JP5905413B2 - Vehicle seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle seat including an occupant detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of an occupant.

  In recent years, some automobile seats are equipped with an occupant detection sensor that detects whether or not an occupant is sitting. These occupant detection sensors are used to detect the presence or absence of an occupant in order to operate a seat belt reminder or an occupant restraint device, and are often provided between a cushion member made of urethane foam and the skin. ing.

  By the way, when the occupant detection sensor is provided between the cushion member and the skin, it is necessary to review the occupant detection sensor or the installation method according to the seat so that the occupant detection sensor functions correctly. Therefore, in order to omit this examination, it has been proposed to attach a sensor unit for detecting an occupant to a seat spring provided under the cushion member (Patent Document 1). This sensor unit has a structure in which a film type pressure sensor is built in a thin case-like base plate.

International Publication No. 2013/030009

  However, the sensor unit of Patent Document 1 requires a base plate, which is expensive and has a complicated structure.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can detect the presence or absence of an occupant with a simple structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that has a simple structure, ensures the accuracy of detection of an occupant, and is easy to mount a sensor.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a vehicle seat according to the present invention includes a seat frame, a plurality of spring members installed on the seat frame, and a cushion member disposed on the occupant side of the plurality of spring members. A vehicle seat, comprising: a resin coupling member that couples the plurality of spring members; and a flexible occupant detection sensor attached to the coupling member, and the occupant sits when the occupant sits The detection sensor is configured to detect the presence or absence of an occupant by being sandwiched between the connecting member and the cushion member.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of an occupant by sandwiching the flexible occupant detection sensor between the connecting member and the cushion member. Therefore, the base plate as in the prior art is unnecessary, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

  In the vehicle seat described above, the occupant detection sensor has a base and a detection part extending from the base, and the connecting member has a first portion where the base is disposed on a surface on the occupant side, It is desirable that a second part facing the detection unit is provided, the first part protrudes closer to the cushion member than the second part, and the second part is separated from the cushion member.

  According to such a configuration, since the second portion where the detection unit is disposed is separated from the cushion member, it is not detected that the passenger is present only by applying a small load to the cushion member, and the presence or absence of the passenger is accurately detected. Can be detected.

  In the above vehicle seat, the occupant detection sensor has a base and a detection part extending from the base, and the connecting member has a planar shape in which the occupant detection sensor is attached to a surface on the occupant side. The sensor member is provided, and the cushion member is provided with a third part facing the base part and a fourth part facing the detection part, and the third part is more than the fourth part. It is desirable that the sensor protrudes toward the sensor installation part, and the fourth part is separated from the sensor installation part.

  According to this configuration, since the fourth portion facing the detection unit is separated from the sensor installation unit, it is not detected that there is an occupant just by applying a small load to the cushion member, and the presence or absence of the occupant is accurately detected. can do.

  In each of the vehicle seats described above, it is preferable that the connecting member is formed so as to be integrated with the spring member.

  According to this configuration, since the connecting member is integrated with the spring member, the posture of the connecting member is stable, and the sensitivity when the occupant detection sensor is sandwiched between the connecting member and the cushion member is stable. To do.

  In each of the above vehicle seats, each of the plurality of spring members is a spring bent in a zigzag, and has a plurality of U-shaped portions that open in one direction by bending, and the plurality of spring members are A first spring member and a second spring member disposed adjacent to the first spring member, wherein an opening of the U-shaped portion of the first spring member and the second spring member It arrange | positions so that the opening of a U-shaped part may oppose, and it is set as the structure by which the said passenger | crew detection sensor is attached to the said connection member which connects the bottom parts of two U-shaped parts which the said opening opposes. be able to.

  In such a configuration, the openings of the two U-shaped parts face each other, and the connecting member that connects the bottoms of the two U-shaped parts is relatively long. Therefore, the installation surface of the occupant detection sensor can be increased, and the occupant detection sensor can be easily attached.

  In the vehicle seat described above, it is desirable that the detection unit is disposed at a position shifted from the center in the left-right direction of the seat cushion.

  According to such a configuration, since the load from the occupant's buttocks or thighs is firmly applied to the cushion member on the detection unit, the presence or absence of the occupant can be accurately detected.

  In each of the above vehicle seats, the occupant detection sensor can be a sensor whose output signal switches between ON / OFF depending on the presence or absence of the occupant.

  In this way, the presence or absence of an occupant can be detected accurately and at low cost by using a sensor that switches the signal output between ON and OFF depending on the presence or absence of an occupant, rather than a sensor that outputs a value of a load applied to the sensor. .

  According to the structure of Claim 1, it becomes possible to detect the presence or absence of a passenger | crew by pinching a flexible passenger | crew detection sensor with a connection member and a cushion member. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the structure of Claim 2, since the 2nd site | part by which a detection part is arrange | positioned is spaced apart from the cushion member, it is not detected that there exists a passenger | crew only by applying a small load to a cushion member, and it is accurate. The presence or absence of a passenger can be detected.

  According to the structure of Claim 3, since the 4th site | part which opposes a detection part is spaced apart from the sensor installation part, it will not be detected that there exists a passenger | crew only by applying a small load to a cushion member, but it is accurate. The presence or absence of a passenger can be detected.

  According to the configuration described in claim 4, since the connecting member is integrated with the spring member, the posture of the connecting member is stabilized, and the occupant detection sensor detects the occupant by being sandwiched between the connecting member and the cushion member. When the sensitivity becomes stable.

  According to the structure of Claim 5, the opening of two U-shaped parts opposes and the connection member which connects the bottom parts of two U-shaped parts becomes a comparatively long thing. Therefore, the installation surface of the occupant detection sensor can be increased, and the occupant detection sensor can be easily attached.

  According to the structure of Claim 6, since the load from a passenger | crew's buttocks or thigh is applied to a cushion member firmly to a detection part, the presence or absence of a passenger | crew can be detected correctly.

  According to the structure of Claim 7, the presence or absence of an occupant can be detected accurately and at low cost by using a sensor whose signal output is switched between ON and OFF depending on the presence or absence of an occupant.

1 is an overall perspective view of a vehicle seat. It is a perspective view of a seat frame. It is a top view of the seat spring which installed the occupant detection sensor. (A) An expansion perspective view of a crew member detection sensor, and (b) A side view of a crew member detection sensor. It is sectional drawing equivalent to the ZZ cross section of FIG. 3 of a vehicle seat. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 5 which shows a state when a passenger | crew sits down. It is sectional drawing equivalent to the ZZ cross section of FIG. 3 of the vehicle seat which concerns on a modification. In a modification, it is a figure corresponding to Drawing 7 which shows a state when a crew member sits down. It is (a) sectional drawing of the vehicle seat at the time of employ | adopting the passenger | crew detection sensor which has two detection parts, (b) The top view of a seat spring. It is a top view of a seat spring at the time of arranging two crew member detection sensors.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat S as an example of a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion S1, a seat back S2 supported by the seat cushion S1, and a headrest S3 supported by the seat back S2. It is configured. In the following description, front and rear, left and right, and top and bottom are used with reference to an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat S.

  A seat frame F as shown in FIG. 2 is built in the vehicle seat S. The seat frame F includes a cushion frame F1 constituting the seat cushion S1 and a seat back frame F2 constituting the seat back S2. Then, as exemplified by the seat cushion S1 in FIG. 5, the seat frame F is covered with a cushion member 51 made of urethane foam, and the skin 52 is further covered with the cushion member 51, whereby the vehicle seat S is configured. Has been.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the cushion frame F <b> 1 that is a part of the seat frame F is connected to a pair of side frames 11 that extend long in the front and rear direction and spaced apart from each other and the front ends of the pair of side frames 11. A pan frame 12 made of sheet metal and a connecting pipe 13 made of a metal pipe that connects the rear ends of the pair of side frames 11 are formed in a frame shape in plan view.

A seat spring 20 is installed between the pan frame 12 and the connecting pipe 13 of the cushion frame F1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the seat spring 20 extends in the front-rear direction, and has four spring members 21 (21 </ b> A to 21 </ b> D) arranged side by side, and resin-made connecting members 30 </ b> A to 30 </ b> D that connect these spring members 21 to each other. It is comprised by.
Each spring member 21 is formed by bending a metal wire, and a hook portion 22 for hooking the connecting pipe 13 is formed at the rear end (see FIG. 2). The spring member 21 extends forward from the hook portion 22 and zigzags right and left. It is bent (meandering). Due to this bending, a plurality of U-shaped portions 23 opened to the left and right are continuously formed.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, each spring member 21 is bent four times to the left and right. The adjacent spring members 21 are bent so as to be bilaterally symmetric in plan view. Therefore, the openings 23A of the U-shaped portions 23 adjacent to the left and right are opposed to the left and right, and the bottom 23B. They are also facing each other. The front end of each spring member 21 extends to the left and right, and the portion extending to the left and right is hooked on a hook 12A (see FIG. 2) provided at the rear end of the pan frame 12 and supported by the pan frame 12. Yes.

  The four spring members 21A to 21D are connected by connecting members 30A to 30D at four positions separated in the front-rear direction. Each of the connecting members 30A to 30D is formed integrally with the spring members 21A to 21D by insert molding. Therefore, each connecting member 30 </ b> A to 30 </ b> D is firmly bonded to the spring member 21, and the posture with respect to the spring member 21 is fixed.

Specifically, the connecting member 30A arranged at the rearmost position is formed so as to connect the bottom portions 23B of the rearmost U-shaped portion 23 of the four spring members 21A to 21D.
Then, the connecting member 30B arranged second from the back connects the adjacent bottom parts 23B of the second U-shaped part 23 from the rear of the two spring members 21B, 21C arranged in the center. Is formed.
Further, the connecting member 30C arranged third from the back also has a bottom portion adjacent to the fourth U-shaped portion 23 arranged behind the two spring members 21B, 21C arranged at the center, similarly to the connecting member 30B. 23B is formed so as to connect each other.

  Furthermore, the connecting member 30 </ b> D arranged at the forefront is formed so as to connect the bottom portions 23 </ b> B of the second U-shaped portion 23 from the front of the four spring members 21 </ b> A to 21 </ b> D. An occupant detection sensor 40 is attached to the foremost connecting member 30D. Explaining the shape of the spring member 21 connected to the connecting member 30D, the opening 23A of the second U-shaped portion 23 from the front in the second spring member 21B (first spring member) from the right opens leftward, The opening 23A of the second U-shaped portion 23 from the front in the third spring member 21C (second spring member) from the right opens to the right, and these openings 23A are arranged to face each other. Therefore, a portion of the connecting member 30D that connects the bottom portion 23B of the U-shaped portion 23 of the spring member 21B and the bottom portion 23B of the U-shaped portion 23 of the spring member 21C is formed to be long from side to side, and occupant detection A size sufficient to arrange the sensor 40 is secured.

Here, the occupant detection sensor 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. The occupant detection sensor 40 shown in FIG. 4A is a flexible member formed by stacking a plurality of plastic films (not shown) on which pressure-sensitive electrodes 42A and wirings 43 are printed. The occupant detection sensor 40 includes a base 41 that is a portion attached to the connecting member 30 </ b> D, and a detection unit 42 that extends from the base 41. As shown in FIG. 4B, the detection unit 42 is provided with the above-described pressure-sensitive electrode 42A, and the lower surface of the occupant detection sensor 40 (the surface facing the connecting member 30D). The elastic member 42B made of foaming resin or the like is attached in correspondence with the position of the electrode 42A. The elastic member 42B is provided to concentrate pressure on the electrode 42A when the detection unit 42 is sandwiched between the coupling member 30D and the cushion member 51. The pressure-sensitive electrode 42A outputs an OFF signal from the wiring 43 when no pressure is applied, and outputs an ON signal from the wiring 43 when a predetermined pressure or more is applied from the outside. A cable 44 for connecting to a control device (not shown) is drawn out from the wiring 43.
Since the occupant detection sensor 40 is a sensor whose output signal is switched between ON and OFF by an external pressure, the presence / absence of the occupant can be detected more accurately and at a lower cost than a sensor that outputs the value of a load applied from the outside. It can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the connection member 30 </ b> D is provided with a first part 31 where the base 41 of the occupant detection sensor 40 is disposed and a second part 32 where the detection part 42 faces adjacent to the first part 31. The first part 31 protrudes closer to the cushion member 51 than the second part 32, and the second part 32 is separated from the planar lower surface 51 </ b> A of the cushion member 51 when the occupant is not sitting on the seat cushion S <b> 1. doing. In the present embodiment, the first part 31 is also slightly separated from the lower surface 51A of the cushion member 51 in a state where no occupant is sitting, but the first part 31 may be in contact with the lower surface 51A. . The base 41 is bonded to the first portion 31 with a double-sided tape or an adhesive.

  Since the second portion 32 is separated from the lower surface 51A of the cushion member 51, a space is secured between the second portion 32 and the cushion member 51, and the detection unit 42 is disposed in this space. For this reason, since the detection part 42 is not pinched | interposed by the cushion member 51 and the connection member 30D in the state where the passenger | crew is not sitting, it does not apply a pressure and is the OFF state which does not energize.

  The position where the occupant detection sensor 40 is provided is desirably a position corresponding to the occupant's buttocks, and more desirably a position corresponding to the thigh. For example, in the connection member 30D provided with the occupant detection sensor 40 in the present embodiment, the detection unit 42 is slightly shifted from the center in the left-right direction of the cushion frame F1 (seat cushion S1) to the right as can be seen with reference to FIG. It is displaced and provided at a position corresponding to the thigh of the occupant. In this way, by placing the detection unit 42 at a position slightly shifted left and right from the center in the left-right direction, the load from the occupant's buttocks or thighs is firmly applied to the cushion member 51 on the detection unit 42. Presence / absence can be detected accurately.

  In the vehicle seat S configured as described above, when the occupant sits, the cushion member 51 is pushed down by the occupant's thigh 60 and the lower surface 51A of the cushion member 51 is detected by the occupant as shown in FIG. The detection unit 42 of the sensor 40 is pressed downward. Thereby, the detection part 42 is clamped by the connecting member 30D and the cushion member 51, and the occupant detection sensor 40 is in an ON state in which power is supplied, and it can be detected that there is an occupant.

  Thus, according to the vehicle seat S of the present embodiment, the presence or absence of an occupant is detected by sandwiching the detection portion 42 of the flexible occupant detection sensor 40 between the connecting member 30D and the cushion member 51. Is possible. And according to the attachment aspect of the passenger | crew detection sensor 40 in the vehicle seat S of this embodiment, a baseplate like a prior art is unnecessary, a structure can be simplified and cost reduction can be achieved. .

  In addition, when the occupant detection sensor 40 is disposed between the skin 52 and the cushion member 41, there is a limitation in the placement location, such as the vicinity of a portion where the skin 52 is suspended from the cushion member 41 must be avoided. When the occupant detection sensor 40 is provided between the cushion member 41 and the connecting member 30 as in the present embodiment, the degree of freedom in arrangement increases.

  And since the 2nd site | part 32 in which the detection part 42 of the passenger | crew detection sensor 40 is arrange | positioned is spaced apart from the cushion member 51, it will not be detected that a passenger | crew is present only by applying a small load to the cushion member 51, but it is accurate. The presence or absence of a passenger can be detected.

  Further, since the connecting member 30D of the vehicle seat S is formed so as to be integrated with the spring member 21, the posture of the connecting member 30D is stabilized, and the occupant detection sensor 40 is sandwiched between the connecting member 30D and the cushion member 51. This stabilizes the sensitivity when detecting an occupant.

  Further, the occupant detection sensor 40 is attached to a connecting member 30D that connects the bottoms 23B of the two U-shaped portions 23 with the openings 23A of the two U-shaped portions 23 facing each other. The installation surface of the occupant detection sensor 40 can be easily installed.

  In addition, since the occupant detection sensor 40 is disposed at a position corresponding to the occupant's thigh 60, the load from the occupant's thigh 60 is firmly applied to the cushion member 51, and the occupant detection sensor 40 is turned on. Therefore, the presence or absence of a passenger can be accurately detected.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be appropriately modified and implemented.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lower surface 51A of the cushion member 51 is planar and the step is provided on the upper surface of the coupling member 30D. However, the upper surface of the coupling member 30D is planar and the lower surface 51A of the cushion member 51 is A step may be provided. For example, as in the modification shown in FIG. 7, the upper surface of the coupling member 30 </ b> D is a planar sensor installation portion 35, and the lower surface 51 </ b> A of the cushion member 51 is configured with the third portion 53 facing the base portion 41 and the detection portion. A fourth portion 54 facing 42 may be provided. Here, the third part 53 protrudes closer to the sensor installation part 35 than the fourth part 54, and the fourth part 54 is separated from the sensor installation part 35 in a state where no occupant is sitting, and the detection part 42. It is away from.

  Even in the vehicle seat having such a configuration, when the occupant is not sitting or only a small load is applied to the seat cushion S1, the detection unit 42 is located between the third portion 53 of the cushion member 51 and the connecting member 30D. It can be turned off without being pinched. And if a passenger | crew sits down, as shown in FIG. 8, the cushion part 51 will bend, and the 3rd site | part 53 and the connection member 30D can clamp the detection part 42, and can be made into an ON state. That is, it is not detected that there is an occupant just by applying a small load to the cushion member 51, and the presence or absence of the occupant can be detected accurately.

  Moreover, as shown to Fig.9 (a), (b), the passenger | crew detection sensor 140 can also be made into the form which has the detection part 142 of two places. In this case, the center base 141 of the occupant detection sensor 140 is disposed in the first portion 31 in the center of the connecting member 30, and the two detection portions 142 are disposed facing the second portions 32 on both sides of the first portion 31. Good.

  Further, when two detection units are arranged in this way, as shown in FIG. 10, separate occupant detection sensors 240 having one detection unit 242 may be arranged separately. In this case, each base 241 of each detection sensor 240 may be arranged in the first part 31, and each detection part 242 may be arranged facing each of the left and right second parts 32 as in the case of FIG. 9B. .

  As described above, when the occupant detection sensors 142 and 242 including the plurality of detection units 142 and 242 are employed, even if a malfunction such as a contact failure occurs in some of the detection units 142 and 242, the other detection units 142 are detected. , 242 can be used to determine the presence or absence of an occupant.

  The shape and arrangement of the spring member 21 of the seat spring 20 described above is an example, and the U-shaped portion 23 may not be bent at a right angle as shown in FIG. Further, the positional relationship between the U-shaped portions is not limited to the form shown in FIG. Similarly, the arrangement of the plurality of connecting members is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 3 and is not particularly limited as long as the spring members are connected to each other. Further, the spring member may be installed on the left and right instead of being installed on the front and rear.

  In the embodiment, the example in which the occupant detection sensor 40 is provided in the connecting member 30D of the seat spring 20 of the seat cushion S1 has been described. However, the seat back S2 is provided with a seat spring, and the spring member constituting the seat spring is connected. The occupant detection sensor may be attached to the connecting member.

  In the embodiment, the vehicle seat is illustrated as an example of the vehicle seat. However, the vehicle seat may be a vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Side frame 12 Pan frame 13 Connection pipe 20 Seat spring 21 (21A-21D) Spring member 22 Hook part 23 U-shaped part 23A Opening 23B Bottom part 30A-30D Connection member 31 1st part 32 2nd part 35 Sensor installation part 40 Crew member 51A Lower surface 53 Third part 54 Fourth part 60 Thigh F Seat frame F1 Cushion frame F2 Seat back frame S Vehicle seat S1 Seat cushion

Claims (7)

A seat frame ,
A plurality of spring members which are bridged those said seat frame,
A cushion member disposed on the occupant side of this plurality of spring members,
A resin connecting member that connects the plurality of spring members;
A flexible occupant detection sensor attached to the connecting member;
When the occupant sits, the occupant detection sensor is configured to detect the presence or absence of an occupant by being sandwiched between the connecting member and the cushion member .
The occupant detection sensor has a base and a detection part extending from the base,
The connecting member is provided on the surface on the occupant side with a first portion where the base portion is disposed and a second portion where the detection portion faces,
The first part protrudes closer to the cushion member than the second part, the second part is separated from the cushion member,
A vehicle seat comprising a space between the detection unit and the second part .   The first portion is disposed in front of the center in the front-rear direction of the cushion frame that supports the cushion member and in the center in the left-right direction of the cushion frame, and is closer to the cushion member than the plurality of spring members. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat projects.   The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a distance from the detection unit to the second part is longer than a distance from the detection unit to the cushion member. Each of the plurality of spring members is a spring formed by zigzag bending, and has a plurality of U-shaped portions that open in one direction by bending,
The plurality of spring members include a first spring member and a second spring member disposed adjacent to the first spring member, and an opening of the U-shaped portion of the first spring member; The occupant detection sensor is disposed on the connecting member that is disposed so as to face the opening of the U-shaped portion of the second spring member, and connects the bottom portions of the two U-shaped portions facing the opening. Attached ,
Billing and bottom of the two U-shaped portion in which the opening is opposed, said detecting portion, said base portion, that the claim 1, characterized in that are arranged in a straight line along the lateral direction Item 4. The vehicle seat according to any one of Item 3 . The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the connecting member is formed so as to be integrated with the spring member. The detection unit, vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is arranged at a position shifted from the lateral center of the seat cushion.   The vehicle occupant seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the occupant detection sensor is a sensor that switches an output signal between ON and OFF depending on the presence or absence of an occupant.

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