Finisher-connecting structure and vehicle seat

Abstract

A finisher-connecting structure for connecting a front finisher, which is disposed on one part of a vehicle seat, and a side finisher, which is disposed on another part of a vehicle seat, comprising a connection protrusion provided to the front finisher, and a connection recess that is provided to the side finisher and that fits with the connection protrusion; wherein the connection protrusion and the connection recess extend in a direction that intersects a direction in which the front finisher and the side finisher are continuous; wherein the fitted-together connection protrusion and connection recess regulate the front-rear-direction positions of the front finisher and the side finisher. In this connecting structure, which connects a pair of finishers using a connection protrusion and a connection recess, an unnecessary gap, such as a V-shaped gap, is prevented from being formed in the connected portion of the finishers.

Claims

1. A finisher-connecting structure for connecting a first finisher, which is disposed on one part of a vehicle seat, and a second finisher, which is disposed on another part of a vehicle seat, the finisher-connecting structure comprising: a connection protrusion provided to the first finisher; and a connection recess that is provided to the second finisher and that fits with the connection protrusion, wherein the connection protrusion and the connection recess extend in a direction that intersects a direction in which the first finisher and the second finisher are continuous, wherein the fitted-together connection protrusion and connection recess regulates front-rear-direction positions of the first finisher and the second finisher, wherein the direction in which the first finisher and the second finisher are continuous is oblique relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat and a left-right direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and wherein the direction in which the connection protrusion and the connection recess intersect with the direction in which the first finisher and the second finisher are continuous is the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat.

2. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a guiding protrusion provided to the first finisher; and a guiding recess that is provided to the second finisher and that fits with the guiding protrusion, wherein the fitted-together guiding protrusion and guiding recess regulates the positions of the first finisher and the second finisher along an up-down direction.

3. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 2, wherein: a plurality of the connection protrusions are provided along an up-down direction of the first finisher; a plurality of the connection recesses are provided along an up-down direction of the second finisher; a plurality of the guiding protrusions are provided along the up-down direction of the first fisher; a plurality of the guiding recesses are provided along the up-down direction of the second finisher; the plurality of connection protrusions and the plurality of guiding protrusions are provided in a mutually alternating arrangement; and the plurality of connection recesses and the plurality of guiding recesses are provided in a mutually alternating arrangement.

4. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the first finisher includes a front finisher provided to a front part of a bottom part of the vehicle seat, and wherein the second finisher includes a side finisher provided to a side part of the bottom part of the vehicle seat.

5. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection protrusion includes a projecting part extending from the first finisher, wherein the connection recess includes a projecting part extending from the second finisher, the projecting part having a space, and wherein the first finisher and the second finisher are connected to each other by inserting the projecting part of the connection protrusion into the space inside the projecting part of the connection recess.

6. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection protrusion protrudes from the first finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat to engage with the connection recess.

7. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 6, wherein the connection recess protrudes from the second finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat to engage with the connection protrusion.

8. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein, in a direction other than the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat, a distal end of the connection recess extends from a portion of the connection recess that protrudes from the second finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat.

9. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 8, wherein the connection protrusion protrudes from the first finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat toward the distal end of the connection recess.

10. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat cushion upon which a gluteal region of a seat occupant rests; a seat back upon which a back of the seat occupant rests; a first finisher, which is disposed on one part of the seat cushion or one part of the seat back; a second finisher, which is disposed on another part of the seat cushion or another part of the seat back; and a finisher-connecting structure, which connects the first finisher and the second finisher together, wherein the finisher-connecting structure includes the finisher-connecting structure according to claim 1.

11. A finisher-connecting structure for connecting a first finisher, which is disposed on one part of a vehicle seat, and a second finisher, which is disposed on another part of a vehicle seat, the finisher-connecting structure comprising: a plurality of connection protrusions provided to the first finisher; a plurality of connection recesses that are provided to the second finisher and that fit with the respective plurality of connection protrusions; a guiding protrusion provided to the first finisher; and a guiding recess that is provided to the second finisher and that fits with the guiding protrusion; wherein the plurality of connection recesses are integrated by mutually adjacent connection recesses of the plurality of connection recesses being linked by a linking member, wherein the fitted-together guiding protrusion and guiding recess regulates positions of the first finisher and the end finisher along an up-down direction of the vehicle seat, and wherein the guiding recess functions as the linking member.

12. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein: a plurality of the connection protrusions are provided along an up-down direction of the first finisher; a plurality of the connection recesses are provided along an up-down direction of the second finisher; a plurality of the guiding protrusions are provided along the up-down direction of the first finisher; a plurality of the guiding recesses are provided along the up-down direction of the second finisher, the plurality of connection protrusions and the plurality of guiding protrusions are provided in a mutually alternating arrangement; and the plurality of connection recesses and the plurality of guiding recesses are provided in a mutually alternating arrangement.

13. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein the first finisher includes a front finisher, and wherein the second finisher includes a side finisher.

14. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein the connection protrusion includes a projecting part extending from the first finisher, wherein the connection recesses include a projecting part extending from the second finisher, the projecting part having a space, wherein the guiding protrusion protrudes from the first finisher, wherein the guiding recess protrudes from the second finisher, and has a space in the interior, wherein the first finisher and the second finisher are connected to each other by inserting the projecting part of the connection protrusions into the space inside the projecting part of the connection recesses and by inserting the guiding protrusion into the space inside the guiding recess.

15. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein one of the connection protrusions protrudes from the first finisher in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat to engage with one of the connection recesses.

16. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 15, wherein the one of the connection recesses protrudes from the second finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat to engage with the one of the connection protrusions.

17. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11, wherein, in a direction other than a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat, a distal end of one of the connection recesses extends from a portion of the one of the connection recesses that protrudes from the second finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat.

18. The finisher-connecting structure according to claim 17, wherein one of the connection protrusions protrudes from the first finisher in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat toward the distal end of the one of the connection recesses.

19. A vehicle seat, comprising: a seat cushion upon which a gluteal region of a seat occupant rests; a seat back upon which a back of the seat occupant rests; a first finisher, which is disposed on one part of the seat cushion or one part of the seat back; a second finisher, which is disposed on another part of the seat cushion or another part of the seat back; and a finisher-connecting structure, which connects the first finisher and the second finisher together, wherein the finisher-connecting structure includes the finisher-connecting structure according to claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the linking portion of the front finisher and the side finisher, which is the main part of the vehicle seat, as seen from the reverse side;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the linking portion of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4A is a plan cross-sectional view along line D-D of FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 4B is a plan cross-sectional view along line C-C of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan cross-sectional view along line E-E of FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6A is a plan cross-sectional view along line H-H of FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 6B is a plan cross-sectional view along line G-G of FIG. 3;

(9) FIG. 7 is a plan cross-sectional view along line I-I of FIG. 2;

(10) FIG. 8(a) is a vertical cross-sectional view along line J-J of FIG. 2, FIG. 8(b) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front finisher of FIG. 8(a), FIG. 8(c) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the side finisher of FIG. 8(a);

(11) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional finisher-connecting structure;

(12) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional finisher-connecting structure;

(13) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing yet another example of a conventional finisher-connecting structure; and

(14) FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing yet another example of a conventional finisher-connecting structure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(15) The finisher-connecting structure and vehicle seat according to the present invention are described below on the basis of an embodiment. As shall be apparent, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. There are cases in which constituent elements are shown in the drawings accompanying the present description in a ratio different from the actual ratio, in order to depict characteristic sections in a more easily understandable manner.

(16) FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a vehicle seat according to the present invention. The vehicle seat 1 shown here is either a passenger seat in an automobile with the steering wheel on the right side, or a driver seat in an automobile with the steering wheel on the left side. From the seat occupant's perspective, the left side is the outer side (i.e., the door side) and the right side is the inner side (i.e., the passenger seat side).

(17) The vehicle seat 1 has a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3. A headrest 4 is provided to the top part of the seat back 3. The seat cushion 2 is a section upon which the gluteal region of the seat occupant rests. The seat back 3 is a section upon which the back of the seat occupant rests. The headrest 4 is a section upon which the head of the seat occupant rests.

(18) The seat cushion 2 comprises: a cushion frame 7, which is a skeletal structure; a pad 8a, which covers the cushion frame 7; and a surface skin 9a, which covers the pad 8a. The seat back 3 comprises: a back frame 10, which is a skeletal structure; a pad 8b, which covers the back frame 10; and a surface skin 9b, which covers the pad 8b. The headrest 4 may be provided such that the headrest can be attached to and detached from the main section of the seat back 3, or the headrest 4 may be formed integrally with the main section of the seat back 3.

(19) The cushion frame 7 and the back frame 10 are formed from a metal of which iron is the main component, a hard plastic, a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), etc. The pads 8a, 8b are formed from an elastic material such as foamed urethane. The surface skins 9a, 9b are formed from a breathable material, e.g., fabric, leather, synthetic leather, etc. The term fabric refers to cloth, and the term cloth refers to a textile, a knitting, lace, felt, nonwoven cloth, etc.

(20) The cushion frame 7 is placed on bases 13a, 13b. A front finisher 14 serving as a first finisher is provided to the front part of the bottom part of the seat cushion 2. A side finisher 15 serving as a second finisher is provided to the side part of the bottom part of the seat cushion 2. The side finisher 15 is fixed to the cushion frame 7 by a fastener (not shown), such as a screw. The front finisher 14 is connected to the side finisher 15.

(21) The front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 cover the internal structure of the bottom part of the seat cushion 2 so as to protect the internal structure, or so that the internal structure cannot be seen from the outside. No finisher is provided to the bottom part of the seat cushion 2 on the right side from the seat occupant's perspective. This is because a console box (not shown) is provided to this section. The front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are formed from, for example, polypropylene (PP).

(22) Generally, a finisher is a component that is attached to the vehicle seat in the final step, or in a step close to the final step, in the process of manufacturing the vehicle seat, and is a resin-form component provided to a section exposed to the outside. Therefore, the finisher may be a component, other than a cover, which is provided to the side part of the bottom part of the seat cushion and which covers the internal structure. The finisher may also be installed as an attachment to the seat back.

(23) (Finisher-Connecting StructureFitting Together the Connection Protrusions and Connection Recesses)

(24) The front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are connected together by the finisher-connecting structure in a connecting part B. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the connecting part B of the finisher of FIG. 1 is seen from the reverse side of the finishers 14, 15, i.e., from the interior side of the seat cushion 2. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the finisher-connecting structure of FIG. 2.

(25) In FIG. 3, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of connection protrusions 18 are provided at intervals along an up-down direction to the reverse-side surface of the end part of the front finisher 14. These connection protrusions 18 are formed integrally at the same time that the front finisher 14 is formed by molding from a resin. FIG. 4B shows the structure of a connection protrusion 18 in a plane cross-section along line C-C in FIG. 3. The connection protrusions 18 each have a projecting part 18a extending from the front finisher 14, and a protuberance 18b formed at the head of the projecting part 18a.

(26) In FIG. 3 a plurality (four in this embodiment) of connection recesses 19 are provided at intervals along the up-down direction to the reverse-side surface of the end part of the side finisher 15. These connection recesses 19 are formed integrally at the same time that the side finisher 15 is formed by molding from a resin. FIG. 4A shows the structure of a connection recess 19 in a plane cross-section along line D-D in FIG. 3. The connection recesses 19 each have a projecting part 19a extending from the side finisher 15, and an interlocking part 19b provided at the tip end of the projecting part 19a.

(27) FIG. 5 shows the state of connection between the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15, along line E-E in FIG. 2. In FIG. 5, the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are connected to each other by inserting the connection protrusions 18 of the front finisher 14 into the spaces inside the connection recesses 19 of the side finisher 15.

(28) After the projecting parts 18a of the front finisher 14 have been inserted into the spaces of the projecting parts 19a of the side finisher 15, the protuberances 18b of the front finisher 14 catch on the upper edges of the interlocking parts 19b of the side finisher 15, due to the elastic force of the projecting parts 18a. The connecting of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 along the front-rear direction is thereby settled (i.e., regulated). The state of connection between the connection protrusion 18 and the connection recess 19 described above is the same as with the four connection protrusions 18 and connection recesses 19 of FIG. 2.

(29) In FIG. 5, the direction along which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous is indicated by arrow A-A. This is the direction in which the outer peripheral surface of the front finisher 14 and the outer peripheral surface of the side finisher 15 continuously extend. Additionally, this direction is the direction of the tangent through connecting point P between the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15. Additionally, this is the direction in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 push against each other.

(30) In the present embodiment, in a state in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are connected, the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 extend in the direction of arrow F-F. The direction of extension F-F of the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 intersects at an angle with the direction A-A in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous. The angle is greater than 0 and less than 180, i.e., 0<<180. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the direction of extension F-F of the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat 1 (see FIG. 1).

(31) In a conventional finisher-connecting structure, connection protrusions 116, 125 such as those shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 had extended in a direction aligned with the direction A-A in which a front finisher and a side finisher are continuous. Therefore, it has been common for an unnecessary gap to be formed, such as a V-shaped gap 103, in the connecting part of a front finisher 111 and a side finisher 109, as shown in FIG. 10.

(32) By contrast, in the present embodiment, the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 do not extend in a direction aligned with the direction A-A in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous, but rather intersect at the angle relative to the direction A-A, as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, even if force acts on the upper-end edges of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15, the connection protrusions 18 do not move out of the connection recesses 19, and an unnecessary gap such as a V-shaped gap therefore is not formed in the connecting part of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15.

(33) Because the direction of extension F-F of the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat 1 (see FIG. 1), the work of connecting the front finisher 14 to the side finisher 15 can be performed simply and safely.

(34) (Finisher-Connecting StructureFitting Together the Guiding Protrusions and Guiding Recesses)

(35) In FIG. 3, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of guiding protrusions 22 are provided between the plurality (four in this embodiment) of connection protrusions 18 in the reverse-surface side of the end part of the front finisher 14. These guiding protrusions 22 are formed integrally at the same time that the front finisher 14 is formed by molding from a resin. FIG. 6B shows the structure of a guiding protrusion 22 in a plane cross-section along line G-G in FIG. 3. The guiding protrusions 22 are formed as projecting parts rising up from the front finisher 14.

(36) In FIG. 3, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of guiding recesses 23, which function also as linking members, are provided between the plurality (four in this embodiment) of connection recesses 19 in the reverse-surface side of the end part of the side finisher 15. These guiding recesses 23 are formed integrally at the same time that the side finisher 15 is formed by molding from a resin. FIG. 6A shows the structure of a guiding recess 23 in a plane cross-section along line H-H in FIG. 3. The guiding recesses 23 are formed as box-shaped (a shape having a space in the interior) members extending from the side finisher 15.

(37) FIG. 7 shows the state of connection between the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 along line I-I in FIG. 2. In FIG. 7, a guiding protrusion 22 of the front finisher 14 is inserted into a space inside a guiding recess 23 of the side finisher 15, whereby the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are connected to each other. The state of connection between the guiding protrusion 22 and the guiding recess 23 is the same as that of the three guiding protrusions 22 and guiding recesses 23 of FIG. 2.

(38) FIG. 8(a) shows the structure of an up-down (vertical) cross-section, along line J-J in FIG. 2, of the connecting part of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15. FIG. 8(b) shows the structure of a vertical cross-section of the side finisher 15, and FIG. 8(c) shows the structure of a vertical cross-section of the front finisher 14.

(39) The guiding protrusions 22 of the front finisher 14 fit into the internal spaces of the guiding recesses 23 of the side finisher 15, as shown in FIG. 8(a). The connection of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 along the up-down direction is thereby established (i.e., regulated).

(40) In FIG. 7, the direction in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous is indicated by arrow A-A. This is the direction in which the outer peripheral surface of the front finisher 14 and the outer peripheral surface of the side finisher 15 continuously extend. Additionally, this direction is the direction of the tangent through connecting point P between the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15. Additionally, this is the direction in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 push against each other.

(41) In the present embodiment, in a state in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are connected, the guiding protrusions 22 and the guiding recesses 23 extend in the direction of arrow F-F. The direction of extension F-F of the guiding protrusions 22 and the guiding recesses 23 intersects at an angle with the direction A-A in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous. The angle is the same as the angle at which the connection protrusions 18 and the connection recesses 19 intersect with the direction A-A in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous. In the present embodiment, the direction of extension F-F of the guiding protrusions 22 and the guiding recesses 23 is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat 1 (see FIG. 1).

(42) Thus, in the present embodiment, the guiding protrusions 22 and the guiding recesses 23 do not extend in a direction aligned with the direction A-A in which the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15 are continuous, but rather intersect at the angle relative to the direction A-A. Therefore, an unnecessary gap such as a V-shaped gap is not formed in the connecting part of the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15.

(43) Because the direction of extension F-F of the guiding protrusions 22 and the guiding recesses 23 is oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat 1 (see FIG. 1), the work of connecting the front finisher 14 to the side finisher 15 can be performed simply and safely.

(44) (Relationship of Connection Recesses 19 and Guiding Recesses 23)

(45) The four connection recesses 19 are linked by the three guiding recesses 23 provided therebetween, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8(b). In other words, the guiding recesses 23 function as linking members for the connection recesses 19. The four connection recesses 19 thereby have an integrated structure. Therefore, the four connection recesses 19 have increased rigidity. Due to the rigidity of the plurality of connection recesses 19 being thus increased, the fit between the connection protrusions 18 of the front finisher 14 and the connection recesses 19 of the side finisher 15 does not easily loosen. As a result, regardless of the work of inserting the connection protrusions 18 into the connection recesses 19 being simple, once these components have been fitted together, the fitted state can be securely maintained for a long period of time.

Other Embodiments

(46) The present invention was described above with a preferred embodiment used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can be altered in a variety of ways within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

(47) For example, the vehicle seat 1 of FIG. 1 is a driver seat or a passenger seat, but the vehicle seat is not limited to a driver seat or a passenger seat and can also be a rear seat.

(48) In the vehicle seat 1 of FIG. 1, a cover disposed on the bottom part of the seat cushion 2 is given as an example of a finisher. However, the finisher is not limited to a cover for the bottom part of a seat cushion, and can also be a component provided to an appropriate location on the vehicle seat 1 as necessary.

(49) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the front finisher 14 was given as an example of the first finisher provided with the connection protrusions 18, and the side finisher 15 was given as an example of the second finisher provided with the connection recesses 19. However, the first finisher can be considered to be the side finisher, and the second finisher can be considered to be the front finisher.

(50) In the above embodiment, a case of applying the present invention in order to connect the front finisher 14 and the side finisher 15, which are finishers provided to the bottom part of the seat cushion 2 of the vehicle seat 1, was given as an example in FIG. 1. However, in cases in which a pair of finishers are disposed in proper locations on the seat back 3, the connecting structure of the present invention can be applied to those finishers.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(51) 1: Vehicle seat, 2: Seat cushion, 3: Seat back, 4: Headrest, 7: Cushion frame, 8a, 8b: Pads, 9a, 9b: Surface skins, 10: Back frame, 13a, 13b: Bases, 14: Front finisher (first finisher), 15: Side finisher (second finisher), 18: Connection protrusion, 18a: Projecting part, 18b: Protuberance, 19: Connection recess, 19a: Projecting part, 19b: Interlocking part, 22: Guiding protrusion, 23: Guiding recess (linking member), A-A: Direction of continuity, B: Connecting part of finishers, F-F: Direction of extension of recesses and protrusions, P: Connecting point