Vehicle seat

A vehicle seat (car seat (S)) includes a seat cushion (S1), a seat back (S2), and a headrest (S3), the seat back (S2) including a seat back frame constituting a frame of the seat back (S2), and a seat back pad covering the seat back frame, and the vehicle seat being configured to allow an upper body of an occupant to sink into the seat back (S2) when a backward movement load acts on the seat back from the occupant's upper body. The seat back pad includes a center portion (51) configured to face a back region of the occupant's upper body, and right and left side portions (52) provided at right and left sides of the center portion (51) and each configured to protrude frontward farther than the center portion (51), and each of the right and left side portions has an upper side portion (52A) corresponding to a height of a chest region of the occupant and a lower side portion (52B) corresponding to a height of a lumbar region of the occupant, which are configured such that when they receive the backward movement load, the upper side portion (52A) is more easily deformable than the lower side portion (52B).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion, a seat back, and a headrest.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there is known a vehicle seat in which when a rear-end collision occurs, an upper body of an occupant which would move backward due to inertia, is caused to sink into the seat back to let the head of the occupant move closer to the headrest, so as to reduce impact applied to the neck of the occupant (see Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

Since the seat back includes a center portion facing a back region of the occupant's upper body, and right and left bulging portions provided at both sides of the center portion and protruding frontward farther than the center portion, the upper body (e.g., shoulders) of the occupant which would move backward will first hit these bulging portions. Accordingly, when a backward movement load acts on the seat back, the occupant's upper body, especially the upper part of the upper body is less likely to sink into the seat back.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat in which it is ensured that the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sufficiently sink into the seat back when a backward movement load acts on the seat back.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat which can stably support the occupant.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat which can be provided with a sufficient space for allowing the seat back pad to deform.

It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat which can prevent interference with a seat back frame when the upper part of the occupant's upper body sinks into the seat back.

It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat which can simplify the structure and prevent an increase in the number of parts.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the above object, a vehicle seat according to the present invention comprises: a seat cushion, a seat back, and a headrest, the seat back including a seat back frame constituting a frame of the seat back and a seat back pad covering the seat back frame, and the vehicle seat being configured to allow an upper body of an occupant to sink into the seat back when a backward movement load acts on the seat back from the occupant's upper body, wherein the seat back pad comprising a center portion configured to face a back region of the occupant's upper body, and right and left side portions provided at right and left sides of the center portion and each configured to protrude frontward farther than the center portion, and wherein each of the right and left side portions has an upper side portion corresponding to a height of a chest region of the occupant and a lower side portion corresponding to a height of a lumbar region of the occupant, which are configured such that when they receive the backward movement load, the upper side portion is more easily deformable than the lower side portion.

With this configuration, each of the right and left side portions has the upper side portion which is configured to be more easily deformable than the lower side portion when they receive a backward movement load, so that when the backward movement load acts on the seat back, it is ensured that the upper part of the occupant's upper body (i.e., portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region) can sufficiently sink into the seat back. This can cause the head of the occupant to more quickly move closer to the headrest, with the result that the impact applied to the neck of the occupant can be reduced further.

The above vehicle seat may further comprise support members provided in the seat back and configured to support the upper side portions from inside the seat back and to be movable in a backward direction.

With this configuration, since the vehicle seat includes the support members which support the upper side portions from inside the seat back, the support members can stably support the occupant in the normal condition, and once the backward movement load acts on the seat back, the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sufficiently sink into the seat back.

In the above vehicle seat, front surfaces of the support members may be disposed in contact with the seat back pad.

With this configuration, since the front surfaces of the support members are disposed in contact with the seat back pad, the occupant can be more stably supported by the support members in the normal condition.

In the above vehicle seat provided with the support members, the support members may be disposed frontward of the right and left side frames of the seat back frame with a gap provided between each of the side frames and each of the support members.

With this configuration, since the support members and the side frames are arranged with gaps provided between them, there is a sufficient space for allowing the seat back pad to deform when the upper side portions (seat back pad) deform by the action of the backward movement load. Accordingly, the seat back pad can deform further by the action of the backward movement load.

In the above vehicle seat, each support member may have a relief portion for preventing interference with the side frame, at a position facing the side frame.

With this configuration, since each support member has a relief portion for preventing interference with the side frame, interference of the support members with the side frames which would occur when the seat back pad deforms by the action of the backward movement load can be prevented. Further, an occurrence of interference noise can be prevented because the interference between the support members and the side frames are prevented.

The above vehicle seat provided with the support members may further comprises a pressure-receiving member disposed in the seat back at a position opposite to the center portion and connected to the right and left side frames of the seat back frame via a connecting member so as to allow the pressure-receiving member to move backward, wherein the support members are integrally formed with the pressure-receiving member such that they extend outward in a right-left direction from upper portions of right and left ends of the pressure-receiving member.

With this configuration, the support members and the pressure-receiving member are integrally formed, which can simplify the configuration of the vehicle seat and prevent an increase in the number of parts.

In the above vehicle seat provided with the support members, as viewed from front, the seat back pad may have through-openings or recessed portions at positions where regions between the center portion and the right and left side portions overlap the support members.

Since this configuration makes the upper side portions more easily deformable, the upper part of the occupant's upper body sinks more sufficiently into the seat back by the action of the backward movement load.

In the above vehicle seat in which the front surfaces of the support members are disposed in contact with the seat back pad, the support members may be configured to urge the upper side portions in a frontward direction.

This configuration makes it possible to stably support the occupant in the normal condition as well as to prevent a gap which would otherwise be formed between the support members and the seat back pad due to manufacturing error or the like. Further, this configuration causes the support members to quickly deform in accordance with the deformation of the seat back pad when the backward movement load acts on the seat back.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where necessary.

As seen inFIG. 1, a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured as a car seat S used for a driver's seat of a car, and mainly includes a seat cushion S1, a seat back S2, and a headrest S3. As will hereinafter be described in detail, the car seat S is configured such that the upper body of an occupant sinks into the seat back S2when the car is rear-ended by another car or when the car collides at its rear portion with another vehicle or a structural object while reversing, and a backward movement load acts on the seat back S2from the upper body of the occupant.

A seat frame F as shown inFIG. 2is embedded in the seat cushion S1and the seat back S2. The seat frame F mainly includes a seat cushion frame F1constituting a frame of the seat cushion S1, and a seat back frame F2constituting a frame of the seat back S2. The seat cushion S1is configured such that the seat cushion frame F1is covered with a seat cushion pad made of a cushion material such as urethane foam, and a skin material made of synthetic leather or fabric. The seat back S2is configured such that the seat back frame F2is covered with seat back pad50made of a cushion material, and a skin material60(seeFIGS. 4 and 6).

The seat cushion frame F1is installed on a floor of the car via slide rails SL. Accordingly, the position of the car seat S is adjustable in the front-back direction. A lower portion of the seat back frame F2is rotatably connected to a rear portion of the seat cushion frame F1via a reclining mechanism RL. Accordingly, the seat back S2is tiltable in the front-back direction with respect to the seat cushion S1.

In this specification, the front/back (frontward/backward), right/left (lateral), and upper/lower directions are designated as from the view point of an occupant seated on the car seat S without tilting down the seat back S2by the reclining mechanism RL.

The seat back frame F2mainly consists of an upper frame10, right and left side frames20, and a lower frame30; the upper frame10, the right and left side frames20, and the lower frame30are joined together, for example, by welding to thereby form a frame-like configuration. A pressure-receiving member40is disposed inside this frame-like seat back frame F2; the pressure-receiving member40supports the upper body of the occupant so as to be movable in the backward direction.

The upper frame10is formed by bending a pipe material into a substantially U-shape configuration and includes a lateral pipe portion11extending in the right-left direction, and a pair of right and left support brackets12for attachment of the headrest S3are fixed by welding to the front side of the lateral pipe portion11. Right and left vertical pipe portions13of the upper frame10extend in the upper-lower direction; right and left side frame main body portions21are joined to lower portions of the vertical pipe portions13and made into integral parts to thereby form the right and left side frames20.

Each of the side frame main body portions21is made by press working sheet metal to have a substantially U-shaped cross section; the side frame main body portions21are arranged laterally opposite to each other. The side frame main body portion21is connected to the vertical pipe portion13with its upper portion holding the vertical pipe portion13, and the lower portion of the side frame main body portion21protrudes frontward farther than the upper portion of the side frame main body portion21to form a bulging portion22.

The pressure-receiving member40is a plate-like member, for example, made of plastic resin, and as seen inFIG. 3, the pressure-receiving member40is connected to the right and left side frames20via an upper connecting wire W1and a lower connecting wire W2as an example of connecting members, so as to be movable in the backward direction. To be more specific, the upper connecting wire W1is engaged with engagement portions45formed at an upper portion of the back side of the pressure-receiving member40, and both right and left ends of the upper connecting wire W1are bent to form upwardly protruding portions, each of which is engaged with a supporting tab14fixed to the vertical pipe portions13, so that the upper portion of the pressure-receiving member40is connected to the right and left side frames20. The lower connecting wire W2is engaged with engagement portions46formed at a lower portion of the back side of the pressure-receiving member40, and both right and left end portions of the lower connecting wire W2are engaged with link members23, which are fixed to the inner surfaces of the side frame main body portions21and configured to be swingable in the backward direction, so that the lower portion of the pressure-receiving member40is connected to the right and left side frames20.

According to the pressure-receiving member40as described above, when a backward movement load acts on the pressure-receiving member40, the bent portions of the right and left ends of the upper connecting wire W1deform and the right and left end portions of the lower connecting wire W2move backward by the swinging motion of the link members23, so that the pressure-receiving member40moves backward with respect to the right and left side frames20. Each link member23includes a conventional mechanism using a tension coil spring (shown without a reference numeral) and is thereby configured to swing backward by the action of the backward movement load equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Support portions41as an example of support members are formed at both right and left sides of the upper portion of the pressure-receiving member40. As seen inFIG. 4, the support portions41are integral with a pressure-receiving member main body portion40A, which is disposed in the seat back S2at a position opposite to the center portion51of the seat back pad50, such that the support portions41extend in obliquely frontward and laterally outward directions from the upper portions of the right and left ends of the pressure-receiving member main body portion40A, more specifically, from the both right and left ends of a portion of the pressure-receiving member main body portion40A corresponding to the height of the chest region of the occupant. The support portions41extend to the vicinity of the front side of the right and left side frames20; the support portions41are disposed frontward of the right and left side frames20with a gap provided between each of the side frames20and each of the support portions41.

The support portion41curves along the peripheral surface of the vertical pipe portion13, so that a recessed portion41A as an example of a relief portion for preventing interference with the side frame20is formed at a position facing the side frame20, that is, at the rear side. The support portion41is provided substantially at the position corresponding to the height of the vertical pipe portion13of the side frame20.

The front surfaces of the support portions41are disposed in contact with the seat back pad50inside the seat back S2. When the occupant sits on the seat cushion S1and leans back against the seat back S2, the seat back pad50deforms and the support portions41support the seat back pad50(upper side portions52A) from inside the seat back S2. To describe further in detail, the support portions41are provided on the pressure-receiving member main body portion40A so as to be elastically deformable in the front-rear directions; the support portions41have slightly deformed backward in the seat back S2as they are being pushed by the seat back pad50from the front side thereof. Accordingly, the support portions41urge the seat back pad50(upper side portions52A) in the frontward direction.

As seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, the seat back pad50for covering the seat back frame F2includes a center portion51configured to face the back region of the occupant's upper body, and right and left side portions52provided at right and left sides of the center portion51and each configured to protrude frontward farther than the center portion51. In this embodiment, the frontwardly bulding shape of the right and left side portions52is retained mainly by the frontwardly protruding bulging portions22and the support portions41.

As viewed from front, the seat back pad50is provided with a plurality of tucking grooves56for tucking the skin material60, at the center portion51as well as at boundary regions55between the center portion51and the right and left side portions52. Further, as viewed from front, the seat back pad50is provided with a pair of right and left slot holes57in the shape of elongated through-openings extending in the upper-lower direction at positions where the boundary regions55and the support portions41overlap each other.

As seen inFIG. 4which is a sectional view of a portion of the seat back S2corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region, andFIG. 6which is a sectional view of a portion corresponding to the occupant's lumbar region, in the right and left side portions52of the seat back pad50, portions closer to the center portion51are configured such that the upper side portions52A corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region are thinner in the front-rear direction than the lower side portions52B corresponding to the height of the occupant's lumbar region. To make it easier to understand that the upper side portions52A become thinner in the front-rear direction than the lower side portion52B,FIG. 6shows contours of the rear sides of the upper side portions52A by chain double-dashed lines.

Next, operation and advantageous effects of the car seat S configured as described above will be described.

When a backward movement load acts on the seat back S2from the occupant as a result of a rear-end collision such as in the cases where the car is rear-ended by another car and the car collides at its rear portion with another vehicle, as seen inFIGS. 7(a) and7(b), the seat back pad50deforms and moves backward from the position indicated by chain double-dashed lines at which no load is input, and at the same time, the pressure-receiving member40is pushed by the seat back pad50and moves backward.

During this movement, since the upper side portions52A of the seat back pad50as shown inFIG. 7(a) are thinner in the front-rear direction and thus more easily deformable than the lower side portions52B, when the backward movement load is input, the upper side portions52A deform faster and greater than the lower side portions52B as shown inFIG. 7(b). Accordingly, the upper part of the occupant's upper body (i.e., portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region) sinks into the seat back pad50faster and deeper than the lower part of the occupant's upper body (i.e., portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's lumbar region).

In other words, according to the car seat S, each of the right and left side portions52has the upper side portion52A which is configured to be more easily deformable than the lower side portion52B when they receive a backward movement load, so that when the backward movement load acts on the seat back S2, it is ensured that the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sink sufficiently into the seat back. Consequently, the head near the upper part of the occupant's upper body can quickly move closer to the headrest S3, with the result that the impact applied to the neck by the rear-end collision can be reduced further.

Further, since the car seat S includes the support portions41provided to support the upper side portions52A from inside the seat back S2and configured to be movable in the backward direction, the support portions41can stably support the occupant in the normal condition as compared to the configuration in which only the seat back pad50is provided (without the support portions41), and once the backward movement load acts on the seat back S2, the support portions41can move backward to ensure that the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sink sufficiently into the seat back S2.

More particularly, in this embodiment, since the front surfaces of the support portions41are disposed in contact with the seat back pad50, the occupant can be more stably supported in the normal condition. It is to be noted that if the front surfaces of the support portions41are disposed in contact with the seat back pad50, irrespective of the occupant's physique, the load can be stably transmitted from the seat back pad50(upper side portions52A) to the support portions41when the backward movement load is received. In contrast, if the support portions41are positioned away from the seat back pad50, the contact positions between the seat back pad50and the support portions41may be changed in accordance with the occupant's physique and other conditions when the backward movement load is received. This may cause the load to be unstably transmitted from the seat back pad50to the support portions41, and is therefore undesirable.

Further, in this embodiment, as seen inFIG. 3, since the upper connecting wire W1, the portions (engagement portions45) connecting the upper connecting wire W1and the pressure-receiving member40, and the portions (supporting tabs14) connecting the upper connecting wire W1and the right and left side frames20are provided at the same height position as that of the support portions41, the support portions41can be stably supported from behind by the upper connecting wire W1. This can improve the occupant supporting performance of the support portions41in the normal condition.

Further, as seen inFIG. 4, since the support portions41are disposed frontward of the right and left side frames20with a gap provided between each of the side frames20and each of the support portions41, there is a sufficient space for allowing the seat back pad50to deform when the upper side portions52A (seat back pad50) deform by the action of the backward movement load. Accordingly, the seat back pad can deform further by the action of the backward movement load.

Further, since each support portion41has a recessed portion41A, which is recessed frontward, at a position facing the side frame20, when the seat back pad50deforms by the action of the backward movement load, interference of the support portions41with the side frames20can be prevented. Further, an occurrence of interference noise can be prevented because of the restriction of the interference. In this embodiment, since the side frames20have portions facing the support portions41, which are substantially made of cylinder-shaped vertical pipe portions13, the side frames20are less subject to interference with the support portions41.

Further, the support portions41as an example of the support members are integrally formed with the pressure-receiving member40(pressure-receiving member main body portion40A), which can simplify the configuration of the car seat S and prevent an increase in the number of parts. It is to be noted that since the support portions41extend obliquely frontward from the both right and left ends of the pressure-receiving member main body portion40A, the pressure-receiving member40has a substantially U-shaped cross section. This can improve the rigidity of the pressure-receiving member40as a whole, and thus improve the occupant supporting performance of the support portions41in the normal condition.

As far as the number of parts is concerned, according to this embodiment, since the frontwardly protruding bulging portions22and the support portions41maintain the frontwardly extending shapes of the right and left side portions52, the number of parts can be reduced as compared to the configuration in which bent wires for connecting upper portions of the side frames20and the bulging portions22are provided to maintain the shapes of the right and left side portions52.

Further, as seen inFIG. 5, since the seat back pad50has slot holes57at positions where the boundary regions55and the support portions41overlap each other, the upper side portions52A are more easily deformable. Accordingly, the upper part of the occupant's upper body sinks more sufficiently into the seat back by the action of the backward movement load.

Further, since the support portions41are configured to urge the upper side portions52A in the frontward direction, it is possible to stably support the occupant in the normal condition as well as to prevent a gap which would otherwise be formed between the support portions41and the seat back pad50due to manufacturing error. Further, it is possible to cause the support portions41to quickly deform in accordance with the deformation of the seat back pad50when the backward movement load acts on the seat back and, more specifically, in accordance with the backward movement associated with deformation as made by the input of the backward movement load as well as the recovery to the original shape after removing the input of the load.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above specific embodiment. It is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made to any of the specific configurations where necessary without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the support portions41as an example of the support members are integrally formed with the pressure-receiving member40(pressure-receiving member main body portion40A). However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration; for example, the support members may be discrete members (discrete parts) formed separately from the pressure-receiving member. Further, the present invention may not comprise a plate-like pressure-receiving member. For example, as seen inFIG. 8(a), in place of the pressure-receiving member, the car seat may include seat springs140provided between the right and left side frames20under tension. According to this car seat, when a backward movement load acts on the seat back from the occupant as a result of a rear-end collision, the seat back pad50deforms and moves backward, and then the seat springs140are pushed by the seat back pad50and deform backward, so that the upper body of the occupant can sink into the seat back.

The car seat shown inFIGS. 8(a) and8(b) includes a pair of right and left support members80in place of the pair of support portions41described in the above embodiment. Like the support portions41, the support members80support the upper side portions52A from inside the seat back, and are provided inside the seat back. As seen inFIG. 8(b), each of the support members80is formed as a plate-like member having a V-shape configuration as seen from top, and includes an attachment portion81extending in the right-left direction of the figure, and a support portion82extending in an obliquely frontward and outward direction from the right end portion or the left end portion of the attachment portion81.

A clip portion81A is formed at the rear surface of the attachment portion81; the support portion80is attached to the seat spring140via the clip portion81A engagable with o the seat spring140. With this configuration, the support members80are movable in the backward direction with respect to the right and left side frames20because the seat springs140are deformable in the backward direction.

Like the support portions41in the above embodiment, the support portions82extend to the vicinity of the front side of the right and left side frames20; the support portions82are disposed frontward of the right and left side frames20with a gap provided between each of the side frames20and each of the support portions82. Each support portion82curves along the peripheral surface of the vertical pipe portion13, so that a recessed portion82A (relief portion) for preventing interference with the side frame20is formed at the rear side. Further, the support portions82are provided on the attachment portion81so as to be elastically deformable in the front-rear directions; the support portions82are arranged such that the front surfaces thereof are in contact with the inner surface of the seat back pad50(upper side portions52A) so as to urge the upper side portions52A in the frontward direction.

The support members80as described above can provide the same operation and advantageous effects as those of the support portions41in the above embodiment.

According to the above-described embodiment and the modified embodiment described inFIG. 8, the support members (support portions41and the support members80) are formed into plate-like members; however, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the support members may be integral with the seat spring which is provided and pulled under tension at a position corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region. To be more specific, as seen inFIGS. 9(a) and9(b), these support members (support portions141) can be formed by bending the both right and left end portions of the upper seat spring140in obliquely frontward and laterally outward directions. In the normal condition, the support portions141are in contact with the upper side portions52A from behind to support the upper side portions52A (occupant) from inside the seat back, and when a backward movement load acts on the seat back, the support portions141are pushed by the upper side portions52A which is deforming and moving backward, and thus move backward to ensure that the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sink sufficiently into the seat back.

It is to be noted that as long as the occupant can be stably supported by the seat back pad or the like, the car seat according to the present invention may not include the support members.

In the above embodiment, the upper side portions52A can be urged frontward because the support portions41(support members) are provided on the pressure-receiving member main body portion40A so as to be elastically deformable in the front-rear directions. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the upper side portions can be urged frontward using plate-like support members arranged inside (at the rear of) the upper side portions; the support members are urged frontward using springs or a cushion material disposed at the rear of the support members. The present invention, however, may be configured such that the support members do not urge the upper side portions in the frontward direction.

In the above embodiment, each support portion41(support member) curves along the peripheral surface of the vertical pipe portion13, so that a recessed portion41A as an example of a relief portion is formed at a position facing the side frame20. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the relief portion may be a through-hole formed in the support member, or a recessed portion formed on a substantially straight plate-like support member at its surface facing the side frame.

In the above embodiment, the seat back pad50has slot holes57(through-openings) at positions where the boundary regions55(between the center portion51and the right and left side portions52) and the support portions41overlap each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, in place of the through-holes, recessed portion (grooves) may be provided at positions where the boundary regions55of the seat back pad50and the support portions41overlap each other. This configuration also makes the upper side portions more easily deformable, so that the upper part of the occupant's upper body can sink sufficiently into the seat back by the action of the backward movement load. The above through-holes and the recessed potions for softening the upper side portions may be holes or grooves for tucking the skin material.

In the above embodiment, the upper side portions52A are thinner in the front-rear direction than the lower side portions52B, with the result that the right and left side portions52of the seat back pad50are configured such that the upper side portions52A are more easily deformable than the lower side portions52B when they receive a backward movement load. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the upper side portions may have through-holes or recessed portions so that the upper side portions are more easily deformable than the lower side portions when they receive the backward movement load. As an alternative, the entire seat back pad or the right and left side portions may be configured such that the cushion material for the upper portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest region is softer than the cushion material for the lower portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's lumbar region; this configuration makes the upper side portions more easily deformable than the lower side portions when they receive the backward movement load.

In the above embodiment, wire-like members (upper connecting wire W1and lower connecting wire W2) are used as an example of a connecting member for connecting the pressure-receiving member40to the right and left side frames20. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific configuration. For example, the connecting member may be coil spring-like members or a belt-like (band-like) member.

In the above embodiment, the specific configuration of the seat frame F (seat cushion frame F1and seat back frame F2) is described as an example; the present invention is not limited to this configuration shown in the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, each right and left side frame20of the seat back frame F2consists of the pipe-shaped vertical pipe portion13and the plate-like side frame main body portion21. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Each side frame may consist of the pipe-shaped frame only or the plate-like frame only.

In the above embodiment, the car seat S used in a car is illustrated as an example of a vehicle seat. However, the present invention is not limited to the car seat and applicable to other vehicle seat, such as a seat for marine vessel and a seat for aircraft.