Holding member for seat air tube

A seat device includes a holding member that holds an air tube and is located below a seat cushion. The holding member includes a base wall that defines a holding surface for the air tube, a locking portion that locks air tubes routed along the holding surface on the base wall, and a side wall extending in a routing direction of each of the air tubes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a holding member for a seat air tube.

BACKGROUND ART

Some vehicle seat devices give massaging effects to an occupant sitting in a seat. A conventional seat device gives massaging effects by changing the support shape of a seat through expansion and contraction of airbags (bladders) provided in the seat or by pressing the seat covering from the inside with the airbags that are expanding and contracting.

Normally, in such a seat device, flexible air tubes are used to supply and discharge air to and from the airbags. Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a cable tie is used to fix air tubes (hoses) to the structural body (member frame) of the seat.

However, separate fixing of air tubes each configuring an air passage with a cable tie is troublesome. To cope with this problem, air tubes may be fixed to the structural body of the seat by inserting the air tubes into a large-diameter, tubular holding member in a bundled state. This facilitates routing of the air tubes and also protects the air tubes.

Nevertheless, inserting the air tubes into the tubular holding member requires time and efforts. In addition, when the bundle of the air tubes is thick, the layout flexibility decreases. Further, the air tubes are likely to interfere with one another in the tubular holding member. This causes each air tube to locally receive loads and may thus lower the reliability and durability.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems that are to be Solved by the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holding member for a seat air tube capable of routing seat air tubes in a more preferred manner.

Means for Solving the Problem

To solve the above-described problem, a holding member for a seat air tube according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided. The holding member includes a base wall that defines a holding surface for an air tube, a locking portion that locks air tubes routed along the holding surface on the base wall, and a side wall extending in a routing direction of each of the air tubes.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A holding member for a pneumatic seat device having a seat-support function and a massage function and its air tubes according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle seat1includes a seat cushion2and a seatback3, which is provided at the rear end of the seat cushion2. The upper end of the seatback3is provided with a headrest4.

The seatback3includes two side parts3aand3bthat bulge frontward. The seat cushion2also includes two side parts2aand2bthat bulge upward. This allows the seat1to ensure a favorable sitting posture of the occupant and keep the sitting posture of the occupant.

The seat1includes airbags10(11to16) that change the surface shape of the seat1by expanding and contracting inside the seat cushion2and the seatback3. Further, the seat1includes airbags20(21to29) that press a seat covering 1× from the inside by expanding and contracting inside the seat cushion2and the seatback3in the same manner. This configures a seat device30capable of changing the support shape of the seat1and giving massaging (refreshing) effects to the occupant sitting in the seat1.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 1, the seat1includes independent seat-support airbags11(11a,11b),12(12ato12c),13provided in the seatback3at positions corresponding to the shoulder part (shoulder), the waist part (lumbar), and the lower end (back pelvis) of a backrest surface3s, respectively. Further, independent seat-support airbags14(14a,14b) are provided at positions corresponding to the two side parts3aand3bof the seatback3, respectively. The seat cushion2also includes independent seat-support airbags15and16(16a,16b) provided in the rear end (cushion pelvis) of a seating surface2sand in the two side parts2aand2b, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 2, independent massaging (i.e., refreshing) airbags21to25are provided in the seatback3from the shoulder part (shoulder) to the waist part (lumbar) and the lower end (back pelvis) of the backrest surface3s. The massaging airbags21to25are arranged in the vertical direction. Each massage airbag20has a structure in which two bag bodies spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the seat are connected to each other to integrally expand and contact. The seat cushion2also includes independent massage airbags26to29provided below the seating surface2s. The massaging airbags26to29are arranged in the front-to-rear direction.

As shown inFIG. 3, the seat device30includes an air pump device31that forcibly delivers air to each of the airbags10,20and an inlet-outlet valve device32located between the airbags10,20and the air pump device31. For the air pump device31, an electric pump that drives a pump mechanism34using a motor33as a drive source is used. In addition, the inlet-outlet valve device32is connected to the airbags10,20and the air pump device31by flexible air tubes35(35a,35b) made of plastic. That is, in the seat device30, internal passages of the air tube35and the inlet-outlet valve device32define passages L that communicate with the airbags10,20and the air pump device31. Thus, the inlet-outlet valve device32has a structure in which inlet valves36and outlet valves37are located in the middle of the passages L.

The seat device30includes a controller38that controls activation of each inlet valve36, each outlet valve37, and the air pump device31. More specifically, the controller38receives, for example, internal pressures P of the airbags10,20, an operation input signal Sc for an operation switch (not shown), an ignition signal Sig, and a door-lock signal Sd1. Based on these control signals, the controller38controls activation of each inlet valve36, each outlet valve37, and the air pump device31in order to expand and contract the airbags10,20.

The holding member for the air tubes provided in the seat device will now be described.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the seat device30includes the inlet-outlet valve device32(32a) located below the seat cushion2. The inlet-outlet valve device32ais used to expand and contract the massage airbags26to29(refer toFIG. 2) incorporated in the seat cushion2. Further, the seat device30includes a holding member40(case) located below the seat cushion2. The holding member40holds the air tubes35(35a,35b) connected to the inlet-outlet valve device32a.

As shown inFIG. 4, the seat1is fixed on two (left and right) sliding rails SR1, SR2located on the vehicle floor (not shown). In addition, the inlet-outlet valve device32ais located at an end in the width direction of the seat in the proximity of the front end of the seat cushion2(upper end inFIG. 4), that is, located close to the first sliding rail SR1(left side inFIG. 4). Further, each air tube35extends from the inlet-outlet valve device32ain the width direction of the seat, that is, extends toward the second sliding rail SR2(right side inFIG. 4), and extends toward the rear end of the seat cushion2(lower side inFIG. 4). The distal end of each air tube35bextending from the inlet-outlet valve device32ato each of the airbags20(26to29, refer toFIG. 2) of the seat cushion2is bifurcated. The holding member40holds the air tubes35in a bundle at the rear of the inlet-outlet valve device32a(lower side inFIG. 4).

More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 13, the holding member40includes a base wall41defining a holding surface S that holds each air tube35. Further, the holding member40includes a locking portion42that locks each air tube35, which is routed along the holding surface S, on the base wall41. Additionally, the holding member40includes side walls43(43a,43b) extending in the routing direction of each air tube35. The base wall41, the locking portion42, and the side walls43are integrally made of plastic.

As shown inFIGS. 7 to 9, the base wall41has the form of an elongated plate bent in a crank shape. More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, the base wall41includes a middle part41cextending in the width direction of the seat (sideward direction inFIG. 6) with the holding member40located below the seat cushion2. In this state, a first end41aof the base wall41located in the proximity of the first sliding rail SR1(left side inFIG. 6) extends from an end of the middle part41ctoward the front side of the seat1(upper side inFIG. 6). In addition, a second end41bof the base wall41located in the proximity of the second sliding rail SR2(right side inFIG. 6) extends from an end of the middle part41ctoward the rear side of the seat1(lower side inFIG. 6). The holding member40has a three-dimensional shape in which the middle part41cand the second end41bof the base wall41are uneven. The base wall41includes a first surface41sfacing downward (toward the front side of the plane ofFIG. 6) with the holding member40located below the seat cushion2. The first surface41sdefines the holding surface S for each air tube35.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8 and 12, the middle part41cof the base wall41is provided with a tubular portion45that is flat and substantially quadrilateral. The tubular portion45protrudes from the holding surface S of the base wall41. The tubular portion45has a hole44extending in a longitudinal direction of the middle part41c(sideward direction inFIG. 6), that is, extending in the routing direction of each air tube35. Inserting each tube35, which is routed along the holding surface S, through the hole44of the tubular portion45causes the holding member40to lock each air tube35on the base wall41.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 14, the base wall41of the tubular portion45is configured as a first wall45a. The distance d between the first wall45aand a second wall45bopposed to the first wall45ais set to be substantially equal to the diameter r of each air tube35or slightly larger than the diameter r (d≈r). Thus, the air tubes35are arranged in parallel to one another along the holding surface S without being overlapped with one another in the hole44of the tubular portion45, which serves as the locking portion42.

The tubular portion45includes protuberances46aprotruding from the first wall45ainto the hole44and protuberances46beach opposed to the corresponding protuberance46aand protruding from the second wall45binto the hole44. Arranging each air tube35in the gap defined by the protuberances46a,46ballows each air tube35to be locked on the base wall41more stably.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 6 to 8andFIGS. 10 to 13, the holding member40includes a first side wall43aand a second side wall43b. The first side wall43ais located at a corner41dthat connects the first end41aof the base wall41to the middle part41c. The second side wall43bis located at a corner41ethat connects the second end41bto the middle part41c.

The direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the base wall41extending in a cranked manner, that is, the direction that is orthogonal to the routing direction of each air tube35is defined as the width direction of the base wall41. In this case, the first and second side walls43a,43bare located at ends of the corners41d,41ein the width direction, respectively. The first and second side walls43a,43bprotrude from the holding surface S (upper side inFIGS. 11 and 12) of the holding member40.

The first and second side walls43a,43bare respectively located on the inner sides of the corners41d,41eof the base wall41, which are L-shaped. The first side wall43ais located at an end of the base wall41in the width direction, which is located close to the front side of the seat1(upper side inFIG. 8). The second side wall43bis located at an end of the base wall41in the width direction, which is located closer to the rear side of the seat1(lower side inFIG. 8). The first side wall43aextends across the first end41aand the middle part41cin the longitudinal direction of the base wall41. The second side wall43bextends from the second end41bto the position of the middle part41ccorresponding to the locking portion42.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the air tubes35, which are routed along the holding surface S of the base wall41, are fixed to the holding member40by a cable tie51at a position corresponding to the first end41aand fixed to the holding member40by a cable tie52at a position corresponding to the second end41b.

More specifically, as shown inFIGS. 7 to 13, 15, and 16, the holding member40includes locking grooves53a,53bthat are respectively shaped by cutting out the ends in the width direction of the first end41aand the second end41bof the base wall41. The locking grooves53a,53block the cable ties51,52to the holding member40. Additionally, the first and second side walls43a,43brespectively include locking grooves54a,54bat positions corresponding to the locking grooves53a,53b. The cable tie51is engaged with the locking grooves53a,54acorresponding to the first end41aof the base wall41and wound around the holding member40. The cable tie52is engaged with the locking grooves53b,54bcorresponding to the second end41bof the base wall41and wound around the holding member40. In this manner, the air tubes35are fixed to the holding member40.

Further, as shown inFIG. 16, the cable tie52, which is wound around the holding member40at the position corresponding to the second end41bof the base wall41, includes a snap-fit55serving as a locking member. The holding member40has a hole56shaped by cutting out the second end41bof the base wall41and the second side wall43bin order to avoid interference with the snap-fit55. The holding member40is fixed to the structural body (not shown) of the seat1together with the air tubes35, which are routed along the holding surface S, by using the snap-fit55.

The present embodiment has the following advantages.

(1) The seat device30includes the holding member40, which holds the air tubes35and is located below the seat cushion2. The holding member40includes the base wall41, which defines the holding surface S holding the air tubes35, the locking portion42, which locks the air tubes35routed along the holding surface S on the base wall41, and the side walls43, which extend in the routing direction of each air tube35. The above-described structure facilitates routing of each air tube35. In addition, the base wall41and the side walls43protect each air tube35. Further, routing each air tube35along the holding surface S reduces the thickness of each air tube35bundled by the holding member40, that is, the length of each air tube35in a direction in which the air tube35protrudes from the holding surface S. This ensures high layout flexibility. Furthermore, the air tubes35can be routed so as to avoid interference with one another in the holding member40. This eliminates loads acting locally on each air tube35and thus ensures high reliability and durability.

(2) The first surface41sof the base wall41, which faces downward with the holding member40located below the seat cushion2, defines the holding surface S of each air tube35. That is, when each air tube35is routed to the lower side of the seat cushion2, a subject that is likely to interfere with each air tube35is normally located above or beside each air tube35. Thus, the above-described structure facilitates the routing of each air tube35while properly protecting each air tube35.

(3) The base wall41includes the tubular portion45, which protrudes from the holding surface S. The tubular portion45has the hole44, which extends in the routing direction of each air tube35. In addition, each air tube35, which is routed along the holding surface S, is inserted through the hole44of the tubular portion45. Further, the holding member40causes the tubular portion45to act as the locking portion42, thereby locking each air tube35on the base wall41. The above-described structure allows each air tube35to be easily locked on the base wall41of the holding member40with a simple structure. Furthermore, routing of each air tube35is facilitated.

(4) The tubular portion45, which serves as the locking portion42, locks each air tube35on the base wall41such that the air tubes35are arranged in parallel to one another along the holding surface S. The above-described structure reduces the length of each air tube35in the direction in which the air tube35protrudes from the holding surface S. This ensures high layout flexibility. Additionally, the air tubes35are not overlapped with one another in the hole44of the tubular portion45. This limits loads acting locally on each air tube35and thus ensures high reliability and durability.

(5) Each air tube35is routed along the holding surface S in a bent state. Further, the holding member40includes the first and second side walls43a,43b, which are located on the inner sides of the bent parts of the air tubes35. The above-described structure allows the first and second side walls43a,43bto guide each air tube35in the routing direction. This further facilitates the routing of each air tube35.

The above-described embodiment may be modified as described below.

In the above-described embodiment, the base wall41, the locking portion42, and the side walls43are integrally made of plastic. However, the material of the holding member40and the method for shaping the holding member40may be changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the base wall41has the form of an elongated plate bent in a crank shape. However, as long as the base wall41includes a surface defining the holding surface S of each air tube35, the base wall41may have any shape.

In the above-described embodiment, the first surface41sof the base wall41, which faces downward with the holding member40located below the seat cushion2together with each air tube35, defines the holding surface S of each air tube35. However, the holding member40does not have to be located below the seat cushion2. Instead, the holding member40may be located in the seat cushion2or the seatback.

In the above-described embodiment, each side wall43is located on the inner side of the bent part of each air tube35, which is routed along the holding surface S. Instead, each side wall43may be located at any position, for example, on the outer side of the bent part of each air tube35. In order to guide each air tube35in the routing direction, each side wall43preferably includes a portion located on the inner side of the bent part of each air tube35.

The above-described embodiment causes the tubular portion45, which has the hole44extending in the routing direction of each air tube35, to act as the locking portion42, thereby locking each air tube35routed along the holding surface on the base wall41. However, the structure of the locking portion42may be changed.

For example, a locking portion42B may be provided as shown inFIG. 17. The locking portion42B includes tabs61protruding from the holding surface S defined by a base wall41B. Each air tube35is held between adjacent ones of the tabs61. This allows each air tube35to be locked on the base wall41B more easily.

Alternatively, for example, a locking portion42C may be provided as shown inFIG. 18. The locking portion42C includes a holder62that holds each air tube35with a base wall41C by engaging with the base wall41C. This structure facilitates and ensures locking of each air tube35on the base wall41C.

The locking portion42C is configured so that engagement tabs63provided on the holder62engage with the base wall41C. This structure allows each air tube35to be locked on the base wall41C more easily.

As another option, for example, a locking portion42D may be provided as shown inFIG. 19. The locking portion42D includes a base wall41D and a holder62D. The base wall41D is provided with tabs65protruding from the holding surface S, and the holder62D is provided with tabs66respectively opposed to the tabs65. That is, the tabs65,66may be configured so that each air tube35is held between the corresponding ones of the tabs65,66. This further ensures locking of each air tube35on the base wall41D.

In the above-described embodiment, the tubular portion45serving as the locking portion42locks, on the base wall41, the air tubes35arranged along the holding surface S. However, the air tubes35do not have to be locked in this manner. In addition, a structure in which a string or strip member such as a cable tie is used for the locking portion42is not excluded.

In the above-described embodiment, the holding member40is fixed to the structural body of the seat1by using the snap-fit55, which is located on the cable tie52wound around the holding member40. The structure of fixing the holding member40may be changed. In addition, a structure in which the holding member40is not fixed to the structural body of the seat1is not excluded.