Patent Publication Number: US-2023158930-A1

Title: Mesh integrated seat pad assembly

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0160601, filed on Nov. 19, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to a seat pad mounted on a seat of a vehicle, and more specifically, to a mesh integrated seat pad assembly, which delivers vibration output from a massage module to the entire seat pad to prevent the vibration from being reduced by the pad. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A seat of a vehicle is manufactured by covering a seat pad made of a cushion material with a seat cover made of a fabric or leather material so that a passenger may feel comfortable and mounting the seat pad on a frame. 
     A function beyond comfort is given to this seat of the vehicle. For example, a massage function is given to the seat. 
     To give the massage function to a seat  100 , as shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , an air cell  125  operated by pneumatic pressure is mounted on a seatback  111  or a seat cushion  112  and the air cell  125  repeatedly performs contraction and expansion, thereby implementing the massage function. However, since the air cell  125  repeatedly performs contraction and expansion, an operating speed is not fast and therefore, a sufficient massage effect may not be obtained. As shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the vibration generated by the contraction and expansion of the air cell  125  is delivered to a passenger P. 
     Meanwhile, as another method for giving the massage function to the seat  100 , a percussion type massage module is mounted so that the vibration generated by the operation of the massage module is delivered to the passenger P. However, since the pad  121  absorbs the vibration, the vibration generated by the operation of the percussion type massage module is not delivered to the passenger and is absorbed by the pad  121 , thereby not exerting a sufficient massage function. In addition, the pad  121  is deformed and worn by the continuous operation of the percussion type massage module. 
     The contents described in Description of Related Art are to help the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and may include what is not previously known to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is invented to solve the above problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mesh integrated seat pad assembly, which allows vibration of a percussion type massage module to be efficiently delivered to a passenger from a seat of a vehicle to which the percussion type massage module is applied. 
     A mesh integrated seat pad assembly for achieving the object includes a pad provided in a seatback supporting the back of a passenger or a seat cushion supporting the hip and the thigh of the passenger to provide additional comfort to the passenger, a mesh mounted on one side surface of the pad, and a massage module installed to be in contact with the mesh. 
     The pad is made of a porous foam, and the mesh is inserted into the pad. 
     An accommodating part capable of accommodating the mesh and the massage module is formed in the pad. 
     The accommodating part is formed concavely from a rear surface of the pad toward a front surface thereof. 
     The mesh is arranged on an innermost portion of the accommodating part. 
     The massage module includes an actuator generating vibration when an electric power is supplied, and a plate connected to the actuator and being in contact with the mesh. 
     The mesh has metal wires formed to be orthogonal to each other while arranged at intervals. 
     The accommodating part is formed on a portion of the pad mounted on the seatback where the lumbar spine of the passenger is positioned. 
     The accommodating part is formed on a portion of the pad mounted on the seatback where the shoulder of the passenger is positioned. 
     The accommodating part is formed on a portion of the pad mounted on the seat cushion where the hip or the thigh of the passenger is positioned. 
     The accommodating part is formed on the pad mounted in a headrest installed on an upper end of the seatback. 
     The accommodating part is formed on the pad mounted in a leg rest installed on a front end of the seat cushion to support the lower leg of the passenger. 
     According to the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure having the above configuration, since the vibration generated by the massage module is delivered to the entire region of the mesh and then delivered to the pad, the loss of the vibration is reduced compared to the case where the vibration is directly delivered to the pad. 
     Since the vibration generated by the massage module is sufficiently delivered to the passenger as the loss of the vibration is reduced, the passenger may enjoy the massage effect. 
     In addition, it is possible to reduce the phenomenon in which the pad is damaged or worn by the massage module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a seat of a vehicle having a massage function according to the related art. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view showing a state where a passenger is seated on a seat cushion of the seat of the vehicle according to the related art. 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view showing a state where vibration is delivered to the seat of the vehicle according to the related art. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view showing the seat of the vehicle to which a mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure is applied. 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged view of the main part of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view showing a rear surface of the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded perspective view showing the arrangement relationship of a mesh and a massage module in the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the passenger is seated on the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a side view showing a portion where the mesh and the massage module are installed in the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4 - 9   , a mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure includes a pad  21  provided in a seatback  11  supporting the back of a passenger P or a seat cushion  12  supporting the hip and the thigh of the passenger P to provide a cushioning feel to the passenger P, a mesh  23  mounted on one side surface of the pad  21 , and a massage module  25  installed to be in contact with the mesh  23 . 
     A seat  1  of a vehicle includes the seatback  11  supporting the back of the passenger P and the seat cushion  12  supporting the hip and the thigh of the passenger P. 
     The seatback  11  and the seat cushion  12  include a frame, the pad  21  providing the cushioning feel, and a cover  22  (shown in  FIG.  8   ) covering the frame and the pad  21 . 
     The pad  21  is made of foam manufactured by a foam processing to provide the cushioning feel. 
     The massage module  25  providing vibration for massage to the passenger P is installed on the pad  21 . To install the massage module  25 , an accommodating part  21   a  is formed on the pad  21  from the rear surface of the pad  21  toward a bottom surface thereof. A space formed by the accommodating part  21   a  becomes a space in which the massage module  25  is mounted. 
     The massage module  25  includes a housing  25   a  fixed to the frame, an actuator  25   b  mounted in the housing  25   a  to generate vibration, and a plate  25   c  delivering the vibration of the actuator  25   b  toward the seat  1 . 
     Meanwhile, since the pad  21  is made of the foam manufactured by the foaming, the vibration delivered through the plate  25   c  may be absorbed by the pad  21 , and therefore, the mesh  23  is inserted into the accommodating part  21   a  so that the vibration of the massage module  25  is reduced less. 
     When the plate  25   c  is in direct contact with the pad  21 , the contact portion is narrow and the vibration is delivered from this portion and simultaneously damped, and therefore, it is difficult to obtain the massage effect. 
     To prevent this problem, the mesh  23  made of a metal wire is mounted on the accommodating part  21   a  so that the plate  25   c  is in contact with the mesh  23 . Since the plate  25   c  is primarily in contact with the mesh  23 , the vibration generated by the actuator  25   b  is delivered to the entire region of the mesh  23  and simultaneously delivered to the pad  21 . As the vibration of the actuator  25   b  is delivered to a wide region through the mesh  23 , the loss of the vibration caused by the pad  21  is reduced compared to the case where the plate  25   c  is in direct contact with the pad  21 . 
     The mesh  23  has the wires, preferably, the metal wires formed to be orthogonal to each other in a state of being arranged at intervals. 
     A method for mounting the mesh  23  on the pad  21  mounts the mesh  23  on the pad  21  by foam-molding the pad  21  in a state where the mesh  23  is inserted. 
     The mesh  23  is mounted on the innermost portion of the accommodating part  21   a . Since the accommodating part  21   a  is formed from the rear surface of the pad  21  toward the front thereof, the mesh  23  is mounted on the side of the accommodating part  21   a  closest to the passenger P. 
       FIG.  8    shows a cross section of a state where the passenger is seated on the seat  1  to which the mesh integrated seat pad assembly according to the present disclosure is applied. 
     Since the mesh  23  is positioned on the innermost portion of the accommodating part  21   a  and positioned on the portion close to the passenger P, the vibration generated by the actuator  25   b  is delivered to the passenger P in a state where the loss caused by the pad  21  is minimized. 
     The massage module  25  is mounted to give vibration for massage to each portion of the body of the passenger P seated on the seat  1 . 
     The massage module  25  may be installed to apply vibration from the seatback  11  to the lumbar spine or shoulder of the passenger P and installed to apply the vibration from the seat cushion  12  to the hip and the thigh of the passenger P. In addition, the massage module  25  may be installed on an upper end of the seatback  11  and installed on a headrest  13  supporting the head of the passenger P, or installed on a front end of the seat cushion  12  and installed on a leg rest  14  supporting the lower leg of the passenger P. 
     For example, to apply vibration to the lumbar spine of the passenger in the seatback  11 , the accommodating part  21   a  is formed in the portion of the pad  21  mounted on the seatback  11  where the lumbar spine of the passenger P is positioned (portion indicated by A in  FIG.  9   ), and the mesh  23  and the massage module  25  are arranged in the accommodating part  21   a.    
     To apply vibration for massage to the shoulder of the passenger in the seatback  11 , the accommodating part  21   a  is formed in a portion of the pad  21  mounted on the seatback  11  where the shoulder of the passenger P is positioned (portion indicated by B in  FIG.  9   ), and the mesh  23  and the massage module  25  are arranged in the accommodating part  21   a.    
     In addition, to apply vibration for massage to the hip and the thigh of the passenger P in the seat cushion  12 , the accommodating part  21   a  is formed in a portion of the pad  21  mounted on the seat cushion  12  where the hip and the thigh of the passenger P are positioned (portion indicated by C in  FIG.  9   ), and the mesh  23  and the massage module  25  are arranged in the accommodating part  21   a.    
     In addition, to install the massage module  25  on the headrest  13  installed on the upper end of the seatback  11  to support the head of the passenger P, the accommodating part  21   a  is formed on the pad  21  mounted on the headrest  13  (portion indicated by D in  FIG.  9   ), and the mesh  23  and the massage module  25  are arranged in the accommodating part  21   a.    
     Meanwhile, to install the massage module  25  on the leg rest  14  installed on the front end of the seat cushion  12  to support the lower leg of the passenger P, the accommodating part  21   a  is formed in the pad  21  provided in the leg rest  14  (portion indicated by E in  FIG.  9   ), and the mesh  23  and the massage module  25  are arranged in the accommodating part  21   a.    
     While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that still further modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof of the features of the disclosed embodiments are still possible. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.