Vehicle seat

Abstract

To achieve improvement of drive force and downsizing of a seat cushion in a vehicle seat including a cushion adjustment mechanism and a drive device.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat 10 includes: a seat cushion 12; a cushion adjustment mechanism 30 for moving the seat cushion 12; and a drive device 70 which drives the cushion adjustment mechanism 30. The drive device 70 includes: one side motor 72A provided at one side in a seat width direction; and the other side motor 72B provided at the other side in the seat width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle seat including a cushion adjustment mechanism such as a slide mechanism, a lifter mechanism, and a tilt mechanism, and a motor as a drive device for driving the cushion adjustment mechanism is known (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to improve the driving force or reduce the size of a seat cushion in a vehicle seat including a cushion adjustment mechanism and a drive device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A vehicle seat according to a first aspect includes a seat cushion, a cushion adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position or posture of the seat cushion, the cushion adjustment mechanism including a one-side mechanism provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side mechanism provided on the other side in the seat width direction, and a drive device for driving the cushion adjustment mechanism, the drive device including a one-side motor provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side motor provided on the other side in the seat width direction.

[0006] In this aspect, the vehicle seat includes a seat cushion, a cushion adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position or posture of the seat cushion, and a drive device for driving the cushion adjustment mechanism. The cushion adjustment mechanism is, for example, a slide mechanism, a lifter mechanism, or a tilt mechanism. Therefore, the position or posture of the seat cushion can be adjusted by the force of the drive device.

[0007] Further, in this aspect, the cushion adjustment mechanism includes a one-side mechanism provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side mechanism provided on the other side in the seat width direction. Here, if the drive device includes only one motor, the one motor may become large in order to obtain the required driving force. This is because it is necessary to drive both the one-side mechanism and the other-side mechanism by the one motor. Therefore, in this aspect, the drive device includes a one-side motor provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side motor provided on the other side in the seat width direction. For this reason, two motors, namely the one-side motor and the other-side motor, are used to drive the cushion adjustment mechanism. Compared with the mode of using one motor, miniaturization of each motor and improvement of the driving force can be achieved. When miniaturization of each motor is realized, the seat cushion can be miniaturized (for example, miniaturization of the vertical dimension).

[0008] In the vehicle seat according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, the one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction rather than the one-side mechanism, and the other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction rather than the other-side mechanism.

[0009] In this aspect, the one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction rather than the one-side mechanism, and the other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction rather than the other-side mechanism. For this reason, the two motors are located outside the seat width direction with respect to the cushion adjustment mechanism. As a result, there is no problem of interference between the two motors and other components located at the center in the seat width direction, so the degree of freedom in arranging the components is ensured.

[0010] In the vehicle seat according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the cushion adjustment mechanism is a slide mechanism, and each of the one-side mechanism and the other-side mechanism includes a vehicle body side member fixed to the vehicle body and a seat side member configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the seat with respect to the vehicle body side member.

[0011] In this aspect, the cushion adjustment mechanism is a slide mechanism. Each of the one-side mechanism and the other-side mechanism of the slide mechanism includes a vehicle body side member fixed to the vehicle body and a seat side member configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the seat with respect to the vehicle body side member. By the way, if there is one motor as a driving device for driving the slide mechanism, a member for connecting the one-side mechanism and the other-side mechanism of the slide mechanism in the seat width direction is required. The member for connecting in the seat width direction is, for example, a motor shaft or a bridging bracket. These members are factors that hinder the miniaturization of the seat cushion (for example, miniaturization of the vertical dimensions). However, in this aspect, since the driving device for driving the slide mechanism includes two motors, namely, the one-side motor and the other-side motor, the above member can be made unnecessary, and it is easy to realize the miniaturization of the seat cushion.

[0012] In the vehicle seat according to the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the one-side motor or the other-side motor having a pinion gear is fixed to the seat side member, and a rack gear meshing with the pinion gear is fixed to the vehicle body side member.

[0013] In this aspect, the one-side motor or the other-side motor having a pinion gear is fixed to the seat side member, and a rack gear meshing with the pinion gear is fixed to the vehicle body side member. Therefore, the slide mechanism can be driven with a simple configuration.

[0014] In the vehicle seat according to the fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the rack gear is fixed to the outer surface in the seat width direction of the lower rail of the vehicle body side member.

[0015] In this aspect, the rack gear is fixed to the outer surface in the seat width direction of the lower rail of the vehicle body side member. Therefore, it is easy to achieve a reduction in the vertical dimension of the seat cushion.

[0016] In the vehicle seat according to the sixth aspect, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the vehicle seat includes a lifter mechanism, and the lifter mechanism includes a one-side lifter mechanism provided on one side in the seat width direction and a the other-side lifter mechanism provided on the other side in the seat width direction, and each of the one-side lifter mechanism and the other-side lifter mechanism includes a front link and a rear link, and each of the one-side motor and the other-side motor is attached to a rear lifter that rotatably holds the lower part of the rear link.

[0017] In this aspect, the vehicle seat includes a lifter mechanism. The lifter mechanism includes a one-side lifter mechanism and a the other-side lifter mechanism. Each of the one-side lifter mechanism and the other-side lifter mechanism includes a front link and a rear link. Here, each of the one-side motor and the other-side motor is attached to a rear lifter that rotatably holds the lower part of the rear link. Therefore, the rear lifter can be used as a bracket for attaching each motor. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with an aspect in which a bracket for attaching each motor is provided separately from the rear lifter.

[0018] In the vehicle seat according to the seventh aspect, in any one of the third to sixth aspects, the one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction with respect to the one-side slide rail constituting the one-side mechanism, and the other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction with respect to the other-side slide rail constituting the other-side mechanism.

[0019] In this aspect, the one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction with respect to the one-side slide rail, and the other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction with respect to the other-side slide rail. Therefore, the two motors will be located outside the sheet width direction with respect to the pair of slide rails. As a result, there will be no interference problem between the two motors and other components located inside the sheet width direction compared to the pair of slide sheets, ensuring the freedom of component arrangement.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle seat provided with a cushion adjustment mechanism and a drive device, the driving force can be improved or the seat cushion can be miniaturized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the vehicle seat 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0023] In addition, the arrows FR, RH, and UP appropriately shown in each figure indicate the front direction, the right hand direction, and the upward direction of the vehicle seat 10, respectively. Also, the arrow OUT indicates the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat 10. Hereinafter, when simply using the directions of front and rear, left and right, and up and down for description, it shall indicate the direction with respect to the vehicle seat 10.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment includes a seat cushion 12 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the occupant, and a seat back 14 that supports the back of the occupant.

[0025] The seat cushion 12 includes a cushion frame 20 that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 12. The cushion frame 20 has a pair of side frames 22 in the seat width direction (see Fig. 2). The side frames 22 form the skeleton of the outer end portions of the seat cushion 12 in the seat width direction and extend in the seat front-rear direction. The side frames 22 are made by performing pressing or the like on sheet metal and are arranged with the plate thickness direction generally oriented in the seat width direction.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle seat 10 includes a cushion adjustment mechanism 30 for adjusting the position or posture of the seat cushion 12. Specifically, the vehicle seat 10 includes a slide mechanism 40 for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat 10 in the front-rear direction and a lifter mechanism 50 for adjusting the position of the vehicle seat 10 in the up-down direction.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the slide mechanism 40 includes a one-side slide rail 42A on one side in the seat width direction as the "one-side mechanism" and an other-side slide rail 42B on the other side in the seat width direction as the "other-side mechanism". Hereinafter, when not particularly distinguished, it is simply referred to as the slide rail 42. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, each slide rail 42 includes a lower rail 44 as the "vehicle body side member" and an upper rail 46 as the "seat side member". The lower rail 44 is fixed to the floor portion of the vehicle body. The upper rail 46 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the lower rail 44.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the lifter mechanism 50 includes a one - side lifter mechanism 52A on one side in the seat width direction as the "one - side mechanism" and an other - side lifter mechanism 52B on the other side in the seat width direction as the "other - side mechanism". Hereinafter, when not particularly distinguished, it is simply referred to as the lifter mechanism 52. As shown in FIG. 1, each lifter mechanism 52 includes a front link 54 and a rear link 56. The front link 54 is rotatably supported by a front riser 64 as a "seat - side member" and is also rotatably supported by the side frame 22. The rear link 56 is rotatably supported by a rear riser 66 as a "seat - side member" and is also rotatably supported by the side frame 22. The front riser 64 and the rear riser 66 are fixed to the upper rail 46 of the slide rail 42.

[0029] (Drive device) The vehicle seat 10 includes a slide drive device 70 for driving the slide mechanism 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the slide drive device 70 includes a one - side slide motor 72 provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other - side slide motor 72 provided on the other side in the seat width direction. Hereinafter, when not particularly distinguished, it is simply referred to as the slide motor 72.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the slide motor 72 is attached to the outer surface of the rear riser 66 in the seat width direction. The slide motor 72 has a pinion gear 74. The pinion gear 74 meshes with a rack gear 76 attached to the outer surface of the lower rail 44 in the seat width direction. Thereby, the slide mechanism 40 can be driven by the force of the slide motor 72.

[0031] <Function and effect> Next, the function and effect of this embodiment will be described.

[0032] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12, a cushion adjustment mechanism 30 for moving the seat cushion 12, and a drive device 70 for driving the cushion adjustment mechanism 30. Therefore, the position or posture of the seat cushion 12 can be adjusted by the force of the drive device 70.

[0033] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cushion adjustment mechanism 30 includes a one-side mechanism 42A provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side mechanism 42B provided on the other side in the seat width direction. Here, if the drive device 70 includes only one motor, the single motor may become large in order to obtain the required driving force. This is because it is necessary to drive both the one-side mechanism 42A and the other-side mechanism 42B by the single motor. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the drive device 70 includes a one-side motor 72A provided on one side in the seat width direction and an other-side motor 72B provided on the other side in the seat width direction. For this reason, two motors 72A and 72B, namely the one-side motor 72A and the other-side motor 72B, are used to drive the cushion adjustment mechanism 30. Compared with the mode of using a single motor, the miniaturization of each motor and the improvement of the driving force can be achieved. When the miniaturization of each motor is realized, the seat cushion can be miniaturized (for example, the vertical dimension can be reduced).

[0034] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the one-side motor 72A is located on one side in the seat width direction with respect to the one-side slide rail 42, and the other-side motor 72B is located on the other side in the seat width direction with respect to the other-side slide rail 42. For this reason, the two motors 72A and 72B are located outside the seat width direction with respect to the pair of slide rails 42, and are not located inside the seat width direction with respect to the pair of slide rails 42. As a result, there is no problem of interference between the two motors 72A and 72B and other components located inside the seat width direction with respect to the slide rails 42, so the degree of freedom in the arrangement of components is ensured.

[0035] In addition, in the present embodiment, the cushion adjustment mechanism 30 is a slide mechanism 40. As shown in FIG. 3, each of one side mechanism 42A and the other side mechanism 42B of the slide mechanism 40 includes a vehicle body side member 44 fixed to the vehicle body, and a seat side member 46 configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the seat with respect to the vehicle body side member 44. By the way, if there is one motor as the drive device 70 for driving the slide mechanism 40, a member for connecting the one side mechanism 42A and the other side mechanism 42B of the slide mechanism 40 in the seat width direction is required. The member for connecting in the seat width direction is, for example, a motor shaft or a bridging bracket. These members are factors that hinder the miniaturization of the seat cushion (for example, miniaturization of the vertical dimensions). However, in the present embodiment, since the drive device 70 for driving the slide mechanism 40 includes two motors 72A and 72B, namely, one side motor 72A and the other side motor 72B, the above member can be made unnecessary, and it is easy to realize the miniaturization of the seat cushion 12.

[0036] In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, one side motor 72A or the other side motor 72B having a pinion gear 74 is fixed to the seat side member 66 (rearizer 66), and a rack gear 76 that meshes with the pinion gear 74 is fixed to the vehicle body side member 44 (lower rail 44). Therefore, the slide mechanism 40 can be driven with a simple configuration.

[0037] In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rack gear 76 is fixed to the outer surface in the seat width direction of the lower rail 44 of the vehicle body side member 44. Therefore, it is easy to realize the miniaturization of the vertical dimensions of the seat cushion 12.

[0038] In addition, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat 10 includes a lifter mechanism 50. The lifter mechanism 50 includes one side lifter mechanism 52A and the other side lifter mechanism 52B. Each of the one side lifter mechanism 52A and the other side lifter mechanism 52B includes a front link 54 and a rear link 56. Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each of the one-side motor 72A and the other-side motor 72B is attached to a rear riser 66 that rotatably holds the lower part of the rear link 56. Therefore, the rear riser 66 can be used as a bracket for attaching each of the motors 72A and 72B. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a mode in which a bracket for attaching each of the motors 72A and 72B is provided separately from the rear riser 66.

[0039] 〔Supplementary Explanation〕 As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications other than the above can be made and implemented within the scope not departing from the gist thereof.

[0040] In an electric vehicle in which a battery is mounted below the vehicle seat, specifically below the floor portion of the vehicle, since the position of the floor becomes higher, it is desirable to thin the seat cushion of the vehicle seat. Therefore, the present invention is optimal for the seat for an electric vehicle as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the seat for an electric vehicle having the above structure.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the cushion adjustment mechanism 30 driven by the drive device 70 is the slide mechanism 40. However, the drive device of the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a drive device that drives the lifter mechanism 50. This modification will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a vehicle seat 110 including a lifter drive device 170 that drives a lifter mechanism 50. The lifter drive device 170 includes two lifter motors 172. Each lifter motor 172 is fixed to the outer surface of the side frame 22 in the seat width direction. The lifter motor 172 is arranged so as not to protrude outward from the shape of the side frame 22 or to protrude slightly even if it protrudes when viewed from the side of the seat. For this reason, if the size of each lifter motor 172 can be reduced, the size reduction of the side frame 22 (particularly the size reduction in the seat vertical direction) can be realized.

[0043] Note that the lifter motor 172 is configured to drive a gear (sector gear, hidden on the back side of the side frame 22 in the figure) formed on the rear link 56. A load is input to the sector gear during a rear-end collision of the vehicle. In this modification, a total of two sector gears, one on each side in the seat width direction, are provided. Therefore, the load on the sector gear during a rear-end collision can be reduced.

[0044] Also, the drive device of the present invention may be a drive device that drives a tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism is a mechanism for adjusting the tilt (posture) of the seat cushion 12, and is composed of, for example, a pair of front links 54 in the seat width direction in the above-described embodiment. The tilt motor included in the drive device that drives the tilt mechanism is also preferably arranged so as not to protrude outside the shape of the side frame 22 or to protrude slightly, when viewed from the side of the seat, similar to the lifter motor 172.

[0045] In the above, a vehicle seat including a drive device for driving any one of the slide mechanism 40, the lifter mechanism 50, or the tilt mechanism has been described, but the vehicle seat of the present invention is not limited thereto. The drive device included in the vehicle seat of the present invention may drive any two or more of the slide mechanism 40, the lifter mechanism 50, or the tilt mechanism. In this case, the vehicle seat may be configured to drive two or more mechanisms with one motor (see Patent Document 1).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 10 Vehicle seat 12 Seat cushion 20 Cushion frame 22 Side frame 30 Cushion adjustment mechanism 40 Slide mechanism 42 Slide rail 42A One-side slide rail (one-side mechanism) 42B Other-side slide rail (other-side mechanism) 44 Lower rail (vehicle body side member) 46 Upper rail (seat side member) 50 Other-side lifter mechanism 50 Lifter mechanism 52 Lifter mechanism 52A One-side lifter mechanism 52B Other-side lifter mechanism 54 Front link 56 Rear link 64 Front riser (seat side member) 66 Rear riser (seat side member) 70 Driving device for sliding (driving device) 72A One-side motor for sliding (one-side motor) 72B Other-side motor for sliding (other-side motor) 74 Pinion gear 76 Rack gear 110 Vehicle seat 170 Driving device for lifter (driving device) 172 Motor for lifter (motor)

Claims

1. A seat cushion, and a cushion adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position or posture of the seat cushion, the cushion adjustment mechanism including a one-side mechanism provided on one side in the seat width direction and a the other-side mechanism provided on the other side in the seat width direction, and a drive device for driving the cushion adjustment mechanism, the drive device including a one-side motor provided on one side in the seat width direction and a the other-side motor provided on the other side in the seat width direction, and a vehicle seat comprising the same.

2. The one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction with respect to the one-side mechanism, The other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction with respect to the other-side mechanism, The vehicle seat according to Claim 1.

3. The cushion adjustment mechanism is a slide mechanism, Each of the one-side mechanism and the other-side mechanism includes a vehicle body side member fixed to the vehicle body and a seat side member configured to be movable in the seat front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body side member, The vehicle seat according to Claim 1.

4. The one-side motor or the other-side motor having a pinion gear is fixed to the seat side member, A rack gear meshing with the pinion gear is fixed to the vehicle body side member, The vehicle seat according to Claim 3.

5. The rack gear is fixed to an outer surface in the seat width direction of a lower rail of the vehicle body side member, The vehicle seat according to Claim 4.

6. The vehicle seat includes a lifter mechanism, The lifter mechanism includes a one-side lifter mechanism provided on one side in the seat width direction and a the other-side lifter mechanism provided on the other side in the seat width direction, Each of the one-side lifter mechanism and the other-side lifter mechanism includes a front link and a rear link, Each of the one-side motor and the other-side motor is attached to a rear lifter that rotatably holds a lower portion of the rear link, The vehicle seat according to Claim 4 or Claim 5.

7. The one-side motor is located on one side in the seat width direction with respect to a one-side slide rail constituting the one-side mechanism, The other-side motor is located on the other side in the seat width direction with respect to a the other-side slide rail constituting the other-side mechanism, The vehicle seat according to Claim 3.

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