Seat cushion structure for use in a front seat

• US 5,490,718 A
• Filed: 03/01/1995
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suenaga, Hiroharu, Hayashi, Masaki, Akizuki, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, C. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHANTY, BIBHU R
• Application Number:
  US08/396,862
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.18, 297/452.21, 297/452.49, 297/452.52
• US Class Current: 297/452.49
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/39 Seats tiltable to compensate for roll inclination of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/544 Compression or tension springs B60N2/542 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/548 Torsion springs, e.g. torsion helicoidal springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures

Abstract

A seat cushion of a vehicle front seat, including a cushion panel and a cushion frame, in which the cushion panel and the cushion frame are elastically held together in close proximity to a front edge portion of the cushion panel by means of a torsion spring, and are connected together at a rear portion of the cushion panel by a pair of rear-linking members which is subjected to an urging force in a tension direction by a pair of tension springs. Thus, the seat cushion can be formed with a simplified spring arrangement, and provides easy tuning of these springs because the tension spring exhibits a linear spring characteristic. Furthermore, the seat cushion eliminates pitching because the cushion frame and the cushion panel are connected together at the rear portion thereof behind a hip point of an occupant who is seated in the front seat. Moreover, the seat cushion provides a wider space for an occupant seated in the rear of a vehicle to stretch his legs.

Claims

1. A seat cushion structure for use in a vehicle front seat, comprising:

a cushion portion, on which an occupant sits;

a supporting panel constructed and arranged to have a curved surface forming a supporting surface for an occupant seated on said cushion portion, said supporting panel being overlaid with said cushion portion such that said supporting panel and said cushion portion are assembled together;

a supporting member, which extends around the outer-lower periphery of said cushion portion so as to support said supporting panel;

a first connecting means including a first torsion spring which is movable relative to said supporting panel, which elastically connects said supporting panel and said supporting member in the vicinity of a front edge portion of said supporting panel;

a pair of second connecting means being swingably supported at a rear portion of said supporting member to pivot respectively about a fulcrum, and pivotably connecting said supporting member and said supporting panel, wherein a first end portion of said second connecting means is pivotally connected to a corresponding side portion of said supporting panel, and a second end portion of said second connecting means being subjected to an urging force in a tension direction; and

urging means disposed between said second end portion of said second connecting means and said supporting member to urge said second end portion of said second connecting means in the tension direction, said urging means being constructed and arranged to exhibit a linear spring characteristic.

2. A seat cushion structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting member being spanned between said pair of second connecting means.

3. A seat cushion structure according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting means includes at least one movable piece, said at least one movable piece is positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one movable piece is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be slidable in response to an amount of elastic deformation of said first torsion spring.

4. A seat cushion structure according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting means includes at least one cylindrical member, said at least one cylindrical member is positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one cylindrical member is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be rotatable in response to an amount of elastic deformation of said torsion spring.

5. A seat cushion structure according to claim 1, wherein end portions of said pair of second connecting means are connected to said supporting panel at a location in a rearward direction of said vehicle front seat from a hip point.

6. A seat cushion structure according to claim 2, wherein said first connecting means includes at least one movable piece, said at least one movable piece being positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one movable piece is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to slidable depending upon an amount of elastic deformation of said first torsion spring.

7. A seat cushion structure according to claim 2, further comprising:

a pair of brackets having a substantially rectangular cross-section respectively, wherein both end portions of said brackets are fixed at respective locations of both side portions of said supporting member at vicinities of a rear edge portion so that respective intermediate portions of said brackets rotatably support said pair of second connecting means respectively and so that said pair of second connecting means is supported to said supporting member.

8. A seat cushion structure according to claim 2, wherein said connecting member is formed such that both end portions of said connecting member are cylindrical and an inner circumferential portion of said connecting member is serrated.

9. A seat cushion structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second torsion spring connecting said pair of second connecting means and permitting said pair of second connecting means to pivot synchronously at an angle common to one another.

10. A seat cushion structure according to claim 4, wherein said pair of first linking members are respectively formed so as to be substantially L-shaped.

12. A seat cushion structure according to claim 4, further comprising:

a torsion spring connecting said pair of second connecting means and permitting said pair of second connecting means to pivot synchronously at an angle common to one another.

11. A seat cushion structure for use in a vehicle front seat, comprising:

a cushion portion, on which an occupant sits;

a supporting panel constructed and arranged to form a supporting surface for an occupant seated on said cushion portion, said supporting panel being overlaid with said cushion portion such that said supporting panel and said cushion portion are assembled together;

a supporting member, which extends around an outer-lower periphery of said cushion portion so as to support said supporting panel;

first connecting means including a pair of a first linking members being swingably supported at an intermediate portion of said supporting member, in which a first end portion of each of said pair of first linking members is rotatably supported to said supporting panel, and a second end portion thereof being subjected to an urging force in a tension direction,

a first tension spring being supported between a front portion of said supporting member and said second end portion of said first connecting means;

a pair of second connecting means being swingably supported to a rear portion of said supporting member to pivot respectively about a fulcrum, and pivotably connecting said supporting member and said supporting panel, wherein a first end portion of said second connecting means is pivotably connected to a corresponding side portion of said supporting panel, and a second end portion of said second connecting means is subjected to an urging force in a tension direction; and

a second tension spring being supported between said second end of said second connecting means and an intermediate side portion of said supporting member to urge said second end portion of said second connecting means in the tension direction, said second tension spring being constructed and arranged to exhibit a linear spring characteristic.

13. A seat cushion structure for use in a vehicle front seat, comprising:

a cushion portion, on which an occupant sits;

a supporting panel constructed and arranged to have a curved surface forming a supporting surface for an occupant seated on said cushion portion, said supporting panel being overlaid with said cushion portion such that said supporting panel and said cushion portion are assembled together;

a cushion frame, which extends around the outer-lower periphery of said cushion portion so as to support said supporting panel;

connecting means including spring means, which elastically connects said supporting panel in the vicinity of a front edge of said supporting panel and an intermediate portion of said cushion frame, and is movable relative to said cushion frame;

a pair of first linking members swingably disposed at a rear portion of said cushion frame so as to pivot respectively about a fulcrum, and pivotally connecting said supporting member and said supporting panel, wherein a first end portion of said first linking member is rotatably supported on a corresponding side portion of said supporting panel, and a second end portion of said first linking member being subjected to an urging force in a tension direction; and

,

a first tension spring connected to said second end portion of said first linking member and said cushion frame to urge said first linking member in the tension direction, said urging means being constructed and arranged to exhibit a linear spring characteristic.

14. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, further comprising:

a spanning member, which spans between said respective fulcrum of said pair of first linking members.

15. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, wherein said spring means is comprised of a first torsion spring, and said connecting means includes at least one movable piece, said at least one movable piece being positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one movable piece is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be slidable in response to an amount of elastic deformation of said torsion spring.

16. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, wherein said connecting means includes a pair of second linking members, in which one end portion of each of said second linking members is rotatably supported by said supporting panel, the other end portion thereof being connected to a second tension spring which is mounted to said connecting means, and an intermediate portion of said second linking member is rotatably supported by said cushion frame.

17. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, wherein said spring means is comprised of a first torsion spring and, said connecting means includes at least one roller, said at least one roller being positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one roller is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be rotatable in response to an amount of elastic deformation of said first torsion spring.

18. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, wherein said supporting panel is shaped as a desired curved surface forming a supporting surface for an occupant seated on said cushion portion.

19. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, wherein end portions of said pair of first linking members are connected to said supporting panel at a location in a rearward direction of said vehicle front seat from a hip point.

20. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, wherein said spring means is comprised of a first torsion spring and, said connecting means includes at least one movable piece, said at least one movable piece being positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one movable piece is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be slidable depending upon an amount of elastic deformation of said first torsion spring.

21. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, further comprising:

a pair of mounting brackets having a substantially rectangular cross-section respectively, wherein both end portions of said mounting brackets are fixed at respective locations of both side portions of said cushion frame so that respective intermediate portions of said mounting brackets support corresponding ones of said pair of first linking members rotatably about said respective fulcrums of said pair of first linking members and so that said pair of first linking members is supported to said cushion frame.

22. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, wherein said spanning member is formed such that a shaft axis thereof corresponds with a line which spans between said fulcrums of said pair of first linking members.

23. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, wherein said spanning member is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape such that an intermediate portion of said spanning member is positioned in a forward direction of the vehicle in relation to both end portions of said spanning member when said spanning member is provided between said pair of first linking members.

24. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, further comprising:

a second torsion spring connecting said pair of first linking members and preventing respective angles of rotation of said pair of first linking members from deviating.

25. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, wherein said spring means is comprised of a first torsion spring, and said connecting means includes at least one roller, said at least one roller being positioned at a location where said first torsion spring is urged into contact with said supporting panel, and said at least one roller is held in the vicinity of said front edge portion of said supporting panel so as to be rotatable in response to an amount of elastic deformation of said first torsion spring.

26. A seat cushion structure according to claim 14, wherein said spanning member is formed such that both end portions of said spanning member are cylindrical and an inner circumferential portion of said spanning member is serrated.

27. A seat cushion structure according to claim 20, further comprising:

a second torsion spring connecting said pair of first linking members and preventing respective angles of rotation of said pair of first linking members from deviating.

28. A seat cushion structure according to claim 13, further comprising:

a second torsion spring connecting said pair of first linking members and preventing respective angles of rotation of said pair of first linking members from deviating.

29. A seat cushion structure according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second torsion spring connecting said pair of first linking members and preventing respective angles of rotation of said pair of first linking members from deviating.

30. A seat cushion structure according to claim 16 wherein said pair of second linking members are respectively formed so as to be substantially L-shaped.

31. A seat cushion structure for use in a vehicle seat, comprising:

a cushion portion on which an occupant sits;

a supporting panel constructed and arranged to have a curved surface forming a supporting surface for the occupant, said supporting panel being overlaid with said cushion portion;

a supporting member, which extends around an outer-lower periphery of said cushion portion so as to support said supporting panel;

a pair of links supporting said cushion portion so that said cushion portion is freely movable in vertical directions of a vehicle; and

urging means for applying tensile force to areas between respective predetermined areas of said links and a predetermined area of said supporting member so that said cushion portion is urged upward via said links;

wherein each of said pair of links is formed in a substantial L-shape and is provided at a respective side portion of said cushion portion, a comer portion provided at an intermediate portion of each of said pair of links being supported to said supporting member so as to rotate freely, one end portion of each of said pair of links being attached to said cushion portion so as to rotate freely, and another end portion of each of said links being attached to one end of said urging means provided respectively at both side portions of said cushion portion.

32. A seat cushion structure according to claim 31, wherein each of said pair of links has a first arm portion between said one end portion and said corner portion and has a second arm portion between said another end portion and said corner portion, and when an occupant is seated on said cushion portion, a longitudinal direction of said first arm portion becomes substantially horizontal and a longitudinal direction of said second arm portion becomes substantially vertical.

33. A seat cushion structure according to claim 31, further comprising:

a torsion spring connecting said pair of links permitting said pair of links to pivot synchronously at an angle common to one another.

34. A seat cushion structure according to claim 31, further comprising:

a connecting member, which spans between respective fulcrums of said pair of links.

35. A seat cushion structure according to claim 34, wherein said connecting member is formed such that both end portions of said connecting member are cylindrical and an inner circumferential portion of said connecting member is serrated.

36. A seat cushion structure according to claim 32, further comprising:

a connecting member, which spans between respective fulcrums of said pair of links.

37. A seat cushion structure according to claim 36, wherein said connecting member is formed such that both end portions of said connecting member are cylindrical and an inner circumferential portion of said connecting member is serrated.