JP2004016710A - Seat back for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a seat back frame for vehicles light in weight and to improve the efficiency of assembly. <P>SOLUTION: A seat back 20 is provided with a pair of left and right vertically extended side frames 22, an upper frame 21 disposed between the upper end parts of the side frames 22 and a lower frame 23 disposed between lower end parts. The frames 21-23 are molded separately from each other with resin. The respective frames 21-23 are provided with reinforcing ribs 21d, 22a and 23c for securing required strength. The side frames 22 are exposed without being covered with a facing 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat back.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a vehicle seat back includes an upper frame, left and right side frames, and a lower frame. These frames are made of metal such as iron pipes and sheet metal, and are assembled together by welding.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the metal frame is not only heavy, but there is a problem that the welding work during assembly is complicated.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a pair of left and right side frames extending vertically, an upper frame spanned between the upper ends of these side frames, and a lower frame spanned between the lower ends. In the vehicle seat back provided with the cushion pad supported by these frames, the four frames are molded separately from each other with resin, and reinforcing ribs for ensuring the necessary strength are provided on each frame. It is characterized by being. As a result, the weight can be reduced, and it can be easily assembled by connecting means other than welding, such as male / female fitting or heat caulking. Moreover, since the four frames are separated from each other, it is easy to design an optimal rib shape for each frame, and the required strength can be ensured reliably.
[0005]
Here, the side frame has a plate shape to cover the side portion of the cushion pad, and a reinforcing rib is provided on the inner surface facing the cushion pad, and the outer surface on the opposite side becomes a decorative surface on the skin. It is desirable to be exposed without being covered. Thus, a design such as a curved surface, which is difficult to obtain with the cushion pad, can be applied to the side portion of the seat back, and the degree of design freedom can be increased.
[0006]
It is desirable that leg portions extending downward are provided at both ends of the upper frame, and the leg portions are attached to the inside of the side frame and connected. Thereby, the strength of the upper part of the side frame can be further increased. While the hole is formed in the leg, a convex part inserted through the hole is provided on the inner surface of the side frame, and the protruding end of the convex part is heat staked to the leg. desirable. As a result, the connecting operation between the upper frame and the side frame can be easily facilitated. It is desirable that an S-shaped spring is stretched horizontally on the rear side of the cushion pad, and a locking portion for an end of the S-shaped spring is integrally formed on the leg portion. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a locking portion on the side frame, and the side frame can be easily designed.
[0007]
It is desirable that a sheet metal reinforcing plate is attached to the inner side surface of the lower side portion of the side frame, and a reclining device is connected to the reinforcing plate. Thereby, the intensity | strength of a coupling | bond part with a reclining apparatus can be raised. While a hole is formed in the reinforcing plate, a convex portion inserted into the hole is provided on the inner side surface of the side frame, and a protruding end of the convex portion is heat staked to the reinforcing plate. desirable. Thereby, the connection work of the side frame and the reinforcing plate can be facilitated. It is desirable that a locking portion for the end of the S-shaped spring is provided on the reinforcing plate. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a locking portion on the side frame, and the side frame can be easily designed.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat includes a seat portion 10 and a seat back 20 provided at the rear portion thereof. The seat 10 is supported by a pair of left and right rails 11 provided on the floor of the passenger compartment so as to be slidable back and forth. The seat back 20 is attached to the rear side portion of the seat portion 10 via a pair of left and right reclining devices 40 so that the angle can be adjusted. As is well known, the reclining device 40 includes a fixed bracket 41 connected to the seat portion 10, a rotating bracket 42 (FIG. 3) connected to the seat back 20, and a spring (not shown) that urges the bracket 42 to rotate. ) And locking means (not shown) for fixing the bracket 42 and thus the seat back 20 at a predetermined angle. The left and right reclining devices 40 are connected by a connecting shaft 43. One end portion (here, the right end portion) of the connecting shaft 43 penetrates the side frame 22 described later, and a lever 44 for adjusting the reclining angle is provided there.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 3, the seat back 20 includes upper, left and right frames, and lower frames 21 to 23 that form a skeleton, and a cushion pad 30 supported by the frames 21 to 23. The front surface of the cushion pad 30 is covered with an outer skin 31. Three upper and lower S-shaped springs 50 are stretched horizontally along the back surface of the cushion pad 30. A resin back board 29 is attached to the rear sides of the frames 21 to 23 so as to cover the cushion pad 30 and the S-shaped spring 50.
[0010]
The seat back 20 will be further described in detail.
The frames 21 to 23 of the seat back 20 are made of, for example, glass fiber-containing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABSG), filler-containing polypropylene (PPF), glass fiber-containing polypropylene (PPG), glass fiber-containing polyamide resin (66 nylon G, 6 Nylon G) and the like are injection molded separately from each other.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper frame 21 has a main body portion 21 a extending left and right, and a pair of leg portions 21 b extending downward from both ends thereof, and is formed in a gate shape. The main body 21a is provided with a number of reinforcing ribs 21d having a vertical plate shape or an X-shaped cross section. Square bushes 21e are provided at both ends of the main body 21a. A plurality of hole portions 21f are formed in the leg portion 21b apart from each other in the extending direction (up and down). As will be described later, the bush 21 e and the hole 21 f are elements for connecting the side frame 22.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the leg portion 21b of the upper frame 21 is provided with a locking portion 21g having a U-shaped cross section so as to protrude rearward. The end portion of the upper S-shaped spring 50 is hooked on the locking portion 21g.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side frame 22 is disposed on the left and right outer sides of the upper frame 21. The left and right side frames 22 have a plate shape with a substantially arc-shaped cross section and extend vertically. The outer side surface of the side frame 22 is a decorative surface 22x having a good appearance. On the inner side surface of the side frame 22, diagonal rib-like reinforcing ribs 22a are formed over almost the entire surface.
[0014]
The upper end portion of the side frame 22 is gently curved so as to cover the upper frame 21 and constitutes a shoulder portion of the seat back 20. On the inner side surface of the upper side portion of the side frame 22, a rectangular tube-shaped fitting portion 22b is projected, and a vertically long seat surface 22c is formed on the lower side thereof. A plurality of cylindrical bosses 22d (convex portions) are provided on the seating surface 22c so as to be separated from each other in the vertical direction. The bush 21e of the upper frame 21 is fitted into the fitting portion 22b. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the leg portion 21b of the upper frame 21 is brought into contact with the seat surface 22c, and the boss 22d is inserted through the hole portion 21f. And the protrusion end of the boss | hub 22d is heat-melted, and is heat-caulked by the leg part 21b. Thus, the upper frame 21 and the side frame 22 are connected.
[0015]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower side portion of the side frame 22 is wider than the upper side portion. A substantially square seat surface 22e is formed on the inner side surface of the lower portion, and a plurality of cylindrical bosses 22f (convex portions) are arranged vertically and horizontally on the seat surface 22e. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a sheet metal mid frame 24 (reinforcing plate) is attached to the seating surface 22 e. The mid frame 24 has a plurality of holes 24a. The boss 22f of the side frame 22 is inserted into the hole 24a, and the projecting end of the boss 22f is heated and melted to be heat staked to the midframe 24. Accordingly, the mid frame 24 is fixed to the side frame 22.
[0016]
The mid frame 24 is provided with two locking portions 24b having a U-shaped cross section apart from each other in the vertical direction. The end portions of the middle and lower S-shaped springs 50 are respectively hooked on the locking portions 24b. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a sheet metal bracket 42 of the reclining device 40 is fixed to the lower side portion of the mid frame 24 with bolts 70 and nuts 71.
[0017]
The lower frame 23 is disposed between the left and right reclining devices 40. The lower frame 23 includes a plate-shaped main body portion 23a that extends in the left-right direction and whose width direction is directed upward and downward, and a pair of mounting arms 23b that are provided so as to protrude forward at both ends of the main body portion 23a. ing. The main body portion 23a is slightly curved so that the central portion in the left-right direction swells rearward. As shown in FIG. 8, the main body portion 23a has a square-wave cross section, grooves on the front and rear sides are formed along the longitudinal direction, and a number of vertical reinforcing ribs 23c are provided in these grooves.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the mounting arm 23b of the lower frame 23 is provided with an insertion hole 23d and a protrusion 23e so as to make a pair in the vertical direction. The mounting arm 23 b is in contact with the bracket 42 of the reclining device 40. Then, a screw 72 is inserted into the insertion hole 23d of the mounting arm 23b, and this screw 72 is screwed into the screw hole 42a formed in the bracket 42 while engraving a female screw. Further, the protrusion 23e is inserted through an insertion hole 42b formed in the bracket 42. As a result, the mounting arm 23 b of the lower frame 23 is fixed to the bracket 42, and as a result, connected to the side frame 22 via the bracket 42 and the mid frame 24.
[0019]
As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.3, the cushion pad 30 is engage | inserted by the frames 21-23 assembled in square shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, the left and right side frames 22 cover the rear half of the left and right side surfaces of the cushion pad 30. Furthermore, the left and right side portions of the skin 31 are directly covered with the left and right side surfaces of the cushion pad 30, and are sandwiched between the side frame 22 and the cushion pad 30. That is, the side frame 22 is not covered with the skin 31 and the decorative surface 22x is exposed to the passenger compartment.
[0020]
The skin 31 is made of a single piece of cloth without seams. Terminals 31 a to 31 c are extended from the top, bottom, left and right ends of the skin 31, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper terminal 31 a covers the terminal 30 a having an L-shaped cross section at the upper end of the cushion pad 30. These upper terminals 30 a and 31 a are put on the upper surface and the rear surface of the main body portion 21 a of the upper frame 21. Furthermore, the front end edge of the skin terminal 31a is fastened to the back surface of the upper frame main body 21a by fastening means such as a tucker or a clip. The headrest holder 62 penetrates the upper terminals 30a and 31a and is embedded in the holder hole 21c of the upper frame main body 21a. The stay 61 of the headrest 60 is inserted into and supported by the holder 62.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, three (plural) terminals 31 c on the left and right sides of the skin 31 are provided apart from each other in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the end edges of these terminals 31 c are extended rearward from the left and right side portions of the cushion pad 30, and tackers, clips, or the like are attached to the rear edge of the inner side surface of the side frame 22. It is fastened by wearing means. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the lower end 31 b of the skin 31 extends rearward from the bottom of the cushion pad 30, and is hooked on the lower edge of the main body 23 a of the lower frame 23. It is bent. And the front-end edge of the skin terminal 31b is fixed to the back surface of the lower frame main-body part 23a with fixing means, such as a tucker and a clip.
[0022]
The back board 29 has a decorative face on the back exposed in the passenger compartment. As shown in FIG. 7, a hook 29 a protrudes from the upper portion of the front surface of the backboard 29. The hook 29 a is locked in a locking hole 21 h formed on the back surface of the main body portion 21 a of the upper frame 21. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, locking claws 29 b are provided on the left and right edges of the backboard 29. This locking claw 29 b is hooked on the rear edge of the side frame 22. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, an L-shaped hooking piece 29 c projects from the lower side of the front surface of the backboard 29. The hooking piece 29c is hooked on the main body 23a of the lower frame 23.
[0023]
A procedure for manufacturing the vehicle seat will be described.
The mid frame 24 and the reclining device 40 are connected in advance. Then, the mid frame 24 is attached to the side frame 22. Next, the upper frame 21 is attached between the upper side portions of the left and right side frames 22, and the lower frame 23 is attached between the lower end portions via the mid frame 24 and the bracket 42 of the reclining device 40. Further, the connecting shaft 43, the lever 44, the S-shaped spring 50 and the like are attached.
[0024]
Separately, the skin 31 is covered with an adhesive on the front surface of the pad 30. The pad 30 with the skin 31 is fitted into the front side portions of the frames 21 to 23, and the pad upper terminal 30 a is put on the upper frame 21. Then, the upper skin terminal 31 a is fixed to the back surface of the upper frame 21, the left and right terminals 31 c are fixed to the inner surface of the side frame 22, and the lower terminal 31 b is fixed to the back surface of the lower frame 23. Thereafter, the backboard 29 is attached to the rear side portions of the frames 21 to 23. Further, the holder 62 is fitted into the upper frame 21 and the headrest 60 is attached.
[0025]
After the seat back 20 is completed in this way, the fixing bracket 41 of the reclining device 40 is connected to the separately manufactured seat 10.
[0026]
According to the vehicle seat, weight reduction can be achieved by forming the seat back frames 21 to 23 from resin and integrally forming the ribs 21d, 22a, and 23c. For example, the conventional metal seat back frame was about 2000 g, but according to the embodiment of the present invention, it could be about 1360 g.
The resin frames 21 to 23 can be easily connected by fitting the bosses 22d and 22f, heat caulking, or the like, and the assembly efficiency can be increased.
Since the four frames 21 to 23 are separated from each other, the optimum rib shape can be designed separately for each of the frames 21 to 23, and the necessary strength can be ensured reliably. Further, the upper portion of the side frame 22 can be reinforced by the leg portion 21 b of the upper frame 21. Further, the lower side portion of the side frame 22 is reinforced by the mid frame 24, and the strength of the coupling portion with the reclining device 40 can be sufficiently secured. By making the lower side portion of the side frame 22 wider and the mid frame 24 larger, the force from the reclining device 40 can be sufficiently dispersed.
[0027]
By exposing the side frame 22, a line from the side of the seat back 20 to the shoulder can be formed by the side frame 22, and the degree of freedom of design can be increased. Further, when the seat back 20 is viewed from the side, the front cushion pad 30 and the rear side frame 22 appear so as to extend vertically, so that the seat back 20 can appear visually thin.
[0028]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, the form of the ribs 21d, 22a, and 23c of the frames 21 to 23 may be changed as appropriate. The lower frame 23 may be directly connected to the side frame 22. The frames 21 to 23 may be joined by vibration welding or the like. You may change the connection procedure of the frames 21-24 suitably.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the upper, side, and lower frames of the seat back are molded separately from each other with resin, thereby reducing the weight and improving the assembly efficiency. In addition, the optimum rib shape can be designed separately for each frame, and the required strength can be ensured reliably.
By exposing the side frame, the degree of freedom in design can be increased.
By connecting the legs of the upper frame with the inner side of the side frame, the strength of the upper side of the side frame can be further increased. Further, the locking portion for the S-shaped spring can be formed not on the side frame but on the leg portion of the upper frame, so that the side frame can be easily designed.
By attaching a reinforcing plate made of sheet metal to the inner side surface of the lower side portion of the side frame and connecting the reclining device to this reinforcing plate, the strength of the connecting portion with the reclining device can be increased. Further, the locking portion for the S-shaped spring can be formed not on the side frame but on the reinforcing plate, and the side frame can be easily designed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a seat back frame of the seat.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the seat back frame and cushion pad.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the seat back along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;
5 is a cross-sectional view of the seat back taken along the line VV in FIG. 1. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the seat back taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seat back taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 1. FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Seat part 20 Seat back 21 Upper frame 21a Main body part 21b Leg part 21d Reinforcement rib 21g S-shaped spring latching part 22 Side frame 22x Decorative surface (outer surface)
22a Reinforcing rib 22c Seat surface 22e for upper frame leg portion Seat surface 23 for mid frame Lower frame 23a Main body portion 23b Mounting arm 23c Reinforcing rib 24 Mid frame (reinforcing plate)
30 Cushion pad 31 Skin 40 Reclining device 42 Rotating bracket 50 fixed to seat back S-shaped spring

Claims (6)

A pair of left and right side frames extending vertically, an upper frame spanned between the upper ends of these side frames, a lower frame spanned between the lower ends, and a cushion pad supported by these frames A vehicle seat back, wherein the four frames are molded separately from each other with a resin, and each frame is provided with a reinforcing rib for ensuring a required strength. The side frame has a plate shape to cover the side portion of the cushion pad, a reinforcing rib is provided on the inner surface, and the outer surface becomes a decorative surface and is exposed without being covered by the skin. The vehicle seat back according to claim 1. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein legs that extend downward are provided at both ends of the upper frame, and the legs are connected so as to be attached to the inside of the side frame. Seat back. The vehicle seat back according to claim 3, wherein a locking portion for an end portion of the S-shaped spring is formed integrally with the leg portion. 5. A reclining device is connected to the inner surface of the lower side portion of the side frame so that a reinforcing plate made of sheet metal is attached thereto, and a reclining device is connected to the reinforcing plate. The vehicle seat back described in 1. 6. The vehicle seat back according to claim 5, wherein a locking portion for an end portion of the S-shaped spring is provided on the reinforcing plate.

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