U.S. patent application number 12/018402 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for seat apparatus for vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Yasuhiro KOJIMA, Mikihito NAGURA, Hideo NIHONMATSU.
Application Number | 20080174159 12/018402 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39308037 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080174159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOJIMA; Yasuhiro ; et
al. |
July 24, 2008 |
SEAT APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A seat apparatus for a vehicle having a seat cushion on which an
occupant is seated, includes a pad forming a seating surface, a
cover for covering the pad, a frame positioned below the pad at
each side of the seat cushion, relative to a width direction of the
seat cushion and including a main body forming a side wall which
extends in vertical and longitudinal directions relative to the
seat cushion and an aperture formed at the main body, and a
retainer attached to an end portion of the cover and retained at a
peripheral portion of the aperture for fixing the cover to the
frame.
Inventors: |
KOJIMA; Yasuhiro;
(Kariya-shi, JP) ; NIHONMATSU; Hideo; (Anjo-shi,
JP) ; NAGURA; Mikihito; (Okazaki-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
39308037 |
Appl. No.: |
12/018402 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/218.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/5825
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/218.3 |
International
Class: |
A47C 31/02 20060101
A47C031/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 24, 2007 |
JP |
2007-013978 |
Claims
1. A seat apparatus for a vehicle having a seat cushion on which an
occupant is seated, comprising: a pad forming a seating surface; a
cover for covering the pad; a frame positioned below the pad at
each side of the seat cushion, relative to a width direction of the
seat cushion, the frame including a main body forming a side wall
which extends in vertical and longitudinal directions relative to
the seat cushion and an aperture formed at the main body; and a
retainer attached to an end portion of the cover and retained at a
peripheral portion of the aperture for fixing the cover to the
frame.
2. A seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral
portion of the aperture includes an inner circumferential edge
surface defining the aperture.
3. A seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the frame has a
reinforcing portion formed by bending the main body, and the
reinforcing portion extends inward, relative to the width direction
of the seat apparatus, along the inner circumferential edge surface
of the aperture.
4. A seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a retaining
portion is integrally formed with the frame by bending a continuous
area from an upper end portion of the main body, and wherein the
pad is mounted on the retaining portion.
5. A seat apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a
lower rail adapted to be mounted on a vehicle floor; and an upper
rail supported by the lower rail so as to slide in the longitudinal
direction of the seat cushion, wherein a connecting portion is
integrally formed with the frame by bending a continuous area from
a lower end portion of the main body, and the connecting portion is
connected to the upper rail.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
U.S.C .sctn.119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application
2007-013978, filed on Jan. 24, 2007, the entire content of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a seat apparatus for a vehicle. In
particular, the invention relates to a fixing structure for fixing
a cover of a seat cushion to a frame.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A known cover fixing structure of a seat for a vehicle is
disclosed in JP2000-309239A. In the cover fixing structure, a cover
member is provided at a skeletal frame arranged at each side of a
seat cushion relative to a width direction thereof. Further, a
cover hooking member, made of a steel wire, is fixed to the cover
member for hooking the cover. This structure simplifies operation
for hooking an end portion of the cover.
[0004] On the other hand, in a cover fixing structure of a seat for
a vehicle disclosed in JP 2001-197969A, a bracket shaped bead is
formed at a lower end portion of a skeletal frame of a seat cushion
for hooking a cover. The bead simplifies fixation of a retainer, on
which an end portion of the cover is stitched.
[0005] However, in JP2000-309239A, the fixation structure, in which
the cover is hooked by the cover hooking member extending to a
lower end portion of the skeletal frame, is adopted. In the
structure, the cover and the like are disposed below the skeletal
frame. Therefore, the structure potentially causes difficulty in
preventing the interference with members in vicinity and in
securing a predetermined space.
Further, an additional component (cover hooking member),
exclusively used for hooking the cover, is required. For the
reason, the number of the components is increased, leading to an
increase in the manufacturing cost.
[0006] On the other hand, in JP2001-197969A, the fixation
structure, in which the cover is fixed by fixing the retainer to
the lower end portion (bead) of the skeletal frame, is adopted. In
the structure, the retainer and the like are disposed below the
skeletal frame. Thus, similarly to the fixation structure disclosed
in JP2000-309239A, the structure potentially causes the difficulty
in preventing the interference with members in vicinity and in
securing a predetermined space.
[0007] A need exists for a seat apparatus which is not susceptible
to the drawback mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, a seat
apparatus for a vehicle having a seat cushion on which an occupant
is seated, includes a pad forming a seating surface, a cover for
covering the pad, a frame positioned below the pad at each side of
the seat cushion, relative to a width direction of the seat
cushion, the frame including a main body forming a side wall which
extends in vertical and longitudinal directions relative to the
seat cushion and an aperture formed at the main body, and a
retainer attached to an end portion of the cover and retained at a
peripheral portion of the aperture for fixing the cover to the
frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of
the present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a lower arm;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a lower arm;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of
the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be
described with reference to drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view
illustrating a seat (seat apparatus for a vehicle) mounted at a
vehicle such as an automobile, on which an occupant may be seated.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. As
illustrated in FIG. 1, a pair of lower rails 11, consisting of each
lower rail 11 arranged at a side of the seat (in FIG. 1, a left
side, relative to a front of the seat, is shown) relative to a
width direction of the seat, is fixed so as to extend in a
longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to a vehicle
floor (not shown). Each of upper rails 12, arranged to form a pair
relative to the width direction of the seat, is mounted on the
corresponding lower rail 11 so as to slide in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the longitudinal direction of
the vehicle corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the seat,
and further, corresponds to a longitudinal direction of a seat
cushion 10, which will be described in the following section.
[0017] The lower arms 13, each supported by the corresponding upper
rail 12, serve as skeletal frames, which form a pair relative to
the width direction of the seat. A urethane pad 14 is supported by
the lower arms 13, and a cover 15 is attached to the urethane pad
14 so as to cover an upper surface and both side surfaces thereof.
The seat cushion 10 is composed of the pair of lower arms 13, the
urethane pad 14, and the cover 15. The pair of lower arms 13
functions as the frame of the seat cushion 10, and the urethane pad
14 forms a seating surface of the seat cushion 10. The pair of
lower arms 13 is located below the urethane pad 14. More
specifically, each lower arm 13 is positioned between the upper
rail 12 and the urethane pad 14. The lower arm 13 is formed by
alternately bending a vertically arranged plate material inward and
outward relative to the width direction of the seat, and is mainly
composed of a wall 13a (main body), which forms a side wall
extending in vertical and longitudinal directions of the seat,
respectively. A bead portion (retaining portion) 13b is
continuously formed on an upper end portion of the wall 13a and is
bent so as to extend outward relative to the width direction of the
seat (left side in FIG. 2). The urethane pad 14 is mounted on the
bead portion 13b covering the bead portion 13b from the outward of
the seat. Further, a flange portion (connecting portion) 13c is
continuously formed on a lower end portion of the wall 13a and is
bent so as to extend inward relative to the width direction of the
seat (right side in FIG. 2). The upper rail 12 is fixed to the
flange portion 13c by welding, fastening bolts or the like, thereby
fixing the lower arm 13 to the upper arm 12. However, it is not
necessary to fix the flange 13c to the upper rail 12 directly. The
flange 13c may be fixed to the upper rail 12 via various types of
links, brackets or the like.
[0018] Here, the fixing structure of the cover 15 will be
described. As illustrated in a perspective view of FIG. 3 and a
sectional view of FIG. 4 respectively, an aperture 16 is formed on
the wall 13a of the lower arm 13 and extends in the longitudinal
direction of the seat. The wall 13a is bored by pressing and the
like in a manner that does not affect the strength of the lower arm
13, thereby appropriately forming the aperture 16 in terms of
position, number, and size. The aperture 16 is meant to reduce
weights of the lower arms 13 and the seat cushion 10.
[0019] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, an end portion 15a of
the cover 15 covering the side surfaces of the urethane pad 14 is
stitched to a clip 17 which serves as a retainer. The clip 17 is
made of a resin material, and a cross section of the clip 17 is
formed in a U shape. The clip 17 is fitted into a peripheral wall
18 (peripheral portion) which defines an upper side of an inner
circumferential edge surface 16a of the aperture 16, and thereby
fixing the cover 15 to the lower arm 17.
[0020] As described above, according to the embodiment, the
following merits are obtained. (1) In the embodiment, in order to
fix the cover 15, the clip 17, on which the end portion 15a of the
cover 15 is stitched, is fixed to the peripheral wall 18 of the
aperture 16 of the lower arm 13. Thus, it is not necessary to
provide an additional component, used exclusively for fixation, at
a side of the lower arm 13, thus preventing the increase in the
number of components. Further, the clip 17 is fixed so as to fit in
the aperture 16 (the peripheral wall 18) of the lower arm 13.
Hence, the component, the clip 17 in this case, is not disposed
below the lower arm 13, therefore avoiding the interference with
members in vicinity and securing a predetermined space in this
configuration.
[0021] (2) In the embodiment, the peripheral wall 18 is an existing
component of the lower arm 13, which defines the inner
circumferential edge surface 16a of the aperture 16. Accordingly,
it is not necessary to change the form of the lower arm 13, thus
preventing the increase in the number of man hours.
[0022] (3) The existing aperture formed in the lower arm 13 is used
as the aperture 16. Thus, the aperture 16 does not affect the
strength of the lower arm 13. The embodiment described above may be
modified as follows.
[0023] As observed in the lower arm 21 illustrated in FIG. 5, a
flange (reinforcing portion) 22 may be integrally formed with the
lower arm 21 by bending a wall 21a (main body) of the lower arm 21.
The flange 22 extends inward, relative to the width direction of
the seat, along a periphery of the aperture 16 in the wall 21a,
i.e. the upper side of the inner circumferential edge surface 16a
of the aperture 16. The flange 22 is easily formed when forming the
aperture 16 by a processing such as pressing (cutting processing).
In this case, the cover 15 is fixed to the lower arm 21 by clipping
the flange 22 with the clip 17. This modification provides another
merit in addition to merit (1) and (3) according to the first
embodiment. That is, the flange 22 is integrally formed with the
lower arm 21 along the periphery of the aperture 16, thereby
improving stiffness of the lower arm 21 against flexural load.
[0024] Alternatively, as observed in the lower arm 23 shown in FIG.
6, a bead (reinforcing portion) 24 may be integrally formed with
the lower arm 23 by bending a wall 23a (main body) of the lower arm
23. The bead 24 is curved inward, relative to the width direction
of the seat, along the periphery of the aperture 16 in the wall
23a, i.e. the upper side of the inner circumferential edge surface
16a of the aperture 16. The bead 24 may be formed easily when
forming the aperture 16 by the processing such as the pressing. In
this case, the end portion 15a of the cover 15 is stitched on a
hook shaped retainer, which is made of resin, for example. Thus,
the cover 15 is easily fixed to the lower arm 23 by attaching the
hook shaped retainer to the portion covering from the inner
circumferential edge surface of the aperture 16 to the bead 24.
This modification provides another merit in addition to merit (1)
and (3) according to the first embodiment. That is, the bead 24 is
integrally formed with the lower arm 23 along the periphery of the
aperture 16, thereby improving stiffness of the lower arm 23
against the flexural load.
[0025] In the retainer such as the clip 17, the main portion
thereof should be formed with metal such as stainless steel or
rigid plastic. However, in this type of retainer, a stitched
portion on which the end portion 15a is stitched should be formed
by a flexible plastic.
[0026] The principles, of the preferred embodiments and mode of
operation of the present invention have been described in the
foregoing specification. However, the invention, which is intended
to be protected, is not to be construed as limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed. Further, the embodiment described
herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents
employed, without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such
variations, changes and equivalents that fall within the spirit and
scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be
embraced thereby.
* * * * *