Patent Publication Number: US-2023158935-A1

Title: Seat partition

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-188805 filed on Nov. 19, 2021 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a seat partition. 
     There is a publicly known plate-shaped partition to separate adjacent seats (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-114183). By arranging such a partition at a rear of a seat, it is possible, for example, to avoid scattering of droplets caused by an occupant of a rear seat. 
     SUMMARY 
     In case of providing a conventional partition at a rear of a seat, airflow is likely to be blocked by the partition. Thus, it is more likely that appropriate air conditioning is not provided to seats rearward of the seat provided with the partition, resulting in deterioration of comfort. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, it is desirable to provide a seat partition that can reduce deterioration of comfort in rear seats. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is a seat partition that comprises a plate-shaped panel configured to be mounted to a seat having a headrest. The panel comprises: a main portion configured to cover at least a part of the headrest from a rear thereof; a side portion configured to cover at least a part of the headrest from a side thereof; a curved portion coupling the main portion and the side portion; and at least one ridge portion extending from the main portion through the curved portion to the side portion and projecting outward of the panel. 
     With such configuration, airflow supplied from a front of the seat can be guided rearward of the seat by means of the ridge portion extending from the main portion to the side portion. This allows providing appropriate air conditioning to the seats rearward of the seat partition, and thus reducing deterioration of comfort in the rear seats. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, the panel may comprise, as the at least one ridge portion, a first ridge portion and a second ridge portion arranged below the first ridge portion. With such configuration, the two ridge portions arranged one above the other can achieve an improved air guiding effect to the rear of the seat. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, an end of the second ridge portion in the main portion may be located at a position more distant from the side portion than an end of the first ridge portion in the main portion. An end of the second ridge portion in the side portion may be located at a position closer to the main portion than an end of the first ridge portion in the side portion. With such configuration, the first ridge portion located above extends further forward than the second ridge portion located below, and the second ridge portion located below extends further rearward than the first ridge portion located above, and thereby an improved air guiding effect to the rear of the seat can be achieved. 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, the at least one ridge portion may be located upper than an up-down direction center line of the panel. With such configuration, it is less likely to cause overlap between a field of view when an occupant of the seat with the seat partition mounted looks back and the ridge portion. Thus, an improved rearward visibility for the occupant can be achieved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view showing a state of use of a seat partition of the embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic rear view of the seat partition in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic plan view of the seat partition in  FIG.  2   ; and 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic front view of the seat partition in  FIG.  2   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     1. First Embodiment 
     [1-1. Configuration] 
     A seat partition  1  shown in  FIG.  1    is configured to be mounted to a seat  100  having a headrest  101  and a seatback  102 . The seat  100  is a seat of a passenger car, such as a driver&#39;s seat of a taxi. 
     The seat partition  1  comprises a panel  2  and a blower  3 . Up, down, left, right, front, rear directions in the present disclosure mean respective directions with respect to the seat  100 . Specifically, the directions in the present disclosure mean respective directions in a state where the seat partition  1  is mounted to the seat  100 . 
     &lt;Panel&gt; 
     The panel  2  is a plate-shaped member configured to be mounted to the seat  100 . The panel  2  is transparent and is configured with, for example, an acrylic plate. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , the panel  2  comprises a main portion  21 , a side portion  22 , a curved portion  23 , a first ridge portion  24 , a second ridge portion  25 , a base  26 , and an air passage  27 . 
     &lt;Main Portion&gt; 
     The main portion  21  is configured to cover at least a part of the headrest  101  from the rear. The main portion  21  is a portion forming a rear surface with which airflow from the rear of the seat  100  collides. The main portion  21  comprises an upper end portion curved forward. 
     The main portion  21  has a length in a left-right direction greater than a length of the headrest  101  in the left-right direction. The main portion  21  has a length in the up-down direction greater than a length of the headrest  101  in the up-down direction. The main portion  21  comprises a lower end portion covering a shoulder portion of the seatback  102  from the rear (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     &lt;Side Portion&gt; 
     The side portion  22  is configured to cover at least a part of the headrest  101  from the side (specifically from the left). 
     The side portion  22  is arranged leftward of the main portion  21 . The side portion  22  is a portion forming a side surface with which airflow from the left of the seat  100  collides. The side portion  22  comprises an upper end portion curved rightward. 
     The side portion  22  has a length in a front-rear direction greater than a length of the headrest  101  in the front-rear direction. The side portion  22  has a length in the up-down direction greater than a length of the headrest  101  in the up-down direction. The side portion  22  comprises a lower end portion covering the shoulder portion of the seatback  102  from the left (see  FIG.  1   ). 
     &lt;Curved Portion&gt; 
     The curved portion  23  couples the main portion  21  and the side portion  22 . The curved portion  23  is coupled to a left end of the main portion  21  and to a rear end of the side portion  22 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the curved portion  23  has a C-shaped curve that is convex left rearward when viewed from above. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , an upper end portion of the curved portion  23  is flush with the upper end portion of the main portion  21  and with the upper end portion of the side portion  22 , and is curved right forward. A lower end portion of the curved portion  23  is flush with the lower end portion of the main portion  21  and the lower end portion of the side portion  22 , and covers the shoulder portion of the seatback  102  from the left rear. 
     &lt;Ridge Portion&gt; 
     The first ridge portion  24  extends from the main portion  21  through the curved portion  23  to the side portion  22 , and projects outward of the panel  2  (i.e., opposite to the headrest  101 ). The first ridge portion  24  is a bead curved in a C-shape that is convex left rearward along the curved portion  23  when viewed from above. 
     A first rear end  24 A of the first ridge portion  24  is located in the main portion  21 . A first front end  24 B of the first ridge portion  24  is located in the side portion  22 . The first front end  24 B is located upper than the first rear end  24 A. 
     The first ridge portion  24  has a constant projection amount and a constant width along a longitudinal direction of the first ridge portion  24  except at the first rear end  24 A and the first front end  24 B. The first ridge portion  24  has a triangle-shaped cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. 
     The second ridge portion  25  extends from the main portion  21  through the curved portion  23  to the side portion  22 , and projects outward of the panel  2 , similarly to the first ridge portion  24 . The second ridge portion  25  is a bead curved in a C-shape that is convex left rearward along the curved portion  23  when viewed from above. 
     A second rear end  25 A of the second ridge portion  25  is located in the main portion  21 . A second front end  25 B of the second ridge portion  25  is located in the side portion  22 . The second front end  25 B is located upper than the second rear end  25 A. 
     The second ridge portion  25  has a constant projection amount and a constant width along a longitudinal direction of the second ridge portion  25  except at the second rear end  25 A and the second front end  25 B. The second ridge portion  25  has a triangle-shaped cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. 
     The second ridge portion  25  is arranged lower than the first ridge portion  24  and upper than the air passage  27 . Also, the second ridge portion  25  has a length along its longitudinal direction greater than a length of the first ridge portion  24  along its longitudinal direction. 
     The second rear end  25 A of the second ridge portion  25  is located at a position more distant from the side portion  22  (i.e., further rightward) than the first rear end  24 A of the first ridge portion  24 . Also, the second front end  25 B of the second ridge portion  25  is located at a position closer to the main portion  21  (i.e., further rearward) than the first front end  24 B of the first ridge portion  24 . 
     Air C supplied from the front of the seat  100  by an air conditioning device of the passenger car flows to go around to a rear of the panel  2  by means of the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25 . As a result, the air C by air conditioning is supplied to the rear of the panel  2 . 
     Both the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  are located upper than an up-down direction center line M of the panel  2 . Also, the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  each are located upper than the headrest  101  in a state where the panel  2  is fixed to the headrest  101 . 
     An area of the panel  2  located between the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  in the up-down direction has a constant up-down width along the longitudinal direction of the first ridge portion  24 . In other words, in the area of the panel  2  where the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  face each other in the up-down direction, a distance (i.e., a space) between the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  is constant along the longitudinal direction of the first ridge portion  24 . 
     &lt;Base&gt; 
     The base  26  is a portion to which a fixation device (not shown) for fixing the panel  2  to the headrest  101  is to be mounted. 
     The base  26  is arranged in an area of the main portion  21  below the air passage  27 . The base  26  protrudes inward of the panel  2  (i.e., toward the headrest  101 ). The fixation device is secured to the base  26 , for example, with bolts and nuts. 
     &lt;Air Passage&gt; 
     The air passage  27  is a portion to which the blower  3  is mounted, and which guides a wind generated by the blower  3 . 
     The air passage  27  is arranged in an area below the second ridge portion  25  in the main portion  21  and the curved portion  23 . The air passage  27  protrudes outward of the panel  2  (i.e., opposite to the headrest  101 ). The blower  3  is secured to the air passage  27 , for example, with bolts and nuts. 
     &lt;Blower&gt; 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the blower  3  is mounted to an inner surface (specifically, a surface facing the headrest  101 ) of the panel  2 . 
     The blower  3  is arranged to overlap the air passage  27  so as to extend over the main portion  21  and the curved portion  23 . The blower  3  comprises a cover  31  that comprises a suction port  31 A and a discharge port  31 B, and a fan (not shown) arranged inside the cover  31 . 
     The blower  3  suctions air from the suction port  31 A by means of the fan, and discharges the air from the discharge port  31 B. As shown in  FIG.  3   , the air discharged from the blower  3  forms an air shield S flowing right forward along the curve of the panel  2 . The air shield S is formed so as to surround the head of an occupant of the seat  100 . 
     [1-2. Effects] 
     According to the embodiment detailed above, the following effects can be obtained. 
     (1a) Airflow supplied from the front of the seat  100  can be guided to the rear of the seat  100  by means of the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  extending from the main portion  21  to the side portion  22 . This allows providing appropriate air conditioning to seats rearward of the seat partition  1 , and thus reducing deterioration of comfort in the rear seats. 
     (1b) The two ridge portions  24 ,  25  arranged one above the other can achieve an improved air guiding effect to the rear of the seat  100 . 
     (1c) The first ridge portion  24  located above extends further forward than the second ridge portion  25  located below, and the second ridge portion  25  located below extends further rearward than the first ridge portion  24  located above. This can achieve an improved air guiding effect to the rear of the seat  100 . 
     (1d) The configuration, in which the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25  are located upper than the up-down direction center line M of the panel  2 , is less likely to cause overlap between a field of view when the occupant of the seat  100  with the seat partition  1  mounted looks back, and the first ridge portion  24  and the second ridge portion  25 . Thus, an improved rearward visibility for the occupant can be achieved. 
     [2. Other Embodiments] 
     Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be implemented in various forms. 
     (2a) In the seat partition of the above-described embodiment, the side portion and the curved portion may be provided on a right side of the main portion. In other words, the seat partition may be laterally symmetrical in shape to the seat partition of the above-described embodiment. 
     (2b) In the seat partition of the above-described embodiment, a positional relationship between the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion is not limited to the above-described. For example, a front end of the first ridge portion and a front end of the second ridge portion may be located at aligned positions along the up-down direction. Also, the first ridge portion and the second ridge portion need not necessarily be arranged upper than the up-down direction center line of the panel. 
     (2c) In the seat partition of the above-described embodiment, the panel need not necessarily comprise two ridge portions. The panel may have a single ridge portion, or may have three or more ridge portions. 
     (2d) The seat partition of the above-described embodiment may be applied to seats to be used for cars other than passenger cars, or seats to be used for vehicles other than cars, such as railroad vehicles, ships and boats, and aircrafts. 
     (2e) A function served by a single element in the aforementioned embodiments may be achieved by a plurality of elements, or a plurality of functions served by a plurality of elements may be achieved by a single element. Also, a part of a configuration in any of the aforementioned embodiments may be omitted. Further, at least a part of a configuration in any of the aforementioned embodiments may be added to, or replace, a configuration in another of the aforementioned embodiments. It is to be noted that any form included in the technical idea defined by the language of the appended claims may be an embodiment of the present disclosure.