JP2001145538A - Seat back frame structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] To provide an impact absorbing function to a seat back frame without adding another member. [Structure] A buckling-deformable shock absorbing portion 22 is formed by crushing a lower end portion 14D of a frame body 14 from the front-back direction.
Are provided integrally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat back frame structure forming a frame of a seat back, and more particularly to a seat back frame structure having an impact absorbing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A seat back of a vehicle seat or the like generally has a substantially rectangular seat back frame as a framework, and a seat pad (elastic body) is disposed on a front side of a spring member or the like installed in the seat back frame. In addition, they are formed by integrally covering them with a trim cover made of a skin or the like.

[0003] A pipe molded product obtained by bending one pipe body into a substantially square shape in a plane and welding the end face located on one of the right and left ends of the lower end to the peripheral surface of the end on the opposite side. A structure in which support members such as side frames are appropriately added to the left and right sides of the frame body, and a headrest bracket or the like is appropriately added to the upper end portion is provided as a seat back frame.

[0004]

By the way, the load from the upper body or the waist of the occupant is normally received by the elasticity of the seat pad, and is absorbed by the elasticity of the seat pad.
The protection of the upper body of the occupant is provided. However, the excessive impact load applied in the event of an emergency such as a collision can no longer be absorbed under the elasticity of the seat pad, so the load is directly received at the seat back frame, especially at the lower end thereof. .

The impact load applied to the lower end of the seat back frame is generated by the inertial movement of the occupant, so that the load from near the waist of the occupant directly acts on the lower end of the seat back frame. . That is, the impact energy generated by the collision or the like is applied from the lower end of the seat back frame to the waist of the seated person or the like.

[0006] Here, the pipe processed body serving as the frame body of the seat back frame is inherently high in rigidity and cannot be said to have a sufficient shock absorbing function. Therefore, in a known configuration, another member that can be buckled and deformed is provided integrally with the lower end portion of the seat back frame as a part thereof, or the lower end portion of the seat back frame itself is a low strength separate member. Thereby, the seat back frame has a shock absorbing function in an emergency such as a collision.

However, in such a configuration in which another member is added, an increase in the number of parts and associated work steps is inevitable, and cost increases in both parts costs and manufacturing costs are inevitable. In addition, since another member is added to the seat back frame by welding or the like, it cannot be denied that a shape distortion of the portion due to welding is involved.

[0008] The present invention, without adding a separate member,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a seat back frame structure capable of adding a shock absorbing function to a seat back frame.

[0009]

According to the present invention, at least a predetermined portion of a lower end portion of a frame main body is crushed from at least one of its front and rear directions to achieve a predetermined or higher level. An impact absorbing portion that buckles and deforms under an input load is integrally provided at a lower end portion of the frame body.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a seat back frame structure 10 according to the present invention, a seat back frame 12 is provided with a frame main body 14 which is a pipe-shaped product having a substantially square shape in a plane.

The frame main body 14 is formed by bending a single pipe body into a substantially rectangular shape in a plane, and connecting an end surface 14a located on one of the right and left sides of the lower end portion 14D, for example, on the right side in the drawing, to the opposite side portion,
That is, it is formed by butting against the end peripheral surface of the right side portion 14R and fixed by welding or the like. And this frame body
14, for example, a bracket arm 16 for a hinge is provided on a left side portion 14L, a side frame 18 is provided on a right side portion 14R, and a bracket 20 for a headrest is further provided on an upper end portion 14U. Thus, the seat back frame 12 including the frame main body is formed.

The basic structure of this type of seat back frame 12 is well-known, and the structure itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and will not be described in detail here.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention, the lower end portion 14D of the frame main body is partially crushed, for example, from both the front and rear sides thereof, so that the strength is reduced as compared with other portions. The shock absorbing portion 22 is formed integrally with the lower end portion of the frame body.

The strength of the shock absorbing portion 22 is set to such a degree that it can be buckled under an input load exceeding a predetermined value, for example, an impact load such as a frontal collision.

In this configuration, for example, when an excessive impact load at the time of a front collision or the like is input from the front of the seat back frame 12, the impact absorbing portion 22 buckles and deforms under the impact load. Under this condition, the impact energy applied to the upper body of the seated person, and if it is, the waist, is absorbed and reduced. That is, the impact energy given to the occupant is sufficiently reduced by the buckling deformation of the impact absorbing portion, so that the impact absorbing function can be appropriately secured and the protection performance for the occupant can be further improved.

According to the present invention, the impact absorbing portion 22 is provided only in a part of the lower end portion 14D of the frame body by crushing without adding another member, thereby increasing the number of parts. Thus, the frame main body 14 and the seat back frame 12 can be provided with a shock absorbing function without increasing the number of working steps associated therewith. That is, despite the fact that the seat back frame 12 has a shock absorbing function, cost reductions in both component costs and manufacturing costs can be ensured.

Further, there is no need to add another member due to welding or the like.
Since the shape distortion and the like of the lower end portion 14D due to welding are eliminated, the shape of the frame body 14 is reliably stabilized.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the shock absorbing portion 22 is formed under the crushing of the lower end portion 14D from both the front and rear sides. It is sufficient if the buckling deformation is possible under the input load of the above, so the invention is not limited to crushing from both front and rear sides. Good.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
An impact absorbing part 22 is formed on a part of the lower end part 14D. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire lower end portion 14D of the frame body may be crushed, and the entire lower end portion may be used as the shock absorbing portion 22.

Although the present invention is suitable for a seat back of a seat of an automobile or the like, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the seat back frame structure of the present invention is applied to a seat back of a train, an airplane, a ship, or the like. May be.

The embodiment described above is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the present invention in any way. All the modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are not limited thereto. It goes without saying that it is included in the invention.

[0023]

As described above, according to the seat back frame structure of the present invention, the impact absorbing portion is provided on a part of the frame body by crushing the lower end portion without adding another member. Therefore, the seat back frame can be provided with a shock absorbing function without increasing the number of parts and accompanying work steps. In other words, despite the fact that the seat back frame has a shock absorbing function,
Cost reductions in both manufacturing costs can be ensured.

The impact energy applied to the upper body of the occupant is reliably absorbed and reduced under the buckling deformation of the impact absorbing portion provided integrally with the lower end of the frame body. The function can be appropriately secured, and the protection performance for the occupant can be obtained higher.

Further, there is no need to add another member due to welding or the like.
Since the deformation of the lower end portion due to welding does not occur, the shape of the frame body is reliably stabilized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a seat back frame showing a seat back frame structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a seat back frame structure, which is indicated by a line A- in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view along A.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Seat back frame structure 12 Seat back frame 14 Frame body 14D Lower end 22 Shock absorber

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pipe processed product in which one pipe body is bent into a substantially square shape in a plane, and an end face located on one of the left and right ends of a lower end portion is abutted to an end peripheral surface of an opposite side portion and welded.
A seat back frame provided as the frame main body, by crushing at least a predetermined portion of a lower end portion of the frame main body from at least any one of its front and rear directions,
A seat back frame structure in which an impact absorbing portion that buckles and deforms under an input load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is integrally provided at a lower end portion of the frame body.