JP2015096346A - Air bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag which can secure adequately comfortableness of a seating person and can be manufactured by a method of high productivity.SOLUTION: An air bag 60 which inflates through air filling to the inside is housed in the inside of a seat. And, shape-specifying members 74, 76 are provided at specified surfaces of the air bag which positions at a seating person side to the seat, and the shapes of the specified surfaces are specified as the shapes along the surfaces of the shape-specifying members. Thus, the shape of the seating surface of a seat which is projected by air bag inflation can be made planar and comfortableness of the seating person can be secured. Further, the air bag can be manufactured by fitting the shape-specifying member to at least one side of two sheets in advance and jointing the two sheets to each other at the edge parts, for example. By means of this, the air bag can be manufactured by a relatively simple method and productivity can be raised.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air bag that expands by being filled with air and that is accommodated in a seat.

  2. Description of the Related Art Seats for vehicle seats, massage chairs, and the like include seats that incorporate an air bag that expands when the interior is filled with air. In such a seat, a seated person's posture adjustment, a seated person's massage, etc. are performed by inflation of an air bag, but an air bag built in a seat is in the time of inflating in order to ensure comfort of a seated person. Stipulated in a predetermined shape. Specifically, for example, when a general bag-shaped member is expanded, it expands into a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape. Thus, when the air bag which expand | swells in spherical shape or a cylinder shape is arrange | positioned inside a seat, the seating surface of a seat will protrude in the shape of a line or a dot. When a person sits on the seat raised in this manner, the stress on the seated person is concentrated on the raised portion, and the seated person may feel uncomfortable. For this reason, as described in the following patent documents, development of an air bag partially defined in a planar shape is underway.

JP 2000-37796 A

  According to the air bag described in the above-mentioned patent document, the seating surface of the seat can be raised on the surface, and the stress to the seated person can be dispersed. Thereby, it becomes possible to ensure the comfort of the seated person appropriately. However, in the air bag described in the above-mentioned patent document, the edge of the two sheets is welded to form a bag-shaped member, and the two sheets are formed inside the bag-shaped member. Are connected by a plurality of members. For this reason, the air bag manufacturing process described in the above-mentioned patent document is a very time-consuming process, and the productivity is very poor. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag that can ensure comfort of a seated person and can be manufactured by a highly productive method.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the air bag according to claim 1 of the present application is an air bag that expands by being filled with air, and is accommodated in the seat, A shape defining member is provided on a predetermined surface of the air bag located on the seated person side, and defines a shape of the predetermined surface along the surface of the air bag.

  The air bag according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the air bag according to claim 1, the shape defining member is fixed to an inner surface of the air bag.

  The air bag according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the air bag according to claim 1 or 2, the shape defining member is a plate-like member.

  The air bag according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the air bag according to claim 1 or 2, the shape defining member is a frame-shaped member.

  The air bag according to claim 5 is characterized in that in the air bag according to claim 1 or 2, the shape defining member is a rod-shaped member.

  Moreover, in the air bag of Claim 6, in the air bag of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5, the said shape determination member is comprised from the several member from which rigidity differs. Features.

  In the air bag according to claim 1, a shape defining member is provided on a predetermined surface of the air bag located on the seat occupant side, and the shape of the predetermined surface of the air bag is the surface of the shape defining member. It is prescribed in the shape along. Thereby, it becomes possible to make the shape of the seating surface of the seat raised by the inflation of the air bag into a planar shape, and to ensure the comfort of the seated person. In addition, for example, the air bag according to claim 1 is manufactured by fixing the shape defining member to at least one of the two sheets in advance and welding the two sheets at the edge. Is possible. Thereby, it becomes possible to manufacture an air bag by a comparatively simple method, and it becomes possible to raise productivity.

  In the air bag according to claim 2, the shape defining member is fixed to the inner surface of the air bag. This makes it possible to suppress contact between the shape defining member and other members, and to prevent the shape defining member from peeling off.

  In the air bag according to any one of claims 3 to 5, the shape defining member is limited to any one of a plate shape, a frame shape, and a rod shape, and various shapes of the shape defining members are employed. Is possible.

  In the air bag according to claim 6, the shape defining member is composed of a plurality of members having different rigidity. As a result, for example, the portion of the air bag to which the highly rigid shape determining member is fixed becomes almost flat without being deformed. On the other hand, in the portion where the shape defining member having low rigidity of the air bag is fixed, the shape defining member is bent and gently bent. For this reason, the shape at the time of expansion | swelling of an air bag becomes a streamline type, and it becomes possible to make the seating surface of a seat into a shape along a seated person. Therefore, according to the air bag of the sixth aspect, it is possible to further ensure the comfort of the seated person.

It is a perspective view which shows the vehicle seat of an Example in the viewpoint from the vehicle front. It is a disassembled perspective view of the seat back shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing in the AA line shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of an air bag. It is sectional drawing of an air bag. It is sectional drawing of the conventional air bag. It is a figure which shows the manufacture process of the air bag of the modification 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the manufacture process of the air bag of the modification 2. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the air bag of the modification 3. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing process of the air bag of the modification 4.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as modes for carrying out the present invention.

<First embodiment>
In FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 of the Example of this invention is shown in the viewpoint from diagonally forward. The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12 that supports the driver's buttocks, a seat back 14 that supports the driver's back, and a headrest 16 that is provided at the upper end of the seat back 14 and supports the driver's head. It is constituted by.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the seat back 14 includes a back frame 20 serving as a skeleton of the seat back 14, a back pad 22 made of urethane foam disposed on the side on which the occupant sits, and a back pad. And a back cover (see FIG. 3) 24 that covers the surface of 22.

  The back frame 20 includes a pair of left and right side frames 30 and 32 made of steel plates, an upper frame 34 made of a circular steel pipe spanning the upper ends of the pair of side frames 30 and 32, and both legs of the upper frame 34. A steel plate upper cross-linking frame 36 spanned between the parts and a steel plate lower cross-linking frame 38 spanned between the lower ends of the pair of side frames 30 and 32, and is generally in the form of a square frame. Yes.

  A contour mat 50 for supporting the back pad 22 from behind is disposed at the center of the square frame-shaped back frame 20. The contour mat 50 is a generally rectangular plate-shaped member made of resin, and is fixed to the upper bridge frame 36 at the upper end and fixed to the lower bridge frame 38 at the lower end.

  Between the contour mat 50 and the back pad 22, as shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 1, three air bags 60, 62, 64 are arranged in the vertical direction. Has been. Since each air bag 60, 62, 64 has substantially the same structure, the structure of the air bag 60 will be described as a representative.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the air bag 60 includes two urethane sheets 70 and 72 made of thermoplastic polyurethane resin and two plate-like members 74 and 76 made of resin. The two urethane sheets 70 and 72 are generally rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. Further, the two plate-like members 74 and 76 are also generally rectangular, and are about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the urethane sheets 70 and 72. The plate member 74 is fixed to the lower surface of the urethane sheet 70, and the plate member 76 is fixed to the upper surface of the urethane sheet 72. The two urethane sheets 70 and 72 are overlapped so that the two plate-like members 74 and 76 face each other. The two urethane sheets 70 and 72 are welded over the entire periphery of the edges of the urethane sheets 70 and 72 except for predetermined portions.

  Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the air bag 60 has a bag shape, and a portion that is not welded functions as the air hole 78. An air tube 79 is connected to the air hole 78, and the air tube 79 is connected to a pump (not shown) via a valve (not shown). With such a structure, the air bag 60 expands when air is supplied from the pump, and contracts when air is discharged from the air bag 60. In addition, the shape of the air bag 60 at the time of inflation is a shape defined by the plate-like members 74 and 76. That is, the urethane sheets 70 and 72 to which the plate-like members 74 and 76 are fixed have a shape along the surface of the plate-like members 74 and 76, and the portion to which the plate-like members 74 and 76 are fixed is shown. It becomes flat. On the other hand, the portion where the plate-like members 74 and 76 are not fixed has a curved shape.

  By supplying air to the air bag 60 having the above structure, it is possible to change the sitting posture of the seated person. Specifically, when air is supplied to the air bag 60 or the like disposed between the back pad 22 and the contour mat 50, the air bag 60 expands and the back pad 22 is deformed. Thereby, the seating surface of the seat back 14 is raised, and the seating posture of the seated person is changed. At this time, the seating surface of the seat back 14 rises along the shape of the air bag 60 when it is inflated. That is, it bulges along the shape of the plate member 74. For this reason, it becomes possible to disperse the stress on the seated person and to keep the sitting posture comfortable. This is because the shape of the air bag 60 when inflated is defined by the plate-like member 74. If the air bag 60 when inflated is not defined, the seated person may feel uncomfortable.

  Specifically, for example, when an air bag is manufactured using two urethane sheets to which a plate-like member is not fixed, the air bag expands into a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape. Thus, when the air bag which expand | swells in spherical shape or a cylinder shape is arrange | positioned between the back pad 22 and the contour mat 50, the seat back 14 will protrude in the shape of a line or a dot. In the seat back 14 thus raised, the stress on the seat occupant concentrates on the raised portion, and the seat occupant may feel uncomfortable. For this reason, the air bag disposed between the back pad 22 and the contour mat 50 needs to be defined in a predetermined shape. In the air bag 60 of the vehicle seat 10, the shape of the air bag 60 is defined by the plate-like members 74 and 76. However, the air bag 80 having another structure, specifically, the air bag 80 having the structure shown in FIG. 6 is used. It is also possible to define the shape.

  The air bag 80 is formed into a bag shape by welding two urethane sheets 82 and 84 over the entire periphery of the edge of the urethane sheets 82 and 84 except for predetermined portions. A predetermined portion that is not welded functions as the air hole 86. The two urethane sheets 82 and 84 are connected by a plurality of connecting sheets 88 inside the air bladder 80. With such a structure, when air is supplied to the air bag 80 and the air bag 80 is inflated, the separation of the two urethane sheets 82 and 84 is regulated by the plurality of connecting sheets 88, and the shape of the air bag 80. Is defined. Thus, the shape of the air bag 80 having a structure different from the structure of the air bag 60 can be defined, and the comfort of the seated person can be ensured.

  However, at the time of manufacturing the air bag 80, it is necessary to connect the two urethane sheets 82 and 84 by the connecting sheet 88 inside the air bag 80, which is a laborious operation. On the other hand, the air bag 60 is manufactured by welding two urethane sheets 70 and 72 to which plate-like members 74 and 76 are fixed in advance at the edges. Thus, since the air bag 60 is manufactured by a very simple method, it becomes possible to increase productivity.

<Second embodiment>
In the air bags 60, 62, 64 of the first embodiment, the shape of the air bags 60, 62, 64 is defined by a plate-like member, but in the air bag of the second embodiment, by a frame-like member. The shape of the air bag is defined. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the air bag 90 of the second embodiment is composed of two urethane sheets 92 and 94 and two frame members 96 and 98 made of resin. The two urethane sheets 92 and 94 are generally rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. Moreover, the frame-shaped members 96 and 98 are generally rectangular frame shapes, and the outer dimensions thereof are about 1/2 to 2/3 of the urethane sheets 92 and 94. The frame member 96 is fixed to the lower surface of the urethane sheet 92, and the frame member 98 is fixed to the upper surface of the urethane sheet 94. The two urethane sheets 92 and 94 are overlapped so that the two frame-shaped members 96 and 98 face each other. The two urethane sheets 92 and 94 are welded over the entire periphery of the edges of the urethane sheets 92 and 94 except for predetermined portions.

  Also in the air bag 90 having the above structure, the shape when inflated can be made substantially the same as the shape when the air bags 60, 62, 64 are inflated, and the comfort of the seated person can be ensured. . In addition, as described above, the air bag 90 is manufactured by welding the two urethane sheets 92 and 94 to which the frame-shaped members 96 and 98 are fixed in advance at the edge portion. It becomes possible to make it higher.

<Third embodiment>
In the air bag of the third embodiment, the shape of the air bag is defined by a rod-shaped member. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the air bag 100 of the third embodiment includes two urethane sheets 102 and 104 and six resin rod members 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116. And is composed of. The two urethane sheets 102 and 104 are generally rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. The six rod-shaped members 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116 have the same length, and the length is 1/2 to 2/3 of the length in the longitudinal direction of the urethane sheets 102, 104. It is said to be about. The three rod-like members 106, 108, and 110 are fixed in parallel to the lower surface of the urethane sheet 102 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the urethane sheet 102. Further, the three rod-like members 112, 114, 116 are fixed in parallel on the upper surface of the urethane sheet 104 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the urethane sheet 104. The two urethane sheets 102 and 104 are overlapped so that the rod-like members 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116 face each other. The two urethane sheets 102 and 104 are welded over the entire periphery of the edges of the urethane sheets 102 and 104 except for predetermined portions.

  Also in the air bag 100 having the above structure, the shape when inflated can be made substantially the same as the shape of the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90 when inflated, and the comfort of the seated person can be ensured. It becomes. Further, as described above, the air bag 100 is also manufactured by welding the two urethane sheets 102 and 104, to which the rod-like members 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116 are fixed in advance, at the edges. Therefore, productivity can be increased.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90, 100 of the above embodiment, the shape of the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90, 100 is defined by the same rigid member, but the air bag of the fourth embodiment Then, the shape of the air bag is defined by a plurality of members having different rigidity. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the air bag 120 of the fourth embodiment includes two urethane sheets 122 and 124, two resin-made plate-like members 126 and 128, and four resin-made members. It is comprised by the sheet-like member 130,132,134,136. The two urethane sheets 122 and 124 are generally rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. The plate-like members 126 and 128 are generally square plate-like members. On the other hand, the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, 136 are generally rectangular, and the length of the long sides thereof is the same as the length of one side of the plate-like members 126, 128. The plate members 126, 128 and the plate members 130, 132, 134, 136 are formed of different types of resin, and the rigidity of the plate members 126, 128 is the plate members 130, 132, 134. , 136 higher than the rigidity. That is, the plate members 126 and 128 are harder than the plate members 130, 132, 134, and 136.

  The plate member 126 is fixed to a substantially central portion of the lower surface of the urethane sheet 122, and the two plate members 130 and 132 are fixed to the lower surface of the urethane sheet 122 in a state adjacent to the plate member 126. . Further, the plate member 128 is fixed to the substantially central portion of the upper surface of the urethane sheet 124, and the two plate members 134 and 136 are fixed to the upper surface of the urethane sheet 124 in a state adjacent to the plate member 128. ing. The two urethane sheets 122 and 124 are overlapped so that the plate-like members 126 and 128 and the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 face each other. The two urethane sheets 122 and 124 are welded over the entire periphery of the edges of the urethane sheets 122 and 124 except for predetermined portions.

  Also in the air bag 120 having the above structure, the shape when inflated can be made substantially the same as the shape of the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90, 100 when inflated, and the comfort of the seated person is ensured. Is possible. However, in the air bag 120, since the rigidity of the plate-like members 126 and 128 and the rigidity of the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 are different, the shape of the air bag 120 when inflated is the roundness of the seated person's body. Streamlined to match Specifically, the portions of the urethane sheets 122 and 124 to which the highly rigid plate-like members 126 and 128 are fixed become almost flat without being deformed. On the other hand, the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 of the urethane sheets 122 and 124 to which the low-rigidity plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 are fixed are bent gently. Thereby, the shape at the time of expansion | swelling of the air bag 120 becomes a streamline type, and it becomes possible to ensure a seated person's comfort further appropriately. Further, as described above, the air bag 120 also welds the two urethane sheets 122 and 124 to which the plate-like members 126 and 128 and the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 are fixed in advance at the edges. Since it is manufactured, productivity can be increased.

<Fifth embodiment>
In the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90, 100, 120 of the above embodiment, the portion to which the plate-like member 74 such as the urethane sheet 72 is fixed is generally defined as a rectangular surface. In the example bladder, a portion of the urethane sheet is defined on a generally circular surface. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the air bag 140 of the fifth embodiment is configured by two urethane sheets 142 and 144 and two circular plate-like members 146 and 148 made of resin. . The two urethane sheets 142 and 144 are generally rectangular and have substantially the same dimensions. The circular plate members 146 and 148 are generally circular plate members. The circular plate member 146 is fixed to the lower surface of the urethane sheet 142, and the circular plate member 148 is fixed to the upper surface of the urethane sheet 144. The two urethane sheets 142 and 144 are overlapped so that the two circular plate members 146 and 148 face each other. The two urethane sheets 142 and 144 are welded over the entire periphery of the edges of the urethane sheets 142 and 144 except for predetermined portions.

  Also in the air bag 140 having the above structure, a part of the urethane sheets 142 and 144 can be defined on the surface in the same manner as the air bags 60, 62, 64, 90, 100, and 120. Can be secured. Further, as described above, the air bag 140 is also manufactured by welding the two urethane sheets 142 and 144, to which the circular plate-like members 146 and 148 are fixed in advance, at the edge portion. Can be increased.

  Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the vehicle seat 10 is an example of a seat. Air bags 60, 62, and 64 are examples of air bags. The plate-like members 74 and 76 are an example of a shape defining member and a plate-like member. The air bag 90 is an example of an air bag. The frame-shaped members 96 and 98 are examples of a shape defining member and a frame-shaped member. The air bag 100 is an example of an air bag. The rod-shaped members 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, and 116 are examples of a shape defining member and a rod-shaped member. The air bag 120 is an example of an air bag. The plate-like members 126 and 128 and the plate-like members 130, 132, 134, and 136 are examples of a shape defining member and a plate-like member. The air bag 140 is an example of an air bag. The circular plate-like members 146 and 148 are examples of a shape defining member and a plate-like member.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can implement in the various aspect which gave various change and improvement based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Specifically, for example, in the above embodiment, the shape defining member such as the plate-like member 74 is fixed to the inner surface of the air bag, but may be fixed to the outer surface of the air bag. Moreover, the shape defining member may be inserted into the urethane sheet. That is, it is possible to manufacture an air bag as a single sheet-like member by bonding the two sheets in a state where the shape defining member is sandwiched between the two sheets.

  In the above embodiment, the bag-like portion of the air bag is formed by two sheets, but the bag-like portion of the air bag is formed by one sheet or three or more sheets. May be.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the air bag fixed so that two shape-defining members may oppose is employ | adopted, the air bag to which one shape-defining member was fixed is employable. . However, in the air bag to which one shape defining member is fixed, it is necessary to be disposed in the seat so that the fixed portion of the shape defining member is located on the seating surface side of the seat.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the plate-shaped members 126 and 128 and the plate-shaped members 130, 132, 134, and 136 are shape | molded by a different kind of material, the rigidity of each member differs, It is possible to vary the rigidity of each member by changing the thickness or the like.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the air bag of the present invention is disposed inside the seat back 14, but various members can be used as long as they are members constituting the seat, such as the seat cushion 12, the headrest 16, and the armrest. It can be housed inside.

  In the above-described embodiment, the air bag of the present invention is disposed inside the vehicle seat 10, but is disposed inside various vehicle seats such as airplanes and ships. It is possible. Furthermore, the air bag is not limited to a vehicle seat, and can be disposed inside an instrument that can be seated by a person, such as a massage chair, a sofa, or a furniture chair.

10: Vehicle seat (seat)
60, 62, 64: Air bag 74, 76: Plate member (shape determining member)
90: Air bag 96, 98: Frame member (shape determining member)
100: Air bag 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116: Rod-shaped member (shape determining member)
120: Air bag 126, 128: Plate member (shape determining member)
130, 132, 134, 136: plate member (shape determining member)
140: Air bag 146, 148: Circular plate member (shape determining member)

Claims (6)

An air bag that expands by being filled with air,
The air bag
In the seat,
An air bag comprising a shape defining member that is provided on a predetermined surface of the air bag located on a seated person side of the seat and defines a shape of the predetermined surface along a surface of the air bag. . The shape defining member is
The air bag according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is fixed to an inner surface of the air bag. The shape defining member is
The air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air bag is a plate-like member. The shape defining member is
The air bag according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is a frame-shaped member. The shape defining member is
The air bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air bag is a rod-shaped member. The shape defining member is
The air bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air bag is composed of a plurality of members having different rigidity.

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