JP2007215695A - Vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle seat capable of more effectively retaining or enhancing the degree of awakening of a user. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle seat 1 has an elastic member for supporting the user in such a way as to enable cushioning of the impact, and the seat surface side of the elastic member is covered with a seat skin. The vehicle seat 1 comprises a backside opening part 2 communicating with air in the interior of the vehicle, a seat surface side opening part 5 leading to the seat surfaces 3a and 4a of the vehicle seat 1, a communication means 6 for making the back side opening part 2 and the seat surface side opening part 5 communicate with each other, and ventilation means 7, 8 and 9 for feeding air in the interior of the vehicle to the seat surface side opening part 5 via the communication means 6 or sucking air in the interior of the vehicle from the seat surface side opening part 5 via the communication means 6. The communication means 6 is formed by disposing a groove on the seat surface side of the elastic member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat suitable for use in vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks, and buses.

While the user is driving the vehicle, the road environment may become physically and visually monotonous, or the degree of arousal of the user may decrease due to the occurrence of traffic jams or the like. In such a case, in order to maintain or increase the user's arousal level, it is conceivable to blow the user to give a stimulus. As a structure that can be used for blowing air to the user for such a purpose, Patent Document 1 proposes a structure of a vehicle seat that blows exhaust air from an air conditioner to the back or thigh of the user.
JP 2005-143981 A

  However, in the vehicle seat disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pipe made of a soft material is embedded in supplying air for blowing air to the user's back or thigh. In a portion where the load is concentrated due to the user's own weight, such as the rear of the vehicle, the pipe is crushed, and a desired amount of air is blown to the desired portion of the seat surface and the backrest surface of the vehicle seat. There was a problem that the supply could not be performed, and the effect of maintaining and enhancing the user's arousal level diminished.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the main object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can more effectively maintain or enhance the user's arousal level.

In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle seat according to the present invention is:
A vehicle seat comprising an elastic member that supports a user so as to be buffered, and covering the seat surface of the elastic member on the seat surface,
A rear side opening that communicates with the air in the vehicle compartment; a seat side opening that communicates with the seat surface of the vehicle seat; a communication means that communicates the rear side opening and the seat side opening; and the seat A supply / exhaust means for supplying air in the vehicle compartment to the surface side opening through the communication means or sucking in air in the vehicle compartment from the seat surface opening through the communication means. Is formed by providing a groove on the seating surface side of the elastic member. Here, the seating surface refers to the surface on the user side where the seat portion and the backrest portion of the vehicle seat are seated, and the back side refers to the side opposite to the seating surface.

  Here, it is preferable to include an arousal level detection unit that detects a decrease in the user's arousal level and a control unit that operates the supply / exhaust unit when the user's arousal level is decreased.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the back side opening is provided at the rear end of the seat portion of the vehicle seat or the lower end of the backrest.

  In addition, the air is preferably normal temperature air.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that a plurality of the seat surface side openings are provided over the entire seat surface of the vehicle seat.

  In addition, it is preferable that the depth of the groove is the thickness of the elastic member.

  Here, it is preferable that the shape in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the communication means is a triangular shape having the seating surface side as a base.

  Or it is preferable to make the shape in the cross section perpendicular | vertical to the extending direction of the said communication means into the trapezoid shape which makes the said seat surface side a lower base.

  According to the present invention, a desired amount of air can be blown to a desired portion of the seat surface of the vehicle seat, and the arousal level of the user can be more effectively maintained and enhanced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a vehicle configuration according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a seat as viewed from above except for a seat skin, which will be described later, and FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a part of an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention as seen obliquely from the rear. . Further, FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an introduction extension, which will be described later, of the vehicle seat according to the present invention.

The vehicle seat 1 of the present embodiment is a vehicle seat provided with a cushion that is an elastic member that supports a user in a bufferable manner,
A rear-side opening 2 that communicates with the air in the vehicle compartment, a plurality of seat-side openings 5 that communicate over the entire seating surfaces 3a and 4a of the seat 3 and the backrest 4 of the vehicle seat, and the rear-side opening 2 A plurality of air guide passages 6 as communication means for communicating with the seat surface side opening 5, and normal temperature air in the vehicle compartment is supplied to the seat surface side opening 5 through the air guide passage 6. A substantially trapezoidal cylindrical extension 7, an external pipe 8, and a fan 9 are provided as supply / exhaust means for sucking air in the vehicle compartment from the opening 5 through the air guide path 6.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an arousal level detection unit 10 a that detects a user's arousal level and an ECU 10 as a control unit 10 b that operates the fan 9 when the arousal level is reduced are connected to the fan 9. The ECU 9 is connected to a CCD camera 11 which is an image pickup means. Detection of a decrease in the user's arousal level is performed by imaging the user's face with the CCD camera 11, detecting the line of sight and mouth movement, etc., and performing predetermined processing.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the introduction extension 7 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal cylindrical shape having openings on the upper bottom surface side and the lower bottom surface side. In FIG. 5, 7a indicates an opening on the upper bottom surface side, and 7b indicates an opening on the lower bottom surface side. Here, the opening 7a on the upper bottom side is formed in a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the introduction extensions 7 are provided at the rear end of the seat 3 and the lower end of the backrest 4, respectively. The opening 7 a on the upper bottom surface side on the side having a smaller area is connected to the external pipe 8, which is connected to the rear side opening 2 of the air guide path 6 provided at the lower end of the end and backrest 4.

  At the same time, as shown in FIG. 3, the air guide path 6 as the communication means is provided with a plurality of grooves 13 on the seat surface side of the cushion 12 which is an elastic member formed of urethane or the like, and the seat skin 14 is cushioned 12. It is formed by covering the seat surface side. As shown in FIG. 6, the seat surfaces 3a and 4a are constituted by a seat skin 14 made of genuine leather, synthetic leather, natural fiber, synthetic fiber, or the like, and circular at a plurality of locations corresponding to the grooves 13 shown in FIG. A hole-like seat surface side opening 5 is formed.

  In the vehicle seat 1 configured as described above, when the ECU 10 detects a decrease in the user's arousal level, if the fan 9 is operated in the forward direction under the control of the ECU 10, the air in the vehicle compartment is introduced into the external pipe 8. The air supplied to the back side opening 2 through the extension 7 and further supplied to the back side opening 2 is supplied to the seating surface side opening 5 through the air guide path 6, as shown in FIG. It is supplied to the back of the user C and the back of the thigh and blown to give the user a stimulus. Alternatively, the user 9 can be stimulated by operating the fan 9 in the reverse direction and sucking air from the seat surface side opening 5 in the reverse direction.

  Here, the structure of the cushion 12 and its related parts can be in various forms. An example is shown below.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing an example of a cushion according to an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention, including a seat pad, which will be described later, as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  Here, the depth of the groove 13 is smaller than the thickness of the cushion 12, that is, the groove does not penetrate the cushion. For this reason, the cushion 12 is formed in a substantially U-shape with a quadrangular prism-shaped cushion portion 12a extending in the front-rear direction, a cushion portion 12b having edge portions formed at the left and right ends, and a rear end portion. The cushion portion 12c and the flat cushion portion 12d are formed, and the groove portion 13 is formed in the cushion 12 by the cushion portions 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, thereby forming the air guide path 6 that is a communication means. Thus, the back side opening 2 is formed. Although three cushion portions 12a are provided here, more cushion portions 12a may be provided. A seat pad 15 is disposed on the side opposite to the seating surface of the cushion 12.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an example of a cushion of an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  Here, the depth of the groove 13 is the same as the thickness of the cushion 12, that is, the groove 13 penetrates the cushion 12. For this reason, the cushion 12 is formed in a substantially U-shape with a quadrangular prism-shaped cushion portion 12a extending in the front-rear direction, a cushion portion 12b having edge portions formed at the left and right ends, and a rear end portion. The groove portion 13 is formed in the cushion 12 by the cushion portions 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, and the air guide path 6 that is a communication means is formed by the groove portion 13 and a seat skin 14 (not shown) here. Is formed, and the rear side opening 2 is formed at the rear end of the air guide path 6. The cushion portions 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are provided by being bonded to the seat surface side of the flat seat pad 15 with an adhesive or the like. Although three cushion portions 12a are provided here, more cushion portions 12a may be provided.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing an example of a cushion according to an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  Here, the depth of the groove 13 is the same as the thickness of the cushion 12, that is, the groove 13 penetrates the cushion 12. For this reason, the cushion 12 is formed in a substantially U-shape with a quadrangular prism-shaped cushion portion 12a extending in the front-rear direction, a cushion portion 12b having edge portions formed at the left and right ends, and a rear end portion. The cushion part 12c is formed, and the groove part 13 is formed in the cushion 12 by the cushion parts 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Thereby, the air guide path 6 that is a communication means is formed, and the air guide path 6 A rear side opening 2 is formed at the rear end. A cushion sheet 16 having a higher elastic modulus than the cushion 12 is laminated on the seat surface side of the flat seat pad 15, and cushion portions 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d are attached to the seat surface side of the cushion sheet 15 by an adhesive or the like. Bonded and provided. Although three cushion portions 12a are provided here, more cushion portions 12a may be provided.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of a cushion according to an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  Here, the depth of the groove 13 is smaller than the thickness of the cushion 12, that is, the groove 13 does not penetrate the cushion 12. In addition, the seat pad shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is made of the same elastic member as the cushion 12 and the cushion 12 and the seat pad are integrally molded. The cushion 12 includes a rectangular pillar-shaped cushion portion 12a extending in the front-rear direction, a cushion portion 12b having an edge portion formed at the rear end portion at both left and right ends, and a substantially U-shaped cushion that opens at the rear. Part 12c and a flat cushion part 12d, and the groove part 13 is formed in the cushion 12 by the cushion parts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, thereby the air guide path 6 as a communication means is formed, and the back surface A side opening 2 is formed. Although three cushion portions 12a are provided here, more cushion portions 12a may be provided.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing another example of the cushion of one embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear.

  Here, a single groove portion 18a shallower than the thickness of the cushion 17 is provided in the cushion 17 so as to extend from the rear to the front in the central portion in the left-right direction, and the rear side opening 2 is formed at the rear end portion of the groove portion 18a. In addition, a groove portion 18b that branches from the rear end portion to the left and right and extends obliquely forward is provided, and a groove portion 18c that extends rearward from the front end portion of the groove portion 18b is provided, and thereby the air guide path 6 is formed. . The back side opening 2 is connected to an introduction extension 7 (not shown).

  Of the cushion forms described above, the cushions shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12 are advantageous for integrally molding the cushion 12 or 17 by injection molding because the cushion is not divided by the groove. 9 and FIG. 10, the cross-sectional area in the plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the air guide path 6 is made as large as possible, and when the load due to the seating of the user acts, It is more advantageous to secure a cross-sectional area. In the case shown in FIG. 10, by providing the cushion seat 16 having a higher elastic modulus, the cushion 12 is recessed with respect to the seat pad 15 due to the load caused by the seating of the user. And the cross-sectional area of the air guide path 6 can be more effectively secured. Further, in the case shown in FIG. 11, the seat pad can be integrally formed with the cushion, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

  Moreover, the form in the plane perpendicular | vertical to the extending direction of the air guide path 6 can be made into various things.

  13, 14, 15, and 16 show the AA cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the air guide path 6 (that is, the groove portion 13) that is the communication means of the vehicle seat 1 according to the present invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram shown including.

  In the vehicle seat shown in FIG. 13, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is formed in a rectangular shape, and accordingly, the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 13 is also formed in a rectangular shape, and the cross-sectional shape of the cushion 12 is a corresponding comb tooth. It is formed into a shape.

  In FIG. 13, 15 indicates a seat pad, and 19 indicates a pad carrier. The seat pad 15 is made of a soft material such as polystyrene foam by injection molding in order to form the shape of the vehicle seat 1. Of course, when the vehicle seat is a sports type and the pad carrier and the cushion are integrally formed as shown in FIG. 10, the pad carrier is made of an elastic member. The pad carrier 19 is made of a hard material such as a metal such as iron or aluminum or a synthetic resin in order to support the entire vehicle seat.

  Also in the vehicle seat 1 shown in FIG. 14, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is formed in a rectangular shape, and accordingly, the cross-sectional shapes of the groove 13 and the cushion 12 are also formed in a rectangular shape. Moreover, the depth of the groove part 13 which forms the air guide path 6 is the same as the thickness of the cushion 12 which is an elastic member, and the groove part 13 is penetrated in the thickness direction of the cushion 12. As in FIG. 12, 15 indicates a seat pad, and 19 indicates a pad carrier.

  In the vehicle seat 1 shown in FIG. 15, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is formed in a triangular shape with the seating surface side as the base, and accordingly, the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 13 is also a triangular shape and is an elastic member. The cushion 12 is formed in a trapezoidal shape having the seat surface side as an upper base (upper base <lower base).

  In the vehicle seat 1 shown in FIG. 16, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is formed in a trapezoidal shape with the seat surface side as the bottom, and accordingly, the cross-sectional shape of the groove 13 also has the seat surface side as the bottom. The cushion 12, which is an elastic member, is formed in a trapezoidal shape with the seat surface side as an upper base.

  In the vehicle seat formed as described above, when a load F is applied when the user is seated, the load F is supported by the elasticity of the cushion 12, which is an elastic member, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 12 formed by the cushion 12 and the air guide path 6 which is the communication means is deformed along with the deformation of the cushion 12 due to elasticity, but the air guide path 6 is still supplied. The operation of the fan 9 constituting the exhaust means can secure a cross-sectional area necessary for supplying air from the back surface side opening 2 to the seat surface side opening 5, so that the air guide path 6 which is a communication means is provided. It is possible to prevent the air from being crushed and being unable to supply or suck air to the seating surface side opening 5 at any part of the seating surface. For this reason, the user can be stimulated by blowing or sucking a desired air volume to a desired portion, and the user's arousal level can be more effectively maintained and enhanced. In addition, since the air guide path 6 that is the communication means is formed by the cushion 12 that is an elastic member that supports the user in a bufferable manner, compared to the case where the air guide path 6 is configured by a pipe or a sheet made of a soft material, The number of parts can be reduced as a vehicle seat.

  Further, as described above, the rear opening 2 and thus the introduction extension 7 are provided at the rear end of the seat 3 of the vehicle seat 1 or the lower end of the backrest 4, for example, at the front end of the seat 3. A side opening is provided and the air guide path 6 is provided to the upper end portion of the backrest portion 4 at once, or a rear side opening is provided at the upper end portion of the backrest portion 4 and the air guide path is extended to the front end portion of the seat portion 3. Compared with providing through holes, the length of the air guide path 6 which is a communication means located between the seat side opening 5 and the back side opening 2 can be shortened and made uniform. Air can be uniformly supplied or sucked from the fan 9 through the external piping 8 through the respective seating surface side openings 5.

As described above, by providing the seat surface side opening 6 over the entire seat surface, it is possible to more effectively maintain and enhance the user's arousal level. This utilizes the fact that the temperature discrimination sensation of human air blowing increases as the area of the body surface that receives the air blowing increases. This is called an area effect. For example, a human can identify a temperature difference of 1.0 ° C. on a body surface of 1 square centimeter, but can identify a temperature difference of 0.01 ° C. on the entire body surface. Further, the amount of air to be supplied, that is, the amount of blown air is preferably 40 m ³ / min or more.

  Moreover, the user's arousal level can be more effectively maintained and increased by blowing air at normal temperature. This is because the temperature identification sensation of human air is higher than other temperature ranges at room temperature (for example, a difference of 0.1 to 1.0 ° C. can be identified at 24 to 30 ° C.). . For this reason, although not shown here, the fan 9 in the present embodiment is provided at a position separated from the discharge port of the vehicle air conditioner by a predetermined distance.

  Further, in any form of the vehicle seat, the elastic member constituting the cushion 12 uses a member having a higher elastic modulus than that used for the vehicle seat not belonging to the present invention in which the groove portion 13 is not provided. This is because the provision of the groove 13 ensures a sufficient cushioning property to support the user's own weight even if the cross-sectional area is reduced.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is a triangular shape with the seating surface side as the base, and the cross-sectional shape of the cushion 12 is a trapezoidal shape with the seating surface side as the upper base. Thus, the load distribution on the seating surface when the user is seated can be made more uniform, and the user's sitting comfort can be enhanced. In addition, the cross-sectional area of the cushion 12 is increased by increasing the cross-sectional area on the seat surface side facing the opening 5 on the seat-surface side of the air guide path 6 and decreasing the cross-sectional area on the opposite side of the seat surface side. And it can be set as an advantageous form in supporting the load at the time of a user's seating. Further, since the area of the cushion 12 that contacts the seat pad 15 can be increased as much as possible, the cushion 12 is prevented from being sunk into the seat pad 15 by a load caused by the seating of the user, and the cross-sectional area of the air guide path 6 is reduced. This can be prevented.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the cross-sectional shape of the air guide path 6 is a trapezoidal shape with the seating surface side as the bottom, and the cross-sectional shape of the cushion 12 is a trapezoidal shape with the seating surface side as the upper base. Also by this, when the user is seated, the load distribution on the seating surface can be made more uniform, and the sitting comfort of the user can be enhanced. Also in this case, the sectional area of the cushion 12 can be further increased by increasing the sectional area on the seat surface side facing the opening 5 on the seat surface side of the air guide path 6 and decreasing the sectional area on the opposite side of the seat surface side. By making it large, it is possible to provide an advantageous form for supporting the load when the user is seated. Further, since the area of the cushion 12 that contacts the seat pad 15 can be increased as much as possible, the cushion 12 is prevented from being sunk into the seat pad 15 by a load caused by the seating of the user, and the cross-sectional area of the air guide path 6 is reduced. This can be prevented.

  As described above, when the depth of the groove 13 is the same as the thickness of the cushion 12 that is an elastic member, the cross-sectional area of the air guide path 6 is reduced when the air guide path 6 that is the communication means is formed by the elastic member. By making it as large as possible, securing the cross-sectional area of the air guide path 6 when a load is applied by the user's seating can be made more advantageous.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and substitutions are made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. be able to.

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and can be applied to various vehicles such as a passenger car, a truck, and a bus.

It is a schematic diagram which shows one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention seeing from diagonally upward. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration of an embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which deletes a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention, and shows it. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the effect | action of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic cross section which shows one Embodiment of the AA cross section of the vehicle seat by this invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic cross section which shows other embodiment of the AA cross section of the vehicle seat by this invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic cross section which shows other embodiment of the AA cross section of the vehicle seat by this invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic cross section which shows other embodiment of the AA cross section of the vehicle seat by this invention shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the form when the load by seating of a user acts on one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the form when the load by seating of a user acts on one Example of the vehicle seat by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Back side opening part 3 Seat part 4 Backrest part 5 Seat surface side opening part 6 Air guide path 7 Introducing extension 8 External piping 9 Fan 10 ECU
11 CCD camera 12 Cushion 13 Groove 14 Seat skin 15 Seat pad 16 Cushion sheet 17 Cushion 18 Groove 19 Pad carrier

Claims (8)

A vehicle seat comprising an elastic member that supports a user so as to be buffered, and covering the seat surface of the elastic member on the seat surface,
A rear side opening that communicates with the air in the vehicle compartment; a seat side opening that communicates with the seat surface of the vehicle seat; a communication means that communicates the rear side opening and the seat side opening; and the seat A supply / exhaust means for supplying air in the vehicle compartment to the surface side opening through the communication means or sucking in air in the vehicle compartment from the seat surface opening through the communication means. Is formed by providing a groove on the seating surface side of the elastic member.   2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising: an arousal level detection unit that detects a decrease in a user's arousal level; and a control unit that operates the supply / exhaust unit when the user's arousal level is decreased. .   3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the rear side opening is provided at a rear end portion of a seat portion of the vehicle seat or a lower end portion of a backrest portion.   The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air is air at normal temperature.   The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the seat surface side openings are provided over the entire seat surface of the vehicle seat.   The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the groove is the thickness of the elastic member.   The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the communication means is a triangular shape having the seating surface side as a base.   The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shape in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the communication means is a trapezoidal shape with the seat surface side as a bottom. .

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