Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat which does not need to secure a space for a seat cushion more than necessary on the front side of the seat, and can suppress back displacement when reclining.SOLUTION: The vehicle seat 10 includes the recliner 18 to which the seatback 14 is fixed, the recliner 18 coupling the seat cushion 12 and the seatback 14 together and being configured to adjust a tilt angle of the seatback 14 with respect to the seat cushion 12, and the rail 20 that is provided at a side portion of the seat cushion 12, that is formed in a substantially circular arc shape centered on a reclining center, to which the recliner 18 is coupled so as to be capable of moving along a track, and that guides the recliner 18 along the track such that a reclining rotation center is positioned corresponding to a hip point HP of a seated occupant during reclining.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Generally, in a vehicle seat, for example, a front seat for a vehicle, the seat back can be reclined by operating a reclining mechanism.

[0003] Prior Art Document 1 below discloses a vehicle seat in which the seat back is tilted backward by operating a recliner. Briefly, this vehicle seat includes a recliner consisting of a fixed side and a rotating side, the fixed side of which is fixed to a base member bracket, and a seat back frame and a seat cushion frame, each of which are connected to the rotating part of the recliner via a link member or the like. This prevents the occupant's clothing from sliding up on their back (hereinafter referred to as "back slippage") when the seat back is tilted backward with the occupant's hip point and the center of rotation of the seat back not aligned. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2014-180983 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the vehicle seat of the above-mentioned prior art, as the rearward tilt angle of the seatback is adjusted via the recliner, the seatback is tilted rearward together with the bracket, and the seat cushion frame is moved toward the front of the seat, which poses a problem in that it is necessary to allow extra space in front of the seat according to the amount of movement of the seat cushion frame.

[0006] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that does not require more space than necessary for the seat cushion in front of the seat and that can prevent the back from shifting when reclining. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle seat of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises a recliner to which a seat back is fixed and which connects the seat back to a seat cushion and adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion, and a rail provided on the side of the seat cushion, which is formed in an approximately arc shape centered on the reclining center and to which the recliner is connected so that it can move along a track, and which guides the recliner along the track so that the reclining rotation center is positioned corresponding to the hip point of the seated occupant when reclined.

[0008] According to the present invention, the seat back is fixed to the recliner. Therefore, when the recliner moves along the approximately arc-shaped recliner path provided on the side of the seat cushion, the seat back moves together with the recliner relative to the seat cushion. As a result, the seat back is reclined, but the seat cushion itself does not move in the fore-and-aft direction of the seat. Therefore, no space is required further forward of the seat cushion to ensure movement of the seat cushion.

[0009] Furthermore, when the recliner moves along the arc-shaped rail, the center of the seatback's reclining is positioned at the hip point of the seated occupant, so there is essentially no relative movement between the seatback and the back of the seated occupant even when the seatback is reclined, and so the problem of back slippage does not occur. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the vehicle seat according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 has the excellent effect of eliminating the need to secure more space for the seat cushion than necessary and preventing the back from shifting when reclining. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a basic structure of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2(A) is a side view of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1 in normal use, and FIG. 2(B) is a side view of the vehicle seat in a lying position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Note that the arrow UP shown in each figure indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the arrow IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] (Overall structure of vehicle seat 10) As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment includes a seat cushion 12 that is arranged parallel to the vehicle floor and supports the buttocks and thighs of the occupant, and a seat back 14 that is erected at the rear end of the seat cushion 12 and supports the back of the occupant.

[0014] 1 and 2, a pair of left and right metallic side frames 16 are disposed on both sides of the seat cushion 12. Each side frame 16 is formed in a generally rectangular flat plate shape, with its longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction of the seat and its thickness direction extending in the width direction of the seat. A metallic seat back frame 17 is disposed on the seat back 14 and is formed in a generally inverted U shape when viewed from the front and in a plan view.

[0015] A pair of front and rear fixing brackets 23 (see FIG. 1) are disposed on the lower end of the side frame 16. The fixing brackets 23 are supported on a seat slide rail fixed to the vehicle floor (not shown) so as to be movable forward and backward, thereby supporting the vehicle seat 10 on the vehicle floor so that the forward and backward position thereof can be adjusted.

[0016] (Main structure of vehicle seat) Next, the structure of the main parts of the vehicle seat 10 will be described in detail.

[0017] The vehicle seat 10 described above is configured to be reclined using a reclining mechanism. Specifically, a recliner 18 provided on the seatback frame 17 is guided along a rail 20 installed on the side frame 16 of the seat cushion 12, thereby allowing the reclining angle of the seatback 14 to be adjusted.

[0018] First, the recliners 18 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the recliners 18 are respectively disposed on the outer sides of the lower portions of both sides of the seatback frame 17. Each recliner 18 is configured as a plate-like member formed in a generally J-shape when viewed from the side of the seat. The upper end of each recliner 18 is fastened (fixed) at three locations to the outer side of the lower portion of the seatback frame 17 using bolts 21 and weld nuts (not shown). In addition, a rail box (slider) 24 formed in a generally box shape is fastened to the inner surface of the lower end of each recliner 18 using a plurality of bolts 22. Therefore, the rail box 24 is integrated with the recliner 18.

[0019] Meanwhile, the rail 20 is disposed on the outer surface of the side frame 16 described above. The rail 20 is formed in a generally quadrant shape when viewed from the side of the seat. One end of the rail 20 is disposed at the upper edge of the longitudinally middle portion of the side frame 16, and the other end is disposed at the rear end of the side frame 16. The rail 20 has a generally U-shaped vertical cross section (a U-shape with flanges on both sides). A rail box 24 of the recliner 18 is fitted onto the rail 20 so as to be slidable along a track.

[0020] 1 and 2, a straight rod 32 is suspended between the left and right side frames 16. A drive motor 36 is connected to the axially intermediate portion of the rod 32. The motor 36 is attached to a support frame 40 that is suspended between the left and right side frames 16. The output shaft of the motor 36 meshes with an input gear (not shown) disposed approximately axially intermediate the rod 32 via a reduction mechanism (not shown). Therefore, when the motor 36 is driven to rotate, the rod 32 rotates forward or backward about its axis.

[0021] Additionally, hat-shaped support brackets 26 are disposed on the outer sides of the left and right side frames 16 in the seat width direction. An intermediate portion 26A of the support bracket 26 is disposed so as to protrude toward the lower side of the seat, and a straight rod-shaped feed screw 28 is disposed to pass through this intermediate portion 26A along the side frame 16. A joint bracket 30 is attached to the rear end of the feed screw 28, and this joint bracket 30 is rotatably connected around a support shaft 31 erected at the bottom of the recliner 18. A stopper is provided at the front end of the feed screw 28.

[0022] A worm gear 34 mounted on the axially intermediate portion of the feed screw 28 is disposed inside the intermediate portion 26A of the support bracket 26. The worm gear 34 meshes with the feed screw 28, and also meshes with the rod 32. Therefore, when the rod 32 rotates around its axis, the rotational force is transmitted to the worm gear 34 and then to the feed screw 28.

[0023] Here, the center of curvature O of the track of the rail 20 is set to approximately coincide with the hip point HP of a seated occupant (a dummy of standard build, such as AM50). In other words, the recliner 18 is made rotatable about the support shaft 31, so that the center of rotation of the recliner 18 is set at the support shaft 31, and another center of rotation is set by the rod 32 on the front side of the seat of the recliner 18 so that the recliner 18 can move along the track of the arc-shaped rail 20, so that the center of rotation when reclining is set to be located at a position equivalent to the hip point (HP) of the seated occupant.

[0024] (Actions and Effects of the Embodiments) The operation and effects of this embodiment will be described below.

[0025] The state shown in FIG. 3A is the normal use state of the vehicle seat 10. When the occupant reclines the seat back 14 from this state, the motor 36 rotates forward, causing the rod 32 to rotate about its axis (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). Furthermore, as the rod 32 rotates, the torque is transmitted from the worm gear 34 to the lead screw 28, which advances the lead screw 28 toward the front of the seat (in the direction of arrow B) as shown in FIG. 3B. This pulls the recliner 18 by the lead screw 28, moving the rail box 24 toward the front and upper side of the seat (in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 3A) along the track of the rail 20. As a result, the seat back 14 is tilted backward in the direction of arrow D around the occupant's hip point HP. To return the seat back 14 to its original position, the motor 36 is driven in the reverse direction.

[0026] As described above, in this embodiment, the rail 20, which is approximately arc-shaped in side view, is disposed on the side of the seat cushion 12, and the center of curvature O of this rail 20 is shaped to be at a position equivalent to the hip point HP of the seated occupant. The recliner 18, which is J-shaped in side view, moves along the rail 20 by receiving the driving force of the motor 36. Therefore, even if the seat back 14 is tilted backward during reclining, there is basically no relative movement between the front of the seat back 14 and the back of the seated occupant. Therefore, the problem of so-called back slippage does not occur.

[0027] Furthermore, when the seat back 14 is reclined, the seat back 14 and the recliner 18 move together along the rail 20. As a result, the seat back 14 is reclined, but the seat cushion 12 itself does not move in the front-to-rear direction of the seat due to the reclining. Therefore, no space is required further forward of the seat cushion 12 to ensure the movement of the seat cushion 12.

[0028] As described above, according to this embodiment, there is no need to secure more space than necessary for the seat cushion 12 on the front side of the seat, and it is possible to prevent the back from shifting when reclining.

[0029] In addition to the above-described advantages, this embodiment also provides the following advantages. Specifically, the rails 20 are provided on the side surfaces of the side frames 16, and the recliner 18, which is generally J-shaped in side view, moves on these rails 20. This prevents the above-described device components from protruding outward in the seat width direction of the seat cushion 12. This significantly reduces the possibility of the device components coming into contact with the human body (especially the buttocks) when the occupant is seated. This not only prevents restrictions on the physique of the seated occupant, but also eliminates the need to ensure an unnecessarily large seat installation width for the vehicle seat 10.

[0030] Although the present embodiment uses an arc-shaped rail 20, the present invention is not limited to this, and any rail formed in a substantially arc-shaped configuration may be used. For example, a rail shaped by combining arc-shaped portions with multiple radii of curvature may be used, as long as the rail has a shape that suppresses back slippage. Instead of a rail with a constant radius of curvature, a rail formed in a substantially arc-shaped configuration by combining straight and curved lines may be used, which allows for greater freedom of recliner movement. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14 Seat Bag 16 Side frame 18 Reclining Chair 20 Rail HP Hip Point

Claims

[Claim 1] a recliner to which a seat back is fixed and which connects a seat cushion and the seat back, and which adjusts the tilt angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion; a rail provided on a side of the seat cushion, formed in a substantially arc shape with the reclining center as its center, to which the recliner is connected so as to be movable along the track, and which guides the recliner along the track so that the reclining rotation center is positioned at a position corresponding to the hip point of a seated occupant when reclining; A vehicle seat having:

Images