Seat back frame

• US 8,690,255 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Tachi-S Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Tachi-S Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamaki, Jogen, Nishide, Harutomi, Oku, Hisato, Abe, Hiroshi, Nishihara, Munetoshi, Oka, Yoshitomo, Saito, Kenichi, Furuta, Yozo
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, PETER R
• Application Number:
  US13/152,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 297/284.4, 297/452.18, 297/452.52, 297/452.56, 297/216.13, 297/216.14
• US Class Current: 297/452.52
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4228 due to impact coming from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/66 Lumbar supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/667 having flexible support member bowed by applied forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/682 Joining means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7011 of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/72 Attachment or adjustment thereof

Abstract

A seat back frame for a seat of a vehicle includes: a pair of side frames placed at a left side and a right side in a width direction of a seat; a head rest supporting frame supporting a head rest; a supporting plate, a both ends of the supporting plate being connected to a lower portion of each of the side frames; an upper opening provided above the supporting plate, the upper opening being opened in a front-rear direction; a planar elastic body provided across the upper opening; and a connection member elastically connecting a lower portion of the planar elastic body and an upper portion of the supporting plate.

Claims

1. A seat back frame for a seat of a vehicle, the seat back frame comprising:

a pair of side frames placed at a left side and a right side in a width direction of a seat;

an upper portion cross member disposed between an upper portion of the side frames;

a supporting plate extending between and interconnecting a lower portion of the side frames;

an upper opening defined between the side frames, the upper portion cross member, and the supporting plate and relatively above the supporting plate, the upper opening being opened in a front-rear direction;

a planar elastic body extending across the upper opening; and

a connection member elastically connecting a lower portion of the planar elastic body to an upper portion of the supporting plate;

wherein said planar elastic body is configured to have a lower rigidity as compared to said connection member such that, in the event of a rear end collision, said planar elastic body undergoes greater elastic deformation toward a rear side than does said connection member, and

wherein the connection member comprises a wire member, said wire member being connected, at each end, to the side frames and, at an intermediate portion located between the ends, to the supporting plate.

2. The seat back frame according to claim 1, wherein the supporting plate includes a hook, and wherein the intermediate portion of the wire member latches with the hook.

3. The seat back from according to claim 1, further comprising an upper frame part and a head rest, said upper frame part being formed in an upside-down U-shape and having legs that are connected to the side frames and between which the upper portion cross member is disposed, said headrest being mounted to the upper frame part and extending upwardly therefrom.

4. The seat back from according to claim 1, wherein the planar elastic body is mounted between the upper portion cross member and the supporting plate so as to be received in the upper opening and spaced laterally inwardly from the side frames.

5. The seat back frame according to claim 1, wherein an upper portion of the planar elastic body is connected to the upper portion cross member.

6. A seat back frame for a seat of a vehicle, the seat back frame comprising:

a pair of side frames placed at a left side and a right side in a width direction of a seat;

an upper portion cross member disposed between an upper portion of the side frames;

a supporting plate extending between and interconnecting a lower portion of the side frames;

an upper opening defined between the side frames, the upper portion cross member, and the supporting plate and relatively above the supporting plate, the upper opening being opened in a front-rear direction;

a planar elastic body extending across the upper opening; and

a connection member elastically connecting a lower portion of the planar elastic body to an upper portion of the supporting plate,

wherein

said planar elastic body is configured to have a lower rigidity as compared to said connection member such that, in the event of a rear end collision, said planar elastic body undergoes greater elastic deformation toward a rear side than does said connection member,

the connection member includes a wire member connected to the pair of side frames, the wire member being elongated along the width direction of the seat,

a hook is provided to the supporting plate, the hook latching with the wire member,

the wire member includes;

a latching part formed in a crank shape, both ends of the latching part being elongated upwards, and the latching part being latched to the hook; and

an elongating part elongated along the width direction of the seat, and the planar elastic body is connected to the elongating part.

7. The seat back from according to claim 6, further comprising an upper frame part and a head rest, said upper frame part being formed in an upside-down U-shape and having legs that are connected to the side frames and between which the upper portion cross member is disposed, said headrest being mounted to the upper frame part and extending upwardly therefrom.

8. The seat back from according to claim 6, wherein the planar elastic body is mounted between the upper portion cross member and the supporting plate so as to be received in the upper opening and spaced laterally inwardly from the side frames.

9. The seat back frame according to claim 6, wherein an upper portion of the planar elastic body is connected to the upper portion cross member.