SEAT STRUCTURE, METHOD OF CHANGING SEAT HARDNESS, AND VEHICLE

• US 20100253119A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Toshiaki
• Application Number:
  US12/677,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/026 varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7088 with valves B60N2/914 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0407 using gas or liquid as energy absorbing means

Abstract

In a seat cushion of a seat, a first actuator supplies air via inside of a communication tube to inside of a air bag in a state where an air valve has been opened by control of a second actuator, whereby air pressure inside the air bag is adjusted, hardness of a pad and in turn the seat cushion is adjusted. Further, after the hardness of the seat cushion has been adjusted, the air valve is closed by control of the second actuator. For this reason, the hardness of the seat cushion can be adjusted at an appropriate hardness with respect to a vehicle occupant.

Claims

1. A seat structure comprising:

a pad that is disposed inside a seat of a vehicle and has elasticity and air permeability;

a housing bag that houses the pad and is adhered to and formed integrally with the pad and is configured to be capable of enclosing air inside; and

air pressure varying means that is communicated with the inside of the housing bag and changes the hardness of the pad by varying the air pressure inside the housing bag.

2. The seat structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the pad and the housing bag are disposed in at least one of a seat cushion, a seat back or a headrest of the seat, and

the air pressure varying means supplies air to the inside of the housing bag to raise the air pressure inside the housing bag at a time of a vehicle collision.

3. The seat structure according to claim 1, wherein the air pressure varying means comprises supply means that supplies air to the inside of the housing bag and outflow adjusting means that adjusts the outflow velocity of air from the inside of the housing bag to the outside.

5. The seat structure according to of claim 1, wherein the housing bag configures a surface member that covers the entire pad and is disposed on the surface of the seat.

11. A vehicle comprising the seat structure according to claim 1.

4. (canceled)

6. A method of changing seat hardness in a seat structure, the seat structure comprising a pad that is disposed inside a seat of a vehicle and has elasticity and air permeability, a housing bag that houses the pad and is adhered to and formed integrally with the pad and is configured to be capable of enclosing air inside, and air pressure varying means that is communicated with the inside of the housing bag, the method comprising using the air pressure varying means to change the hardness of the pad by varying the air pressure inside the housing bag.

7. The method of changing seat hardness according to claim 6, wherein:

the pad and the housing bag are disposed in at least one of a seat cushion, a seat back and a headrest of the seat, the method further comprising;

using the air pressure varying means to supply air to the inside of the housing bag to raise the air pressure inside the housing bag at a time of a vehicle collision.

8. The method of changing seat hardness according to claim 6, wherein, in the air pressure varying means, supply means supplies air to the inside of the housing bag and outflow adjusting means adjusts the outflow velocity of air from the inside of the housing bag to the outside.

10. The method of changing seat hardness according to claim 6, wherein the housing bag configures a surface member that covers the entire pad and is disposed on the surface of the seat.

9. (canceled)