Vehicle seat device

Abstract

To divert an installation space of a seat body to a surplus space in a more proper state.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat device is provided with a first region 100 occupied by a seat body (first seat body 10) in a seatable state in which an occupant can be seated with reference to a front view in which a seating side of the seat body (the first seat body 10) is viewed from the front and a second region 200 set around the first region 100. A moving device 40 is provided to move the seat body (the first seat body 10) between the first region 100 and the second region 200. The seat body (the first seat body 10) is held in each of the first region 100 and the second region 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device having a seat body on which an occupant can sit. [Background technology]

[0002] In this type of vehicle, there is a demand for effective utilization of the limited interior space. For example, a certain number of seat bodies for occupants are provided in the vehicle interior, but occupants do not necessarily sit on all of the seat bodies. For this reason, in the field of vehicles, attempts have been made to create surplus space by, for example, moving the seat bodies forward and backward or folding them when not in use.

[0003] Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe techniques for creating excess space. In the techniques described in these documents, a seat body having a seat portion (seat cushion) and a back portion (seat back) is arranged in an installation space provided in the vehicle cabin. When an occupant sits in the seat, the seat portion of the seat body is arranged to extend substantially horizontally, and the back portion is erected substantially vertically at the rear end of the seat portion. In the above-described techniques, the horizontally extending seat portion is erected substantially vertically together with the back portion and placed at the rear of the installation space. By arranging the erected seat portion and back portion together at the rear end of the installation space in this way, the entire installation space except for the rear end can be used as excess space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-339473 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-75526 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned technologies merely position the seat back and seat section together at the rear end of the installation space, and do not convert the entire installation space into surplus space. Therefore, when an object such as a wheelchair is inserted into or placed in the surplus space, the seat and seat back, which are raised at the rear end, may get in the way. Furthermore, the larger the object, the more likely it is to interfere with the seat and seat back, which may limit the types of objects that can be placed there, making it difficult to effectively utilize the surplus space. The present invention was devised in light of the above-mentioned problems, and the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to convert the installation space of the seat body into surplus space in a more appropriate manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, a vehicle seat apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is installed on the floor of a vehicle cabin with a seat body attached. In this type of configuration, it is desirable to be able to convert the installation space of the seat body into excess space in a more appropriate manner. Therefore, the present invention provides a first region, based on a front view of the seating side of the seat body from the front, where the seat body is in a state where an occupant can sit, and a second region surrounding the first region. The vehicle seat apparatus is provided with a moving device that moves the seat body between the first region and the second region, and is configured to hold the seat body in each of the first and second regions. In the vehicle seat apparatus of the present invention, the moving device moves the seat body to the second region, allowing the first region to be directly converted into excess space. This configuration allows excess space to be provided in an appropriate manner, and this excess space can be utilized with minimal interference from the seat body.

[0007] A vehicle seat device of a second invention is the vehicle seat device of the first invention, in which the second area is provided above the first area. In this invention, by moving the seat body to the second area above the first area, the first area can be directly used as surplus space.

[0008] The vehicle seat device of the third invention is the vehicle seat device of the second invention, in which, based on the case where the seat body is in the first region, another seat body and an adjustment device for adjusting the vertical position of the another seat body are provided on one side of the seat body in the seat width direction. In this invention, the seat body and the another seat body are provided adjacent to each other. Then, by moving the seat body to the second region, the another seat body is positioned next to an object in the first region (surplus space) where no seat body is present. At this time, the adjustment device adjusts the vertical position of the another seat body, thereby aligning the height position with the object.

[0009] The vehicle seat apparatus of the fourth invention is the vehicle seat apparatus of the first invention, in which an outer frame is provided to surround the seat body that moves between areas when viewed from the front, and a partition that separates the vehicle seat apparatus from the surrounding interior of the vehicle is provided on the outer frame in a movable or detachable state between a first area and a second area. In this invention, the partition functions to separate the seat body when in a seatable state from the surrounding interior of the vehicle. Furthermore, when utilizing excess space, the partition can be moved to the second area or removed.

[0010] The vehicle seat device of the fifth invention is the vehicle seat device of the first invention, in which an outer frame is provided to surround the seat body that moves between areas when viewed from the front, and a plate-shaped base is provided at the lower end of the outer frame to be installed on the floor. In this invention, objects in the excess space can be received by the base. In the above configuration, the configuration of the base that receives the object can be set independently of the configuration of the floor of the vehicle cabin.

[0011] The vehicle seat device of the sixth invention is the vehicle seat device of the fifth invention, wherein a connecting part is provided at the upper end of the outer frame part, which is connected to a vehicle structure located above the floor part in a manner that allows it to move up and down. In this invention, even if the interior of the vehicle (such as the interior of an aircraft) bends up and down, the bending can be absorbed by the relative movement of the vehicle structure and the connecting part.

[0012] The vehicle seat device of the seventh invention is the vehicle seat device of any one of the first to sixth inventions, which is provided with a retaining structure that retains an object placed in a first area where the seat body is not present. In the present invention, the retaining structure functions to retain the object in the first area where the seat body is not present. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the installation space of the seat body can be converted into surplus space in a more appropriate state. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the installation space of the seat body can be converted into surplus space in an even more appropriate state. According to the third aspect of the present invention, it becomes easier to effectively utilize surplus space that is provided in an appropriate state. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the installation space can be converted into surplus space in a more appropriate state while ensuring the usability of the seat body. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it becomes easier to even more effectively utilize surplus space that is provided in an appropriate state. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the installation space of the seat body can be converted into surplus space in an even more appropriate state. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it becomes easier to even more effectively utilize surplus space that is provided in an appropriate state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat device installed in a vehicle compartment. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view of a vehicle seat device in which the seating side of a seat body is viewed from the front. [Figure 3] 4 is a plan view of the vehicle seat apparatus showing the seat body of the second region. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat assembly showing the movement device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle seat device and the object as viewed from the right front side. [Figure 6] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat device and the object as viewed from the left front side. FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat device and the object as viewed from the right rear side. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vehicle seat apparatus showing the base portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle seat device and an object as seen from the front. [Figure 10] 10 is a front view of a vehicle seat apparatus showing another seat body during height adjustment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In each figure, arrows indicating the front-rear direction, the up-down direction (height direction), and the left-right direction (seat width direction) of the vehicle seat device are appropriately illustrated. For convenience, in each figure, vehicle structures (floor and ceiling portions) within the vehicle cabin may be illustrated with dashed lines.

[0016] [Outline of vehicle seat device] First, an overview of a vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The vehicle seat apparatus 2 includes a rectangular outer frame 3 in a front view, and a first seat body 10 and a second seat body 20 provided within the outer frame 3. In a seatable state where an occupant can be seated, the first seat body 10 has a seat back 12 extending vertically from the rear of a seat cushion 11 extending longitudinally. The seat back 12 is connected to the seat cushion 11 via a hinge (not shown) so that it can be reclined toward the seat cushion 11. The first seat body 10 corresponds to the seat body of the present invention and is disposed on the left side of the vehicle seat apparatus 2 in a front view. A second seat body 20, which corresponds to another seat body of the present invention, is disposed on one side of the first seat body 10 in the seat width direction (the right side in FIG. 1). The second seat body 20 has a relatively smaller dimension in the seat width direction, but includes a separate seat cushion 21 and a separate seat back 22, similar to the first seat body 10.

[0017] The vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 can be installed at an appropriate position in a vehicle interior (hereinafter referred to as the interior 90). For example, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 of this embodiment can be installed on a floor portion 91 near the boarding door of the interior 90 so as to be located at the front seat position of the aircraft. The vehicle seat apparatus 2 is configured so that the installation space of the first seat main body 10 can be temporarily converted into surplus space, as described below. With this configuration, the desired number of seats can be secured in the aircraft, while the temporary surplus space can be used to place various objects, making it easy to secure space for wheelchair passengers, for example. With the above configuration, from the perspective of effective use of the surplus space, it is desirable to minimize interference between the first seat main body 10 and objects in this surplus space. Therefore, in this embodiment, the installation space of the first seat main body 10 can be converted into surplus space in a more appropriate manner using the configuration described below. The configuration of the vehicle seat device 2 will be described in detail below, in the order of the outer frame portion 3 (first region 100 and second region 200), the movement device 40, the adjustment device 60, the partition 70, and the holding structure 80.

[0018] [Outer frame] The outer frame 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed into a generally rectangular shape that is elongated vertically in a front view. The outer frame 3 is composed of a ceiling 30 extending in the seat width direction (left and right), a left frame pillar 31 extending downward from the left edge of the ceiling 30, a right frame pillar 32 extending downward from the right edge of the ceiling 30, and a base 33 (described later), all assembled into a generally rectangular shape. Between the first seat main body 10 and the second seat main body 20, a middle frame pillar 34 extending vertically is fixed between the ceiling 30 and the base 33. The outer frame 3 is disposed so as to surround the first seat main body 10, which moves between regions as described later (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The ceiling 30 is formed like a canopy extending generally horizontally with a predetermined front-to-rear width, thereby covering the first seat main body 10 from above. In addition, the upper sides of the right frame pillar portion 32 and the left frame pillar portion 31 are formed to be wide in both the front and back directions in accordance with the ceiling portion 30, so that they can cover the first sheet main body 10 of the second area 200 described below from both the left and right sides.

[0019] 1 and 4, a pair of connecting portions 35, 36 are provided on the upper surface of the ceiling portion 30, which forms the upper end of the outer frame portion 3, protruding at an appropriate interval on the left and right sides. Each of the pair of connecting portions 35, 36 is formed as a plate extending vertically, and a through-hole H is formed at the upper end thereof so as to penetrate laterally (for convenience, in FIG. 1 etc., the reference numeral corresponding to the through-hole of the connecting portion on the left side is given, and the reference numeral corresponding to the through-hole of the connecting portion on the right side is given in parentheses). As will be described later, the ceiling portion 30 is configured to be connectable via the pair of connecting portions 35, 36 to a structural portion located above the floor portion 91, such as a ceiling portion 92 (described in detail later) of a room 90.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 , the base portion 33, which forms the lower end of the outer frame 3, is formed in a flat plate shape that conforms to the floor 91, and its upper surface is formed to be substantially flat. A front slope portion 37 is formed along substantially the entire width of the front edge of the base portion 33, and a rear slope portion 38 is formed along substantially the entire width of the rear edge. The front slope portion 37 has a front downward slope that gradually slopes downward toward the front, while the rear slope portion 38 has a rear downward slope. The material of the base portion 33 is not particularly limited, but if it is expected to bear a heavy load, a material with excellent rigidity can be used. The base portion 33 is placed on the floor 91, and may be engaged with a structure on the floor. For example, the base portion 33 can be engaged with the floor 91 by fitting a protrusion (not shown) protruding from its underside into a recess (not shown) such as a seat track provided in the floor 91.

[0021] [First area, second area] As shown in FIG. 2 , when the front view (plan view) of the seating side of the first seat body 10 is taken as a reference, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 is defined as having a first region 100 occupied by the first seat body 10 in a seatable state and a surrounding second region 200 (in FIG. 2 , the second region is conveniently hatched with a dashed line to clearly distinguish the regions). That is, in the vehicle seat apparatus 2, the lower region between the left frame pillar 31 and the middle frame pillar 34 is defined as the first region 100. By placing the first seat body 10 in a seatable state in the first region 100, an occupant can sit on the first seat body 10 with their legs resting on the base 33. The second region 200 is defined so as not to overlap the first region 100 in a front view. In the vehicle seat apparatus 2, the second region 200 is defined as the upper region between the right frame pillar 32 and the middle frame pillar 34, i.e., above the first region 100.

[0022] [Mobile device] 3 to 5, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 is provided with a movement device 40 that moves the first seat main body 10 between the first area 100 and the second area 200. The movement device 40 can be configured with a pair of a first rail portion 41 and a second rail portion 42, and a pair of a first slider portion 51 and a second slider portion 52. That is, the outer frame portion 3 is provided with a first rail portion 41 extending vertically on the left frame pillar portion 31, and a second rail portion 42 extending vertically on the left surface side of the middle frame pillar portion 34. The first rail portion 41 is provided with a first guide groove 410 extending vertically, and the second rail portion 42 is also provided with a second guide groove 420 extending vertically. The first seat main body 10 is provided with a first slider portion 51 on the left side of the seat cushion 11, and the first slider portion 51 is engaged with the first guide groove 410 so as to be slidable vertically (see FIGS. 3 and 7). A second slider portion 52 is also provided on the right side of the seat cushion 11, and this second slider portion 52 is engaged with the second guide groove 420 so as to be able to slide up and down.

[0023] A stopper portion 55 for holding the first seat main body 10 in the first region 100 is provided at the bottom of the vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 . That is, the stopper portion 55 is provided at the bottom between the right frame pillar 32 and the middle frame pillar 34 at a position where the stopper portion 55 can receive the first slider portion 51 and the second slider portion 52 (for convenience, in FIG. 3 , the stopper portion 55 for the first slider portion is denoted by a reference numeral, and the stopper portion 55 for the second slider portion is denoted by a reference numeral in parentheses). The first slider portion 51 and the second slider portion 52 are received by the corresponding stopper portions 55, thereby holding the first seat main body 10 in the first region 100. Note that in the above-described configuration, the height position of the stopper portion 55 can be adjusted by applying the configuration of an adjustment device described later, for example. This makes it possible to adjust the height position of the first seat main body 10 in the first region 100.

[0024] 3 is provided at the upper portion of the vehicle seat apparatus 2, which holds the first seat main body 10 in the second region 200. That is, the cord-like holding portion 56 is provided so as to hang downward from the underside of the ceiling portion 30. A gripping member 57 capable of gripping the seat cushion 11 is attached to the lower end of the holding portion 56 so as to fit into the second region 200. Referring to FIG. 5, this gripping member 57 is configured so as to be deformable from a substantially horizontal U-shape to a substantially inverted L-shape. Then, when the first seat main body 10 moves upward, the seat cushion 11 is gripped by the gripping member 57 of the holding portion 56, and the first seat main body 10 is held in the second region 200.

[0025] [Adjustment device] The vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 3 is also provided with an adjustment device 60 that adjusts the vertical height of the second seat main body 20. This adjustment device 60 can be configured with a pair of third and fourth rail portions 43 and 44, a pair of third and fourth slider portions 53 and 54, and a positioning structure 61, which will be described later. That is, the outer frame portion 3 is provided with a third rail portion 43 extending vertically on the right surface side of the middle frame pillar portion 34 thereof, and a fourth rail portion 44 extending vertically on the right frame pillar portion 32. The third rail portion 43 is provided with a third guide groove 430 extending vertically, and the fourth rail portion 44 is also provided with a fourth guide groove 440 extending vertically. The second seat main body 20 is also provided with a third slider portion 53 on the left side of the other seat cushion 21, and this third slider portion 53 is engaged with the third guide groove 430 so as to be slidable vertically (see FIGS. 3 and 7). A fourth slider portion 54 is also provided on the right side of the other seat cushion 21, and this fourth slider portion 54 is engaged with the fourth guide groove 440 so as to be able to slide up and down. In the adjustment device 60, the height position of the second seat main body 20 can be adjusted by the action of the above-mentioned rail portions and slider portions.

[0026] The second seat body 20 shown in FIG. 3 is held at a desired height by the function of a positioning structure 61 of the adjustment device 60. The configuration of this type of positioning structure 61 is not particularly limited. For example, referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of fastening holes 62 are formed vertically at appropriate intervals in the right frame column 32 and the middle frame column 34 (only the fastening holes in the right frame column 32 are shown in FIG. 5 for convenience). Each slider portion of the second seat body 20 is provided with an insertion hole 63 penetrating from left to right (only the fourth slider portion 54 is shown in FIG. 5 for convenience). A fastening hole 62 at a desired height is then selected from the multiple fastening holes arranged vertically. The selected fastening hole 62 is then fastened with a fastener 64 through the insertion hole 63, thereby maintaining the height position of the second seat body 20. By providing a fastening hole 62 at the same height as the second region 200, the unused second seat body 20 can be positioned at the same height as the second region 200.

[0027] [partition] The outer frame 3 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a partition 70 that separates the vehicle seat apparatus 2 from the surrounding interior space of the vehicle. The partition 70 is formed in a plate shape extending in the seat width direction and is placed between the left frame pillar 31 and the middle frame pillar 34 of the outer frame 3. The partition 70 is positioned rearward of the first region 100, thereby separating the first seat body 10 positioned in the first region 100 from a seat (not shown) behind it. The partition 70 can be attached to the outer frame 3 in a manner that allows it to move between the first region 100 and the second region 200 (see FIG. 7). The configuration of the movement mechanism for this type of partition is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the same type of mechanism as the movement device 40 or the adjustment device 60 described above. The partition 70 can also be detachably attached to the outer frame 3. This type of detachable structure may be, for example, a fastening structure or an engagement structure. An auxiliary partition 71 can also be attached to the outer frame 3 in a rearward position of the second seat body 20. The auxiliary partition 71 is formed in a plate shape extending in the seat width direction and is placed between the right frame pillar 32 and the middle frame pillar 34 of the outer frame 3. The auxiliary partition 71 can also be movably attached to the second area 200 side, and can also be detachable from the outer frame 3.

[0028] [Holding structure] 3 and 6, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 can be provided with a retaining structure 80 capable of retaining an object 95 that has entered the first region 100 where the first seat main body 10 is not present, i.e., the surplus space 101. For example, the retaining structure 80 of the vehicle seat apparatus 2 can be composed of a cord-like fastening member 81 that fastens the object 95 and a structure for attaching the fastening member 81. That is, the retaining structure 80 is configured so that the fastening member 81 can be attached so as to span between the left frame pillar 31 and the middle frame pillar 34, thereby enabling the object 95 in the surplus space 101 to be fastened. The fastening member 81 is attached to the outer frame portion 3 by inserting and engaging attachment portions 82 (83) at both ends of the fastening member 81 into the first guide grooves 410 (second guide grooves 420).

[0029] [Installation of vehicle seat devices] As described above, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in Fig. 1 is installed in the front row seat position in the cabin 90 of an aircraft. If the convex portion of the base portion 33 is configured to engage with the concave portion (not shown) on the floor portion 91, the base portion 33 can be more stably positioned in an appropriate position on the floor portion 91. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, the ceiling portion 30 is connected to a ceiling portion 92 of the cabin 90 via a pair of connecting portions 35, 36. A pair of connectable portions 93, 94 are provided on the ceiling portion 92 so as to extend downward, and each of the pair of connectable portions 93, 94 has a protruding shaft A that can be inserted into a through-hole H of the corresponding connecting portion (for convenience in each drawing, a reference symbol corresponding to the shaft of the connectable portion on the left side is used, and a reference symbol corresponding to the shaft of the connectable portion on the right side is used in parentheses). Therefore, by inserting the shaft portions A of the pair of connectable portions 93, 94 into the through-holes H of the corresponding connecting portions so as to be movable up and down, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 provided with this pair of connecting portions 35, 36 can be installed in the interior 90. With the above-described configuration, when the interior 90 of the aircraft bends up and down, the shaft portions A move up and down relative to the corresponding through-holes H, thereby absorbing the bending of the interior 90. With the above-described configuration, even when the interior 90 bends, the first seat main body 10, the second seat main body 20, and even objects in the surplus space can be stably positioned within the outer frame portion 3, making this configuration particularly suitable for aircraft.

[0030] [Function of vehicle seat device] In the vehicle seat apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 , the first seat body 10 in a seatable state is held in the first region 100, thereby contributing to ensuring the desired total number of seats on an aircraft. In the above-described configuration, it is desirable to be able to temporarily convert the installation space of the first seat body 10 into surplus space in a more appropriate state. Therefore, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 includes a first region 100 shown in FIG. 2 and a second region 200 surrounding the first region 100. The device also includes a moving device 40 that moves the first seat body 10 between the first region 100 and the second region 200, and is configured to hold the seat body in each of the first region 100 and the second region 200. According to the above-described configuration, the moving device 40 moves the seat body to the second region 200, thereby converting the first region 100, i.e., the installation space of the seat body, into surplus space 101. Hereinafter, the operation of the vehicle seat apparatus 2 will be described in detail, along with a method for forming and utilizing the surplus space 101.

[0031] 2 and 3, when the first seat body 10 is not in use, the seat back 12 can be folded toward the seat cushion 11 and placed in a stored state. This allows the vertical dimension of the first seat body 10 to be smaller than when the first seat body 10 is in a seatable state. Next, the movement device 40 operates to move the first seat body 10 from the first area 100 to the second area 200 above it. The first seat body 10 is then held in the second area 200 by the seat cushion 11 being gripped by the holding portion 56. According to the above-described configuration, when the first seat body 10 is no longer present in the first area 100 as shown in FIG. 3, the entire first area 100 can be used as a surplus space 101.

[0032] 5 and 6, the object 95 (a wheelchair in each figure) is inserted into the surplus space 101 and placed therein. At this time, in the vehicle seat apparatus 2, the front side of the surplus space 101 is left largely open, so the object 95 can be inserted from the front side of the surplus space 101. Also, referring to FIG. 7, by moving the partition 70 toward the second area 200 and leaving the rear side of the surplus space 101 largely open, the object 95 can be inserted from the rear side of the surplus space 101. Note that if the object 95 can be inserted from both the front and rear of the surplus space 101, the vehicle seat apparatus 2 can be installed in either a seat in front of or behind the boarding door. Therefore, the above-described configuration makes it possible to increase the number of wheelchairs that can board an aircraft.

[0033] The base 33 is provided with a front slope 37 and a rear slope 38. This allows an object 95 on the floor 91 to be smoothly guided onto the base 33 via the inclined slopes (see FIG. 8). The object 95 is then received on the substantially flat upper surface of the base 33 shown in FIG. 6, allowing it to be stably placed in the surplus space 101. Next, a fastening member 81 serving as a holding structure 80 is wrapped around a portion of the object 95 and attached between the left frame column 31 and the middle frame column 34. This allows the object 95 to be fastened and held above the surplus space 101, making it possible to prevent the object 95 from moving unintentionally in the retreating direction.

[0034] 5, 9, and 10, in the vehicle seat apparatus 2, the adjustment device 60 can adjust the vertical height position of the second seat main body 20. This allows the object 95 and the occupant seated on the second seat main body 20 to be aligned in height. For example, with the above-described configuration, the eye level of a wheelchair-ridden occupant (as the object 95) can be aligned with that of the occupant on the second seat main body 20. The adjustment device 60 can also be used to move the second seat main body 20 to the same height position as the second area 200. In such a case, the area below the right frame pillar 32 and the middle frame pillar 34 can be used as extra storage space.

[0035] As described above, in the vehicle seat apparatus 2 of this embodiment, by moving the first seat main body 10 to the second area 200 using the movement device 40, the first area 100 can be directly converted into the surplus space 101. In particular, by moving the first seat main body 10 to the second area 200 above the first area 100, the first area 100 can be directly converted into the surplus space 101. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the surplus space 101 can be provided in an appropriate state, and this surplus space 101 can be utilized without being obstructed by the first seat main body 10 as much as possible.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first seat body 10 and the second seat body 20 (another seat body) are arranged adjacent to each other. By moving the first seat body 10 to the second region 200, the second seat body 20 is positioned next to an object in the surplus space 101 (the first region where the first seat body is not present). At this time, the adjustment device 60 adjusts the vertical position of the second seat body 20 so that its height is aligned with the object 95. In this embodiment, the partition 70 separates the first seat body 10 in the seatable state from the surrounding interior of the vehicle. When the surplus space 101 is utilized, the partition 70 can be moved to the second region 200 or removed. In this embodiment, the object 95 in the surplus space 101 can be received by the base portion 33. With the above-described configuration, the configuration of the base portion 33 that receives the object 95 can be set independently of the configuration of the floor portion 91. In this embodiment, even if the interior 90 (such as the interior of an aircraft) is deflected vertically, the deflection can be absorbed by the relative movement between the vehicle structure (ceiling portion) and the pair of connecting parts 35, 36. In this embodiment, the holding structure 80 functions to hold the object 95 in the surplus space 101.

[0037] The vehicle seat apparatus of this embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment and may be embodied in various other ways. For example, the excess space of the vehicle seat apparatus can be used as free space to accommodate various objects, such as a wheelchair, a stroller, or a bassinet (a simple bed). Furthermore, by adjusting the front-to-back and left-to-right dimensions of the first seat body, excess space can be secured according to the dimensions of the object. For example, in the case of an airplane, adjusting the dimensions of the first seat body to secure excess space equivalent to one premium economy class seat allows for the accommodation of a standard wheelchair. Furthermore, increasing the dimensions of the first seat body to secure excess space equivalent to two premium economy class seats allows for the accommodation of a large wheelchair. Furthermore, the vehicle seat apparatus can be provided with multiple first seat bodies, and these multiple first seat bodies can be arranged side by side in the front-to-back or left-to-right directions. By moving all of the first seat bodies arranged in a row toward the front to the second region, the excess space can be extended forward and backward. Furthermore, by moving all of the first seat bodies arranged left and right, the excess space can be extended left and right. By forming such extra space in a long direction, it becomes possible to smoothly arrange long and large objects such as stretchers and beds.

[0038] In this embodiment, the moving device and the configuration for holding the first seat body in each region are exemplified, but these configurations are not intended to be limiting. The movement of the first seat body by the moving device may be performed manually or automatically. In addition to the above-described configuration, the moving device may employ various mechanisms, such as a lifting structure using a pulley and a rope (e.g., a rope elevator structure), a link structure between the ceiling and the first seat body, a vertical rotation structure in which the seat body is hingedly connected to the ceiling so that it can rotate vertically, and a rack-and-pinion structure. The holding portion may be attached to an appropriate position on the outer frame in the second region, and the first seat body may be locked using a hook-shaped member or the like. The holding portion on the first seat body may also be engaged with a portion of the outer frame. The holding portion may also be a receiving plate that supports the first seat body and is detachably attached between the middle frame column and the left frame column. The stopper may also be the receiving plate or a leg that can be raised or lowered on the base. Furthermore, by storing the folded legs in the recesses of the base, it is less likely that unevenness will form on the base.

[0039] Although the present embodiment illustrates the configurations of the outer frame, adjustment device, partition, and holding structure, these configurations are not intended to be limiting. For example, the outer frame can be formed in any suitable shape and dimensions and can be attached to the vehicle structure so as to be relatively movable or rigidly connected. The base can be provided with a slope at the location where an object is expected to enter, and the top surface of the base does not need to be substantially flat. The configuration of the adjustment device can also be modified as appropriate, as can the movement device; for example, a gas spring for a chair can be used. The partition can be fixed to any suitable position on the outer frame and can be formed in the shape of a double-door or a curtain-like member (a member that can be lifted to the second region). Examples of holding structures include a fastening structure for fastening a self-propelled object such as a wheelchair, a wheel stopper for stopping the wheels of the self-propelled object, a connecting structure for directly connecting the object to the vehicle seat device, and a fence-like member that can be raised or lowered relative to the base. At least some of the above-described devices, members, and structures can be omitted as needed.

[0040] In this embodiment, a second area is provided above the first area, and the first seat body in a stowed state is placed in this second area. The first seat body can also be placed in this second area with the seat back in an upright or moderately tilted state. The right portion of the first seat body shown in FIG. 1 can also be attached to the center frame pillar via a flip-up mechanism. In this flip-up configuration, the first seat body in the stowed state is flipped up toward the center frame pillar and then moved upward by a moving device. In this flip-up configuration, the left frame pillar can be omitted by supporting the left side of the first seat body with a leg that can be tilted relative to the base. By tilting the leg, an object can enter from the left side of the remaining space. The second area can be set at an appropriate position around the first area, and can also be set to the right (or left) of the first area. In this case, the first seat body is installed on the base, for example, slidable left and right by a moving device. The vehicle seat apparatus of this embodiment can be used in a variety of vehicles, including cars, airplanes, trains, and ships. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 2 Vehicle seat device 3 Outer frame 10 First seat body (seat body) 11 Seat cushion 12 Seat back 20 Second seat body (another seat body) 21 Different seat cushions 22 Alternate seat back 30 Ceiling 31 Left frame pillar 32 Right frame pillar 33 Base 34 Middle frame pillar 35,36 Connection part 37 Front slope section 38 Rear slope section 40 Mobile Device 41 First rail section 42 Second rail section 43 Third rail section 44 Fourth Rail Section 51 First slider part 52 Second slider part 53 Third slider part 54 Fourth slider part 55 Stopper part 56 Holding part 57 Gripping member 60 Adjustment device 61 Positioning structure 62 Fastening hole 63 Insertion hole 64 Fasteners 70 partitions 71 Auxiliary Partition 80 Retention structure 81 Fastening member 82, 83 Mounting part 90 Indoor 91 Floor 92 Ceiling part (vehicle structure) 93,94 Connected part 95 Object 100 First area 101 Extra Space 200 Second area 410 First guide groove 420 Second guide groove 430 Third guide groove 440 Fourth guide groove A shaft part H through hole

Claims

1. A vehicle seat device that is installed on a floor portion of a vehicle cabin with a seat body provided thereon, a first area occupied by the seat body in a seatable state where an occupant can sit, and a second area set around the first area, based on a front view of the seating side of the seat body seen from the front, A vehicle seat device is provided with a moving device that moves the seat body between the first area and the second area, and is configured to hold the seat body in each of the first area and the second area.

2. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second region is provided above the first region.

3. 3. The vehicle seat device according to claim 2, wherein, based on the case where the seat body is in the first region, another seat body and an adjustment device for adjusting the vertical position of the another seat body are provided on one side of the seat width direction of the seat body.

4. An outer frame portion is provided to surround the seat main body that moves between areas based on the front view, and 2. The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein a partition separating the vehicle seat device from the surrounding interior space of the vehicle is provided on the outer frame portion in a movable or detachable state between the first area and the second area.

5. An outer frame portion is provided to surround the seat main body that moves between areas based on the front view, and 2. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plate-shaped base portion is provided at a lower end of the outer frame portion and is placed on the floor portion.

6. 6. The vehicle seat apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a connecting portion is provided at an upper end of the outer frame portion, the connecting portion being connected to a vehicle structure located above the floor portion in a manner that allows movement in the vertical direction.

7. The vehicle seat apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a holding structure for holding an object placed in the first area where the seat body is not present.

Images