Seat for vehicles

A seat for vehicles includes: a seat back frame; and a pressure receiving member that is mounted on the seat back frame to support a back of an occupant. The seat back frame includes a lower seat back frame and an upper seat back frame mounted on an upper portion of the lower seat back frame in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner, and the pressure receiving member is disposed from an area corresponding to the shoulder of an occupant to an area corresponding to the waist of the occupant and is supported by the upper seat back frame.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-224273, filed Nov. 4, 2014, entitled “Seat for Vehicles.” The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an improved seat for vehicles.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the seat back of a seat for vehicles, a seat back frame, which forms the framework of the seat back, is provided with a cushion material, which is further covered by an outer layer. In addition, some seat back frames are equipped with a pressure receiving member for supporting the back of an occupant. The technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-236985 provides a seat for vehicles in which the pressure receiving member is mounted on the seat back frame.

In the seat back frame provided in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-235985, a rectangular shaped pressure receiving member is mounted on both sides of the seat back frame via a coil spring. A cushion material is provided in front of the pressure receiving member, and the pressure receiving member supports the back of an occupant along with the cushion material.

Here, a known seat back of a seat for vehicles has a configuration in which the upper portion of the seat back is swingable forwardly and rearwardly according to the body shape of an occupant. For instance, the seat back frame includes a lower seat back frame and an upper seat back frame that is mounted on an upper portion of the lower seat back frame in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner.

When the upper seat back frame is swung forwardly in such a swingable seat back, only the upper seat back frame may be displaced and the pressure receiving member may not be sufficiently displaced. In this case, the distance from the back of the occupant to the pressure receiving member is increased. When the distance is excessively increased, the effect of the pressure receiving member is decreased and comfort of the occupant sitting on a seat for vehicles is reduced.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to provide a seat for vehicles that is highly comfortable for a seated occupant.

A first aspect of the disclosure provides a seat for vehicles including: a seat back frame and a shoulder and back supporting member (a pressure receiving member) that is mounted on the seat back frame to support the back of an occupant. The seat back frame includes a lower seat back frame and an upper seat back frame mounted on an upper portion of the lower seat back frame in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner, and the shoulder and back supporting member is disposed from an area corresponding to the shoulder of an occupant to an area corresponding to the waist of the occupant and is supported by the upper seat back frame. In other words, the shoulder and back supporting member is supported by the upper seat back frame that is mounted in a swingable manner. Therefore, the shoulder and back supporting member is displaced in coordination with swinging of the upper seat back frame. When the upper seat back frame is swung forwardly, in the shoulder and back supporting member, the area corresponding to the shoulder of an occupant is located closer to the back of the occupant. Even when the upper seat back frame is swung, the shoulder pressure receiving portion is capable of supporting the shoulder and surrounding of the occupant. Consequently, comfort of the occupant sitting on the seat for vehicles is enhanced.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, preferably, in the shoulder and back supporting member, the flexural rigidity of an area corresponding to the shoulder is lower than the flexural rigidity of an area corresponding to the waist. The area of the shoulder and back supporting member corresponding to the shoulder is likely to be bent. Therefore, the shoulder and back supporting member is likely to be operated in coordination with swinging of the upper seat back frame.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, preferably, in the area corresponding to the shoulder, a notch-shaped portion is formed in which a part between areas corresponding to right and left shoulder blades is cut out. The formation of the notch-shaped portion reduces the rigidity of the area corresponding to the shoulder and coordinated operation of the shoulder and back supporting member with the upper seat back frame is increased. In addition, the shoulder and back supporting member is capable of supporting the shoulder blades which are hard areas in the back of an occupant. The support of the hard areas allows the back of an occupant to be stably supported.

In a fourth aspect of the disclosure, preferably, the seat for vehicles further includes a holding portion that is supported by the lower seat back frame and is located in rear of the shoulder and back supporting member. The rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member is in contact with the holding portion. The shoulder and back supporting member is supported by the lower seat back frame via the holding portion. Therefore, the area of the shoulder and back supporting member corresponding to the waist is capable of supporting the back of an occupant. In addition, the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member is in contact with the holding portion as described above. In other words, the shoulder and back supporting member is not fixed to the holding portion. Therefore, movement of the shoulder and back supporting member in a vertical direction is not limited. Consequently, when the upper seat back frame is swung, the shoulder and back supporting member can be operated smoothly in coordination with the upper seat back frame. Therefore, the shoulder and back supporting member achieves both support power in the area corresponding to the waist and coordinated operation with the upper seat back.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following. It is to be noted that in the following description, the right and left indicates the right and left directions with respect to an occupant of a vehicle and the front and rear indicates the front and rear directions with respect to the direction of movement of the vehicle. Also, in the drawings, Fr indicates the front, Rr indicates the rear, L indicates the left as viewed from the occupant, P indicates the right as viewed from the occupant, Up indicates the upward, and Dn indicates the downward.

First Embodiment

InFIG. 1, a seat for vehicles is illustrated. A seat for vehicles10includes the right and left rails12,12mounted on a floor portion11via leg portions, a seat cushion20that is slidably supported in a front-rear direction on the right and left rails12,12, and a seat back30that stands upright from the rear end of the seat cushion20.

The seat cushion20includes a seat portion21on which an occupant sits and right and left cushion portion side supports22,22that expand upward from both right and left ends of the seat portion21. A resin side cover23, which covers part of the seat cushion20and the left rail12, is provided on the left side of the seat cushion20.

The seat back30includes a back reclining portion31that supports the back of an occupant, and right and left back portion side supports32,32that bulge forward from both right and left ends of the back reclining portion31. In the seat back30, the surface of sponge-like cushion material33is covered by an outer layer34.

FIG. 2is referred.FIG. 2illustrates a seat frame50to which a shoulder and back supporting member40for supporting the back of an occupant is mounted along with the cushion material33(seeFIG. 1). The seat frame50includes a seat cushion frame60supported on the right and left rails12,12extending in a front-rear direction via sliders13(only left slider13is illustrated), and a seat back frame70mounted on the seat cushion frame60.

The seat back frame70is mounted on the rear end of the seat cushion frame60in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner around right and left first shaft members51,51.

The seat cushion frame60includes seat cushion frame side portions61,61that extend forwardly and rearwardly along the right and left sliders13, and seat cushion frame front portion62that extends from the front ends of the seat cushion frame side portions61,61to the center of the seat width. A cylindrical shaped connection portion63is bridged between the rear ends of the right and left seat cushion frame side portions61,61.

The seat back frame70includes a lower seat back frame71(hereinafter referred to as a lower frame71) that forms the lower framework of the seat back30(seeFIG. 1), and an upper seat back frame72(hereinafter referred to as an upper frame72) that is mounted on an upper portion of the lower frame71and that forms the upper framework of the seat back30.

The upper frame72is mounted on the upper end of the lower frame71in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner around right and left second shaft members52,52. The upper frame72is swingable by an occupant according to the body shape of the occupant. The upper frame72is forwardly and rearwardly swingable around the right and left second shaft members52,52. A driver53, which causes the upper frame72to swing, is mounted on the right side portion of the lower frame71. A well-known mechanism is adopted to the driver53.

The driver53is a mechanism that transmits the rotation of an electric motor54to a transmission unit.55having a worm gear mechanism and causes an adjuster56to operate in a vertical direction by power transmitted from the transmission unit55. The adjuster56is a vertically movable member that is connected to the upper frame72via a pin57. Inside the adjuster56, there are formed screw threads that correspond to the screw threads formed on the outer surface of shaft member.

When the electric motor54rotates to cause the shaft member to rotate, the adjuster56moves upward or downward. The force of moving the adjuster56upward or downward is transmitted to the upper frame72via the pin57. Then the upper frame72swings around the right and left second shaft members52,52.

The lower frame71includes a first lower cross member73that extends in a seat width direction between the first shaft members51and51, right and left lower frame side portions74,74that extend upward from both ends of the first lower cross member73, and a second lower cross member75that connects the upper ends of the right and left lower frame side portions74,74.

The upper frame72includes right and left upper frame side portions76,76that extend upward from upper portions of the right and left lower frame side portions74,74, and an upper cross member77that connects the upper ends of the right and left upper frame side portions76,76.

In the seat back frame70, the shoulder and back supporting member40is a one-piece disposed from an area corresponding to the shoulder of an occupant to an area corresponding to the waist of the occupant. In the shoulder and back supporting member40, the area located in rear of the waist of the occupant is referred to as a waist pressure receiving portion41, and the area located in rear of the shoulder of the occupant is referred to as a shoulder pressure receiving portion42.

FIG. 3andFIG. 4are collectively referred. A first wire14for supporting the upper portion (the shoulder pressure receiving portion42) of the shoulder and bark supporting member40is provided between the right and left upper frame side portions76and76.

The lower frame71is provided with a second wire15for supporting from a central portion to a lower portion (the waist pressure receiving portion41) of the shoulder and back supporting member40. The second wire15extends in a seat width direction from the vicinity of the driver53provided in the lower frame side portions74,74. The second wire15is bent downward in a substantially U shape at approximately the center of the seat width. The second wire15is supported by the lower frame side portions74,74and the first lower cross member73.

In the shoulder pressure receiving portion42, a notch-shaped portion97is formed in which the part between the areas corresponding to the right and left shoulder blades of an occupant is cut out. Thus, the shoulder pressure receiving portion42includes a right shoulder pressure receiving portion42alocated in rear of the right shoulder blade of an occupant and a left shoulder pressure receiving portion42blocated in rear of the left shoulder blade of an occupant.

A rectangular shaped first hole91is formed in the upper end of the right shoulder pressure receiving portion42a. A retaining portion44, which is retained by the first wire14, is formed in rear of the first hole91. In the retaining portion44, when seen from the side of the seat back frame70, a semi-circular shaped ring portion45is formed.

Similarly, the upper end of the left shoulder pressure receiving portion42bis formed. The rectangular shaped first hole51is formed in the upper end of the left shoulder pressure receiving portion42b. The retaining portion44, which is retained by the first wire14, is formed in rear of the first hole91. In the retaining portion44, when seen from the side of the seat back frame70, a semi-circular shaped ring portion45is formed.

A rectangular shaped second hole92is formed in the lower end of the right shoulder pressure receiving portion42a. A slide portion46, which slides to be retained by the second wire15, is formed in rear of the second hole92. The slide portion46includes a vertical portion47that extends from the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40, and a parallel portion48that extends downward from the vertical portion47parallel to the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40and that holds the second wire15with the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40.

Similarly, the lower end portion of the left shoulder pressure receiving portion42bis formed. A rectangular shaped second hole92is formed in the lower end portion of the left shoulder pressure receiving portion42b. A slide portion46, which slides to be retained by the second wire15, is formed in rear of the second hole92. The slide portion46includes a vertical portion47that extends from the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40, and a parallel portion48that extends downward from the vertical portion47parallel to the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40and that holds the second wire15with the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40.

A holding portion80, which is supported by the lower frame71, is provided in rear of the waist pressure receiving portion41. The holding portion80includes a holding portion body81and a holding wire82provided at the end of the holding portion body81. The rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40is in contact with the holding wire82.

FIG. 3is referred. In each of right and left shoulder pressure receiving portions of the shoulder and back supporting member40, a first recessed portion95is formed between the retaining portion44and the slide portion46.

In the waist pressure receiving portion41, slits94extending in a seat width direction are formed in two rows in a height direction. Second recessed portions96extending in a seat width direction are formed between the rows. A projection portion49, which projects downward, is formed at the lower end of the shoulder and back supporting member40. Slits94and rectangular shaped third holes93are formed in the area between the shoulder pressure receiving portion42and the waist pressure receiving portion41.

Next, the operation and effect of the present disclosure will be described.FIG. 5is referred. The upper frame72is mounted on the upper portion of the lower frame71in a forwardly and rearwardly swingable manner via the right and left second shaft members52,52. Then the shoulder pressure receiving portion42of the shoulder and back supporting member40is supported via the first wire14by the right and left upper frame side portions76,76. Therefore, the shoulder pressure receiving portion42may be displaced in coordination with swinging of the upper frame72.

FIG. 6is referred collectively. When the upper seat back frame72(seeFIG. 5) is swung forwardly, the shoulder pressure receiving portion42of the shoulder and back supporting member40is located closer to the back of occupant Mn. Therefore, the shoulder pressure receiving portion42is capable of supporting the shoulder and surrounding of the occupant Mn. Consequently, comfort of the occupant Mn sitting on the seat.10for vehicles is enhanced.

Next, the details of displacement of the shoulder and back supporting member40when the upper frame72is forwardly swung will be described.

Each slide portion46of the shoulder and back supporting member40is supported by the lower frame71via the second wire15. When the seat back frame70is seen from the side, the slide portion46is located in the vicinity of the corresponding second shaft member52. Therefore, when the upper frame72is swung forwardly around the second shaft member52, the shoulder and back supporting member40is also bent forwardly around the vicinity of the second shaft member52. The swing angle of the upper frame72and the bending angle of the shoulder and back supporting member40are comparable to each other, and thus the shoulder and back supporting member40is capable of supporting the occupant Mn according to the body shape of the occupant. Mn. The comfort of the occupant Mn is enhanced.

In addition, the slide portion46has the parallel portion48that extends parallel to the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40and that holds the second wire15with the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40. The holding wire82provided at the end of the holding portion body81is in contact with the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40. In other words, the shoulder and back supporting member40is not fixed in the slide portion46and the holding portion80. Therefore, the shoulder and back supporting member40can be displaced in a height direction of the extending seat of the shoulder and back supporting member40. Consequently, when the upper frame72is swung, the shoulder and back supporting member40can be operated smoothly in coordination with the upper frame72.

FIG. 3is referred. In the shoulder pressure receiving portion42of the shoulder and back supporting member40, a notch-shaped portion97is formed in which the part between the areas corresponding to the right and left shoulder blades is cut out. Therefore, the flexural rigidity of the shoulder pressure receiving portion42is lower than the flexural rigidity of the waist pressure receiving portion41.

The formation of the notch-shaped portion97reduces the rigidity of the shoulder pressure receiving portion42and coordinated operation of the shoulder and back supporting member40with the upper frame72(seeFIG. 5) is increased. In addition, the shoulder and back supporting member40is capable of supporting the shoulder blades which are hard areas in the back of an occupant. The support of the hard areas allows the shoulder and back supporting member40to stably support the back of an occupant.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the second embodiment, a different configuration is adopted in which a shoulder and back supporting member40A is supported by the second wire15. Other configurations are the same as those of the seat10for vehicles in the first embodiment, and the same symbols are used description is omitted.

FIG. 7andFIG. 8are referred. In the shoulder and back supporting member40A, the slide portion46(seeFIG. 3), which slides to be retained by the second wire15, and the second hole92(seeFIG. 3) are not formed. The second wire15is in contact with the rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40A to support the shoulder and back supporting member40A. In other words, the retaining area in the shoulder and back supporting member40A is only the retaining portion44that is retained by the first wire14.

Also in the shoulder and back supporting member40A, predetermined effect of the present disclosure may be obtained. In addition, with the shoulder and back supporting member40A, the above-described configuration allows the following distinctive effect to be obtained.

The rear surface of the shoulder and back supporting member40A is not retained by but in contact with the second wire15. Therefore, the shoulder and back supporting member40A is likely to be displaced in a height direction of the seat, and when the upper frame72is swung, the shoulder and back supporting member40A may be bent more smoothly over the area from the shoulder pressure receiving portion42to the waist pressure receiving portion41. Consequently, the shoulder and back supporting member40A is capable of supporting the occupant Mn according to the body shape thereof. It is more preferable because the comfort of the occupant Mn is further enhanced.

It is to be noted that the second wire15may be in non-contact with and be separated from the shoulder and back supporting member40A. In this case, only the holding portion80is the area to be in contact with the shoulder and back supporting member40A. The shoulder and back supporting member40A can be bent further smoothly.

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. For instance, the shoulder and back supporting member40in the first embodiment and the shoulder and back supporting member40A in the second embodiment may be flat without forming the third hole93, the first recessed portion95, and the second recessed portion96.

The seat for vehicles in the present disclosure is preferably mounted on a passenger automobile.