Seat cushion pad for automobiles

• US 6,089,657 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TOYO Tire & Rubber Company Limited (Toyo Tire Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TOYO Tire & Rubber Company Limited (Toyo Tire Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Hiroaki, Nakajima, Tsutomu, Yamamoto, Junji, Banno, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/149,960
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.27, 297/DIG. 1, 297/218.1
• US Class Current: 297/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/029 of non-adjustable shape adapted to a user contour or ergonomic seating positions
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/18 having foamed material included in cushioning part foamed material mattresses A47C27/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/01 Foam

Abstract

A seat cushion pad for automobiles, wherein at least a part of the seat surface portion comprises a high-resilience foam. The foam is selected such that a load ratio (3%ISR) between a load at which the thickness is 25% compressed when pressed with a pressure plate having a diameter of 60 mm (25%-strain load) and a load at which the thickness is 3% compressed when pressed with the same pressure plate (3%-strain load) is at least about 6. Alternatively, another ratio (5%ISR) between the load at which the thickness is 25% compressed when pressed with the above dimensioned pressure plate (25%-strain load) and a load at which the thickness is 5% compressed when pressed with the pressure plate (5%-strain load) is selected to be at least about 4. Such design provides comfortable seating and resistance against fatigue even during periods of extended driving, and can be prepared at a low cost with a large degree of design freedom.

Claims

1. A seat cushion pad for automobiles, comprising:

a seat surface portion, at least a part of the seat surface portion comprising a high-resilience foam; and

the seat surface portion having a 3%ISR value of at least about 6, said 3%ISR value being determined from the equation;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3%ISR=25%-strain load/3%-strain load

wherein the 25%-strain load is a load at which a thickness of said seat surface portion is 25% compressed when pressed by a pressure plate having a diameter of 60 mm, and the 3%-strain load is another load at which the thickness is 3% compressed when pressed with said pressure plate.

2. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 1, wherein the high-resilience foam is a polyurethane foam and is prepared with an isocyanate containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate as a main constituent.

3. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 1, wherein the high-resilience foam is a polyurethane foam and is prepared with an isocyanate containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate as a main constituent and containing tolylene diisocyanate in a ratio of less than 10%.

4. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 1, wherein said seat surface portion of the seat cushion pad includes hanging grooves formed therein in a gravity direction when said seat surface portion is in a fitted state, said hanging grooves being arranged at an angle to a surface of said seat surface portion.

5. A seat cushion pad for automobiles, comprising:

a seat surface portion, at least a part of the seat surface portion comprising a high-resilience foam; and

the seat surface portion having a 5%ISR value of at least about 4, said 5%ISR value being determined from the equation;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">5%ISR=25%-strain load/5%-strain load

wherein the 25%-strain load is a load at which a thickness of said seat surface portion is 25% compressed when pressed by a pressure plate having a diameter of 60 mm, and the 5%-strain load is another load at which the thickness is 5% compressed when pressed with said pressure plate.

6. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 5, wherein the high-resilience foam is a polyurethane foam and is prepared with an isocyanate containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate as a main constituent.

7. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 5, wherein the high-resilience foam is a polyurethane foam and is prepared with an isocyanate containing diphenylmethane diisocyanate as a main constituent and containing tolylene diisocyanate in a ratio of less than 10%.

8. A seat cushion pad for automobiles according to claim 5, wherein said seat surface portion of the seat cushion pad includes hanging grooves formed therein in a gravity direction when said seat surface portion is in a fitted state, said hanging grooves being arranged at an angle to a surface of said seat surface portion.