Thin plate-reinforcement structure utilizing reinforcing effect of weld bead and method of producing the same

A thin plate-reinforcement structure utilizing a reinforcing effect of a weld bead, comprising:

• a first component including a thin plate portion;
• and
• a second component having a thickness greater than that of the thin plate portion, wherein:
• the first component and the second component are welded together through at least one weld area, and a stress-dispersing weld bead is provided to extend from an overlapping region between the weld area and the first component, onto the first component or the second component, the stress-dispersing weld bead being set to a direction and length capable of preventing fatigue crack from occurring in the first component;
• the second component is right and left side frames of a cushion frame to be installed inside a seat cushion of an automobile seat;
• and
• the first component is the cushion pan to be bridgingly arc-welded to the right and left side frames;
• a lower surface of the cushion pan adjacent to each of right and left ends thereof is brought into contact with an upper surface of a respective one of the right and left side frames;
• a periphery of a hole formed in a vicinity of each of the right and left ends of the cushion pan is arc-welded to the upper surface of the respective one of the right and left side frames;
• and
• the stress-dispersing weld bead is formed to extend from an overlapping region between the weld area which is an area subject to a stress concentration and the upper surface of the cushion pan, onto the cushion pan.

A thin plate-reinforcement structure utilizing a reinforcing effect of a weld bead, comprising:

• a first component including a thin plate portion and having opposite first and second surfaces;
• and
• a second component having a thickness greater than that of the thin plate portion,
• wherein the first component and the second component are welded together through at least two weld areas by arc-welding the second component to the first component on the second surface of the first component in a state where the second component is brought into contact with the first surface of the first component, and a stress-dispersing weld bead is provided to extend from an overlapping region between a weld area of the at least two weld areas and the first component, onto the second surface of the first component, the stress-dispersing weld bead being set to a direction and length capable of preventing fatigue crack from occurring in the first component, and
• wherein the first component is right and left side frames of a back frame to be installed inside a seat back of an automobile seat.