Operation device for vehicular seat

Abstract

To provide an operation device for a vehicular seat that can suppress backlash in a direction of a rotation shaft of an operation part to be rotatably operated.SOLUTION: An operation device 60 includes: a support member 64 including a cylindrical body part 64A and a pair of fitting holes 64B, 64C formed so as to be mutually opposite to a peripheral wall of the body part 64A; a fitting member 38 including a pair of fitting claws 38E, 38F fitting to the respective fitting holes 64B, 64C when being inserted from an opening side of the body part 64A into the body part 64A and a circular through-hole 38B formed between the respective fitting claws 38E, 38F; and an operation part 36 including a columnar shaft part 36B inserted through the through-hole 38B and configured to be rotatable about the shaft part 36B. The respective fitting claws 38E, 38F are configured to relatively press side edge parts 64B1, 64C1 on the opening side of the respective fitting holes 64B, 64C toward the opening side when being pressed on the radially outer side of the shaft part 36B by the shaft part 36B inserted through the through-hole 38B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle seat in which an occupant sitting on a seat cushion of a vehicle seat can adjust the height of the seat cushion by operating an operating portion provided on the vehicle seat while remaining seated on the seat cushion has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the above-described operating portion is manually rotated by an occupant, if there is play in the direction of the rotation axis, the quality as an operating portion is impaired. That is, it is desirable that such an operating portion does not play in the direction of the rotation axis, and there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of suppressing such play.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain an operating device for a vehicle seat that can suppress play in the direction of the rotation axis of an operating portion that is rotationally operated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an operating device in a vehicle seat according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a support member having a cylindrical main body portion with at least one of them being open and a pair of fitting holes formed on the peripheral wall of the main body portion so as to face each other, and a pair of fitting claws that fit into the pair of fitting holes when inserted into the main body portion from the opening side of the main body portion, and a circular through-hole formed between the pair of fitting claws. The operating device further includes an operating portion having a cylindrical shaft portion inserted through the through-hole and configured to be rotatable about the shaft portion, and provided so that an occupant seated on the vehicle seat can operate it. The pair of fitting claws are configured to relatively press the edge portions on the opening side of the pair of fitting holes toward the opening side by being pressed radially outward of the shaft portion by the shaft portion inserted through the through-hole.

[0007] According to the invention of the first aspect, the fitting member is inserted from the opening side of the main body portion of the support member. At this time, the pair of fitting claws of the fitting member are fitted into a pair of fitting holes formed on the peripheral wall of the main body portion so as to face each other. And the cylindrical shaft portion of the operating portion is inserted through the circular through-hole formed between the pair of fitting claws of the fitting member, and the operating portion is configured to be rotatable about the shaft portion. Here, the pair of fitting claws are pressed radially outward of the shaft portion by the shaft portion inserted through the through-hole, so as to relatively press the edge portions on the opening side of the pair of fitting holes toward the opening side. Therefore, the fitting member is firmly fixed to the support member in the rotational axis direction, and as a result, the play in the rotational axis direction of the operating portion that rotates is suppressed.

[0008] Further, the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the second aspect of the present invention is the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicle seat is disposed on the lower side of the seat cushion on which the occupant sits, and includes an air spring to which air is supplied from an air supply source, a damper that attenuates the vibration of the air spring, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the height of the seat cushion by supplying and discharging air to and from the air spring, and is provided with an air suspension device. The operating unit is a height operating unit that operates the adjustment unit to adjust the height of the seat cushion.

[0009] According to the invention of the second aspect, the vehicle seat is provided with an air suspension device. The air suspension device is disposed on the lower side of the seat cushion on which the occupant sits, and includes an air spring to which air is supplied from an air supply source, a damper that attenuates the vibration of the air spring, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the height of the seat cushion by supplying and discharging air to and from the air spring. The operating unit is a height operating unit that operates the adjustment unit to adjust the height of the seat cushion. That is, in the height operating unit that the occupant manually rotates, the play in the rotation axis direction is suppressed. Therefore, the quality of the height operating unit is prevented from being impaired.

[0010] Further, the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the third aspect of the present invention is the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the second aspect, and is configured to be rotatable coaxially with the operating unit, and includes a damper operating unit for changing the damping force of the damper, and a cylindrical portion through which the main body portion of the support member is inserted and a protrusion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and an engaging member that engages with the damper operating unit. A groove portion into which the protrusion fits is formed in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of the main body portion.

[0011] According to the invention of the third aspect, a damper operating part for changing the damping force of the damper is configured to be rotatable coaxially with the operating part. And the main body part of the support member is inserted into the cylindrical part of an engaging member that engages with the damper operating part. At this time, a protrusion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part is fitted into a groove formed in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of the main body part. Therefore, the engaging member is fixed to be immovable in the rotational axis direction with respect to the support member, and as a result, play in the rotational axis direction of the damper operating part that is rotationally operated is suppressed.

[0012] Further, the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the operating device in the vehicle seat according to the third aspect, and includes a bearing part through which the main body part of the support member is inserted prior to the engaging member, and a housing case part that houses an overhanging part that projects radially outward from the peripheral wall of the main body part, and is provided with a base member having a contact part that contacts either the housing case part or the overhanging part formed on either the housing case part or the overhanging part.

[0013] According to the invention of the fourth aspect, a contact part that contacts either the housing case part or the overhanging part is formed on either the housing case part or the overhanging part. Therefore, displacement of the support member in the rotational axis direction with respect to the housing case part is restricted, and as a result, play in the rotational axis direction of the support member and the engaging member with respect to the housing case part is suppressed.

Effect of the Invention

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, play in the rotational axis direction of the operating part that is rotationally operated can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 10

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Figure 20

Figure 21

Figure 22

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, in each figure, the arrow UP shown as appropriate is the upward direction of the vehicle seat, the arrow FR is the forward direction of the vehicle seat, and the arrow IN is the inner side in the seat width direction of the vehicle seat. Also, in the following description, when the directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right are described without special mention, they indicate up and down, front and back, and left and right in the vehicle seat. Also, the left and right directions are synonymous with the seat width direction.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 includes a seat body 12 and a seat support device 20. The seat body 12 includes a seat cushion 14 that constitutes a seating portion on which an occupant sits and supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant, a seat back 16 that supports the back of the seated occupant, and a headrest 18 that supports the head of the seated occupant.

[0018] The seat support device 20 is disposed below the seat cushion 14. The seat support device 20 includes a frame-shaped lower frame 22, a frame-shaped upper frame 24 disposed above the lower frame 22 to support the seat body 12, and a link mechanism 26 that supports the upper frame 24 so as to be vertically movable with respect to the lower frame 22.

[0019] In addition, in FIG. 1, each of the lower frame 22 and the link mechanism 26 is partially omitted and simplified in the illustration, and the upper frame 24 is simplified in the illustration. Further, since each component of the lower frame 22, the upper frame 24, and the link mechanism 26 is known, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-225177, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-46172, etc., a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat support device 20 includes an air suspension device 30 and a suspension lock device (hereinafter referred to as "suspension lock device") 50. The air suspension device 30 includes an air spring 32 and a damper 40. The air spring 32 is configured to adjust the height of the upper frame 24 (see FIG. 1) by supplying or discharging air from an air supply source (not shown).

[0021] Further, a height lever 36 for rotational operation as a height operation unit (operation unit) is connected to the air spring 32 via a height adjuster 34 as an adjustment unit for adjusting the height of the upper frame 24 (seat cushion 14). That is, the height lever 36 is a first lever provided for adjusting the height of the seat cushion 14 (operating the height adjuster 34).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the height lever 36 is provided on the outer surface of the side wall on one side (here, the right side) in the seat width direction of the seat support device 20 so that an occupant seated on the vehicle seat 10 can easily operate it, and is configured to be rotatable about an axis with the seat width direction as the rotation axis direction. The height lever 36 will be described in detail later.

[0023] The height adjuster 34 (see FIG. 2) has a plurality of valves (not shown), and supplies and discharges air to and from the air spring 32 using a valve corresponding to the rotation operation of the height lever 36, thereby adjusting the height of the upper frame 24, that is, the height of the seat cushion 14.

[0024] The damper 40 (see FIG. 2) is, for example, an oil damper and is configured to attenuate the vibration of the air spring 32. A damper lever 44 for rotation operation as a damper operation unit is connected to the damper 40 via a damper controller 42. That is, the damper controller 42 is configured to change the damping force of the damper 40 according to the operation of the damper lever 44, and the damper lever 44 is the second lever provided for this purpose.

[0025] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the damper lever 44 is also provided on the outer surface of the side wall on one side (here, the right side) in the seat width direction of the seat support device 20 so that an occupant seated on the vehicle seat 10 can easily operate it, and is configured to be rotatable about an axis that coincides with the rotation axis of the height lever 36.

[0026] That is, the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44 are configured to be rotatable about the same axis (coaxial). The damper lever 44 will also be described in detail later. Also, for the basic configuration of the air suspension device 30, for example, a known configuration such as Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-46172 can be applied, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the suspension lock device 50 includes a suspension lock mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the "suspension lock mechanism") 52. The suspension lock mechanism 52 is driven by, for example, a motor and is configured to be able to fix the suspension height position by locking the operation of the link mechanism 26 (see FIG. 1).

[0028] That is, the suspension lock mechanism 52 is configured to be able to take a suspension lock state in which the suspension function is locked and a suspension unlock state in which the suspension lock state is released. Note that, for the suspension lock mechanism 52, for example, a known suspension lock mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-46172 or the like can be applied, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] In addition, a suspension lock switch (hereinafter referred to as the "suspension lock SW") 54 as a lock operation unit by the occupant and a suspension unlock switch (hereinafter referred to as the "suspension unlock SW") 56 are electrically connected to the suspension lock mechanism 52.

[0030] When the suspension lock SW 54 wants to set the suspension to the locked state, the switch is turned ON as the lock operation, and when it wants to set the suspension to the unlocked state, the switch is turned OFF as the unlock operation. In other words, the suspension lock mechanism 52 is configured to operate to enter the suspension lock state in response to the lock operation of the suspension lock SW 54 and to operate to enter the suspension unlock state in response to the unlock operation of the suspension lock SW 54.

[0031] On the other hand, as will be described later, the suspension unlock SW 56 is incorporated in the seat support device 20, and the suspension lock mechanism 52 is configured to operate to enter the suspension unlock state even when the suspension unlock SW 56 is operated. Note that the suspension unlock SW 56 forms a part of a control lever unit 60, which will be described later, together with the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44.

[0032] Next, the control lever unit 60 as an operating device according to this embodiment will be described. This control lever unit 60 is embedded on one side (here, the right side) in the seat width direction of the seat support device 20, excluding the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the control lever unit 60 includes a height lever 36, a height lever retainer 38 as a fitting member, a damper lever 44, a damper lever arm 46 as an engaging member, a damper lever ratchet 48, a lever base 62 as a base member, a height lever arm shaft 64 as a support member, a torsion spring 66, and a suspension lock release SW56.

[0034] The height lever 36 is connected to the height lever arm shaft 64 via the height lever retainer 38. That is, the height lever retainer 38 is a component that connects the height lever 36 and the height lever arm shaft 64, and is configured such that when the height lever 36 is rotated, the height lever 36, the height lever retainer 38, and the height lever arm shaft 64 rotate integrally.

[0035] Note that the height lever arm shaft 64 is a member that operates a height control operation cable 68A (see FIG. 10) used for operating the height adjuster 34 (see FIG. 2), and has a substantially cylindrical main body portion 64A with the seat width direction as the axial direction (rotation axis direction). At least the side of the main body portion 64A on the height lever 36 side (outside in the seat width direction) is open.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the height lever 36 has a lever main body 36A extending linearly, and a cylindrical shaft portion 36B protruding toward the height lever retainer 38 so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lever main body 36A on the base end portion side, which is the rotation center side of the lever main body 36A.

[0037] In the lever body 36A, the portion on one longitudinal side arranged to face the rear side is an arc-shaped wall portion 36C that is curved in an arc shape in a side view (hereinafter simply referred to as "side view") seen from the sheet width direction. A fitting hole 36D into which a first fitting claw 38C described later fits is formed through a predetermined portion of the arc wall portion 36C.

[0038] Also, on the base end side of the lever body 36A, the side of the height lever retainer 38 is open, and the periphery of the shaft portion 36B is formed in a concave shape. And a facing wall portion 36E is formed at a predetermined portion of the lever body 36A that faces the arc wall portion 36C in the longitudinal direction. A fitting hole 36F into which a first fitting claw 38D described later fits is formed through a portion of the facing wall portion 36E that faces the fitting hole 36D.

[0039] The height lever retainer 38 includes a flat plate portion 38A having a substantially rectangular shape in side view. A circular through hole 38B into which the shaft portion 36B of the height lever 36 is inserted (inserted) is formed at the center of this flat plate portion 38A. And on the flat plate portion 38A of the height lever retainer 38, a pair of front and rear first fitting claws 38C and 38D that respectively fit into the fitting holes 36D and 36F of the height lever 36 are formed. By the fitting of the first fitting claws 38C and 38D and the fitting holes 36D and 36F, the height lever 36 and the height lever retainer 38 are configured such that their relative movement in the rotation direction of the height lever 36 is restricted (rotate integrally) (see FIG. 7).

[0040] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the height lever retainer 38 is formed with a pair of upper and lower second fitting claws 38E and 38F that project from both sides of the through hole 38B in the flat plate portion 38A toward the height lever arm shaft 64 side. In other words, the through hole 38B is formed in the flat plate portion 38A between the pair of upper and lower second fitting claws 38E and 38F. And on the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64, a pair of upper and lower fitting holes 64B and 64C into which the respective second fitting claws 38E and 38F fit are formed through.

[0041] Here, as shown in FIG. 9(A), when each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F of the high lever retainer 38 is inserted into the main body 64A of the high lever arm shaft 64 from its opening side (outer side in the seat width direction), each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F is adapted to be temporarily fitted into each of the fitting holes 64B and 64C formed in the peripheral wall of the main body 64A. That is, each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F is configured to contact the edge portions 64B1 and 64C1 on the opening side of each of the fitting holes 64B and 64C from the radially inner side.

[0042] Then, as shown in FIG. 9(B), each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F is pressed radially outward of the shaft portion 36B by the shaft portion 36B inserted through the through hole 38B of the high lever retainer 38, so as to relatively press the edge portions 64B1 and 64C1 on the opening side of each of the fitting holes 64B and 64C toward the opening side. In this state, each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F is adapted to be fitted into each of the fitting holes 64B and 64C. Thereby, each of the second fitting claws 38E and 38F is firmly fitted into each of the fitting holes 64B and 64C (see FIGS. 8 and 13).

[0043] That is, due to the firm fitting between the second fitting claws 38E and 38F and the fitting holes 64B and 64C, the high lever retainer 38 and the high lever arm shaft 64 are configured such that relative movement between them in the axial direction (rotation axis direction) of the main body 64A of the high lever arm shaft 64 is firmly restricted. In this way, the high lever 36 is firmly fixed to the main body 64A of the high lever arm shaft 64 by the above-described fitting structure via the high lever retainer 38.

[0044] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body portion 64A of the high lever arm shaft 64 is inserted into the bearing portion 62B of the lever base 62 and is rotatably supported. That is, the main body portion 64A of the high lever arm shaft 64 is configured to be rotatable about an axis CL that coincides with the rotation axis of the high lever 36 with respect to the bearing portion 62B of the lever base 62, and when the high lever 36 is rotationally operated, it rotates integrally with the high lever 36.

[0045] The lever base 62 has a housing case portion 62A that houses a protruding portion 64D (described later) of the high lever arm shaft 64, a torsion spring 66, a sus lock release SW56, and the like. The bearing portion 62B of the lever base 62 is formed at the center of the housing case portion 62A in a side view. Further, a large number of ribs for ensuring rigidity are formed in the housing case portion 62A.

[0046] The housing case portion 62A of the lever base 62 includes a side wall portion 62A1 formed with the sheet width direction as the thickness direction, a peripheral wall portion 62A2 integrally extending inward in the sheet width direction from the peripheral end portion of the side wall portion 62A1, a stepped peripheral wall portion 62A3 having a circular shape in a side view integrally extending outward in the sheet width direction from the central portion of the side wall portion 62A1, and a central wall portion 62A4 integrally formed so as to close the outside in the sheet width direction of the stepped peripheral wall portion 62A3 except for the bearing portion 62B.

[0047] Arc-shaped guide holes 62D (see FIG. 11) centered on the axis of the bearing portion 62B are formed through the upper and lower portions of the side wall portion 62A1, respectively. Further, a flange portion 62C projects integrally from a predetermined portion at the inner end in the sheet width direction of the peripheral wall portion 62A2. A fixed portion 62C1 to be fixed to a side member (not shown) provided below the seat cushion 14 is formed on the flange portion 62C.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the height lever arm shaft 64 has a flat plate-shaped projecting portion 64D that projects radially outward from the axial intermediate portion of the main body portion 64A. The projecting portion 64D has a ring-shaped flange portion 64D1 and extending portions 64D2 that extend from both the upper and lower sides of the flange portion 64D1.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 5, on the outer surface side of each extending portion 64D2, projections 64T that can be exposed from the guide holes 62D without protruding into the guide holes 62D of the lever base 62 are formed. That is, when the height lever 36 rotates in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in a side view, only one of the projections 64T moves along the guide hole 62D in a state of being exposed from the guide hole 62D (the other projection 64T moves so as to be hidden on the inner surface side of the housing case portion 62A).

[0050] Also, as shown in FIG. 10, the height lever arm shaft 64 is formed with a V-shaped V-shaped wall portion 64E that extends inward in the sheet width direction from the inner surface of the projecting portion 64D and has an open front side when viewed from the inner side in the sheet width direction. And cable attachment portions 64F are formed on both end sides in the vertical direction of the V-shaped wall portion 64E and on the inner surface side of the extending portion 64D2. A member 68B to be attached, which is fixed to the tip of the height control operation cable 68A, is attached to the cable attachment portion 64F.

[0051] The height control operation cable 68A is an inner cable and is movably inserted through the outer cable 68C, and the tip side is exposed from the outer cable 68C. That is, this height control operation cable 68A constitutes a height control cable 68 together with the member 68B to be attached and the outer cable 68C.

[0052] Therefore, the height lever 36 is rotated, and the height lever retainer 38 and the height lever arm shaft 64 rotate integrally with the height lever 36, so that the height control operation cable 68A is displaced. Then, due to the displacement of the height control operation cable 68A, the height adjuster 34 (see FIG. 2) is operated.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the coil portion 66A of the torsion spring 66 is wound around the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 on the inner side in the axial direction (inner side in the seat width direction) with respect to the overhanging portion 64D of the height lever arm shaft 64. In FIG. 11, the height control operation cable 68A and the attached member 68B fixed to the tip thereof are not shown.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 11, one end portion 66B of the torsion spring 66 abuts against the first receiving portion 64G of the height lever arm shaft 64 and is locked to the first long hole 62E formed through the side wall portion 62A1 of the lever base 62. The first long hole 62E is formed in an arc shape centered on the axis of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction serves as a stopper for the one end portion 66B of the torsion spring 66.

[0055] The other end portion 66C of the torsion spring 66 abuts against the second receiving portion 64H of the height lever arm shaft 64 and is locked to the second long hole 62F formed through the side wall portion 62A1 of the lever base 62. The second long hole 62F is formed in an arc shape centered on the axis of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 with a length shorter than that of the first long hole 62E, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction serves as a stopper for the other end portion 66C of the torsion spring 66.

[0056] And the torsion spring 66 biases the height lever arm shaft 64 to be disposed at its neutral position (the position shown in FIG. 11). In this neutral position, each protrusion 64T is exposed from each guide hole 62D of the lever base 62 in a side view. Also, a sub-lock release SW56 is disposed at a position on the inner surface side of the side wall portion 62A1 of the lever base 62 and facing the corner portion 64E1 of the V-shaped wall portion 64E of the height lever arm shaft 64.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 12, a V-shaped recess 64E2 that is recessed in a V-shape when viewed from the inner side in the seat width direction is formed on the lower side and the rear side of the V-shaped wall portion 64E of the height lever arm shaft 64. Also, the sub-lock release SW56 has a movable piece 56A made of metal that is bent so as to be in contact with the corner portion 64E1 and the V-shaped recess 64E2 of the V-shaped wall portion 64E of the height lever arm shaft 64.

[0058] The movable piece 56A is in contact with the V-shaped recess 64E2 at the tip side and is in contact with the corner portion 64E1 of the V-shaped wall portion 64E at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. And a first contact point 56X is formed on the movable piece 56A at its base end side, which is located substantially rearward of the corner portion 64E1 of the V-shaped wall portion 64E. Also, the sub-lock release SW56 has a second contact point 56Y that contacts the first contact point 56X when the movable piece 56A is deformed by a predetermined amount or more.

[0059] In other words, when the height lever 36 is rotated and the height lever retainer 38 and the height lever arm shaft 64 rotate integrally with the height lever 36, the movable piece 56A is pressed by the corner portion 64E1 and deformed. Due to this deformation of the movable piece 56A, the first contact point 56X contacts the second contact point 56Y and the sub-lock release SW56 is operated.

[0060] On one side, the damper lever 44 is disposed on the rear side with respect to the height lever 36 and has a lever body 44A that is operated by the occupant. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever body 44A of the damper lever 44 is formed in an arc shape such that the front end portion in side view matches the rear end portion of the lever body 36A of the height lever 36.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 5, in the damper lever 44, on the proximal end side of the lever body 44A and inside the seat width direction, a rotating base portion 44B that is disposed inside the seat width direction more than the flat plate portion 38A of the height lever retainer 38 is integrally formed. A circular through portion 44C into which the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 is inserted (passed through) is formed in the rotating base portion 44B. And the rotating base portion 44B is rotatably supported around the axis CL in the seat width direction by the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64. Note that the damper lever 44 is prevented from coming off by the rotating base portion 44B contacting the height lever 36.

[0062] The rotating base portion 44B has a lever base portion 44B1 that is on the proximal end side of the lever body 44A and is offset from the lever body 44A toward the inside in the seat width direction and continuous, and a first short cylindrical portion 44B2 that is continuous from the outside in the seat width direction of the lever base portion 44B1 and extends outward in the seat width direction. The first short cylindrical portion 44B2 is formed to be slightly smaller in diameter than the lever base portion 44B1, and the inner diameter in the radial direction thereof is the through portion 44C.

[0063] Further, the rotating base portion 44B has a disk portion 44B3 that is continuous from the inside in the seat width direction of the lever base portion 44B1 and is formed to have a larger diameter than the lever base portion 44B1 in side view, and a second short cylindrical portion 44B4 that extends inward in the seat width direction from a portion on the peripheral edge side of the disk portion 44B3. Note that the inner diameter of the second short cylindrical portion 44B4 is larger than the inner diameter of the first short cylindrical portion 44B2, that is, the inner diameter of the through portion 44C. Further, a plurality of notch portions 44D that open inward in the seat width direction are formed side by side in the circumferential direction in the second short cylindrical portion 44B4.

[0064] The damper lever arm 46 has a cylindrical portion 46A that is inserted inside the second short cylindrical portion 44B4. The main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 that was previously inserted (passed through) into the bearing portion 62B of the lever base 62 is inserted (passed through) into the cylindrical portion 46A of the damper lever arm 46, and the cylindrical portion 46A is rotatably supported by the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64.

[0065] Also, on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 46A of the damper lever arm 46, a pair of protrusions 47 (see FIG. 13) for preventing axial outward detachment during assembly to the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 are integrally formed at positions facing each other. As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, on the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64, a groove portion 65 into which the protrusions 47 can be fitted is formed over the entire circumferential direction, and from positions on opposite sides of the groove portion 65 that are 180 degrees apart in the circumferential direction, a slotted portion 64S (see FIGS. 6 and 15) that extends along the axial direction and has a cutout shape extends axially outward (outward in the seat width direction) with a width that is the same as or slightly larger than the width (circumferential length) of the protrusions 47.

[0066] Thus, when assembling the cylindrical portion 46A of the damper lever arm 46 to the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64, the protrusions 47 are configured to be movable through the slotted portion 64S, and when the protrusions 47 reach the groove portion 65, by rotating the damper lever arm 46 by a predetermined amount, the protrusions 47 are slidably fitted into the groove portion 65. That is, with such a configuration, relative movement between the damper lever arm 46 and the height lever arm shaft 64 is restricted in the axial direction (rotation axis direction) of the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64.

[0067] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the damper lever arm 46 has a rib 46B that is integrally formed on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 46A and is inserted into the notch portion 44D of the damper lever 44. When the rib 46B of the damper lever arm 46 is inserted into the notch portion 44D of the damper lever 44, the damper lever 44 and the damper lever arm 46 are configured such that their relative movement is restricted (rotate integrally) in the rotation direction of the damper lever 44.

[0068] That is, when the damper lever 44 is rotated, only the damper lever arm 46 is rotated, and the height lever arm shaft 64 is not rotated by the rotation operation of the damper lever 44. Further, when the tip portion (the end on the outer side in the sheet width direction) of the rib 46B of the damper lever arm 46 abuts against the bottom portion (the end on the side opposite to the opening side in the notch portion 44D) in the notch portion 44D of the damper lever 44, the displacement of the damper lever arm 46 in the axial direction (outer side in the sheet width direction) is restricted.

[0069] Further, the damper lever arm 46 has an outer peripheral wall portion 46C on the outer peripheral side of the cylindrical portion 46A. The outer peripheral wall portion 46C is integrally formed with the rib 46B and has a shape that tapers at least upward in a side view. A cable attachment portion 46D is formed at the upper end portion of the damper lever arm 46.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, a member 70B to be attached, which is fixed to the tip portion of the damper control operation cable 70A, is attached to the cable attachment portion 46D. The damper control operation cable 70A is an inner cable and is movably inserted through the outer cable 70C, and the tip portion side thereof is exposed from the outer cable 70C. That is, the damper control operation cable 70A, together with the member 70B to be attached and the outer cable 70C, constitutes the damper control cable 70.

[0071] Therefore, when the damper lever 44 is rotated and the damper lever arm 46 rotates integrally with the damper lever 44, if the damper control operation cable 70A is displaced, the damper controller 42 (see FIG. 2) is operated by the displacement of the damper control operation cable 70A. Note that the damper control operation cable 70A, the member to be attached 70B, and the outer cable 70C are not shown except in FIG. 3.

[0072] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, on the inner surface of the housing case portion 62A of the lever base 62, when the protruding portion 64D of the height lever arm shaft 64 is housed in the housing case portion 62A, a thin plate-shaped rib 58 is formed in a substantially straight line in side view as a contact portion whose tip contacts a part of the peripheral edge on the outer surface of the flange portion 64D1 of the protruding portion 64D. By this rib 58, the displacement of the height lever arm shaft 64 in the rotational axis direction (outer side in the seat width direction) with respect to the housing case portion 62A is restricted. Note that the contact length of this rib 58 is set to a length that does not prevent the rotation of the height lever arm shaft 64.

[0073] Also, as shown in FIG. 15, an arc-shaped long hole 62G is formed through the lower portion of the central wall portion 62A4 of the lever base 62 around the axis of the bearing portion 62B. Then, as shown in FIG. 16, a pin 46P that is inserted into the long hole 62G of the lever base 62 is formed at the lower end portion of the damper lever arm 46.

[0074] The pin 46P functions as a stopper by contacting the longitudinal end of the long hole 62G, and restricts the rotation range of the damper lever arm 46. Note that the positions of the protrusions 47 and the slits 64S are set so that the protrusions 47 fitted in the groove portion 65 do not locate in the slit portion 64S within the rotation range of the damper lever arm 46.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 17, the damper lever arm 46 has a back surface portion 46E on the inner side in the seat width direction. A central portion side region 46E1 of the back surface portion 46E is recessed outward in the seat width direction with respect to its peripheral portion 46E2. A plurality of female splines 46S are continuously formed in a circular shape on a step surface 46E3, which is a boundary portion between the central portion side region 46E1 and the peripheral portion 46E2, when viewed from the inner side in the seat width direction. The female splines 46S are set, for example, every 10° in the circumferential direction of the step surface 46E3.

[0076] The central portion side region 46E1 of the damper lever 44 is adapted to abut against the central wall portion 62A4 of the lever base 62 via the damper lever ratchet 48. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer peripheral side of the bearing portion 62B in the central wall portion 62A4 of the lever base 62 is slightly convex outward in the seat width direction.

[0077] Then, as shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of concave portions 62M are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction in a step portion 62L that constitutes the outer peripheral side of the bearing portion 62B of the lever base 62, and a plurality of convex portions 48B formed on the inner peripheral side of the ring-shaped damper lever ratchet 48 are fitted into each concave portion 62M.

[0078] The damper lever ratchet 48 is formed of an elastically deformable material and has a ring portion 48A disposed along the step portion 62L of the lever base 62. A plurality of deformable portions 48C that are elastically deformable and form an arcuate space portion together with a part of the ring portion 48A are formed on the outer peripheral side of the ring portion 48A.

[0079] Each of the plurality of deformable portions 48C has a pair of extending portions 48C1 extending outward in the radial direction from the ring portion 48A by a short length, and an arcuate portion 48C2 connecting the tip ends of the pair of extending portions 48C1 in the extending direction and extending in an arc shape along a part of the ring portion 48A. The plurality of deformable portions 48C are formed so as to correspond to the plurality of convex portions 48B.

[0080] More specifically, the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the deformable portion 48C is set at a position corresponding to the convex portion 48B. Further, a male spline 48S is integrally formed at the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the arc portion 48C2 in the deformable portion 48C. The male spline 48S protrudes from the arc portion 48C2 to the side opposite to the ring portion 48A and is set at a position corresponding to the convex portion 48B.

[0081] Here, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, when the damper lever 44 is rotated in units of 10°, the male spline 48S of the damper lever ratchet 48 fits into the female spline 46S of the damper lever arm 46, and the damper lever arm 46 is held.

[0082] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, when the damper lever 44 is rotated by an angle other than 10° units, the deformable portion 48C of the damper lever ratchet 48 bends, and the boundary portion between the adjacent female splines 46S in the damper lever arm 46 abuts against the male spline 48S of the damper lever ratchet 48 and is held. In FIG. 22, the positions of the deformable portion 48C and the male spline 48S when it is assumed that the deformable portion 48C of the damper lever ratchet 48 does not bend are shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0083] Next, the operation of the control lever unit 60 of the vehicle seat 10 configured as described above will be described.

[0084] By rotating the height lever 36, the height adjuster 34 of the air suspension device 30 is operated, and air is supplied to or discharged from the air spring 32, thereby adjusting the height of the seat cushion 14. Further, by rotating the damper lever 44, the damper controller 42 of the air suspension device 30 is operated, and the damping force of the damper 40 is changed. The suspension lock device 50 is set in a suspension locked state in response to the lock operation of the suspension lock SW54, and is set in a suspension unlocked state in response to the unlock operation of the suspension lock SW54.

[0085] Here, even when the height lever 36 is rotated in the suspension lock state, the suspension lock release SW56 is operated in conjunction with the integral rotation of the height lever retainer 38 and the height lever arm shaft 64, so that the suspension lock state can be released. Therefore, when the occupant operates the height lever 36 in the suspension lock state, there is no need to separately operate the manual suspension lock SW54. Accordingly, the operability when adjusting the height of the seat cushion 14 can be improved.

[0086] Further, this control lever unit 60 is unitized including the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44. Therefore, compared with the case where, for example, the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44 are separately assembled to the vehicle seat 10, the assemblability to the vehicle seat 10 can be improved and the number of parts can be reduced. Also, since the height lever 36 and the damper lever 44 can be arranged close to each other, it is also effective in suppressing operation errors.

[0087] Also, in this control lever unit 60, when the height lever retainer 38 is inserted into the main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64, a pair of second fitting claws 38E, 38F formed on the height lever retainer 38 are temporarily fitted into a pair of fitting holes 64B, 64C formed on the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A (see Fig. 9(A)).

[0088] Then, when the shaft portion 36B of the height lever 36 is inserted into the through hole 38B formed in the flat plate portion 38A of the height lever retainer 38, each of the second fitting claws 38E, 38F is pressed radially outward of the shaft portion 36B by the shaft portion 36B (see Fig. 9(B)). Thereby, each of the second fitting claws 38E, 38F relatively presses the edge portions 64B1, 64C1 on the opening side of each of the fitting holes 64B, 64C toward the opening side, and firmly fits into each of the fitting holes 64B, 64C.

[0089] Therefore, the height lever retainer 38 is firmly fixed in the rotational axis direction with respect to the height lever arm shaft 64, and as a result, play in the rotational axis direction of the height lever 36 that is rotationally operated can be effectively suppressed. Moreover, since this height lever 36 is a height operation unit that operates the height adjuster 34 to adjust the height of the seat cushion 14, it is possible to suppress the quality of the height operation unit manually rotated by the occupant from being impaired.

[0090] Also, a damper lever 44 for changing the damping force of the damper is configured to be rotatable coaxially with the height lever 36. The main body portion 64A of the height lever arm shaft 64 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 46A of the damper lever arm 46 that engages with the damper lever 44. In this state, a protrusion 47 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 46A is slidably fitted into a groove portion 65 formed on the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A. Therefore, the damper lever arm 46 is fixed so as not to move in the rotational axis direction with respect to the height lever arm shaft 64, and as a result, play in the rotational axis direction of the damper lever 44 that is rotationally operated can be suppressed.

[0091] Note that the height lever 36 rotates integrally with the height lever arm shaft 64, but the damper lever 44 does not rotate integrally with the height lever arm shaft 64. That is, the height lever 36 is fixed with respect to the height lever arm shaft 64, but the damper lever 44 is not fixed with respect to the height lever arm shaft 64. Therefore, even if play occurs in the damper lever 44, the play will not affect the height lever arm shaft 64 and the height lever 36.

[0092] Also, when the protruding portion 64D of the height lever arm shaft 64 is housed in the housing case portion 62A of the lever base 62, the tip of the rib 58 formed on the inner surface of the housing case portion 62A abuts against a part of the peripheral edge portion on the outer surface of the flange portion 64D1 of the protruding portion 64D. As a result, displacement of the height lever arm shaft 64 in the rotational axis direction (outer side in the seat width direction) with respect to the housing case portion 62A is restricted, and as a result, rattling in the rotational axis direction of the height lever arm shaft 64 and the damper lever arm 46 with respect to the housing case portion 62A can be suppressed.

[0093] As described above, the control lever unit 60 as the operating device of the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the control lever unit 60 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated one, and can be appropriately designed and changed within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the operating portion according to the present embodiment is not limited to the height lever 36 as the height operating portion for adjusting the height of the seat cushion 14.

[0094] Further, the groove portion 65 is not limited to a configuration formed over the entire circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of the main body portion 64A, and may be formed only within the range where the protrusion portion 47 moves. Further, the rib 58 is not limited to a configuration formed on the housing case portion 62A, and may be formed on a part of the peripheral edge portion on the outer surface of the flange portion 64D1 of the protruding portion 64D, and the tip thereof may abut against the inner surface of the housing case portion 62A.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0095] 10 Vehicle seat 36 Height lever (operating portion / height operating portion) 36B Shaft portion 38 Retainer for height lever (fitting member) 38B Through hole 38E Fitting claw 38F Fitting claw 44 Damper lever (damper operating portion) 46 Damper lever arm (engaging member) 46A Cylindrical part 47 Protrusion 58 Rib (contact part) 60 Control lever unit (operating device) 62 Lever base (base member) 62A Housing case part 62B Bearing part 64 Height lever arm shaft (support member) 64A Main body part 64B Fitting hole 64C Fitting hole 64D Protruding part 65 Groove part

Claims

1. A support member having a cylindrical main body portion with at least one open end and a pair of fitting holes formed on the peripheral wall of the main body portion so as to face each other, A fitting member having a pair of fitting claws that fit into the pair of fitting holes when inserted into the main body portion from the open side of the main body portion, and a circular through-hole formed between the pair of fitting claws, An operation portion having a cylindrical shaft portion inserted through the through-hole and configured to be rotatable about the shaft portion, and provided so that an occupant seated on a vehicle seat can operate it, Comprising: In the operation device for a vehicle seat, the pair of fitting claws are configured to relatively press the edge portions on the open side of the pair of fitting holes toward the open side by being pressed radially outward of the shaft portion by the shaft portion inserted through the through-hole.

2. The vehicle seat Is provided on the lower side of the seat cushion on which the occupant sits, and includes an air spring to which air is supplied from an air supply source, a damper that attenuates the vibration of the air spring, and an adjustment portion that adjusts the height of the seat cushion by supplying and discharging air to and from the air spring, The operation device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the operation portion is a height operation portion that operates the adjustment portion to adjust the height of the seat cushion.

3. A damper operation portion configured to be rotatable coaxially with the operation portion and for changing the damping force of the damper, A cylindrical portion through which the main body portion of the support member is inserted and a protrusion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and an engaging member that engages with the damper operation portion, Comprising: The operation device for a vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein a groove portion into which the protrusion fits is formed in the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall of the main body portion.

4. A base member having a bearing portion through which the main body portion of the support member is inserted prior to the engagement member, and a housing case portion that houses an overhanging portion that projects radially outward from the peripheral wall of the main body portion. The operating device in the vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein a contact portion that contacts either the housing case portion or the overhanging portion is formed on either the housing case portion or the overhanging portion.

Images