Claims:1. A vehicular seat (100) comprising:
a metallic element (102a, 102b) having U-shaped profile fixed to rear part of both side members (104a, 104b) of a seat frame structure (104); and
an emboss (106a, 106b) formed on each rear corner of a bottom surface of a seat cushion pad (108),
wherein in assembled condition, the emboss (106a, 106b) is placed inside the U-shaped profile of the metallic element (102a, 102b) while maintaining a predefined gap (112) from a top surface of the U-shaped profile of the metallic element (102a, 102b) in a vertical direction.
2. The vehicular seat (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element (102a, 102b) is fixed to the seat frame structure (104) through welding.
3. The vehicular seat (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped profile of the metallic element (102a, 102b) extends toward the seat cushion pad (108).
4. The vehicular seat (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emboss (106a, 106b) formed on each rear corner of the bottom surface of the seat cushion pad (108) rests on the top surface of the U-shaped profile of the metallic element (102a, 102b) during concentrated loading condition.
5. The vehicular seat (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element (102a, 102b) is a wire frame made of steel.
6. The vehicular seat (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein side surfaces of the emboss (106a, 106b) come in contact with the metallic element (102a, 102b) during concentrated loading condition.

Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a seat provided in a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicular seat having structure that avoid collapsing of seat cushion pad when a concentrated load is applied by occupant at seat cushion.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] In the conventional vehicular seat, the seat cushion pad is generally provided over the seat frame structure that is supported by the plurality of springs. The function of the plurality of springs is to eliminate inadvertent depression and uneven deformation of the seat frame structure.
[0004] So, when a passenger normally sits on the vehicular seat, there is less chances of deformation of the seat cushion pad.
[0005] But, when a passenger sits on the seat cushion in such a manner that a concentrated load is applied over specific areas of the cushion pad, there is great chances of deformation of the cushion pad.
[0006] For example, if the passenger stands on a rear part of the seat cushion with his/her knees, a localized load is applied to the rear part. For this reason, the rear side part of the seat cushion pad may sink downward toward the seat-lower side and may be caught at edges of the upper end portions of the side frames, so that the shape of the seat cushion pad is distorted.
[0007] So, with the conventional seat configuration, it is not possible to prevent the sinking of the seat cushion pad due to concentrated loading.
[0008] Some of the prior arts tried to solve the above-mentioned problem by proposing a complex bracket structures which in turn increases the cost and assembly time of vehicle.
[0009] Therefore, it is required to develop a vehicular seat having structure that is capable of realizing a favourable sitting quality while improving a restoring ability against sinking of rear side parts of a seat cushion pad during concentrated loading. Moreover, there is also a need of a vehicular seat structure that is easy to manufacture, economical, less prone to failure, less maintenance required and overcomes all the problems associated with the prior arts.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0011] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat that prevent the sinking or deformation of the cushion pad under concentrated loading.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat capable of providing a favourable sitting quality while improving a stiffness ability that avoid sinking of the rear side parts of a seat cushion pad.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat having enough stiffness and rigidity.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat that requires less maintenance.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat having a less complex structure and easy to manufacture.
[0016] It is further object to the present disclosure to provide a vehicular seat that is less prone to failure and also requires less maintenance as compared to the existing vehicular seat.
[0017] It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective and highly efficient vehicular seat.
[0018] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0019] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a vehicular seat structure that prevents sinking or deformation of a cushion pad under concentrated loading. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0020] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a vehicular seat comprising a metallic element having U-shaped profile fixed to rear part of both side members of a seat frame structure, an emboss formed on each rear corner of a bottom surface of a seat cushion pad, wherein in assembled condition, the emboss is placed inside the U-shaped profile of the metallic element while maintaining a predefined gap from a top surface of the U-shaped profile of the metallic element in a vertical direction.
[0021] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the vehicular seat in which the metallic element is fixed to the frame structure through welding.
[0022] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the vehicular seat in which the U-shaped profile of the metallic element extends toward the seat cushion pad.
[0023] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the vehicular seat in which the metallic element is a wire frame made of steel.
[0024] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates positions of deformation in a conventionally designed vehicular seat due to concentrated loading in accordance with the prior art;
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of one side of a vehicular seat structure in which a metallic element with U-shaped profile and cushion pad with emboss on its bottom surface are provided that restricts the deformation of the cushion pad in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 3A illustrates the direction of force applied on the cushion pad under concentrated loading in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 3B illustrates the working mechanism of the vehicular seat structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 4A illustrates the location where the metallic element is attached with the frame structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0031] FIG.4B illustrates the sectional view of the vehicular seat structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0033] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0034] In case of the conventional design of the vehicular seat, when the concentrated knee load is applied by occupant, there is great chance of collapse of rear end of the cushion pad.
[0035] FIG.1 illustrates the positions of deformation 110a,110b in the conventionally designed vehicular seat 100 due to concentrated loading in accordance with the prior art.
[0036] To overcome the issues related to the existing design of the vehicular seat 100, the present disclosure herein provides a structure to support the vehicular seat in such a manner that prevent the chances of collapsing of the vehicular seat under concentrated loading condition.
[0037] The present disclosure aims to solve the above technical problem by providing a vehicular seat 100 with a metallic element 102a, 102b having U-shaped profile fixed to rear part of both side members 104a, 104b of a seat frame structure 104 and cushion pad 108 with emboss 106a, 106b formed on each rear corner on its bottom surface, which in combination restricts the deformation of the cushion pad 108 under concentrated loading condition.
[0038] FIG.2 illustrates an enlarged view of one side of a vehicular seat in which the metallic element with U-shaped profile and cushion pad with emboss on its bottom surface are provided that restricts the deformation of the cushion pad in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] Here, the structure of the vehicular seat 100 of the present disclosure is provided with the plurality of springs below the cushion pad 108 that supports the cushion pad 108 under normal loading condition. But for concentrated loading, the present disclosure has also proposed some new components in the vehicular structure in which the metallic element 102a, 102b having U-shaped profile are fixed through welding to the rear part of both side members 104a and 104b of the seat frame structure 104. Moreover, the cushion pad 108 placed above the frame structure 104 is provided with emboss 106a, 106b that is formed on bottom surface of each of the rear corner of the cushion pad 108. This complete structure restricts the deformation of the cushion pad 108 under the concentrated loading condition.
[0040] FIG. 2 mainly illustrates the only one side of the vehicular seat structure 100 which clearly shows the attachment between the emboss 106a provided on the bottom surface of the cushion pad 108 and the U-shaped profiled metallic element 102a.Further, similar assembly of the metallic element and the emboss is provided on the other side of the frame structure for the effective results.
[0041] The U-shaped profiled metallic element 102a, 102b is a wire frame made of steel and they extend towards the seat cushion 108.
[0042] FIG. 3A illustrates the direction of force applied on the cushion pad under concentrated loading in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] Generally, the concentrated load is applied when the passenger stands on a rear part of the seat cushion pad with his/her knees, a localized load is applied to the rear part in the vertical direction as shown in the Fig.3a. For this reason, the rear side part of the seat cushion pad may sink downward towards the seat-lower side and may be caught at edges of the upper end portions of the side frames, so that the shape of the seat cushion pad is distorted.
[0044] FIG. 3B illustrates the working mechanism of the various components in the vehicular seat 100 under the application of concentrated load in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] When the load is applied in the vertical direction on the vehicular seat structure as shown in the figure 3(a), the rear end of the seat cushion pad 108 rests on the top surface of the U-shaped profile of the metallic element 102a, 102b. As a result, the load is absorbed by the metallic element 102a, 102b and the movement of the cushion pad 108 in Z-direction is restricted.
[0046] Further, the side surfaces of the emboss 106a, 106b come in contact with the metallic element 102a, 102b during concentrated loading condition. As a result, the movement of the cushion pad 108 is restricted in X as well as Y directions. Thus the cushion pad 108 will not get displaced from its original position during concentrated loading condition.
[0047] FIG. 4A illustrates the location where the metallic element 102a is attached with the frame structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.4B illustrates the sectional view of the vehicular seat structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0048] In fig.4A, the metallic element 102a is attached to the side of the frame structure 104 through welding. It clearly shows the weld joint 114 that is used to attach the metallic element 102a with the one side 104a of the frame structure 104.
[0049] Thus, with the vehicular seat structure described in the present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved. Also, a number of exemplary method options are described herein, the person skilled in the art will appreciate the proposed vehicle seat structure, without deviating from the scope of the subject matter of the present disclosure.
[0050] The various technical advantages associated with the vehicular seat structure proposed herein are:
• Avoid collapse of seat cushion during concentrated loading.
• Easy to manufacture.
• Simple and cost effective design.
• Less prone to failure.
• Less maintenance required.
[0051] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.
[0052] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0053] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.