IP Library › Granted Patent US 12662028
Granted Patent B2
US 12662028 · App. 18/305,233 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Seat back panel, seat back frame and vehicle seat

Inventors: Takumi Arai (Yokohama, JP); Takuma Oki (Yokohama, JP); Yusuke Yadomaru (Tokyo, JP); Masami Handa (Tokyo, JP); Toshimitu Nishio (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.; SUBARU CORPORATION
B60N2/4228B60N2/643A47C7/462B60N2/686B60N2/70
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12662028
App. No.
18/305,233
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seat back panel includes a panel main body and a separate panel. The panel main body is disposed at a posterior portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat. The panel main body structures a portion of a main body portion of a seat back frame. An aperture is formed at a location of the panel main body that opposes a dorsal region of a seat occupant. The separate panel is attached to the main body portion and closes up the aperture. At a time of rear-end collision of the vehicle, the separate panel receives a load from the dorsal region of the seat occupant and relatively displaces toward the rear side of the seat back with respect to the panel main body.

Claims (16)

1 . A seat back frame comprising:

a frame main body provided at a seat back of a vehicle seat, the frame main body being formed in a frame shape as seen in a front-and-rear direction of the seat back; and

a seat back panel being disposed at a rear side of the seat back relative to the frame main body, the seat back panel comprising:

a panel main body disposed at a posterior portion of the seat back of the vehicle seat, the panel main body structuring a portion of a main body portion of the seat back frame, and an aperture being formed in the panel main body at a location opposing a dorsal region of a seat occupant; and

a separate panel attached to the main body portion and closes up the aperture, and at a time of a rear-end collision of a vehicle, the separate panel receiving a load from the dorsal region and relatively displacing toward the rear side of the seat back with respect to the panel main body,

wherein the panel main body is fixed to the frame main body and structures the main body portion,

wherein the separate panel is coupled to the main body portion via a resilient member, and configured to be retained at a usual position that closes up the aperture of the panel main body during usual times when no rear-end collision load is applied,

wherein the separate panel comprises an abutting portion that abuts against a rim portion of the aperture from the rear side of the seat back, and

wherein distal end portions of the abutting portion of the separate panel are inflected toward a front side of the seat back and inserted into penetrating holes formed in the panel main body.

2 . The seat back frame according to claim 1 , wherein:

one end portion of the separate panel is turnably coupled to the main body portion, and

another end portion of the separate panel is coupled to the main body portion via the resilient member.

3 . A vehicle seat comprising:

a seat cushion on which a seat occupant sits;

the seat back frame according to claim 1 ; and

a seat back that serves as a backrest for the seat occupant, a framework of the seat back being structured by the seat back frame.