Seat-cushion shell unit and shell seat for vehicle

• US 9,061,621 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Original Assignee: NHK Spring Company Limited
• Inventors: Hisamoto, Tadanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, ALEXANDER SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US13/751,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20130134756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 297/452.55, 297/452.12, 297/344.15, 297/344.16, 297/344.17, 297/313
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/16 height-adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1615 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1803 with independent front and/or rear adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/507 Parallelogram-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/542 made of rubber or other material having high internal friction, e.g. polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/707 with rubber blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/7094 Upholstery springs

Abstract

A seat-cushion shell unit is configured to include a support panel provided to be movable up and down and tiltable to an arbitrary angle below a seat cushion shell, and a support pad provided between the seat cushion shell and the support panel. A front end part and a rear end part of a support panel are fixed to the seat frame, and the seat-cushion shell unit is attached to the seat frame.

Claims

1. A seat-cushion shell unit for a shell seat for a vehicle, the shell seat comprising a seat frame, a forward/backward-position adjustment mechanism provided below the seat frame, and an exterior cover material provided as the outermost layer of the shell seat, and the seat-cushion shell unit comprising:

a seat cushion shell made of a substantially rigid material;

a support panel connected to a bottom of the seat cushion shell by a joint mechanism so as to be movable up and down and be tiltable to an arbitrary angle, the support panel comprising a to surface portion; and

an elastic body provided between the support panel and the seat cushion shell, the elastic body comprising a bottom surface portion which is in surface contact with the to surface portion of the support panel along substantially an entirety of the bottom surface portion of the elastic body and the top surface portion of the support panel,

wherein the seat-cushion shell unit is attachable to the seat frame through the support panel.

2. The seat-cushion shell unit according to claim 1, wherein front and rear parts of the support panel are attachable to the seat frame.

3. A shell seat for a vehicle, comprising:

the seat frame;

the forward/backward-position adjustment mechanism provided below the seat frame;

the exterior cover material provided as the outermost layer of the shell seat;

the seat-cushion shell unit according to claim 1;

a seat back shell; and

a height adjustment mechanism which adjusts a height of the seat-cushion shell unit,

wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises link mechanisms provided at left and right sides of the seat frame, and a drive mechanism which drives the link mechanisms.

4. A shell seat for a vehicle, comprising:

the seat frame;

the forward/backward-position adjustment mechanism provided below the seat frame;

the exterior cover material provided as the outermost layer of the shell seat;

the seat-cushion shell unit according to claim 2;

a seat back shell; and

a height adjustment mechanism which adjusts a height of the seat-cushion shell unit,

wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises link mechanisms provided at left and right sides of the seat frame, and a drive mechanism which drives the link mechanisms.

5. A seat-cushion shell unit for a shell seat for a vehicle, the shell seat comprising a seat frame, a forward/backward-position adjustment mechanism provided below the seat frame, and an exterior cover material provided as the outermost layer of the shell seat, the seat-cushion shell unit being detachably attachable to the seat frame forming an exterior shape of a chair, and the seat-cushion shell unit comprising:

a seat cushion shell which is made of a substantially rigid material and which serves as a bearing face;

a support panel arranged below the seat cushion shell, the support panel comprising a to surface portion and an engaging part which is engageable with the seat frame;

a joint mechanism which connects a bottom of the seat cushion shell to the support panel so as to be movable up and down and be tiltable to an arbitrary angle; and

an elastic body provided between the support panel and the seat cushion shell, the elastic body comprising a bottom surface portion which is in surface contact with the to surface portion of the support panel along substantially an entirety of the bottom surface portion of the elastic body and the top surface portion of the support panel.

6. A shell seat for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat frame which is set on a floor and forms an exterior shape of a seat;

a forward/backward-position adjustment mechanism provided below the seat frame;

an exterior cover material provided as the outermost layer of the shell seat;

a seat back shell which is attached to the seat frame and serves as a back face;

a seat cushion shell which is made of a substantially rigid material, which is attached to the seat frame, and which serves as a bearing face;

a support panel arranged below the seat cushion shell, the support panel comprising a to surface portion and an engaging part engaged with the seat frame;

a joint mechanism which connects a bottom of the seat cushion shell to the support panel so as to be movable up and down and be tiltable to an arbitrary angle;

an elastic body provided between the support panel and the seat cushion shell, the elastic body comprising a bottom surface portion which is in surface contact with the to surface portion of the support panel along substantially an entirety of the bottom surface portion of the elastic body and the top surface portion of the support panel; and

a height adjustment mechanism which adjusts a height of the seat frame from the floor and which comprises (i) link mechanisms provided at left and right sides of the seat frame, and (ii) a drive mechanism to drive the link mechanisms.