JPH0146131B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a seat for a vehicle, and more particularly to a seat for a vehicle that incorporates an air bag to form a support portion of a predetermined shape on the surface of the seat.

In order to variably adjust the shape or seating pressure of each support part such as the thigh support part, the side support part of the seat cushion, the lumbar support part of the seat bag, and the side support part in seats of vehicles, etc., air bags are used instead of mechanical adjustment means. There is a structure in which the air bag is placed in the support part and the air bag is expanded and contracted by supplying and exhausting air to adjust the shape and seating pressure of the support part.

Conventional seats with built-in airbags of this type include those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and those shown in FIG. 3.

That is, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a center vertical cross-sectional view of a seat bag in an example of a seat with a built-in air bag, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. Air bags 4 and 5 are disposed between the seat pad 6 and the outer skin 7 at the portions 3 and 3.

In such a configuration, even if the air bags 4 and 5 were inflated by supplying air to operate the support parts 2, 3, and 3, the inflation effect was small. This is because the expansion of the airbags 4 and 5 is suppressed by the overall tension of the skin 7 stretched over the surface of the seat, and the seat pad 6 between the seat frame 8 and the airbags 4 and 5 is compressed. .

In addition, the expansion force of air bags 4 and 5 increases the
Directly joining the sides, each support part 2 and 3, 3
The seat expands locally and air pressure is applied directly to the seater through the epidermis 7, giving the seater a sense of discomfort and making it difficult to sit comfortably.

Next, another conventional example will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the same portion as FIG. 1, that is, the seat back portion in longitudinal section, and 9 is an air bag.

The air bag 9 in this conventional example has an outer skin 7
is adhered to the surface of the In this case, since the expansion of the air bag 9 is directed directly towards the seated person, the problem of attenuation of the bulging effect caused by the expansion as in the first conventional example is solved, but the discomfort is particularly noticeable. I get used to it.

Because the air bag 9 is in direct contact with the seated person, it expands and collapses between the back of the seated person and the seat back in the direction of the seat where the pressure is weaker. This is because only unnecessary parts bulge out. Furthermore, since the occupant is seated via the air bag 9 while the vehicle is running, the air pressure causes the occupant to easily move slightly due to vibrations of the vehicle, making the occupant unstable when seated.

This invention is characterized in that a slit is formed inside a portion of the seat pad that corresponds to the support part, an air bag is housed in this slit, and a support part of a predetermined shape is formed on the seat surface side. The purpose is to exhibit the inflation effect more efficiently and to eliminate the discomfort when sitting.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of an example of a vehicle seat to which the present invention is applied, and 11 is a seat back;
11a is a lumbar support part, 11b is a side support part, and 12 is a seat cushion.
Reference numeral 2a designates thigh support portions 12b as side support portions, and the seat of the present invention is configured to adjust the seating position using each of the above-mentioned support portions.

An air bag 13 is housed in each of these support parts, and the air bag is a substantially rectangular flat airtight bag like the air bag 13 shown in FIG. 9, and the air chamber 13a is connected to an air hose 13b. is connected to. The air bag 13 is expanded or contracted by supplying and discharging air through the air hose 13b.

Further, since it is desirable for the air bag 13 to inflate while maintaining its rectangular parallelepiped shape in order to support the seat, a bellows or the like may be provided on the circumferential side of the air bag.

It should be noted that the other air bags used in the embodiments of the present invention are also approximately the same in structure, shape, etc., although their sizes differ somewhat depending on the part in which they are used.

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below by dividing each part.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view of the seat cushion 12 with the outer skin removed, and shows the thigh support portion 1.
2a shows an example.

In this figure, reference numeral 14 indicates a seat pad of the seat cushion 12, and a thigh support portion 12a that supports the thighs of the seater is provided at the front of the seat pad 14.
A slit 15 opening toward the front of the seat is formed along a plane substantially parallel to the surface shape of the seat, and the above-mentioned air bag 13 is housed in the slit 15 to form a thigh support portion 12a.

Incidentally, since the slit 15 is for storing the air bag 13, its shape is almost a rectangular parallelepiped in accordance with the outer shape of the air bag.

Further, the slit 15 is formed so as to be located closer to the back side, that is, lower than the middle position in the thickness direction of the seat pad 14, in order to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling when sitting when the air bag 13 is inflated.

In this example, with respect to the slit 15, the upper surface portion 14a of the seat pad is formed to be thicker than the lower surface portion 14b. This is the slit 1 of other parts which will be explained later.
The same applies to 6 and 17.

Furthermore, a pad support 14c made of coarse felt is integrally adhesively stretched over the entire lower surface of the seat pad 14 to protect the seat pad 14 from sharp corners of the seat frame 18 and the like.

On the other hand, a support plate 19a is fixed to the front side of the seat frame 18, as shown in FIG. Plate 19a
supports the lower front surface of the seat pad 14, that is, the lower side of the slit 15.

The support plate 19a is bent so that the plane portion in contact with the seat pad 14 forms a plane substantially parallel to the surface shape of the seat pad, and both sides of the support plate 19a are bent at right angles to reinforce it against loads from above. be.

In addition, this support plate 19a is attached to the seat frame 18.
If it is fixed to the support plate 1 as shown in Fig.
Both sides of the fixed side of 9a are bent at right angles and cut out, and the side surfaces of the ends are attached to the seat frame 18.
and secure it by welding or other means.

Next, an embodiment of the side support portions 12b, 12b of the seat cushion 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

This figure is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the seat cushion 12 with the outer skin removed, and only shows one side support portion, that is, the right side support portion 12b when facing the front; Since the parts are constructed symmetrically, illustration and explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this side support part 12b, the slit 16 in the seat pad 14 is located below the middle position in the thickness direction of the seat pad 14 and is in a plane substantially parallel to the surface of the side support part 12b, similar to the slit 15 in the above-mentioned thigh support part 12a. The airbag 13 is formed along the slit 16 and opens toward the right side of the seat.
The side support portion 12b is configured by accommodating the side support portion 12b.

This support portion 12b also has a support plate 1 that is bent to form a surface parallel to the surface shape of the side support portion 12b and fixed to the side portion of the seat frame 18, similar to the above-mentioned thigh support portion 12a.
The lower surface portion 14 corresponding to the slit 16 by 9b
b is supported via the pad support portion 14c.

The seat pad 14 configured as described above is provided with support portions 12a and 12 on the seat frame 18.
A plurality of support plates 19a and 1 arranged corresponding to b
9b and is mounted so as to be supported from below by a pad receiver 20.

Note that the lower surface portions 14b of the slits 15 and 16 of the seat pad 14 corresponding to the respective support portions 12a and 12b may be formed of only the pad support portions 14c.

Thigh support portion 12a of the seat pad 14
and slits 15, 1 of the side support portion 12b.
6 is a cut-shaped slit 2 as shown in Fig. 9.
It may also be replaced by other embodiments such as Nos. 2 and 23.

The slits 22 and 23 of the seat pad 14 shown in FIG. 9 are formed by cutting the lower surface of the seat pad 14 in a U-shape to form lid-shaped cut-and-raised surfaces 24 and 25, and forming the slits on the inside thereof. The air bag 13 is inserted into and taken out of the slits 22 and 23 by opening and closing the cut-and-raised surfaces 24 and 25.

Note that the slits 22 and 23 may be formed from the cut and raised surface portion 24 and the surface side of the seat pad 14.

Next, the support portion of the seat bag 11 will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical perspective view of the seat back 11 with the outer skin removed, and the side support portion is the side support portion 12b of the seat cushion 12.
Since it can be configured in substantially the same manner as described above, only the lumbar support portion 11a will be explained.

This lumbar support portion 11a is constructed by forming a slit 17 by cutting from the lower surface side in the lower center of the seat pad 26, and storing the air bag 13 in this slit 17.

The slit 17 is located between the seat pad surface portion 26a and the rear surface portion 26b, and is located closer to the back side, that is, at the rear, from the middle position in the thickness direction of the seat pad 26, and is formed in a plane substantially parallel to the surface shape of the lumbar support portion 11a. The structure is the same as the example of the slits 15 and 16 of the seat cushion 12 described above. Further, in this case as well, the rear surface portion 26b of the slit 17 may be constituted only by the pad support 26c stuck to the back surface side of the seat pad 26. This is because the seat pad 26 and pad support 26c are integrally constructed, so there is no problem in constructing the slit 17.

On the other hand, a support plate 28 is fixed to the lower side of the bag frame 27a, and when the seat pad 26 is attached to the bag frame 27a, the slit 17
The rear surface portion 26b of is in contact with and supported.

The support plate 28 supporting the slit back surface 26b is shaped like a flat plate as shown in FIG. 8, and its lower end is wrapped around the lower side 27a of the bag frame 27 and fixed by welding or the like. Further, the support plate supporting the slit back surface of the side support portion 11b is fixed to the side bracket 27b of the bag frame 27, although not shown.

Note that each slit 15, which is formed corresponding to each support portion of the seat pads 14 and 26 described above,
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, holes 21 are formed in the inner corners of the airbags 16 and 17, and the ventilation hoses 13b of the air bags 13 stored in the respective slits are led out. It is made to do so.

The expansion and contraction of the air bag 13 housed in each slit as described above is controlled and regulated by a regulator 30 that can independently control supply and discharge of compressed air to each air chamber 13a through each air hose 13b communicating therewith. be done.

As described above, in the seat of the present invention, the back side of the seat pad corresponding to the slit in which the air bag is stored is supported by the support plate fixed to the seat frame. Expansion on the back side is suppressed, allowing efficient expansion on the front side of the sheet.
Furthermore, since this support plate has a surface substantially parallel to the surface of the seat pad, the surface of the seat is formed into a uniform raised shape. In addition, the slit in which the air bag is stored is located on the back side of the seat pad from the middle position in the thickness direction of the seat pad, so the air bag does not make the seated person feel uncomfortable. Since the air bags are formed almost parallel to each other, the air bags expand and contract evenly on the surface side of each support part, which prevents the air bags from expanding locally, causing discomfort to the seated person, or reducing the inflation effect. To maintain a comfortable sitting posture by maintaining each support part in a shape and sitting pressure that suit the physique and preference of a seated person without causing the inconvenience that the support parts cannot be given a required raised shape.

Furthermore, when assembling a seat, the air bag can be positioned for fixing to the seat pad simply by inserting it into a slit in the seat pad, thereby eliminating the need for troublesome work and improving work efficiency.

Further, the structure and control method of this regulator described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a control mechanism for the seat support section, including the adjuster 30.

This regulator 30 is designed to centrally control the support of the seat, and to open/close the supply/exhaust fluid valve and the power source for the air pump 50 with a single touch.

That is, when the circuit connecting the power source 51 and the air pump 50 is closed by the regulator 30, the air pump 50 is activated to send out compressed air. This compressed air is regulated by a relief valve 52 so that the pressure does not become excessive, and by a branch joint 53, the air hoses 60, 61, 62, 6
3.

Next, the structure of this regulator 30 will be explained.

This regulator 30 includes a switch 31 that directly corresponds to each air bag on the seat, a general air supply switch 41a that supplies air to all air bags and inputs the air pump 50 at the same time, and a general exhaust switch 41b that exhausts all air bags. are provided. Figure 12 shows the main parts of this switch 31 taken out, and as you can see from this figure, the switch 31, which independently supplies and exhausts air to each air bag, It has a supply and exhaust valve device. Further, it is linked to an auxiliary push plate 43 that switches the power switch 46 of the air pump 50.

Next, regarding the configuration of each switch 31, the first
This will be explained with reference to FIG. 13, which is based on the cross section taken along the line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the switch 31.
This switch body includes an air introduction hose 54 and an air hose 62 that communicate with an on-off valve built into the switch body.
is connected.

The air introduction hose 54 introduces compressed air from the air pump, and is screwed onto an intake port at the bottom of the switch body. Normally, the on-off valve 36 above this intake port is closed, and no air is introduced.

The regulator 30 of this embodiment is equipped with four sets of switches 31 as described above.

To explain this with reference to FIG. 10, the switch 31 on the left end when viewed from the drawing is for adjusting the side support of the seat back of the seat, and the air hose 60 connected to this is divided into two parts, and a pair of air bags are connected to each side support. 13 air hoses 13
Connected to b for continuity. In addition, air hose 60
is branched between the air bag 13 and a check valve 37 of the switch, which will be described later, so that the air pressure within the pair of air bags 13 is constant, allowing balanced support on both sides.

Next, the air hose 61 connected to the second switch 31 from the left end in the figure is the lumbar support part 11a.
It is connected to the air hose 13b of the air bag 13 for direct conduction. In addition, the third pair of switches 41a and 41b from the left switch all the airbags 1.
It performs the supply and discharge adjustment of step 3 at the same time, and is not connected to the air hose itself.

Next, the air hose 62 connected to the fourth switch 31 from the left is divided into two sections, each for the seat cushion 1, in the same way as for the air bag of the side support section 11b of the seat bag.
The air hoses 13b of the pair of air bags 13 of the side support portions 12b of No. 2 are connected to each other and are electrically connected to each other. Finally, switch 31 located at the right end of the figure
The air hose 63 connected to the air hose 63 is connected to the air hose 13b of the air bag 13 of the thigh support for conduction.

Now, when the occupant wishes to inflate the side support parts 12b, 12b of the seat cushion 12 of the seat, he or she presses the switch button 40, which is pivotably supported on the upper part of the switch body, in the direction of arrow A. All you have to do is press it down.

That is, when the switch button 40 is pressed down, the push button 32 is in contact with the lower part of the switch button 40.
is pressed down, the on-off valve 36 interlocked with this push button 32 opens, and compressed air is introduced into the switch body.

Note that this push button 32 has a flange 32a in the middle of the push rod portion so that it cannot be pushed down beyond a certain depth.

Further, there is a connection device 35 connected to the on-off valve 36 at the bottom of the push button 32 inside the switch body, and the connection device 35 is connected to the on-off valve 36 to ensure an airtight state so that the compressed air introduced from the on-off valve 36 does not escape from the space between the push button 32 and the push button 32. It also functions to press the push button 32 up to a predetermined position using a spring or the like.

The compressed air that has passed through the on-off valve 36 in the open state is directed to the check valve 3 according to the pipe inside the switch body.
7 in the direction of arrow C, and through an air hose 62 that is divided into two and connected to each air bag, to each side support 12b, 12 of the seat cushion.
Air is supplied to b.

At the same time, the air pump 50 is driven to supply air and continue supplying air. This is because when the air supply state is entered, the switch button 40 is pressed down in the direction of arrow A, so the push plate 43 is pushed down by the protrusion 42 protruding from the ON end of the switch button 40. Pushed down.

As shown in FIG. 12, this push plate 43 is elastically supported at both ends by springs 48, 48, and lowers as the switch button 40 is pushed down in the direction of arrow A. In addition, the elasticity of the springs 48, 48 that support the switch button can be adjusted to make it easier to press down the switch button.

Further, the push plate 43 pushes down the switch bar 44 protruding from the power switch 46 of the air pump 50 arranged next to the switch 40 so as to lay it down.

The depressed switch bar 44 contacts the electrode terminal 45 shown in FIG. 14 and is energized to drive the air motor 50 and continue supplying air to the air bag 13.

This state continues as long as the switch button 40 is pressed.

When the desired amount of air has been supplied to the air bag 13, the air supply is stopped by releasing the switch button 40. In this state, the air supply valve 36 is closed and the air pump switch 46 is also turned off.

Furthermore, since the check valve 37 operates, the air bag 13
The air inside will not flow backwards and the air pressure will remain constant.

Next, the case where the air inside the air bag 13 is exhausted will be explained.

In this case, it is sufficient to press the switch button 40 in the direction of arrow B.

As a result, the push button 32 is pushed down and the exhaust valve 38 is opened, and the air inside the air bag flows back through the air hose and is exhausted into the atmosphere from the exhaust port 39.

This push button 32 also has a collar 32a for preventing excessive pushing, and the same connection device 35 as described above is installed between the push button 32 and the exhaust opening/closing valve. The same is true for .

Since the switch 31 connected to each air bag 13 has been described above, the switch 41a that simultaneously supplies air to all air bags 13 and the switch 41b that exhausts air will now be described.

The switch for supplying and discharging air to all the air bags is constructed to mechanically operate all the switches for operating the air bags at the same time.

That is, the 11th plane showing the plane of this regulator 30
This operation is performed by pushing down the horizontal plates and push plate 43 shown at 33 and 34 in the figure.

Appropriate round holes are bored in one of the horizontal plates 33, into which all the head protrusions of the push buttons 32 of the exhaust valves arranged in a row are fitted, and placed on the flanges 32 of the push buttons. be placed. Also, the other horizontal plate 3
Similarly, round holes are made in 4, and the push buttons 32 of the air supply valves arranged in a row are fitted into the holes, and placed on the flanges 32.

The horizontal plate 33 for this exhaust valve is pressed down by a small push button 41b attached between the switch buttons arranged in parallel.

When this full exhaust push button 41b is pressed, the horizontal plate 33
As a result, the push buttons 32 of the exhaust valves of all the switches 31 are pressed down, and all the air bags 13 are exhausted at once.

Further, the full air supply push button 41a includes a horizontal plate 34 for an air supply valve and a push plate 4 for driving the air pump.
It is attached in line with the all-exhaust button 41b so that both buttons 3 can be pressed down at the same time.

When this all air supply button 41a is pressed, the air supply push button 32 of all switches 31 is pushed down by the horizontal plate 34, and the push plate 43 is also pushed down at the same time, so the air pump 50 is opened at the same time as the air supply valve 36 is opened. It operates and all air bags 13 are supplied with air.

Since the regulator 3 has the above-mentioned configuration, the seater can press each switch button 40, 41a, 41.
An appropriate sitting posture can be adjusted by operating b.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 are a central vertical sectional view of a seat back in a seat with a built-in airbag, which is a first conventional example, and a cross-sectional view taken along the - line in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a second conventional example. 4 is a side view showing the seat back part of the seat in longitudinal section, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a vehicle seat to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing the seat back part of the seat with the skin of the seat cushion removed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of the seat cushion with the skin removed, and FIG. 7 is a vertical perspective view of the seat back with the skin removed. 8 is a perspective view showing a part of a seat frame to which a support plate is fixed, and FIG. 9 is a second embodiment of the present invention, which shows a seat cushion portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram of the state seen from diagonally below with the vertical half removed, Part 1
Figure 0 is a perspective view schematically showing a system for adjusting the air bag of the present invention, Figure 11 is a plan view of the regulator, Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the regulator, and Figure 13. The figures are a cross-sectional side view taken along the line in Fig. 12 and 14 showing the switch part.
The figure is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the regulator. 13 is the air bag, 14 is the seat pad, 1
5, 16, 17 are slits.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A seat for a vehicle or the like in which a support portion of a predetermined shape is formed on the seat surface, wherein a seat pad is provided inside a portion of the seat pad corresponding to the support portion from an intermediate position in the thickness direction of the seat pad. A slit located near the back surface and formed approximately parallel to the surface shape of the support portion; an air bag that is housed in the slit and expands and contracts as fluid enters and exits; and an air bag that is fixed to the seat frame and corresponds to the slit. A seat for a vehicle, etc., comprising a support plate that comes into contact with the back side of the seat pad and has a surface that is substantially parallel to the surface shape of the seat pad.