Vehicle foot rest device, vehicle seating device, and method for controlling vehicle seating device

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle foot rest device, a vehicle seating device, and a method for controlling the vehicle seating device, wherein a foot support can be arranged at a position where an occupant feels comfortable for the occupant of various body types. A foot rest device (200) for a vehicle is capable of moving a foot support (40) between a stowed position and a deployed position, and is provided with: a slide mechanism (30) capable of sliding the foot support (40) in the front-rear direction; and a tilt mechanism (20) that rotates the slide mechanism (30) and changes the angle of the slide mechanism (30) with respect to the floor (11).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a foot rest device for a vehicle, a structure of a seating device for a vehicle including the foot rest device, and a control method of the seating device for a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] There is a foot rest device that holds the feet of an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle. For example, a foot rest device is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, which is installed at a lower portion of a seat and is capable of an unfolding operation of unfolding a foot support toward the front of the seat and a stowing operation of stowing the foot support in the lower portion of the seat, by a four-point link mechanism. The foot rest device is provided with a linked extension mechanism that extends the foot support forward in linkage with the unfolding operation and retracts the foot support in linkage with the stowing operation (see Patent Literature 1, FIGS. 15 to 17). Figures 1 to 4 .

[0003] A leg support rest of a seat for a vehicle is disclosed in Patent Literature 2, which is capable of stowing and taking out a foot support as needed and is capable of holding the position in the front-rear direction of the foot support and the inclination angle from among a plurality of ranges corresponding to the use state (see Patent Literature 2, FIGS. 1 to 3). Figures 2 to 3 .

[0004] A foot rest device is disclosed in Patent Literature 3, which, when taking out a foot support toward a use position in front of a seat, inclines and moves the foot support to a position in which the front surface thereof faces upward in linkage with the movement operation, and, when returning the foot support from the use position to a stowed position, inclines and moves the foot support to a standing state in which the upper surface thereof faces forward in linkage with the movement operation, thereby being stowed in a cushion (see Patent Literature 3, FIGS. 15 to 17).

[0005] A foot rest device is disclosed in Patent Literature 4, which is provided with a link mechanism that moves a foot support from a stowed position to a work position in front and is capable of easily adjusting the posture of the foot support in the vicinity of the work position (see Patent Literature 4, FIGS. 1 to 3). Figures 1 to 3 .

[0006] A technology is disclosed in Patent Literature 5, in which the calf and the Achilles tendon of a seated occupant are supported by a foot rest body (see Patent Literature 5, FIGS. 1 to 3). Figure 1 、 Figures 6 to 1 1、FIGS. 15 to 17).

[0007] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT LITERATURE Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-004966 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-308680 Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-247196 Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-248109 Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-250984 Summary of the Invention The problem that the invention aims to solve However, existing footrest devices use a linkage mechanism (e.g., the four-point linkage mechanism described in Patent Document 1) to unfold and retract the foot support, thus the trajectory of the unfolding and retracting motion of the foot support is uniquely determined. Therefore, it is difficult to position the foot support in a comfortable position for occupants of various body types. Furthermore, in existing footrest devices (e.g., the footrest devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 3), the foot support holds the occupant's calves, but this position cannot necessarily be considered a comfortable one for the occupant.

[0008] Therefore, the purpose of this disclosure is to enable the foot support to be positioned in a comfortable position for occupants of various body types.

[0009] Methods for solving problems The vehicle footrest device disclosed herein is a vehicle footrest device capable of moving a foot support member between a stowed position at the bottom of the seat and an unfolded position at the front of the seat. The vehicle footrest device is characterized by comprising: a sliding mechanism that allows the foot support member to slide in the front-rear direction; and a tilting mechanism that rotates the sliding mechanism to change the angle of the sliding mechanism relative to the floor.

[0010] The vehicle footrest device disclosed herein allows for free setting of the position of the foot support member during both unfolding and unfolding / folding operations by separately actuating the sliding mechanism and the tilting mechanism. Therefore, the foot support member can be positioned in a comfortable position for occupants of various body types.

[0011] In the vehicle footrest device disclosed herein, the tilting mechanism may also include: a tilting bracket that is rotatably mounted on the floor; a tilting drive unit that rotates the tilting bracket; and a sliding mechanism including: a guide block mounted on the tilting bracket; a track guided by the guide block to slide in the front-rear direction, and the foot support member mounted at the front end; and a sliding drive unit mounted on the guide block that drives the track in the front-rear direction.

[0012] Therefore, the position of the foot support can be freely set with a simple structure.

[0013] The vehicle seating device disclosed herein includes a vehicle seat, a vehicle footrest, and a control unit for adjusting the movement of the vehicle seat and the vehicle footrest. The vehicle seat is characterized in that the vehicle seat includes: a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position in the fore-and-aft direction; a seat tilting mechanism for moving the front portion of the seat cushion up and down; the vehicle footrest allows the foot support to move between a stowed position at the bottom of the seat cushion and an unfolded position at the front of the seat cushion; and includes: a sliding mechanism for sliding the foot support in the fore-and-aft direction; and a tilting mechanism for rotating the sliding mechanism to change its angle relative to the floor. The control unit performs the following processing: the vehicle seat is slid backward by the position adjustment mechanism; after the vehicle seat has slid backward, the front portion of the seat cushion is raised by the seat tilting mechanism, and the foot support is raised while sliding forward by the sliding mechanism and the tilting mechanism.

[0014] In this way, by making the vehicle seat and footrest move in tandem, the position of the footrest can be kept in a position that is comfortable for the occupant when the footrest is extended and when it is extended / retracted.

[0015] In the vehicle seating device disclosed herein, the control unit may also be configured to have an occupant database storing body information of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat, and to perform the following processing: calculating the position of the occupant's knees based on the occupant database; sliding the vehicle seat backward using the position adjustment mechanism such that the position of the center of rotation of the sliding mechanism in the forward-backward direction is the position of the occupant's knees in the forward-backward direction; raising the front of the seat cushion using the seat tilting mechanism, and calculating the path of rotational movement of the occupant's Achilles tendon centered on the current knee position based on the occupant database; and raising the foot support while sliding forward using the sliding mechanism and the tilting mechanism, so that the foot support moves along the calculated path.

[0016] Therefore, it is possible to suppress the misalignment of the foot support surface with the occupant's foot during the deployment / retraction movement, thereby allowing the foot support to be deployed / retracted in a comfortable state for the occupant. Furthermore, the foot support can continuously maintain the area around the Achilles tendon, providing comfort for the occupant.

[0017] In the control method of the vehicle seating device disclosed herein, the vehicle seating device includes a vehicle seat that can be adjusted in the front-to-back direction and allows the front part of the seat cushion to move up and down, and a vehicle footrest device that allows the foot support to move in the front-to-back and up-down directions. The control method of the vehicle seating device is characterized in that, after the vehicle seat is slid to the rear, the front part of the seat cushion is raised, and the foot support is raised while sliding forward.

[0018] Therefore, when the footrest is deployed, and during the deployment / retraction process, the position of the foot support can be maintained in a position that is comfortable for the occupant.

[0019] Invention Effects This disclosure allows for the placement of foot supports in a comfortable position for occupants of various body types. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 A side view of a vehicle seating device according to an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a top view of a vehicle seating device according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a system diagram of a vehicle seating device according to an embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 For to be stored in Figure 3 The occupant database is stored in the memory of the vehicle seating device shown.

[0024] Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating the operation of the vehicle seating device according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a side view showing the operation of the vehicle seating device according to the embodiment, and a diagram showing the footrest device in the stowed position.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a side view showing the operation of the vehicle seating device according to the embodiment, and a diagram showing the vehicle seat sliding backward.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a side view showing the operation of the vehicle seating device according to the embodiment, and a diagram showing the vehicle seat sliding backward and the foot support of the footrest device holding the occupant near the Achilles tendon.

[0028] Figure 9This is a side view showing the operation of the vehicle seating device according to the embodiment, and a side view showing the vehicle seat tilting and the foot support of the footrest device rising while sliding forward.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a side view showing the operation of the vehicle seating device according to the embodiment, and a diagram showing the state where the vehicle seat has finished tilting and the foot support of the footrest device is in the unfolded position. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Hereinafter, the vehicle seating device 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the vehicle seating device 100 is installed on the vehicle floor 11 with the occupant 70 facing forward. In this case, the front and rear sides of the vehicle seating device 100 are the front and rear sides of the vehicle. Furthermore, the symbols FR, UP, and RH in the accompanying drawings represent the front, upper, and right sides of the vehicle seating device 100, respectively. The opposite directions of FR, UP, and RH represent the rear, lower, and left sides, respectively. In the following description, only the front-back, left-right, and up-down directions will be used, unless otherwise specified, to refer to the front-back direction of the vehicle seating device 100, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction.

[0031] Alternatively, the vehicle seating device 100 can be installed on the vehicle floor 11 with the occupant 70 facing the rear of the vehicle. In this case, the front and rear sides of the vehicle seating device 100 become the rear and front sides of the vehicle.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the vehicle seating device 100 includes a vehicle seat 10, a vehicle footrest device 200, and a control unit 60 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0033] The vehicle seat 10 has left and right seat rails 12L and 12R, a frame 13, a seat cushion 14, a position adjustment mechanism 15, and a seat tilting mechanism 16.

[0034] The left and right seat rails 12L and 12R are elongated components mounted on the vehicle floor 11 and extending in the front-rear direction. The frame 13 is mounted on the left and right seat rails 12L and 12R in a manner that allows it to slide in the front-rear direction. The seat cushion 14 is mounted on the upper part of the frame 13. A position adjustment mechanism 15 is provided between the left and right seat rails 12L and 12R, and moves the frame 13 in the front-rear direction. The position adjustment mechanism 15 may also be constructed from a seat sliding motor 15M, a worm gear, and a screw (not shown). A seat tilting mechanism 16 is mounted on the frame 13, thereby moving the front part 14A of the seat cushion 14 up and down. The seat tilting mechanism 16 may also be constructed from a seat tilting motor 16M, a worm gear, and a screw (not shown).

[0035] The vehicle footrest device 200 includes a tilting mechanism 20 and a sliding mechanism 30. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the tilting mechanism 20 includes left and right bases 21L and 21R, a rod 24, left and right ring gears 22L and 22R, left and right tilting brackets 23L and 23R, and a footrest tilting motor 25.

[0036] The left and right bases 21L and 21R are fixed to the left and right seat tracks 12L and 12R by bolts 26. The two ends of the rod 24 are rotatably supported on the left and right bases 21L and 21R. The left and right ring gears 22L and 22R have tilting mechanisms (not shown), which engage with gears (not shown) located at the left and right ends of the rod 24 to rotate around the rod 24. The left and right tilting brackets 23L and 23R are connected to the tilting gears in the left and right ring gears 22L and 22R, allowing them to rotate around the rod 24. The center of the rod 24 becomes the rotation center 20C of the tilting mechanism 20. The footrest tilting motor 25 is fixed to the floor 11 and drives the rotation of the rod 24. Therefore, the footrest tilting motor 25, the rod 24, and the left and right ring gears 22L and 22R constitute the tilting drive unit.

[0037] The sliding mechanism 30 includes left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R, left and right tracks 32L and 32R, a transverse frame 33, left and right gearboxes 34L and 34R, left and right screws 35L and 35R, left and right connecting plates 36L and 36R, a shaft 37, a foot support sliding motor 38, left and right foot support brackets 39L and 39R, and a foot support 40.

[0038] The left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R are fixed to the left and right inclined brackets 23L and 23R using multiple bolts 27. The left and right tracks 32L and 32R pass through the left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R in the front-back direction and are guided by the left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R to slide in the front-back direction. The left and right screws 35L and 35R are arranged parallel to the left and right tracks 32L and 32R on the lower side of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R. The front ends of the left and right screws 35L and 35R are fixed to the front ends of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R by the left and right connecting plates 36L and 36R and bolts 41 and 42. The rear ends of the left and right screws 35L and 35R are connected to the rear ends of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R.

[0039] The transverse frame 33 is a cap-shaped cross-section component that connects the left and right inclined brackets 23L and 23R in the left-right direction. Left and right gearboxes 34L and 34R are mounted at the left and right ends of the transverse frame 33. The shaft 37 is rotatably supported on the left and right gearboxes 34L and 34R. Left and right worm gears (not shown) are provided at the left and right ends of the shaft 37, engaging with the left and right screws 35L and 35R. The left and right worm gears are housed within the left and right gearboxes 34L and 34R. A footrest sliding motor 38 is mounted on the transverse frame 33, thereby driving the rotation of the shaft 37.

[0040] Therefore, the gearboxes 34L and 34R, the left and right screws 35L and 35R, the footrest sliding motor 38, and the shaft 37 constitute the sliding drive unit. This sliding drive unit is connected to the left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R via the transverse frame 33 and the left and right inclined brackets 23L and 23R. Therefore, the sliding drive unit is mounted on the left and right guide blocks 31L and 31R, thereby driving the left and right tracks 32L and 32R in the front-back direction.

[0041] The left and right foot support brackets 39L and 39R are rotatably mounted on the left and right connecting plates 36L and 36R via pins 43L and 43R. The foot support 40 is mounted on the upper part of the left and right foot support brackets 39L and 39R.

[0042] like Figure 3As shown, the control unit 60 is a computer equipped with a CPU 61 that performs information processing internally and a memory 62 that stores control programs and control data. The seat sliding motor 15M, seat tilting motor 16M, footrest sliding motor 38, and footrest tilting motor 25 are connected to the control unit 60 and operate according to the instructions of the control unit 60. Furthermore, the seat sliding motor 15M, seat tilting motor 16M, and footrest sliding motor 38 are equipped with resolvers (not shown) that detect the rotational angle position of the motor shafts, and the output signals of each resolver are input to the control unit 60. In addition, the operation signal of the touchpad 64 operated by the occupant 70 sitting on the vehicle seat 10 is input to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 controls the seat sliding motor 15M, seat tilting motor 16M, and footrest sliding motor 38 based on the output signals of each resolver and the operation signal of the touchpad 64, and adjusts the operation of the vehicle seat 10 and the vehicle footrest device 200.

[0043] The memory 62 of the control unit 60 stores Figure 4 The occupant database 65 is shown. The occupant database 65 stores the names and physical information of the occupants 70 seated in the vehicle seats 10 in an associated manner. For example, as... Figure 4 As shown, the body information can also be the height, weight, and sitting height of the occupant 70. As explained later, it is not limited to this, as long as the body information is stored that can calculate the position of the knee 71 of the occupant 70 and the path of rotational movement of the Achilles tendon 72 centered on the rotation center position 73 of the knee 71.

[0044] Next, the basic tilting and sliding actions of the vehicle footrest device 200 will be explained. First, the tilting action will be explained. When the rod 24 is rotated by the footrest tilting motor 25, the tilting gears of the left and right ring gears 22L and 22R rotate, thereby causing the left and right tilting brackets 23L and 23R to rotate around the center of the rod 24. As a result, the front parts of the left and right tilting brackets 23L and 23R rotate in the vertical direction.

[0045] Therefore, the guide blocks 31L and 31R, fixed to the left and right tilting brackets 23L and 23R by bolts 27, rotate vertically, and simultaneously, the front parts of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R rotate vertically. Furthermore, the foot support members 40, mounted at the front ends of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R via the left and right foot support brackets 39L and 39R, rotate vertically. Thus, the sliding mechanism 30 rotates around the center of the rod 24. Therefore, the center of the rod 24 is the rotation center 20C of the tilting mechanism 20, and also the rotation center 30C of the sliding mechanism 30. In addition, the tilting mechanism 20 causes the angle of the sliding mechanism 30 relative to the floor 11 to change.

[0046] Next, the sliding action will be explained. When the shaft 37 is rotated by the foot support sliding motor 38, the left and right worm gears housed in the gearboxes 34L and 34R rotate. Furthermore, the left and right screws 35L and 35R, which engage with the left and right worm gears, move in the front-back direction. When the left and right screws 35L and 35R move in the front-back direction, the left and right tracks 32L and 32R, which are connected parallel to the left and right screws 35L and 35R, move in the front-back direction. Moreover, the foot support member 40, which is mounted at the front end of the left and right tracks 32L and 32R via the left and right foot support brackets 39L and 39R, slides in the front-back direction.

[0047] The occupant 70 can operate the tilt angle and sliding amount using the touchpad 64, thereby enabling the aforementioned tilting and sliding actions to be performed separately. Thus, the vehicle footrest device 200 can freely adjust... Figure 10 The position of the extended foot support 40 can be set as shown. Furthermore, the position can be freely adjusted... Figures 6 to 10 The position of the foot support 40 during the unfolding action is set. Therefore, the vehicle footrest device 200 can position the foot support 40 in a comfortable position for occupants 70 of various body types.

[0048] Next, in reference Figures 5 to 10 The automatic deployment of the vehicle footrest device 200, which is linked to the seat tilting action of the vehicle seat 10, will also be explained. For example... Figure 6 As shown, in the initial state, the left and right tracks 32L and 32R of the vehicle footrest device 200 move backward parallel to the floor 11. As a result, the foot support 40 of the vehicle footrest device 200 is stored in the storage position at the bottom of the seat cushion 14.

[0049] like Figure 5As shown in step S101, when the occupant 70, seated in the vehicle seat 10, operates the touchpad 64 to select the automatic unfolding of the vehicle footrest device 200, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 refers to the occupant database 65 and displays the name of the occupant 70 registered on the touchpad 64. Then, it remains in standby mode until the occupant 70, seated in the vehicle seat 10, selects their own name. After the occupant 70 selects a name, in... Figure 5 In step S102, the rotation center position 73 of the knee 71 of the occupant 70 is calculated with reference to the occupant database 65. This calculation may, for example, be based on the weight to calculate the sinking amount of the seat cushion 14, and the position of the occupant 70's buttocks is calculated based on the calculated sinking amount and the height of the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 10. Furthermore, the position of the knee 71 and the rotation center position 73 of the knee 71 may also be calculated based on height, sitting height, and the position of the buttocks.

[0050] Next, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 enters... Figure 5 In step S103, the seat sliding motor 15M is obtained so that the vehicle seat 10 moves from... Figure 6 The initial state shown is as follows Figure 7 It slides backward as shown by arrow mark 91 in the image.

[0051] Then, as Figure 5 Step S104 Figure 7 As shown, after the foot support 40 approaches the Achilles tendon 72 of the occupant 70, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 reduces the rearward movement speed of the vehicle seat 10 and uses the foot support 40 to begin holding the Achilles tendon 72 of the occupant 70.

[0052] Next, as Figure 5 Step S105 Figure 8 As indicated by arrow 92, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 moves the vehicle seat 10 rearward until the position in the fore-and-aft direction of the rotation center 30C of the sliding mechanism 30 becomes the fore-and-aft direction position of the rotation center 73 of the occupant's knee 71. Then, in Figure 5 After determining "yes" in step S105, the control unit 60... Figure 5 In step S106, the sliding of the vehicle seat 10 backward is stopped, and the vehicle enters... Figure 5 Step S107.

[0053] Next, in Figure 5 In step S107, such as Figure 9 As indicated by arrow 93, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 drives the seat tilt motor 16M, thereby raising the front part 14A of the seat cushion 14. Then, as...Figure 5 As shown in step S108, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 calculates the rotational movement path 94 of the Achilles tendon 72 centered on the rotation center position 73 of the knee 71 of the occupant 70, referring to the occupant database 65. Figure 9 As shown, the rotational movement path 94 is an arc of radius R centered on the rotation center position 73 of the knee 71. Here, the radius R is the distance from the rotation center position 73 to the Achilles tendon 72.

[0054] Then, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60 enters... Figure 5 In step S109, the foot support 40 is moved along the calculated arc-shaped rotational path 94, and the footrest sliding motor 38 and footrest tilting motor 25 are driven, so that the foot support 40 slides forward while rising. Thus, the occupant 70's lower limbs... Figure 9 The dotted line in the image shows the footrest tilting position before motor 25 starts driving it towards the desired angle. Figure 9 Move to the position indicated by the solid line.

[0055] When the front part 14A of the seat cushion 14 is raised, the rotation center position 73 of the occupant's knee 71 moves upward. Therefore, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60... Figure 5 In step S109, the foot support 40 is raised while sliding slightly forward, and at... Figure 5 After determining "no" in step S110, return to Figure 5 Step S107 is performed, and steps S107 to S108 are repeated. Thus, the CPU 61 of the control unit 60... Figure 10 As indicated by arrow 96, while raising the front part 14A of the seat cushion 14, the rotational movement path 97 of the Achilles tendon 72 centered on the rotational center position 73 of the occupant's knee 71 is calculated, and the foot support 40 slides forward along the calculated rotational movement path 97. Thus, the lower limbs of the occupant 70... Figure 10 The position indicated by the dashed line in the middle is from the direction Figure 10 Move to the position indicated by the solid line in the diagram.

[0056] The CPU 61 of the control unit 60 detects the position of the foot support 40 based on the rotational angle position of the motor shafts input from the resolver of the footrest sliding motor 38 and the footrest tilting motor 25. Then, in Figure 5 In step S110, the position of the foot support 40 becomes Figure 10 After the predetermined unfolding position shown, at Figure 5 In step S110, the determination is "yes", and the automatic deployment action of the vehicle footrest device 200 ends.

[0057] As explained above, when the vehicle footrest device 100 automatically unfolds the vehicle footrest device 200, the vehicle seat 10 and the vehicle footrest device 200 move in tandem. After the vehicle seat 10 slides backward, the front part 14A of the seat cushion 14 rises, and the foot support 40 rises while sliding forward. Therefore, during the unfolding and unfolding / folding of the vehicle footrest device 200, the position of the foot support 40 can be maintained in a comfortable position for the occupant 70. Furthermore, the vehicle seat 100 can prevent the support surface of the foot support 40 from misaligning with the position of the occupant 70's feet during the unfolding / folding operation, thereby enabling the foot support 40 to be unfolded / folded in a comfortable state for the occupant 70. In addition, the foot support 40 can continuously maintain the area near the Achilles tendon 72, which is comfortable for the occupant 70.

[0058] Furthermore, as explained above, the vehicle footrest device 200 can be operated by the occupant 70 using the touchpad 64 to adjust the tilt angle and sliding amount. This allows the vehicle footrest device 200 to freely set the position of the foot support 40 when deployed or during deployment / retraction. Therefore, the vehicle footrest device 200 can position the foot support 40 in a comfortable position for occupants 70 of various body types.

[0059] Symbol Explanation 10 Vehicle seat; 11 Floor; 12L, 12R Seat rails; 13 Frame; 14 Seat cushion; 14A Front section; 15 Position adjustment mechanism; 15M Seat sliding motor; 16 Seat tilting mechanism; 16M Seat tilting motor; 20 Tilting mechanism; 20C, 30C Rotation center; 21L, 21R Base; 22L, 22R Ring gear; 23L, 23R Tilting bracket; 24 Rod; 25 Footrest tilting motor; 26, 27, 41, 42 Bolts; 30 Sliding mechanism; 31L, 31R Guide block; 32L, 32R Rail; 33 Lateral frame; 34L, 34R Gearbox; 35L, 35R Screw; 36L, 36R Connecting plate; 37 Shaft; 38 Footrest sliding motor; 39L, 39R foot support bracket; 43L, 43R pin; 60 Control unit; 61 CPU; 62 Memory; 64 Touchpad; 65 Occupant database; 70 Occupant; 71 Knee; 72 Achilles tendon; 73 Rotation center position; 94, 97 Rotation movement path; 100 Vehicle seating device; 200 Vehicle footrest device.

Claims

1. A foot rest device for a vehicle, capable of moving a foot support between a storage position at a lower portion of a seat cushion and a deployment position in front of the seat cushion, characterized by, Possessing: a sliding mechanism that causes the foot support to move in a sliding manner in the front-rear direction; a tilting mechanism that causes the sliding mechanism to rotate so as to change the angle of the sliding mechanism with respect to the floor.

2. The foot rest device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: the tilting mechanism includes: a tilting bracket that is rotatably attached to the floor; a tilting drive section that causes the tilting bracket to rotate, the sliding mechanism includes: a guide block that is attached to the tilting bracket; a rail that is guided by the guide block so as to slide in the front-rear direction, and has the foot support attached at the front end; a sliding drive section that is attached to the guide block, and drives the rail in the front-rear direction.

3. A seating device for a vehicle that possesses a vehicle seat, a foot rest device for a vehicle, and a control section that adjusts the operation of the vehicle seat and the foot rest device for a vehicle, characterized in that: the vehicle seat possesses: a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position in the front-rear direction; a seat tilting mechanism that moves the front portion of the seat cushion up and down, the foot rest device for a vehicle is capable of moving the foot support between a stowed position at the lower portion of the seat cushion and a deployed position in front of the seat cushion, and possesses: a sliding mechanism that causes the foot support to move in a sliding manner in the front-rear direction; a tilting mechanism that causes the sliding mechanism to rotate so as to change the angle of the sliding mechanism with respect to the floor, the control section performs the following processing: causes the vehicle seat to slide rearward by the position adjustment mechanism; after causing the vehicle seat to slide rearward, causes the front portion of the seat cushion to rise by the seat tilting mechanism, and causes the foot support to slide forward while rising by the sliding mechanism and the tilting mechanism.

4. The seating device for a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: the control section possesses a passenger database that stores the body information of a passenger seated on the vehicle seat, and performs the following processing: calculates the position of the knee of the passenger seated on the vehicle seat with reference to the passenger database; causes the vehicle seat to slide rearward by the position adjustment mechanism in such a manner that the position of the center of rotation of the sliding mechanism in the front-rear direction becomes the position of the knee of the passenger in the front-rear direction; causes the front portion of the seat cushion to rise by the seat tilting mechanism, and calculates the path of the rotational movement of the Achilles tendon of the passenger centered on the position of the knee of the passenger at that time with reference to the passenger database; and causes the foot support to slide forward while rising by the sliding mechanism and the tilting mechanism in such a manner that the foot support moves along the calculated path.

5. A control method of a vehicle seating device, the vehicle seating device including a vehicle seat capable of adjusting a position in a front-rear direction and capable of moving a front portion of a seat cushion up and down, and a vehicle footrest device capable of moving a foot support member in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, the control method of the vehicle seating device characterized by sliding the vehicle seat rearward, raising the front portion of the seat cushion, and raising the foot support member while sliding the foot support member forward.

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