Vehicle seat and method for producing the same

Abstract

A vehicle seat (1) comprising pairs of right and left backrest adjusters (4) each connecting side frames (2F) on the right and left sides of a backrest (2) to a seat cushion (3) on or above a floor; actuating pins (7) each inserted through the backrest adjusters (4) in an axial direction and each rotatable about their axes to unlock the backrest adjusters (4), respectively; and a rod (8) integrally connecting the actuating pins (7) to each other, wherein one of the actuating pins (7) has an actuating shaft portion (7A) inserted through one of the backrest adjustments (4) from a seat inner side in the axial direction and connected to the one backrest adjustment (4), and a connecting portion (7B) touching the rod (8) and connected to the rod (8), wherein the actuating shaft portion (7A) and the rod (8) have a common axis; and the actuating shaft portion (7A) is connected to the one backrest adjustment (4) in a first position in which the connecting portion (7B) contacts the rod (8) so that it can be connected to the rod (8) in such a way that it actuates the one backrest adjustment (4); wherein an insertion depth of the actuating shaft portion (7A) with respect to the backrest adjustment (4) can be changed by moving the actuating shaft portion (7A) during assembly of the vehicle seat (1) between the first position and a second position in which the connecting portion (7B) is spaced apart from the rod (8) in the axial direction, so that before assembly, a width (W) between the connecting portions (7B) of the actuating pins (7) is greater than a shaft length of the rod (8), but smaller than the distance between the side frames (2F); and the vehicle seat (1) is characterized in that after assembly at least one outer end of an actuating pin (7) is spaced from the side frames (2F).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat and a method of manufacturing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising pairs of right and left recliners that respectively connect side frames on the left and right sides of a seatback to a base on or above a floor, operating pins that are respectively inserted through the recliners in an axial direction and rotated about axes thereof to respectively unlock the recliners, and a rod that integrally connects the operating pins to each other; and the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the vehicle seat. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0002] JP H02-299 608 A describes a vehicle seat in which a backrest is connected to a seat cushion via paired right and left recliners. The recliners are normally held in a locked state in which a reclining angle of the backrest is fixed. The two recliners are unlocked, and the state of the backrest is switched to the state in which the reclining angle of the backrest can be changed, by pulling up a release lever provided on a side portion of the seat cushion on a vehicle outer side. More specifically, operating pins, each of which unlocks recliner adjustments, are respectively inserted through the recliners from an inner side in an axial direction and respectively mounted to the recliner adjustments. The operating pins are integrally connected to each other via a rod.The release lever is attached to an outer end section of the actuating pin on the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, both actuating pins are rotated together around their axes, unlocking both backrest adjustments.

[0003] In the prior art, the operating pins are each inserted through the side frames of the seatback from a seat inner side and each mounted to the side frames in the state where the operating pins are positioned. Accordingly, the operating pins integrally connected with the rod must be inserted into the side frames before the side frames are integrally connected to each other, in order to arrange the operating pins integrally connected between the side frames. Otherwise, it would be impossible to insert the rod into the operating pins, and therefore it would be necessary to bring the rod into contact with the operating pins from an outer side in a radial direction and weld the rod to the operating pins.Accordingly, the machining time would increase due to, for example, the process of deforming end portions of the rod, and in addition, the connection strength between the actuating pins and the rod may not be increased appropriately.

[0004] US 7 992 938 B2 discloses a seat according to the preamble of claim 1. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention makes it possible to insert respective actuating pins for backrest adjustment devices through side frames from an inner side, and to insert a rod between the actuating pins to connect the actuating pins to each other after the side frames are integrally connected to each other.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising pairs of right and left recliners, each connecting side frames on right and left sides of a seatback to a base on or above a floor; operating pins each inserted through the recliners in an axial direction and each rotated about their axes to unlock the recliners, respectively; and a rod integrally connecting the operating pins.One of the operating pins includes an operating shaft portion that is inserted through one of the recliners from a seat inner side in the axial direction and connected to the one recliner, and a connecting portion that contacts the rod and is connected to the rod, wherein the operating shaft portion and the rod are arranged in the axial direction; wherein an insertion depth of the operating shaft portion with respect to the one recliner is capable of being changed by moving the operating shaft portion between a first position in which the connecting portion contacts the rod and is connectable to the rod, and a second position in which the connecting portion is away from the rod in the axial direction; and the operating shaft portion is connected to the one recliner so as to operate the one recliner in the first position.

[0007] According to the above-described aspect, it is possible to change the insertion depth of one of the operating pins related to one of the recliners by moving the operating pin between the first position and the second position. Therefore, it is possible to insert the operating pins for the recliners through the side frames from the inside of the seat, and insert the rod between the operating pins to connect the operating pins to each other after the side frames of the backrest are integrally connected.

[0008] In the above-described aspect, the one operation pin may further include a restriction portion that restricts the movement of the operation shaft portion with respect to the one recline toward the second position.

[0009] With this design, the restrictor section prevents the actuating pin of one of the recliners from falling outward toward the outside of the vehicle seat. This allows for easy installation.

[0010] In the above-described aspect, the actuating pins can be formed by components that are identical to each other. The actuating shaft portion of one actuating pin is capable of being movable between the first position in which the connecting portion contacts the rod so as to be connectable to the rod, and the second position in which the connecting portion is axially spaced from the rod.On the other hand, the other of the operation pins may be connected to the rod in a state where the operation shaft portion of the other operation pin is inserted through the other of the recliners to the insertion depth corresponding to the second position; and an unlocking lever provided to perform an operation for unlocking the two recliners may be mounted on an extra-long portion of the operation shaft portion of the other operation pin, the extra-long portion protruding from the other recliner to an outside of the vehicle seat.

[0011] With this structure, even if one operating pin and the other operating pin are formed by identical components, none of the operating pins includes a region that unnecessarily protrudes from the one recliner toward the outside of the vehicle seat. Accordingly, the vehicle seat can be made compact in the width direction.

[0012] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vehicle seat comprising pairs of right and left recliners respectively connecting side frames on right and left sides of a seatback to a base on or above a floor; operating pins respectively inserted through the recliners in an axial direction and respectively rotated about their axes to respectively unlock the recliners; and a rod integrally connecting the operating pins.The method includes: connecting the side frames on the left and right sides of the seat back to each other to form a unit; inserting the operation pins through the recliners from a seat inner side in the axial direction to connect the operation pins to the recliners; bringing the rod into contact with one of the operation pins and connecting the rod to the one operation pin; and sliding the other of the operation pins to a position where the other operation pin contacts the rod, and connecting the other operation pin to the rod, wherein the other operation pin is pushed in a direction in which an insertion depth of the other operation pin is reduced from that of the associated recliner.

[0013] According to the method explained above, it is possible to change the insertion depth of the other operating pin for the corresponding recliner. Therefore, it is possible to insert the operating pins for the recliners through the side frames from the inside of the seat, and insert the rod between the operating pins to connect the operating pins together after the side frames of the backrest are integrally connected. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] Features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals designate like elements, and in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view along a line II-II in Fig. 1 is; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a process for mounting operating pins on a rod on both sides; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing assembled portions of a recliner viewed from one side; Fig. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembled sections of a recliner seen from the other side; Fig. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the backrest adjustment seen from one side; Fig. Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the backrest seen from the other side; Fig. Figure 8 is a front view showing the backrest adjustment from the side of a locking device; Fig. 9 a sectional view along a line IX-IX in Fig. 2, the sectional view showing the backrest adjustment in a locked state; Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the recliner in an unlocked state; and Fig. 11 is a front view showing an operating pin. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0016] A seat 1 according to a first embodiment and a method for manufacturing the seat 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11. As described in Fig. 1, the seat 1 according to the embodiment is configured as a passenger seat of an automobile. The seat 1 includes a backrest 2, which is a back support portion for a seated occupant, and a seat cushion 3, which is a seating portion. Lower end portions of right and left sides of the backrest 2 are respectively connected to rear end portions of right and left sides of the seat cushion 3 via recliners 4, which function as lockable rotary shaft devices (coupling devices). Thus, the backrest 2 is normally maintained in the state where its recline angle is fixed by the recliners 4.By pulling up a release lever 5 provided on a side portion of the seat cushion 3 on a vehicle outer side, the backrest angle set by the backrest adjusters 4 is released, and the state of the backrest 2 is switched to the state in which the backrest angle can be adjusted in a front and rear direction.

[0017] More specifically, the backrest adjusters 4 are provided between lower end portions of side frames 2F, which are frame portions of right and left side portions of the backrest 2, and rear end portions of side frames 3F, which are frame portions of right and left side portions of the seat cushion 3. Thus, the backrest adjusters 4 connect the side frames 2F and the side frames 3F, respectively (see Fig. 2 to Fig. 5). Each side frame 2F of the backrest 2 is arranged within the corresponding side frame 3F of the seat cushion 3. Each backrest adjustment 4 is provided between the corresponding side frame 2F and the corresponding side frame 3F.

[0018] An upper frame 2U is disposed between upper end portions of the side frames 2F of the backrest 2 so as to be integrally connected with the upper end portions of the side frames 2F of the backrest 2. A lower plate 2L is disposed between lower end portions of the side frames 2F so as to be integrally connected with the lower end portions of the side frames 2F. Thus, the upper frame 2U, the side frames 2F, and the lower plate 2L form a substantially rectangular frame shape in a front view. The lower plate 2L has a shape formed by bending a steel plate material. More specifically, the lower plate 2L has a J-shaped cross section.The lower plate 2L is arranged between the lower end portions of the side frames 2F so as to be connected to the lower end portions of the side frames 2F. In other words, the lower plate 2L is firmly and integrally connected to the lower end portions of the side frames 2F by welding. Specifically, right and left edge portion surfaces of the lower plate 2L are respectively mounted and welded to edge portion surfaces of the rear sides of the side frames 2F, and the edge portion surfaces of the rear side frames 2F are bent toward a seat inner side. Furthermore, the edges of the edge portion surfaces of the lower plate 2L are covered by the side frames 2F from an outer side, so that the edges are unlikely to protrude to the outer side.

[0019] The J-shaped cross section of the lower plate 2L is a curved shape that extends along the rounded shape of the peripheral edge portion of the lower end side of each side frame 2F. The lower plate 2L is mounted so that the cross section of the lower plate 2L extends along the shape of the peripheral edge portion of the lower end side of each side frame 2F. Thus, the lower plate 2L is provided to protect a rod 8 (described later) from below. The rod 8 is arranged between the lower end portions of the side frames 2F, and the rod 8 connects operating pins 7 for the recliners 4 to each other.

[0020] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the recliners 4 are normally held in a locked state due to a biasing force, in which the reclining angle of the seatback 2 is fixed. The two recliners 4 are unlocked by a pulling-up operation of the unlocking lever 5 provided on the side portion of the seat cushion 3 on the vehicle exterior. Thus, the state of the recliners 4 is switched to an unlocked state in which the reclining angle of the seatback 2 can be changed.

[0021] Specifically, the operating pins 7, which respectively unlock the recliners 4, are respectively inserted through central portions of the recliners 4 in an axial direction and mounted to the recliners 4. The operating pins 7 are integrally connected to each other via the rod 8. The unlocking lever 5 is mounted on an outer end portion of the operating pin 7 on the vehicle exterior. Therefore, when the unlocking lever 5 is pulled up, the two operating pins 7 are rotated about their axes, and as a result, the two recliners 4 are unlocked. When the unlocking lever 5 is released after being pulled up, the recliners 4 are returned to the locked state in which the locking angle of the seatback 2 is fixed due to the biasing force.

[0022] Return springs 6 are respectively mounted between the side frames 2F on the right and left sides of the backrest 2 and the side frames 3F on the right and left sides of the seat cushion 3. The return springs 6 normally exert the biasing force on the backrest 2 in a direction in which the backrest 2 rotates forward. Each return spring 6 is formed by a coil spring. An inner end portion of the return spring 6 engages with a spring hook portion 3Fc formed by cutting and bending a portion of the associated side frame 3F of the seat cushion 3. An outer end portion of the return spring 6 engages with a holder 2Fc connected to an outer surface of the associated side frame 2F of the backrest 2 (see Fig. 2).

[0023] When the recliners 4 are released from the locked state in which the recline angle is fixed, the seatback 2 rises due to the biasing force of the return springs 6 to a position where the seatback 2 contacts the back of a seated occupant, and the recline angle can be freely adjusted in the front-and-back direction in accordance with the back movement of the seated occupant who tilts his or her back in the front-to-back direction. Because the above-mentioned biasing structure is provided, the recline angle of the seatback 2 can be easily adjusted.

[0024] The backrest 2 can rotate in a rotation range from a forward tilted position in which the backrest 2 is in a forward tilted posture, in other words, the backrest 2 is tilted forward toward the seat cushion 3, to a backward tilted position in which the backrest 2 is tilted backward, in other words, the backrest 2 falls backward. In the above-mentioned rotation range, a rotation range (a backrest angle range) of approximately 90 degrees between a position in which the backrest 2 is upright and the backward tilted position is set as a rotation range called a "lock zone," in which the backrest 2 is returned to the state in which the backrest angle is fixed once the operation of pulling up the release lever 5 is completed.A rotation range from a position where the reclining angle of the backrest 2 is in front of the locking zone to the forward tilted position is set as a rotation range called a “free zone” in which the backrest 2 is not returned to the state where the reclining angle is fixed even if the operation of pulling up the unlock lever 5 is completed.

[0025] The rotation range referred to as the locking zone and the rotation range referred to as the free zone are respectively adjusted by a locking zone and a free zone created in the backrest adjusters 4 (described below). Because the rotation range referred to as the free zone is provided, when the backrest 2 is tilted to a position in the free zone by operating the release lever 5 in the state where no occupant is sitting on the seat 1 due to the biasing force, the backrest 2 is automatically tilted forward to the forward tilted position even if the operation of the release lever 5 is not continued.

[0026] As in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, each recliner 4 includes a locking device 10 integrally connected to the outer surface of the associated side frame 2F of the backrest 2, and a guide 20 integrally connected to an inner surface of the associated side frame 3F of the seat cushion 3. The recline angle of the backrest 2 is fixed and released by locking and unlocking the relative rotation of the locking device 10 with respect to the guide 20.

[0027] As in Fig. 2, the operating pins 7, each of which unlocks the recliners 4, are formed by components having identical shapes to each other. One of the operating pins 7, which is inserted through the recliner 4 on the vehicle exterior, is required to have a longer shaft length (in other words, the operating pin 7 is required to have an extended operating shaft portion 7A, as described later), because the unlocking lever 5 is mounted on the end portion of the operating pin 7, which end portion is located outside the recliner 4. The other operating pin 7, which is inserted through the recliner 4 on the other side (on the vehicle interior), is not required to have such a long shaft length because the unlocking lever 5 is not mounted on the other operating pin 7.

[0028] However, the operating pin 7, which is inserted through the recliner 4 on the other side (the vehicle interior), has a long shaft length, which would allow the release lever 5 to be mounted on the operating pin 7 (in other words, the operating pin 7 has the extended operating shaft portion 7A described later). As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, when the operation pin 7 is mounted on the rod 8 on the vehicle interior side and connected to the rod 8, an insertion depth of the operation pin 7 with respect to the recliner 4 is reduced (the insertion depth to which the operation pin 7 is inserted by the recliner 4 is reduced) to connect the operation pin 7 to the rod 8. Thus, finally, the operation pin 7 is arranged on the vehicle interior side in the state where a length by which the operation pin 7 protrudes outward from the seat is reduced to a small length.

[0029] Specifically, the operating pins 7 are inserted through the side frames 2F from an inner side so that the operating pins 7 are respectively mounted to inner portions of the recliners 4 after the side frames 2F of the backrest 2 are integrally connected to the upper frame 2U and the lower plate 2L to form a unit. After the operating pins 7 are respectively mounted to the recliners 4, the rod 8 is inserted into inner end portions (mounting portions 7B described below) of the operating pins 7 from the inner side in the axial direction to integrally connect the operating pins 7. Then, the operating pins 7 on both sides and the rod 8 are integrally connected to each other by welding.

[0030] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the operating pins 7 (described in detail later) is inserted through the associated side frame 2F from the inner side toward an outer side in the axial direction to a position (a "second position" according to the invention) where the operating pin 7 is inserted the furthest. As a result, the operating shaft portions 7A are respectively inserted through the recliners 4, and a width between the mounting portions 7B to which the end portions 8A, 8B of the rod 8 are to be connected is larger than the shaft length of the rod 8. Thus, the rod 8 can be inserted (disposed) between the mounting portions 7B of the operating pins 7 after the operating pins 7 are respectively inserted through the recliners 4.

[0031] At this time, the operating shaft portion 7A of each operating pin 7 is inserted so that a large extra length portion of the operating shaft portion 7A protrudes outward from the associated recliner 4 in the axial direction. The unlocking lever 5, which is provided to perform an operation for unlocking the recliners 4, is mounted on the extra length portion on a distal end side of the operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7 on the vehicle exterior side, which is inserted through the recliner 4.The extra length portion on the distal end side of the operation shaft portion 7A of the operation pin 7 on the vehicle inside side functions to keep the operation shaft portion 7A inserted through the recliner 4 even when the operation pin 7 on the vehicle inside side is moved in a direction in which the operation pin 7 is pulled out from the recliner 4 (that is, a direction inward in the axial direction).

[0032] Accordingly, the end portion 8A of the rod 8 is formed on one side as shown in Fig. 3, the actuating pin 7 is mounted on the mounting portion 7B of the actuating pin 7 on the vehicle outside, and then the actuating pin 7 on the vehicle inside is moved in the direction in which the actuating pin 7 is pulled out from the recliner 4, and the mounting portion 7B thereof is mounted on the end portion 8B of the rod 8 on the other side. Thus, both actuating pins 7 can be connected to the rod 8 while the actuating shaft portion 7A of the actuating pin 7 on the vehicle inside remains inserted through the recliner 4 on the vehicle inside. A position in which the mounting portion 7B of the actuating pin 7 on the vehicle inside is mounted on the end portion 8B of the rod 8 corresponds to a "first position" according to the invention.With the above-described assembly structure, even in the case where a total length of the operation pins 7 and the rod 8 connected to each other is greater than the width between the side frames 2F of the seatback 2, the operation pins 7 can be inserted through the side frames 2F and mounted to the side frames 2F (an insertion process) after the side frames 2F are connected to each other to form a unit (a frame assembly process). Furthermore, even in the case where the operation pins 7 are constituted by the identical components, the operation pin 7 on the vehicle interior side, which is not assembled together with the unlock lever 5, can be arranged in the state where the operation pin 7 does not protrude unnecessarily outward. Therefore, the seat 1 can be made compact in the width direction.

[0033] The structure of each actuating pin 7 and the structure of each backrest adjustment 4 are described in detail below. Although the backrest adjustments 4 are arranged symmetrically to each other, the structures of the backrest adjustments 4 are essentially the same. Accordingly, the structure of the backrest adjustments provided on the vehicle exterior is described below. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shown backrest adjustment 4 as a representative example. As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the recliner 4 includes the locking device 10 and the guide 20, which have a disc shape and are mounted to each other in the axial direction; three claws 30 (30A to 30C); a rotating cam 40; a hinge cam 50; a locking spring 60 mounted on an outer surface of the guide 20; and an outer peripheral ring 70 mounted over the locking device 10 and the guide 20. The claws 30, the rotating cam 40, and the hinge cam 50 are arranged between the locking device 10 and the guide 20. The outer peripheral ring 70 has a stepped cylindrical shape (in other words, the shape of a cylinder with a step portion).

[0034] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 6, the locking device 10 has a substantially disk shape. In an outer peripheral edge portion of a disk body 11 of the locking device 10, a cylindrical portion 12 is formed to protrude in a cylindrical shape in the axial direction, which is a direction in which the locking device 10 is mounted on the guide 20. The cylindrical portion 12 is formed by punching or extruding the outer peripheral edge portion of the disk body 11 in a plate thickness direction. An inner tooth row 12A is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12. Outer tooth rows 31 formed on outer peripheral surfaces of the claws 30 (described later) are pressed onto the inner tooth row 12A from an inner side in a radial direction, and the outer tooth rows 31 mesh with the inner tooth row 12A.The internal tooth row 12A is formed substantially over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical portion. A plurality of internal teeth are arranged at a pitch angle of 2 degrees in a circumferential direction. In the cylindrical portion 12, the internal tooth row 12A is not formed in a region in the circumferential direction. In one region, a raised portion 12B is formed, and the raised portion 12B protrudes toward the inside in the radial direction, forming a smooth curved surface. The raised portion 12B protrudes toward the inside in the radial direction farther than the internal tooth row 12A. The raised portion 12B forms the rotation region referred to as the free zone, in which the claws 30 do not mesh with the internal tooth row 12A.

[0035] A through hole 11A is formed at a central portion of the disk body 11 of the locking device 10. The through hole 11A has a round shape and extends through the disk body 11. The operating pin 7, which is inserted through and mounted on the hinge cam 50 described later, is inserted from the inside in the axial direction through the through hole 11a. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. As shown in Figure 8, four projections 11B projecting in an elliptical shape are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on an outer surface of the disk body 11 of the locking device 10. The projections 11B are formed by extruding portions of the disk body 11 of the locking device 10 in the plate thickness direction by stamping. As shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 4, the projections 11B are respectively fitted into four projection holes 2Fa formed in the side frame 2F and integrally connected by welding when the outer surface of the disc body 11 of the locking device 10 is brought into contact with and connected to the outer surface of the side frame 2F of the seat back 2. Thus, the projections 11B function as a connecting portion. The side frame 2F of the seat back further has a through hole 2Fb having a round shape. The operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7 is inserted in the axial direction through the through hole 2Fb from the inside to the outside.

[0036] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the guide 20 is substantially disk-shaped and has an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the locking device 10. In an outer peripheral edge portion of a disk body 21, a cylindrical portion 22 is formed to protrude in a cylindrical shape in the axial direction, which is the direction in which the guide 20 is mounted to the locking device 10. The cylindrical portion 22 has a size such that the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 can be loosely mounted into an inner portion of the cylindrical portion 22. The cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device is mounted into the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20. Thus, the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 is loosely mounted in the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 such that the cylindrical portion 12 is disposed within the cylindrical portion 22.In other words, the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 and the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 mutually support each other so that the cylindrical portion 12 and the cylindrical portion 22 are rotatable relative to each other. Because the outer peripheral ring 70 (described below) is mounted over the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide and the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 from an outer peripheral side, the guide 20 is mounted to the locking device 10 in the state where the guide 20 is prevented from separating from the locking device 10 in the axial direction, so that the guide 20 is rotatable relative to the locking device 10 while the disc-like guide 20 and the disc-like locking device 10 slide against each other (see FIG. Fig. 2 to Fig. 5).

[0037] A through hole 21A is formed at a central portion of the disc body 21 of the guide 20. The through hole 21A has a round shape and extends through the disc body 21 of the guide 20. A shaft portion 52 of the hinge cam 50 (described later) is inserted through the through hole 21 in the axial direction from the inside to the outside and mounted thereon such that the shaft portion 52 is rotatable about its axis. As shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 6, on the outer surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20, three projections 21B projecting in an elliptical shape are formed at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. Specifically, each of the projections 21B is formed in a corresponding circumferential region, in which a corresponding one of three claw receiving recesses 24A (described later) is formed, on the outer side of the disc body 21 of the guide 20.

[0038] Each of the projections 21B is formed by extruding a part of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 in the plate thickness direction by stamping. As shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 5, the projections 21B are respectively fitted into three projection holes 3Fa formed in the side frame 3F and integrally connected therewith by welding when the outer surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 is brought into contact with and connected to the outer surface of the side frame 3F of the seat cushion 3. Thus, the projections 21B function as a connecting portion. The side frame 3F of the seat cushion 3 further has a through hole 3Fb. The operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7 and the lock spring 60 (described below), which are mounted on the outer surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20, are inserted through the through hole 3Fb in the axial direction from the inside to the outside.

[0039] As in Fig. 7, guide walls 23 are formed in the inner surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 at four positions in the circumferential direction. Each of the guide walls 23 protrudes in a wing shape and protrudes in the axial direction, which is the direction in which the guide 20 is mounted in the locking device 10. Each of the guide walls 23 is formed by extruding a portion of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 in the plate thickness direction by stamping so that the guide wall 23 has a wing shape that widens toward the outside in the radial direction. As shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the claw receiving recesses 24A, in which the three claws 30 (described below) are respectively received, are formed in regions under the guide walls 23 in the circumferential direction when the guide walls 23 are formed. Each claw 30 inserted into the associated claw receiving recess 24A is supported from both sides in the circumferential direction by the guide walls 23 so that the claw 30 is movable only in a radially inward direction and a radially outward direction. In addition, a cam receiving recess 24B is formed in a central portion surrounded by the guide walls 23 in the guide 20 when the guide walls 23 are formed. The rotating cam 40 (described later) may be housed in the cam receiving recess 24B so that the rotating cam 40 is rotatable about its axis.

[0040] Extended portions 23A are formed respectively in the two guide walls 23 on an upper side in the figures among the four guide walls 23. The claw 30 is not arranged between the two guide walls 23 on the upper side. The extended portions 23A contact and support the rotating cam 40 fixed in the cam receiving recess 24B from the outer peripheral side. When the rotating cam 40 is supported by the extended portions 23A, the rotating cam 40 supports, from the inner side in the radial direction, the claws 30 (described below) arranged at three locations unequally positioned in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the guide 20 is maintained in the state where the forces are balanced (see Fig. 9) when a reaction force acts, which in the figures is diverted to an upper side.

[0041] The three claw receiving recesses 24A formed between the guide walls 23 in the circumferential direction and the cam receiving recess 24B formed in the central portion of the guide 20 are portions of a guide recess 24 that is relatively recessed by forming the guide walls 23 by pushing out. Thus, the claw receiving recesses 24A and the cam receiving recess 24B are flush. Thus, the three claws of the rotating cams 40 and the hinge cams 50 disposed between the guide 20 and the locking device 10 are supported and mounted by the guide 20.

[0042] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, a spring hook portion 25 is formed in the outer surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 so as to protrude. An outer end portion of the locking spring 60 (described below) engages with the spring hook portion 25. The spring hook portion 25 is formed by pressing out a portion of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 in the plate thickness direction by punching. The spring hook portion 25 is formed at a position such that the spring hook portion 25 and the three projections 21B are arranged at equal intervals, in other words, at intervals of 90 degrees, on the outer surface of the disc body 21 (in other words, the spring hook portion 25 and the two projections 21B adjacent to the spring hook portion 25 are arranged at intervals of 90 degrees).The spring hook portion 25 has a shape having a narrowed portion at a central position so that the outer end portion of the locking spring 60 (described below) engages the narrowed portion.

[0043] As in Fig. 7 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 9, the three claws 90 are each received in and mounted on the claw receiving recesses 24A formed in the inner surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20. Because the claws 30 are mounted in the claw receiving recesses 24A, each claw 30 is supported in the circumferential direction such that the claw 30 is movable only in the radially inward direction and the radially outward direction along the shape of the associated claw receiving recess 24A. As shown in Fig. 9 to Fig. 10, each claw 30 is received in the associated claw receiving recess 24A, and the inner tooth row 12A formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 is located at a position to which the claw 30 moves in the radially outward direction.

[0044] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the outer tooth row 31, which can engage with the inner tooth row 12A of the locking device 10, is formed on the outer peripheral surface of each claw 30. The outer tooth row 31 is formed by arranging a plurality of outer teeth at a pitch angle of two degrees in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of each claw 30, which is curved to form an arcuate surface. As shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, each claw 30 is pushed in the radial direction by the rotating cam 40 to the outside (see Fig. 9) or pulled in the radial direction towards the inside (see Fig. 10) when the rotating cam 40, which is located in the central portion of the guide 20, is rotated about its axis.

[0045] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 9, when the claws 30 are pushed outward in the radial direction due to the rotation of the rotating cam 40, the outer teeth rows 31 formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the claws 30 are pressed onto and mesh with the inner teeth row 12A of the ratchet 10. Thus, the claws 30 mesh with the ratchet 10 in a rotational direction to be integrally connected with the ratchet 10, and thus the relative rotation of the ratchet 10 and the guide 20 is locked (prevented) via the claws 30. That is, the claws 30 are supported by the guide walls 23 in the circumferential direction, and thus the claws 30 can be moved only in the radially inward direction and the radially outward direction in the relationship between the claws 30 and the guide 20.Therefore, the claws 30 act to lock (prevent) the rotation of the locking device 10 relative to the guide 20 when the claws 30 engage the locking device 10 in the rotational direction to be integrally connected with the locking device 10.

[0046] As in Fig. As shown in FIG. 10, when the claws 30 are retracted in the radial direction toward the inside due to the rotation of the rotating cam 40, the claws are released from the inner tooth row 12A of the locking device 10. Therefore, the state in which the relative rotation of the locking device 10 and the guide 20 is locked (prevented) is released. Accordingly, the state of the recliner 4 is switched to the state in which the locking device 10 and the guide 20 are rotatable relative to each other. Each claw 30 includes two leg portions 32 extending in the radial direction toward the inside, and therefore, the claw 30 has a U-shape. An engaging portion 33 projects from one of the leg portions 32 to an inner portion of the U-shape.

[0047] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 9, the claws 30 are pressed in the radial direction toward the outside when the leg portions 32 of the claws 30 are pressed by the rotating cam 40 from the inside in the radial direction due to the rotation of the rotating cam 40. In addition, the engaging portions 33 of the claws 30 are pressed as shown in Fig. 10, the claws 30 are pulled in the radial direction toward the inside by hooks 44 of the rotating cam 40 in the radial direction, and the claws 30 are retracted toward the inside in the radial direction when the rotating cam 40 is rotated in a direction opposite to a direction in which the rotating cam 40 is rotated in the above-mentioned case.

[0048] As mentioned above with reference to Fig. As described in Figure 9, the rotating cam 40 is housed and mounted in the cam receiving recess 24B formed in the inner surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20. The rotating cam 40 is supported by the hinge cam 50 (described later) so as to be rotatable relative to the guide 20 about its axis. The hinge cam 50 is inserted into a central portion of the rotating cam 40 and mounted therein. The rotating cam 40 has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the claws 30. When the rotating cam 40 is housed in the cam receiving recess 24B (see Fig. 7), the rotating cam 40 is arranged at the same position as the position of the claws 30 in the axial direction.

[0049] As in Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 10, recessed portions 42, shoulder portions 43, and hooks 44 are formed on surfaces in right and left sides and on a bottom surface of the rotating cam 40 in the figures. The leg portions 32 of the claws 30 can move into the recessed portions 42, respectively. When the rotating cam 40 rotates, the leg portions 32 of the claws 30, which have moved into the recessed portions 42, are caused to ride on the shoulder portions 43 so that the leg portions 32 are displaced toward the outside in the radial direction. When the rotating cam 40 is rotated in the opposite direction, the hooks 44 engage the engaging portions 33 of the claws 30, and the hooks 44 pull the claws 30 toward the inside in the radial direction.

[0050] An operating portion 53 of the hinge cam 50 (described later) is axially mounted in a through hole 41 formed at a central portion of the rotating cam 40 so that the hinge cam 50 and the rotating cam 40 are rotatable together in the rotation direction. Specifically, the through hole 41 has a hook-hole shape, and the hook-shaped operating portion 53 of the hinge cam 50 is mounted in the through hole 41 so that the hinge cam 50 and the rotating cam 40 are rotatable together in the rotation direction. Because the operating portion 53 of the hinge cam 50 is mounted in the through hole 41 of the rotating cam 40 as described above, when the hinge cam 50 is rotated about its axis in the rotation direction toward one side or the other, the rotating cam 40 is rotated together with the hinge cam 50.

[0051] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 9, the hinge cam 50 is normally biased in the clockwise direction in the figure by the lock spring 60 (described later), and thus the rotating cam 40 is normally maintained in the state where the rotating cam 40 is pushed in the clockwise direction. Thus, the shoulder portions 43 formed on the right and left side surfaces and the bottom surface of the rotating cam 40 push the leg portions 32 of the claws 30 toward the outside in the radial direction. Accordingly, the claws 30 engage the inner teeth 12A of the locking device 10, and thus the rotation of the recliner 4 is kept locked.

[0052] If the release lever 5 (see Fig. 1), the hinge cam 50 is rotated about its axis in a direction opposite to the direction explained above in which the hinge cam 50 is preloaded, and thus the rotating cam 40 is moved as shown in Fig. 10, the operating portion 53 of the hinge cam 50 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, the recessed portions 42 formed on the surfaces on the right and left sides and the bottom of the rotating cam 40 move to positions directly below the leg portions 32 of the claws 30 (that is, positions inside the leg portions 32 in the radial direction), and the hooks 44 extending from the surfaces gradually engage the engaging portions 33 of the claws 30. Accordingly, the hooks 44 pull the claws 30 toward the inside in the radial direction, and thus the engagement of the claws 30 with the locking device 10 is released. Thus, the recliner 4 is unlocked.In addition, when the release lever 5 returns, the rotating cam 40 in the figures is rotated again in the clockwise direction by the operating portion 53 of the hinge cam 50, which is rotated due to the biasing force of the locking spring 60. Accordingly, the recliner 4 is returned to the state where the claws 30 engage the inner teeth 12A of the locking device 10 (the rotation of the recliner 4 is locked).

[0053] Of the three claws 30 (30A to 30C), one claw 30A is arranged in a claw receiving recess 24A on the lower side in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, a first piece 30A1 and a second piece 30A2, which are formed by dividing the claw 30A obliquely into two pieces adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. With this structure, the first piece 30A1 and the second piece 30A2 are pushed apart, in other words, the first piece 30A1 and the second piece 30A2 are pressed against the guide walls 23 on the right and left sides of the first piece 30A1 and the second piece 30A2, as shown in Fig. 9, when the claw 30A is pressed from the inside to the outside by the rotating cam 40, the outer tooth row 31 thereof engages with the inner tooth row 12A of the locking device 10. This suppresses play in the circumferential direction.

[0054] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the hinge cam 50 includes a spring hook portion 51 having a rectangular tubular shape, a shaft portion 52 having a cylindrical shape, and the operating portion 53 having a rectangular-shaped portion provided at a location in a circumferential direction of the operating portion 53 to protrude toward the outside in the radial direction. The spring hook portion 51, the shaft portion 52, and the operating portion 53 are arranged in the axial direction. Thus, the hinge cam 50 is constructed as a shaft member. A through hole 50A is formed at a central portion of the hinge cam 50 to extend through the hinge cam 50. The cross section of the through hole 50A is elliptical (oval).The spring hook portion 51 and the shaft portion 52 of the hinge cam 50 are inserted from the inner side in the axial direction into the through hole 21A formed at the central portion of the guide 20. Thus, the hinge cam 50 is mounted on the guide 20 in a position where the operating portion 53 engages the inner surface of the disc body 21 of the guide 20 in the state where the spring hook portion 51 protrudes outward from the guide 20 in the axial direction, and the shaft portion 52 is mounted in the through hole 21A of the guide 20 so as to be rotatable about its axis.

[0055] The hinge cam 50 is in the state where the inner end portion of the locking spring 60, which is wound in a rectangular shape, is mounted on and engaged with a rectangular outer peripheral portion of the spring hook portion 51, which projects outward from the guide 20 in the axial direction, and thus the locking spring 60 and the spring hook portion 51 are rotatable together in the rotational direction. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the locking spring 60 is formed by a coil spring and disposed on the outer surface of the guide 20. The inner end portion of the locking spring 60 engages the spring hook portion 51 of the hinge cam 50, and the outer end portion of the locking spring 60 engages the spring hook portion 25 formed on the outer surface of the guide 20 to protrude. Thus, the locking spring 60 normally exerts the biasing force that rotates the hinge cam 50 relative to the guide 20 in a direction in which the rotating cam 40 performs the locking operation.

[0056] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the operating pin 7, which rotates the hinge cam 50 about its axis, is inserted through the through hole 50A in the central portion of the hinge cam 50, which is arranged between the locking device 10 and the guide 20. The operating pin 7 is inserted through the through hole 50A from the inside to the outside in the axial direction so that the operating pin 7 and the hinge cam 50 are rotatable together in the rotation direction. As described above, the operating pin 7, which is inserted through the recliner 4 on the vehicle outside, and the operating pin 7, which is inserted through the recliner 4 on the vehicle inside, are formed by the components that are the same as each other. More specifically, each operating pin 7, as shown in Figure 7, comprises Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 11, the operating shaft portion 7A is inserted through the recliner 4 from the inside in the axial direction and connected thereto, and the mounting portion 7B is mounted on and connected to the end portion 8A or 8B of the rod 8. The operating shaft portion 7A and the mounting portion 7B are arranged coaxially. The mounting portion 7B includes a "connecting portion" and a "restricting portion" according to the invention.

[0057] The operating shaft portion 7A has an elliptical (oval) cross-sectional shape, which is the same as that of the through-hole 50A of the hinge cam 50 of the recliner 4. The operating shaft portion 7A extends uniformly in the axial direction. Thus, the operating shaft portion 7A is inserted through the through-hole 50A of the hinge cam 50 in the axial direction, mounted, and connected so that the operating shaft portion 7A and the hinge cam 50 are rotatable together in the rotational direction. The mounting portion 7B has a cylindrical shape that opens toward the inside in the axial direction. The mounting portion 7B has an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the operating shaft portion 7A. The end portion 8A or 8B of the rod 8, which has a circular tubular shape, is mounted into the mounting portion 7B, which has a cylindrical shape.More specifically, the mounting portion 7B has such a shape that the end portion 8A or 8B of the rod 8 can be mounted in the mounting portion 7B in the state where the end portion 8A or 8B is rotatable in the mounting portion 7B.

[0058] After the end portions 8A, 8B are assembled into the mounting portions 7B having the cylindrical shape, welding is performed on assembled portions of the end portions 8A, 8B and the mounting portions 7B so that the mounting portions 7B are integrally connected to the rod 8. As described above, each mounting portion 7B is configured so that the end portion 8A or 8B can be assembled into the mounting portion 7B in the state where the end portion 8A or 8B is rotatable in the mounting portion 7B.Therefore, when the operating shaft portion 7A of each operating pin 7 is inserted through the through hole 50A of the hinge cam 50 and mounted therein, the clearance between the operating shaft portion 7A and the through hole 50A in the rotation direction is reduced, and thus the mounting portion 7B can be integrally connected to the rod 8 in the state where the clearance between the operating shaft portion 7A and the through hole 50A in the rotation direction is reduced. Because the operating pins 7 are integrally welded to the rod 8 in the state where the clearance in the rotation direction is reduced, the operating pins 7 are connected to the rod 8 in the state where there is no deviation between the operating positions of the operating pins 7 on the right and left sides.

[0059] Specifically, the operating pins 7 are integrally connected to each other via the rod 8 after the operating pins 7 are respectively inserted through the recliners 4 on both sides in the axial direction. That is, the operating shaft portion 7A of each of the operating pins 7 is inserted through the through hole 2Fb of the associated side frame 2F of the backrest 2 and inserted through the through hole 50A in the center portion of the hinge cam 50 of the associated recliner 4 (an insertion process). The movement of the operating shaft portion 7A of each of the operating pins 7 in an insertion direction is restricted up to an operating position where the mounting portion 7B inserted through the through hole 2Fb in the associated side frame 2F of the backrest 2 contacts the outer surface of the associated recliner 4 (the restriction position corresponds to the "second position" according to the invention).When each of the operation pins 7 is inserted to the restriction position (the second position), the operation shaft portion 7A extends through the associated recliner 4, and the long additional length portion of the operation shaft portion 7A projects outward from the recliner 4 in the axial direction (see . Fig. 3).

[0060] As a result, a width W between the mounting portions 7B of the operating pins 7 becomes larger than the shaft length of the rod 8. Thus, it becomes possible to insert (dispose) the rod 8 into a gap between the mounting portions 7B of the operating pins 7. Then, the rod 8 is inserted (disposed) into the gap between the mounting portions 7B, and the end portion 8A on one side of the rod 8 is inserted into the mounting portion 7B of the operating pin 7 on the vehicle outer side (a connecting process). As a result, a gap in the axial direction is formed between the end portion 8B on the outer side of the rod 8 and the mounting portion 7B of the operating pin 7 on the vehicle inner side. The gap in the axial direction allows the mounting portion 7B to be pulled toward the inner side in the axial direction and mounted to the end portion 8B of the rod 8.

[0061] Accordingly, the vehicle-inside operating pin 7 is moved in the direction in which the vehicle-inside operating pin 7 is pulled out from the vehicle-inside recliner 4, and the mounting portion 7B is fitted to the end portion 8B on the other side of the rod 8 (a sliding connection process). As a result, the end portions 8A, 8B of the rod 8 are fitted into the mounting portions 7B of the two operating pins 7, respectively. Thus, the operating pins 7 and the rod 8 are connected to each other in the axial direction. The vehicle-inside operating pin 7 is inserted through the vehicle-inside recliner 4 in the state where the long-extra-length portion of the operating shaft portion 7A protrudes outward from the recliner 4 in the axial direction.Therefore, the length of the additional length portion is reduced to a small length, and the operating shaft portion 7A does not fall off from the recliner 4 on the vehicle inner side, that is, the operating shaft portion 7A remains inserted into the recliner 4 when the mounting portion 7B is moved in the axial direction toward the inner side to the position where the mounting portion 7B is mounted to the end portion 8B of the rod 8 as described above (at the position corresponding to the “first position” according to the invention).

[0062] After the mounting portions 7B of the operating pins 7 are mounted to the end portions 8A, 8B of the rod 8, welding of the mounted portions of the mounting portions 7B and the end portions 8A, 8B is performed, and therefore, the operating pins 7 are integrally connected to each other via the rod 8. The unlocking lever 5, which is provided to perform the operation for unlocking the recliners 4, is mounted from the outside to the distal end portion of the operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7 on the vehicle outer side in the state where the distal end portion of the operating shaft portion 7A protrudes from the recliner 4 on the outside to a large extent. The unlocking lever 5 is integrally welded to the distal end portion of the operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7. More specifically, an insertion hole 5A is formed in a proximal end portion of the release lever 5.The insertion hole 5A has an elliptical (oval) cross-sectional shape similar to that of the operating shaft portion 7A of the operating pin 7. The operating shaft portion 7A is inserted through the insertion hole 5A so that the release lever 5 and the operating shaft portion 7A are rotatable together in the rotation direction. Furthermore, welding of mounting portions of the operating shaft portion 7A and the insertion hole 5A is performed, and therefore, the release lever 5 is integrally connected to the distal end portion of the operating shaft portion 7A.

[0063] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the outer peripheral ring 70 is formed to have the stepped cylindrical shape (in other words, the shape of a cylinder with a stepped portion) by punching a thin steel plate into the shape of a ring and performing a drawing process in the plate thickness direction on an outer peripheral portion of a disc portion formed by the punching. More specifically, an inner peripheral portion of the stepped portion is punch-stamped in the axial direction opposite to an outer peripheral portion of the stepped portion. Thus, a first pressing portion 71, which contacts the cylindrical portion 12 of the lock device 10 from the outside in the axial direction, is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the stepped portion, and a second pressing portion 72, which contacts the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 from the inside in the axial direction, is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the stepped portion.

[0064] In the outer peripheral ring 70 having the cylindrical shape, the locking device 10 and the guide 20 are sequentially assembled and fixed in the axial direction. Thus, the first pressing portion 71 contacts the cylindrical portion 12 of the locking device 10 from the outside in the axial direction, and the second pressing portion 72 contacts the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 from the inside in the axial direction. As a result, the outer peripheral ring 70 having the cylindrical shape, in other words, the ring shape, is assembled over the outer peripheral portions of the locking device 10 and the guide 20. A distal portion (a crimp portion 73) of a cylindrical portion of the outer peripheral ring 70 is crimped to be bent toward the inside in the radial direction, using the second pressing portion 72 as a support point.Thus, crimping is performed such that the cylindrical portion 22 of the guide 20 is sandwiched between the crimping portion 73 and the second pressing portion 72, and thus the outer peripheral ring 70 is integrally mounted on the guide 20.

[0065] As a result, the first pressing portion 71 in the outer peripheral ring 70 faces an outer surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the ratchet 10 in the axial direction. Thus, the outer peripheral ring 70 supports the ratchet 10 so that the ratchet 10 is rotatable with respect to the guide 20, and the ratchet 10 is prevented from falling off in the axial direction. A plurality of protruding portions 71A are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on an edge portion of an inner surface of the first pressing portion 71 of the outer peripheral ring 70, the inner surface of which faces the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 12. The protruding portions 71A are formed by punching to protrude in the axial direction. Because of the protruding portions 71A, the outer peripheral ring 70 supports the ratchet 10 substantially in a point-contact manner.Therefore, it is unlikely that a resistance force due to sliding friction is caused at a contact portion between the outer peripheral ring 70 and the locking device 10 when the locking device 10 is rotated.

[0066] As described above, the seat 1 in the embodiment has the following structure. The seat 1 in the embodiment includes the paired right and left recliners 4, which respectively connect the right and left side frames 2F of the seat back 2 to the base (the seat cushion 3) on or above the floor; the operating pins 7, which are respectively inserted through the recliners 4 in the axial direction and rotated about the axes thereof to respectively unlock the recliners 4; and the rod 8, which integrally connects the operating pins 7.One of the operation pins 7 (the operation pin 7 on the vehicle interior side) includes the operation shaft portion 7A inserted through the recliner 4 on the vehicle interior side from the inside in the axial direction and connected to the recliner 4; and the connecting portion (the mounting portion 7B) contacting the rod 8 and connected to the rod 8, wherein the operation shaft portion 7A and the connecting portion (the mounting portion 7B) are arranged in the axial direction. The insertion depth of the operation shaft portion 7A relative to the recliner 4 can be changed (the insertion depth at which the operation shaft portion 7A is inserted through the recliner 4 can be changed) by moving the operation shaft portion 7A between the first position (the position shown in FIG. Fig. 2) in which the connecting portion (the mounting portion 7B) contacts the rod 8 so that it can be connected to the rod 8, and the second position (the position shown in Fig. 3) in which the connecting portion (the mounting portion 7B) is away from the rod 8 in the axial direction. The operating shaft portion 7A is connected to the recliner 4 so as to move the recliner 4 in the first position (the position in Fig. 2) is activated.

[0067] It is thus possible to adjust the insertion depth of one of the actuating pins 7 (the actuating pin 7 on the inside of the vehicle) relative to the backrest adjustment 4 by moving the actuating pin between the first position (the one in Fig. 2) and the second position (the one shown in Fig. 3). Therefore, the reclining operation pins 7 can be respectively inserted through the side frames 2F from the seat inside, and the rod 8 can be inserted (disposed) between the operation pins 7 to connect the operation pins 7 after the side frames 2F are integrally connected to each other.

[0068] In addition, one of the operating pins 7 (the operating pin 7 on the vehicle interior side) includes the restricting portion (the mounting portion 7B) that restricts the movement of the operating shaft portion 7A with respect to the recliner 4 in the axial direction up to the second position (the position shown in Fig. 3). In this structure, the restricting portion (the mounting portion 7B) prevents the operating pin 7 (the operating pin 7 on the vehicle interior side) from falling out of the recliner 4 to the outside of the seat. Thus, it is possible to easily perform the mounting operation.

[0069] As described above, the actuating pins 7 are formed by the components that are identical to each other. One of the actuating pins 7 (the actuating pin 7 on the vehicle interior side) can be moved between the first position (the one shown in Fig. 2), in which the actuating pin 7 touches the rod 8 so that it can be connected to the rod 8, and the second position (the position shown in Fig.3) in which the operating pin 7 is spaced apart from the rod 8 in the axial direction. On the other hand, the other operating pin 7 (the operating pin 7 on the vehicle outer side) is connected to the rod 8 in the state where the operating pin 7 is inserted through the recliner 4 to the insertion depth corresponding to the second position. The unlocking lever 5, which is provided to perform the operation of unlocking the recliners 4, is mounted on the extra-length portion of the operating shaft portion 7A, the extra-length portion protruding from the recliner 4 to the outside of the seat.

[0070] With the above-described structure, even if one of the operating pins 7 (the operating pin 7 on the vehicle interior side) and the other operating pin 7 (the operating pin 7 on the vehicle exterior side) are formed by components identical to each other, none of the operating pins 7 has a portion that unnecessarily protrudes from the recliner 4 to the outside of the seat. Accordingly, the seat 1 can be made compact in the width direction.

[0071] Although the embodiment of the invention has been described above, the invention can be implemented in other embodiments. For example, the recliner of the invention can be used for automobile seats other than a passenger seat. Furthermore, the recliner of the invention can generally be used for seats used in various vehicles or means of transport, such as a train, an airplane, or a ship. The base to which the backrest is connected can, for example, be a support member provided on or above the floor, instead of the seat cushion provided on or above the floor.

[0072] The recliner may have a structure in which the claws are pressed against and moved away from the flanks of the inner teeth of the locking device by a sliding cam, instead of the rotary cam that rotates together with the hinge cam. The sliding cam is actuated to move in a radial direction due to the rotation of the hinge cam about its axis. The number of claws may be two or four or more. The recliner is not limited to the recliner that is unlocked by manual operation in the embodiment.The recliner may have a structure in which an internal gear and an external gear rotate relative to each other in a manner that changes their engagement position when an operating pin inserted through the internal gear and the external gear rotates around the axis thereof, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-187906 (JP 2010-187906A). A release lever or a drive mechanism may be connected to a location in the operating pin or a rod connected to the operating pin and the other operating pin, and the operating pins may be rotated about their axes by manual operation or electric operation to operate the recliners.

[0073] The cross-sectional shape of the operating shaft portion of the operating pin in the embodiments is not limited to an elliptical shape. The operating shaft portion may have various shapes, such as a polygonal shape, as long as the operating shaft portion is insertable through each recliner in the axial direction so that the operating shaft portion can be rotated about its axis to operate the recliner. The invention is not limited to the structure in which the operating pin is integrally connected to the rod by welding so that the operating pin and the rod are rotatable together in the rotational direction after the connecting portion of the operating pin is mounted to the rod. The connecting portion of the operating pin may be mounted to the rod so that the operating pin and the rod are rotatable together in the rotational direction.The rod does not necessarily have to be mounted in the connecting portion of the actuating pin as long as the connecting portion of the actuating pin touches the rod and is connected to the rod.

[0074] The cross-sectional shape of the operating shaft portion may be any shape, as long as the operating shaft portion can be connected to the recliner at least in the first position where the connecting portion contacts the rod so as to be connectable to the rod, in the state where the operating shaft portion is rotatable about its axis so that the recliner is operated. The cross-sectional shape of the operating shaft portion does not necessarily have to be uniform in the axial direction.In the case where the operation pins on the right and left sides are constituted by the components that are identical to each other, and the other operation pin is connected to the rod in the state where the other operation pin is inserted through the recliner to the insertion depth matching the second position, the operation shaft portion of each of the operation pins needs to have a shape such that the operation shaft portion is connectable to the recliner in the state where the operation shaft portion is rotatable about its axis to operate the recliner in each of the first position and the second position.

[0075] An inner section of each of the side frames on the right and left sides of the backrest can be connected to the base on or above the floor via the backrest adjuster, instead of connecting an outer section of each of the side frames to the base. Actuating pins can be inserted through the backrest adjusters in the axial direction and mounted to the backrest adjusters before the side frames on the right and left sides of the backrest are assembled together to form a unit.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the connecting portion (the mounting portion) has a shape larger than the operating shaft portion in the radial direction, and thus, the restricting portion is formed by the connecting portion (the mounting portion). However, in the case where the connecting portion has a diameter smaller than that of the operating shaft portion, a restricting portion larger than the operating shaft portion in the radial direction may be created between the connecting portion and the operating shaft portion.

Claims

[1] A vehicle seat (1) comprising pairs of right and left backrest adjusters (4) each connecting side frames (2F) on right and left sides of a backrest (2) to a seat cushion (3) on or above a floor; actuating pins (7) each inserted through the backrest adjusters (4) in an axial direction and each rotatable about their axes to unlock the backrest adjusters (4), respectively; and a rod (8) integrally connecting the actuating pins (7) to each other, wherein one of the actuating pins (7) has an actuating shaft portion (7A) inserted through one of the backrest adjustments (4) from a seat inner side in the axial direction and connected to the one backrest adjustment (4), and a connecting portion (7B) touching the rod (8) and connected to the rod (8), wherein the actuating shaft portion (7A) and the rod (8) have a common axis; and the actuating shaft portion (7A) is connected to the one backrest adjustment (4) in a first position in which the connecting portion (7B) contacts the rod (8) so that it can be connected to the rod (8) in such a way that it actuates the one backrest adjustment (4); wherein an insertion depth of the actuating shaft portion (7A) with respect to the backrest adjustment (4) can be changed by moving the actuating shaft portion (7A) during assembly of the vehicle seat (1) between the first position and a second position in which the connecting portion (7B) is spaced apart from the rod (8) in the axial direction, so that before assembly, a width (W) between the connecting portions (7B) of the actuating pins (7) is greater than a shaft length of the rod (8), but smaller than the distance between the side frames (2F); and the vehicle seat (1) characterized byis that after assembly at least one outer end of an actuating pin (7) is spaced from the side frames (2F). [2] The vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1, wherein said one operating pin (7) further comprises a restricting portion that restricts the movement of said operating shaft portion (7A) relative to said one recliner (4) to said second position. [3] Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the actuating pins (7) are formed by components that are identical to one another; the other of the operating pins (7) is connected to the rod (8) in a state in which the operating shaft portion (7A) of the other operating pin (7) is inserted through the other of the backrest adjusters (4) to the insertion depth corresponding to the second position; and an unlocking lever (5) provided to perform an operation for unlocking both backrest adjusters (4) is mounted on an additional length portion of the operating shaft portion (7A) of the other operating pin (7), the additional length portion projecting from the other backrest adjuster (4) toward an outer side of the vehicle seat (1). [4] A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat (1) comprising pairs of right and left backrest adjusters (4) each connecting side frames (2F) on the right and left sides of a backrest (2) to a seat cushion (3) on or above a floor; actuating pins (7) each inserted through the backrest adjusters (4) in an axial direction and each rotated about axes thereof to unlock the backrest adjusters (4); and a rod (8) integrally connecting the actuating pins (7) to each other, the method comprising: characterized byis that it has the following: Connecting the side frames (2F) on the right and left sides of the backrest (2) to each other to form a unit; Inserting the actuating pins (7) through the backrest adjusters (4) from a seat inner side in the axial direction to connect the actuating pins (7) to the backrest adjusters (4); Bringing the rod (8) into contact with one of the actuating pins (7), and connecting the rod (8) to the one actuating pin (7); and Moving the other of the actuating pins (7) into a position in which the other actuating pin (7) contacts the rod (8), and connecting the other actuating pin (7) to the rod (8), wherein the other actuating pin (7) is moved in a direction in which an insertion depth of the other actuating pin (7) with respect to the associated backrest adjustment (4) is reduced.

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