U.S. patent application number 10/171770 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for body pressure disperse-type seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Chinzai, Naoya, Tobisawa, Ichiro.
Application Number | 20020195864 10/171770 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19028548 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020195864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tobisawa, Ichiro ; et
al. |
December 26, 2002 |
Body pressure disperse-type seat
Abstract
In the body pressure disperse-type seat, the occupant side of at
least one of a seat part and a seat back part includes a plurality
of segments formed of resin, each of the segments includes a body
pressure receive plate portion for receiving the pressure of a body
and a support pillar portion for supporting the body pressure
receive plate portion, and each of the support pillar portions has
a spring characteristic which can be set according to the body
pressure to be received by the body pressure receive plate
portion.
Inventors: |
Tobisawa, Ichiro; (Saitama,
JP) ; Chinzai, Naoya; (Saitama, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
|
Family ID: |
19028548 |
Appl. No.: |
10/171770 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/452.1 ;
297/452.21; 297/452.29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/14 20130101; A47C
7/40 20130101; B60N 2/70 20130101; B60N 2/7094 20130101; A47C 7/024
20130101; A47C 7/448 20130101; A47C 7/405 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/452.1 ;
297/452.21; 297/452.29 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/14; A47C
007/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2001 |
JP |
P. 2001-189657 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A body pressure disperse-type seat, comprising: a plurality of
segments formed of resin, which form an occupant side of at least
one of a seat part and a seat back part, wherein each of said
segments includes a body pressure receive plate portion for
receiving a pressure of a body and a support pillar portion for
supporting said body pressure receive plate portion, and wherein
each of said support pillar portions has a spring characteristic
being set according to the body pressure to be received by said
body pressure receive plate portion.
2. The body pressure disperse-type seat according to claim 1,
further comprising: a common base part connecting said plurality of
segments through said respective support pillar portions, wherein
said plurality of segments and said base part are formed of the
same resin as an integral body.
3. The body pressure disperse-type seat according to claim 1,
wherein said support pillar portion has an intermediate portion
bent parallel to said body pressure receive plate portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a
body pressure disperse-type seat which is capable of easily
obtaining cushioning corresponding to the distribution of the
pressure of a human body.
[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] As a cushion member for a seat which is capable of obtaining
cushioning corresponding to the distribution of the body pressure,
for example, there is known a cushion member for a seat which is
disclosed in JP-A-10-276868. In this cushion member for a seat, a
fiber mat including a plurality of cylindrical-shaped cells
extending in the thickness direction thereof is laid on the whole
surface of the cushion member and a soft elastic member is applied
so as to penetrate into the respective cylindrical-shaped cells of
the fiber mat, thereby hardening the fiber mat; and, the
application amount of the soft elastic member into the fiber mat is
set according to the distribution of the body pressure in a
seat.
[0004] However, in the above-cited cushion member for a seat,
although there can be obtained cushioning which corresponds to the
distribution of the body pressure, the application amount of the
soft elastic member into the fiber mat must be changed according to
the distribution of the body pressure in a seat, which takes time
and labor when manufacturing the cushion member for a seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a
body pressure disperse-type seat which not only can obtain
cushioning corresponding to the distribution of the body pressure
but also can be manufactured easily.
[0006] In attaining the above object, according a first aspect of
the invention, there is provided a body pressure disperse-type
seat, wherein the occupant side of at least one of a seat part and
a seat back part is formed by a plurality of segments formed of
resin, each of the segments includes a body pressure receive plate
portion for receiving the pressure of a body and a support pillar
portion for supporting the body pressure receive plate portion, and
each of the support pillar portions has a spring characteristic
settable according to the body pressure to be received by the body
pressure receive plate portion.
[0007] As described above, since the occupant side of at least one
of the seat and seat back parts is formed by a plurality of
segments formed of resin, each of the segments includes a body
pressure receive plate portion for receiving the pressure of a body
and a support pillar portion which supports the body pressure
receive plate portion and also the spring characteristic of which
can be set according to the body pressure to be received by the
body pressure receive plate portion, every segment can be set
according to the distribution of the body pressure and use of the
plurality of segments can provide proper cushioning corresponding
to the distribution of the body pressure. As a result of this, the
present body pressure disperse-type seat can yield according to the
body pressure of the occupant, that is, the body type thereof,
which can prevent the occupant from being tired even when the
occupant is seated on the seat for a long time.
[0008] Also, because the present body pressure disperse-type seat
provides a shape in which there are arranged the plurality of body
pressure receive plate portions of the resin-made segments, the
present seat can be used without a seat cover.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention, in a body
pressure disperse-type seat as set forth in the first aspect of the
invention, the plurality of segments are connected through their
respective support pillar portions to a common base part, while the
plurality of segments and base part are formed of the same resin as
an integral body.
[0010] As described above, since the plurality of segments are
connected through their respective support pillar portions to a
common base part, while the plurality of segments and base part are
formed of the same resin as an integral body, due to the integral
molding of the same resin, the plurality of segments and base part
can be manufactured at the same time.
[0011] Also, because the plurality of segments and base part are
formed of the same resin as an integral body, they can be enhanced
in recyclability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side section view of an embodiment of a body
pressure disperse-type seat according to the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of a body pressure
disperse-type seat according to the invention; and,
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the
embodiment of a body pressure disperse-type seat according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Now, description will be given below of a first embodiment
of a body pressure disperse-type seat according to the invention
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0016] A body pressure disperse-type seat 11 according to the
present embodiment is a passenger seat for a vehicle which
comprises a seat part 12 for supporting the buttocks of an occupant
and the upper leg portions thereof from below and a seat back part
13 for supporting the back portion of the occupant and the back of
the head thereof from behind, and a frame 14 for supporting the
seat part 12 and seat back part 13.
[0017] And, in the body pressure disperse-type seat 11 according to
the present embodiment, the occupant side of the seat part 12, that
is, the upper surface side thereof and the occupant side of the
seat back part 13, that is, the front surface side thereof are both
formed of a plurality of resin-made segments 16; and, therefore,
the body pressure disperse-type seat 11 is able to support the
occupant while dispersing the body pressure of the occupant.
[0018] Here, the upper surface side of the seat part 12 and the
front surface side of the seat back part 13 are divided into the
plurality of segments 16 according to the distribution of the body
pressure; and, for example, they are divided in such a manner that
a division line between the mutually adjoining segments 16 forms a
shape extending along the equal pressure line of the distribution
of the body pressure.
[0019] Each of the segments 16 includes a
substantially-flatplate-shapedbo- dypressurereceiveplateportion17
for receiving the body pressure, and a bent-plate-shaped support
pillar portion 18 having one end edge portion connected to the body
pressure receive plate portion 17 for supporting the body pressure
receive plate portion 17. By the way, the support pillar portion 18
has the same width as the body pressure receive plate portion 17
and the intermediate portion of the support pillar portion 18 is
bent along a line substantially parallel to the body pressure
receive plate portion 17; and, due to the flexibility and
deflecting property thereof, the support pillar portion 18 can
apply cushioning to the segment 16.
[0020] And, each of the plurality of segments 16 is connected to a
common base part 19 in the other-end edge portion of the support
pillar portion 18 on the opposite side to the body pressure receive
plate portion 17; and, the plurality of segments 16 and base part
19 are formed of the same resin into an integral body.
[0021] Here, the segments 16 forming the seat part 12 are all
connected to a common base part 19 in their respective other-end
edge portions of the support pillar portions 18 on the opposite
side to the body pressure receive plate portions 17; and, the
plurality of segments 16 for the seat part 12 and base part 19 are
formed of the same resin into an integral body. Similarly, the
segments 16 forming the seat back part 13 are all connected to a
common base part 19 in their respective other-end edge portions of
the support pillar portions 18 on the opposite side to the body
pressure receive plate portions 17; and, the plurality of segments
16 for the seat back part 13 and base part 19 are formed of the
same resin into an integral body. By the way, as the resin that is
used to form the seat part 12 and seat back part 13, for example,
there is used polypropylene which is excellent in deflecting
property, flexibility and recyclability.
[0022] In the case of the support pillar portions 18, the spring
characteristics thereof are set according to the body pressures
that are received by the support pillar portions 18. That is, the
spring characteristics thereof are set such that the greater the
body pressures to be received are, the more flexible and easily
deformable the support pillar portions 18 are. For example, the
segments 16, which support the buttocks of an occupant having a
large body pressure, are set most flexible and easily deformable.
Here, the spring characteristics of the support pillar portions 18
may be set by changing the thickness thereof, or by changing the
bent shape thereof, or by changing the number of support pillar
portions 18 for supporting one body pressure receive plate portion
17, or combining them together selectively according to cases.
[0023] And, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat part 12 and seat back part
13 are mounted through their respective base parts 19 onto a frame
14 made of metal, which provides the body pressure disperse-type
seat 11.
[0024] In the above-described body pressure disperse-type seat 11
according to the present embodiment, the respective occupant sides
of the seat part 12 and seat back parts 13 are formed by a
plurality of divided segments 16 formed of resin and each of the
segments 16 is formed by a body pressure receive plate portion 17
for receiving the body pressure and a support pillar portion 18
which supports the body pressure receive plate portion 17 and also
the spring characteristic of which is set according to the body
pressure to be received by the body pressure receive plate portion
17. Thanks to this structure, by changing the thicknesses, shapes
and number of the support pillar portions 18, the spring
characteristics of the support pillar portions 18 can be set
according to the distribution of the body pressure for every
segments 16 and thus the plurality of segments 16 are able to
provide proper cushioning corresponding to the distribution of the
body pressure. As a result of this, the body pressure disperse-type
seat 11 can yield properly according to the body pressure of the
occupant, that is, the body type thereof, which can prevent the
occupant from being tired even when the occupant is seated on the
seat 11 for a long time. And, as described above, use of the
plurality of segments 16 each having a simple structure can
facilitate the manufacture of the body pressure disperse-type seat
11.
[0025] Also, since the body pressure disperse-type seat 11 provides
a shape in which there are arranged a plurality of body pressure
receive plate portions 17 of the resin-made segments 16, the seat
11 can be used without a seat cover. That is, no use of the seat
cover can further facilitate the manufacture of the body pressure
disperse-type seat 11. However, as the need arises, there may be
provided a seat cover made of cloth or leather in such a manner
that it covers the seat part 12 and seat back part 13.
[0026] Further, in the case of the seat part 12, the plurality of
segments 16 are connected through their respective support pillar
portions 18 to the common base part 19, while the plurality of
segments 16 and common base part 19 are integrally formed of
thesameresintotherebyprovidetheseat- part12. Accordingly, due to
integral molding of the same resin, the plurality of segments 16
and common base part 19 of the seat part 12 can be manufactured at
the same time. Similarly, in the case of the seat back part 13, the
plurality of segments 16 are connected through their respective
support pillar portions 18 to the common base part 19, while the
plurality of segments 16 and common base part 19 are integrally
formed of the same resin to thereby provide the seat back part 13.
Thus, due to integral molding of the same resin, the plurality of
segments 16 and common base part 19 of the seat back part 13 can be
manufactured at the same time. This makes it possible to
manufacture the body pressure disperse-type seat 11 more
easily.
[0027] In addition, since the plurality of segments 16 and common
base part 19 are integrally formed of the same resin to thereby
provide the seat part 12 as well as the plurality of segments 16
and common base part 19 are integrally formed of the same resin to
thereby provide the seat back part 13, they can be enhanced in
recyclability.
[0028] By the way, in the foregoing description, there is shown a
structure in which the occupant side of the seat part 12 is formed
by the plurality of divided segments 16 formed of resin as well as
the occupant side of the seat back part 13 is formed by the
plurality of divided segments 16 formed of resin. However, there
can also be employed another structure in which the occupant side
of at least one of the seat part 12 and seat back part 13 is formed
by a plurality of divided segments 16 formed of resin. In this
structure as well, there can also be obtained similar effects to
the previously described structure.
[0029] 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.
[0030] As has been described heretofore in detail, in a body
pressure disperse-type seat according to the first aspect of the
invention, since the occupant side of at least one of a seat part
and a seat back part is formed by a plurality of segments formed of
resin, each of the segments includes a body pressure receive plate
portion for receiving the pressure of a body and a support pillar
portion which supports the body pressure receive plate portion and
also the spring characteristic of which can be set according to the
body pressure to be received by body pressure receive plate
portion, every segments can be set according to the distribution of
the body pressure and use of the plurality of segments can provide
proper cushioning corresponding to the distribution of the body
pressure. As a result of this, the present body pressure
disperse-type seat can yield properly according to the body
pressure of the occupant, that is, the body type thereof, which can
prevent the occupant from being tired even when the occupant is
seated on the seat for a long time. And, use of the plurality of
segments each having such simple structure makes it possible to
manufacture the body pressure disperse-type seat easily.
[0031] Also, because the present body pressure disperse-type seat
provides a shape in which there are arranged the plurality of body
pressure receive plate portions of the resin-made segments, the
present seat can be used without a seat cover. Therefore, no use of
the seat cover can further facilitate the manufacture of the
seat.
[0032] In a body pressure disperse-type seat as set forth in the
second aspect of the invention, since the plurality of segments are
connected through their respective support pillar portions to the
common base part, while the plurality of segments and base part are
formed of the same resin as an integral body, due to the integral
molding of the same resin, the plurality of segments and base part
can be manufactured at the same time. Therefore, the manufacture of
the body pressure disperse-type seat can be facilitated still
further.
[0033] Also, because the plurality of segments and base part are
formed of the same resin as an integral body, they can be enhanced
in recyclability.
* * * * *