JPWO2004113115A1 - Seat cushion spring holding structure and seat cushion device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

When the inflator is activated during a sudden deceleration due to a frontal collision of the vehicle or the like, high-pressure gas is ejected from the inflator into the inflator bag 15. The inflator bag 15 is inflated and deployed when the jetted high-pressure gas is filled inside, and pushes up the seat cushion spring 14 and the seat cushion body. As a result, both end portions of the seat cushion spring 14 are separated from the deepest portion of the guide and are displaced obliquely upward along the wall surface of the guide. The inflator bag 15 is further inflated and deployed to push up the seat cushion spring 14 and the seat cushion body. As a result, both end portions of the seat cushion spring 14 jump out of the entrance portion of the guide, and are released from the locked state and fall off. The inflator bag 15 lifts the front portion of the seat cushion body and gives restraint to the occupant.

Description

  The present invention is characterized by a vehicle seat cushion spring holding structure for holding, for example, an end portion of a seat cushion spring that elastically supports a seat cushion of a vehicle seat. In particular, the present invention relates to a seat cushion device with a waist restraint function that restrains and protects an occupant by a seat in the event of a vehicle collision.

  When the vehicle collides forward, the occupant tries to move forward due to inertia. When the occupant is wearing a seat belt, the forward movement of the occupant is restrained to some extent by the restraining action of the shoulder belt and the waist belt of the seat belt device, but it is often not sufficient.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, in order to prevent the occupant from moving forward, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates due to a forward collision, the front end of the seat cushion is instantaneously raised to limit the occupant's forward movement. A waist restraint device to which the PRC (Pelvis Restraint Cushion) technology is applied has been proposed. On the other hand, the attachment of the conventional seat cushion spring to the seat frame is shown in FIG. 15, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-229378 JP-A-10-217818 British patent GB2357466

  In the prior art, in order to prevent the inflating and deployment of the inflator bag 5 from being hindered by the seat cushion spring 8, as shown in FIG. 14, the seat cushion spring 8 cannot be arranged at the place where the inflator bag 5 is arranged. That is, the seat cushion spring 8 is disposed on the rear side of the inflator bag 5. For this reason, the cushioning function of the seat cushion 7 becomes insufficient, and the passenger M has a problem that the sitting comfort in the seat is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat cushion device that can maintain a comfortable sitting comfort in a seat for an occupant.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a vehicle seat cushion device including a seat frame having one horizontal frame member, a front frame member, and a rear frame member, wherein the seat A seat cushion spring spanned between the pair of left and right horizontal frame members of the frame; a holding portion provided at a position facing the pair of left and right horizontal frame members and holding an end of the seat cushion spring; An inflator bag disposed below the seat cushion spring, and the spring holding portion includes a guide in which an end portion of the seat cushion spring is movable, and is closer to the lateral frame member of the guide This is a vehicle seat cushion device in which at least a part of the wall of the wall protrudes upward inward of the seat frame.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the entrance portion of the guide is disposed relatively upward with respect to the deepest portion of the guide.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the spring holding portion is formed integrally with the pair of left and right horizontal frame members.

  According to invention of Claim 4, the said spring holding | maintenance part is the member shape | molded independently, and is provided with the attaching part for attaching to the said left-right paired horizontal frame member.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substantially rectangular seat frame having a pair of left and right horizontal frame members to which a vehicle seat cushion can be attached, a front frame member, and a rear frame member; A seat cushion spring for elastically supporting the seat cushion from below; and a holding member provided on a pair of the lateral frame members disposed so that both ends of the seat cushion spring face each other. A vehicle seat cushion spring holding structure for holding the seat cushion spring by the holding member, in order to push up the seat cushion by being inflated and expanded by being filled with high-pressure gas below the seat cushion spring. The inflator bag is disposed on the seat cushion spring on the holding portion. For a vehicle provided with a gap that allows the end portion of the seat cushion spring to be released from the holding state and to be displaced upward when an upward external force is applied from below by expansion and deployment. This is a seat cushion spring holding structure.

  Here, “upper / lower” means the front side with respect to the paper surface of FIG. In FIG. 1, the side or direction of the front frame member 21 from the center of the seat frame 12 is defined as the front or front, and the opposite side (the side or direction of the rear frame member 22) is defined as the rear or rear. Furthermore, on the paper surface of FIG. 1, the lines connecting the centers of the front frame member 21 and the rear frame member 22 are separated to the left and right. In addition, a plane parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as a horizontal plane.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The description will be made specifically with reference to examples.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a seat cushion device with a waist restraining function according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the seat cushion device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a holding structure of the seat cushion spring of the seat cushion device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a retainer that holds the seat cushion spring. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the retainer. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the retainer. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inflator bag of the seat cushion device. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the seat cushion device. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the seat cushion device.

  A vehicle seat cushion device 11 having a waist restraining function of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat frame 12 includes a pair of left and right horizontal frame members 17, 17, a front frame member 21, and a rear frame member 22. The seat cushion body 13 is attached to the vehicle seat frame. Three cushion springs (seat cushion springs) 14, 14, and 14 elastically support the seat cushion body 13 from below. The inflator bag 15 is disposed at the front lower part of the seat cushion body 13 via a cushion spring 14 and can be inflated and deployed by filling with high-pressure gas. A substantially cylindrical inflator (not shown) inflates the inflator bag 15 by injecting high-pressure gas into the inflator bag 15. Retainers (holding portions) 18 and 18 that hold the seat cushion spring 14 are fixed to horizontal frame members (side members) 17 and 17 that constitute the seat frame 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cushion spring of this embodiment is such that the cushion spring 14 is detachably held at both ends by retainers 18 and 18 fixed to the lateral frame members (side members) 17 and 17. Has been. That is, the seat cushion springs 14 are held by the retainers 18 and 18 so that they can be removed with the inflator bag 15 being deployed. In this example, the seat cushion spring 14 disposed at the foremost part is interposed between the inflator bag 15 and the seat cushion 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion spring 14 is formed by processing a linear member having a predetermined diameter made of metal into, for example, a continuous substantially sinusoidal shape (continuous S-shape), and the linear shape when no load is applied. The upper end or lower end of the member is formed so as to be flat as a whole. The cushion spring 14 is shaped so as to be line symmetric with respect to the symmetry axis along the width direction as a whole.

  Both ends of the seat cushion spring 14 are locked by retainers 18 and 18 fixed to the horizontal frame members 17 and 17, and are disposed on the lower surface side of the seat cushion body 13. The seat cushion spring 14 is bent so that the entire seat cushion spring 14 protrudes downward when the seat cushion body 13 is deformed by the weight of the occupant and a load (external force) is applied from above. As a result, a restoring force acts on the seat cushion spring 14 so as to push the seat cushion 13 back.

  The retainer 18 includes a guide 18b as illustrated in FIGS. The retainer 18 is made of, for example, a metal member having a substantially mountain shape in cross section. The retainer 18 is formed by, for example, an attachment surface 18a for attaching to the vertical wall surface of the horizontal frame member 17, and notching or press molding. The guide 18b has a depth direction that intersects with the mounting surface 18a diagonally from a surface opposite to the mounting surface 18a to a predetermined depth. The deepest portion 18c of the guide 18b holds the tip of the seat cushion spring 14. At least a part of the upper wall 18d of the guide 18b protrudes upward in the direction toward the inside of the seat frame 12 (the center side with each frame member of the seat frame 12 as a boundary). When the inflator bag 15 is deployed, the guide 18b functions as a gap (gap) or a groove for releasing the seat cushion spring 14 from the state in which it is held. In the process where the inflator bag 15 is inflated and deployed, the seat cushion spring 14 receives an external force from below. Then, the end portion of the seat cushion spring 14 moves upward along the upper wall surface 18d of the guide 18b from the deepest portion 18c of the guide 18b. Then, the seat cushion spring 14 is released from the locked state.

  In this example, the guide 18b is formed such that the inlet portion 18e is disposed relatively upward with respect to the deepest portion 18c in a state where the retainer 18 is attached to the horizontal frame member 17. In this example, the width of the guide 18 b is set to be substantially the same as the diameter of the seat cushion spring 14. The end portion of the seat cushion spring 14 is locked by the guide 18b and is fitted and fixed to the deepest portion 18c in the guide 18b. The depth of the guide 18b, the angle of the guide 18b in the depth direction with respect to the mounting surface 18a, etc., when the seat cushion spring 14 receives an external force (push-up force) of a predetermined value or more in the process of inflating and deploying the inflator bag 15. The seat cushion spring 14 is optimally set so that the end portion of the seat cushion spring 14 is pulled out from the inner part of the guide 18b, moves on the wall surface, and the seat cushion spring 14 is released from the locked state and falls off the retainer.

  The retainer 18 has a mounting surface 18a joined to the side surface inside the horizontal frame member 17 (the central portion side of the seat frame 12), and is fixed to the side frame member 17 by welding, for example.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the inflator bag 15 has a sealed structure that expands and expands by filling with a high-pressure gas. It is comprised from the main body 15a and the baseplate 15c which plugs up the bottom face which opposes the top plate 15b of the bag main body 15a. The bottom plate 15c is integrally formed with the bag body 15a or joined to the bag body 15a by caulking or welding. The inflator bag 15 after deployment expands greatly in the thickness direction as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the seat cushion device of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the inflator is not in operation, the inflator bag 15 remains folded as shown in FIG. 7A, and does not apply a pressing force to the seat cushion spring 14 as shown in FIG. 8A. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, both end portions of the seat cushion spring 14 are held in a state where they are disposed at the deepest portion of the guide 18 a of the retainers 18, 18. When the seat cushion 13 is deformed by the weight of the occupant and an external force is applied from above, the seat cushion spring 14 is supported at the deepest portion of the guide 18a and bends so that the whole is convex downward. As a result, a restoring force that pushes back the seat cushion 13 is generated in the seat cushion spring 14.

  When the inflator is activated during a sudden deceleration due to a frontal collision of the vehicle or the like, high-pressure gas is ejected from the inflator into the inflator bag 15. The inflator bag 15 is inflated and deployed as shown in FIG. 8 (b) when the jetted high-pressure gas fills the inside, and pushes up the seat cushion spring 14 and the seat cushion body 13. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B, both end portions of the seat cushion spring 14 move away from the deepest portion of the guide 18a and move obliquely upward along the wall surface of the guide 18a. To do. As shown in FIG. 8C, the inflator bag 15 is further inflated and deployed to push up the seat cushion spring 14 and the seat cushion body 13. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 9C, both end portions of the seat cushion spring 14 jump out of the inlet portion of the guide 18a, and are released from the locked state and fall off. In this way, the inflator bag 15 lifts the seat cushion 13 and gives a restraining force to the occupant.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 11 to 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a seat cushion spring holding portion (retainer) of a seat cushion device with a waist restraining function. FIG.12 and FIG.13 is sectional drawing which shows this holding | maintenance part (retainer). In this example, a retainer made of synthetic resin is attached to the horizontal frame member using a fixing portion formed on the retainer body. In the following description, the description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment is omitted.

  The retainer (holding portion) 18A of this example uses a synthetic resin and has a right-angled corner in a part of the outer shape. This retainer can be molded by injection molding or the like. The guide 18b is formed in an obliquely upward direction. It has the deepest part 18c which latches the front-end | tip part of the seat cushion spring 14, the fixing | fixed part 18g provided in the bottom face, and the positioning pin 18i. The fixed portion 18g includes a shaft portion 18s having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the insertion hole 17m formed in the horizontal frame member 17A, and a deformable tapered taper portion 18t formed on the distal end side of the shaft portion 18s. A step is provided at the joint between the shaft portion 18s and the tapered portion 18t. Thereby, once the fixing portion 18g is inserted into the insertion hole 17m, it cannot be easily removed. The retainer 18A has a fixing portion 18g and a positioning pin 18i in insertion holes 17m and 17n formed in the horizontal frame member 17A so that the entrance portion of the guide 18b faces the inner side of the seat frame 12 to the horizontal frame member 17A. Inserted and fixed.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the seat cushion spring is detached from the retainer in the process of inflating and deploying the inflator bag. However, if the inflator bag is not prevented from being inflated and deployed, it is not always necessary to remove the seat cushion spring. .

  Moreover, although the case where a metal or synthetic resin retainer is used has been described, for example, it may be made of rubber. The retainer may be attached to the seat frame by welding or the like, or may be formed integrally with the seat frame in advance so as to reduce the cost. Further, the cushion springs other than the cushion springs interposed between the inflator bag and the seat cushion do not necessarily have to be held so as to be detached. Of course, the number of cushion springs to be arranged is not limited to three, and may be two or four or more.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, instead of locking and holding the tip of the cushion spring 14 at the deepest part of the guide of the retainer 18, for example, the tip of the cushion spring 14 is folded diagonally downward. It may be bent and inserted into a hole 18f formed in the retainer 18 and held. The shape of the seat cushion spring 14 is not limited to a substantially sine wave shape, and may be a rectangular wave shape or a triangular wave shape. The end portion of the seat cushion spring may be held not only by a single retainer but also by a plurality of retainers, for example, in the form of a ladder.

  The seat cushion spring may be molded such that the surface including the linear member is not limited to a flat surface but is a curved surface even when there is no load. In other words, the cushion spring may be molded in a state where no external force is applied, for example, so that the whole is convex upward. Moreover, although the case where the high pressure gas from an inflator is supplied through the hole for ejection was described, you may make it provide an inflator inside an inflator bag.

The seat cushion spring 14 is held by a retainer 18 so as to be removable. The inflator bag 15 can be disposed below the seat cushion 13. Further, the inflator bag 15 can be inflated and deployed without being obstructed by the seat cushion spring 14. Therefore, the waist restraint function can be surely achieved, and a comfortable sitting comfort in the seat can be maintained for the occupant.
Since the seat cushion spring 14 can be easily removed, for example, in the case of repair, it can be easily replaced.

  As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the entire sheet can be improved. The guide 18b of the retainer 18 is formed in a direction in which the depth direction obliquely intersects the mounting surface 18a. And the entrance part of the guide 18b is arrange | positioned relatively higher with respect to the deepest part. For this reason, the seat cushion spring 14 cannot be easily detached when the inflator is not operating.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a seat cushion device with a waist restraining function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the seat cushion device.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a holding structure of a seat cushion spring of the seat cushion device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a retainer that holds the seat cushion spring.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the configuration of the retainer.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of the retainer.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inflator bag of the seat cushion device.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the seat cushion device.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the seat cushion device.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another configuration example of the retainer.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a seat cushion spring holding structure of a seat cushion device with a waist restraining function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the retainer.
FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing the structure of the retainer.
[FIG. 14] It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a prior art.
[FIG. 15] It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lumbar restraint apparatus 2 Seat frame 3 Inflator bag 4 Inflator 5 Seat cushion 6 Seat cushion spring 7 Retainer 11 Seat cushion apparatus 12 Seat frame 13 Seat cushion main body (seat cushion)
14 Seat cushion spring 15 Inflator bag 17 Horizontal frame member 18, 18A Retainer (holding member)
18b Guide 18c Deepest part of guide 18d Upper wall of guide 18e Entrance part 21 of guide Front frame member (front frame member)
22 Rear frame member (rear frame member)
M Crew

Claims (5)

A vehicle seat cushion device including a seat frame having one horizontal frame member on the left and right, a front frame member, and a rear frame member,
A seat cushion spring spanned between the pair of left and right lateral frame members of the seat frame;
A holding portion that is provided at a position where the pair of left and right horizontal frame members oppose each other and holds an end portion of the seat cushion spring;
An inflator bag disposed below the seat cushion spring,
The spring holding portion includes a guide capable of moving an end portion of the seat cushion spring,
The vehicle seat cushion device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a wall of the guide that is closer to the lateral frame member protrudes upward in an inward direction of the seat frame. The vehicle seat cushion device according to claim 1, wherein an inlet portion of the guide is disposed in an upward direction relative to a deepest portion of the guide. The vehicle seat cushion device according to claim 1, wherein the spring holding portion is formed integrally with the pair of left and right horizontal frame members. The vehicle seat cushion device according to claim 1, wherein the spring holding portion is an independently molded member and includes an attachment portion for attachment to the pair of left and right horizontal frame members. . A substantially rectangular seat frame having a pair of left and right horizontal frame members to which a vehicle seat cushion can be attached, a front frame member, and a rear frame member;
A seat cushion spring spanned between the lateral frame members and elastically supporting the seat cushion from below;
A holding member provided on a pair of the lateral frame members arranged so that both ends of the seat cushion spring face each other;
A vehicle seat cushion spring holding structure for holding the seat cushion spring by the holding member,
Below the seat cushion spring is disposed an inflator bag for pushing up the seat cushion by being inflated and expanded by being filled with high pressure gas,
In the holding portion, when an upward external force is applied to the seat cushion spring from below due to the inflating and deploying of the inflator bag, the end portion of the seat cushion spring is released from the holding state, and the end portion A seat cushion spring holding structure for a vehicle, wherein a gap is provided to enable upward displacement.

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