Vehicle seat and vehicle seat device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat which enables adjustment of a position of a footrest for supporting a sole.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat S includes a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, and an ottoman 5 provided at a front end of the seat cushion 1. The ottoman 5 has: a body 10 extending from a front end of the seat cushion 1 and having a support surface 10A for supporting lower legs of a seating person; a footrest provided at the body 10 and having a placement surface 21A on which soles of the seating person are placed; and a lifting part 30 moving up and down the footrest 20 relative to the body 10. The lifting part 30 moves up and down the footrest 20 along an extension direction of the body 10 in a state that the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A intersect with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat apparatus, and more particularly to a vehicle seat and a vehicle seat apparatus including a seat cushion, a seat back, and an ottoman. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vehicle seats with an ottoman provided at the front end of the seat cushion are known. For example, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, a leg rest (main body) is provided at the front end of the seat cushion, and the extension of the leg rest is attached so as to be movable forward and backward, thereby making it possible to adjust the length of the ottoman.

[0003] For example, the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 2 has a panel material (main body) that extends from the front end of the seat cushion and supports the lower legs of a seated person, and a panel material (footrest) that has a support surface on which the soles of the feet of the seated person are placed. The footrest is rotatably attached to the panel material, and can be switched between a state in which it protrudes in an L-shape from the main body and a state in which it is folded behind the main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-240616 A [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2022-038703 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, the ottoman cannot support the soles of the feet of the seated person, making it difficult to accommodate various postures of the seated person. Furthermore, in the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 2, the position of the footrest is fixed at the front end of the main body, making it difficult to accommodate the various physiques of seated occupants.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat in which the position of a footrest that supports the soles of the feet can be adjusted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above problem is solved by a vehicle seat of the present invention, which comprises a seat cushion, a seat back, and an ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion, wherein the ottoman has a main body portion extending from the front end of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant, a footrest provided on the main body portion and having a placement surface on which the soles of the feet of the seated occupant are placed, and a lifting section which raises and lowers the footrest relative to the main body portion, wherein the lifting section raises and lowers the footrest along the extension direction of the main body portion with the support surface intersecting the placement surface. With the above-described configuration, the lifting section lifts and lowers the footrest along the extending direction of the main body section, so that the position of the footrest supporting the sole of the foot can be adjusted. Therefore, the position of the footrest can be adjusted according to the physique of the seated person, and the seated person's freedom of posture can be increased.

[0008] In this case, the ottoman may have a rotation portion that rotates the footrest relative to the main body, and the rotation portion may rotate the footrest so as to adjust the angle of the placement surface relative to the support surface. With the above configuration, the angle of the footrest can be adjusted, so the position of the footrest can be more appropriately adjusted according to the physique of the seated person. Also, the footrest can be folded behind the main body by the pivoting part, so the ottoman can be arranged in a compact manner.

[0009] In this case, the lifting portion is provided on the side of the main body portion in the seat width direction, extends along the extension direction of the main body portion, and has a guide portion that guides the footrest, and a locking member that locks the footrest at a predetermined position in the guide portion. With the above-described configuration, the footrest is locked at a predetermined position in the guide portion by the locking member, thereby improving the rigidity of the footrest, which is easily subjected to a load.

[0010] In this case, the rotating portion may have an angle restricting member that restricts an angle of the placement surface relative to the extending direction of the main body portion. With the above-described configuration, the angle of the support surface is restricted by the angle restricting member, so that the rigidity of the footrest, which is easily subjected to a load, can be improved.

[0011] In this case, the footrest is provided with a detection unit provided on the aforementioned support surface for detecting the soles of the feet of the seated person, and a control unit for controlling the lifting / lowering unit, and the control unit may allow the operation of the lifting / lowering unit when the detection unit detects the soles of the feet of the seated person. The above configuration can prevent a seated occupant from unintentionally operating the lifting section.

[0012] In this case, a notification unit is provided which notifies the seated occupant of specified information, and when the detection unit does not detect the soles of the occupant's feet, the control unit notifies the seated occupant that the soles of the feet have not been detected via the notification unit. With the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to encourage the seated occupant to place the soles of his / her feet on the placement portion.

[0013] In this case, the seat cushion may be provided with a drive device that operates specific parts of the seat cushion and the seat back, and a control unit that controls the lifting / lowering unit and the drive device, and the control unit may operate the drive device in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit. With the above-described configuration, the state of the seat body can be changed by operating the drive devices such as the reclining device and movable parts in conjunction with the movement of the footrest, thereby improving the comfort of the seat occupant.

[0014] In this case, the seat may be provided with an operating unit operated by the seat occupant, and the control unit may have a mode switching unit that switches between a first mode in which the lifting unit and the drive device are each operated by input from the operating unit, and a second mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with the operation of the lifting unit by input from the operating unit. With the above configuration, in the first mode, the position of the footrest and the state of the seat body can be freely changed by the seat occupant, and in the second mode, the state of the seat body can be changed simply by changing the position of the footrest, improving convenience.

[0015] In this case, the drive device has a tilting unit that tilts a front portion of the seat cushion relative to a rear portion of the seat cushion, and the control unit, in the second mode, controls the tilting unit in conjunction with the operation of the lifting unit. With the above-described configuration, the front portion of the seat cushion tilts in conjunction with the movement of the footrest, thereby making it possible to provide suitable support for the seated occupant.

[0016] The above-mentioned problem is solved by the vehicle seat device of the present invention, which is a vehicle seat device including a vehicle seat and a footrest device provided in a vehicle interior part disposed forward of the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion, a seat back, an ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion, and a rotation device for rotating the ottoman with respect to the seat cushion, the ottoman extending from the front end of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant. The footrest device has a main body, and is provided on the vehicle seat side surface of the vehicle interior part, a footrest having a support surface for placing the soles of the feet of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat, and a lifting section which raises and lowers the support surface relative to the vehicle seat side surface, and when the ottoman is rotated relative to the seat cushion by the rotating device, the lifting section raises and lowers the footrest along the extension direction of the main body part with the support surface and the support surface intersecting. With the above-described configuration, the lifting section lifts and lowers the footrest along the extending direction of the main body section, so that the placement position of the sole of the foot can be adjusted to suit the physique of the seated person. Therefore, the position of the footrest can be adjusted according to the physique of the seated person, and the seated person's freedom of posture can be increased. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, the position of the footrest that supports the soles of the feet can be adjusted. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the position of the footrest can be more suitably adjusted according to the physique of the seated person, and the ottoman can be arranged in a compact manner. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the rigidity of the footrest, which is easily subjected to a load, can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a seated occupant from unintentionally operating the lifting section. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to encourage the seated occupant to place the soles of his / her feet on the support portion. Furthermore, the present invention can improve the comfort of the seat occupant. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the posture of the seated person can be freely changed, and convenience can be improved. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a seated occupant can be supported in an optimal manner. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ottoman. [Figure 4A] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the seat body in a normal state. [Figure 4B] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the seat body in a relaxed state. [Figure 4C] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the seat body in the fetal position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle seat. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a control flow diagram of a footrest deployment process. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10A] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 10B] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a state in which the footrest is raised and lowered. [Figure 11A] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a vehicle seat device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 11B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the vehicle seat and footrest device is operated. [Figure 12] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a footrest device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is traveling. The "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the left-right direction as seen by an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. The "up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane.

[0020] First Embodiment As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle seat S of this embodiment is, for example, a vehicle seat that is placed on a vehicle body floor and in which a vehicle occupant sits. In this embodiment, the vehicle seat S is used as a front seat that corresponds to the front seat of the vehicle. However, the vehicle seat S is not limited to this, and may be a rear seat of the vehicle, and may also be used as a second-row middle seat or a third-row rear seat in a vehicle that has three rows of seats in the front-rear direction.

[0021] <<Overall sheet structure>> 1 and 2, the vehicle seat S is mainly composed of a seat body having a seat cushion 1, a seat back 2, a headrest 3, an armrest 4, and an ottoman 5 provided at the front end of the seat cushion 1. The seat body is supported from below by a support member Sa. The vehicle seat S also includes a rotation device 6 for rotating the ottoman 5 relative to the seat cushion 1, a reclining device 7 for rotating the seat back 2 relative to the seat cushion 1, a rail device 8 for supporting the seat body so that it can move in the front-rear direction relative to the vehicle floor, and a cushion moving device 9 for raising and lowering the seat body relative to the vehicle floor. The rotation device 6, the reclining device 7, the rail device 8, and the cushion moving device 9 correspond to the drive device of the present invention. The vehicle seat S may also be provided with a height adjustment device for raising and lowering the seat body relative to the vehicle floor and a rotation device for rotating the seat body relative to the vehicle floor as the drive device.

[0022] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the seat cushion 1 is a seating portion that supports an occupant from below, and is constructed by placing a padding material P on a cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 1 and covering it with a skin T. The seat cushion 1 has a tilting portion 1c that tilts a front portion 1b relative to a rear portion 1a of the seat cushion 1, and a movable portion 1d provided on a side portion of the seat cushion 1. The tilting portion 1c and the movable portion 1d correspond to a drive device of the present invention.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, the tilting portion 1c is an electric device that operates to project the front portion 1b of the seat cushion 1 upward. The tilting portion 1c is, for example, a movable body having an air cell, and is provided on a pad material P. The air cell of the tilting portion 1c expands toward the occupant (seat occupant) side when compressed air is enclosed therein, and projects from a normal position to a protruding position. Then, the air cell of the tilting portion 1c contracts when the enclosed compressed air is discharged, and returns to the normal position. Incidentally, the tilting portion 1c is not limited to an air cell, and may be a mechanism that tilts the front portion 1b by raising the height position of the pan frame.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the movable part 1d is an electrically-operated device that operates to protrude the side part of the seat cushion 1. The movable part 1d is, for example, a movable body having an air cell, and is provided on a pad material P. The air cell of the movable part 1d expands toward the occupant (seat occupant) side when compressed air is enclosed therein, and protrudes from a normal position to a protruding position. Then, the air cell of the movable part 1d contracts when the enclosed compressed air is discharged, and returns to the normal position. The air cells of the movable part 1d have a shape that is long in the front-rear direction. When the air cells of the movable part 1d are in the protruding position, they bulge inward (toward the seated person). In this way, the air cells that are long in the front-rear direction bulge inward, so that the seated person can be embraced by the movable part 1d.

[0025] 1 and 2, the seat back 2 is a backrest portion that supports the back of an occupant from behind, and is configured by placing a padding material P on a back frame that forms the skeleton of the seat back 2, and covering it with a skin T. The seat back 2 is structured to be divided into upper and lower parts in the seat height direction, and is divided into an upper part 2a and a lower part 2b. The seat back 2 has a seat back bending device 2c that bends the upper part 2a relative to the lower part 2b, and a movable part 2d that is provided on each of the upper part 2a and the lower part 2b. The seat back bending device 2c and the movable part 2d correspond to the drive device of the present invention.

[0026] The seat back folding device 2c is a device that rotatably connects the upper part 2a to the lower part 2b and can lock the upper part 2a. The seat back folding device 2c has a drive source, and rotates the upper part 2a forward relative to the lower part 2b by the driving force of the drive source, thereby bending the seat back 2. Specifically, the seat back folding device 2c switches the seat back 2 between a normal position and a bent position in which the upper part 2a and the lower part 2b are bent close to each other.

[0027] The movable part 2d is an electrically-operated device that operates to protrude the seat back 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The movable part 2d is, for example, a movable body having an air cell, and is provided on the pad material P. The air cell of the movable part 2d expands toward the occupant (seater) side when compressed air is enclosed therein, and protrudes from the normal position to the protruding position. Then, the air cell of the movable part 2d contracts when the enclosed compressed air is discharged, and returns to the normal position. The air cells of the movable part 2d have a shape that is long in the vertical direction. When the air cells of the movable part 2d are in the protruding position, they bulge inward (toward the seated person). In this way, the air cells that are long in the vertical direction bulge inward, so that the seated person can be embraced by the movable part 2d.

[0028] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the headrest 3 is a head portion that supports the head of an occupant from behind, and is configured by placing a padding material on a pillar that serves as a core material and covering it with a skin. The armrest 4 is an arm portion that supports the arms of a seated occupant from below, and is configured by placing a padding material on an armrest frame that forms the skeleton of the armrest 4, and covering it with a skin.

[0029] 1 and 2, the ottoman 5 is a portion that supports the thighs of a seated occupant and is provided at the front end portion of the seat cushion 1. The ottoman 5 is supported on the seat cushion 1 by a rotating device 6 so as to be rotatable. The ottoman 5 has a main body portion 10 that supports the lower legs of a seated person, a footrest 20 on which the soles of the feet of the seated person are placed, a lifting portion 30 that raises and lowers the footrest 20 relative to the main body portion 10, and a rotating portion 40 that rotates the footrest 20 relative to the main body portion 10.

[0030] The rotation device 6 is a device that rotatably connects the ottoman 5 to the seat cushion 1 and is also capable of locking the ottoman 5. The rotation device 6 has a drive source, and rotates the ottoman 5 relative to the seat cushion 1 by the driving force of the drive source. Specifically, the rotation device 6 switches the ottoman 5 between a stored state in which it is stored in the seat cushion 1 and a use state in which it supports the lower legs of a seated person.

[0031] The reclining device 7 is a device that rotatably connects the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 1 and is capable of locking the seat back 2. The reclining device 7 has a drive source and rotates the seat back 2 relative to the seat cushion 1 by the drive force of the drive source. Specifically, the reclining device 7 switches the seat back 2 between a normal position and a rearward tilted position in which the seat back 2 is tilted backward away from the seat cushion 1. The reclining device 7 may also switch the seat back 2 from the normal position to a forward tilted position in which the seat back 2 is tilted forward so as to approach the seat cushion 1.

[0032] The rail device 8 is a device that moves the seat body in the front-rear direction relative to the vehicle floor and can lock the seat body. The rail device 8 has a drive source, and can move the seat body forward and backward relative to the vehicle floor by sliding an upper rail 8b fixed to a support member Sa forward and backward with respect to a lower rail 8a fixed to the vehicle floor by a driving force of the drive source.

[0033] The cushion moving device 9 is a device that rotates the seat cushion 1 so that the front end of the seat cushion 1 moves up and down relative to the rear end of the seat cushion 1. The cushion moving device 9 has a drive source, and adjusts the angle of a side frame (not shown) of the seat cushion 1 by the driving force of the drive source. Specifically, the cushion moving device 9 switches the seat cushion 1 between a normal position and an up position in which the rear end of the seat cushion 1 (side frame) is lowered and the front end is raised.

[0034] The vehicle seat S also includes a control unit 50 that controls the drive device, the lifting unit 30, and the rotating unit 40, an operation unit 60 that can be operated by the seated occupant, and a notification unit 70 that notifies the seated occupant of specified information. The control unit 50 is connected to the drive device, the lifting and lowering unit 30, the rotating unit 40, the operating unit 60 and various sensors, and controls the drive device (the tilting unit 1c and movable unit 1d of the seat cushion 1, the folding device 2c and movable unit 2d of the seat back 2, the rotating device 6, the reclining device 7, the rail device 8, and the cushion movable device 9), the lifting and lowering unit 30 and the rotating unit 40 based on signals from the operating unit 60 and the various sensors.

[0035] The operation unit 60 is, for example, an operation button, and is provided on a side surface of the support member Sa. Note that the operation unit 60 may be, for example, a touch panel, and may be configured to have a function as a display device that allows an occupant to input operations and displays information to the occupant. The operation unit 60 is used, for example, for inputting operations of the drive device, the lifting unit 30, and the rotating unit 40. Information input to the operation unit 60 is transmitted to the control unit 50.

[0036] The notification unit 70 notifies a seated occupant of predetermined information, and is provided in the seat cushion 1, the seat back 2, and the padding P of the ottoman 5. Specifically, the notification unit 70 is a vibration device equipped with a vibration motor that applies a physical force to the seated occupant, and notifies the information by applying vibrations to the seated occupant. The notification unit 70 may be a light emitting device such as a light that notifies information by light, or may be a sound emitting device that notifies information by sound.

[0037] <<Detailed configuration of the ottoman>> As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 10 of the ottoman 5 extends from the front end of the seat cushion 1 and has a support surface 10A for supporting the lower legs of a seated person. The main body 10 moves between a stored state and a usage state by the rotating device 6. Here, the stored state is a state in which the main body 10 hangs down from the front end of the seat cushion 1. The usage state is a state in which the main body 10 supports the lower legs of a seated person, specifically, a state in which the lower end of the main body 10 has been rotated from the stored state toward the front and upper side with the seat width direction as an axis. The stored state may also be a state in which the main body 10 has been rotated further rearward from the hanging state. The support surface 10A is the upper surface of the main body 10 in the in-use state, and supports the lower legs of a seated person from below.

[0038] 3, the footrest 20 is a portion that supports the soles of the feet of a seated person, and is provided on the main body 10. The footrest 20 is supported on the main body 10 by a lifting unit 30 so that it can rise and fall. In addition, the footrest 20 is attached to the main body 10 by a rotating unit 40 so that it can rotate. The footrest 20 has a support portion 21 on which the soles of the feet of a seated person are placed, an attachment portion 22 that is attached to the main body portion 10, and a detection portion 23 that detects the soles of the feet of the seated person.

[0039] 1 and 3, the placement portion 21 is a flat member, and the upper surface thereof serves as a placement surface 21A on which the soles of the feet of a seated person are placed. The placement surface 21A is provided with the detection portion 23 and the notification portion 70. The mounting portion 22 is provided at the rear end of the placement portion 21 and is attached to the main body portion 10 via the lifting portion 30 and the rotating portion 40.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the detection unit 23 is a sheet-like pressure sensor that detects the pressure applied to the support surface 21A when the soles of the feet of a seated person are placed on the support surface 21A. Here, the "pressure" is a value that periodically changes in response to the physiological activity of a seated person, specifically, breathing, when the soles of the feet of the seated person are placed on the support surface 21A, and is a target value detected by a pressure sensor. In other words, it corresponds to the "biological signal (biological information) of the seated person." The detection unit 23 is a push switch type sensor that turns on or off depending on the pressure applied to the placement surface 21A, but is not limited to this. For example, the detection unit 23 may be a pulse wave sensor or a blood pressure sensor.

[0041] The footrest 20 moves by the lifting section 30 between a lowered position at the lower end (front end) of the main body section 10 when in use and an elevated position at the upper end (rear end) of the main body section 10 when in use, which is closer to the seat cushion 1 than the lowered position. In addition, the footrest 20 moves between a stored state in which it is folded behind the main body 10 and a use state in which it protrudes in an L-shape by the rotating part 40. Since the footrest 20 is folded behind the main body 10 by the rotating part 40 in the stored state, the ottoman 5 can be arranged in a compact manner.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting unit 30 is, for example, a known electric slide rail mechanism, and lifts and lowers the footrest 20 along the extension direction of the main body 10. The lifting section 30 is provided on both sides of the main body 10 in the seat width direction, extends along the extension direction of the main body 10, and has a guide section 31 that guides the footrest 20, a support section 32 that is slidably guided by the guide section 31 and supports the footrest 20, a lead screw 33 that screws into the support section 32 and rotates to slide the support section 32, a motor 34 that rotates the lead screw 33, and a locking member 35 that locks the footrest 20 at a predetermined position in the guide section 31. The lifting section 30 may be configured to lift and lower steplessly by an electric slide rail mechanism, or may be configured to lift and lower stepwise.

[0043] The guide portion 31 is, for example, a pair of lower rails provided in the seat width direction, and is fixed inside the main body portion 10 so that the openings of the lower rails face opening grooves formed in the side surface of the main body portion 10. The guide portion 31 may be fixed to the outer surface or the back surface of the main body portion 10. The support portions 32 are, for example, a pair of upper rails provided in the seat width direction, and are slidably fitted into the guide portions 31. To the support portions 32, the mounting portions 22 of the footrest 20 are attached.

[0044] The lead screw 33 is a long screw member extending along the extension direction of the main body 10, and is provided inside the guide part 31. The lead screw 33 is screwed into the support part 32, and is rotated by the motor 34 to move the support part 32 along the extension direction of the main body 10.

[0045] The locking member 35 is a locking mechanism that locks the rotation of the lead screw 33, which rotates when the support part 32 moves, at any position. The locking member 35 is provided at the rear end of the guide part 31, and has a locking claw that engages with a locking groove provided in the lead screw 33. The rotation of the lead screw 33 is locked by engaging the locking claw with any of the multiple locking grooves. In this way, the rotation of the lead screw 33 is locked, thereby restricting the movement of the support part 32. Therefore, the locking member 35 can lock the footrest 20 at a predetermined position in the guide part 31. The locking claw of the locking member 35 is driven by a driving source such as an actuator (not shown) to lock the rotation of the lead screw 33. Note that the locking member 35 may be configured to lock the rotation of the lead screw 33 by the seat occupant manually moving the locking claw.

[0046] In addition, the locking claws of the locking member 35 are engaged with a plurality of locking grooves provided in the lead screw 33 to restrict the movement of the support part 32 in an almost stepless manner, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the footrest 20 may be locked at a predetermined position in the guide part 31 by providing latch members on the main body 10 and the support part 32.

[0047] The lifting unit 30 raises and lowers the footrest 20 along the extension direction of the main body 10, with the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A intersecting. Specifically, the lifting unit 30 moves the footrest 20 between a lowered position and an elevated position along the extension direction of the main body 10, with the placement surface 21A facing the seated person. Therefore, the seated person can adjust the position of the footrest 20 while placing the soles of his / her feet on the support surface 21A.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, when a seat occupant operates the operating unit 60 while seated on the seat cushion 1, the motor 34 is driven by the control unit 50, and the footrest 20 is raised and lowered with the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A intersecting each other. In this way, the footrest 20 rises and falls so as to bend and straighten the knees of the seated person, so the state of the seat body can be changed while supporting the seated person, compared to when the ottoman 5 simply extends and retracts or when the footrest 20 simply rotates. Therefore, the comfort of the seated person when changing the state of the seat body can be improved.

[0049] In this embodiment, the footrest 20 is raised and lowered in a state in which the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A intersect, but this is not limited to this. For example, the lifting unit 30 may move the footrest 20 from the lowered position to the raised position while the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A remain parallel to each other, and at the raised position, the pivot unit 40 may cause the support surface 10A and the placement surface 21A to intersect.

[0050] 3, the rotating unit 40 is an electric link mechanism that rotates the footrest 20 relative to the main body 10 so as to adjust the angle of the placement surface 21A relative to the support surface 10A. In other words, the rotating unit 40 rotates the attachment portion 22 relative to the support portion 32 when the footrest 20 is in the lowered position, the raised position, or a position between the lowered position and the raised position. When the footrest 20 is in the lowered position, the rotating portion 40 may rotate the footrest 20 rearward and store it under the main body portion 10 .

[0051] The rotating part 40 is attached to the support part 32 and disposed inside the mounting part 22. The rotating part 40 is provided on the support part 32 and has a drive motor 41 that rotates the footrest 20 and an angle restricting member 42 that restricts the angle of the placement surface 21A with respect to the extension direction of the main body part 10.

[0052] The angle restriction member 42 is, for example, a latch member, and restricts the rotation of the footrest 20 by engaging a latch claw provided on the attachment portion 22 with a latch groove provided on the support portion 32. The latch claw of the angle restriction member 42 is engaged with the latch groove by being driven by a driving source such as an actuator (not shown). Note that the angle restriction member 42 may be configured to restrict the rotation of the footrest 20 by the seat occupant manually moving the latch claw.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, when a seat occupant operates the operating unit 60 while seated on the seat cushion 1, the drive motor 41 is driven by the control unit 50, and the footrest 20 is rotated so as to adjust the angle of the placement surface 21A relative to the support surface 10A. In this way, the footrest 20 rotates with the knees of the seated person bent and straightened, so that the state of the seat body can be finely adjusted to suit the physique of the seated person.

[0054] <<About the condition of the seat body>> Next, the state of the seat main body will be described with reference to Figs. 4A to 4C. The seat body is switched by the drive device among a normal state (FIG. 4A), a relaxed state (FIG. 4B), and a fetal position state (FIG. 4C). Note that the states of the seat body are merely examples, and the seat body may be changed to a state other than the relaxed state and the fetal position state. In addition, the predetermined parts that are switched by the drive device are not limited to the seat cushion 1, the seat back 2, and the ottoman 5 described below.

[0055] In a normal state, as shown in FIG. 4A, the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 2 are in the normal position, and the footrest 20 is in the lowered position. At this time, the tilting portion 1c and the movable portion 1d of the seat cushion 1 and the movable portion 2d of the seat back 2 are each in the normal position.

[0056] In the relaxed state, as shown in Fig. 4B, the seat cushion 1 is switched from the normal position to the up position by the cushion moving device 9. The seat back 2 is tilted backward from the normal position to the rearward tilt position by the reclining device 7. The footrest 20 is switched from the lowered position to the raised position by the lifting / lowering unit 30. At this time, the tilting portion 1c and the movable portion 1d of the seat cushion 1 and the movable portion 2d of the seat back 2 are switched from the normal positions to the protruding position.

[0057] In the fetal position, as shown in Fig. 4C, the seat cushion 1 is switched from the normal position to the up position by the cushion moving device 9. The seat back 2 is switched from the normal position to the bent position by the folding device 2c. The footrest 20 is switched from the lowered position to the raised position by the lifting unit 30. At this time, the tilting portion 1c and the movable portion 1d of the seat cushion 1 and the movable portion 2d of the seat back 2 are switched from the normal positions to the protruding position.

[0058] In this way, the seat body can change to the fetal position, allowing the seated person to assume the fetal position, providing the seated person with a sense of security as if they were in the womb. In addition, the movable parts 1d and 2d provided on the sides of the seat cushion 1 and the seat back 2 provide the seated person with a feeling of being embraced, improving the sitting comfort. In particular, when the vehicle seat S is a vehicle seat, the state of the seat body can be changed to allow the occupant to assume a fetal position while the vehicle is stopped, giving the occupant a sense of security and reducing driving fatigue.

[0059] <<Hardware configuration of vehicle seats>> 5, the vehicle seat S includes a control unit 50 that controls the drive device, the lifting / lowering unit 30, and the rotating unit 40. The control unit 50 has a control circuit and is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is a central processing unit, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc. as storage devices.

[0060] The CPU is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU reads programs from the ROM or HDD and executes the programs using the RAM as a working area. The CPU controls each component and executes various calculation processes according to the programs stored in the ROM or HDD.

[0061] The ROM stores various programs and various data. The RAM serves as a working area to temporarily store programs or data. The HDD may be a solid state drive (SSD) and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0062] <<Control Unit Functions>> Next, the functions of the control unit 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The functional parts of the control unit 50 are realized by the hardware devices (specifically, the MPU and the memory) constituting the control unit 50 working in cooperation with the software devices (control circuits).

[0063] The control unit 50 has as its main functions an acquisition unit 51 that acquires information obtained from the detection unit 23, a judgment unit 52 that determines whether to allow the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30, an information notification unit 53 that notifies the seated occupant of information, a drive unit 54 that drives the drive device, the lifting / lowering unit 30, and the rotating unit 40, and a mode switching unit 55 that switches between modes (first mode, second mode, and third mode).

[0064] Here, the first mode is a mode in which the lifting / lowering unit 30, the rotating unit 40, and the drive device are each operated by input from the operation unit 60. For example, in the first mode, the drive unit 54 raises the lifting / lowering unit 30 in response to an operation input from the seated person on the footrest 20, and moves the footrest 20 from a lowered position to a raised position. In addition, the drive unit 54 drives the reclining device 7 in response to an operation input from the seated person, and moves the seat back 2 from the normal position to a backward tilted position.

[0065] The second mode is a mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30 by input from the operating unit 60. Specifically, the second mode is a mode in which the seat body is moved from the normal state (FIG. 4A) to the reclining state (FIG. 4B) by the operation input from the seated person. For example, when a seated person operates the operating unit 60 to switch from the first mode to the second mode by the mode switching unit 55, the driving unit 54 drives the lifting unit 30 to move the footrest 20 from the lowered position to the raised position. The driving unit 54 also drives the reclining device 7 in conjunction with the lifting of the footrest 20 to move the seat back 2 from the normal position to the backward tilted position. The driving unit 54 also drives the cushion moving device 9 to move the seat cushion 1 from the normal position to the up position. The driving unit 54 then drives the tilting unit 1c, the movable unit 1d, and the movable unit 2d to switch each air cell from the normal position to the protruding position.

[0066] The third mode is a mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30 by input from the operation unit 60. Specifically, the third mode is a mode in which the seat body is moved from the normal state (FIG. 4A) to the fetal position state (FIG. 4C) by operation input from the seated occupant. For example, when a seated person operates the operating unit 60 to switch from the first mode to the third mode by the mode switching unit 55, the driving unit 54 drives the lifting unit 30 to move the footrest 20 from the lowered position to the raised position. The driving unit 54 also drives the folding device 2c in conjunction with the lifting of the footrest 20 to move the seat back 2 from the normal position to the bent position. The driving unit 54 also drives the cushion moving device 9 to move the seat cushion 1 from the normal position to the up position. The driving unit 54 then drives the tilting unit 1c, the movable unit 1d, and the movable unit 2d to switch each air cell from the normal position to the protruding position.

[0067] In addition, the footrest 20 may be configured to start operating when the first mode is switched to the second mode or the third mode, or the footrest 20 may be configured to start operating when the seated person presses a start button after the first mode is switched to the second mode or the third mode. Also, the mode may be switched from the second mode to the third mode, or from the third mode to the second mode.

[0068] (Acquisition part 51) The acquisition unit 51 acquires the biological information detected by the detection unit 23. Specifically, when there is an operational input for raising or lowering the footrest 20 by the seated occupant, the acquisition unit 51 acquires from the detection unit 23 a detection signal indicating that the soles of the feet of the seated occupant are placed on the support surface 21A.

[0069] The acquisition unit 51 may be configured to acquire identification information of the seated person. Here, the identification information is information for identifying the seated person (personal authentication), and corresponds to, for example, the seated person's ID information, image information showing a face image or a fingerprint image, voiceprint information, etc. The acquisition unit 51 may acquire the identification information from, for example, biometric information of the seated person acquired from a wearable device, a mobile terminal carried by the seated person, a camera installed in the vehicle, etc. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 51 may acquire the identification information by recording the voice of the seated person using a microphone installed in the vehicle.

[0070] (Judgment unit 52) The determination unit 52 determines whether or not to permit the lifting / lowering unit 30 to lift and lower the footrest 20. Specifically, when a seated person inputs an operation to lift and lower the footrest 20, the determination unit 52 determines whether the acquisition unit 51 has acquired a detection signal from the detection unit 23. When the soles of the seated person's feet are detected, the determination unit 52 permits the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30. When the soles of the seated person's feet are not detected, the determination unit 52 restricts the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30.

[0071] In the first mode, the determination unit 52 of the control unit 50 permits the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30 when the soles of the feet of the seated person are detected by the detection unit 23. In this way, the footrest 20 is raised or lowered only when the soles of the feet are placed on the footrest 20, so that it is possible to prevent the seated person from unintentionally operating the lifting / lowering unit 30 when the soles of the feet of the seated person are not placed on the footrest. Incidentally, even in the second or third mode, the determination unit 52 may be configured to permit the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30. Also, it is not always necessary to provide the determination unit 52, and the lifting / lowering unit 30 may be operated in response to an operation by the seated person even if the soles of the feet of the seated person are not detected.

[0072] (Information Notification Department 53) The information notification unit 53 notifies the seated occupant that the sole of the foot has not been detected by the notification unit 70. Specifically, when the determination unit 52 determines that the sole of the foot of the seated occupant has not been detected, the information notification unit 53 applies vibration to the seated occupant using the vibration device of the notification unit 70 to notify the seated occupant that the sole of the foot has not been detected. Also, for example, when the determination unit 52 determines that the sole of the foot of the seated occupant has not been detected, the sound generation device of the notification unit 70 outputs a sound such as "Your feet are not placed on the footrest" or "Please place your feet on the footrest" from the speaker to notify the seated occupant that the sole of the foot has not been detected.

[0073] In the first mode, when the detection unit 23 does not detect the soles of the seated person, the information notification unit 53 of the control unit 50 notifies the seated person that the soles of the feet have not been detected by the notification unit 70. In this way, the notification unit 70 can prompt the seated person to place the soles of the feet on the placement unit 21. In the second or third mode, when the determination unit 52 permits the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30, the seated person may be notified that the soles of the feet have not been detected. The notification unit 70 may be a lighting or vibration device provided in the operation unit 60.

[0074] (Drive unit 54) The drive unit 54 drives the drive device, the lifting / lowering unit 30, and the rotating unit 40. Specifically, when there is an operational input by the seated person to raise or lower the footrest 20, or when there is an operational input to change the state of the seat body, the drive unit 54 drives the drive device, the lifting / lowering unit 30, and the rotating unit 40. For example, when there is an operational input by the seated person to raise or lower the footrest 20 and the determination unit 52 determines that the soles of the feet of the seated person have been detected, the lifting / lowering unit 30 is operated to move the footrest 20 from the lowered position to the raised position.

[0075] In the second and third modes, the drive unit 54 of the control unit 50 operates the drive device in conjunction with the operation of the lifting and lowering unit 30. In this way, the state of the seat body can be changed by operating the reclining device 7, the cushion movable device 9, the tilting unit 1c, the movable unit 1d, the folding device 2c, and the movable unit 2d in conjunction with the operation of the footrest 20, thereby improving the comfort of the seated person. In addition, when the knees of the seated person are bent as the footrest 20 is raised, the lower legs of the seated person are supported by the tilting unit 1c, so that the seated person can be supported in an appropriate manner. The drive device driven by the drive unit 54 is not limited to this, and can be changed appropriately according to the state of the seat body. For example, the drive unit 54 may operate the rotation device 6 or the height adjustment device in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30 to change the state of the seat. In addition, the configuration is not limited to one in which the drive device operates in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering section 30, and the drive device may be operated by the operation of the seated occupant, and the lifting / lowering section 30 may operate in conjunction with the operation of the drive device.

[0076] In the second and third modes, the amount of movement of each member of the seat body driven by the drive unit 54 is determined according to the physical build of the seated occupant. The physical build of the seated occupant may be detected, for example, by a sensor provided on the seat body or an in-vehicle camera. The amount of movement may also be determined in association with the identification information of the seated occupant. In this case, the amount of movement is determined based on the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit 51.

[0077] 4C, for example, in the third mode, the movable parts 1d and 2d are moved to the protruding positions so as to envelop the seated occupant from the sides. At this time, the driving unit 54 may control the air cells of the movable parts 1d and 2d at the protruding positions to expand and contract in accordance with the breathing rhythm of the seated occupant. In this way, when the seated person assumes the fetal position, the control unit 50 controls the movable units 1d and 2d to envelop the seated person, thereby providing the seated person with an even more secure feeling as if he or she were in the womb. The breathing rhythm of the seated person may be obtained from information of a biosensor provided in the seat body, or may be obtained from information of a biosensor provided in a wearable device.

[0078] In addition, for example, in the third mode, the control unit 50 may drive a shade device provided on the vehicle window to make it difficult to see inside the vehicle from outside the vehicle. Furthermore, the control unit 50 may dim a lighting device in the vehicle compartment to make it difficult to see inside the vehicle. In this way, the control unit 50 controls the vehicle interior to be less visible from outside the vehicle when the occupant is in the fetal position, thereby giving the occupant an even greater sense of security, as if they were in the womb.

[0079] (Mode switching unit 55) The mode switching unit 55 switches between a first mode in which the lifting / lowering unit 30 and the drive device are operated, and a second mode or a third mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30. For example, in the first mode, when the seated occupant operates the operation unit 60 (e.g., a mode switching button), the mode switching unit 55 switches from the first mode to the second mode or the third mode. The first, second, or third mode may be selected by inputting a touch panel, using a voice, a gesture, or the like.

[0080] The mode switching unit 55 of the control unit 50 switches between a first mode in which the lifting / lowering unit 30 and the drive device are operated by input from the operation unit 60, and a second mode and a third mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with the operation of the lifting / lowering unit 30 by input from the operation unit 60. In this way, in the first mode, the position of the footrest 20 and the state of the seat body can be freely changed by the operation of the seated person. Also, in the second mode, the state of the seat body can be changed simply by changing the position of the footrest 20, improving convenience.

[0081] <<About footrest control>> Next, a description will be given of the flow of the control process for the footrest 20 executed by the control unit 50. The control process for the footrest 20 is executed in order for the seated person to adjust the position of the footrest 20 in the first mode, as shown in FIG.

[0082] Specifically, the control unit 50 judges whether or not there is an operation input of the footrest 20 by the operation unit 60 (step St1). If there is an operation input (step St1: Yes), it judges whether or not it is the first mode (step St2). If it is the first mode (step St2: Yes), it judges whether or not the footrest 20 is in the unfolded state or the stored state (step St3). If the footrest 20 is in the stored state (step St3: No), the footrest 20 is rotated from the stored state to the unfolded state by the rotation unit 40 (step St4). If the footrest 20 is in the unfolded state (step St3: Yes), it judges whether or not the sole of the foot is placed on the footrest 20 by the detection unit 23 (step St5). If the sole of the foot is not placed (step St5: No), it notifies the notification unit 70 that the sole of the foot is not placed (step St6). If the sole of the foot is placed (step St6: Yes), the operation of the lifting unit 30 is started in response to the operation input signal (step St7).

[0083] In step St6, the control unit 50 continues the notification until the sole of the foot is placed on the placement unit 21. At this time, the control unit 50 does not start the operation of the lifting unit 30 in step St7 until the detection unit 23 detects the sole of the foot. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control unit 50 may start the operation of the lifting unit 30 even when the detection unit 23 has not detected the sole of the foot.

[0084] Second Embodiment A vehicle seat S2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle seat S2 has a seat cushion 101 divided into a rear portion 101a and a front portion 101b in the front-rear direction of the seat. Note that the description of the configuration that overlaps with the vehicle seat S described above will be omitted.

[0085] The seat cushion 101 has a tilting portion 101c that tilts the front portion 101b relative to the rear portion 101a of the seat cushion 101, a movable portion 101d provided on the side portions of the rear portion 101a and the front portion 101b, and a support portion 101e provided on the support member Sa that supports the front portion 101b from below.

[0086] 7, the tilting portion 101c is a device that rotatably connects the front portion 101b to the rear portion 101a and can lock the front portion 101b. The tilting portion 101c has a drive source, and rotates the front portion 101b upward relative to the rear portion 101a by the drive force of the drive source, thereby bending the seat cushion 101.

[0087] In this way, since the seat cushion 101 is divided into two parts, front and rear, in the front-rear direction of the seat and bent, the variation in the state of the seat body can be increased, and therefore the degree of freedom of the posture of the seated person can be improved.

[0088] <Third embodiment> A vehicle seat S3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 8. In the vehicle seat S3, the ottoman 205 is divided into a first main body portion 210a and a second main body portion 210b in the seat front-rear direction. Descriptions of configurations that overlap with those of the above-mentioned vehicle seats S and S2 will be omitted.

[0089] The first main body portion 210a extends from the front end portion of the seat cushion 201 and has a first support surface 210A that supports the lower legs of a seated occupant. The second body portion 210b is slidably attached to the first body portion 210a, and has a second support surface 210B that supports the lower legs of a seated person.

[0090] The first body portion 210a has a slide portion 211 that extends along the first body portion 210a and slides the second body portion 210b, and an actuator 212 that operates the slide portion 211. The second main body portion 210b is attached to a slide portion 211, and when the slide portion 211 is driven by an actuator 212, it moves between a most extended extended position and a retracted position closer to the seat cushion 201 than the extended position.

[0091] The footrest 220 is provided on the second main body portion 210b. The footrest 220 is supported by a lifting portion 230 so as to be movable up and down on the main body portion 10. In addition, the footrest 220 is attached to the second main body portion 210b by a rotating portion 240 so as to be rotatable.

[0092] In this way, since the ottoman 205 is divided into two parts, front and rear, in the seat front-rear direction and can be extended and contracted, it becomes easy to fine-tune the position of the footrest 220 according to the physique of the user.

[0093] <Fourth embodiment> A vehicle seat S4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 9. The vehicle seat S4 has a structure in which a part of an ottoman 305 is a footrest 320. Note that a description of the configuration that overlaps with the above-mentioned vehicle seats S to S3 will be omitted.

[0094] Ottoman 305 has a main body portion 310 having a gate-like shape when viewed from the front, a footrest 320 stored in the inner space of main body portion 310, a lifting portion 330 that raises and lowers footrest 320 relative to main body portion 310, and a rotating portion 340 that rotates footrest 320 relative to main body portion 310.

[0095] In this way, since footrest 320 is stored inside main body 310, ottoman 305 can be made compact.

[0096] <Fifth embodiment> Hereinafter, a vehicle seat S5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B. The vehicle seat S5 has a structure in which a footrest 420 of an ottoman 405 is divided into two in the seat width direction, and is divided into a first footrest 420a and a second footrest 420b. Note that a description of the configuration that overlaps with the above-mentioned vehicle seats S to S4 will be omitted.

[0097] The ottoman 405 has a main body 410, a first footrest 420a provided on the right side in the seat width direction, a second footrest 420b provided on the left side in the seat width direction, a first lifting section 430a that raises and lowers the first footrest 420a, and a second lifting section 430b that raises and lowers the second footrest 420b.

[0098] The first lifting portion 430a is provided at the right end portion in the seat width direction of the main body portion 410, extends along the extension direction of the main body portion 410, and has a first guide portion 436a that guides the first footrest 420a, and a first rail 437a that guides the first footrest 420a. The second lifting portion 430b is provided at the left end portion in the seat width direction of the main body portion 410, extends along the extension direction of the main body portion 410, and has a second guide portion 436b that guides the first footrest 420a, and a second rail 437b that guides the second footrest 420b. The first guide portion 436a and the second guide portion 436b are provided with the above-mentioned driving sources such as a motor and a lead screw. The driving sources such as a motor and a lead screw may be provided on the first rail 437a and the second rail 437b.

[0099] The first footrest 420a and the second footrest 420b each move between a lowered position at the lower end of the main body 410 and an elevated position at the upper end of the main body 10. For example, the footrest 420 is moved by the first lifting / lowering part 430a from a state in which the first footrest 420a and the second footrest 420b are both in the lowered position (FIG. 10A) to a state in which only the first footrest 420a is in the elevated position (FIG. 10B). At this time, as the first footrest 420a rises, the movable part 401d of the seat cushion 401 on the right side in the corresponding seat width direction and the movable part 402d of the seat back 402 may be operated. As the second footrest 420b rises, the movable part 401d and the movable part 402d on the left side in the corresponding seat width direction may be operated, or the movable parts 401d and the movable parts 402d on both sides may be operated.

[0100] In this way, the first footrest 420a and the second footrest 420b can be moved independently, so that the seat body can have more variations in its state, thereby improving the degree of freedom of the seat occupant's posture. Furthermore, since the first rail 437a and the second rail 437b are provided at the center of the main body 410 in the seat width direction, the rigidity of the main body 410 can be improved. Furthermore, since the movable portion 401d and the movable portion 402d are moved to correspond to the first footrest 420a and the second footrest 420b, the seated person can be supported appropriately.

[0101] Sixth Embodiment A vehicle seat device S6 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 11A to 12. The vehicle seat device S6 includes a first vehicle seat S6a disposed at the rear of the vehicle, a second vehicle seat S6b disposed forward of the first vehicle seat S6a, and a footrest device F provided on the second vehicle seat S6b. Note that a description of configurations that overlap with those of the above-mentioned vehicle seats S to S5 will be omitted.

[0102] The first vehicle seat S6a is mainly composed of a seat body having a seat cushion 501, a seat back 502, and an ottoman 505 provided at the front end of the seat cushion 501, as shown in FIG. 11A. The first vehicle seat S6a also includes a rotation device 506 that rotates the ottoman 505 relative to the seat cushion 501, a reclining device 507 that rotates the seat back 502 relative to the seat cushion 501, a rail device 508 that supports the seat body so that it can move in the front-to-rear direction relative to the vehicle floor, and a cushion movable device 509 that raises and lowers the seat body relative to the vehicle floor.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 11A, the seat cushion 501 has a tilting portion 501c that tilts a front portion of the seat cushion 501 relative to a rear portion of the seat cushion 501, and a movable portion 501d provided on a side portion of the seat cushion 501. The seat back 502 has a center-folding device 502c that bends the upper portion relative to the lower portion, and movable portions 502d that are provided on the upper and lower portions, respectively.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 11A, the ottoman 505 extends from the front end of the seat cushion 501 and has a main body 510 having a support surface 510A that supports the lower legs of a seated person.

[0105] As shown in Fig. 11A, the second vehicle seat S6b is mainly composed of a seat body having a seat cushion 501 and a seat back 502. The second vehicle seat S6b corresponds to a vehicle interior part.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 12, the footrest device F is provided on a rear surface 502A (the surface facing the first vehicle seat S6a) of the second vehicle seat S6b, and has a footrest 520 having a support surface 520A on which the soles of the feet of a person seated in the first vehicle seat S6a are placed, and a lifting section 530 for raising and lowering the support surface 520A relative to the rear surface 502A.

[0107] 11A and 11B, the lifting / lowering unit 530 is an electric device that operates to protrude the seat back 502 of the second vehicle seat S6b. The lifting / lowering unit 530 is, for example, a movable body having an air cell, and is provided on the pad material P of the seat back 502 of the second vehicle seat S6b. The air cell of the lifting / lowering unit 530 is filled with compressed air and expands toward the occupant (seater), protruding from the normal position shown in FIG. 11A to the protruding position shown in FIG. 11B. The air cell of the lifting / lowering unit 530 contracts as the filled compressed air is discharged, and returns to the normal position.

[0108] When the ottoman 505 of the first vehicle seat S6a is rotated relative to the seat cushion 501 by the rotating device 506, the lifting section 530 raises and lowers the footrest 520 along the extension direction of the main body section 510 with the support surface 510A and the placement surface 520A intersecting. The vehicle seat apparatus S6 changes from the normal state shown in FIG. 11A to the fetal position state shown in FIG. 11B in response to an operation by the seated occupant.

[0109] Specifically, the seat cushion 501 of the first vehicle seat S6a is switched from the normal position to the up position by the cushion moving device 509. The seat back 502 is switched from the normal position to the bent position by the center-folding device 502c. The footrest 520 is switched from the lowered position to the raised position by the lifting / lowering unit 530. At this time, the tilting unit 501c, the movable unit 501d, and the movable unit 502d are each switched from the normal position to the protruding position. Note that footrest 520 may rise and fall when switching from the normal state to the relaxed state, and footrest 520 may rise and fall when switching from the relaxed state to the fetal posture state.

[0110] In this way, when the ottoman 505 is rotated, the vehicle seat device S6 can raise and lower the footrest 520 along the extension direction of the main body 510, so that the position where the sole of the foot is placed can be adjusted to suit the physique of the seated person.

[0111] In the sixth embodiment, the vehicle interior part is the second vehicle seat S6b. However, the vehicle interior part to which the footrest device F is provided may be a part other than a vehicle seat, such as a lower part of an instrument panel or a vehicle floor.

[0112] The manufacturing method of the vehicle seat S described above is as follows. A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat including a seat cushion, a seat back, and an ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion, comprising the steps of: placing the seat back on the seat cushion; and an ottoman positioning step of positioning the ottoman at the front end of the seat cushion, The ottoman includes a main body portion extending from the front end portion of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant, a footrest provided on the main body portion and having a support surface for supporting the soles of the feet of the seated occupant, and a lifting portion for raising and lowering the footrest relative to the main body portion, The ottoman arrangement step includes a step of attaching the main body part to the seat cushion, a step of attaching the lifting / lowering part to the main body part, and a step of attaching the footrest to the main body part via the lifting / lowering part, The method for manufacturing a vehicle seat, wherein the lifting section lifts and lowers the footrest along an extension direction of the main body section with the support surface and the placement surface intersecting each other.

[0113] The manufacturing method of the vehicle seat device S6 described above is as follows. A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat device including a vehicle seat and a footrest device provided in a vehicle interior part disposed forward of the vehicle seat, the method comprising the steps of: a vehicle seat arrangement step of arranging the vehicle seat behind the vehicle interior part; a footrest arranging step of arranging the footrest device on the vehicle interior part, The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, an ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion, and a rotation device that rotates the ottoman relative to the seat cushion, The vehicle seat arrangement includes a step of placing the seat back on the seat cushion, a step of placing the rotating device on the front end portion of the seat cushion, and a step of placing the ottoman on the seat cushion via the rotating device, The ottoman includes a main body portion extending from the front end portion of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant, The footrest device includes a footrest provided on a surface of the vehicle interior part facing the vehicle seat, the footrest having a support surface on which the soles of the feet of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat are placed, and a lifting unit that raises and lowers the support surface relative to the surface facing the vehicle seat, The footrest positioning step includes a step of attaching the lifting / lowering part to a surface of the vehicle interior part facing the vehicle seat, and a step of attaching the footrest to the vehicle interior part via the lifting / lowering part, A manufacturing method for a vehicle seat device, characterized in that when the ottoman is rotated relative to the seat cushion by the rotating device, the lifting section raises and lowers the footrest along the extension direction of the main body section with the support surface and the placement surface intersecting.

[0114] In the above embodiment, a vehicle seat used in an automobile was described as a specific example, however, without being limited thereto, the present invention can be used for various seats such as two-wheeled vehicle seats, vehicle seats for trains and buses, vehicle seats for airplanes and ships, as well as office chairs for work, wheelchairs, and child seats in shopping carts.

[0115] In this embodiment, the vehicle seat according to the present invention has been mainly described. However, the above embodiment is merely an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally includes equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] S, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 Vehicle Seats S6 Vehicle seat device Sa Support member P Pad material T epidermis F Footrest device 1 seat cushion 1a rear part 1b Front part 1c Tilting section (drive mechanism) 1d Moving part (drive mechanism) 2 Seat back 2a Upper part 2b Lower part 2c Center-bending device (drive device) 2d Moving part (drive mechanism) 3 Headrest 4 Armrest 5. Ottoman 6 Rotating device (drive device) 7 Reclining device (drive device) 8 Rail device (drive device) 8a Lower rail 8b Upper Rail 9 Cushion moving device (drive device) 10 Main body 10A support surface 20 Footrest 21 Placement section 21A Placement surface 22 Mounting part 23 Detection unit 30 Lifting section 31 Information Department 32 Support part 33 Lead screw 34 Motor 35 Locking member 40 Rotating part 41 Drive motor 42 Angle control member 50 Control section 51 Acquisition Department 52 Judgment section 53 Information Notification Department 54 Drive unit 55 Mode switching section 60 Control section 70 Notification Department 101 Seat Cushion 101a rear part 101b Front part 101c Tilt part 101d Moving part 101e Support part 201 Seat Cushion 205 Ottoman 210A First support surface 210B Second support surface 210a First body part 210b Second body part 211 Slide section 212 Actuator 220 Footrest 230 Lifting section 240 Rotating part 305 Ottoman 310 Main body 320 Footrest 330 Lifting section 340 Rotating part 401 Seat Cushion 401d Moving parts 402 Seat back 402d Moving parts 405 Ottoman 410 Main body 420 Footrest 420a First Footrest 420b Second footrest 430a First lift section 430b Second lift section 436a First Information Department 436b Second guide section 437a First Rail 437b Second Rail 501 Seat Cushion 501c tilting part 501d moving parts 502 Seat back 502A Rear (vehicle seat side) 502c Center-folding device 502d Moving parts 505 Ottoman 506 Rotating device 507 Reclining device 508 Rail device 509 Cushion Movable Device 510 Main body 510A Support surface 520 Footrest 520A Placement surface 530 Lifting section

Claims

1. Seat cushion and Seat back and an ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion; The ottoman is A main body portion extending from the front end portion of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant; A footrest is provided on the main body and has a support surface on which the soles of the feet of the seated person are placed; A lifting unit that lifts and lowers the footrest relative to the main body, The vehicle seat, wherein the lifting section lifts and lowers the footrest along an extension direction of the main body section with the support surface and the placement surface intersecting each other.

2. The ottoman has a rotation part that rotates the footrest relative to the main body, 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the rotation portion rotates the footrest so as to adjust an angle of the placement surface relative to the support surface.

3. The lifting unit is A guide portion is provided on a side portion of the main body portion in the seat width direction, extends along the extension direction of the main body portion, and guides the footrest.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a locking member for locking the footrest at a predetermined position in the guide portion.

4. 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the rotating portion has an angle restricting member that restricts an angle of the placement surface with respect to the extending direction of the main body portion.

5. a detection unit provided on the support surface of the footrest and detecting the soles of the feet of the seated occupant; A control unit that controls the lift unit, 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the movement of the lift unit when the soles of the feet of the seated occupant are detected by the detection unit.

6. A notification unit that notifies the seat occupant of predetermined information, The vehicle seat according to claim 5, characterized in that, when the detection unit does not detect the sole of the occupant's foot, the control unit notifies the occupant that the sole of the foot has not been detected by the notification unit.

7. a drive device that operates predetermined portions of the seat cushion and the seat back; A control unit that controls the lift unit and the drive device, 3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the control unit operates the drive device in conjunction with an operation of the lifting / lowering unit.

8. An operating unit operated by the seated occupant, The vehicle seat described in claim 7, characterized in that the control unit switches between a first mode in which the lifting / lowering unit and the drive device are each operated by input from the operation unit, and a second mode in which the drive device is operated in conjunction with operation of the lifting / lowering unit by input from the operation unit.

9. the drive device has a tilting unit that tilts a front portion of the seat cushion relative to a rear portion of the seat cushion, The vehicle seat according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit controls the tilting unit in conjunction with an operation of the lifting / lowering unit in the second mode.

10. A vehicle seat device including a vehicle seat and a footrest device provided in a vehicle interior part disposed forward of the vehicle seat, The vehicle seat includes: Seat cushion and Seat back and An ottoman provided at a front end of the seat cushion; a rotation device that rotates the ottoman relative to the seat cushion, The ottoman includes a main body portion extending from the front end portion of the seat cushion and having a support surface for supporting the lower legs of a seated occupant, The footrest device is a foot rest provided on a surface of the vehicle interior part facing the vehicle seat, the foot rest having a support surface on which the soles of the feet of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat are placed; a lifting unit that lifts and lowers the placement surface relative to a surface of the vehicle seat side, A vehicle seat device characterized in that, when the ottoman is rotated relative to the seat cushion by the rotating device, the lifting section raises and lowers the footrest along the extension direction of the main body section with the support surface and the placement surface intersecting.

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