Sheet canopy apparatus

Abstract

To provide a seat canopy device capable of achieving both easiness of deployment and storage and securement of locking force for stopping at a predetermined position.SOLUTION: A seat-canopy device 1 includes a base frame 2 attached to a seat, and an awning frame 3A connected to the base frame 2 so as to be developed and stored around a rotation axis L extending in a seat-width direction. The seat canopy device 1 further includes a curved hole 3A formed in the top frame A1 so as to be curved around the rotation axis L, and a disc spring 5 provided on the base frame 2 so as to be elastically pressed against a peripheral surface of the curved hole A1 in the seat-width direction. The curved hole side A1 has an expanded hole side 3A capable of fitting the disc spring 5 into the recess when the awning frame side A2 is at a predetermined rotational position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat canopy device, and more particularly to a seat canopy device having a base frame attached to a seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a seat canopy device that can cover the head and face of a seat occupant is attached to the upper part of a seat. The seat canopy device has a base frame that is attached to the seat frame from the rear.

[0003] The seat canopy device is attached to the base frame with a canopy that can be deployed and retracted to cover the head and face of the seated occupant. Specifically, the canopy is deployed and retracted by rotating around a connecting shaft with the base frame. The canopy can be stopped at any deployed and retracted position due to the frictional resistance generated at the connecting part with the base frame. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-104118 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, if the frictional resistance force acting on the canopy is constant regardless of the deployed position, it is difficult to achieve both ease of deploying and storing the canopy and a sufficient locking force to stop the canopy in a predetermined position. Therefore, the present invention provides a seat canopy device that can achieve both ease of deployment and storage and a sufficient locking force to stop the canopy in a predetermined position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above problems, the seat canopy device of the present invention employs the following means.

[0007] In other words, the first invention of the present invention is a seat canopy device having a base frame attached to a seat, which comprises a hood frame connected to the base frame so as to be able to be deployed and stored around a rotation axis extending in the seat width direction, a curved recess formed in one of the base frame and the hood frame so as to form a depression in the seat width direction that curves around the rotation axis, and an elastic body provided on the other frame so as to be elastically pressed against the surrounding surface of the curved recess in the seat width direction, and the curved recess has an expanding recess that can fit the elastic body into the recess when the hood frame is in a predetermined rotation position.

[0008] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the force with which the elastic body is pressed against the peripheral surface of the curved recess of the top frame provides frictional resistance to the movement of the top frame when it is deployed and stored. Furthermore, by moving the top frame to a predetermined rotational position, the elastic body can be elastically engaged with the expanding recess formed in the curved recess of the top frame. As a result, the frictional resistance exerted by the elastic body can be locally increased at the predetermined rotational position. This allows for both ease of deployment and storage of the top frame and the securing of a locking force that stops it in the predetermined position.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is the seat canopy device according to the first aspect, wherein the elastic body fits into the expansion recess when the hood frame is in the storage position.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately prevent the top frame from being unexpectedly deployed from the stored position due to braking force or the like that occurs when the top frame is loaded onto a vehicle.

[0011] A third invention of the present invention is a seat canopy device according to the first or second invention, wherein the elastic body is a disc spring arranged so that its head, which extends in a truncated cone shape, faces the curved recess.

[0012] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the elastic body can be provided thinly in the seat width direction.

[0013] The fourth invention of the present invention is a seat canopy device according to the third invention, which comprises a pressure plate arranged to sandwich the hood frame between the base frame and the pressure plate from the outside in the seat width direction, a rotating shaft member forming the rotation axis that is passed through the pressure plate, the hood frame, and the base frame in the seat width direction, an inserting shaft member that is passed through the pressure plate, the hood frame, and the base frame in the seat width direction so as to pass through a curved hole that forms the curved recess formed in the hood frame, a first washer that is passed through the rotating shaft member and is placed in two locations, between the pressure plate and the hood frame and between the hood frame and the base frame, and a second washer that is passed through the inserting shaft member and is placed between the hood frame and the base frame, and the elastic body made of a disc spring is passed through the inserting shaft member and is placed between the pressure plate and the hood frame, which is integrated with the base frame.

[0014] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the elastic body made of the disc spring can be provided in a rational manner so as to function in place of the washer that would be provided between the pressing plate and the hood frame. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a seat canopy device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the connection portion between the base frame and the hood frame. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the unfolded state of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First Embodiment (Schematic configuration of seat canopy device 1) First, the configuration of a seat canopy device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the following description, when directions such as front, back, up, down, left, and right are indicated, they refer to the directions shown in each figure.

[0018] Furthermore, when a direction such as the "sheet width direction" is indicated with the word "sheet," it refers to the respective direction based on the sheet S described below. Furthermore, in the following description, when a specific reference drawing is not shown or when there is no reference symbol corresponding to the reference drawing, any of Figures 1 to 5 will be referred to as appropriate.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the seat canopy device 1 according to this embodiment is configured as a canopy device mounted on an automobile seat S. The seat S has a seat back SB that serves as a backrest for a seated person, a seat cushion (not shown) that serves as a seating portion, and a headrest HR that serves as a headrest portion.

[0020] The headrest HR is fixed by inserting a pair of left and right stays HS, which hang down from the bottom of the headrest HR, into the upper part of the seat back SB. The seat canopy device 1 is detachably attached to the exposed part of the pair of left and right stays HS between the headrest HR and the seat back SB.

[0021] The seat canopy device 1 has a base frame 2 attached to each stay HS, and a hood 3 connected to the base frame 2 so as to be deployable and storable around a rotation axis L extending in the seat width direction. The base frame 2 is attached to each stay HS so as to extend in the seat width direction in the rear area of ​​each stay HS.

[0022] The base frame 2 is shaped to include extension arms 2A that extend from attachment portions to the stays HS on both sides in the seat width direction and then extend obliquely downward and forward so as to pass outside each side of the seat back SB. The hood 3 is rotatably connected to the tip of each extension arm 2A of the base frame 2 via a rotating shaft member 4 that forms a rotation axis L.

[0023] This connection allows the hood 3 to be stored by folding the hood cloth 3C around each rotary shaft member 4 in the area above the headrest HR, or to unfold the hood cloth 3C so that it spreads forward relative to the base frame 2. The hood 3 has a pair of left and right hood frames 3A that form the framework along its peripheral edge, and multiple sub-frames 3B that are bridged in an arch shape between each of the hood frames 3A.

[0024] The base end of each hood frame 3A of the hood 3 is connected to the tip of each extension arm 2A of the base frame 2 by each rotary shaft member 4. Here, each hood frame 3A corresponds to "one frame" in the present invention. Also, the base frame 2 corresponds to "the other frame" in the present invention.

[0025] The hood 3 also has a hood cloth 3C that is placed between each hood frame 3A and supported by each sub-frame 3B in an arched shape. The left and right hood frames 3A are bent in an inverted L shape when viewed from the side. The sub-frames 3B are provided separately from the left and right hood frames 3A in the direction in which they extend.

[0026] Each sub-frame 3B is connected to the left and right hood frames 3A at its respective ends so that it can rotate about an axis extending in the seat width direction relative to each hood frame 3A. The hood cloth 3C has its peripheral edge and inner surface joined to each hood frame 3A and each sub-frame 3B.

[0027] As a result, when each of the canopy frames 3A is rotated rearward (clockwise in the drawing) about the rotation axis L, the canopy cloth 3C is folded into the area above the headrest HR along with the folding of each of the sub-frames 3B. When each of the canopy frames 3A is rotated forward (counterclockwise in the drawing) about the rotation axis L, the canopy cloth 3C is unfolded to cover the head and face of the seated occupant along with the unfolding of each of the sub-frames 3B.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the seat canopy device 1 further has a pair of left and right disc springs 5 ​​that can apply frictional resistance to the rotation of each hood frame 3A relative to the base frame 2. Each disc spring 5 is provided at the connection between each hood frame 3A and the base frame 2. Here, each disc spring 5 corresponds to the "elastic body" of the present invention.

[0029] Each disc spring 5 is designed to apply frictional resistance to the rotation of each hood frame 3A throughout the entire range of motion of each hood frame 3A relative to the base frame 2. More specifically, each disc spring 5 is designed to locally increase the frictional resistance acting on each hood frame 3A when each hood frame 3A is in the retracted position shown in the figure.

[0030] In addition, each disc spring 5 is configured to always apply a constant frictional resistance force to each hood frame 3A in any range of motion other than the stored position by removing each hood frame 3A forward as shown in Figure 3 from the stored position shown in the figure. Below, the connecting structure between each hood frame 3A and the base frame 2, including the configuration of each disc spring 5, will be described in detail.

[0031] The connecting structures between each hood frame 3A and the base frame 2 are bilaterally symmetrical. Therefore, the following will describe in detail the connecting structure on the left side shown in Figures 2 and 3 as a representative example.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 4, at the connection portion between the hood frame 3A and the base frame 2, the hood frame 3A is arranged so as to line up on the outer side of the base frame 2 in the seat width direction. Further, on the outer side of the hood frame 3A in the seat width direction, a long plate-shaped pressing plate 6 is arranged so as to line up in the seat width direction. As a result, the hood frame 3A is arranged to be sandwiched between the pressing plate 6 and the base frame 2 in the seat width direction.

[0033] The rotating shaft member 4 is inserted from the outside in the seat width direction so as to penetrate through the retaining plate 6, the hood frame 3A, and the base frame 2. The rotating shaft member 4 is made of a shoulder bolt. The rotating shaft member 4 is inserted with a first washer 8 passing through two places: the part that passes between the retaining plate 6 and the hood frame 3A, and the part that passes between the hood frame 3A and the base frame 2.

[0034] The end of the rotating shaft member 4 that is passed through the base frame 2 is fastened to the nut 4A. As a result, the rotating shaft member 4 holds the pressing plate 6 and the base frame 2 between its head and the nut 4A. More specifically, the stepped portion of the shaft of the rotating shaft member 4 abuts against the base frame 2 from the outside in the seat width direction, and the base frame 2 is sandwiched between the stepped portion and the nut 4A.

[0035] Each first washer 8 functions as a spacer to secure a space between the retaining plate 6 and the hood frame 3A and between the hood frame 3A and the base frame 2. These first washers 8 hold the hood frame 3A between the base frame 2 and the retaining plate 6 so that it does not rattle in the seat width direction.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a curved hole A1 is formed in the hood frame 3A, penetrating in the seat width direction so as to curve around the rotation axis L. A through-shaft member 7, separate from the above-mentioned rotating shaft member 4, is further inserted into the above-mentioned pressing plate 6, hood frame 3A and base frame 2 so as to penetrate in the seat width direction. Here, the curved hole A1 corresponds to the "curved recess" of the present invention.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the insertion shaft member 7 is inserted so as to pass through a curved hole A1 formed in the hood frame 3A. Specifically, the insertion shaft member 7 is made of the same shoulder bolt as the rotating shaft member 4. The insertion shaft member 7 has a disc spring 5 passed through the portion that passes between the retaining plate 6 and the hood frame 3A, and a second washer 9 passed through the portion that passes between the hood frame 3A and the base frame 2.

[0038] The end of the inserting shaft member 7 that is passed through the base frame 2 is fastened to the nut 7A. As a result, the inserting shaft member 7 holds the pressing plate 6 and the base frame 2 so as to sandwich them between its head and the nut 7A. More specifically, the inserting shaft member 7 has a stepped portion of its shaft that abuts against the base frame 2 from the outside in the seat width direction, sandwiching the base frame 2 between the stepped portion and the nut 7A.

[0039] The disc spring 5 and the second washer 9 function as spacers that respectively secure the space between the retaining plate 6 and the hood frame 3A and the space between the hood frame 3A and the base frame 2. The disc spring 5 and the second washer 9 hold the hood frame 3A between the base frame 2 and the retaining plate 6 so that it does not rattle in the seat width direction.

[0040] The pressure plate 6 is connected to the base frame 2 integrally by the connection via the rotating shaft member 4 and the connection via the insertion shaft member 7. The hood frame 3A can then rotate around the rotating shaft member 4 (rotation axis L) relative to the integral pressure plate 6 and base frame 2.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, as the hood frame 3A rotates, the curved hole A1 formed in the hood frame 3A is displaced so as to change the position of the hole through which the insertion shaft member 7 passes. As shown in Figure 4, the disc spring 5 is arranged in a state where it is pressed and sandwiched between the pressing plate 6 and the hood frame 3A against the elastic force.

[0042] The disc spring 5 is oriented so that the head of the tapered truncated cone faces the hood frame 3A, and the bottom, on the opposite side, faces the retaining plate 6. When the hood frame 3A is in a range of motion other than the above-mentioned storage position (see Figure 3), the head of the disc spring 5 is elastically pressed against the peripheral surface of the curved hole A1 of the hood frame 3A from the outside in the seat width direction, as shown in Figure 5.

[0043] As a result, the disc spring 5 acts as a spring when pressed between the retaining plate 6 and the top frame 3A, applying frictional resistance to the rotation of the top frame 3A. This applies frictional resistance to the movement of the top frame 3A as it is deployed and stored by the user. This frictional resistance makes it possible to stop the top frame 3A in any position after it has been deployed and stored.

[0044] When the hood frame 3A is rotated to the storage position shown in Fig. 2, the disc spring 5 elastically fits into the expansion hole A2 formed in the curved hole A1 so that the head fits in (see Fig. 4). The expansion hole A2 is formed at the end of the curved hole A1 on the side around the rotation axis L (counterclockwise in the figure). Here, the expansion hole A2 corresponds to the "expansion recess" of the present invention.

[0045] The expansion hole A2 is formed in a shape that partially expands the hole shape of the curved hole A1 into a round hole. As shown in Figure 4, the head of the disc spring 5 fits into the expansion hole A2, so that it exerts a higher frictional resistance force on the top frame 3A than when the head is simply pressed against the peripheral surface of the curved hole A1 (see Figure 5).

[0046] Therefore, by moving the top frame 3A to the storage position shown in Figure 2, a strong frictional resistance force can be applied to the top frame 3A, which in turn can appropriately prevent the top frame 3A from being unexpectedly deployed forward from the storage position due to braking force or the like while the vehicle is moving.

[0047] On the other hand, when the top frame 3A is moved within a range of motion other than the storage position as shown in Figure 3, an appropriate amount of frictional resistance can be applied so as not to excessively impede operability. This makes it possible to achieve both ease of deploying and storing the top frame 3A and a secure locking force that stops it firmly in the storage position.

[0048] To summarize the above, the seat canopy device 1 according to this embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0049] That is, the seat canopy device (1) has a base frame (2) attached to the seat (S), and a hood frame (3A) connected to the base frame (2) so as to be deployable and storable around a rotation axis (L) extending in the seat width direction. The seat canopy device (1) also has a curved recess (A1) formed in one of the base frame (2) and the hood frame (3A) so as to form a recess in the seat width direction that curves around the rotation axis (L).

[0050] The seat canopy device (1) also has an elastic body (5) attached to the other frame (2) so as to be elastically pressed against the peripheral surface of the curved recess (A1) in the seat width direction. The curved recess (A1) has an expanding recess (A2) that can fit the elastic body (5) into the recess when the hood frame (3A) is at a predetermined rotation position.

[0051] According to the above configuration, the force of the elastic body (5) pressing against the peripheral surface of the curved recess (A1) of the top frame (3A) applies frictional resistance to the movement of the top frame (3A) when it is deployed and stored. Furthermore, by moving the top frame (3A) to a predetermined rotational position, the elastic body (5) can be elastically engaged with the expanding recess (A2) formed in the curved recess (A1) of the top frame (3A). As a result, the frictional resistance exerted by the elastic body (5) can be locally increased at the predetermined rotational position. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both ease of deployment and storage of the top frame (3A) and a secure locking force for stopping it at a predetermined position.

[0052] Furthermore, when the top frame (3A) is in the storage position, the elastic body (5) fits into the expansion recess (A2). According to the above configuration, the top frame (3A) can be appropriately prevented from being unexpectedly deployed from the storage position due to braking force or the like generated when the top frame (3A) is mounted on a vehicle.

[0053] In addition, the elastic body 5 is a disc spring 5 provided so that its head extending in a truncated cone shape faces the curved recess 5. According to the above configuration, the elastic body 5 can be provided thinly in the seat width direction.

[0054] The seat canopy device (1) also has a pressing plate (6) arranged to sandwich the hood frame (3A) between the base frame (2) from the outside in the seat width direction, and a rotating shaft member (4) forming a rotation axis (L) that passes through the pressing plate (6), the hood frame (3A), and the base frame (2) in the seat width direction. The seat canopy device (1) also has an insertion shaft member (7) that passes through the pressing plate (6), the hood frame (3A), and the base frame (2) in the seat width direction so as to pass through a curved hole (A1) that forms a curved recess (A1) formed in the hood frame (3A).

[0055] The seat canopy device (1) also has a first washer (8) that is passed through the rotating shaft member (4) and arranged at two locations: between the pressing plate (6) and the hood frame (3A) and between the hood frame (3A) and the base frame (2). The seat canopy device (1) also has a second washer (9) that is passed through the insertion shaft member (7) and arranged between the hood frame (3A) and the base frame (2).

[0056] An elastic body (5) made of a disc spring (5) is placed between the top frame (3A) and a retaining plate (6) that is passed through an insertion shaft member (7) and is integrated with the base frame (2). According to the above configuration, the elastic body (5) made of a disc spring (5) can be rationally provided so that it can function in place of a washer that would be provided between the retaining plate (6) and the top frame (3A).

[0057] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms other than the above embodiment.

[0058] 1. The seat canopy device of the present invention may be attached to a seat installed in a vehicle other than an automobile, such as a train, an airplane, or a ship. The seat canopy device may be configured so that the base frame is attached to any part of the seat. That is, in the above embodiment, the base frame is attached to a pair of left and right stays that support the headrest, but the base frame may also be attached to the seat back or the headrest.

[0059] 2. The curved recess may be formed in the base frame instead of the hood frame. Furthermore, the curved recess may be formed as a recess recessed in the seat width direction instead of a curved hole penetrating in the seat width direction. This is because the curved recess does not need to be a hole, but rather it is possible to press an elastic body against its surrounding surface or fit it into an expanding recess that expands from the curved recess. In this sense, the expanding recess may also be formed as a recess recessed in the seat width direction instead of a hole penetrating in the seat width direction.

[0060] The expansion recess may be formed at a position where the elastic body fits when the top frame is in the storage position, or at a position where the elastic body fits when the top frame is in the maximum extension position or an intermediate position between extension and storage. Also, the expansion recess is not limited to being formed at one location within the range of motion of the top frame, but may be formed at multiple locations.

[0061] 3. The elastic body may be a disc spring, a plunger or rubber.

[0062] 4. The hood frame may be connected to the base frame so as to be aligned on the inside in the seat width direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Seat canopy device 2 Base frame (other frame) 2A Extension arm 3. Hood 3A Canopy frame (one side) A1 curved hole (curved recess) A2 Expansion hole (expansion recess) 3B subframe 3C hood cloth 4 Rotating shaft member 4A Nut 5 Disc spring (elastic body) 6 Retaining plate 7. Inserting shaft member 7A Nut 8 First washer 9 Second washer L rotation axis S seat SB seat back HR headrest HS Stay

Claims

1. A seat canopy device having a base frame attached to a seat, a hood frame connected to the base frame so as to be deployable and storable around a rotation axis extending in the seat width direction; a curved recess formed in one of the base frame and the hood frame so as to form a recess in the seat width direction that curves around the rotation axis; an elastic body provided on the other frame so as to be elastically pressed against the peripheral surface of the curved recess in the seat width direction, The curved recess has an expanding recess that can fit the elastic body into the recess when the hood frame is in a predetermined rotation position.

2. The seat canopy device according to claim 1, A seat canopy device in which the elastic body fits into the expansion recess when the hood frame is in the storage position.

3. The seat canopy device according to claim 1 or 2, The seat canopy device, wherein the elastic body is a disc spring provided so that a head portion extending in a truncated cone shape faces the curved recess.

4. The seat canopy device according to claim 3, A pressing plate is arranged to sandwich the hood frame between the base frame and the hood frame from the outside in the seat width direction; A rotating shaft member that forms the rotation axis and is passed through the pressing plate, the hood frame, and the base frame in the seat width direction; an insertion shaft member that is passed through the pressing plate, the hood frame, and the base frame in the seat width direction so as to pass through a curved hole that forms the curved recess formed in the hood frame; a first washer that is passed through the rotary shaft member and disposed at two locations, one between the pressing plate and the hood frame and the other between the hood frame and the base frame; a second washer that is passed through the insertion shaft member and disposed between the hood frame and the base frame; The seat canopy device is arranged between the retaining plate and the hood frame, and the elastic body, which is made of a disc spring, is passed through the insertion shaft member and is integrated with the base frame.

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