Movable structure of the deck board
The deck board structure with a torsion spring biases the board to an upright position automatically, improving operability and reducing complexity, while maintaining stability through contact with the seat backrest.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA SHATAI KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-06
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
The existing movable structure of deck boards in vehicles requires multiple operations of rotation and sliding to flip up and hold in an upright position, leading to deteriorated operability.
A deck board structure equipped with a biasing member, such as a torsion spring, that biases the deck board to rotate from a reclined to an upright position, allowing it to flip up automatically upon release from a locking mechanism, with optional contact to a seat backrest to stabilize the position.
Enhances operability by simplifying the flipping-up process and minimizing the structure's size while providing stability against vibrations.
Smart Images
Figure 2026081817000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to a movable structure of a deck board.
Background Art
[0002] In a vehicle, by laying the deck board disposed in the vehicle interior substantially horizontally or raising it, the way of partitioning the space in the vehicle interior is changed according to the luggage or the like loaded in the vehicle interior. As such a movable structure of the deck board, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable to lay or raise the deck board by rotating it around a rotation center line extending in the horizontal direction. Further, in Patent Document 1, it is possible to slide the deck board in the raised position downward, and it is possible to restrict the rotation of the deck board around the rotation center line at the slid position.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, in the movable structure of the deck board in Patent Document 1, in order to flip up the deck board and hold it in that state, the user has to perform a plurality of operations of rotation and sliding on the deck board. That is, the user has to rotate the deck board around the rotation center line and move it to the raised state, and then further slide the deck board downward to hold the deck board in the flipped-up state. As the operation of the user when flipping up the deck board becomes complicated, the operability at that time deteriorates.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] Next, we will describe various embodiments of the movable structure for the deck board that solve the above problems. (Aspect 1) A movable structure for a deck board, which is arranged inside a vehicle cabin, and which allows the deck board to be made to lie down or stand up by rotating the deck board around a horizontally extending centerline of rotation, comprising a biasing member that biases the deck board in the rotational direction, wherein the deck board is capable of rotating from at least a first position which is a reclined position to a second position which is an upright position, and the biasing member biases the deck board to the second position in the rotational direction from the first position to the second position.
[0006] According to the above configuration, after rotating the deck board to the first position against the biasing force of the biasing member, the deck board is held in the first position by a locking mechanism or the like, thereby holding the deck board in a reclined state. In this state, when the holding of the deck board by the locking mechanism or the like is released, the deck board is flipped up by the biasing force of the biasing means until it stands upright in the rotational direction from the first position to the second position. In this way, simply releasing the holding of the deck board, which is held in a reclined state, causes the deck board to flip up until it is in an upright position, resulting in good operability when flipping it up.
[0007] (Aspect 2) The deck board has a rotational center line that is the center line of a central axis extending horizontally, and the biasing member is a torsion spring arranged around the central axis (Aspect 1), a movable structure for a deck board.
[0008] According to the above configuration, a torsion spring is used as the biasing member, positioned around the central axis that serves as the rotation center of the deck board. Therefore, the space required for arranging the torsion spring can be kept small. As a result, the size of the deck board's movable structure can be kept to a minimum.
[0009] (Aspect 3) The deck board is capable of rotating in the rotational direction from the first position to the second position, past the second position, up to a third position where it is reclined, and the biasing member biases the deck board to the third position, thereby pressing the deck board against the backrest of a seat having a forward-tilting backrest, as described in (Aspect 1) or (Aspect 2).
[0010] With the above configuration, when the seat backrest is upright and the deck board is released from its first position, the biasing force of the biasing member causes the deck board to rotate so that it contacts the seat backrest. This causes the deck board to flip up to the second position, or in other words, to be in an upright position. Furthermore, when the seat backrest is tilted forward, the deck board rotates to the third position in accordance with the forward tilt of the backrest, while maintaining contact with the backrest due to the biasing force of the biasing member. In this way, the deck board can be laid down toward the third position in accordance with the forward tilt of the seat backrest, so operating the deck board in this manner is not cumbersome.
[0011] (Aspect 4) A movable deck board structure according to Embodiment 3, comprising a pressing member capable of rotating about the rotational centerline and contacting the deck board, wherein the biasing member biases the deck board by pressing the deck board in a rotational direction from the first position to the second position via the pressing member that contacts the deck board, and the pressing member has a restraining surface formed thereon that presses the deck board downward when the deck board is in the third position by the biasing member.
[0012] According to the above configuration, when the deck board rotates to the third position in accordance with the forward tilt of the seat backrest, the biasing force of the biasing member acts on the deck board and the backrest via a pressing member that contacts the deck board. When the deck board rotates to the third position, the biasing force of the biasing member acts in a direction that presses the deck board downward via a restraining surface formed on the pressing member. This makes it possible to suppress the vertical movement of the deck board caused by vehicle vibrations, etc.
[0013] (Appendix 5) A movable structure for a deck board according to Embodiment 3, comprising: a pressing member that is capable of rotating about the rotational centerline; and an intervening member fixed to the deck board and enabling relative movement with respect to the pressing member while in contact with each other, wherein the biasing member biases the deck board by pressing the pressing member and the intervening member toward the deck board in the rotational direction from the first position toward the second position of the deck board, and a plurality of grooves extending in a direction intersecting the rotational centerline are formed on the surface of the intervening member that is in contact with the pressing member.
[0014] According to the above configuration, the biasing force of the biasing member presses the pressing member against the deck board and the seat backrest via the intervening member. When the tilt of the seat backrest changes, the pressing member and the intervening member move relative to each other while in contact, thereby maintaining the pressing of the pressing member against the deck board and backrest via the intervening member. Multiple grooves are formed on the surface of the intervening member that contacts the pressing member, so that the two can slide easily during the relative movement between the pressing member and the intervening member as described above. This allows the relative movement between the pressing member and the intervening member to proceed smoothly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view showing the deck board and its movable structure. [Figure 2]It is a side view schematically showing a state where the deck board in FIG. 1 is rotated to the second position by its movable structure. [Figure 3] It is a side view schematically showing a state where the deck board in FIG. 1 is rotated to the third position by its movable structure. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of an intervening member of the deck board in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a movable structure of the deck board in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view showing a movable structure of the deck board in FIG. 5.
Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the movable structure of the deck board will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The deck board 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is disposed at the rear part of the interior of the vehicle cabin behind the seat. In the vehicle, a movable structure is adopted that enables the deck board 11 to be rotated around a rotation center line Lc extending in the vehicle width direction. The rotation center line Lc extends in the horizontal direction. Here, the horizontal direction means a substantially horizontal direction including a direction slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal. The deck board 11 is for changing the way of partitioning the space in the vehicle cabin according to the luggage etc. loaded in the vehicle cabin by laying it down or standing it up as described above.
[0017] The movable structure of the deck board 11 includes a central axis 12 extending in the vehicle width direction and substantially horizontally, and a torsion spring 13 disposed around the central axis 12. The deck board 11 uses the center line of the central axis 12 as the rotation center line Lc. The torsion spring 13 serves as a biasing member that biases the deck board 11 in the rotation direction around the rotation center line Lc.
[0018] The deck board 11 can rotate from the first position P1, which is the laid-down position as shown in FIG. 1, to the second position P2, which is the upright position as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the deck board 11 can also rotate in the rotation direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and after passing through the second position P2, it can rotate to the third position P3, which is the laid-down position as shown in FIG. 3.
[0019] The torsion spring 13 biases the deck board 11 at least to the second position P2 in the rotation direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2 of the deck board 11. In this example, the torsion spring 13 biases the deck board 11 to the third position P3. When the deck board 11 is rotated to the second position P2, which is the upright state, the deck board 11 contacts the upright backrest 14 in the seat. Therefore, since the torsion spring 13 biases the deck board 11 to the third position P3 as described above, the deck board 11 is pressed against the backrest 14 of the seat.
[0020] The movable structure of the deck board 11 includes a pressing member 15 and an intervening member 16. The pressing member 15 is capable of rotating around the rotation center line Lc. The intervening member 16 is fixed to the deck board 11, and the pressing member 15 is pressed by the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. In other words, the pressing member 15 contacts the intervening member 16 fixed to the deck board 11. The intervening member 16 allows relative movement in the state of contacting the pressing member 15. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of grooves 17 extending in a direction intersecting the rotation center line Lc are formed on the surface of the intervening member 16 that contacts the pressing member 15.
[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the torsion spring 13 biases the deck board 11 by pressing it in a rotational direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2 via the pressing member 15 and the intervening member 16. The pressing member 15 has a restraining surface 18 that presses the deck board 11 downward when the deck board 11 is in the third position P3 due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. More specifically, the restraining surface 18 presses the deck board 11 diagonally downward towards the front, i.e., diagonally downward to the left in Figure 3, via the intervening member 16.
[0022] <Detailed structure of the movable mechanism of deck board 11> As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the movable structure of the deck board 11 includes a fixing base 19 that can be fixed to the vehicle. The fixing base 19 has two support pieces 20 spaced apart in the width direction of the vehicle. Between the two support pieces 20 are the torsion spring 13 and the pressing member 15, as well as a cylindrical collar 21. The pressing member 15 is formed by joining a first divided body 22 and a second divided body 23. The first divided body 22 of the pressing member 15 is located between the two support pieces 20 on the fixing base 19. The pressing surface 18 is formed on the first divided body 22.
[0023] The central shaft 12, which extends in the width direction of the vehicle, is inserted through two support pieces 20 of the fixed base 19. The central shaft 12 passes through the first divided body 22 and the collar 21 and is fixed to the two support pieces 20. The first divided body 22 and the collar 21 are capable of rotating around the center line of the central shaft 12, i.e., the rotation center line Lc. The torsion spring 13 is arranged around the central shaft 12 and the collar 21. The first end 24 of the torsion spring 13 is fixed to the fixed base 19. The second end 25 of the torsion spring 13 is fixed to the pressing member 15 by being sandwiched between the first divided body 22 and the second divided body 23 of the pressing member 15.
[0024] <Operation of the movable structure of deck board 11> The deck board 11 shown in Figure 1 can be held in the first position P1 by a locking mechanism when it is rotated around the rotation centerline Lc against the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. This locking mechanism can also release the deck board 11 from being held in the first position P1. When the deck board 11 is held in the first position P1, the biasing force of the torsion spring 13 acts on the deck board 11 via the pressing member 15 and the intervening member 16. When the locking mechanism releases the deck board 11 from being held in the first position P1, the deck board 11 rotates from the first position P1 toward the second position P2 shown in Figure 2 due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. In other words, the deck board 11 is flipped up to the second position P2 so that it is in an upright position.
[0025] When the deck board 11 is flipped up to the second position P2, it comes into contact with the upright backrest 14 of the seat. At this time, the deck board 11 is pressed against the backrest 14 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. Therefore, when the backrest 14 of the seat is tilted forward, the deck board 11 rotates to the third position P3 as shown in Figure 3, while maintaining contact with the backrest 14 due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13, in accordance with the forward tilt of the backrest 14. On the other hand, when the tilted backrest 14 of the seat is raised, the deck board 11 rotates to the third position P3 as shown in Figure 2, in accordance with the upright position of the backrest 14, while maintaining contact with the backrest 14 due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13, in accordance with the upright position of the backrest 14, against that biasing force.
[0026] <Effects of the movable structure of deck board 11> (1) With the deck board 11 held in the first position P1 by a locking mechanism or the like, when the locking mechanism or the like releases the hold on the deck board 11, the deck board 11 moves as follows due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13. That is, the deck board 11 is flipped up until it stands upright in the rotational direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2. In this way, simply by releasing the hold on the deck board held in the first position P1, the deck board 11 is flipped up until it is in an upright position, thus improving the operability when flipping it up.
[0027] (2) The torsion spring 13 that biases the deck board 11 is arranged around the central axis 12 which is the center of rotation of the deck board 11. Therefore, the space required for arranging the torsion spring 13 can be kept small. As a result, the size of the movable structure of the deck board 11 can be suppressed.
[0028] (3) With the seat backrest 14 in the upright position, when the deck board 11 is released from its position at the first position P1, the biasing force of the torsion spring 13 causes the deck board 11 to rotate so that it contacts the seat backrest 14. This causes the deck board 11 to spring up so that it is in the upright position, or in other words, it is moved to the second position P2. Also, when the seat backrest 14 is tilted forward, the deck board 11 maintains contact with the backrest 14 due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 13 and rotates to the third position P3 in accordance with the forward tilt of the backrest 14. In this way, the deck board 11 can be laid down toward the third position P3 in accordance with the forward tilt of the seat backrest 14, so such operation of the deck board 11 is not troublesome.
[0029] (4) When the deck board 11 rotates to the third position P3 in accordance with the forward tilt of the backrest 14 of the seat, the biasing force of the torsion spring 13 acts on the deck board 11 and the backrest 14 via the pressing member 15 that contacts the intervening member 16 of the deck board 11. When the deck board 11 rotates to the third position P3, the biasing force of the torsion spring 13 acts in a direction that presses the deck board 11 and the intervening member 16 downward via the restraining surface 18 formed on the pressing member 15. This makes it possible to suppress the vertical movement of the deck board 11 caused by vehicle vibrations, etc.
[0030] (5) The biasing force of the torsion spring 13 presses the pressing member 15 against the deck board 11 and the seat backrest 14 via the intervening member 16. When the tilt of the seat backrest 14 changes, the pressing member 15 and the intervening member 16 move relative to each other while in contact, thereby maintaining the pressing of the pressing member 15 against the deck board 11 and the seat backrest 14 via the intervening member 16. Multiple grooves 17 are formed on the surface of the intervening member 16 that contacts the pressing member 15, so that the two can slide easily during the relative movement between the pressing member 15 and the intervening member 16 as described above. This allows the relative movement between the pressing member 15 and the intervening member 16 to be performed smoothly.
[0031] The above embodiment can also be modified as follows, for example. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically. The intervening member 16 does not necessarily need to have a groove 17 formed therein.
[0032] The intervening member 16 may be omitted, allowing the pressing member 15 to directly contact the deck board 11. The pressing member 15 does not necessarily need to have a pressing surface 18 formed thereon.
[0033] The torsion spring 13 does not necessarily need to bias the deck board 11 to the third position P3 in the rotational direction from the first position P1 to the second position P2; it may only bias it to the second position P2. In this case, the deck board 11 remains in the flipped-up position P2 even if it does not come into contact with the seat backrest 14. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0034] 11…Deck board 12...Central axis 13... Torsion spring 14...backrest 15…Pressing member 16…Intervening member 17...Groove 18...Suppressor 19…Fixed stand 20...Support piece 21...Color 22...first division body 23…Second division body 24…1st end 25…Second end
Claims
1. In a movable structure for a deck board, which is positioned inside a vehicle cabin, the deck board can be made to lie down or stand up by rotating the deck board around a horizontally extending centerline of rotation, The deck board is equipped with a biasing member that biases it in the rotational direction, The deck board is capable of rotating from at least a first position, which is a reclined position, to a second position, which is an upright position. The biasing member is a movable structure for the deck board that biases the deck board to the second position in the rotational direction from the first position to the second position.
2. The aforementioned deck board has the center line of its horizontally extending central axis as its rotational center line, The movable structure for a deck board according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a torsion spring arranged around the central axis.
3. The deck board is capable of rotating in the rotational direction from the first position to the second position, past the second position, and up to a third position where it is laid flat. The movable deck board structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the biasing member biases the deck board to the third position, thereby pressing the deck board against the backrest of a seat having a forward-tilting backrest.
4. It comprises a pressing member that is capable of rotating around the aforementioned rotational centerline and contacting the deck board, The biasing member biases the deck board by pressing the deck board in a rotational direction from the first position to the second position via the pressing member that contacts the deck board. The movable deck board structure according to claim 3, wherein the pressing member has a restraining surface that presses the deck board downward by the biasing member when the deck board is in the third position.
5. The system comprises a pressing member that is capable of rotating around the rotational centerline, and an intervening member that is fixed to the deck board and allows relative movement of the pressing member while in contact with it, The biasing member biases the deck board by pressing the pressing member and the intervening member toward the deck board in the rotational direction from the first position toward the second position of the deck board. The movable structure for a deck board according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of grooves extending in a direction intersecting the rotational centerline are formed on the surface of the intervening member that is in contact with the pressing member.