Patent Publication Number: US-2019174922-A1

Title: Conveyance seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage Entry application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2017/013790, filed Mar. 31, 2017, which claims the priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2016-156886, filed on Aug. 9, 2016, the contents of each of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a conveyance seat and particularly to a conveyance seat including a pan frame suitable for attaching a member inside the seat. 
     Electric devices such as an air conditioning device for cooling a vehicle seat by a fan, a motor for sliding the seat, and a control device for controlling these components are disposed inside the vehicle seat and a linear member such as a wire harness for connecting these components is stretched therein. 
     For example, Japanese Patent Publication JP 2015-67151 discloses a configuration in which a ventilator corresponding to an air conditioning device is provided below a cushion frame constituting a conveyance seat. Then, JP 2015-67151 discloses a configuration which does not disturb springiness of a support spring cross-linked to the cushion frame when the ventilator is provided below the cushion frame. 
     When various electric devices are disposed inside the conveyance seat and a linear member such as a wire harness connecting these members is provided inside the conveyance seat, an arrangement interference between the members inside the seat tends to occur. In this case, there is a possibility that the members inside the seat are disposed while being bent too much. 
     Further, in a state in which a vibration is repeatedly applied to the vehicle due to shaking when the vehicle travels, there is a possibility that the linear member inside the seat is bent since the arrangement of respective members inside the conveyance seat is more or less shifted although the linear member is not bent at the beginning of product shipment. In this way, since there is a possibility that the linear member is disconnected when a load is repeatedly applied thereto in a state in which the linear member inside the seat is bent, it was difficult to stably use various electric devices provided in the conveyance seat for a long time. 
     In the conveyance seat disclosed in JP 2015-67151, the arrangement interference between the ventilator and the support spring can be prevented, but since a member associated with the linear member is not taken into consideration, there is a possibility that an arrangement interference may occur between the member involving with the linear member and the other members. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems and an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a conveyance seat including a pan frame suitable for attaching a member inside the seat. Further, another embodiment of the present disclosure prevents a linear member inside the seat from being disconnected. 
     The above-described problems are solved by a conveyance seat according to an embodiment of a conveyance seat that includes: a cushion frame which includes right and left side frames respectively disposed at right and left sides of the cushion frame, a connection member that connects the right and left side frames, and a pan frame attached to respective front ends of the right and left side frames, in which the pan frame includes an inclined portion which is provided at a rear end side of a center side in a seat width direction and is inclined downward as it extends backward, and in which a lower end portion of the inclined portion is located below an upper end of the connection member. According to the above-described configuration, the lower end portion of the inclined portion provided at the rear end side of the center side of the pan frame in the seat width direction is formed to be located below the upper end of the connection member. For this reason, the member inside the seat is more easily attached to the inclined portion of the pan frame while passing below the connection member when the member inside the seat is attached along the pan frame. 
     Further, the lower end portion of the inclined portion may be located below a center axis of the connection member. According to the above-described configuration, since the lower end portion of the inclined portion is located below the center axis of the connection member, the member inside the seat can be easily attached to the inclined portion of the pan frame while passing below the connection member when the member inside the seat is attached along the pan frame. 
     Further, the inclined portion may be provided with an attachment portion to which a linear member is attached. According to the above-described configuration, since the inclined portion is provided with the attachment portion to which the linear member is attached, the linear member can be easily attached along the inclined portion. Further, since it is possible to prevent the linear member from being bent too much in the up to down direction, the disconnection thereof can be prevented. 
     Further, the pan frame may be provided with a concave portion having an inverse U-shaped cross-section that extends in a right to left direction. According to the above-described configuration, since the concave portion having an inverse U-shaped cross-section and extending in the right to left direction is formed in the pan frame, the concave portion can be used as a space for accommodating the linear member. As a result, it is possible to prevent a contact with other harnesses and ECUs. 
     Further, a bead having an inverse U-shaped cross-section may be formed along an edge of the concave portion. According to the above-described configuration, since the pan frame is provided with the bead having an inverse U-shaped cross-section, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the pan frame. 
     Further, an extension portion which extends in the front to back direction of the seat may be formed at right and left sides of the pan frame and the extension portion may be located above the connection member and extend towards the rear side of the pan frame. According to the above-described configuration, since the extension portion is located above the connection member and extends to the rear side, it is possible to prevent the linear member from being bent upward when one linear member is attached along the side frames at both sides of the pan frame while passing between the connection member and the extension portion. 
     Further, the extension portion may be provided with a side bead and the side bead may extend toward a center of the extension portion from an outside of the seat width direction in relation to a connection portion between the side frame and the pan frame. According to the above-described configuration, since the extension portion is provided with the side bead which extends from the outside in the seat width direction to the center, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the extension portion. 
     Further, both ends of the inclined portion may be connected to an outer portion of the pan frame in the seat width direction at an upright wall having a polygonal shape in side view. According to the above-described configuration, since the pan frame includes the inclined portion and the upright wall, the linear member can be easily attached while passing below the outer end side in the seat width direction in relation to the upright wall. Further, since the inclined portion and the outer portion in the seat width direction are connected by the upright wall having a polygonal shape in side view, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the inclined portion. 
     According to an embodiment, it is possible to provide a conveyance seat including a pan frame suitable for attaching a member inside a seat. Further, according to an embodiment, it is possible to easily attach a linear member inside the seat to the pan frame. It is possible to prevent the disconnection of the linear member. Further, according to an embodiment, it is possible to provide a space for accommodating the linear member in the pan frame. Further, according to an embodiment, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the pan frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a seat frame. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a pan frame. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a pan frame to which a wire harness or the like is attached at a position corresponding to a position of a cross-section IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment (the present embodiment) of the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, the embodiments described below are merely examples for facilitating the comprehension of the present disclosure and do not limit the present disclosure. That is, the embodiments can be modified and improved without departing from the spirit thereof and the equivalents thereof are, of course, included in the present disclosure. 
     Hereinafter, a vehicle seat is described as a conveyance seat according to the present embodiment. The invention can also be applied to vehicles other than automobiles and can also be applied to, for example, ships, aircraft, industrial machines, and the like. 
     Furthermore, in the description below, the “right to left” means the right to left direction when an occupant sitting on the conveyance seat faces forward and the right to left direction (the right to left direction of the seat) is also referred to as the seat width direction. Further, the “front to back direction” means the front to back direction when the occupant sits on the conveyance seat. 
     Vehicle Seat S and Seat Frame Sa 
     First, a vehicle seat S and a seat frame Sa according to the present embodiment is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Furthermore,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the vehicle seat S according to the present embodiment and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the seat frame Sa. The vehicle seat S mainly includes a seat cushion S 1  which is a seating portion and a seat back S 2  which is a backrest. 
     The seat cushion S 1  includes a cushion frame S 1   a  shown in  FIG. 2 , a cushion pad  1   a  placed on the cushion frame S 1   a , and a skin  1   b  covering the cushion pad  1   a  and fixed to the cushion frame S 1   a . The seat back S 2  includes a back frame S 2   a  attached to a rear end portion of the seat cushion S 1  and shown in  FIG. 2 . Then, the seat frame Sa is constituted by the cushion frame S 1   a  and the back frame S 2   a.    
     The cushion frame S 1   a  mainly includes side frames SF which are side frames provided at the right and left sides and extending in the front to back direction, a rear connection pipe  4 A which connects rear ends of the right and left side frames SF, a front connection pipe  4 B which is a connection member connecting front ends thereof, and a pan frame PF which is attached to upper portions of the front ends of the right and left side frames SF. Attachment members  11   a  and  11   b  at the front end side of the cushion member  5  for giving a cushioning property to the seat cushion S 1  are attached to the front connection pipe  4 B. 
     Cushion Member  5   
     The cushion member  5  mainly includes a locking plate  7   c  which is locked to the rear connection pipe  4 A, three wires  6 X and  6 Y which extend in the front to back direction of the seat while the rear ends are enclosed in the locking plate  7   c , a plate-shaped horizontal extension plate  7   a  which is disposed below the locking plate  7   c , connects the rear ends of the wires  6 X and  6 Y in an enclosed state, and is substantially horizontally disposed to extend in the right to left direction, and the attachment members  11   a  and  11   b  which are attached to the front connection pipe  4 B while enclosing the front ends of the wires  6 X and  6 Y. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, among three wires  6 X and  6 Y, two right wires  6 X are formed in the same shape and one left wire  6 Y is formed in a shape symmetrical with the shapes of two right wires. Furthermore, the number of the wires  6 X and  6 Y can be set arbitrarily. In particular, the wires  6 X and  6 Y mainly include straight portions  6 Xa and  6 Ya which are rear portions protruding forward from the horizontal extension plate  7   a  and S-shaped portions  6 Xb and  6 Yb of which bent portions are continuously formed in an S shape in an overlapping state. 
     Further, the shapes of the plurality of wires  6 X and  6 Y are preferably symmetrical in that the right and left elasticity are equalized. However, in the case of an odd number as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the center wire  6 X have the same shape as those of the right and left wires  6 X and  6 Y. This is because the center wire  6 X has a less influence of equivalent elasticity in the right to left direction as compared with the wires  6 X and  6 Y located at the right and left end portions. 
     Pan Frame PF 
     Next, the pan frame PF is described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in addition to  FIG. 2 . Furthermore,  FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the pan frame PF and is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the pan frame PF to which wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B or the like are attached at a position corresponding to a position of a cross-section IV-IV of  FIG. 3 . 
     The pan frame PF is used to support thighs of a seated occupant and is formed by a metallic plate member that is long in the seat width direction and is short in the front to back direction of the seat as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A center side of the pan frame PF is located at a front side in relation to the front connection pipe  4 B. Specifically, the pan frame PF includes a side extension portion  2   a  which is an extension portion located at each of both end portions in the right to left direction of the seat and extending in the front to back direction of the seat, a front extension portion  2   b  which is formed to be continuous to the front end portion of the side extension portion  2   a  and extends in the seat width direction, and a center portion  2   c  which is provided between the side extension portion  2   a  and the front extension portion  2   b.    
     The pan frame PF is connected to the upper surface of the side frame SF while a fastener (e.g., screw)  25  corresponding to a connection portion passes through the front and rear ends of the side extension portion  2   a , located at both end portions in the seat width direction, in the thickness direction. Further, the side extension portion  2   a  is located above the front connection pipe  4 B and the rear end of the side extension portion  2   a  extends to the rear side in relation to the front connection pipe  4 B. 
     Further, symmetrical side beads  24  are formed at the side extension portions  2   a  at both end portions in the seat width direction. The side bead  24  is used to improve the rigidity of the side extension portion  2   a , is formed in a linear shape in plan view, and is formed while being bent in an inverse U-shaped cross-section to protrude upward in relation to the peripheral portion. In particular, the side bead  24  includes an outer extension portion  24   a  which is located at the outside in the seat width direction, a rear side extension portion  24   b , a front side extension portion  24   c , an inner extension portion  24   d  which is located at the inside in the seat width direction, and a joint portion  24   e  which joins the outer extension portion  24   a  and the inner extension portion  24   d  to each other. 
     The outer extension portion  24   a  extends in the front to back direction while being located at the outer end side in the seat width direction in relation to the fastener  25 . The rear side extension portion  24   b  is located at the rear end side of the side extension portion  2   a  and is formed to extend obliquely forward at the inside of the seat width direction from the rear side of the fastener  25  at the rear end side. Similarly, the front side extension portion  24   c  is located at the front end side of the side extension portion  2   a  and is formed to pass through the front side of the fastener  25  at the front end side and to extend to the center side beyond the fastener  25  from the outside in the seat width direction in relation to the fastener  25 . The inner extension portion  24   d  is formed at the inside in the seat width direction to be parallel to the outer extension portion  24   a  with the fastener  25  interposed therebetween and extends from the front side extension portion  24   c  in the front to back direction to be shorter than the outer extension portion  24   a . The joint portion  24   e  is located at a position between the front and rear fasteners  25  and extends in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the outer extension portion  24   a  and the inner extension portion  24   d  so that the outer extension portion and the inner extension portion are connected at a position slightly in front of the rear end of the inner extension portion  24   d.    
     The front extension portion  2   b  forms the front end of the pan frame PF and is formed to be continuous to the front end side of the side extension portions  2   a  located at both ends in the seat width direction so that both portions are connected to each other. 
     The center portion  2   c  includes a front portion  2   d , a bent protrusion portion  2   e  which is bent to protrude upward from the front portion  2   d , a side portion  2   f  which is continuous to the rear end of the bent protrusion portion  2   e , and an inclined portion  2   g  which is inclined with respect to the side portion  2   f  in order from the front side to the rear side. 
     The front portion  2   d  is formed to be located at a position lower than the front extension portion  2   b  in a state in which the pan frame PF is attached to the side frame SF. Then, in the front portion  2   d , the bead  23  is formed along the front edge of the bent protrusion portion  2   e , in other words, the front edge of the concave portion  2   ea . The bead  23  is used to improve the rigidity of the front portion  2   d  of which the rigidity is low due to a plurality of attachment holes  2   j  formed therein and is bent in an inverse U-shaped cross-section to protrude upward in relation to the peripheral portion similarly to the side bead  24 . 
     As described above, the bent protrusion portion  2   e  is bent from the front portion  2   d  to protrude upward and extends in the right to left direction of the seat. Specifically, the center portion of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  is formed to be long in the front to back direction, both end portions of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  in the seat width direction are formed to be short in the front to back direction, and the rear edge of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  is formed in a substantially crank shape in plan view. Then, since the bent protrusion portion  2   e  is formed to have substantially the same thickness as that of the front portion  2   d , the rear surface of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  is provided with a concave portion  2   ea  which is recessed upward in relation to the front portion  2   d  and has an inverse U-shaped cross-section. The concave portion  2   ea  accommodates the wire harness  3 B to be described below. The side portion  2   f  is formed to be continuous to the front side of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  and is formed to be continuous to the side extension portion  2   a  at both sides interposing the inclined portion  2   g  in the seat width direction. 
     The inclined portion  2   g  is formed to be continuous to the front side of the bent protrusion portion  2   e  and is formed at the center side in the seat width direction to be inclined obliquely backward with respect to the upper surfaces of the side portion  2   f  and the bent protrusion portion  2   e  located at both sides in the seat width direction. In other words, the inclined portion is inclined downward as it extends backward. The lower end of the inclined portion  2   g  is disposed below the upper end of the front connection pipe  4 B. More specifically, the lower end is disposed at a position below the center axis of the front connection pipe  4 B and above the lower end of the front connection pipe  4 B. 
     Further, both ends of the inclined portion  2   g  are continuously connected to the side portions  2   f  through the upright wall  2   i  inclined obliquely upward as it goes outward in the seat width direction. The upright wall  2   i  is formed in a substantially right triangle shape in side view. In this way, since the pan frame PF includes the upright wall  2   i  and the inclined portion  2   g  is connected to the upright wall  2   i , the wire harness  3 B to be described below can be easily attached while passing below the side portion  2   f  located at the outer end side in the seat width direction in relation to the upright wall  2   i . Further, since the inclined portion  2   g  and the side portion  2   f  are connected to each other by the upright wall  2   i  having a right triangle shape in side view, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the inclined portion  2   g . Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upright wall  2   i  is formed in a right triangle shape in side view, but may be formed in other triangle shapes or polygonal shapes such as a parallelogram shape and a trapezoidal shape as long as the upright wall is formed in a shape in which the side portion  2   f  and the inclined portion  2   g  of different inclination angles can be connected to each other in the front to back direction. In this way, since the side portion  2   f  and the inclined portion  2   g  are connected by the upright wall  2   i  having a polygonal shape in side view, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the inclined portion  2   g.    
     The rear edges of the inclined portion  2   g  and the side portion  2   f  constituting the pan frame PF are folded back from the lower side to the upper side and from the upper side to the front side so that a hemming portion  2   h  is formed. Since the hemming portion  2   h  is formed in this way, it is possible to prevent the damage of the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B corresponding to the linear members to be described below when the wire harnesses contact the hemming portion by rounding the rear edge. 
     Then, the front portion  2   d , the bent protrusion portion  2   e , and the inclined portion  2   g  are provided with the plurality of attachment holes  2   j  formed in a rectangular shape and used to attach clips  21  holding the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B to be described below. The clips  21  serve as attachment portions for holding and attaching the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B. When the clips  21  are attached to the attachment holes  2   j , the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B can be easily attached along the inclined portion  2   g.    
     Pan Frame PF and Wire Harnesses  3 A and  3 B 
     The vehicle seat S according to the present embodiment includes a motor (not shown) which operates the seat forward and backward, an ECU  22  which controls the driving of the motor, and the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B which electrically connect the motor and the ECU  22 , and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wire harness  3 A is attached to the connector  20 , passes below the front connection pipe  4 B, and is supported by the clip  21  attached to the attachment hole  2   j  of the inclined portion  2   g . As described above, the lower end of the inclined portion  2   g  is formed to be located below the upper end of the front connection pipe  4 B. Since the inclined portion  2   g  is formed in this way, the wire harness  3 A passing below the front connection pipe  4 B is easily attached along the inclined portion  2   g  of the pan frame PF by the clip  21 . 
     Then, the inclined portion  2   g  is inclined obliquely upward as it goes forward to follow the wire harness  3 A disposed obliquely upward as it goes forward while passing below the front connection pipe  4 B. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the wire harness  3 A from being attached to the pan frame PF while being forcibly bent in the up to down direction. Then, since the bending of the wire harness  3 A is prevented, it is possible to avoid the disconnection of the wire harness  3 A. The lower end portion of the inclined portion  2   g  is more preferably located below the center axis of the front connection pipe  4 B. With such a configuration, since it is possible to decrease a step between the lower end of the front connection pipe  4 B and the lower end of the inclined portion  2   g , it is possible to prevent the bending of the wire harness  3 A when the wire harness  3 A passing below the front connection pipe  4 B is attached to the inclined portion  2   g  and thus to prevent the disconnection thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wire harness  3 B extends forward while passing above the front connection pipe  4 B and below the side portion  2   f  of the pan frame PF at the end side of the cushion frame S 1   a  in the seat width direction. Then, the wire harness  3 B extends to the center side in the seat width direction while passing through a space formed by the concave portion  2   ea  at a position below the bent protrusion portion  2   e . The wire harness  3 B is supported by the clip  21  at the concave portion  2   ea.    
     As described above, the side extension portion  2   a  is located above the front connection pipe  4 B and the rear end of the side extension portion  2   a  is formed to extend to the rear side in relation to the front connection pipe  4 B. For this reason, it is possible to limit the arrangement of the wire harness  3 B at the upper position by the side extension portion  2   a  when the wire harness  3 B is attached while passing between the front connection pipe  4 B and the side extension portion  2   a  in the up to down direction along the side frame SF from both sides of the pan frame PF. Thus, it is possible to prevent the wire harness  3 B from being bent upward. 
     Further, as described above, since the side portion  2   f  is formed at a position higher than the inclined portion  2   g  by the upright wall  2   i , the wire harness  3 B located at the upper side while passing above the front connection pipe  4 B can pass below the pan frame PF. For this reason, since it is possible to dispose the wire harness  3 A and the wire harness  3 B at different positions in the up to down direction, it is possible to prevent both members from being entangled. Further, when the wire harness  3 B passes through the concave portion  2   ea , it is possible to dispose the wire harness  3 B at the center side in the seat width direction while avoiding a contact between the wire harness  3 B and the ECU  22  attached to the lower surface of the front portion  2   d  of the pan frame PF. 
     Furthermore, the clip  21  has been exemplified as one supporting the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B, but the wire harnesses  3 A and  3 B may be supported while passing through holes formed in the cushion pad  1   a . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 TABLE OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1a: cushion pad 
               
               
                   
                 1b: skin 
               
               
                   
                 2a: side extension portion (extension portion) 
               
               
                   
                 2b: front extension portion 
               
               
                   
                 2c: center portion 
               
               
                   
                 2d: front portion 
               
               
                   
                 2e: bent protrusion portion 
               
               
                   
                   2ea: concave portion 
               
               
                   
                 2f: side portion 
               
               
                   
                 2g: inclined portion 
               
               
                   
                 2h: hemming portion 
               
               
                   
                 2i: upright wall 
               
               
                   
                 2j: attachment hole 
               
               
                   
                 3A, 3B: wire harness (linear member, member inside seat) 
               
               
                   
                 4A: rear connection pipe 
               
               
                   
                 4B: front connection pipe (connection member) 
               
               
                   
                 5: cushion member 
               
               
                   
                 6X, 6Y: wire 
               
               
                   
                   6Xa, 6Ya: straight portion 
               
               
                   
                   6Xb, 6Yb: S-shaped portion 
               
               
                   
                 7a: horizontal extension plate 
               
               
                   
                 7c: locking plate 
               
               
                   
                 11a, 11b: attachment member 
               
               
                   
                 20: connector 
               
               
                   
                 21: clip (attachment portion) 
               
               
                   
                 22: ECU 
               
               
                   
                 23: bead 
               
               
                   
                 24: side bead 
               
               
                   
                   24a: outer extension portion 
               
               
                   
                   24b: rear side extension portion 
               
               
                   
                   24c: front side extension portion 
               
               
                   
                   24d: inner extension portion 
               
               
                   
                   24e: joint portion 
               
               
                   
                 25: fastener (connection portion) 
               
               
                   
                 PF: pan frame 
               
               
                   
                 S: vehicle seat (conveyance seat) 
               
               
                   
                   S1: seat cushion 
               
               
                   
                     S1a: cushion frame 
               
               
                   
                   S2: seat back 
               
               
                   
                     S2a: back frame 
               
               
                   
                   Sa: seat frame 
               
               
                   
                   SF: side frame