JP2006198306A - Vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convert a vehicle seat into a condition appropriate to give a massage by a simple operation of a person sitting on a seat, and to give a comfortable massage to the person sitting on the seat. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle seat has a massage apparatus. The vehicle seat comprises at least one apparatus selected from a reclining apparatus for raising or flattening a seat back 20 with respect to a seat cushion 10, an ottoman apparatus for spreading a leg mounting face ahead of the seat cushion 10 for the person sitting on the seat, a bending apparatus 20 for bending the seat back in the middle, and a heater apparatus for heating the person sitting on the seat. The vehicle seat further has a memory means for storing an operating state of the apparatuses appropriate to give a massage to the person sitting on the seat and a control means for actuating the apparatuses to perform the stored operating state when the person sitting on the seat carries out a massage starting operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat provided in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a vehicle seat capable of performing massage for a seat occupant with a massage device provided in a seat back.

For this type of vehicle seat, for example, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is already known. In this technique, an air bag for massage is provided inside the skin of the seat cushion and the seat back, respectively. Supply and exhaust of air supplied from an air pump is controlled with respect to these air bags. In this way, the air bag is repeatedly expanded and contracted to massage the vicinity of the occupant's buttocks in the air bag on the seat cushion side, and the vicinity of the waist in the air bag on the seat back side.
JP 2000-279467 A

However, the effect of the massage performance varies depending on the sitting posture of the user, and even if the massage device is operated in a posture where the massage effect is not exhibited, a good massage cannot be received. Moreover, even if the massage device was operated when the user's body temperature was low, a good massage could not be received.
The present invention is intended to solve such problems, and its purpose is to make the vehicle seat suitable for massage by a simple operation of a seat occupant and to receive a better massage. .

The present invention is for achieving the above object, and is configured as follows.
The invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle seat that includes a seat cushion and a seat back and is capable of massaging a seat occupant with a massage device provided in the seat back. The vehicle seat includes a reclining device for raising and lowering the seat back with respect to the seat cushion, an ottoman device capable of deploying a footrest surface of the seat occupant in front of the seat cushion, or a folding device for folding the seat back. Or at least one device of a heater device for warming the seat occupant, storage means for storing the operation state of the device so as to make the seat occupant have a massage effect, and the seat occupant When starting operation is performed, the control unit is configured to operate the operation state of the apparatus to the stored operation state.
According to this configuration, the operation state of a device (reclining device, ottoman device, folding device, heater device, etc.) suitable for receiving a massage is stored so as to be suitable for exerting a massage effect on the seat occupant. Can be made. Therefore, when the seat occupant performs a massage start operation, the massage can be started after operating each device to the stored operation state. In this way, the seat occupant does not need to set an apparatus suitable for receiving a massage to an optimum state each time before receiving a massage. Therefore, the seat occupant can make the vehicle seat suitable for massage by a simple operation, and can receive a better massage.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a vehicle seat according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the seat back 20 in the vehicle seat of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1 and shows a normal state of the vehicle seat. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1 and shows a massage operation state of the vehicle seat. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control program procedure in the vehicle seat of the present invention. The “vehicle seat” in the embodiment is described by taking the seat on the left side of the rear seat as an example. Of course, the seat is not limited to the rear seat left side seat, and may be a rear seat right seat, a driver seat, and a passenger seat. “Air bag” and “air” described in the examples correspond to “gas bag” and “gas” described in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat is composed of a seat cushion 10 and a seat back 20, and the seat cushion 10 and the seat back 20 are connected by a reclining mechanism (not shown) having a driving means ("reclining device" ”). With this reclining device, the seat back 20 is tilted with respect to the seat cushion 10 from the normal state shown in FIG. 3 (state of 17 ° from the vertical direction) to the use state shown in FIG. 4 (state of 45 ° from the vertical direction). be able to. The vehicle seat includes not only the “reclining device” but also the well-known techniques “massage device”, “center folding device”, “ottoman device”, and “heater device”. Below, the structure of the seat cushion 10 and the seat back 20 is demonstrated separately, respectively.

First, the configuration of the seat cushion 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the basic structure of the seat cushion 10 includes a skin member 10a that covers the surface of the vehicle seat, a pad member 10b that is located inside the skin member 10a, and a vehicle that is located inside the pad member 10b. And a substantially rectangular frame 10e that supports and forms the outer shape of the sheet. A recess (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of the pad member 10b. By storing the seat cushion heater 33 in the recess, the seat cushion heater 33 can be sandwiched and held between the skin member 10a and the pad member 10b. In addition, since the upper surface of the pad member 10b and the upper surface of the seat cushion heater 33 are flat surfaces (there is no unevenness), the seat seater can sit without a sense of incongruity.

  Further, a predetermined power source (DC12V or the like) can be supplied to the seat cushion heater 33, and the seat occupant can be warmed by supplying the predetermined power source. It should be noted that the seating without any sense of incongruity by the recess and the heating by supplying a predetermined power supply are the same for the upper seat back heater 31 and the lower seat back heater 32 described later. In addition, the description regarding each of these heaters 31, 32, and 33 corresponds to a “heater device”.

  An ottoman 40 is provided at the front end of the seat cushion 10. The seat cushion 10 and the ottoman 40 are connected by a turning mechanism (not shown) having a driving means. With this turning mechanism, the ottoman 40 can be shifted from the normal state shown in FIG. 3 to the use state shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the seat cushion 10. When this ottoman 40 is used (the state shown in FIG. 4), the ottoman 40 can be rotated forward by a maximum of “80 °” from the state where the ottoman 40 is not used (the state shown in FIG. 3). Therefore, the footrest surface of the seat occupant can be developed by the ottoman 40. Note that the description regarding the ottoman 40 corresponds to the “ottoman device”.

Next, the configuration of the seat back 20 will be described.
As is apparent from FIG. 1, the seat back 20 is divided into an upper seat back 21 and a lower seat back 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the basic structure of the upper seat back 21 is an upper skin member 21a that covers the vehicle seat surface, an upper pad member 21b that is positioned inside the upper skin member 21a, and an inner side of the upper pad member 21b. And a substantially rectangular upper frame 21e that supports and forms the vehicle seat outer shape. A recess 21c is formed on the front surface of the upper pad member 21b. And the upper seat back heater 31 is accommodated in this recessed part 21c similarly to the seat cushion heater 33 mentioned above.

  Further, through holes 21d and 21d and through holes 31a and 31a are formed in the upper pad member 21b and the upper seat back heater 31 so as not to interfere with air bags 51a and 51a described later. The shoulder air unit 51 is elastically supported by the upper frame 21e by a spring member (not shown). The shoulder air unit 51 is a massage unit including a shoulder plate 51b and air bags 51a and 51a attached to the surface of the shoulder plate 51b. Air can be supplied from a predetermined air supply source (such as an air pump) to each of the air bags 51a, and air can be discharged from the inside of each air bag 51a to the outside. The supply and discharge of air can be controlled by transmitting an electric signal to a control circuit for opening / closing control such as an electromagnetic valve.

  Both the air bags 51a are set in a shape suitable for massaging the shoulder of the seat occupant, and transition from the contracted state shown in FIG. 3 to the expanded state shown in FIG. Can be made. And the expansion | swelling of both the air bags 51a protrudes ahead, pushing the upper skin member 21a from the inner side, pressing both shoulder parts of a seat seated person (refer FIG. 4). Therefore, the air supply / exhaust control to both the air bags 51a causes the air bags 51a to be repeatedly expanded and contracted to perform massage on the shoulders of the seated person.

  The basic structure of the lower seat back 22 is similar to the basic structure of the upper seat back 21. The lower skin member 22a covers the vehicle seat surface, the lower pad member 22b located inside the lower skin member 22a, and It consists of a substantially rectangular lower frame 22e which is located inside the lower pad member 22b and supports and forms the vehicle seat outer shape. A recess 22c is formed on the front surface of the lower pad member 22b. Similarly, the lower seat back heater 32 is accommodated in the recess 22c.

  Further, the lower pad member 22b and the lower seat back heater 32 are provided with through holes 22d,..., 22d and through holes 32a, so as not to interfere with six air bags 52a,. -32a is formed. The lower frame 22e is elastically supported by the lower back air unit 52 by a spring member (not shown). The waist air unit 52 is a massage unit including a waist plate 52b and six air bags 52a, ..., 52a attached to the surface thereof. Each of these air bags 52a is set in a shape suitable for performing massage on the waist of the seat occupant. The air bag 52a is repeatedly expanded and contracted by the same supply / discharge control as that of the air bag 51a described above, and massage is performed on both waists of the seat occupant. In addition, the description regarding the massage of the shoulder part and the waist part corresponds to “massage for the seated person by the massage device”.

  Further, the above-described upper frame 21e and lower frame 22e are connected by a middle folding mechanism (not shown) having a driving means. With the middle folding mechanism, the upper seat back 21 can be shifted from the normal state shown in FIG. 3 to the middle folding state shown in FIG. When this middle folding mechanism is used (the state shown in FIG. 4), the upper seat back 21 can be tilted forward by a maximum of “17 °” from the state where the middle folding mechanism is not used (the state shown in FIG. 3). In this way, by folding the seat back 20 in the middle, the seat back 20 fits the seat seater as is apparent from FIG. In particular, the shoulder of the seat occupant and the upper seat back 21 are in close contact with each other. Thereby, the pushing effect of both the air bags 51a arrange | positioned at the upper seat back 21 improves. That is, by folding the bag, the shoulder air bags 51a push the seat occupant's shoulders obliquely from the upper rear, and the air bags 51a can surely press the seat occupant's shoulders. . In addition, the description regarding this middle folding mechanism is equivalent to "a middle folding apparatus."

  As a switch for operating each of the above-described devices (reclining device, heater device, ottoman device, massage device, folding device), a reclining switch, heater switch, ottoman switch, massage switch, folding switch, auto switch, memory switch Is provided.

  Further, the vehicle seat is provided with a reclining position sensor, a folding position sensor, an ottoman position sensor, a seating surface temperature sensor, a control means, and a storage means (all are not shown in the figure and have no reference numerals). And a control means can grasp | ascertain the present state (for example, the state of the present inclination position if it is a reclining device) of each apparatus with the signal from each of these sensors. Furthermore, if the state of each device is stored in advance, the control means can operate each device to the stored state. For example, the reclining device will be described. As described above, the seat back 20 can be tilted by the reclining device within an operation range of 17 ° to 45 ° from the vertical direction. Therefore, if the state of the reclining device is stored in advance at 35 ° from the vertical direction, the control means can control the reclining state based on the signal from the reclining position sensor even if the reclining device is 17 ° from the vertical direction. Can be automatically operated from 17 ° to 35 ° from the vertical direction. Note that the control means can also operate the folding device, the ottoman device, and the heater device to a previously stored state (temperature for the heater device) in the same manner as the reclining device.

  These switch operation modes include a “manual mode” and an “auto mode”. The “manual mode” is a mode in which each device is operated independently by an individual switch associated with each device. For example, when it is desired to operate the reclining device, the reclining switch is operated. On the other hand, the “auto mode” is a mode in which the state of each device other than the massage device is operated to be stored in advance by an auto switch, and then the operation of the massage device is started. When operating each device in the “auto mode”, it is necessary to store in advance the desired state of each device except the massage device.

  For example, a case where the state of the reclining device is stored will be described. When the reclining is in a state desired to be 35 ° from the vertical direction, the reclining switch is first operated to move to the state of 35 ° from the vertical direction. Thereafter, the memory switch is pressed. Then, the 35 ° state is stored in the storage means. After that, when the auto switch is pressed, it moves to 35 ° regardless of the position of the reclining. In this embodiment, there is only one auto switch. Therefore, after operating each apparatus except a massage apparatus to the desired state in manual mode, the memory switch is pressed and the operation state of each apparatus except a massage apparatus is memorize | stored collectively. Since the feature of the vehicle seat of the present invention is that each device is operated in the “auto mode”, the control in the “auto mode” will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the auto switch is operating (step S100). When the auto switch is operating (in the case of Yes), it is determined whether or not the reclining device is in a previously stored position (step S102). On the other hand, when the auto switch is not operating (in the case of No), it is a step of waiting until it operates. In step S102, if the reclining device is in a previously stored position (Yes), it is determined whether or not the ottoman device is in a previously stored position (step S106). On the other hand, when the reclining device is not in the position stored in advance (in the case of No), the reclining device operates (step S104), and the process returns to step S102. By circulating these steps S102 and S104, the reclining device operates to a previously stored position.

  In step S106, if the ottoman device is in a previously stored position (in the case of Yes), it is determined whether or not the folding device is in a previously stored position (step S110). On the other hand, when the ottoman device is not in the position stored in advance (in the case of No), the ottoman device operates (step S108), and the process returns to step S106. By circulating these steps S106 and S108, the ottoman device moves to a previously stored position. In step S110, when the folding device is in a prestored position (in the case of Yes), it is determined whether or not the heater device is at a prestored temperature (step S114). On the other hand, when the folding device is not in the position stored in advance (in the case of No), the folding device operates (step S112), and the process returns to step S110. By circulating these steps S110 and S112, the folding device operates to a previously stored position.

  In step S114, when the heater device is at a prestored temperature (in the case of Yes), the massage device is operated (step S118). On the other hand, when the heater device is not at the temperature stored in advance (in the case of No), the heater device operates (step S116), and the process returns to step S114. By circulating these steps S114 and S116, the heater device operates to a temperature stored in advance. In addition, a massage apparatus stops automatically after predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) progress after starting operation | movement.

  By controlling the “auto mode”, the massage device can be started after the reclining device, the ottoman device, the folding device, and the heater device are operated to a state desired by the seat occupant. This desired state is a state (optimum state) that is set by the seat occupant in advance as described above and is suitable for the seat occupant to receive a massage. Therefore, every time the seat seater sits on the vehicle seat, it is not necessary to search for the optimum state and can immediately receive a massage in the optimum state. In addition, since these devices are executed only by pressing the auto switch, it is easy for the seated person. Thus, the seat occupant can make the vehicle seat suitable for massage by a simple operation, and can receive a better massage.

  In addition, when a massage is received in a state where the reclining device is used, the massage is performed in a stable state of the pressure of the massage, so that the body is prevented from escaping and the massage effect is improved. In addition, when a massage is received in a state where the ottoman device is used, the massage is performed in an easy posture, which improves blood flow and improves the massage effect. Moreover, since it will be a massage in the state fitted to the seat seating person when it receives a massage in the state using a folding device, the pushing effect of a shoulder part will improve and a massage effect will improve. In addition, when a massage is received in a state where the heater device is used, the massage effect is improved by the thermal effect because the seat occupant is in a heated state.

The contents described above are only related to one embodiment of the present invention, and do not mean that the present invention is limited to the above contents.
In the embodiment, the configuration in which it is determined whether or not the storage position (temperature) is in the order of the reclining device, the ottoman device, the folding device, and the heater device has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured to determine whether or not the storage position (temperature) is in a different order.
Moreover, in the Example, the structure which links all the apparatuses of a reclining apparatus, an ottoman apparatus, a middle folding apparatus, and a heater apparatus to the massage apparatus was demonstrated to the example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which at least one of a reclining device, an ottoman device, a folding device, and a heater device is linked to the massage device may be used.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a vehicle seat according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the seat back 20 in the vehicle seat of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1 and shows a normal state of the vehicle seat. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 1 and shows a massage operation state of the vehicle seat. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control program procedure in the vehicle seat of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Seat cushion 20 Seat back 51a Air bag (gas bag)
52a Air bag (gas bag)

Claims (1)

A vehicle seat that includes a seat cushion and a seat back, and is capable of massaging a seat occupant with a massage device provided in the seat back,
A reclining device that raises and lowers the seat back with respect to the seat cushion, an ottoman device that can expand the footrest surface of the seat occupant in front of the seat cushion, an intermediate fold device that folds the seat back, or warms the seat occupant At least one device of a heater device;
Storage means for storing the operation state of the apparatus so as to be suitable for exerting a massage effect on a seat occupant;
A vehicle seat comprising: control means for operating the operation state of the device to the stored operation state when a seat occupant performs a massage start operation.

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