Side air bag-carrying seat structure

• US 6,003,939 A
• Filed: 06/24/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha, Bridgestone Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Araco Kabushiki Kaisha, Bridgestone Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Hideyuki, Kato, Hisaaki, Onuki, Yasuji, Asano, Makoto, Oyabu, Masanori, Nakai, Shigeharu
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/068,218
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 297/452.59, 297/452.6, 297/216.13
• US Class Current: 297/216.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

In a seat structure having a side air bag device, a longitudinal groove (36) is formed in a seat back pad (14) along the longitudinal direction of the seat back pad, and an insert wire (40) which holds a seat outer cover, is embedded in the longitudinal groove (36). Bent portions (44) are formed in portions of the insert wire (40), which portions oppose the air bag device. Each of the bent portions (44) is bent in a substantially U-shaped configuration, and a slab pad (46) is wound around an outer peripheral portion of a base portion (44A) of each bent portion. Further, the bent portions (44) of the insert wire (40) are each provided to extend rearwardly and diagonally toward the inner side of a seat back (10) so that the embedded length of the insert wire (40) embedded in the seat back pad (14) is made longer, and adverse influences on riding comfort are thereby suppressed.

Claims

1. A seat structure having a side air bag device comprising:

a seat back pad disposed adjacent to the side air bag device;

a seat outer cover covering the seat back pad and the side air bag device; and

an insert wire embedded in the seat back pad,

wherein portions of the seat outer cover covering the side air bag device are attached at a plurality of points to the insert wire, and wherein the insert wire between adjacent connection points includes a convex bent portion which projects rearwardly.

2. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the bent portion of the insert wire is provided to extend rearwardly and diagonally toward an inner side of the seat back pad.

3. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to claim 1, further comprising a second insert wire, wherein left and right longitudinal grooves are provided in the seat back pad along the vertical direction of the seat back pad, and wherein the first insert wire is embedded in a bottom portion of the left groove and the second insert wire is embedded in a bottom portion of the right groove, and respective lower ends of the insert wires are connected together in the transverse direction of the seat structure.

4. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to claim 1, further comprising a second insert wire, wherein left and right longitudinal grooves are provided in the seat back pad along the vertical direction of the seat back pad, and wherein the insert wires are embedded independently in bottom portions of the left and right grooves and both end portions of each of the insert wires are each bent in a loop shape.

5. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the insert wire is embedded in a bottom portion of a transverse groove provided in the transverse direction of the seat back pad, and an end portion of the insert wire is bent in a loop shape.

9. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6, 7, or 8, wherein a cloth which is more difficult to extend than the seat outer cover is provided at a rear surface of a side surface seat outer cover, a front end of the cloth is sewn to a sewn-together portion to be broken, and a rear end of the cloth is engaged with a seat-side fixing member.

6. A seat structure having a side air bag device in which the seat structure having the side air bag device is covered with a seat outer cover,

wherein an insert wire is embedded in a vehicle occupant supporting surface of a seat back pad of the seat structure, and a winding member is provided at a portion of an embedded portion of the insert wire embedded in the seat back pad, so as to allow a material for the seat back pad to be impregnated into the seat back pad and to foam.

7. A seat structure having a side air bag device according to claim 6, wherein at least a section of the insert wire which section opposes the air bag device is bent convexly toward a rear side of a vehicle, and the winding member is provided at the bent section.

8. A seat structure having a side air bag device, in which the seat structure having the side air bag device is covered with a seat outer cover,

wherein an insert wire is embedded in a vehicle occupant supporting surface of a seat back pad of the seat structure, a through hole is formed in the seat back pad at a position opposing the air bag device, and connecting means connected to the seat outer cover is engaged with a seat-side fixing member via the through hole.