IP Library Granted Patent US 8,231,174
Granted Patent B2
US 8,231,174 · App. 11/921,554 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Seat structure and seat contraction method

Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,231,174
App. No.
11/921,554
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a seat ( 10 ) is to be stowed, a seat pad ( 28 ) is moved toward a seat ( 10 ) reverse side, pad side portions ( 32 ) are rotated toward the seat ( 10 ) reverse side with respect to a pad center portion ( 30 ), and a center portion ( 12 ) and side portions ( 14 ) of the seat ( 10 ) are contracted. Here, interlockingly with contraction of the side portions ( 14 ), a skin ( 42 ) is bent and folded in at portions covering distal ends of vertical walls ( 22 ) of a wall panel ( 18 ) and at second fixing portions ( 42 B). Due thereto, slack of the skin ( 42 ) at seat ( 10 ) lateral direction end surfaces can be taken in.

Claims (21)

1. A seat structure comprising:

a contracting portion provided at an end portion of a seat, and made to be contractible;

a covering member covering the contracting portion;

an internal member provided within the contracting portion, and having elasticity, and at which a plurality of concave portions are formed at a seat reverse side surface, and at which a convex portion is formed between the concave portions;

a supporting member supporting the concave portions of the internal member from the seat reverse side by, in an extended state, contacting the convex portion; and

a taking-in component taking in slack of the covering member at the seat end surface when the contracting portion is contracted;

wherein the taking-in component includes

a non-interlocked portion on which the covering member is fixed, and which is not interlocked with contraction of the contracting portion; and

an interlocked portion which is disposed further toward a seat obverse side than the non-interlocked portion, and on which the covering member is fixed, and which is interlocked with contraction of the contracting portion and which moves the covering member toward the seat interior.

2. The seat structure of claim 1 , wherein the taking-in component pulls the covering member into the seat interior interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion.

3. The seat structure of claim 2 , wherein the taking-in component has an elastic member which pulls the covering member into the seat interior interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion.

4. The seat structure of claim 2 , wherein, interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion, the taking-in component pulls the covering member into the seat interior from the seat end surface.

5. The seat structure of claim 1 , wherein the taking-in component folds in the covering member interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion.

6. The seat structure of claim 5 , wherein the taking-in component has a fold-in member which is provided so as to project from the contracting portion toward the seat central side, and which folds in the covering member interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion.

7. The seat structure of claim 6 , comprising a pliable member provided at the seat obverse side of the fold-in member.

8. The seat structure of claim 1 , wherein the taking-in component has a contracting region which is provided at the covering member and which contracts interlockingly with contraction of the contracting portion.

9. The seat structure of claim 8 , wherein the contracting region is at least one of a region which is wave-shaped in cross-section and an elastic region.

10. The seat structure of claim 1 , wherein, when the contracting portion is contracted, a fixed position of the covering member on the interlocked portion is disposed further than the obverse side of the fold-in member.

11. The seat structure of claim 1 , wherein the taking-in component further includes

a connecting member connecting a portion of the covering member between the non-interlocked portion and the interlocked portion, and an interior portion of the seat.

12. The seat structure of claim 1 , comprising a sliding member which is provided between the contracting portion and the covering member and which slides the covering member with respect to the contracting portion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: YAMADA, MASAYUKI; KOBAYASHI, HIDEKI; TOKAI, TAKESHI; MORI, MASAKI; ONODA, KEISUKE; ITOU, MAKOTO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 023770/0528 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2009
From: YAMADA, MASAYUKI; KOBAYASHI, HIDEKI; TOKAI, TAKESHI; MORI, MASAKI; ONODA, KEISUKE; ITOU, MAKOTO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 022896/0268 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-165679 · Jun 6, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090302652A1 · Dec 10, 2009