# US 10,479,248 B2 · Vehicle seat

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- Number: US 10,479,248 B2
- Document ID: US10479248B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/847,213
- Filed: 2017-12-19
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-27
- Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Hideyuki Izukawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479248B2

## CPC

- B60N 2/914: {Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape}
- B60N 2/026: {varying hardness or support of upholstery, e.g. for tuning seat comfort when driving curved roads}
- B60N 2/0268: {using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant}
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle seat including: a surface cover covering a surface of the vehicle seat; a pad; a shape change unit including an air bag configured to expand and contract and configured to change a shape of the surface of the vehicle seat; and a buffer member provided between the air bag and the surface cover, wherein the buffer member is configured to be deformed elastically by expansion and contraction of the air bag.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle seat comprising:
a surface cover covering a surface of the vehicle seat;
a pad;
a shape change unit including an air bag configured to expand and contract and configured to change a shape of the surface of the vehicle seat; and
a buffer member provided between the air bag and the surface cover,
wherein the buffer member is configured to be deformed elastically in an expansion/contraction direction of the air bag by expansion and contraction of the air bag, such that a thickness portion of the buffer member is reduced, and
wherein the buffer member includes a fixed portion fixed to a portion of the shape change unit except for the air bag.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the pad includes a recessed portion opened toward the surface cover, and
wherein at least a part of the air bag is configured to be accommodated in the recessed portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the buffer member includes the fixed portion fixed to the pad.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle seat according to claim 3,
wherein a thickness of the fixed portion is not substantially changed when the air bag expands and contracts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The vehicle seat according to claim 3,
wherein the buffer member includes a main portion and a protrusion portion, and
wherein the fixed portion includes the protrusion portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat according to claim 1,
wherein the buffer member is bonded to the surface cover.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member includes the fixed portion fixed to an outer-peripheral edge of the pad, and
wherein the buffer member is not fixed to a portion except for the outer-peripheral edge of the pad.

### Claim 8

A vehicle seat comprising:
a surface cover covering a surface of the vehicle seat;
a pad;
a shape change unit including an air bag configured to expand and contract and configured to change a shape of the surface of the vehicle seat; and
a buffer member provided between the air bag and the surface cover,
wherein the buffer member is configured to be deformed elastically in an expansion/contraction direction of the air bag by expansion and contraction of the air bag, such that a thickness portion of the buffer member is reduced,
wherein the buffer member includes a fixed portion fixed to at least one of an outer-peripheral edge of the pad and a portion of the shape change unit except for the air bag, and
wherein the buffer member is not fixed to a portion except for the outer-peripheral edge of the pad.