Seat device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a seat device for vehicle that disallows a striker provided at a side part of a side seat back to protrude sideward from the side part of the side seat back when a center seat back is located at a forward tilt position with the side seat back located at a raising position.SOLUTION: A seat device for vehicle comprises an interlock mechanism 95 that locates a striker 63 at a protrusion position when a center seat back 75 is at a first raising position and a specific side seat back 40 is at a second raising position, and also locates the striker at a storage position when the center seat back is at a first forward tile position and the specific side seat back is at the second raising position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle seat device. This vehicle seat device includes a seat cushion, a pair of side seatbacks supported by the seat cushion, and a center seatback located between the pair of side seatbacks. The side seatbacks and the center seatback are supported by the seat cushion so as to be rotatable between an upright position and a forward-leaning position.

[0003] A striker protruding laterally from one of the side seatbacks is fixed to a side portion of the side seatback facing the center seatback, and a back lock is provided on the side portion of the center seatback facing the side seatback. For example, when one of the side seatbacks and the center seatback are in an upright position, the back lock grips the striker. Therefore, in this case, the one of the side seatbacks and the center seatback can be rotated integrally between the upright position and the forward-leaning position. Furthermore, by operating the back lock's operating device to switch the back lock to an unlocked state, for example, the center seatback can be rotated to the forward-leaning position while one of the side seatbacks is in the upright position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-47910 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when one of the side seatbacks is left in an upright position and the center seatback is rotated to a forward-tilting position, a striker protrudes laterally from the side of one of the side seatbacks on the center seatback side.

[0006] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat device that prevents strikers provided on the sides of the side seat backs from protruding laterally from the sides of the side seat backs when the center seat back is positioned in a forward tilting position while the side seat backs are positioned in an upright position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A vehicle seat device according to the invention of claim 1 includes a support body, a pair of side seatbacks supported by the support body, a center seatback supported by the support body so as to be rotatable between a first upright position and a first forward-leaning position and positioned between the pair of side seatbacks, and a specific side seatback that is one of the side seatbacks and is supported by the support body so as to be rotatable between a second upright position and a second forward-leaning position, and is provided on a side portion of the specific side seatback on the side of the center seatback, and that moves between a protruding position where it protrudes from the side portion toward the center seatback and a stored position where it is stored within the side portion. a latch mechanism that is provided on the center seatback and that is switchable between a latched state in which the striker is held in the protruding position and an unlatched state in which the striker is released; and a linkage mechanism that positions the striker in the protruding position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and positions the striker in the stowed position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilted position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position.

[0008] The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1 includes a support body, a pair of side seatbacks supported by the support body, and a center seatback positioned between the pair of side seatbacks and rotatably supported between a first upright position and a first forward-tilting position. One of the side seatbacks, a specific side seatback supported by the support body rotatably between a second upright position and a second forward-tilting position, has a striker provided on a side portion of the center seatback side of the specific side seatback, the striker being movable between a protruding position where it protrudes from the side portion toward the center seatback and a stored position where it is stored within the side portion. The center seatback further includes a latch mechanism that can switch between a latched state in which the striker is held in the protruding position and an unlatched state in which the striker is released.

[0009] The vehicle seat apparatus further includes an interlocking mechanism that positions the striker in the protruding position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and that positions the striker in the stowed position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilted position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position. Therefore, the vehicle seat apparatus described in claim 1 can prevent the striker provided on the side of the specific side seatback from protruding laterally from the side of the specific side seatback when the center seatback is rotated to the first forward tilted position while the specific side seatback is positioned in the second upright position.

[0010] The vehicle seat device according to the invention of claim 2 is the vehicle seat device of claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism includes a rotating member provided on the specific side seat back so as to be rotatable between a first position and a second position about a first rotation axis extending in the vehicle width direction, a biasing member that biases the striker to move toward the stored position, and a biasing member that links the rotating member and the striker, so that when the rotating member is at the first position, the striker is positioned at the protruding position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and when the rotating member is at the second position, the striker is biased toward the biasing member. and a control member that is provided on the center seatback or a member that rotates integrally with the center seatback and is connected to the rotating member, and that positions the rotating member at the first position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and that positions the rotating member at the second position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilted position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position.

[0011] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 2, the interlocking mechanism can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0012] The vehicle seat device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle seat device according to the first aspect, wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises: a rotating member provided on the specific side seatback to be rotatable about a first rotation axis extending in the vehicle width direction between a first position and a second position; a biasing member that biases the striker to move toward the protruding position; a linking member that links the rotating member and the striker and allows the striker to move to the protruding position by the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is at the first position and positions the striker at the stowed position against the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is at the second position; and a control member that is provided on the center seatback and connected to the rotating member and positions the rotating member at the first position when the center seatback is at the first upright position and the specific side seatback is at the second upright position, and positions the rotating member at the second position when the center seatback is at the first forward tilted position and the specific side seatback is at the second upright position.

[0013] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 3, the interlocking mechanism can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0014] The vehicle seat device according to the invention recited in claim 4 is the vehicle seat device recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein the striker is rotatable between the protruding position and the retracted position.

[0015] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 4, the mechanism for moving the striker between the protruding position and the retracted position can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0016] The vehicle seat device according to the invention recited in claim 5 is the vehicle seat device recited in claim 2 or 3, wherein the striker is movable in a horizontal direction between the protruding position and the retracted position.

[0017] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 5, the mechanism for moving the striker between the protruding position and the retracted position can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0018] A vehicle seat device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle seat device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the linking member is a flexible elongated member.

[0019] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 6, the linking member can be realized with a simple structure.

[0020] The vehicle seat device according to the invention described in claim 7 is the vehicle seat device described in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the control member is a linking member that is fixed to the center seat back, linked to the rotating member, and parallel to the first rotation axis.

[0021] According to the vehicle seat device of claim 7, the control member can be realized with a simple structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] As described above, the vehicle seat device according to the present invention can prevent the strikers provided on the sides of the side seat backs from protruding laterally from the sides of the side seat backs when the center seat back is positioned in a forward tilted position while the side seat backs are positioned in an upright position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rear seat that is a vehicle seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10 is a perspective view showing the left side portion of the first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback of the rear seat is in an upright position. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the left side portion of the first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback is in a forward tilted position. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the right side of the center seat back in an upright position. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a latch mechanism provided in the center seat back, as viewed from the right side. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a rotation support mechanism and an interlocking mechanism of the rear seat. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the first side seatback in the upright position when the center seatback is in the upright position, as seen from the left side. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the upper part of the first side seatback in the upright position when the center seatback is in the upright position. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback is in a forward tilted position, as viewed from the left side. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of the upper part of the first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback is in a forward tilted position. [Figure 11] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a first modified example, corresponding to FIG. 6. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the left side portion of the first side seatback in the upright position when the center seatback of the first modified example is in the upright position. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of a first side seatback in an upright position as viewed from the left side when the center seatback of the first modified example is in an upright position. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of an upper portion of a first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback of the first modified example is in an upright position. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view, seen from the left side, of a first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback of the first modified example is in a forward tilted position. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of an upper portion of a first side seatback in an upright position when the center seatback of the first modified example is in a forward tilted position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] A vehicle seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Note that an arrow FR shown as appropriate in each figure indicates the forward direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction (seat longitudinal direction), an arrow UP indicates the upward direction in the vehicle vertical direction (seat vertical direction), and an arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle lateral direction (seat lateral direction). Hereinafter, when the terms "front-rear," "left-right," and "up-and-down" are used in the description, they refer to the front and rear in the seat longitudinal direction, the left and right in the seat lateral direction (vehicle width direction), and the up-and-down in the seat lateral direction.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, a rear seat (vehicle seat apparatus) 15 is provided on a floor surface 12 of a passenger compartment 11 of a vehicle 10. The rear seat 15 has a seat cushion (support body) 16 fixed to the floor surface 12 via a support member 12A, and a seat back 35 whose lower end is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 16. The seat back 35 includes a first side seat back (specific side seat back) 40 constituting the right side thereof, a second side seat back 70 constituting the left side thereof, and a center seat back 75 constituting the center thereof.

[0026] The first side seatback 40, the second side seatback 70, and the center seatback 75 are rotatably supported on a frame member of the seat cushion 16 via a rotation support mechanism. FIG. 6 shows the first bracket 20A, the second bracket 20B, the first support arm 25A, and the second support arm 25B, which are part of the rotation support mechanism. The first bracket 20A, the second bracket 20B, the first support arm 25A, and the second support arm 25B are made of metal. The rotation support mechanism includes three first brackets 20A aligned in the left-right direction and three second brackets 20B aligned in the left-right direction (only two first brackets 20A and two second brackets 20B are shown in FIG. 6). Each first bracket 20A and each second bracket 20B has a main body portion 22 and a fixing portion 23. An insertion hole 24 is formed in the rear end of the main body portion 22. The fixing portion 23 of each first bracket 20A and each second bracket 20B is fixed to the frame member of the seat cushion 16.

[0027] A first support arm 25A is rotatably supported by each first bracket 20A via a cylindrical rotation shaft 28 extending in the left-right direction. The first support arm 25A has an insertion hole 26 formed at its lower end and a support portion 27 with an arc-shaped cross section provided at its upper end. The rotation shaft 28 is inserted into the insertion holes 24, 26, and the first support arm 25A is rotatable about the rotation shaft 28 relative to the first bracket 20A. A second support arm 25B is rotatably supported by each second bracket 20B via a cylindrical rotation shaft 29 extending in the left-right direction. The second support arm 25B has an insertion hole 26 formed at its lower end and a support portion 27 with an arc-shaped cross section provided at its upper end. The rotation shaft 29 is inserted into the insertion holes 24, 26, and the second support arm 25B is rotatable about the rotation shaft 29 relative to the second bracket 20B. All of the rotation shafts 28, 29 are coaxial with each other.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, the first side seat back 40 has a metal frame member 41 that is rectangular in front view. The frame member 41 has a lower component 42 that extends in the left-right direction, a first side component 43 that extends upward from the left end of the lower component 42, a second side component 44 that extends upward from the right end of the lower component 42, and an upper component 45 that connects the upper ends of the first side component 43 and the second side component 44 and is parallel to the lower component 42. The lower component 42 is fixed to the support parts 27 of the first support arm 25A and the second support arm 25B that are located on the rightmost side. Therefore, the frame member 41 can rotate in the front-rear direction (up-down direction) around the rotation axes 28, 29 relative to the first bracket 20A and the second bracket 20B that are located on the rightmost side. The first bracket 20A located on the far right, the second brackets 20B, the first support arm 25A, the second support arm 25B, and the rotation shafts 28 and 29 are components of a first side seat back 40.

[0029] 6, the left end of the rotation shaft 28, which penetrates the rightmost first bracket 20A and first support arm 25A, rotatably passes through a center hole 46 provided in the longitudinal center of a metallic rotation member 47. In other words, the rotation member 47 is rotatable around the rotation shaft 28. A connection hole 49 is provided at the front end of the rotation member 47.

[0030] Furthermore, a metal support member 50, which is a plate-like member perpendicular to the left-right direction, is fixed to the left side near the upper end of the first side component 43. The right ends of a first direction changer member 51 and a second direction changer member 54, both made of metal, are fixed to the left side of the support member 50. The first direction changer member 51 is a cylindrical member parallel to the left-right direction, and a retaining portion 52, which is a circular member with a larger diameter than the first direction changer member 51, is fixed to the left end of the first direction changer member 51. The front shape of the second direction changer member 54 is L-shaped, and the right end of the second direction changer member 54 is fixed to the left side of the support member 50. The second direction changer member 54 has a cylindrical conversion portion 55 parallel to the up-down direction, and a retention portion 56, which is a circular member with a larger diameter than the conversion portion 55, is fixed to the upper end of the conversion portion 55.

[0031] The right ends of a pair of front and rear support arms 60 extending in the left-right direction are fixed to the left side surface of the support member 50. The front and rear support arms 60 are provided with through holes 61. A roughly U-shaped metal striker 63 is provided between the left and right support arms 60. The front portion of the striker 63 is a gripped portion 63A that is parallel to the left-right direction. A pair of front and rear through holes 64 are provided at the right end of the striker 63. A rotating shaft 65, which is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, passes through the through holes 61 and the front and rear through holes 64 of the front and rear support arms 60 and is fixed to the front and rear support arms 60. The striker 63 is rotatable around the rotating shaft 65. Specifically, the striker 63 is rotatable between a protruding position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 to 8 and a retracted position shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 10. Furthermore, a torsion coil spring 66 is provided around the rotating shaft 65. One end of the torsion coil spring 66 is fixed to the striker 63, and the other end of the torsion coil spring 66 is fixed to one of the support arms 60. The torsion coil spring 66 is always elastically deformed from a free state, and the torsion coil spring 66 rotationally biases the striker 63 toward the storage position. When the striker 63 is in the extended position, the striker 63 is perpendicular to the support member 50 in a front view. When the striker 63 is in the storage position, the striker 63 is parallel to the support member 50 in a front view.

[0032] One end (lower end) of a linking wire (linking member) 68, which is a flexible, long member, is fixed to the rear end of the rotating member 47. An upper portion 68A of the linking wire 68 is wound around the first direction-changing member 51 so as to be parallel to the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 8 and 10), and another upper portion 68B of the linking wire 68 is wound around the converting portion 55 so as to be parallel to the left-right direction (see FIGS. 8 and 10). Furthermore, the other end (upper end) of the linking wire 68 is fixed to the striker 63.

[0033] The first side seat back 40 has a cushioning material (not shown) provided around the skeletal member 41. A recess is formed in the left side of the cushioning material to avoid interference with the first bracket 20A, the first support arm 25A, the rotating shaft 28, the rotating member 47, the support member 50, the first direction-changing member 51, the retaining portion 52, the second direction-changing member 54, the retaining portion 56, the support arm 60, the striker 63, the rotating shaft 65, and the connecting wire 68. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the cushioning material is covered with a cover material 69. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first through-hole 69A having an arc-shaped side surface is formed in the lower part of the left side surface of the cover material 69. Furthermore, a second through-hole 69B having a rectangular side surface is formed in the upper part of the left side surface of the cover material 69. A resin cover 67 having substantially the same side surface shape as the second through-hole 69B is fitted into the second through-hole 69B. Furthermore, the resin cover 67 is formed with a striker receiving hole 67A having a U-shaped side surface. The first through-hole 69A and the rotation trajectory of the connection hole 49 of the rotating member 47, which rotates around the rotation shaft 28, overlap each other in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the striker 63 is exposed to the side of the first side seatback 40 through the striker receiving hole 67A of the resin cover 67. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, when the striker 63 is in the protruding position, a part of the striker 63, including the gripped portion 63A, protrudes leftward from the left side surface (striker receiving hole 67A) of the resin cover 67. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, when the striker 63 is in the retracted position, the striker 63 is located inside the first side seatback 40 to the right of the resin cover 67.

[0034] The first side seat back 40 can rotate around the rotation axes 28 and 29 between an upright position (second upright position) shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 and a forward-leaning position (second forward-leaning position) shown by virtual lines in FIG. 1.

[0035] The second side seat back 70 includes a framework member 41 (not shown), a cushioning material provided around the framework member 41, and a cover material 69 covering the outer periphery of the cushioning material. Furthermore, the support portions 27 of the first support arm 25A and the second support arm 25B are rotatably supported via rotation shafts 28 and 29 in the insertion holes 24 of the main body portions 22 of the first bracket 20A and the second bracket 20B (both not shown) located on the far left. These support portions 27 are fixed to the lower component portion 42 of the framework member 41 of the second side seat back 70. Therefore, like the first side seat back 40, the second side seat back 70 is rotatable around the rotation shafts 28 and 29 between an upright position (second upright position) and a forward-leaning position (second forward-leaning position).

[0036] Furthermore, although not shown, the first side seatback 40 and the second side seatback 70 each have a reclining lock mechanism (not shown) that can hold the rotation angle around the respective rotation axes 28, 29 at a predetermined angle. For example, when the reclining lock mechanism of the first side seatback 40 is unlocked by operation by the occupant, the first side seatback 40 can freely rotate around the rotation axes 28, 29. On the other hand, for example, when the reclining lock mechanism of the first side seatback 40 is not operated, this reclining lock mechanism is locked, and the rotation angle position of the first side seatback 40 is held.

[0037] 6, the center seat back 75 has a metal skeleton member 76 that is rectangular in front view. The skeleton member 76 has a lower component 77 that extends in the left-right direction, a first side component 78 that extends upward from the left end of the lower component 77, a second side component 79 that extends upward from the right end of the lower component 77, and an upper component 80 that connects the upper ends of the first side component 78 and the second side component 79 and is parallel to the lower component 77. The support portions 27 of the first support arm 25A and the second support arm 25B are rotatably supported via rotation shafts 28, 29 in the insertion holes 24 of the main bodies 22 of the first bracket 20A and the second bracket 20B located in the center in the left-right direction, and are fixed to the lower component 77 of the skeleton member 76. Therefore, the frame member 76 can rotate in the front-to-rear direction (up-and-down direction) relative to the first bracket 20A and the second bracket 20B around the rotation shafts 28, 29. The first bracket 20A, the second bracket 20B, the first support arm 25A, the second support arm 25B, and the rotation shafts 28, 29, which are located in the center, are components of the center seat back 75.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, the rear end of a flat support plate 82 that is perpendicular to the left-right direction is fixed to the lower end of the front surface of the second side component 79. The left end of a linking member (control member) 83, which is a cylindrical member that is parallel to the left-right direction, is fixed to the right side of the support plate 82. In other words, the linking member 83 is parallel to the rotation axes 28, 29. The center of rotation of the linking member 83, which is supported on the framework member 76 via the support plate 82, is the rotation axis 29, which is coaxial with the rotation axis 28 that is the rotation center of the rotation member 47. Therefore, the rotation center of the linking member 83 and the rotation center of the connection hole 49 of the rotation member 47 are substantially the same.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4, the center seat back 75 has a latch mechanism 84 supported on the upper end of the framework member 76. The latch mechanism 84 has a well-known configuration and may be, for example, a latch mechanism having the same configuration as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-188870. The configuration of the latch mechanism 84 will be briefly described below with reference to Figure 5.

[0040] The latch mechanism 84 includes a metal support bracket 85. The support bracket 85 includes a flat, plate-shaped fixed portion 86 that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and a pair of parallel, left and right support plate portions 87 that extend rearward from both left and right ends of the fixed portion 86. That is, the planar shape of the support bracket 85 is generally U-shaped. The left-to-right distance between the left and right support plate portions 87 is shorter than the left-to-right dimension of the gripped portion 63A. The fixed portion 86 is fixed to the right end of the upper end of the framework member 76. As shown in FIG. 5 , both ends of support shafts 88 and 89 that are parallel to the left-to-right direction are fixed to the left and right support plate portions 87, respectively. Furthermore, each of the left and right support plate portions 87 has a striker insertion groove 87A that extends forward from its rear edge. Furthermore, a latch 90 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 88. The latch 90 is rotatable between a latched position (position in FIG. 5) where it can grip the gripped portion 63A of the striker 63 located in the striker entrance groove 87A and an unlatched position (not shown) where it rotates counterclockwise from the latched position in FIG. 5 and cannot grip the gripped portion 63A. The latch 90 is rotatably biased toward the unlatched position by a biasing spring (not shown). Furthermore, a pawl 91 is rotatably supported on the support shaft 89. The pawl 91 is rotatable between an engaged position (position in FIG. 5) where it engages with an engaging protrusion 90A of the latch 90 to restrict rotation of the latch 90 from the latched position toward the unlatched position, and a disengaged position where it is rotated counterclockwise from the engaged position and cannot engage with the engaging protrusion 90A. The pawl is rotatably biased toward the engaged position by a biasing spring (not shown). Furthermore, the center seat back 75 has an operating member (not shown) that interacts with the pawl 91. When the operating member is in the non-operating position (initial position), the pole 91 is in the engaging position, and when the operating member is moved from the non-operating position to the operating position by the occupant, the pole 91 moves to the non-engaging position.

[0041] The center seatback 75 has a cushioning material (not shown) provided around the periphery of the framework member 76. A recess is formed in the right side of the cushioning material to avoid interference with the support plate 82, the linking member 83, and the latch mechanism 84. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the cushioning material is covered with a skin material 93. As shown in FIG. 4, the right end of the linking member 83 penetrates the lower part of the skin material 93 to the right. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, an L-shaped hole in plan view (cross section) is provided in the upper part of the right end of the right side surface and rear surface of the skin material 93, and a resin protective member 92 having an L-shaped plan view (cross section) is fixed to this hole. Furthermore, a through-hole 94 having an L-shaped plan view (cross section) is formed in the protective member 92, exposing the latch mechanism 84. A rear end 94A of the through-hole 94 opens at the right end of the rear surface of the center seatback 75.

[0042] The center seat back 75 can rotate around the rotation axes 28 and 29 between an upright position (first upright position) shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 and a forward-leaning position (first forward-leaning position) shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 1.

[0043] Furthermore, the right end of the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 passes through the first through-hole 69A of the first side seatback 40 and is inserted into the connection hole 49 of the rotation member 47. That is, the linking member 83 links with the rotation member 47.

[0044] Unlike the first side seatback 40 and the second side seatback 70, the center seatback 75 does not have a reclining lock mechanism.

[0045] Of the configuration described above, the rotating shaft 28, rotating member 47, support member 50, first direction change member 51, anti-detachment portion 52, second direction change member 54, anti-detachment portion 56, support arm 60, rotating shaft 65, torsion coil spring 66, connecting wire 68, support plate 82, and connecting member 83 are components of interlocking mechanism 95.

[0046] (Action and effect) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0047] Assume that the rear seat 15 is in the state shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the first side seatback 40, the second side seatback 70, and the center seatback 75 are in the upright position, the reclining lock mechanisms of the first side seatback 40 and the second side seatback 70 are in the locked state, and the operating member of the center seatback 75 is in the non-operating position (initial position). Therefore, the first side seatback 40 and the second side seatback 70 are held in the upright position by the reclining lock mechanisms. Furthermore, because the operating member is in the non-operating position, the pole 91 of the latch mechanism 84 is in the engaged position, and the latch 90 is held in the latched position by the pole 91. Hereinafter, the state of the latch mechanism 84 at this time will be referred to as the latched state. Furthermore, at this time, the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 penetrates the upper end of the first through-hole 69A of the first side seatback 40 as shown in FIG. 2, and the rotating member 47 linked to the linking member 83 is in the first position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. At this time, the connecting wire 68 is in a tensioned state as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, the striker 63 is positioned in the protruding position against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 66. As a result, the gripped portion 63A of the striker 63 passes forward through the rear end portion 94A of the through-hole 94 of the protective member 92 of the center seatback 75, and further, the gripped portion 63A enters the striker entrance groove 87A and is gripped by the latch 90, which is in the latched position. Therefore, the striker 63 of the first side seatback 40 and the latch mechanism 84, which is in the latched state of the center seatback 75, restrict relative rotation between the first side seatback 40 and the center seatback 75. Therefore, the center seatback 75 is held in the upright position by the first side seatback 40 (striker 63, latch mechanism 84).

[0048] In this state, assume that the occupant moves the operating member to the operating position, moving the pole 91 of the latch mechanism 84 to the disengaged position, while keeping the reclining lock mechanism of the first side seatback 40 in the locked state. In this case, the latch 90 becomes rotatable toward the unlatched position. Therefore, when the occupant manually rotates the center seatback 75 forward, the latch 90 rotates toward the unlatched position and releases the gripped portion 63A. In other words, the latch mechanism 84 enters the unlatched state. Note that when the operating member returns to the disengaged position after the latch 90 releases the gripped portion 63A, the pole 91 returns to the engaged position due to the biasing force of the biasing spring.

[0049] When the center seatback 75 rotates forward relative to the first side seatback 40 in this manner, the rotational member 47 rotates counterclockwise around the rotational axis 28 as viewed from the left side, and the linking member 83 moves downward inside the first through-hole 69A. Then, when the center seatback 75 reaches the forward-tilting position, the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 penetrates the lower end of the first through-hole 69A of the first side seatback 40 as shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, the rotational member 47 linked to the linking member 83 is located in the second position as shown in FIG. 9. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, at least a portion of the linking wire 68 is in a relaxed state. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the striker 63, whose gripped portion 63A has escaped from the striker entrance groove 87A, moves from the use position to the stowed position due to the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 66.

[0050] When the occupant subsequently rotates the center seatback 75 rearward, the linking member 83 moves upward inside the first through-hole 69A, and the rotating member 47 rotates clockwise around the rotation axis 28 as viewed from the left side. Then, when the center seatback 75 reaches the upright position, the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 penetrates the upper end of the first through-hole 69A of the first side seatback 40 as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the rotating member 47 linked to the linking member 83 returns to the first position shown in FIG. 7. As a result, the linking wire 68 becomes taut, and the striker 63 returns from the stored position to the extended position against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 66. At this time, the gripped portion 63A of the striker 63 enters the through-hole 94 from the rear end 94A of the protective member 92 of the center seatback 75 and then enters the striker entrance groove 87A while returning to the extended position. Furthermore, the gripped portion 63A engages with the latch 90, forcibly rotating the latch 90 to the latched position, and the pole 91 positioned at the engagement position engages with the engagement protrusion 90A of the latch 90. As a result, the latch mechanism 84 returns to the latched state, and the center seat back 75 is held in the upright position by the latch mechanism 84.

[0051] As described above, the rear seat 15 of this embodiment is equipped with an interlocking mechanism 95 that positions the striker 63 provided on the first side seatback 40 in the protruding position when the first side seatback 40 and the center seatback 75 are in the upright position, and positions the striker 63 in the stowed position when the center seatback 75 is in the forward-tilted position and the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position. Therefore, when the center seatback 75 is rotated to the forward-tilted position while the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position, the rear seat 15 can prevent the striker 63 provided on the side of the first side seatback 40 that is in the upright position from protruding laterally from the left side surface of the first side seatback 40. Therefore, when the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position and the center seatback 75 is in the forward-tilted position, thereby exposing the left side surface of the first side seatback 40, the striker 63 can be prevented from protruding laterally from the left side surface of the first side seatback 40.

[0052] Furthermore, when the center seatback 75 is rotated from the forward-leaning position to the upright position while the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position, the striker 63 can be automatically returned from the stored position to the protruding position by the operation of the interlocking mechanism 95. Therefore, when the center seatback 75 is rotated from the forward-leaning position to the upright position, the striker 63 can be grasped by the latch mechanism 84, and the center seatback 75 can be held in the upright position.

[0053] Furthermore, interlocking mechanism 95 is configured as a mechanism including rotating shaft 28, rotating member 47, support member 50, first direction changing member 51, retaining portion 52, second direction changing member 54, retaining portion 56, support arm 60, rotating shaft 65, torsion coil spring 66, linking wire 68, support plate 82, and linking member 83. Therefore, interlocking mechanism 95 can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0054] Furthermore, the mechanism for moving the striker 63 between the retracted position and the extended position is realized by a simple mechanism including the support arm 60, the rotating shaft 65, the torsion coil spring 66, and the connecting wire 68.

[0055] The left side of the linking member 83 is located inside the center seatback 75, and the right side of the linking member 83 is located inside the first side seatback 40. Furthermore, the center portion of the linking member 83 in the left-right direction is always located between the left side of the first side seatback 40 and the right side of the center seatback 75. Therefore, the linking member 83 is not visible to the occupant. Furthermore, because the rotating member 47 is located inside the first side seatback 40, the rotating member 47 is also not visible to the occupant.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0057] For example, the present invention may be implemented in the form of a first modified example shown in Figures 11 to 16. In rear seat 15 of the first modified example, interlocking mechanism 100 has a configuration different from interlocking mechanism 95. Interlocking mechanism 100 includes rotating shaft 28, rotating member 47, support member 50, first direction change member 51, retaining portion 52, second direction change member 54, retaining portion 56, support arm 60, linking wire 68, linking member 83, compression coil spring 105, and support plate 107 as components.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 11 , the rotating member 47 of the first modified example has a connection hole 49 at its rear end. Furthermore, the front and rear support arms 60 fixed to the support member 50 have long guide grooves 62 parallel to the left-right direction. The striker 101 of the first modified example has a gripped portion 63A at its front end and a pair of front and rear flat support pieces 102 provided at its right end. The front and rear support pieces 102 are inserted into the corresponding long guide grooves 62 of the support arms 60 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. That is, the striker 101 is supported by the front and rear support arms 60 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction (horizontal direction). Furthermore, one end of a compression coil spring 105 is fixed to the support member 50, and the other end of the compression coil spring 105 is fixed to the striker 101. The compression coil spring 105 is always in a compressed state. Therefore, the compression coil spring 105 always generates a biasing force that moves the striker 101 leftward relative to the front and rear support arms 60. The position of the striker 101 when the front and rear supported pieces 102 abut against the left end surfaces of the corresponding long guide grooves 62 is the protruding position shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 , and the position of the striker 101 when the front and rear supported pieces 102 are separated a predetermined distance to the right from the left end surfaces of the corresponding long guide grooves 62 is the retracted position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 . Furthermore, one end (lower end) of the connecting wire 68 is fixed to the front end of the rotating member 47. A portion 68A of the connecting wire 68 is wound around the first direction-changing member 51 and is parallel to the front-rear direction (see FIGS. 14 and 16 ), and another portion 68B of the upper portion of the connecting wire 68 is wound around the converting portion 55 and is parallel to the left-right direction. Furthermore, the other end (upper end) of the connecting wire 68 is fixed to the striker 101. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12 , a first through-hole 69C having a circular arc-shaped side surface is formed in the lower part of the left side surface of the covering material 69. The first through-hole 69C and the rotation path of the connecting hole 49 centered on the rotation shaft 28 overlap with each other in the left-right direction. Furthermore, a striker receiving hole 67B having a linear side surface is formed in the resin cover 67 provided in the second through-hole 69B. When the striker 101 is in the protruding position, as shown in FIG. 12, the striker 101 protrudes to the left from the left side surface of the resin cover 67 through the striker receiving hole 67B.On the other hand, when the striker 101 is in the storage position, the striker 101 is located to the right of the resin cover 67.

[0059] 11 , the upper end of a flat support plate 107 perpendicular to the left-right direction is fixed to the lower end of the right side surface of the second side constituent portion 79 of the framework member 76 of the center seat back 75 of the first modified example. The left end of a linking member 83, which is a cylindrical member parallel to the left-right direction, is fixed to the right side surface of the support plate 107. The right end of the linking member 83 passes through the first through-hole 69C of the first side seat back 40 and is inserted into the connection hole 49 of the rotation member 47. In other words, the linking member 83 is linked to the rotation member 47.

[0060] Next, the operation and effect of the first modified example will be described.

[0061] Assume that the first side seatback 40, the second side seatback 70, and the center seatback 75 are in the upright position, the reclining lock mechanisms of the first side seatback 40 and the second side seatback 70 are in the locked state, and the operating member of the center seatback 75 is in the non-operated position (initial position). At this time, as shown in FIG. 13 , the rotating member 47 linked to the linking member 83 is in the first position, and at least a portion of the linking wire 68 is in a relaxed state. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 , the striker 101 is held in the protruding position by the urging forces of the guide elongated groove 62 of the support arm 60, the supported piece 102, and the compression coil spring 105. Furthermore, the latch 90 of the latch mechanism 84, which is in the latched state, grips the gripped portion 63A of the striker 101 that has entered the striker entrance groove 87A. Therefore, the center seatback 75 is held in the upright position by the first side seatback 40 (the striker 101, the latch mechanism 84).

[0062] In this state, it is assumed that, while maintaining the reclining lock mechanism of the first side seatback 40 in the locked state, the occupant moves the operating member to the operating position, thereby moving the pole 91 of the latch mechanism 84 to the disengaged position. In this state, if the occupant manually rotates the center seatback 75 forward, the latch mechanism 84 switches from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0063] When the center seatback 75 rotates forward relative to the first side seatback 40 in this manner, the rotational member 47 rotates counterclockwise around the rotational axis 28 as viewed from the left side, and the linking member 83 moves upward inside the first through-hole 69C. Then, when the center seatback 75 reaches the forward-tilting position, the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 passes through the upper end of the first through-hole 69C of the first side seatback 40 (not shown). Therefore, the rotational member 47 linked to the linking member 83 is located at the second position shown in FIG. 15. At this time, the linking wire 68 is in a tensioned state as shown in FIG. 15, and the linking wire 68 moves the striker 101, whose gripped portion 63A has escaped from the striker entrance groove 87A, to the stowed position against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 105 (see FIG. 16).

[0064] When the occupant subsequently rotates the center seatback 75 rearward, the linking member 83 moves downward inside the first through-hole 69C, and the rotating member 47 rotates clockwise around the rotation axis 28 as viewed from the left side. Then, when the center seatback 75 reaches the upright position, the linking member 83 of the center seatback 75 penetrates the lower end of the first through-hole 69C of the first side seatback 40 as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, the rotating member 47 linked to the linking member 83 returns to the first position shown in FIG. 13. As a result, a portion of the linking wire 68 becomes relaxed, and the striker 101 returns from the stored position to the extended position by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 105. The striker 101 enters the through-hole 94 from the rear end 94A of the through-hole 94 of the protective member 92 of the center seatback 75. Furthermore, the gripped portion 63A engages with the latch 90, forcibly rotating the latch 90 to the latched position, and the pole 91 positioned at the engagement position engages with the engagement protrusion 90A of the latch 90. As a result, the latch mechanism 84 returns to the latched state, and the center seat back 75 is held in the upright position by the latch mechanism 84.

[0065] As described above, the rear seat 15 of the first modified example is equipped with the interlocking mechanism 100 that positions the striker 101 provided on the first side seatback 40 in the protruding position when the first side seatback 40 and the center seatback 75 are in the upright position, and positions the striker 101 in the stowed position when the center seatback 75 is in the forward-tilted position and the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position. Therefore, the rear seat 15 of the first modified example can also prevent the striker 101 provided on the side of the first side seatback 40 that is in the upright position from protruding laterally from the left side surface of the first side seatback 40 when the center seatback 75 is rotated to the forward-tilted position while the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position. Therefore, when the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position and the center seatback 75 is in the forward-tilted position, thereby exposing the left side surface of the first side seatback 40, the striker 101 can be prevented from protruding laterally from the left side surface of the first side seatback 40.

[0066] Furthermore, when the center seatback 75 is rotated from the forward tilting position to the upright position while the first side seatback 40 is in the upright position, the striker 101 can be automatically returned from the stored position to the extended position by the action of the interlocking mechanism 100. Therefore, when the center seatback 75 is rotated from the forward tilting position to the upright position, the striker 101 can be grasped by the latch mechanism 84, and the center seatback 75 can be held in the upright position.

[0067] Furthermore, the interlocking mechanism 100 is configured as a mechanism including the rotating shaft 28, the rotating member 47, the support member 50, the first direction changing member 51, the retaining portion 52, the second direction changing member 54, the retaining portion 56, the support arm 60, the linking wire 68, the linking member 83, the striker 101, the compression coil spring 105, and the support plate 107. Therefore, the interlocking mechanism 100 can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0068] Furthermore, the mechanism for moving the striker 101 between the retracted position and the extended position is realized by a simple mechanism including the support arm 60, the compression coil spring 105, and the connecting wire 68.

[0069] In the embodiment and the first modified example, the linking member 83 may be fixed to the second support arm 25B that supports the skeleton member 76, rather than to the skeleton member 76 (support plate 82).

[0070] Furthermore, the interlocking mechanism of the embodiment and each modified example may be configured as a link mechanism that does not include the linking wire 68. When the interlocking mechanism is configured as a link mechanism in this way, the strikers 63, 101 can be moved between the extended position and the retracted position in conjunction with the rotation of the center seatback 75 without using the torsion coil spring 66 and the compression coil spring 105.

[0071] In the above embodiment, when the rotating member 47 is in the first position, the striker 63 may be positioned in the protruding position by the biasing force of the biasing member, and when the rotating member 47 is in the second position, the striker 63 may be positioned in the stored position against the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0072] In the above-described modified example, when the rotating member 47 is in the first position, the striker 101 may be positioned in the protruding position against the biasing force of the biasing member, and when the rotating member 47 is in the second position, the striker 101 may be positioned in the stored position by the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0073] A part of the interlocking mechanism and the strikers 63, 101 may be provided in the second side seatback 70 instead of the first side seatback 40, and the interlocking member 83 and the latch mechanism 84 may be provided on the left side of the center seatback 75. In other words, the second side seatback 70 instead of the first side seatback 40 may be the specific side seatback.

[0074] The fixing portions 23 of the first brackets 20A and the second brackets 20B may be fixed to a part (support) of the body of the vehicle 10 or a member (support) fixed to the body, instead of to a frame member of the seat cushion 16. In this case, the part of the body is, for example, the floor surface 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 12 Floor surface (support) 15 Rear seat (vehicle seat device) 16 Seat cushion (support) 28 Rotation axis (first rotation axis) 40 First side seat back (side seat back) (specific side seat back) 47 Rotating member 48 Rotation axis (first rotation axis) 63 Striker 66 Torsion coil spring (biasing member) 68 Connecting wire (connecting member) 70 Second side seat back (side seat back) 75 Center seat back 83 Linking members (control members) 84 Latch mechanism 95 100 Interlocking mechanism 101 Striker 110 115 Interlocking mechanism

Claims

1. A support; A pair of side seat backs supported by the support body; a center seat back supported by the support body so as to be rotatable between a first upright position and a first forward tilted position, and positioned between the pair of side seat backs; a striker provided on a side portion of the specific side seat back, which is one of the side seat backs and is supported by the support body so as to be rotatable between a second upright position and a second forward tilting position, on the side portion of the specific side seat back, the striker being movable between a protruding position where it protrudes from the side portion toward the center seat back and a stored position where it is stored within the side portion; a latch mechanism provided in the center seat back, the latch mechanism being switchable between a latched state in which the striker is held in the protruding position and an unlatched state in which the striker is released; an interlocking mechanism that positions the striker at the protruding position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and that positions the striker at the stowed position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilt position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position; A vehicle seat device comprising:

2. The interlocking mechanism is a rotation member provided on the specific side seat back so as to be rotatable between a first position and a second position about a first rotation axis extending in a vehicle width direction; a biasing member that biases the striker toward the storage position; a linking member that links the rotating member and the striker, and positions the striker at the extended position against the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is at the first position, and allows the striker to move to the stored position by the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is at the second position; a control member provided on the center seatback and connected to the rotating member, the control member positioning the rotating member at the first position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and positioning the rotating member at the second position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilt position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position; The vehicle seat device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

3. The interlocking mechanism is a rotation member provided on the specific side seat back so as to be rotatable between a first position and a second position about a first rotation axis extending in a vehicle width direction; a biasing member that biases the striker toward the protruding position; a linking member that links the rotating member and the striker, allows the striker to move to the extended position by the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is in the first position, and positions the striker at the stored position against the biasing force of the biasing member when the rotating member is in the second position; a control member provided on the center seatback and connected to the rotating member, the control member positioning the rotating member at the first position when the center seatback is in the first upright position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position, and positioning the rotating member at the second position when the center seatback is in the first forward tilt position and the specific side seatback is in the second upright position; The vehicle seat device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

4. 4. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the striker is rotatable between the extended position and the retracted position.

5. 4. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the striker is horizontally movable between the extended position and the retracted position.

6. 4. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the connecting member is a flexible, long member.

7. 4. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control member is a linking member that is fixed to the center seat back, linked to the rotating member, and parallel to the first rotation axis.

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