first back cover 40 covering the rear of the seat back module 2M, a gap G is formed between the outlet 103 and the first opening 44, through which the airflow can pass downward behind (on the back side of) the first back cover 40. This allows the blower device 100 to generate an airflow without being affected by the rear being covered by the first back cover 40, thereby improving the comfort of the occupants.

[0076] Next, the headrest 3 is attached to the upper end of the seat back module 2M so as to protrude forward (toward the seat occupant) from the seating surface 2d. Specifically, the headrest 3 is attached via the headrest frame 70 to the front surface 46a of the bracket 46 that protrudes forward from the seating surface 2d of the seat back module 2M. This allows the headrest 3 to be attached to the seat back module 2M while being positioned forward (toward the seat occupant) from the seating surface 2d of the seat back module 2M.

[0077] Next, the seat back module 2M to which the headrest 3 is attached and the second back cover 50 are assembled to the seat back frame 30. Specifically, the seat back module 2M and the second back cover 50 are assembled to the module assembly portion 34 of the seat back frame 30 so as to sandwich the seat back frame 30 from the front and rear.

[0078] Similarly, the seat cushion module 1M is assembled, and then the seat cushion module 1M is attached to the seat cushion frame 10. Finally, the cables connected to the electrical components (blower connection cable 120, heater connection cable 111, etc.) are connected to the control device 90 or an in-vehicle device. In this manner, the vehicle seat S is manufactured.

[0079] While the configuration of a vehicle seat S according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above-described embodiment is merely an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and of course, equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the blower device 100 is described as drawing in air from the front and generating an airflow that flows downward behind the first back cover 40, but this is not limited thereto. The blower device 100 may also draw in air from below and generate an airflow that flows forward. Furthermore, the blower device 100 is described as drawing in air through the suction port 102 of the blower body 101, but this is not limited thereto. The first pad material 2a and the second pad material 2b may have the air suction port 102 and a ventilation duct through which the drawn air passes, and the air may be drawn in through the ventilation duct.

[0081] 8 and 9, the air outlet 103 of the blower device 100 is shown extending to the right below the cover upper portion 42, but it goes without saying that the air outlet 103 may extend downward. This allows the airflow generated by the blower body 101 to efficiently pass outside the first back cover 40.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the first back cover 40 has the first opening 44, and the second back cover 50 has the second opening 54. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The entire seat back 2 may be covered with the upholstery material 2c, and the first opening 44 or the second opening 54 may be closed.

[0083] Furthermore, the technology described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has the effect of suppressing a decrease in the performance of the blower device due to the weight of the seated person being applied to the blower device. However, in recent years, as seat backs have become lighter and thinner, there has been a demand for a vehicle seat that can effectively generate an airflow without being affected by the seat back in order to suppress a decrease in the performance of the blower device. Therefore, there is provided a vehicle seat that can effectively generate an airflow without being affected by the seat back while arranging an airflow generating device inside the seat back, thereby improving the comfort of the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat.

[0084] According to the vehicle seat of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat equipped with a seat back having a seat back frame and a seat back module replaceably attached to the seat back frame, wherein the seat back module has a flexible pad material, a cover material covering the pad material, a pressure-receiving member arranged behind the pad material and receiving the weight of a seat occupant, an air flow generating device arranged behind the pad material and above the pressure-receiving member, and a cover member covering the rear of the seat back module, supporting the air flow generating device and the pressure-receiving member, and attached to the seat back frame, and the problem is solved by the cover member having an opening formed in an area facing the pressure-receiving member, and a gap between the opening and the air outlet of the air flow generating device through which the air flow generated by the air flow generating device can pass.

[0085] According to the above configuration, the cover member covering the rear of the seatback module equipped with the airflow generating device has an opening formed in an area facing the pressure-receiving member, and a gap is formed between the opening and the outlet of the airflow generating device through which the airflow generated by the airflow generating device can pass. Therefore, the airflow generating device can effectively generate an airflow without being affected by the rear being covered by the cover member (seatback), making it possible to realize improved comfort for occupants sitting in the vehicle seat.

[0086] Preferably, the gap is formed at a position where at least a portion of the gap overlaps with the airflow generating device in the sheet thickness direction. According to the above configuration, the gap formed in the cover member is located in the blowing direction of the airflow generated by the airflow generating device, so that the airflow can pass through effectively.

[0087] In addition, the gap is preferably formed between the pressure-receiving member and the cover member, and the dimension of the gap in the seat thickness direction may be smaller than the dimension of the airflow generating device in the seat thickness direction. According to the above configuration, by reducing the dimension of the gap in the front-to-rear direction, the gap becomes less noticeable, and it is possible to prevent the provision of the gap from detracting from the appearance of the vehicle seat.

[0088] The pressure-receiving member may have a curved portion that curves rearward at a center portion in the seat width direction, and the gap may be formed between the curved portion and the pad material. With this configuration, air can pass through the gap both when the pressure-receiving member is deformed rearward due to the weight of the seat occupant and when the pressure-receiving member is not deformed rearward because it is not subjected to the weight of the seat occupant.

[0089] Preferably, the gap extends in the vertical direction, and the cover member has a vertical wall portion facing the gap and extending along the gap. According to the above configuration, the vertical wall portion is formed along the direction in which the gap extends, making the gap less noticeable, preventing the gap from damaging the appearance of the vehicle seat, and making it possible to effectively guide the air flow passing through the gap.

[0090] In addition, the seat back may have a seat back cover attached to the rear of the seat back frame and the seat back module, and the seat back cover may cover the cover member from behind and overlap the gap in the front-to-rear direction. According to the above configuration, the seat back cover covers the gap from behind, making the gap less noticeable and preventing the gap from damaging the appearance of the vehicle seat.

[0091] In addition, the seat back cover may be positioned behind the gap and below the lower end of the cover member. According to the above configuration, the seat back cover covers the lower part of the cover member, making the gap less noticeable and preventing the gap from damaging the appearance of the vehicle seat.

[0092] In addition, the lower end of the seat back cover may be positioned rearward of the lower end of the cover member behind the gap. With this configuration, the gap can be prevented from being blocked by the lower end of the seat back cover, and the airflow generated by the airflow generating device can be effectively passed through.

[0093] <<Second Embodiment>> Next, a second embodiment will be described. Patent document (U.S. Patent No. 10,046,682) discloses a method for assembling a seat back assembly in which a front seat back module and a rear seat back module, which are pre-assembled, are interconnected around a seat back frame.

[0094] However, in the vehicle seat described in the above patent document, the rear seatback module is attached to the seat frame provided with the pressure-receiving member so as to cover it from behind. Therefore, if the pressure-receiving member bends under the seating load, there is a risk that the pressure-receiving member will interfere with the rear seatback module. If the pressure-receiving member interferes with the rear seatback module, the occupant may feel that the seat bottoms out, resulting in a problem of reduced seating comfort. Therefore, there is provided a vehicle seat that provides a comfortable seating comfort.

[0095] <Pressure-Receiving Plate 60> The pressure-receiving plate 60 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7, 14 to 17, and 19. As described above, the seat back 2 of the vehicle seat S includes the seat back frame 30, the seat back module 2M provided in front of the seat back frame 30, and the second back cover 50 provided behind the seat back frame 30. The seat back module 2M is mainly composed of a first back cover 40, a pressure-receiving plate 60, a first padding material 2a, a second padding material 2b, a seat heater 110, and an upholstery material 2c. That is, the first back cover 40 of the seat back module 2M is provided in front of the seat back frame 30. The pressure-receiving plate 60 is attached to the first back cover 40.

[0096] Furthermore, a second opening 54 is formed in the center of the second back cover 50 at a position that overlaps in the seat front-rear direction with the pressure-receiving plate 60 attached to the first back cover 40 when the second back cover 50 is attached to the seat back frame 30, as shown in Figures 14 and 15. The second opening 54 corresponds to the rear opening of the present invention. Because the second opening 54 is formed in the second back cover 50, the pressure-receiving plate 60 can be seen through the second opening 54 when viewed from behind, as shown in Figures 2 and 14.

[0097] In conventional vehicle seats, the cover disposed at the rear does not have an opening formed behind the pressure plate, so when the pressure plate bends rearward under the seating load, it interferes with the cover, causing the occupant to feel the bottom out. In this embodiment, the second opening 54 is formed, so even when the pressure plate 60 bends rearward under the seating load, the pressure plate 60 does not interfere with the second back cover 50, preventing the occupant from feeling the bottom out. This improves the seating comfort of the vehicle seat S.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 15 , the first back cover 40 has a first opening 44 formed in a position overlapping the second opening 54 of the second back cover 50 in the seat front-rear direction. The first opening 44 corresponds to the front opening of the present invention. The pressure-receiving plate 60 is fixed by engaging plate mounting portions 61 provided on the left and right sides of the pressure-receiving plate 60 with the edge portions 48 of the first opening 44. More specifically, the pressure-receiving plate 60 is fastened to both side edges (right edge portion 48b and left edge portion 48d) of the first opening 44 with multiple fastening members, for example, bolts. The pressure-receiving plate 60 is also fixed to the lower edge portion 48c of the first opening 44 by a lower portion 64d of an insert-molded wire member 64, which will be described later. The first opening 44 is formed to overlap the second opening 54 in the seat front-rear direction. Therefore, even when the pressure plate 60 is deformed due to the seating load, interference between the first back cover 40 and the second back cover 50 is suppressed.

[0099] <Wire Member 64> The pressure-receiving plate 60 includes a resin pressure-receiving plate main body 63 (pressure-receiving portion main body) and a metal wire member 64 insert-molded into the pressure-receiving plate main body 63. As shown in FIG. 18 , the wire member 64 is disposed in a position overlapping the first opening 44 of the first back cover 40 in the seat front-rear direction. The wire member 64 is also disposed in a position overlapping the second opening 54 of the second back cover 50 in the seat front-rear direction. A lower portion 64d of the wire member 64 is exposed from the pressure-receiving plate main body 63 and is fixed by being attached to a wire attachment portion 47 provided on the lower edge portion 48c of the first opening 44. The wire attachment portion 47 is configured, for example, by a clip with a C-shaped cross section.

[0100] 18, the wire member 64 is composed of two vertical members 64a extending in the up-down direction (longitudinal direction) and two horizontal members 64b extending in the seat width direction (left-right direction). The upper ends of the vertical members 64a and the horizontal members 64b are not directly connected to the edge portion 48 of the first opening 44, but are inserted into the pressure-receiving plate main body 63 and serve as the framework of the pressure-receiving plate 60.

[0101] 7 and 20 , the wire member 64 has a protrusion 64c that protrudes rearward from the main rear surface of the pressure-receiving plate main body 63. The protrusion 64c is configured to be positioned within the second opening 54 (rear opening) of the second back cover 50 when the seat back module 2M and the second back cover 50 are assembled to the seat back frame 30. Providing the protrusion 64c can improve the rigidity of the pressure-receiving plate 60. Furthermore, by positioning the protrusion 64c within the second opening 54, interference with the edge 58 of the second opening 54 of the second back cover 50 is suppressed.

[0102] The pressure plate 60 (more specifically, the pressure plate main body 63) has a curved portion 62 that passes through the center in the seat width direction and extends in the up-down direction. The curved portion 62 is formed so as to be recessed rearward from the seating surface 2d side of the pressure plate 60. In other words, the curved portion 62 is formed so as to be recessed rearward at a position facing the spine of the seated occupant. The formation of the curved portion 62 prevents the spine of the seated occupant from interfering with the pressure plate 60.

[0103] The outer shape of the rear side of the curved portion 62 forms a convex portion that protrudes rearward. In this embodiment, a notch 58aa is formed in the upper edge 58a of the second back cover 50 to match the outer shape (convex portion) of the rear side of the curved portion 62 (see FIG. 20 ). The provision of the notch 58aa makes it possible to prevent the pressure-receiving plate 60 from interfering with the second back cover 50.

[0104] The pressure plate 60 has a frame portion 65. The frame portion 65 is composed of an upper end portion 65a, a right side portion 65b, a lower end portion 65c, and a left side portion 65d of the pressure plate main body 63. The frame portion 65 of the pressure plate 60 is provided so as to overlap with the edge portion 48 of the first opening 44 in the seat front-rear direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14 , the frame portion 65 is provided so as to overlap with the edge portion 58 of the second opening 54 in the seat front-rear direction.

[0105] 16, the upper end 65a, right side 65b, and left side 65d that constitute the frame portion 65 are entirely covered by the edge 48 of the first opening 44 in a rear view. As shown in FIG. 14, the upper end 65a, right side 65b, and left side 65d are entirely covered by the edge 58 of the second opening 54 in a rear view. In other words, when viewed from the rear, the entire upper end 65a overlaps with the upper edge 58a of the second opening 54, the entire right side 65b overlaps with the right edge 58b, and the entire left side 65d overlaps with the left edge 58d.

[0106] The lower end 65c constituting the frame portion 65 of the pressure plate 60 is partially covered by the edge 48 (lower edge 48c) of the first back cover 40 and the edge 58 (lower edge 58c) of the second back cover 50. By having the frame portion 65 covered by the edge 48 of the first opening 44 and the edge 58 of the second opening 54, for example, it is possible to eliminate (fill in) the boundaries between the pressure plate 60 and the first opening 44 and the second opening 54. Furthermore, the pressure plate main body 63 has a plurality of through holes 66 formed inside the frame portion 65. Forming the through holes 66 contributes to weight reduction.

[0107] 13, a gap G is formed between the upper end 65a of the frame portion 65 of the pressure-receiving plate 60 and the upper edge 58a of the second opening 54. The formation of the gap G makes it possible to suppress interference between the pressure-receiving plate 60 and the second back cover 50. Air generated by the blower device 100 may be exhausted from the gap G.

[0108] The following additional notes are provided regarding the second embodiment described with reference to Figures 14 to 20. The vehicle seat of the present invention solves the above problems by including a seatback frame, a first back cover provided in front of the seatback frame, a pressure-receiving member attached to the first back cover, and a second back cover provided behind the seatback frame and having a rear opening formed in a position overlapping with the pressure-receiving member in the seat front-rear direction. With this configuration, even if the pressure-receiving member bends due to a seating load, the rear opening prevents interference with the second back cover, thereby preventing the occupant from feeling like they are bottoming out. This makes it possible to provide a vehicle seat that provides a comfortable seating experience.

[0109] In the above configuration, the first back cover may have a front opening formed at a position overlapping the rear opening of the second back cover in the seat front-rear direction. With this configuration, even if the pressure-receiving member deforms, it does not interfere with the first back cover, thereby improving seating comfort.

[0110] In the above configuration, the pressure-receiving member may have a pressure-receiving portion main body and a wire member insert-molded into the pressure-receiving portion main body, and the wire member may be disposed in a position overlapping the front opening of the first back cover and the rear opening of the second back cover in the seat front-rear direction. With the above configuration, the rigidity of the pressure-receiving member can be improved.

[0111] In the above configuration, the wire member may have a protruding portion that protrudes rearward, and the protruding portion may be disposed within the rear opening of the second back cover. With the above configuration, the protruding portion of the wire member is prevented from interfering with the edge of the rear opening of the second back cover.

[0112] In the above configuration, the pressure-receiving member may have a recess that is recessed rearward at a position facing the spine of the occupant, and a notch that is formed to match the outer shape of the rear side of the recess at the upper edge of the rear opening at a position facing the recess. This configuration can prevent interference between the spine of the seated occupant and the pressure-receiving member. Furthermore, this configuration can prevent interference between the pressure-receiving member and the second back cover.

[0113] In the above configuration, the pressure-receiving member may have a frame portion that overlaps with an edge of the front opening and an edge of the rear opening in the seat front-rear direction. With the above configuration, the boundary between the pressure-receiving member and the edge of the front opening can be filled. Also, the boundary between the pressure-receiving member and the edge of the rear opening can be filled.

[0114] In the above configuration, the upper end, right side, and left side of the frame portion of the pressure-receiving member may be entirely covered by the edge of the front opening and the edge of the rear opening when viewed from the rear. With the above configuration, it is possible to fill the boundary between the pressure-receiving member and the edge of the opening.

[0115] In the above configuration, a gap may be formed between an upper portion of the frame portion of the pressure-receiving member and an upper edge of the rear opening, thereby suppressing interference between the pressure-receiving member and the second back cover.

[0116] In the above-described configuration, the lower portion of the wire member may be provided at a position overlapping with a lower edge of the front opening in the seat front-rear direction. With the above-described configuration, the pressure-receiving member can be attached to the first back cover.

[0117] In the above-described configuration, a wire attachment portion for attaching a lower portion of the wire member may be provided on the lower edge portion of the front opening. With the above-described configuration, a pressure-receiving member can be attached to the first back cover.

[0118] <<Third Embodiment>> Next, a third embodiment will be described. In recent years, there has been a demand for mounting electrical components such as a motor in the front seat back module of the seat back assembly described in the above-mentioned patent document (U.S. Patent No. 10,046,682), and there has been a need for a technology that improves the ease of mounting electrical components in the front seat back module. Therefore, there is provided a vehicle seat that improves the ease of mounting electrical components.

[0119] <Cover mounting portion 49> The cover mounting portion 49 for mounting the seat back module 2M according to the third embodiment to the seat back frame 30 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. A plurality of cover mounting portions 49 are provided on the back surface side (rear surface side) of the first back cover 40 constituting the seat back module 2M, as shown in Fig. 7. The cover mounting portion 49 is composed of an engaging portion 49a, a connecting piece 49b, a fixing piece 49c, and a guide piece 49d.

[0120] The engaging portion 49a is provided on the cover upper portion 42 and is disposed below the bracket through-hole 46b. The engaging portion 49a is formed in a hook shape so as to hook onto the horizontal frame 32a of the upper frame 32. When attaching the seat back module 2M to the seat back frame 30, the worker first hooks the engaging portion 49a onto the horizontal frame 32a, and then rotates it downward to attach the other cover mounting portion 49 to the seat back frame 30.

[0121] The connecting piece 49b is provided on the lower portion of the cover side portion 41. The connecting piece 49b is fixed to the first back cover 40 by insert molding.

[0122] When the seat back module 2M is attached to the seat back frame 30, the connecting piece 49b overlaps with the side of the back side frame 31 and can be fastened to the fixing portion provided on the back side frame 31 using a fastener.

[0123] The fixing piece 49c and the guide piece 49d are provided on the upper portion of the cover side portion 41. The fixing piece 49c and the guide piece 49d are formed to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the first back cover 40. The fixing piece 49c fixes the vertical frame 32b from the outside via a fixing member. The guide piece 49d abuts against the inside of the vertical frame 32b. The vertical frame 32b is sandwiched and fixed between the fixing piece 49c and the guide piece 49d. By providing the fixing piece 49c and the guide piece 49d in this manner, the seat back module 2M can be guided and fixed to an appropriate position when assembling the seat back module 2M to the seat back frame 30.

[0124] <Mounting Bracket 130> The mounting bracket 130 for mounting the electric motor 108 to the seat back module 2M will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the seat back module 2M of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 21 , the electric motor 108 is mounted on the underside of the cover side portion 41 of the first back cover 40. The electric motor 108 corresponds to the electrical component of the present invention. The electric motor 108 has a mating protrusion 108a formed on its outer surface. The electric motor 108 is mounted to the first back cover 40 by the mounting bracket 130 joined to the connecting piece 49b. In other words, the mounting bracket 130 is provided on the seat back module 2M and mounts the electric motor 108, which is an electrical component, to the seat back module 2M.

[0125] The mounting bracket 130 is an angled bar formed by bending a plate-like member so that its cross section is L-shaped. The mounting bracket 130 also has a slit 130a formed therein that receives the mating protrusion 108a of the electric motor 108. The slit 130a corresponds to the mating receiving portion of the present invention. By inserting the mating protrusion 108a of the electric motor 108 into the slit 130a, the electric motor 108 can be positioned when attached to the first back cover 40.

[0126] 26, the mounting bracket 130 is provided with a fixing member 131 that fixes the electric motor 108 to the inside of the mounting bracket 130. The fixing member 131 is, for example, a string-like member such as a cable tie or wire. As shown in FIG. 24, the mounting bracket 130 has two through-holes 130b through which the string-like fixing member 131 passes. After the fixing member 131 is passed through one of the through-holes 130b and wrapped around the electric motor 108, the fixing member 131 is removed from the other through-hole 130b and connected, thereby fixing the electric motor 108.

[0127] As described above, the mounting bracket 130 is joined to the connecting piece 49b protruding from the first back cover 40. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 25 , the upper end of the mounting bracket 130 is joined to the lower end of the connecting piece 49b. This allows the electric motor 108 to be fixed to the first back cover 40. Furthermore, the electric motor 108 can be attached to or replaced with the seat back frame 30 together with the seat back module 2M.

[0128] Furthermore, the mounting bracket 130 is disposed a predetermined distance away from the rear surface of the first back cover 40. In other words, a gap G is formed between the mounting bracket 130 and the first back cover 40. Because the mounting bracket 130 does not come into direct contact with the first back cover 40, it is possible to suppress transmission of vibrations of the electric motor 108 to the first back cover 40.

[0129] The slit 130a of the mounting bracket 130 is formed by a first support portion 130c that supports the upper edge (one side) of the mating protrusion 108a and a second support portion 130d that supports the lower edge (the other side) of the mating protrusion 108a. As shown in FIG. 24 , the inner end 130da of the second support portion 130d is positioned outward from the inner end 130ca of the first support portion 130c. In other words, the length L2 of the second support portion 130d in the seat width direction is shorter than the length L1 of the first support portion 130c in the seat width direction. By forming the mounting bracket 130 in this manner, for example, when attaching the electric motor 108 to the mounting bracket 130 from below, the mating protrusion 108a can be easily inserted into the slit 130a.

[0130] As shown in Figure 23, a clip mounting seat 132 for mounting a clip that secures the harness is provided near the mounting bracket 130. The clip mounting seat 132 is provided on the rear surface of the first back cover 40. The electric motor 108 and the clip mounting seat 132 are arranged so as to overlap in the seat width direction. By arranging them in this manner, it is possible to reduce the space required for the seat back module 2M, for example.

[0131] 27, when the seat back module 2M is attached to the seat back frame 30, the rear wall portion 31a of the back side frame 31 is configured to be located behind the electric motor 108. The electric motor 108 can be protected by the rear wall portion 31a.

[0132] 28 , a motor connection cable 135 extending from the electric motor 108 and a coupler 134 connected to the motor connection cable 135 may be provided on the rear surface of the first back cover 40. The motor connection cable 135 corresponds to the harness of the present invention. The coupler 134 is fixed by a coupler attachment portion 133, which is disposed in close proximity to the electric motor 108. The coupler attachment portion 133 is disposed inside the electric motor 108 and behind the clip attachment seat 132. By arranging the coupler attachment portion 133 in this manner, the length of the motor connection cable 135 can be shortened.

[0133] In the above-described embodiment, a vehicle seat S mounted on a vehicle has been given as an example of a vehicle seat, and an example of the configuration thereof has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to seats mounted on ground vehicles having wheels such as automobiles and trains, and may also be applied to seats mounted on aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on non-ground surfaces, for example.

[0134] The following additional notes are provided regarding the third embodiment described with reference to Figures 21 to 28. The vehicle seat of the present invention solves the above problems by including a seat back frame, a seat back module provided in front of the seat back frame, an electrical component having a mating protrusion on its outer surface, and a mounting bracket provided on the seat back module for attaching the electrical component to the seat back module, the mounting bracket having a mating receiving portion formed in the mounting bracket for receiving the mating protrusion of the electrical component. This configuration facilitates positioning of the electrical component when attaching it to the seat back module, improving the ease of installation when attaching the electrical component.

[0135] In the above configuration, it is preferable that a fixing member for fixing the electrical component to the mounting bracket is provided, and the mounting bracket has a through hole through which the fixing member passes. With the above configuration, it is possible to fix the electrical component to the mounting bracket.

[0136] In the above configuration, the seatback module may have a front back cover attached to the seatback frame, the front back cover having a connecting piece that protrudes rearward from a rear surface of the front back cover and connects to the seatback frame, the connecting piece being insert-molded into the front back cover, and the mounting bracket being provided on the connecting piece. With the above configuration, it is possible to fix electrical components to the front back cover, and to attach or replace the electrical components to the seatback frame together with the seatback module.

[0137] In the above configuration, the mounting bracket may be positioned a predetermined distance from the rear surface of the front back cover by the connecting piece. With this configuration, the mounting bracket does not come into direct contact with the front back cover, thereby suppressing transmission of vibrations of electrical components to the front back cover.

[0138] In the above configuration, the fitting-receiving portion of the mounting bracket may be formed from a first support portion that supports one side of the fitting protrusion and a second support portion that supports the other side of the fitting protrusion, and an inner end of the second support portion may be positioned outward from an inner end of the first support portion. This configuration makes it easier to insert the fitting protrusion of the electrical component into the fitting-receiving portion.

[0139] In the above configuration, the seatback module may have a front back cover attached to the seatback frame, a clip mounting seat for mounting a clip on a rear surface of the front back cover, and the electrical component and the clip mounting seat may be arranged to overlap in the seat width direction. This configuration allows for space saving of the seatback module.

[0140] In the above configuration, the seat back frame may have side frames disposed on both sides, and rear wall portions of the side frames may be disposed to the rear of the electrical components. With the above configuration, the electrical components can be protected.

[0141] In the above configuration, the vehicle may further include a harness extending from the electrical component, a coupler connected to the harness, and a coupler attachment portion for fixing the coupler, the coupler attachment portion being disposed in proximity to the electrical component. With the above configuration, the length of the harness can be shortened.

[0142] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS S Vehicle seat F Seat frame 1 Seat cushion 1a First pad material 1b Second pad material 1c Cover material 1M Seat cushion module 2 Seat back 2a First pad material 2aa Blower covering portion 2b Second pad material 2c Cover material 2d Seating surface 2M Seat back module 3 Headrest 3a Pad material 3b Cover material 4 Rail device 4a Lower rail 4b Upper rail 4c Locking member 5 Reclining device 5a Reclining main body 5b Back rotation shaft 5c Spiral spring 10 Seat cushion frame 11 Side frame 12 Pan frame 13 Rear connecting frame 14 Elastic spring (elastic member) 15 Support plate 16 Cushion module assembly portion 20 Cushion base cover 21 Cover side portion 22 Cover front portion 23 Cover rear portion 24 Assembly portion 25 Frame attachment / detachment portion 30 Seat back frame 31 Back side frame 32 Upper frame 33 Lower frame 34 Module assembly portion 40 First back cover 40a Cover main body 40b Back reinforcement rib 40c Front reinforcement rib 40d Lower end portion 40e Vertical wall 41 Cover side portion 42 Cover upper portion 42a Flat plate portion 42b Blower device accommodating recess 42b1 Inclined wall 42b2 Rear surface 42c Upper reinforcement rib 42c1 Vertical reinforcement rib 42c2 Horizontal reinforcement rib 42d Cable penetration portion 42e Cable holder (cable holding member) 43 Cover lower portion 44 First opening 45 Cover assembly portion 46 Bracket 46a Front surface 46b Bracket through hole 47 Wire attachment portion 48 Edge portion 48b Right side edge 48c Lower side edge 48d Left side edge 49 Cover mounting portion 49a Engagement portion 49b Connecting piece 49c Fixing piece 49d Guide piece 50 Second back cover (seat back cover) 50a Cover main body 50b Lower end portion 51 Cover side portion 52 Cover upper portion 53 Cover lower portion 54 Second opening 55 Assembly portion 58 Edge portion 58a Upper side edge 58aa Cutout portion 58b Right side edge portion 58c Lower side edge portion 58d Left side edge portion 60 Pressure receiving plate60a Upper end 61 Plate mounting portion 62 Curved portion (recess) 63 Pressure receiving plate main body (pressure receiving portion main body) 64 Wire member 64a Vertical member 64b Horizontal member 64c Protruding portion 64d Lower portion 65 Frame portion 65a Upper end 65b Right side portion 65c Lower end 65d Left side portion 66 Through hole 70 Headrest frame 71 Frame main body 72 Outer edge flange 73 Bracket assembly portion 74 Cover assembly portion 80 Headrest cover 81 Cover main body 82 Outer edge flange 83 Mounting opening 84 Assembly portion 90 Control device 91 Bracket 100 Blower device (air flow generating device) 101 Blower main body 101a Rotating shaft 101b Rotating blades 102 Intake port 103 Outlet port 104 Blower device fixing portion (fixing member) 104a First blower device fixing portion 104b Second blower device fixing portion 104c Third blower device fixing portion 108 Electric motor 110 Seat heater 111 Heater connection cable 120 Blower connection cable 121 Blower connection connector 130 Mounting bracket 130a Slit (fitting receiving portion) 130b Through hole 130c First support portion 130ca Inner end portion 130d Second support portion 130da Inner end portion 131 Fixing member 132 Clip mounting seat 133 Coupler mounting portion 134 Coupler 135 Motor connection cable (harness) G Gap

Claims

A vehicle seat including a seat back having a seat back frame and a seat back module replaceably attached to the seat back frame, The seat back module includes: A flexible padding material; a skin material covering the pad material; an airflow generating device disposed behind the padding; a cover member that covers the rear of the seat back module, supports the air flow generating device, and is attached to the seat back frame, The cover member has a recess recessed rearward, The vehicle seat is characterized in that the air flow generating device is housed in the recess. 　 the cover member has a reinforcing rib behind the recess, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generating device is fixed to the reinforcing rib and accommodated in the recess. 　 The reinforcing rib is an orthogonal rib in which a vertical reinforcing rib extending in the up-down direction and a horizontal reinforcing rib extending in the left-right direction intersect perpendicularly with each other, 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the air flow generating device is fixed at an intersection where the vertical reinforcing rib and the horizontal reinforcing rib intersect with each other by a fixing member that fixes the air flow generating device.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the dimension of the reinforcing rib in the seat thickness direction is larger than the dimension of the air flow generating device in the seat thickness direction.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein a tip of the reinforcing rib to which the air flow generating device is fixed is positioned at the same position as the seat back frame in the seat thickness direction. 　 The recess is recessed rearward along the seat back frame on the inside of the seat back frame, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the recess is located rearward of the seat back frame. 　 the airflow generating device has a connection cable electrically connected to the airflow generating device, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the connection cable is arranged to extend along a side wall of the recess. 　 the cover member has a cable penetration portion through which the connection cable passes, 8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the cable passage portion is provided at a lower end portion of the recess. 　 the cover member has a cable holding member that holds the connection cable, 9. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the cable holding member is provided at a position adjacent to the cable passage portion. 　 The seat back module has a bracket that protrudes forward from a seating surface and to which a headrest can be attached, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generating device is located rearward of the headrest attached to the bracket when housed in the recess. 　 the seat back module is disposed behind the pad material and has a pressure-receiving member that receives the load of a seated occupant; 11. The vehicle seat according to claim 10, wherein the air flow generating device is attached to the cover member at a position below the bracket and above an upper end of the pressure-receiving member.

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