U.S. patent application number 09/726565 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-07 for automotive seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Nishide, Harutomi.
Application Number | 20010002759 09/726565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18350190 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010002759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nishide, Harutomi |
June 7, 2001 |
Automotive seat
Abstract
A lid 24 is constituted by an extending portion 41 of a first
carpet 35 extending from the front of a lower portion of a seat
cushion 21, a second carpet 43 integrally mounted on the extending
portion 41 via a base material 42, and the first carpet 35 is made
to function as a hinge 45. In addition, the lid 24 is constructed
so as to be retained to a floor 15 with a surface fastener 44.
Inventors: |
Nishide, Harutomi; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER
PLOTKIN & KAHN, PLLC
Suite 600
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036-5339
US
|
Assignee: |
HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
|
Family ID: |
18350190 |
Appl. No.: |
09/726565 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/65.09 ;
296/65.03; 297/15; 297/335 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/3079 20130101;
B60N 2/841 20180201; B60N 2/3075 20130101; B60N 2/844 20180201;
B60N 2/3011 20130101; B60N 2/859 20180201; B60N 2/305 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/65.09 ;
297/335; 297/15; 296/65.03 |
International
Class: |
B60N 002/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 1999 |
JP |
P. HEI. 11-341971 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automotive seat comprising: a seat cushion; a seat back
foldable with respect to said seat cushion; a support portion
disposed on a rear of a lower portion of said seat cushion, whereby
said folded seat back and said seat cushion being rotated toward
the rear of a vehicle about said support portion such as to be
accommodated in a depressed portion provided in a floor of said
vehicle; and a lid body provided in a front of the lower portion of
said seat cushion such as to close a space left in said depressed
portion, said lid body comprising: a first carpet extending from
the front of the lower portion of said seat cushion; and a second
carpet integrally attached to said first carpet such that said
first carpet forms a hinge.
2. The automotive seat according to claim 1, further comprising: a
surface fastener retaining said lid body on said floor when said
automotive seat is in use.
3. The automotive seat according to claim 2, wherein said surface
fastener includes a first fastener disposed on one of said lid body
and said floor, and a second faster disposed on the other of said
lid body and said floor.
4. The automotive seat according to claim 3, wherein said first
fastener is made of magnetic material.
5. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said second
carpet is formed by folding an end of said first carpet.
6. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said first
carpet covers the lower portion of said seat cushion.
7. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein said second
carpet is disposed between said first carpet and said floor when
said automotive seat is in use.
8. The automotive seat according to claim 1, wherein a base
material is interposed between said first carpet and said second
carpet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the improvement of an
automotive seat in which a seat back and a seat cushion are
accommodated in a depressed portion provided in a floor of an
automotive vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams explaining a first operation of
a conventional automotive seat.
[0005] In FIG. 8A, a conventional automotive seat 100 is
constructed such that a seat cushion 102 is rotatably mounted on a
floor 101 of an automotive vehicle at a lower end of a rear portion
thereof, that a seat back 103 is rotatably mounted on the seat
cushion 102 at a lower end thereof, that a head restrain 104 is
mounted on an upper end of the seat back 103 slidably and
rotatably, and that a lid body 106 is mounted to a lower end of a
front portion of the seat cushion 102 via hinge 105.
[0006] In FIG. 8B, the seat back 103 is folded over the seat
cushion 102 as indicated by an arrow b1, and the head restraint 104
is caused to rotate toward a seat cushion side as indicated by an
arrow b2 so that the head restraint 104 is folded over the seat
cushion 102.
[0007] In FIG. 8C, an integral body of the seat cushion 102, the
seat back 103 and the head restraint 104 formed by folding the seat
back and the head restraint over the seat cushion is then caused to
rotate toward the rear of the vehicle as indicated by an arrow
c.
[0008] In FIG. 8D, the integral body of the seat cushion 102, the
seat back 103 and the head restraint 104 is accommodated in a
depressed portion 101a provided in the floor 101 of the vehicle as
indicated by an arrow d, and a space left in the depressed portion
101a is closed with the lid body 106.
[0009] Namely, the automotive seat 100 is a seat constructed such
that the seat cushion 102 and the seat back 103 are accommodated in
the depressed portion 101a formed in the floor 101 of the
vehicle.
[0010] FIG. 9 is a diagram explaining a second operation of the
conventional automotive seat. The figure shows a state in which the
automotive seat 100 is in use, and more specifically a state in
which a passenger M is seated in the automotive seat 100.
[0011] The automotive seat 100 includes the seat cushion 102
mounted on the floor 101 of the vehicle, the seat back 103 mounted
on the seat cushion 102, the head restraint 104 mounted on the seat
back 103 and the lid body 106 mounted on the seat cushion via the
hinge 105. Consequently, when the automotive seat 100 is in use,
the lid body 106 is located at lower parts of the lower legs of the
passenger M. If the lid body 106 flutters, for example, the lid
body 106 is brought into contact with the legs of the passenger M,
and this may cause a risk that the passenger M feels uncomfortable
when this occurs.
[0012] FIG. 10 is a side view of the lid body of the conventional
automotive seat, showing one example of the construction of the lid
body 106.
[0013] The lid body 106 comprises a lid main body 107 foldably
mounted on the lower end of the front portion of a base portion
102a of the seat cushion 102 (refer to FIG. 9) via the hinge 105
and a cover 108 for covering the lid main body 107 and the hinge
105. Since a plate-like member is used for the lid main body 107,
the weight of the lid body 106 is increased, which results in
deterioration in operability when the automotive seat 102 is folded
for accommodation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] To this end, an object of the invention is to provide an
automotive seat which can prevent the fluttering of a lid body when
the seat is in use and facilitate the folding operation of the seat
by preventing the increase in weight of the lid body.
[0015] With a view to attaining the above object, according to a
first aspect of the invention, there is provided an automotive seat
constructed such that a seat back is caused to fall down toward a
seat cushion side, that the seat back and the seat cushion are
caused to rotate toward the rear of an automotive vehicle about a
support portion provided at the rear of a lower portion of the seat
cushion, that the seat back and seat cushion are accommodated in a
depressed portion provided in a floor of the vehicle, and a space
left in the depressed portion is closed with a lid body provided at
the front of the lower portion a of the seat cushion. The lid body
includes a first carpet extending from the front of a lower portion
of the seat cushion and a second carpet integrally attached to the
first carpet via a base material such that the first carpet forms a
hinge.
[0016] The lid body is constituted by the first carpet extending
from the front of the lower portion of the seat cushion and the
second carpet integrally attached to the first carpet via a base
material, whereby the weight of the lid is reduced.
[0017] The first carpet is made to function as a hinge, so that the
mounting construction of the lid body is made simple, whereby the
construction of the automotive seat is made simple.
[0018] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided an automotive seat as set forth in the first aspect of the
invention, wherein the lid body is constructed to be retained on
the floor with a surface fastener.
[0019] When the automotive seat is in use, the lid body is
constructed so as to be retained to the floor with the surface
fastener to thereby prevent the lid body from fluttering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear part of an automotive
vehicle where an automotive seat according to the invention is
mounted;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a view as viewed in a direction indicated by an
arrow II in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a lid of the automotive seat
according to the invention;
[0023] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams explaining an operation of the
automotive-seat of the invention (a former half of the
operation).
[0024] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams explaining an operation of the
automotive seat of the invention (a latter half of the
operation);
[0025] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a lid according to another
embodiment of an automotive seat of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a lid according to a still
another embodiment of an automotive seat of the invention;
[0027] FIGS. 8A to 8D are diagrams explaining a first operation of
a conventional automotive seat;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a diagram explaining a second operation of the
conventional automotive seat; and
[0029] FIG. 10 is a side view of a lid body of the conventional
automotive seat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that "front," "rear,"
"left," "right," "up" and "low" denote, respectively, a direction
when viewed from the driver, and that Fr denotes the front side;
Rr: the rear side; L: the left side; and R: the right side of the
vehicle. Additionally, the drawings are to be viewed in a direction
in which reference numerals are oriented.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear part of an automotive
vehicle where an automotive seat according to the invention is
mounted, in which reference numeral 10 denotes an automotive
vehicle, reference numerals 11 a right front window glass, 12 a
right rear window glass, 13 a left rear window glass, 14 a tail
gate, 15 a floor of the vehicle 10, 16 a depressed portion provided
in the floor 15 and 17 a wall surface of the floor 15.
[0032] An automotive seat 20 is a rear seat mounted in such a
manner as to be accommodated in the depressed portion 16 in the
floor 15, and the details thereof will be described with reference
to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a view viewed in a direction indicated by an arrow
II, which is a side view of the automotive seat 20.
[0034] The automotive seat 20 includes a seat cushion 21 rotatably
mounted on the floor 15 of the vehicle 10 at a lower end of a rear
portion thereof, a seat back 22 rotatably mounted on the seat
cushion 21, a head restraint 23 mounted on an upper end of the seat
back 22 slidably and rotatably and a lid 24, which is a lid body,
provided at a lower end of a front portion of the seat cushion 21.
Reference numeral 26 is a support portion provided on the floor for
the automotive seat 20 and reference numeral 27 denotes a pivot
interposed between the support portion 26 for the automotive seat
20 and the seat cushion 21.
[0035] The seat cushion 21 is constructed such that a cushion main
body 32 is mounted on an upper surface of a base portion 31, that a
reclining adjuster 33 is mounted for rotatably supporting the seat
back 22 on the seat cushion 32, that a stay 34 is mounted on a
bottom surface of a rear portion of the base portion 31, and that
the bottom surface of the base portion 31 is covered with a first
carpet 35 in such a manner that the stay 34 is left uncovered.
[0036] The seat back 22 is provided with a slide hole 36 for
supporting the head restraint 23 slidably.
[0037] The head restraint 23 is constructed such that a head
restraint main body 38 is mounted on a support frame 37 and that a
rotatable arm 39 is mounted on the support frame 37, and the arm 39
is inserted into the slide hole 36 in the seat back 22.
[0038] In other words, the automotive seat 20 is constructed such
that the seat back 22 is caused to fall down toward the seat
cushion 21 side, that the seat back 22 and the seat cushion 21 are
caused to rotate toward the rear of the vehicle about the support
portion 26 provided at the rear of the lower portion of the seat
cushion 21, that the seat back 22 and seat cushion 21 are
accommodated in the depressed portion 16 provided in the floor 15
of the vehicle 10, and a space left in the depressed portion 16 is
closed with the lid 24 provided at the front of the lower portion
of the seat cushion 21.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the lid of the automotive seat
according to the invention.
[0040] The lid 24 includes an extending portion 41 of the first
carpet 35 extending from the front of the lower portion of the seat
cushion 21, a second carpet 43 integrally mounted on the extending
portion 41 via a base material 42 and a surface fastener 44
interposed between the second carpet 43 and the wall surface 17 of
the floor 15. In addition, reference numerals 44a denotes a
fastener on one side which is mounted on the lid 24; 44b: a
fastener on the other side which is mounted on the wall surface 17;
and 45: a hinge the function of which is performed by the first
carpet 35.
[0041] Namely, since the lid 24 is constituted by the extending
portion 41 of the first carpet 35 extending from the front of the
lower portion of the seat cushion 21 and the second carpet 43
integrally mounted on the extending portion 41 via the base
material 42, the weight of the lid 24 can be reduced. In addition,
since the first carpet 35 is made to function as the hinge 45 and
the mounting construction of the lid 24 is made simple, the
construction of the automotive seat 20 can also be made simple.
Furthermore, since the lid 24 is constructed so as to be retained
to the floor 15 by the surface fastener 44 when the automotive seat
20 is in use, the fluttering of the lid 24 can be prevented.
[0042] Next, an operation of the automotive seat 20 described above
will be described below.
[0043] FIGS. 4A and 4B are views explaining an operation (a former
half thereof) of the automotive seat according to the invention and
show a procedure of changing the state of the automotive seat 20
from a state in which the seat is in use to a state in which the
seat is accommodated.
[0044] In FIG. 4A, when the automotive seat 20 is in use (in a
state in which the seat is used), the lid 24 is retained to the
wall surface 17 of the floor 15 by the surface fastener 44 to
thereby prevent the fluttering of the lid 24.
[0045] In FIG. 4B, the seat back 22 is folded over the seat cushion
21 as indicated by an arrow {circle over (1)}, and the head
restraint 23 is caused to rotate toward the seat cushion 21 side as
indicated by an arrow {circle over (2)} in such a manner that the
head restraint 23 is folded on the seat cushion 21.
[0046] FIGS. 5A and 5B are views explaining an operation (a later
half thereof) of the automotive seat according to the invention and
show a procedure of changing the state of the automotive seat 20
from a state in which the seat is in use to a state in which the
seat is accommodated.
[0047] In FIG. 5A, an integral unit of the seat cushion 21, the
seat back 22 and the head restraint 23 resulting when-the seat back
22 and the head restraint 23 are folded over the seat cushion 21 as
described above is caused to rotate toward the rear of the vehicle
as indicated by an arrow {circle over (3)}.
[0048] In FIG. 5B, the integral unit of the seat cushion 21, the
seat back 22 and the head restraint 23 is accommodated in the
depressed portion 16 provided in the floor 15 of the vehicle 10
(refer to FIG. 1) as indicated by an arrow 4, and a space S left in
the depressed portion 16 is then closed with the lid 24, whereby
the automotive seat 20 is put in the accommodated state.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a lid according to another
embodiment of an automotive seat of the invention and shows a lid
54, which serves as the lid body. Note that like reference numerals
are given to like components to those of FIG. 3 and the description
thereof will be omitted.
[0050] In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a seat cushion,
44 a surface fastener, 44a a fastener on one side and 44b a
fastener on the other side. The lid 54 includes an extending
portion 56 of a first carpet 55 extending from the front of a lower
portion of the seat cushion 21, a folded portion 57 formed as a
second carpet by folding back the extending portion 56 and a base
material 42 interposed between the folded portion 57 and the
extending portion 56. Namely, since the folded portion 57 is put on
the extending portion 56 via the base material 42, the automotive
seat 20 (refer to FIG. 2)can be made simpler. Note that reference
numeral 58 denotes a hinge as which the first carpet 55 is made to
function.
[0051] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a lid according to a still
another embodiment of an automotive seat of the invention and shows
a lid 64, which serves as the lid body. Note that like reference
numerals are given to like components to those of the lid 24 (refer
to FIG. 3) and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0052] In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a seat cushion;
35: a first carpet; 42: a base material; 43: a second carpet; and
45: a hinge. In other words, the lid 64 is constructed such that a
magnet 65 is mounted on the second carpet 43, while an iron plate
66 is mounted on a wall surface 17, so that the lid 64 is retained
to a floor side 15 with the magnet 65.
[0053] In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, while the automotive seat
has been described as being used as the rear seat, the invention is
not limited to the usage, but the automotive seat 20 may be used as
an automotive seat to be interposed at an intermediate position
between the front seat and the rear seat.
[0054] While only certain embodiments of the invention have been
specifically described herein, it will apparent that numerous
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
[0055] Being constructed as described heretofore, the invention
exhibits the following advantages.
[0056] According to the first aspect of the invention, since the
lid body is constituted by the first carpet extending forward from
the lower portion of the seat back and the second carpet integrally
mounted on the first carpet via the base material, the weight of
the lid body can be reduced. In addition, since the first carpet is
made to function as the hinge, the construction of the automotive
seat can be made simple.
[0057] As a result, it is possible to realize the automotive seat
which can prevent the increase in weight of the lid to thereby
facilitate the folding operation of the seat.
[0058] According to the second aspect of the invention, since the
lid is constructed so as to be retained with the surface fastener
to the floor while the automotive seat is in use, the fluttering of
the lid can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to improve
the comfort when seated in the automotive seat.
* * * * *