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Seat apparatus for vehicle

Seat apparatus for vehicle description/claims

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C §119 with respect to Japanese Patent Application 2007-013978, filed on Jan. 24, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to a seat apparatus for a vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to a fixing structure for fixing a cover of a seat cushion to a frame.

A known cover fixing structure of a seat for a vehicle is disclosed in JP2000-309239A. In the cover fixing structure, a cover member is provided at a skeletal frame arranged at each side of a seat cushion relative to a width direction thereof. Further, a cover hooking member, made of a steel wire, is fixed to the cover member for hooking the cover. This structure simplifies operation for hooking an end portion of the cover.

On the other hand, in a cover fixing structure of a seat for a vehicle disclosed in JP 2001-197969A, a bracket shaped bead is formed at a lower end portion of a skeletal frame of a seat cushion for hooking a cover. The bead simplifies fixation of a retainer, on which an end portion of the cover is stitched.

However, in JP2000-309239A, the fixation structure, in which the cover is hooked by the cover hooking member extending to a lower end portion of the skeletal frame, is adopted. In the structure, the cover and the like are disposed below the skeletal frame. Therefore, the structure potentially causes difficulty in preventing the interference with members in vicinity and in securing a predetermined space.

Further, an additional component (cover hooking member), exclusively used for hooking the cover, is required. For the reason, the number of the components is increased, leading to an increase in the manufacturing cost.

On the other hand, in JP2001-197969A, the fixation structure, in which the cover is fixed by fixing the retainer to the lower end portion (bead) of the skeletal frame, is adopted. In the structure, the retainer and the like are disposed below the skeletal frame. Thus, similarly to the fixation structure disclosed in JP2000-309239A, the structure potentially causes the difficulty in preventing the interference with members in vicinity and in securing a predetermined space.

A need exists for a seat apparatus which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a seat apparatus for a vehicle having a seat cushion on which an occupant is seated, includes a pad forming a seating surface, a cover for covering the pad, a frame positioned below the pad at each side of the seat cushion, relative to a width direction of the seat cushion, the frame including a main body forming a side wall which extends in vertical and longitudinal directions relative to the seat cushion and an aperture formed at the main body, and a retainer attached to an end portion of the cover and retained at a peripheral portion of the aperture for fixing the cover to the frame.

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a lower arm;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a lower arm;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention; and

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