Vehicular seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicular seat that enables a seated person to work in a forward inclining posture, without bringing the seated person into a tight attitude.SOLUTION: A vehicular seat 100 comprises a seat cushion 1 that supports the hip of an occupant, and a lifting device 20 that changes an inclination angle of a seating face of the seat cushion 1. A changing device 20 is configured to change the inclination angle so that a posture of the seating face of the seat cushion 1 is switched between a first posture in which the posture which is nearly horizontal or inclines downward toward a rear side and a second posture which inclines upward toward the rear side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat mounted on various vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle seat that supports a seat cushion via a pair of front and rear links is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to change its posture between a relaxation mode in which the front part of the seat cushion is moved upward relative to the rear part and a work mode in which both the front part and the rear part are moved upward relative to the position of the seat cushion in the drive mode.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, there is a need to perform work in a forward-leaning posture while parked or driving in autonomous driving. However, when the seat back is tilted forward, the posture of the occupant becomes cramped, and it is difficult to obtain a preferable working posture.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A vehicle seat according to one aspect of the present invention includes a seat cushion that supports the buttocks of an occupant and a changing device that changes the inclination angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion. The changing device is configured to be able to change the inclination angle so that the posture of the seating surface switches between a first posture in which the seating surface is substantially horizontal or has a downward gradient toward the rear and a second posture in which the seating surface has an upward gradient toward the rear.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform work in a forward leaning posture of the seated person without making the seated person assume a cramped posture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Figure 8C

Figure 9A

Figure 9B

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The vehicle seat according to the embodiments of the present invention can be applied to various vehicles. Hereinafter, an example of applying it to a vehicle, particularly a vehicle having an automatic driving function, that is, an autonomous vehicle will be described. The vehicle to which the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment is applied can travel not only in an automatic driving mode that does not require a driving operation by a driver but also in a manual driving mode by the driver's driving operation. Note that the vehicle to which the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment is applied may be any of an engine vehicle having an internal combustion engine (engine) as a driving source for traveling, an electric vehicle having a driving motor as a driving source for traveling, and a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a driving motor as driving sources for traveling.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view (viewed from obliquely forward) of a vehicle seat 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as a seat) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front-rear direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the up-down direction corresponds to the height direction of the vehicle, and the left-right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. In other words, in the front-rear direction of FIG. 1, the front is the direction in which the occupant in the riding posture faces, the left-right direction is the seat width direction, and the up-down direction is the seat height direction.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat 100 is a vehicle seat used in the driver's seat or the passenger seat of a vehicle, and includes a seat cushion 1 that supports the occupant's buttocks, a seat back 2 that supports the occupant's back, and a headrest 3 provided at the upper part of the seat back 2 that supports the occupant's head. The seat cushion 1 extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction and has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole. The seat back 2 extends in the up-down direction and the left-right direction and has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole. The lower end portion of the seat back 2 is supported by the rear end portion of the seat cushion 1 via a pair of left and right reclining mechanisms 4 so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction with a shaft portion 4a extending in the left-right direction as a fulcrum. The reclining mechanism 4 includes a reclining actuator 4b described later. A controller 60 described later is provided below the skin of the seat cushion 1.

[0011] FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing the structure of a part of the seat frame inside the seat 100, more specifically, the frame (hereinafter referred to as the seat cushion frame) 10 corresponding to the seat cushion 1. The seat cushion frame 10 is formed along the outer shape of the seat cushion 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 1 is configured by attaching a seat cushion pad made of a cushion material such as urethane foam to the seat cushion frame 10 and further covering the outside thereof with a skin material made of synthetic leather, fabric, or the like. The seat cushion pad is supported by the seat cushion frame 10 and functions as a pressure-receiving portion that receives the load from the occupant's buttocks.

[0012] The seat cushion 1 includes a lifting device (hereinafter also referred to as a changing device) 20 that changes the inclination angle of the seat cushion frame 10 so that the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 can be switched among three posture modes (drive mode, work mode, and relaxation mode) described later, and a slide device 30 as a base member that supports the seat cushion frame 10 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Details of the lifting device 20 and the slide device 30 will be described later.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2A, the slide device 30 extends along the front-rear direction on the floor (vehicle body floor portion) below the seat 100. The seat cushion frame 10 is slidably engaged with the slide device 30, whereby the seat cushion 1 can move in the front-rear direction along the slide device 30 with respect to the vehicle body.

[0014] The seat cushion frame 10 includes a pair of cushion side frames (hereinafter simply referred to as side frames) 11 (11L, 11R) arranged side by side, a cushion pan frame 12 that connects the front end portions of the side frames 11L, 11R and covers the front of the side frames 11L, 11R, a metal front pipe 13 that connects the front portions of the side frames 11L, 11R at a position behind the front end portion of the cushion pan frame 12, more preferably, at a position behind the front end portion of the cushion pan frame 12 and in front of the rear end portion of the cushion pan frame 12, a metal rear pipe 14 that connects the rear portions of the side frames 11L, 11R, and a pressure receiving member 15 that is stretched over the front pipe 13 and the rear pipe 14 and receives an upward load due to the weight of the occupant (seated person) or the like. End caps 13a are attached to the right and left end portions of the front pipe 13.

[0015] The slide device 30 includes a pair of slide rails (hereinafter referred to as upper rails) 31 (31L, 31R) arranged side by side, a pair of slide rails (hereinafter referred to as lower rails) 32 (32L, 32R) that are coupled to the floor (vehicle body floor portion) via feet 19L, 19R and support the upper rails 31L, 31R so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The slide device 30 also includes a pair of upper rail brackets 28 (28L, 28R) provided on the upper surfaces of the upper rails 31L, 31R and connecting the upper rails 31L, 31R and the side frames 11L, 11R. Further, the slide device 30 includes a rail connecting member 33 that connects the front end portions of the lower rails 32L, 32R, a slide actuator (hereinafter also referred to as a rail actuator) 34 supported by the rail connecting member 33, a screw shaft 35 that rotates by the driving force of the slide actuator 34, and a pair of shaft support members 36 (36L, 36R) provided at the outer end portions of the screw shaft 35 in the seat width direction and supporting the screw shaft 35.

[0016] The slide actuator 34 incorporates an electric motor and generates a driving force for rotating the screw shaft 35 via the electric motor. The shaft support member 36 has a gear box and transmits the rotational power of the screw shaft 35 to a screw shaft (not shown) extending along the front-rear direction inside the upper rail 31 via the gear box. The screw shaft of the upper rail 31 is provided so as to insert through a ball screw (not shown) provided on the lower rail 32. When the screw shaft of the upper rail 31 rotates, the upper rail 31 relatively moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 32. The slide device 30 functions as a slide mechanism with such a configuration.

[0017] FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the structure of the seat cushion frame 10 with the cushion pan frame 12 removed. As shown in FIG. 2B, the seat cushion frame 10 further includes a gear cover portion 16 that covers a part (sector link 22R) of the elevating device 20 in the seat width direction below the cushion pan frame 12, and an air conditioner 40 that sends air to the seating surface of the seat cushion frame 10 or sucks in the air on the seating surface side.

[0018] Insertion holes for inserting the front pipe 13 are formed in the gear cover portion 16 and the sector link 22R. The front portion of the gear cover portion 16 is attached to the right side frame 11R via the front pipe 13, and the rear end portion is joined to the inner wall surface of the side frame 11R. The sector link 22R is rotatably supported by the side frame 11R via the front pipe 13. The gear cover portion 16 is provided so as to be disposed within a gap formed between the sector link 22R, the side frame 11R, and the gear cover portion 16 in the seat width direction, that is, so as to be inside the sector link 22R in the width direction.

[0019] The air conditioner 40 includes a blower 41, a blower bracket 42 that attaches the blower 41 to the cushion pan frame 12, and a duct 43 that extends from the blower 41 toward the seating surface side and forms an air passage that guides air from the blower 41 to the seating surface or from the seating surface to the blower 41. An end portion (supply / discharge portion) 43S on the seating surface side of the duct 43 is attached to an attachment port formed in the pressure receiving member 15.

[0020] Here, the configuration of the lifting device 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the lifting mechanism of the right side frame 11R from the inside. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the lifting mechanism of the left side frame 11L from the inside. As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting device 20 includes a front link 21R having one end rotatably connected to an upper rail bracket 28R by a front support shaft 28Rf, a sector link 22R connected to the other end of the front link 21R by a link connection shaft 22Rc and connected to the front portion of the side frame 11R via a front pipe (frame connection shaft) 13, a pinion gear 24 engageable with a sector gear 22Rg formed on the rear surface of the sector link 22R, and a rear link 23R having one end rotatably connected to the upper rail bracket 28R by a rear support shaft 28Rr and the other end connected to the rear portion of the side frame 11R via a rear pipe (rear connection shaft) 14. In FIG. 3, for the sake of clarity of the drawing, the gear cover portion 16 is shown by a dashed line. A stopper pin 22Rs is inserted into an opening provided in the sector link 22R, and when the end of the opening abuts against the stopper pin 22Rs, the rotation of the sector link 22R is restricted. In this way, by inserting the stopper pin 22Rs into the opening, the rotation range of the sector link 22R is restricted. Note that the front link 21R is connected such that the front end portion thereof is located behind the front end portion of the side frame 11R regardless of the posture mode of the seat cushion 1. Also, the front link 21L is connected such that the front end portion thereof is located behind the front end portion of the side frame 11L regardless of the posture mode of the seat cushion 1. Further, the front link 21R and the sector link 22R are connected such that the link connection shaft 22Rc is located above the front pipe 13 regardless of the posture mode of the seat cushion 1, that is, the link connection shaft 22Rc moves above the front pipe 13 in a side view.

[0021] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lifting device 20 includes a front link 21L having one end rotatably connected to an upper rail bracket 28L by a front support shaft 28Lf, a support link 29 connected to the other end of the front link 21L by a link connection shaft 29c and connected to the front portion of the side frame 11L via a front pipe (frame connection shaft) 13, a rear link (sector link) 22L having one end rotatably connected to the upper rail bracket 28L by a rear support shaft 28Lr and the other end connected to the rear portion of the side frame 11R via a rear pipe (rear connection shaft) 14, and a pinion gear 27 engageable with a sector gear 22Rg formed on the front surface of the sector link 22L.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the seat cushion frame 10 with the cushion pan frame 12 removed. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the seat cushion frame 10 with the cushion pan frame 12 removed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lifting device 20 further includes a front lifting actuator (hereinafter also simply referred to as a lifting actuator) 25 attached to the outer surface in the seat width direction of the front portion of the side frame 11R, and a rear lifting actuator 26 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a lifting actuator) attached to the outer surface in the seat width direction of the rear portion of the side frame 11L. The lifting actuator 25 incorporates an electric motor and generates a driving force for rotating the pinion gear 24 via the electric motor. Similarly, the lifting actuator 26 incorporates an electric motor and generates a driving force for rotating the pinion gear 27 via the electric motor.

[0023] Note that the lifting actuators 25 and 26 of the lifting device 20 and the slide actuator 34 of the slide device 30 are connected to the controller 60 by a wire harness (hereinafter simply referred to as a harness) not shown, and the built-in motors are stopped or operated based on control signals from the controller 60 received via the harness. On the other hand, when the controller 60 is provided at the left part of the seat cushion 1 as shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to lead the harness from the controller 60 to the lifting actuator 25 provided at the right part of the seat cushion 1 by using the space below the seat cushion frame 10. However, when the harness is routed in such a way, if the distance between the controller 60 and the lifting actuator 25 varies due to the sliding operation of the seat cushion frame 10 or the like, the harness may be pulled or bent. In addition, the bent harness may interfere with a part of the seat cushion frame 10. As a means to avoid such an influence on the harness, a method of leading the harness by inserting the front pipe 13 from the controller 60 to the lifting actuator 25 can be considered. However, unnecessary protrusions, so-called burrs, generated in processes such as cutting may exist at the ends of the front pipe 13. Therefore, when the harness is inserted into the front pipe 13 and used, the surface of the harness may be worn by the burrs at the ends of the front pipe 13, or in some cases, the harness may be cut. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, end caps 13a are attached to the ends (right end and left end) of the front pipe 13 so that the harness can be routed through the front pipe 13. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the end cap 13a. By attaching the end cap 13a as shown in FIG. 7 to the end of the front pipe 13, contact between the burrs at the end of the front pipe 13 and the harness can be prevented. As a result, it becomes possible to route the harness from one side to the other side in the seat width direction of the seat cushion frame 10 through the front pipe 13.

[0024] Next, with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C, the posture change of the seat cushion 1 by the lifting device 20 will be described. FIGS. 8A to 8C are side views of the side frame 11R as viewed from the inner side in the width direction. In FIGS. 8A to 8C, for simplicity of explanation, the illustration of the cushion pan frame 12 and the gear cover portion 16 is omitted. The seat 100 can be changed in posture to a plurality of modes such as a drive mode that positions the seated person in a posture suitable for driving during normal vehicle travel, a work mode that positions the seated person in a posture that facilitates work during parking or autonomous driving, and a relaxation mode that positions the seated person in a posture that makes it easy to lie on their side by tilting the seat back 2.

[0025] The lifting device 20 rotates the pinion gears 24 and 27 via the lifting actuators 25 and 26 to change the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 (hereinafter, may be simply expressed as the posture of the seat cushion 1) to correspond to each mode. More specifically, the inclination angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 is changed. When the pinion gear 24 rotates, the meshing position between the pinion gear 24 and the sector gear 22Rg changes. As a result, the sector link 22R swings, and in conjunction therewith, the front link 21R connected to the sector link 22R rotates about the front support shaft 28Rf. Further, the front link 21L connected to the support link 29 pivotally supported via the front pipe (frame connection shaft) 13 at a position opposite to the sector link 22R in the seat width direction rotates. Also, when the pinion gear 27 rotates, the meshing position between the pinion gear 27 and the sector gear 22Lg changes. As a result, the sector link 22L swings, and in conjunction therewith, the rear link 23R pivotally supported via the rear pipe (rear connection shaft) 14 at a position opposite to the sector link 22L in the seat width direction rotates. The inclination angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 is adjusted by the above-described operations of the respective links 21R, 21L, 22R, 22L, 23R, and 29.

[0026] Figure 8A is a side view of the seat cushion 1 in the drive mode. In the drive mode, as shown in Figure 8A, the posture of the seat cushion 1 is substantially horizontal or slopes downward rearward. More specifically, the elevating device 20 adjusts the meshing positions of the pinion gear 24 and the sector gear 22Rg, and the meshing positions of the pinion gear 27 and the sector gear 22Lg so that the side frame 11 is substantially parallel to the upper rail 31 of the slide device 30 in a side view. Also, in the drive mode, the upper rail 31 is relatively moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 32 via the slide actuator 34 so that the driver can assume a driving posture in which it is easy to operate the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, etc., and the position (front-rear position) of the seat cushion 1 is adjusted.

[0027] Figure 8B is a side view of the seat cushion 1 in the work mode. In the work mode, as shown in Figure 8B, the posture of the seat cushion 1 slopes upward rearward. More specifically, the elevating device 20 adjusts the meshing positions of the pinion gear 24 and the sector gear 22Rg, and the meshing positions of the pinion gear 27 and the sector gear 22Lg so that the height of the front part of the side frame 11 with respect to the upper rail 31 is lower than that in the drive mode, and the height of the rear part of the side frame 11 with respect to the upper rail 31 is higher than that in the drive mode. Also, in the work mode, the upper rail 31 is moved rearward more than in the drive mode via the slide actuator 34 so that a space for the feet of the seated person is secured. More specifically, when the posture of the seat cushion 1 is in the state of Figure 8B, a sufficient space is secured between the legs (thigh parts) of the seated person and the lower part of the vehicle dashboard, and the position (front-rear position) of the seat cushion 1 is adjusted.

[0028] In the work mode, if the height of the upper rail 31 at the front of the side frame 11 is lowered, depending on the positions where the rail connecting member 33 and the screw shaft 35 are arranged, there is a risk that the front end of the blower bracket 42 may interfere with the rail connecting member 33 and the screw shaft 35. To avoid such interference, the blower bracket 42 is attached to the cushion pan frame 12 such that its front end is positioned at least behind the rear end of the rail connecting member 33 in the front-rear direction, more specifically, in the extending direction of the upper rail 31 (or the lower rail 32) in the work mode. On the other hand, when the blower bracket 42 is arranged rearward to avoid interference between the front end of the blower bracket 42 and the rear end of the rail connecting member 33, there is a risk that the duct 43 may interfere with the front pipe 13. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8B and the like, the blower bracket 42 is formed such that its lower surface (more specifically, the support surface that supports the blower 41) slopes downward toward the rear. By making the support surface an inclined surface in this way, a sufficient gap can be provided between the duct 43 and the front pipe 13 in the vertical direction. As a result, it is possible to provide the blower bracket 42 behind the rear end of the rail connecting member 33 while avoiding interference between the duct 43 and the front pipe 13. Also, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the work mode, since the lower end of the duct 43 is positioned below the upper ends of the slide rails 31, 32, a part of the air conditioner 40 and the slide rails 31, 32 overlap in the vertical direction in a side view. However, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the air conditioner 40 is provided inside the slide rails 31, 32 in the width direction, the front part of the side frame 11 can be lowered to the height shown in FIG. 8B without interfering the air conditioner 40 and the slide rails 31, 32. As shown in FIG. 8B, it is preferable that the blower bracket 42 is attached to the cushion pan frame 12 such that the position of the link connecting shaft 22Rc is above the blower bracket 42 in the work mode.

[0029] FIG. 8C is a side view of the seat cushion 1 in the relaxation mode. In the relaxation mode, as shown in FIG. 8C, the posture of the seat cushion 1 slopes downward at a larger inclination angle than in the drive mode toward the rear. More specifically, the height of the front portion of the side frame 11 with respect to the upper rail 31 is made higher than in the drive mode, and the height of the rear portion of the side frame 11 with respect to the upper rail 31 is made lower than in the drive mode. The elevating device 20 adjusts the meshing position between the pinion gear 24 and the sector gear 22Rg, and the meshing position between the pinion gear 27 and the sector gear 22Lg. Also, in the relaxation mode, in order to secure a space for the feet of the seated person, more specifically, so that the knees and feet of the seated person do not contact the vehicle's steering wheel or the lower part of the dashboard when the seated person tilts the seat back 2 and lies on the side, the upper rail 31 is moved rearward more than in the drive mode via the slide actuator 34 to adjust the position (front-rear position) of the seat cushion 1.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the sector link 22R is covered in the sheet width direction by the gear cover portion 16, but is not completely covered in the vertical direction. Specifically, a part of the sector link 22R is exposed above the gear cover portion 16. Therefore, there is a possibility that the exposed portion may come into contact with the seat cushion pad attached to the seat cushion frame 10. In particular, in the drive mode (FIG. 8A) and the relaxation mode (FIG. 8C), since the sector gear 22Rg is located above the sector link 22R, a part of the sector gear 22Rg is exposed. When the sector link 22R swings in that state, there is a risk that the sector gear 22Rg may entangle the seat cushion pad. Therefore, a cover member 50 that covers the sector link 22R in the vertical direction is attached to the right part of the front pipe 13. FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the cover member 50 attached to the front pipe 13. FIG. 9B is a plan view of the cover member 50 attached to the front pipe 13. The cover member 50 is molded from resin or the like, and a bearing portion 51 that engages with the front pipe 13 is formed on the left side of the front portion of the cover member 50 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. When attaching the cover member 50 to the front pipe 13, the bearing portion 51 is pushed in from above the front pipe 13 to engage the bearing portion 51 with the front pipe 13.

[0031] On the other hand, when the cover member 50 is attached, as shown in FIG. 9B, the distance in the sheet width direction between the cover member 50 and the front wing portion 15Rf on the right side of the pressure receiving member 15 becomes close, and when the pressure receiving member 15 is displaced in the sheet width direction or the like, there is a risk that the cover member 50 and the front wing portion 15Rf may interfere with each other. In order to avoid such interference, as shown in FIG. 9B, a stepped portion (notch portion) CT is formed in the front portion of the front wing portion 15Rf. Note that the stepped portion CT is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 9B, and may be other shapes. For example, when another cover member having a shape different from that of the cover member 50 is attached instead of the cover member 50, the stepped portion CT may be formed to match the planar shape of the exterior portion of the cover member.

[0032] According to the embodiments described above, the following operational effects can be achieved. (1) The seat 100 according to this embodiment includes a seat cushion 1 that supports the buttocks of an occupant, and a lifting device 20 as a changing device that changes the tilt angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1. The lifting device 20 is configured to be able to change the tilt angle so that the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 switches between a first posture (the posture in FIG. 8A) in which it is substantially horizontal or has a downward slope toward the rear, and a second posture (the posture in FIG. 8B) in which it has an upward slope toward the rear. The seat cushion 1 has a seat cushion frame 10 that is movable together with the seating surface. The lifting device 20 includes a first support portion (front links 21L, front links 21R, and sector link 22R) that supports the front end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 so as to be able to move up and down, and a second support portion (rear links 22L, 23R) that supports the rear end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 so as to be able to move up and down. The first support portion supports the front end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 so that the height of the front end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 can be changed between a first front end height (the height of the front end portion of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8A) corresponding to the first posture and a second front end height lower than the first front end height (the height of the front end portion of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8B). The second support portion supports the rear end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 so that the height of the rear end portion of the seat cushion frame 10 can be changed between a first rear end height (the height of the rear end portion of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8A) corresponding to the first posture and a second rear end height higher than the first rear end height (the height of the rear end portion of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8B). With this configuration, the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion can be changed so that the occupant can work in a forward-leaning posture without being in a cramped posture.

[0033] (2) The first support part further supports the front end part of the seat cushion frame 10 such that the height of the front end part of the seat cushion frame 10 can be changed to a third front end height (the height of the front end part of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8C) that is higher than the first front end height. The second support part further supports the rear end part of the seat cushion frame 10 such that the height of the rear end part of the seat cushion frame 10 can be changed to a third rear end height (the height of the rear end part of the side frame 11R in FIG. 8C) that is lower than the first rear end height. The lifting device 20 is configured to be able to change the inclination angle such that the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 can be switched between a first posture, a second posture, and a third posture (the posture in FIG. 8C) in which the inclination angle is greater than the inclination angle in the first posture and slopes downward rearward. With this configuration, during parking or autonomous driving, the occupant can not only perform work but also take a catnap or lie down sideways to rest.

[0034] (3) The seat 100 further includes upper rail brackets 28L and 28R as support members for supporting the seat cushion frame 10. The first support portion has a front end portion connected to the front portion of the upper rail bracket 28R, and a front link 21R as a first link that is rotatable in the vertical direction with respect to the connection portion with the upper rail bracket 28R. The rear end portion of the front link 21R is connected to the front portion of the seat cushion frame 10 and is connected to the front portion of the seat cushion frame 10. A sector link 22R as a second link that is rotatable in the vertical direction about the connection portion with the seat cushion frame 10 (link connection shaft 22Rc in FIG. 3). When the front link 21R rotates with respect to the connection portion with the upper rail bracket 28R, the front end portion of the front link 21R is provided so as to be located behind the front end portion of the seat cushion frame 10. The lifting device 20 further has a pinion gear 24 that rotates around a rotation axis along the seat width direction. A sector gear 22Rg that engages with the pinion gear 24 is formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the sector link 22R so that the sector link 22R can rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the pinion gear 24. The front link 21R and the sector link 22R are provided such that the connection portion between the front link 21R and the sector link 22R moves above the connection portion between the sector link 22R and the seat cushion frame 10 (front pipe (frame connection axis) 13 in FIG. 3). Thereby, a seat cushion (seat cushion frame) whose seat surface posture can be changed by a link can be realized in a compact configuration.

[0035] (4) The upper rail brackets 28L and 28R are provided with a slide device 30 for moving the seat cushion frame 10 in the front-rear direction. The seat cushion frame 10 has a pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R extending in the front-rear direction. The slide device 30 has a pair of left and right upper rails 31L and 31R corresponding to the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R, and a pair of left and right lower rails 32L and 32R for supporting the pair of left and right upper rails 31L and 31R so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The lifting device 20 has a pair of left and right first support portions for supporting the front end portions of the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R, and a pair of left and right second support portions for supporting the rear end portions of the pair of left and right side frames. Each of the pair of left and right first support portions has a pair of left and right first links (front links 21L and 21R) whose front end portions are connected to the front portions of the pair of left and right upper rails 31L and 31R, and a pair of left and right second links (support link 29 and sector link 22R) connected to the rear end portions of the pair of left and right first links and connecting the pair of left and right first links and the front portions of the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R. A sector gear is formed on one of the pair of left and right second links (sector link 22R), and the pinion gear 24 is provided at the front portion of the side frame 11R corresponding to the second link (sector link 22R) on which the sector gear is formed among the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R. Further, the lifting device 20 further has a pinion gear 27 that rotates around a rotation axis along the seat width direction at the rear portion of the side frame 11L among the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R where the pinion gear 24 is not provided. Each of the pair of left and right second support portions has a pair of left and right third links (sector link 22L and rear link 23R) whose front end portions are connected to the rear portions of the pair of left and right upper rails 31L and 31R and whose rear end portions are connected to the rear portions of the pair of left and right side frames 11L and 11R. A sector gear engaged with the pinion gear 27 is formed on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the third link (sector link 22L) connected to the side frame 11L provided with the pinion gear 27 among the pair of left and right third links so that the third link rotates in the vertical direction with respect to the connection portion (rear pipe (rear connection shaft) 14) with the side frame 11L in conjunction with the rotation of the pinion gear 27.In this way, by diagonally arranging the sector links 22L and 22R on the sheet cushion frame 10 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, it is possible to prevent the load from being biased to the sheet cushion frame 10 by the lifting actuators 25 and 26 that drive the sector links 22L and 22R, and to suppress the occurrence of distortion of the sheet cushion frame 10.

[0036] The above-described embodiment can be modified into various forms. Hereinafter, modification examples will be described. In the above embodiment, an example in which the front end portion of the sheet cushion frame 10 is changed to three levels of height (the first front end portion height (FIG. 8A), the second front end portion height (FIG. 8B), and the third front end portion height (FIG. 8C)) is shown. Further, an example in which the rear end portion of the sheet cushion frame 10 is changed to three levels of height (the first rear end portion height (FIG. 8A), the second rear end portion height (FIG. 8B), and the third rear end portion height (FIG. 8C)) is shown. However, the heights of the front end portion and the rear end portion of the sheet cushion frame 10 may be changed to a number of levels other than three, for example, a number of levels greater than three. That is, the seating surface of the seat cushion 1 may be switchable to a posture mode other than the three posture modes shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C.

[0037] In the above-described embodiment, the driving force for rotating the pinion gears 24 and 27 is generated by the electric motors of the lifting actuators 25 and 26. However, the pinion gears 24 and 27 may be rotated by manual operation via an operation lever or a dial provided on the side surface of the seat 100. That is, the occupant (seated person) may operate the operation lever or the dial to switch the posture of the seating surface of the seat cushion 1. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the driving force for rotating the screw shaft 35 is generated by the electric motor of the slide actuator 34, and the upper rail 31 is slid relative to the lower rail 32. However, the upper rail 31 may be slid manually relative to the lower rail 32. For example, the upper rail 31 may be configured to be slidable relative to the lower rail 32 by operating a slide operation lever (not shown) provided below the front portion of the seat 100 and extending left and right. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rail connecting member 33 connects the front end portions of the lower rails 32L and 32R, but the rail connecting member may connect the rear end portions of the lower rails 32L and 32R. That is, the rail connecting member, the slide actuator, the screw shaft, and the shaft support member may be disposed at the rear end portions of the lower rails 32L and 32R.

[0038] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modification examples as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. It is also possible to arbitrarily combine one or more of the above-described embodiment and modification examples, and it is also possible to combine the modification examples with each other.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0039] 1 Seat cushion, 2 Seat back, 3 Headrest, 4 Reclining mechanism, 10 Seat cushion frame, 11L, 11R Side frames, 13 Front pipe, 14 Rear pipe, 21L, 21R Front links, 22R Sector link, 22L, 23R Rear links, 28L, 28R Upper rail brackets, 31R, 31L Upper rails, 32R, 32L Lower rails, 25, 26 Lifting actuators, 34 Slide actuator, 60 Controller, 100 Seat

Claims

1. A seat cushion that supports the buttocks of an occupant; A change device for changing the inclination angle of the seat surface of the seat cushion, The vehicle seat is characterized in that the change device is configured to change the inclination angle so that the posture of the seat surface is switched between a first posture in which it is approximately horizontal or has a downward slope toward the rear, and a second posture in which it has an upward slope toward the rear.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, The seat cushion has a seat cushion frame that is movable together with the seat surface, The change device comprises a first support portion that supports a front end portion of the seat cushion frame so that the front end portion can be raised and lowered, and a second support portion that supports a rear end portion of the seat cushion frame so that the rear end portion can be raised and lowered.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, the first support portion supports a front end portion of the seat cushion frame such that a height of the front end portion of the seat cushion frame is changeable between a first front end height corresponding to the first posture and a second front end height lower than the first front end height, The second support portion supports the rear end of the seat cushion frame so that the height of the rear end of the seat cushion frame can be changed between a first rear end height corresponding to the first posture and a second rear end height higher than the first rear end height.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, the first support portion further supports a front end portion of the seat cushion frame such that a height of the front end portion of the seat cushion frame can be changed to a third front end height that is higher than the first front end height, the second support portion further supports the rear end portion so that a height of the rear end portion of the seat cushion frame can be changed to a third rear end portion height that is lower than the first rear end portion height, The change device is configured to change the inclination angle so that the posture of the seat surface is switched between the first posture, the second posture, and a third posture having a downward slope toward the rear, The vehicle seat, wherein the inclination angle in the third position is greater than the inclination angle in the first position.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, The seat cushion frame is further provided with a support member. The first support portion is a first link having a front end connected to a front portion of the support member and rotatable in a vertical direction with respect to a connection portion with the support member; and a second link connected to a rear end of the first link and to a front portion of the seat cushion frame and rotatable in a vertical direction around a connection portion with the seat cushion frame, A vehicle seat characterized in that the first link is arranged so that when it rotates relative to the connection portion with the support member, the front end of the first link is positioned rearward of the front end of the seat cushion frame.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, A vehicle seat characterized in that the first link and the second link are arranged so that a connection portion between the first link and the second link moves above a connection portion between the second link and the seat cushion frame.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 5 or 6, The change device further includes a pinion gear that rotates about a rotation axis along the sheet width direction, The second link has a sector gear formed on a part of an outer circumferential surface thereof, the sector gear being engaged with the pinion gear so as to be rotatable in conjunction with rotation of the pinion gear.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, The support member includes a slide mechanism that moves the seat cushion frame in a front-rear direction, The seat cushion frame has a pair of left and right side frames extending in the front-rear direction, the slide mechanism includes a pair of left and right upper rails corresponding to the pair of left and right side frames, and a pair of left and right lower rails supporting the pair of left and right upper rails movably in a front-rear direction, The change device is a pair of left and right first support portions supporting front ends of the pair of left and right side frames, and a pair of left and right second support portions supporting rear ends of the pair of left and right side frames, each of the pair of left and right first support portions includes a pair of left and right first links having front ends connected to front portions of the pair of left and right upper rails, and a pair of left and right second links that are connected to rear ends of the pair of left and right first links and connect the pair of left and right first links to front portions of the pair of left and right side frames; The sector gear is formed on one of the pair of left and right second links, The vehicle seat, wherein the pinion gear is provided at a front portion of one of the pair of left and right side frames that corresponds to the second link on which the sector gear is formed.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, the pinion gear is a first pinion gear, The change device further includes a second pinion gear that rotates around a rotation axis along the seat width direction at a rear portion of the side frame in which the first pinion gear is not provided, among the pair of left and right side frames, the pair of left and right second support portions each have a pair of left and right third links each having a front end connected to a rear portion of the pair of left and right upper rails and a rear end connected to a rear portion of the pair of left and right side frames, A vehicle seat characterized in that, of a pair of left and right third links, the third link connected to the side frame on which the second pinion gear is provided has a sector gear formed on a portion of its outer surface that engages with the second pinion gear so that the third link rotates vertically relative to the connection portion with the side frame in conjunction with the rotation of the second pinion gear.

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