# US 11,305,677 B2 · Vehicle seat device

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- Number: US 11,305,677 B2
- Document ID: US11305677B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/146,815
- Filed: 2021-01-12
- Published: 2021-07-22
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-17
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Tetsuya Nagai; Kohshi Katoh; Koki Kunugi; Ayumu Takeda; Masatoshi Hada
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305677B2

## CPC

- B60N 2/68: Seat frames
- B60N 2/682: {Joining means}
- B60N 2/10: tiltable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2875} take precedence)
- B60N 2/503: {attached to the backrest (B60N2/504 takes precedence)}
- B60N 2/54: using mechanical springs
- B60N 2/7094: {Upholstery springs}
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle seat device includes an SB main frame that is joined to a seat cushion via a reclining shaft; an SB subframe that is swingable with respect to the SB main frame at least about a roll axis; a backrest that is installed on the SB subframe; and a lower support wire and an upper support wire that limit rearward movement of the SB subframe and allow movement of the SB subframe about the roll axis. A straight line connecting between the front end and the rear end of the lower support wire is inclined with respect to a normal line so as to rise toward the front, the normal line being normal to a straight line connecting between an upper end of the SB main frame and the reclining shaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle seat device comprising:
a seat back main frame that is in an upright position in a cabin, the seat back main frame being joined to a seat cushion via a reclining shaft;
a seat back subframe that is swingable with respect to the seat back main frame at least about a roll axis;
a backrest configured to support a back portion of a vehicle occupant, the backrest being installed on the seat back subframe and being swingable together with the seat back subframe; and
a plurality of support members each having a front end joined to the seat back main frame and a rear end joined to the seat back subframe and having a variable joint-to-joint distance to limit rearward movement of the seat back subframe and allow movement of the seat back subframe about the roll axis,
wherein the plurality of support members include a lower support member disposed in a lower half area of the seat back subframe and an upper support member disposed in an upper half area of the seat back subframe, and
wherein a straight line connecting between the front end and the rear end of the lower support member is inclined with respect to a reference normal line so as to rise toward the front, the reference normal line being normal to a straight line connecting between an upper end of the seat back main frame and the reclining shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein a straight line connecting between the front end and the rear end of the upper support member is inclined with respect to the reference normal line so as to lower toward the front.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein the upper support member is a non-linear elastic body, wherein the non-linear elastic body exhibits no tension in an initial phase after application of a rearward load that causes the seat back subframe to move rearward with respect to the seat back main frame, and wherein the non-linear elastic body increases tension after the initial phase is over.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein the straight line connecting between the front end and the rear end of the lower support member is inclined with respect to the reference normal line at an angle of from 25 degrees to 35 degrees.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein the upper support member and the lower support member are selected from the group consisting of elongated flexible members, springs, and dampers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a relay disk fixed to a rear side of the backrest; and
a plurality of suspensions each strung between the relay disk and the seat back main frame, the plurality of suspensions being configured to hold the backrest in a suspended manner from the seat back main frame.