Vehicle seating system

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle seat device that can suppress vibrations of the seat back during vehicle operation, even when the seat position is adjusted to the rear and no occupant is seated in the seat. [Solution] In a vehicle seat device, when a pair of outer rails are installed on the vehicle body, the outer rail installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and of the pair of bearings, the bearing on the inside in the vehicle width direction is positioned further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the bearing on the outside in the vehicle width direction when the seat is in its rearmost position in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle seat device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle seat device capable of adjusting the position of a seat back and forth. Such a vehicle seat device has at least one pair of seat rails. Each of the at least one pair of seat rails has a first seat rail fixed to a structure and a second seat rail guided within the first seat rail and connected to a vehicle seat. Balls are arranged between the first seat rail and the second seat rail to reduce friction. The balls are arranged in ball holders and roll along ball tracks formed by the first seat rail.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, when the seat position is adjusted to the rear and no occupant is seated on the seat, the seat back may vibrate with the balls (bearings) as support points due to the running of the vehicle.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a vehicle seat device capable of suppressing vibration of the seat back during vehicle running even when no occupant is seated on the seat when the seat position is adjusted to the rear.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A vehicle seat device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle seat device comprising a pair of seat rails and a seat installed straddling the pair of seat rails, wherein the pair of seat rails includes a pair of outer rails installed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a pair of inner rails fitted into each of the pair of outer rails, and a pair of bearings provided between each of the pair of outer rails and each of the pair of inner rails, wherein when the pair of outer rails are installed on the vehicle body, the outer rail installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than the rear end of the outer rail installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction, or when the pair of inner rails are installed on the vehicle body, the inner rail installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than the rear end of the inner rail on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and of the pair of bearings, the inner bearing in the vehicle width direction is installed so as to be located further rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than the outer bearing in the vehicle width direction when the seat is in its rearmost position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, vibrations of the seat back during vehicle operation can be suppressed even when the seat position is adjusted to the rearward side and no occupant is seated in the seat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a view of a vehicle seat device according to an embodiment, seen from the outside in the vehicle width direction toward the inside. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the vehicle seat device as viewed from the front to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. [Figure 3] This figure shows a cross-section of the seat rail shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the position of the inner rail and bearing when the seat is in its furthest forward position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. [Figure 5]This diagram shows the position of the inner rail and bearing when the seat is in its rearmost position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. [Figure 6] This is a view along the line VI-VI shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] This diagram shows a pair of bearings and stoppers located in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the vibration input point P1 and vibration output point P3 of a vehicle seat device. [Figure 9] This figure shows the vibration transmission coefficient in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. [Figure 10] This figure shows the vibration transmission coefficient in the vehicle width direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc., of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0010] The vehicle seat device 1 according to this embodiment is installed in the passenger seat of a two-row seat vehicle such as a family car, or in the passenger seat or second-row seat of a three-row seat vehicle such as a minivan, but is not limited to this.

[0011] [Configuration of vehicle seating system] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle seat device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a pair of seat rails 11 and 13, and a seat 15 mounted across the pair of seat rails 11 and 13. The pair of seat rails 11 and 13 are installed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the seat 15 is moved and adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The pair of seat rails 11 and 13 are each fixed to the vehicle body by a pair of legs 17, 19, 21, and 23 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The seat 15 includes a seat cushion 25, a seat back 27 that is angle-adjustable and attached to the seat cushion 25, and a headrest 29 that is height-adjustable and attached to the seat back 27.

[0012] The pair of seat rails 11, 13 includes a pair of outer rails 31, 33 installed along the vehicle longitudinal direction, a pair of inner rails 35, 37 fitted to each of the pair of outer rails 31, 33, and a pair of bearings 39, 41 provided between each of the pair of outer rails 31, 33 and each of the pair of inner rails 35, 37, respectively.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the outer rails 31, 33 according to the embodiment are outer rails with an upper opening, and the inner rails 35, 37 are inner rails fitted on the outer rails 31, 33. Thereby, the outer rails 31, 33 and the inner rails 35, 37 are relatively movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Note that the outer rails 31, 33 and the inner rails 35, 37 are not limited to this as long as they are relatively movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction. For example, the outer rails may be outer rails with a side opening, and the inner rails 35, 37 may be inner rails fitted beside the outer rails 31, 33.

[0014] The opening edge portions of the outer rails 31, 33 according to the embodiment are bent downward from the inside, and the opening edge portions of the inner rails 35, 37 are bent upward from the outside. The opening edge portions of the inner rails 35, 37 are engaged with the opening edge portions of the outer rails 31, 33, and the inner rails 35, 37 are constrained by the outer rails 31, 33.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the pair of bearings 39, 41 according to the embodiment has a pair of bearings 43, 45, 47, 49 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. These bearings 43 to 49 constitute support points for supporting the seat 15 and make the movement between the outer rails 31, 33 and the inner rails 35, 37 smooth.

[0016] These bearings 43 to 49 are not fixed to either the outer rails 31, 33 or the inner rails 35, 37, but move between the outer rails 31, 33 and the inner rails 35, 37, but are not limited to this, and may be fixed to either the outer rails 31, 33 or the inner rails 35, 37.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, these bearings 43 to 49 are each composed of a pair of left and right bearings 51, 53. The pair of left and right bearings 51, 53 are respectively provided between the outer rails 31, 33 and the inner rails 35, 37, and the outer rails 31, 33 support the inner rails 35, 37 from both sides via the bearings 51, 53.

[0018] The pair of left and right bearings 51, 53 according to the embodiment each have a holder 55, 57, balls (large-diameter balls) 59, 61 rotatably supported by the holders 55, 57, and small-diameter balls 63, 65, 67, 69 having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter balls 59, 61. For example, the large-diameter balls 59, 61 are composed of one ball, and the small-diameter balls 63, 65, 67, 69 are composed of two balls, but are not limited to this.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 6, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, of the pair of outer rails 31, 33, the outer rail 33 installed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction extends rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction more than the outer rail 31 installed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and of the pair of bearings 39, 41, the bearing 41 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is installed so as to be located rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction more than the bearing 39 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction when the seat 15 is located most rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0020] In the vehicle seat device 1 according to this embodiment, when the seat 15 is located at the rearmost position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the bearing 49 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is installed to be located further rearward in the vehicle's longitudinal direction than the bearing 45 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and the bearing 47 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is installed to be located at the same position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction as the bearing 43 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0021] As shown in Figure 7, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, a stopper 71 is provided to prevent the bearing 45 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction from moving further rearward when the seat 15 is in the rearmost position in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The stopper 71 is provided on the ball track of the outer rail 31 on which the large-diameter balls 59 of the bearing 45 roll, and the movement of the bearing 45 is restricted when the large-diameter balls 59 come into contact with the stopper 71, but it is not limited to this. In addition, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, a stopper 73 is provided to prevent the bearing 45 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction from moving further rearward when the movement of the bearing 45 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction is restricted, but the stopper 73 is not essential.

[0022] Although not shown in the diagram, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, a stopper is provided to prevent the bearing 49 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction from moving further rearward when the seat 15 is in the rearmost position in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The stopper is provided on the ball track of the outer rail 33 on which the large-diameter balls 61 of the bearing 49 roll, and the movement of the bearing 49 is restricted when the large-diameter balls 61 come into contact with the stopper, but it is not limited to this. Also, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, a stopper is provided to prevent the bearing 47 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction from moving further rearward when the movement of the bearing 49 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction is restricted, but the stopper is not essential.

[0023] [Effects of vehicle seating systems] According to the vehicle seat device 1 of this embodiment, the bearing 41 on the inside in the vehicle width direction is closer to the mounting position (hinge axis) of the seat back 27, so the distance from the support point of the seat 15 (position of the bearing 39) to the vibration point of the seat back 27 is shortened. As a result, even if the seat 15 is adjusted to the rearward side and no occupant is seated on the seat 15, vibration of the seat back 27 during vehicle operation can be suppressed. Furthermore, the rear end of the outer rail 33 installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail 31 installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction, that is, the rear end of the outer rail 31 installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction is located further forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail 33 installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction, so that the ease of entry for occupants into the rear seat of the vehicle seat device 1 can be suppressed.

[0024] [Verification of the effectiveness of vehicle seat devices] [Comparative Example 1] In the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 1, the length of a pair of outer rails is the length supported by the legs of the pair in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the length of the inner outer rail in the vehicle width direction is the same as the length of the outer outer rail.

[0025] [Comparative Example 2] In the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2, the length of the pair of outer rails is longer in the rearward direction of the vehicle than the length of the pair of legs and the length supported by the legs in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the length of the inner outer rail in the vehicle width direction is the same as the length of the outer outer rail.

[0026] [Test conditions] As shown in Figure 8, in Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2, and in the vehicle seat device according to the embodiment, the seat position is adjusted to the furthest rearward position, and vibrations input from the vehicle body (P1) are assumed to be transmitted to the seat back (P3). Furthermore, it is assumed that no occupant is seated in the seat.

[0027] As shown in Figure 9, the vibration transmission coefficient in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "longitudinal transmission coefficient") is highest for the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 1, and the seat back (P3) vibrates the most. Next, the longitudinal transmission coefficient decreases in the order of vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment and the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2, but there is no significant difference between the longitudinal transmission coefficient of vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment and the longitudinal transmission coefficient of vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2.

[0028] As shown in Figure 10, the vibration transmission coefficient in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter referred to as "left-right transmission coefficient") is the largest for the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 1, similar to the front-rear transmission coefficient, and the seat back (P3) vibrates the most. Next, the left-right transmission coefficient decreases in the order of vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment and the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2, but there is no significant difference between the left-right transmission coefficient of vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment and the left-right transmission coefficient of vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2.

[0029] In the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2, the outer rail on the outside in the vehicle width direction is longer than the length supported by the legs, and when an occupant gets into the rear seat of the vehicle seat device, the outer rail on the outside in the vehicle width direction gets in the way, impairing the ease of entry for the occupant. This obstruction of the outer rail on the outside in the vehicle width direction becomes particularly noticeable when the seat is adjusted to the front in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0030] On the other hand, in the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment, the rear end of the outer rail 31 installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction is located further forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail 33 installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is possible to suppress any impairment in the ease of entry for occupants getting into the rear seats of the vehicle seat device 1. Thus, even if the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment is slightly inferior to the vehicle seat device according to Comparative Example 2 in terms of longitudinal and lateral transmission rates, the vehicle seat device 1 according to the embodiment is superior when considering the ease of entry for occupants getting into the rear seats of the vehicle seat device.

[0031] [Differentiation] In the vehicle seat device 1 according to this embodiment, a pair of outer rails 31 and 33 are installed on the vehicle body, and the outer rail 33 installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail installed on the outside. However, a pair of inner rails 35 and 37 may be installed on the vehicle body, and the inner rail 37 installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the inner rail 35 installed on the outside.

[0032] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes modified forms of the embodiments described above, as well as forms that combine these forms as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0033] 1. Vehicle seating system 11, 13 Pair of seat rails 15 sheets 17,19,21,23 legs 25 Seat Cushions 27 Seatback 29 Headrest 31,33 Outer rail 35,37 Inner rail 39,41 bearings 43, 45, 47, 49 bearings 51, 53 Bearings 55, 57 Holder 59, 61 Large diameter balls 63, 65, 67, 69 Small diameter balls 71,73 Stopper

Claims

1. A pair of seat rails, A seat installed straddling the pair of seat rails, A vehicle seat device equipped with, The aforementioned pair of seat rails A pair of outer rails installed along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, A pair of inner rails that fit into each of the pair of outer rails, A pair of bearings is provided between each of the pair of outer rails and each of the pair of inner rails, Includes, When the pair of outer rails are installed on the vehicle body, the outer rail installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the outer rail installed on the outside in the vehicle width direction, or when the pair of inner rails are installed on the vehicle body, the inner rail installed on the inside in the vehicle width direction extends further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear end of the inner rail on the outside in the vehicle width direction. Of the pair of bearings, the inner bearing in the vehicle width direction is installed so as to be located further rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the outer bearing in the vehicle width direction when the seat is in its rearmost position in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Vehicle seating device.

2. The vehicle seat device according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of bearings has a pair of bearings in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle seat device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the pair of outer rails or the pair of inner rails has a stopper that contacts the bearing when the seat is in the rearmost position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

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