Vehicle seats

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle seat that allows for adjustment of the seat cushion's height and angle using a simple mechanism. [Solution] The automobile seat 1 comprises a seat cushion 2, a rotation axis 8 positioned in front of the seat cushion 2 with its axial direction in the seat width direction relative to the floor 40, and a fixing device positioned behind the rotation axis 8. The fixing device comprises a locking device 10 positioned on the seat cushion 2 and an engaging device S positioned on the floor 40 with which the locking device 10 can engage. The engaging device S comprises a fixed striker 20 that engages with the locking device 10 in a normal position where the seat cushion 2 is in its normal state, and a movable striker 30 that engages with the locking device 10 at a position higher than the normal position. The movable striker 30 can be in a usage state where it protrudes upward from the floor 40 and a stored state at a position lower than the usage state.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in vehicle seats equipped in vehicles such as automobiles, there are some that include a device for adjusting the height and angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion. In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, the seat frame is connected to the base body by a front link member and a rear link member, and both the front link member and the rear link member are rotatably coupled to both the seat frame and the base body. And either the front link member or the rear link member can be relatively displaced at the coupling point with respect to the seat frame, and the front link member and the rear link member are connected by a telescopic link member. Thus, by expanding and contracting the telescopic link member to move at least one of the front link member and the rear link member, the seat frame can be moved to adjust the height and angle of the seating surface of the seat with respect to the base body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When trying to do desk work in the vehicle, there may be a case where it is desired to adjust the height and angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion according to the height of the desk. In such a case, in the vehicle seat described in the above Patent Document 1, it is possible to adjust the height and angle of the seating surface of the seat cushion, but there is a problem that a complicated mechanism such as using a telescopic link member, which is a special member, is required.

[0005] In view of these problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that allows for adjustment of the height and angle of the seat cushion with a simple mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion, a rotation axis disposed in front of the seat cushion with its axial direction in the direction of the seat width relative to the floor, and a fixing device disposed behind the rotation axis, wherein the fixing device comprises a locking device disposed on the seat cushion and an engaging device disposed on the floor and into which the locking device can engage, wherein the engaging device comprises a normal device that engages with the locking device in a normal position when the seat cushion is in its normal state, and a desk work device that engages with the locking device at a position higher than the normal position, wherein the desk work device can take a usage state in which it protrudes upward from the floor and a storage state at a position lower than the usage state.

[0007] According to the first invention, the height and angle of the seat cushion can be adjusted with a simple mechanism that supports the front of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable relative to the floor by a pivot axis, and provides a locking device on the seat cushion side and an engagement device on the floor side consisting of a normal use device and a desk work device at the rear of the seat cushion.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the normal use device is a fixed striker fixed to the floor with its axial direction in the direction of the sheet width, and the desk work device is a movable striker with its axial direction in the direction of the sheet width, whose vertical position relative to the floor can be changed.

[0009] According to the second invention, the engagement device can consist of a fixed striker and a movable striker, thus simplifying the mechanism.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is a tumble seat in which, in the first or second invention described above, the vehicle seat has a seat back that is rotatably attached to the rear end side of the seat cushion via a pivot axis whose axial direction is in the seat width direction, and the seat cushion and the seat back can be rotated around the pivot axis to raise them up when the seat back is facing and overlapping the seat cushion, thereby achieving a stored state substantially perpendicular to the floor.

[0011] According to the third invention, even if the vehicle seat is a tumble seat, the height and angle of the seat cushion can be adjusted with a simple mechanism.

[0012] The fourth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second invention described above, the movable striker comprises a cylindrical striker, a pair of link plates extending parallel to each other, and a support bracket having a pair of side portions extending vertically to each other and a bottom portion connecting the lower ends of the pair of side portions, wherein the striker is attached to one end of the pair of link plates, the other end of the pair of link plates is rotatably supported by the pair of side portions of the support bracket, at least one of the pair of side portions has a stopper portion formed thereon that abuts against either of the pair of link plates to stop the rotation of the pair of link plates, and the bottom portion is fixed to the floor.

[0013] According to the fourth invention, a movable striker can be constructed with a simple structure consisting of a striker, a pair of link plates, and a support bracket. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a side view of an automotive seat according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the locking mechanism in its normal position. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the automobile seat of the above embodiment, seen from the side. It shows the locking device in a position higher than its normal position. [Figure 3]This is a side view of the locking device of the above embodiment, showing the unlocked state. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3. [Figure 5] This is a side view of the locking device of the above embodiment. It shows the locked state. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the moving striker of the above embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a side view of the movable striker of the above embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a side view of an automobile seat according to another embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Based on Figures 1 to 7, an automobile seat 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the description of direction will be based on the up, down, front, and rear directions shown in each figure. Here, the up, down, front, and rear directions are defined based on the automobile seat 1 when it is mounted on the floor 40. The left and right direction corresponds to the seat width direction. Here, the automobile seat 1 corresponds to the "vehicle seat" in the claims.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the automobile seat 1 includes a seat cushion 2 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant, a seat back 3 that supports the waist and back of the seated occupant, and a headrest 16 that supports the head of the seated occupant.

[0017] The seat cushion 2 comprises a frame 4 that forms the skeleton, a pad 5 which is a cushioning material placed over the frame 4, and a trim cover 6 which is a surface material that covers the surface of the pad 5. The lower front end of the frame 4 is rotatable around a rotation axis 8 whose axial direction is in the direction of the seat width, and which is supported by a pair of left and right brackets 7 on the floor 40. A pair of left and right locking devices 10 are attached to the lower rear end of the frame 4.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking device 10 has two opposing base plates 11, and a hook 12, a pole 13, and a push-in cam 14 disposed between the base plates 11. However, FIGS. 3 and 5 show the state with the base plate 11 located on the front side of the paper removed. The locking device 10 is fixed to the left and right end portions of the frame 4 by two rivets 9 extending in the left-right direction to the two base plates 11. Note that FIG. 3 shows the unlocked state, and FIG. 5 shows the locked state.

[0019] The base plate 11 has a recess 111 that opens downward at its lower part. This recess 111 can receive the engaging device S (fixed striker 20 or movable striker 30) from its open side. Further, the base plate 11 has a stopper 112 with a shape in which the edge near the lower part of the rear side is partially bent, and a spring hanging part 113 with a shape in which a part of the upper part of the front side is bent. Here, the locking device 10 and the engaging device S correspond to the "fixing device" in the claims.

[0020] The hook 12 is supported so as to rotate on a hook shaft 121 whose both ends are fixed to the two base plates 11. The hook 12 has a hook recess 122 that opens forward and downward in FIG. 3. The hook recess 122 engages with the engaging device S received in the recess 111 of the base plate 11, and clamps the engaging device S between the recess 111, whereby the locking device 10 is in a locked state. The hook 12 has an engaging surface 123 formed by being cut in the axial direction of the hook shaft 121 on its outer peripheral portion, and a receiving surface 124 on the upper side following the engaging surface 123. Further, the hook 12 has a spring hanging pin 125 protruding in a direction parallel to the hook shaft 121.

[0021] The pole 13 is supported on the axis of the pole shaft 131, which is rotatably supported on two base plates 11, and rotates together with the pole shaft 131. In other words, the pole shaft 131 is basically cylindrical in shape, with flat surfaces provided at two locations on the outer circumference of the part that supports the pole 13, and the cross-sectional shape (oval shape) of these parts corresponds to the shape of the hole in the pole 13. At the tip of the pole 13, a locking end surface 132 is formed to contact the engagement surface 123 of the hook 12 and hold the hook 12 in a locked state. Furthermore, the pole 13 has a projection 133 that protrudes in a direction parallel to the pole shaft 131.

[0022] The base end of a release lever 15 is fixed to one end of the pole shaft 131, outside the base plate 11. An operating cable (not shown) for unlocking is connected to the tip of the release lever 15, and the release lever 15 rotates together with the pole shaft 131 when the lock is released. As a result, the pole 13 rotates integrally with the pole shaft 131.

[0023] The release lever 15 has a spring attachment portion 151 near the middle of both ends. A lock spring 152, using a tension coil spring, is attached between this spring attachment portion 151 and the spring attachment pin 125 of the hook 12. Due to the elastic force of the lock spring 152, the hook 12 is biased counterclockwise around the hook axis 121 in Figure 3, and at the same time, the release lever 15 and the pole 13 are biased clockwise around the pole axis 131 in Figure 3.

[0024] The drive cam 14 is supported to rotate on the axis of the hook shaft 121. The drive cam 14 has a contact surface 141 on the edge of the base plate 11 closest to the recess 111 that can contact the engaging device S. The center of the drive cam 14 is provided with an opening 142 shaped to avoid interference with the pole shaft 131. A portion of the edge of the opening 142 is a locking surface 143 having a predetermined length in the front-rear direction in Figure 3. The projection 133 of the pole 13 is located inside the opening 142, and this projection 133 interferes with the locking surface 143.

[0025] The locking cam 14 has a spring attachment portion 144 at its rear upper side in Figure 3. A locking spring 145, using a tension coil spring, is attached between this spring attachment portion 144 and the spring attachment portion 113 of the base plate 11. The elastic force of this locking spring 145 biases the locking cam 14 in a counterclockwise direction around the hook shaft 121 in Figure 3. That is, the direction of rotation of the locking cam 14 due to the biasing force of the locking spring 145 is the same as the direction of rotation of the hook 12 due to the biasing force of the lock spring 152.

[0026] The operation of the locking device 10 will now be described. When the engaging device S moves relative to the recess 111 of the base plate 11 from the unlocked state shown in Figure 3, the hook 12 rotates clockwise against the biasing force of the lock spring 152, and its hook recess 122 engages with the engaging device S (Figure 5). The pole 13 disengages from the receiving surface 124 of the hook 12 and rotates clockwise due to the biasing force of the lock spring 152, causing the locking end surface 132 of the pole 13 to contact the engaging surface 123 of the hook 12, locking the hook 12 in the rotational position shown in Figure 5. Also, the rotation of the pole 13 causes the projection 133 to disengage from the locking surface 143 of the drive cam 14, and the drive cam 14 rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the drive spring 145. As a result, the contact surface 141 of the cam 14 comes into contact with the engagement device S, and the biasing force of the push-in spring 152 presses the engagement device S from the opposite direction of the hook 12, holding the locking device 10 in the locked state. In this locked state, the engagement device S is firmly clamped at three points: the recess 111 of the base plate 11, the hook recess 122 of the hook 12, and the contact surface 141 of the push-in cam 14. Therefore, the locking device 10 and the engagement device S are coupled without any looseness.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the engagement device S installed on the floor 40 includes a fixed striker 20 that engages with the locking device 10 in its normal position, and a movable striker 30 for desk work that can engage at a position higher than the normal position. The fixed striker 20 and the movable striker 30 are provided in pairs, one on the left and one on the right, corresponding to the locking device 10. Here, the fixed striker 20 and the movable striker 30 correspond to the "normal use device" and the "desk work device" in the claims, respectively.

[0028] The fixed striker 20 is a cylindrical member with its axial direction running left to right, and is positioned on the front side of a recess 42 that is recessed from the general surface 41 of the floor 40. When the locking device 10 engages with the fixed striker 20, the locking device 10 is in its normal position, and the seat cushion 2 is in its normal state, supporting the occupant in a normal seating posture.

[0029] The movable striker 30 is configured to be selectable between a stored state, where it is positioned in the recess 42 of the floor 40 as shown in Figure 1, and a usage state, where it is positioned higher than the general surface 41 of the floor 40 as shown in Figure 2. Specifically, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the movable striker 30 is rotatable vertically around a striker rotation axis 32, whose axial direction is left-right, relative to a striker bracket 33 fixed to the bottom surface of the recess 42 of the floor 40 by a pair of left and right arms 31. The pair of left and right arms 31 are strip-shaped with the same shape, and when facing each other, their front ends are connected to the striker rotation axis 32 in Figure 6, and their rear ends are connected to the movable striker 30. The striker bracket 33 has a bottom surface 331 fixed to the bottom surface of the recess 42, and a pair of left and right side surfaces 332 that extend upward from the left and right ends of the bottom surface 331. The left and right ends of the striker rotation axis 32 are fixed across the pair of left and right side surfaces 332. A stopper portion 333 extending toward the right is formed on the left side portion 332. When the pair of left and right arms 31 are rotated counterclockwise around the striker rotation axis 32 together with the movable striker 30 in Figure 7, the front side of the left arm 31 comes into contact with the stopper portion 333 and the rotation is stopped. In Figure 7, the state shown by the solid line is the stored state of the movable striker 30, and the state shown by the dashed line is the operational state of the movable striker 30. In Figure 2, the dimension of the line connecting the center of the rotation axis 8 and the center of the movable striker 30 in the operational state of the movable striker 30 is set to be equal to the dimension of the line connecting the center of the rotation axis 8 and the center of the fixed striker 20. Here, the arm 31 and the striker bracket 33 correspond to the "link plate" and "support bracket" in the claims, respectively.

[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the seat back 3 is rotatably connected at its lower end to the rear end of the seat cushion 2. The seat back 3 can be positioned in an upright position, shown by the solid line in Figure 1, and in a reclined position, shown by the dashed line, where the seat cushion 2 is folded down so that its seat surface faces the seat cushion 2. The automobile seat 1 is a so-called tumble seat in which the seat back 3 can be folded down and the seat cushion 2 can be rotated together with the seat back 3 around the pivot axis 8 to be stored.

[0031] As described above, this embodiment provides the following effects. The automobile seat 1 has the front end of the seat cushion 2 supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the floor 40 around a pivot axis 8, and the rear end of the seat cushion 2 is provided with an engagement device S consisting of a pair of left and right locking devices 10 on the seat cushion 2 side and a fixed striker 20 and a movable striker 30 on the floor 40 side. This allows the height and angle of the seat surface of the seat cushion 2 to be adjusted with a simple mechanism.

[0032] Furthermore, the automobile seat 1 is a tumble seat that can be rotated around a pivot axis 8 to raise the seat cushion 2 and seat back 3 while the seat back 3 is superimposed on the seat cushion 2, thereby storing it in a nearly perpendicular position relative to the floor 40. This allows the height and angle of the seat cushion 2 to be adjusted with a simple mechanism, even though the automobile seat 1 is a tumble seat.

[0033] Furthermore, the movable striker 30 has a structure that allows it to rotate vertically around a striker rotation axis 32 relative to a striker bracket 33 fixed to the bottom surface of a recess 42 in the floor 40 by a pair of left and right arms 31. A stopper portion 333 is formed on the left side portion 332 of the striker bracket 33. This allows the movable striker 30 to be constructed with a simple structure.

[0034] Figure 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the above embodiment is that the seat cushion 2A and the seat back 3A are each attached separately to the floor 40A. Components common to the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. The seat cushion 2A has a frame 4A that forms the skeleton, a pad 5A which is a cushioning material that is placed over the frame 4A, and a trim cover 6A which is a surface material that covers the surface of the pad 5A. The lower front end of the frame 4A is rotatable around a rotation axis 8 whose axial direction is the seat width direction, which is supported by a pair of left and right brackets 7A on the floor 40A. A pair of left and right locking devices 10 are attached to the lower rear end of the frame 4A. As shown by the solid lines in Figure 8, when the locking device 10 engages with the fixed striker 20, the locking device 10 is in its normal position, and the seat cushion 2A is in its normal state, supporting the occupant in a normal seating posture. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 8, when the locking device 10 engages with the movable striker 30 in use, the locking device 10 is in a position higher than its normal position, and the seat cushion 2A is in an optimal position for desk work. The seat back 3A is rotatably connected in the front-rear direction to a bracket 43 fixed to the floor 40A at its lower end.

[0035] As described above, this embodiment provides the following effects. The automobile seat 1A has a front end lower side of the seat cushion 2A that is rotatably supported on the floor 40A around a pivot axis 8, and an engagement device S consisting of a pair of left and right locking devices 10 on the seat cushion 2A side and a fixed striker 20 and a movable striker 30 on the floor 40A side is provided on the rear end lower side of the seat cushion 2A. This allows the height and angle of the seat surface of the seat cushion 2A to be adjusted with a simple mechanism.

[0036] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to their appearance and configuration, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without altering the essence of the invention. For example, the following can be made.

[0037] 1. In the above embodiment, the movable striker 30 is configured to be positioned in the recessed portion 42 of the floor 40 when stored, but it is not limited to this configuration, and may be positioned in the recessed portion 42 of the floor 40 when stored.

[0038] 2. In the above embodiment, the present invention was applied to an automobile seat 1, but it may also be applied to seats in railway vehicles or the like. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 1.1A Automotive Seat 2.2A Seat Cushion 3.3A Seatback 8 rotation axes 10. Locking device (fixing device) 20 Fixed striker (standard device) 30. Mobile Striker (Desk work device, Striker) 31 Arm (link plate) 32 Striker rotation axis 33. Striker bracket (support bracket) 40,40A Floor 41 General area 42 Recessed area 331 Bottom part 332 Side part 333 Stopper section S Engagement device

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion, a rotation axis positioned in front of the seat cushion with its axial direction in the direction of the seat width relative to the floor, and a fixing device positioned behind the rotation axis, The fixing device comprises a locking device disposed on the seat cushion and an engaging device disposed on the floor and into which the locking device can engage. The engagement device comprises a normal-use device that engages with the locking device in the normal position where the seat cushion is in its normal state, and a desk work device that engages with the locking device at a position higher than the normal position. The desk work device is a vehicle seat that can be positioned in a state of use where it protrudes upward from the floor, and in a stored state where it is positioned lower than the state of use.

2. In claim 1, The aforementioned standard device is a fixed striker fixed to the floor with its axial direction in the direction of the sheet width, The aforementioned desk work device is a vehicle seat which is a movable striker whose axial direction is the seat width direction and whose vertical position relative to the floor can be changed.

3. In claim 1 or claim 2 The aforementioned vehicle seat has a seat back that is rotatably attached to the rear end side of the seat cushion via a pivot axis whose axial direction is in the seat width direction, A vehicle seat which is a tumble seat that allows the seat cushion and the seat back to be rotated around the rotation axis so as to be raised when the seat back is placed facing the seat cushion and overlapped, thereby achieving a storage state that is substantially perpendicular to the floor.

4. In claim 2 The movable striker comprises a cylindrical striker, a pair of parallel link plates facing each other, and a support bracket having a pair of vertically extending side portions facing each other and a bottom portion connecting the lower ends of the pair of side portions. The striker is attached to one end of the pair of link plates, and the other end of the pair of link plates is rotatably supported by the pair of side portions of the support bracket. A stopper portion is formed on at least one of the pair of side portions to abut against one of the pair of link plates and stop the rotation of the pair of link plates. The bottom portion is a vehicle seat fixed to the floor.

Images