Abstract: Provided is a microplastic discharge amount assessment method with which it is possible to objectively quantitatively assess the discharged amount of microplastic discharged from a textile product containing a synthetic resin. The microplastic discharge amount assessment method is characterized by including: a cleaning step for retrieving a test piece of a specified size or mass from a textile product containing a synthetic resin, and cleaning said test piece; a filtering step for using a filter to filter all wastewater discharged in the cleaning step; a measurement step for measuring the mass of textile waste trapped by the filter; and an assessment step for assessing the discharged amount of microplastic discharged from the textile product, on the basis of the measurement result from the measurement step.

Abstract: Provided is a gearbox for vehicle seats that can inhibit rattling of its shaft while inhibiting an increase in sliding resistance at a shaft end. The gearbox is used in a movable mechanism of a vehicle seat, and including a housing, a thrust bearing, and a cap. The housing accommodates a shaft, a gear, and a rotary bearing therein, and includes a female screw portion. The thrust bearing includes a force applied portion to be in contact with an end of the shaft, a male screw portion threadedly engaged with the female screw portion, and an engaged portion arranged to interpose the male screw portion between the engaged portion and the force applied portion in an axial direction of the shaft. The cap includes an engaging portion in engagement with the engaged portion of the thrust bearing, and a removal stopper restricting removal of the thrust bearing from the housing.

Abstract: An armrest of a seat for a vehicle includes a first armrest that is movable between a storage position where the first armrest constitutes a part of a seating surface of a seat back and a use position where the first armrest abuts against and is supported on a seating surface of a seat cushion, a rear end portion of the first armrest in the use position being connected to a lower portion of the seat back to be rotatable forward and backward about a first rotation axis extending in a lateral direction of the seat, and a second armrest that is connected to the first armrest to be interlocked with the first armrest, is close to a rear side of the first armrest in the storage position, and is separated upward from the first armrest in the use position.

Abstract: An armrest of a seat for a vehicle includes a first armrest that is movable between a storage position where the first armrest constitutes a part of a seating surface of a seat back and a use position where the first armrest abuts against and is supported on a seating surface of a seat cushion, a rear end portion of the first armrest in the use position being connected to a lower portion of the seat back to be rotatable forward and backward about a first rotation axis extending in a lateral direction of the seat, and a second armrest that is connected to the first armrest to be interlocked with the first armrest, is close to a rear side of the first armrest in the storage position, and is separated upward from the first armrest in the use position.

Abstract: There is provided an occupant detection correction system including: a load detection section that detects load imparted to a vehicle seat and outputs a load signal representing the load; an occupant detection section that detects an occupant based on the load signal and is capable of resetting the load signal to a reference point based on a predetermined reset instruction; a tilt angle detection section that detects a predetermined tilt angle of a seatback; and a permitting section that permits execution of resetting the load signal to the reference point by the occupant detection section when the predetermined tilt angle is detected by the tilt angle detection section.

Abstract: There is provided an occupant detection correction system including: a load detection section that detects load imparted to a vehicle seat and outputs a load signal representing the load; an occupant detection section that detects an occupant based on the load signal and is capable of resetting the load signal to a reference point based on a predetermined reset instruction; a tilt angle detection section that detects a predetermined tilt angle of a seatback; and a permitting section that permits execution of resetting the load signal to the reference point by the occupant detection section when the predetermined tilt angle is detected by the tilt angle detection section.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a pass-through between the passenger compartment and the cargo space of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a front portion, the front portion surrounding a front opening of a central aperture, and a flange extending rearward of the front portion, the flange surrounding the central aperture and defining a rear opening of the central aperture. A portion of the flange protrudes into the cargo space. The apparatus is mechanically associated with the seat so that, as the seat reclines, the apparatus moves in relation to the body of the vehicle, and the flange protrudes further into the cargo space as the seat is reclined.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a pass-through between the passenger compartment and the cargo space of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a front portion, the front portion surrounding a front opening of a central aperture, and a flange extending rearward of the front portion, the flange surrounding the central aperture and defining a rear opening of the central aperture. A portion of the flange protrudes into the cargo space. The apparatus is mechanically associated with the seat so that, as the seat reclines, the apparatus moves in relation to the body of the vehicle, and the flange protrudes further into the cargo space as the seat is reclined.

Abstract: An attachment structure for installing a load sensor to a vehicle seat includes the load sensor having a plate-shaped strain unit and a strain gauge for detecting a strain of the plate-shaped strain unit. The load sensor is structured that one end of the plate-shaped strain unit is fixed to a seating portion of the vehicle seat and the other end of the strain unit is fixed to a vehicle body. Also, a strain portion is defined between each fixed end of the plate-shaped strain unit, and the strain portion is deformable in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle seat. In addition, a load input point from the seating portion is defined approximately at a central portion of the strain portion of the plate-shaped strain unit.

Abstract: A seated passenger's weight detection device includes a seat vertical position adjusting means having a front link and a rear link, a weight detection sensor for detecting a weight of a seated passenger on the basis of an input from the front link and an input from the rear link and a backward and forward input cancel means for canceling backward and forward inputs which operate to the front link and the rear link.

Abstract: An attachment structure installs a load sensor between a seating portion of a vehicle seat and a vehicle body through an attachment structure unit. The attachment structure unit includes a first attachment bracket for holding one end of the strain unit, and a second attachment bracket for holding the other end of the strain unit. At least a pair of attachment structure units are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, right and left portions of a back side, or right and left portions of the front and back sides of the seating portion relative to the vehicle seat and the first attachment brackets of the attachment structure units of the right and left are connected to each other through a connecting rod.

Abstract: A seated passenger's weight detection device includes a seat vertical position adjusting means having a front link and a rear link, a weight detection sensor for detecting a weight of a seated passenger on the basis of an input from the front link and an input from the rear link and a backward and forward input cancel means for canceling backward and forward inputs which operate to the front link and the rear link.

Abstract: An attachment structure installs a load sensor between a seating portion of a vehicle seat and a vehicle body through an attachment structure unit. The attachment structure unit is comprised of a first attachment bracket for holding one end of the strain unit, and a second attachment bracket for holding the other end of the strain unit. At least a pair of attachment structure units are arranged at right and left portions of a front side, right and left portions of a back side, or right and left portions of the front and back sides of the seating portion relative to the vehicle seat and the first attachment brackets of the attachment structure units of the right and left are connected to each other through a connecting rod.

Abstract: An attachment structure for installing a load sensor to a vehicle seat includes the load sensor having a plate-shaped strain unit and a strain gauge for detecting a strain of the plate-shaped strain unit. The load sensor is structured that one end of the plate-shaped strain unit is fixed to a seating portion of the vehicle seat and the other end of the strain unit is fixed to a vehicle body. Also, a strain portion is defined between each fixed end of the plate-shaped strain unit, and the strain portion is deformable in a vertical direction relative to the vehicle seat. In addition, a load input point from the seating portion is defined approximately at a central portion of the strain portion of the plate-shaped strain unit.

Abstract: To reduce the gap between the floor portion of a cargo compartment in a vehicle and a seat back when the cargo compartment is enlarged by forwardly bringing down the seat back of the passenger seat adjoining the driver or a rear seat, a vehicular seat structure is designed so that when the seat back of the rear seat is forwardly brought down by a predetermined angle, a pin provided on a bell crank is brought into contact with an upper end portion of a second link, and the second link is rotated. As a result, a first link is pulled upward and the bell crank is rotated so that the rear end portion of a slide lock lever is rotated in the direction causing the slide lock to be released. Thereafter, when the seat back is brought down further forwardly, a connecting member which can be in the form of one or more belts moves the seat rearwardly. A stopper contacts the first link and the movement of the seat is stopped.