Seat

Abstract

To disclose an example of a seat capable of suppressing a user from feeling great discomfort when a posture of the seat is changed from a seating posture to a sleeping posture.SOLUTION: When the execution of posture change control is instructed, a control part 5A executes slide back control of sliding a seat cushion 2 to rearward while performing tilt down control of lowering a front end side of the seat cushion 2 downward than a seating posture. As a result, when the seat cushion 2 is slide-displaced to rearward, a large pressure is generated in a contact portion of a thigh of a user and the seat cushion 2, and it is possible to suppress the user from feeling great discomfort.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a seat capable of changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1 can change the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure discloses an example of a seat capable of suppressing a user from feeling a great sense of discomfort when changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A seat capable of changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture preferably includes at least one of the following constituent elements. That is, the constituent element includes a seat cushion (2), a seat back (3), and an ottoman (4), and a control unit (5A) that controls an electric motor for changing the postures of the seat cushion (2), the seat back (3), and the ottoman (4). When changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture, the control unit (5A) can perform slide-back control to slide the seat cushion (2) backward while performing tilt-down control to lower the front end side of the seat cushion (2) downward.

[0006] Accordingly, when the seat cushion (2) slides rearward, it is possible to suppress the discomfort caused by the large pressure generated at the contact portion between the user's thigh and the seat cushion (2).

[0007] The seat may have, for example, the following configuration. That is, when executing the tilt-down control, it is desirable that the control unit (5A) can execute the back-down control to tilt the seat back (3) rearward so that the change in the torso angle is within a predetermined range. Thereby, since the change in the torso angle is suppressed, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling a large discomfort.

[0008] Furthermore, when changing the posture of the seat from the sitting posture to the sleeping posture, the control unit (5A) is interlocked with the tilt-down control to perform ottoman control to bring the ottoman (4) close to the calves of the seated person, and after the ottoman control ends, it is desirable that the control unit (5A) can execute tilt-up control to raise the front end side of the seat cushion upward while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the ottoman (4) and the seat cushion (2).

[0009] Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the ottoman (4) from touching the calves of the user while rubbing against the calves, so it is possible to suppress the user from feeling discomfort. Incidentally, the reference numerals in the above parentheses are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments to be described later, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations and the like indicated by the reference numerals in the above parentheses.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0011] The following "Embodiment of the Invention" shows an example of an embodiment belonging to the technical scope of the present disclosure. That is, the invention specific matters etc. described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations, structures, etc. shown in the following embodiments.

[0012] This embodiment is an example in which the seat according to the present disclosure is applied to a seat (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle seat) mounted on a vehicle such as a car. Arrows, hatching, etc. indicating directions attached to each figure are described to facilitate understanding of the relationship between each figure and the shape of members or parts.

[0013] Therefore, the seat is not limited to the directions attached to each figure. The directions shown in each figure are the directions in the state where the vehicle seat according to this embodiment is assembled to the vehicle. At least members or parts described with reference numerals are provided at least one, unless otherwise stated such as "one".

[0014] That is, when there is no statement such as "one", two or more of the members may be provided. The seat shown in the present disclosure includes at least one of the components such as members or parts described with reference numerals and the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0015] (First Embodiment) <1. Outline of Vehicle Seat> As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 includes at least a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, an ottoman 4, and an attitude change mechanism 5.

[0016] The seat cushion 2 is a part for supporting the buttocks of the seated person. The seat back 3 is a part for supporting the back of the seated person. The ottoman 4 is a part for supporting the calves of the seated person.

[0017] The seat cushion 2 has a slide function and a tilt function (also referred to as a vertical function). The slide function is a function that enables the entire seat cushion 2 to be slidably displaced in the front-rear direction of the seat.

[0018] The tilt function is a function that enables the tilt angle of the entire seat cushion 2 or the front end side of the seat cushion 2 to be changed. In this embodiment, when the tilt function is activated, the tilt angle of the entire seat cushion 2 with respect to the horizontal plane (hereinafter also referred to as the thigh angle) changes.

[0019] The seat back 3 has a reclining function. The reclining function is a function that enables the tilt angle of the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2 to be changed. The seat back 3 according to this embodiment is connected to the rear end side of the seat cushion 2.

[0020] Therefore, when the posture of the seat cushion 2 is displaced, the position and posture of the seat back 3 are inevitably changed. Specifically, for example, when the tilt function is activated and the thigh angle changes, the tilt angle of the seat back 3 with respect to the horizontal plane (hereinafter also referred to as the torso angle) also inevitably changes.

[0021] The ottoman 4 is provided on the seat cushion 2 and is displaced integrally with the seat cushion 2. Among the ottoman 4, the part (hereinafter referred to as the support part 4A) that contacts the calf of the user and supports the calf is displaceable between a support position and a storage position.

[0022] The support position is a position where the calf can be supported by the support part 4A. The storage position is a position where the calf cannot be supported by the support part 4A, and is a position where the support part 4A is displaced to the rear side of the front end of the seat cushion 2.

[0023] The posture changing mechanism 5 is an electric mechanism for changing the postures of the seat cushion 2, the seat back 3, and the ottoman 4 respectively. Specifically, the posture changing mechanism 5 includes at least a plurality of electric motors (not shown) and a control unit 5A or the like.

[0024] Each electric motor generates a driving force for changing the postures of the seat cushion 2, the seat back 3, and the ottoman 4 respectively. The control unit 5A controls the stop and operation of each of the plurality of electric motors.

[0025] Note that the control unit 5A is a controller of a microcomputer system having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. Software for controlling each electric motor is stored in advance in a non-volatile storage unit (not shown) such as a ROM.

[0026] <2. Posture change control from the sitting posture to the sleeping posture> <2.1 Outline of posture change control> The posture change control is control executed by the control unit 5A when automatically changing the posture of the vehicle seat 1 from the sitting posture to the sleeping posture. The sitting posture according to the present embodiment refers to a seat posture suitable for a user, that is, a seat occupant, when operating a vehicle.

[0027] The sleeping posture is a seat posture in which the user can lie on his or her back as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, in the sleeping posture, at least the posture of the seat back 3 becomes closer to horizontal than in the sitting posture, and the support portion 4A is in the support position.

[0028] Then, when executing the posture change control, the control unit 5A executes the following control. That is, when the execution of the posture change control is instructed by the user, the control unit 5A executes slide-back control for sliding the seat cushion 2 backward while performing tilt-down control for lowering the front end side of the seat cushion 2 downward compared to the sitting posture (see FIG. 3).

[0029] At this time, when executing the tilt-down control, the control unit 5A executes the back-down control to tilt the seat back 3 backward so that the change in the torso angle falls within a predetermined range (see FIG. 4). Note that the “predetermined range” is ideally “0”.

[0030] That is, in the vehicle seat 1 according to the present embodiment, when the reclining function is not operating, the relative angle between the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2 remains unchanged. Therefore, when the tilt-down function is executed and the front end side of the seat cushion 2 drops, the upper end of the seat back 3 is displaced forward accordingly.

[0031] Therefore, the control unit 5A according to the present embodiment suppresses the change in the posture of the seat back 3, that is, the change in the torso angle, which occurs when the tilt-down control is executed, by executing the back-down control to tilt the seat back 3 backward.

[0032] Furthermore, the control unit 5A executes ottoman control to bring the ottoman 4 close to the occupant's calf in conjunction with the tilt-down control, that is, control to displace the support portion 4A from the storage position to the support position.

[0033] Then, after the ottoman control ends, the control unit 5A executes tilt-up control to raise the front end side of the seat cushion 2 upward while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the ottoman 4 and the seat cushion 2, and tilts the seat back 3 significantly backward (see FIG. 5).

[0034] <2.2 Details of Posture Change Control> FIG. 6 is an operation time chart during the posture change control of the seat cushion 2, the seat back 3, and the ottoman 4. As shown in FIG. 6, when the posture change control is started, until the time t1 elapses after the start, the tilt-down control, the slide-back control, the back-down control, and the ottoman control are executed.

[0035] When the time t1 has elapsed, the control unit 5A stops the tilt-down control and the first back-down control. When the time t2 has elapsed, the control unit 5A stops the slide-back control. Then, when the time t3 has elapsed, the control unit 5A starts the back-down control.

[0036] Then, when the time t4 has elapsed, the control unit 5A stops the ottoman control and starts the back-down control and the tilt-up control. Next, when the time t5 has elapsed, the control unit 5A stops the back-down control and the tilt-up control and ends the posture change control. Note that the return control for returning from the sleeping posture to the sitting posture is the reverse of the above operation.

[0037] <3. Features of the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment> When an execution of the posture change control is instructed, the control unit 5A executes a slide-back control for sliding the seat cushion 2 rearward while performing a tilt-down control for lowering the front end side of the seat cushion 2 downward compared to the sitting posture (see FIG. 3).

[0038] Thereby, when the seat cushion 2 is slid rearward, it is possible to suppress a sense of discomfort caused by a large pressure being generated at the contact portion between the user's crotch and the seat cushion 2.

[0039] When executing the tilt-down control, the control unit 5A executes a back-down control for tilting the seat back 3 rearward so that the change in the torso angle is within a predetermined range (see FIG. 4). Thereby, since a large change in the torso angle is suppressed, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling a large sense of discomfort.

[0040] The control unit 5A executes an ottoman control for bringing the support portion 4A close to the occupant's calves in conjunction with the tilt-down control. After the ottoman control ends, while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the ottoman 4 and the seat cushion 2, the control unit 5A executes a tilt-up control for raising the front end side of the seat cushion upward (see FIG. 5).

[0041] As a result, the ottoman 4 can be prevented from coming into contact with the user's calf while rubbing against it, so that the user can be prevented from feeling discomfort. That is, if the support portion 4A is displaced forward and brought into contact with the calf, the support portion 4A will come into contact with the user's calf while rubbing against it.

[0042] In contrast, in this embodiment, after the support portion 4A is brought close to the calf of the seated person, the front end side of the seat cushion is lifted upward while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the ottoman 4 and the seat cushion 2, so that the support portion 4A can be prevented from being displaced so as to rub against the user's calf.

[0043] (Second Embodiment) In the above-described embodiment, the tilt-down control, the slide-back control, the back-down control, and the ottoman control are executed based on time. In contrast, in this embodiment, the posture change control is executed based on whether or not the control target of each control has reached a predetermined target position.

[0044] Whether or not the target position has been reached is determined by, for example, the rotation amount of an electric actuator (not shown) that operates during the execution of each control, or the detection signal of a position detection unit such as a limit switch or a proximity switch provided at a portion corresponding to the target position.

[0045] <Details of Posture Change Control> When the posture change control is started, after the start, the tilt-down control, the slide-back control, the back-down control, and the ottoman control are executed. When the front end of the seat cushion 2 reaches a predetermined first target position by the tilt-down control, the control unit 5A stops the tilt-down control and the back-down control.

[0046] Next, when the position of the seat cushion 2 in the slide direction reaches a predetermined target position, the control unit 5A stops the slide-back control. Then, when the ottoman 4 reaches a predetermined first target position by the ottoman control, the control unit 5A starts the back-down control.

[0047] After that, when the ottoman 4 reaches a predetermined second target position by the ottoman control and the seat back 3 reaches a predetermined target position by the back-down control, the control unit 5A starts the tilt-up control.

[0048] Then, when the front end of the seat cushion 2 reaches a predetermined second target position by the tilt-down control, the control unit 5A stops the back-down control and the tilt-up control, and ends the posture change control. Note that the return control for returning from the sleeping posture to the sitting posture is the reverse of the above operation.

[0049] (Other Embodiments) In the vehicle seat 1 according to the above-described embodiment, in a state where the reclining function is not operating, since the relative angle between the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2 is unchanged, the first back-down control was executed in accordance with the execution of the tilt-down control.

[0050] However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, for example, in a seat configured such that the torso angle of the seat back 3 changes even when the tilt function is operating, the present disclosure may have a configuration in which the first back-down control is abolished.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle seat according to the present disclosure was applied to a vehicle. However, the application of the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure can be applied, for example, to seats used in vehicles such as railway vehicles, ships, and aircraft, as well as to stationary seats used in theaters, homes, etc.

[0052] Furthermore, the present disclosure only needs to conform to the gist of the disclosure described in the above-described embodiments, and is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, a configuration in which at least two of the above-described multiple embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any one of the constituent elements illustrated or described with reference signs in the above-described embodiments is abolished may also be acceptable.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0053] 1… Vehicle seat 2… Seat cushion 3… Seat back 4… Ottoman 4A… Support part 5… Posture change mechanism 5A… Control part

Claims

1. In a seat capable of changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture, a seat cushion, a seat back, and an ottoman, and a control unit that controls an electric motor for changing the postures of the seat cushion, the seat back, and the ottoman, wherein when changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture, the control unit is capable of performing slide-back control to slide the seat cushion rearward while performing tilt-down control to lower the front end side of the seat cushion downward.

2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of performing back-down control to recline the seat back rearward so that the change in the torso angle is within a predetermined range when the tilt-down control is executed.

3. When changing the posture of the seat from a sitting posture to a sleeping posture, the control unit performs ottoman control to bring the ottoman close to the calves of the seat occupant in conjunction with the tilt-down control, and after the ottoman control ends, is capable of performing tilt-up control to raise the front end side of the seat cushion upward while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the ottoman and the seat cushion.

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