Vehicle seats

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle seat with an ottoman device that can suppress the need for larger seats through a simple configuration. [Solution] The vehicle seat S is a seat that can be switched between a seated state and a stowed state. The vehicle seat includes a cushion lock device 60 having a cushion operating lever 64 that is operated to switch the seat body between a seated state and a stowed state, and an ottoman device 70 that is rotatably attached to the front part of the seat cushion 2 via an ottoman pivot shaft 71 and has a leg support member 80 that supports the occupant's legs from below. The cushion operating lever 64 and the ottoman pivot shaft 71 are arranged side by side in the width direction of the seat and are positioned so as not to protrude forward of the seat beyond the front end of the seat cushion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and particularly to a vehicle seat capable of switching a seat body having a seat back and a seat cushion from a seated state.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicle seats that can switch the seat back and seat cushion constituting the seat body from a seated state where a seated person can sit have already been known. Among them, there is a vehicle seat further provided with an ottoman device attached to the front part of the seat cushion and capable of supporting the legs of the seated person from below (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, three types of seat arrangements are possible: a seated state where a seated person can sit, a stored state where the seat body is stored in a storage floor, and a tip-up state where the seat body is flipped upward. It is a seat with an ottoman device. Specifically, the ottoman device is mainly composed of an ottoman rotation shaft (base member) attached to the seat cushion via a reinforcing member, and a leg support member (ottoman) attached rotatably via the ottoman rotation shaft. The vehicle seat also has a switching operation lever (grip member) attached so as to protrude forward of the seat cushion at the front part of the seat cushion and operated for seat arrangement. At this time, the ottoman rotation shaft and the leg support member are arranged so as to protrude forward of the seat with respect to the seat cushion and the switching operation lever in order to suppress interference with the switching operation lever.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0005] However, in vehicle seats that allow for seat arrangements, such as those described in Patent Document 1, the relatively complex configuration and increased number of components meant that the overall seat was likely to become larger and heavier. In particular, in vehicle seats with an ottoman device, the ottoman device protrudes further forward than the seat cushion, which meant that the seat was likely to become larger in the front-to-back direction. Therefore, there was a need for a vehicle seat that could suppress the overall size increase of the seat, including the ottoman device, through a simple configuration.

[0006] Furthermore, in vehicle seats such as those described in Patent Document 1, there was a need for a vehicle seat that could be made smaller while also improving the mounting rigidity of various devices, including the ottoman device.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat with an ottoman device that can be switched from a seating position to a seating position, and that can suppress the enlargement of the seat with a simple configuration. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that improves the mounting rigidity of various devices, including an ottoman device, while miniaturizing the seat itself. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The aforementioned problems are solved by the vehicle seat of the present invention, which comprises a seat body having a seat back and a seat cushion, and a vehicle seat that can be switched between a seatable state in which a person can sit and a movable state in which the seat body has been moved from the seatable state, and comprises a switching operation lever that is operated to switch the seat body between the seatable state and the movable state, and a seat switching device that operates in conjunction with the operation of the switching operation lever, and comprises a leg support member that is attached to the front part of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable via an ottoman pivot shaft and has a leg support member for supporting the legs of the person sitting from below, and comprises an ottoman device that can rotate between a stored position in which the leg support member is stored on the seat cushion side and an extended position in which it has been rotated forward of the seat from the stored position, and the switching operation lever is attached to the front part of the seat cushion, and the switching operation lever and the ottoman pivot shaft are arranged side by side in the seat width direction. As described above, in a seat that can be switched from a seated position to a seated position, the switching operation lever and the ottoman rotation axis are arranged side by side in the seat width direction, making it easier to compactly arrange the ottoman device in the front-to-back direction of the seat. Therefore, it is possible to create a vehicle seat with an ottoman device that can be made larger with a simple configuration.

[0009] In this case, it is preferable that the switching operation lever and the ottoman pivot axis do not protrude further forward of the seat than the front end of the seat cushion in the seat-forward direction. With the above configuration, the ottoman device can be arranged more compactly in the front-to-back direction of the seat.

[0010] In this case, when the leg support member moves to the deployed position, it is preferable that the front leg support portion located on the front side of the seat is wider in the seat width direction than the rear leg support portion supported by the ottoman pivot axis. With the above configuration, the leg support members can be compactly stored in the stowed position, and in the deployed position, the leg support members can support the legs of the seated person over a relatively wide area.

[0011] In this case, the seat switching device is a cushion locking device that rotatably connects the seat cushion to the seat back and locks the rotational movement of the seat cushion when it is in the seatable state, and further comprises a rail device mounted on the vehicle floor that supports the seat body so as to be movable in the front-rear direction of the seat and locks the movement of the seat body, the rail device is attached to the front part of the seat cushion and has a rail operating lever that is operated to release the locked state of the seat body, the ottoman pivot axis is positioned in the seat width direction between the cushion operating lever which serves as the switching operating lever and the rail operating lever, and it is preferable that the ottoman pivot axis, the cushion operating lever and the rail operating lever are arranged side by side in the seat width direction. With the above configuration, the components of the ottoman device, cushion lock device, and rail device can be prevented from protruding further forward than the seat cushion, thus enabling further miniaturization of the seat in the front-to-back direction.

[0012] In this case, the ottoman device comprises a cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion, an ottoman pillar that supports the leg support member so that it can move back and forth between a reference position where the leg support member is positioned on the seat cushion side and a protruding position which protrudes forward of the seat from the reference position, and a pillar support member attached to the front end portion of the cushion frame and supporting the ottoman pillar, and the cushion frame preferably has a lever mounting bracket for attaching the switching operation lever at the front end portion of the cushion frame, and a reinforcing member that is positioned above or below the ottoman pivot axis and extends in the seat width direction to connect the pillar support member and the lever mounting bracket. With the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of the seat while improving the mounting rigidity of each component of the ottoman device through a simple configuration and arrangement.

[0013] In this case, the seat cushion is constructed by placing a cushion pad on the upper surface of the cushion frame and covering it with a surface material, and the lever mounting bracket is positioned above the ottoman pivot axis and preferably has a plate-shaped pan frame for supporting the cushion pad from below. With the above configuration, the cushion pad can be efficiently supported in the seat cushion, thereby improving the seating comfort for the occupant.

[0014] In this case, the seat back is rotatably connected to the vehicle floor and includes a reclining device that locks the rotational movement of the seat back when it is in the seated position, the reclining device is positioned laterally to the seat back and has a reclining body that operates to lock the rotational movement of the seat back, and the switching operation lever and the reclining body are positioned inward from the outer end of the seat cushion in the seat width direction and are positioned at the same position to each other in the seat width direction. With the above configuration, the components of the reclining device can be arranged compactly, and the size of the seat can be suppressed in the seat width direction.

[0015] In this case, the moving state is a stored state in which the seat body is moved to a storage floor formed at a lower position than the vehicle floor, and an elastic floor contact member is attached to the lower end portion of the seat cushion so as to contact the storage floor when the seat body is moved to the stored state, and it is preferable that the switching operation lever and the floor contact member are positioned inward from the outer end of the seat cushion in the seat width direction and are positioned at the same position as each other in the seat width direction. With the above configuration, the floor contact member can be arranged compactly.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, in a seat in which the seat body can be switched from a seated state, it is possible to realize a vehicle seat with an ottoman device that can suppress an increase in the size of the seat with a simple configuration. Moreover, according to the present invention, the ottoman device can be arranged more compactly in the front-rear direction of the seat. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the leg support member can be stored compactly in the storage position, and in the deployed position, the leg support member can support the legs of the seated person over a large area. Also, according to the present invention, further miniaturization of the seat in the front-rear direction of the seat can be achieved. In addition, according to the present invention, while achieving miniaturization of the seat, the mounting rigidity of each component of the ottoman device can be improved by a simple configuration and arrangement. Also, according to the present invention, the seating comfort of the seated person can be improved. Moreover, according to the present invention, the components of the reclining device can be arranged compactly, and an increase in the size of the seat in the seat width direction can be suppressed. Also, according to the present invention, the floor contact member can be arranged compactly.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the vehicle seat of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the seat cushion and the ottoman device. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a seat frame that forms the skeleton of the vehicle seat. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a top view showing the cushion frame and the ottoman device. [Figure 6]This is a close-up view of the main parts showing the cushion frame and lever mounting bracket. [Figure 7] This is a close-up view of the main parts, showing the cushion frame and lever mounting bracket from a different angle. [Figure 8] This is a side view of a seat frame, specifically a diagram showing a reclining mechanism. [Figure 9] This is a side view of the seat frame, showing the cushion locking device. [Figure 10] This diagram shows the seated position. [Figure 11] This diagram illustrates the movement from a seated position to a stowed position. [Figure 12] This is a diagram showing the storage state. [Figure 13] This diagram shows the tip-up state. [Figure 14] This diagram illustrates the process of returning from the tip-up position to the seated position. [Figure 15] This diagram shows the seated position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, a vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. This embodiment relates to a vehicle seat that allows switching between a seatable state and a retracted state for a seat body having a seat back and a seat cushion, and comprises a cushion locking device having a cushion operating lever operated to switch the seat body between the seatable state and the retracted state, and an ottoman device that is attached to the front part of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable via an ottoman pivot shaft and has a leg support member for supporting the occupant's legs from below, and the leg support member can be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the cushion operating lever is attached to the front part of the seat cushion, the cushion operating lever and the ottoman pivot shaft are arranged side by side in the seat width direction, and do not protrude forward of the seat beyond the front end of the seat cushion in the seat front-rear direction. In vehicle seating, the side of the seat back that the occupant sits on is considered the front of the seat.

[0019] The vehicle seat S in this embodiment is, for example, a rear seat corresponding to the rear seat of a vehicle. It can also be used as a middle seat in the second row of a vehicle equipped with three rows of seats in the front-to-rear direction. The vehicle seat S is a seat that can be arranged in three different configurations: a seated state in which a person can sit, a stored state in which the seat body is stored in the storage floor, and a tip-up state in which the seat body is flipped up. Specifically, the vehicle seat S, from the seatable state shown in Figure 10, switches to the stored state shown in Figure 12 when the occupant pulls the first reclining lever 54 located at the upper end of the seat body, causing the seat body to fold forward (see Figure 11) and be stored in the storage floor. From the stored state, the occupant can manually raise the seat body upward to switch to the tip-up state shown in Figure 13. Furthermore, from the tip-up state, when the occupant pulls the cushion operating lever 64 located at the front end of the seat body (seat cushion) (see Figure 14), a part of the seat body (seat cushion) rotates downward, returning to the seatable state shown in Figure 15. Further details will be described later.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1-3, the vehicle seat S mainly consists of a seat body comprising a seat back 1, a seat cushion 2, and a headrest 3; a support base 30 that supports the seat body from below; and left and right rail devices 40 that are mounted between the vehicle floor and the support base 30, supporting the seat body so that it can move in the front-rear direction, and locking the movement of the seat body. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the vehicle seat S includes a reclining device 50 that rotatably connects the seat back 1 to the support base 30 and locks the rotational movement of the seat back 1 when it is in a seated position or a tip-up position, and a cushion locking device 60 that rotatably connects the seat cushion 2 to the seat back 1 and locks the rotational movement of the seat cushion 2 when it is in a seated position, a stowed position or a tip-up position. Furthermore, the vehicle seat S is equipped with a leg support member 80 that is rotatably attached to the front portion of the seat cushion 2 and supports the occupant's legs from below, and an ottoman device 70 that can rotate between a retracted position shown in Figure 1, in which the leg support member 80 is stored on the seat cushion 2 side, and an extended position shown in Figure 2, in which it is rotated further forward than the retracted position. Furthermore, the vehicle seat S has a recessed storage floor located lower than the vehicle floor on the front side of the seat.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the seat back 1 is a backrest that supports the occupant's back from behind, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad 1a on a back frame 10, which is the skeletal structure shown in Figure 3, and covering it with a surface material 1b. The seat cushion 2 is a seating portion that supports the occupant from below, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad 2a on a cushion frame 20, which serves as the skeleton, as shown in Figure 3, and covering it with a surface material 2b. The headrest 3 is a headrest that supports the occupant's head from the rear, and is constructed by placing a cushion pad on a pillar (not shown) which serves as a core material and covering it with a surface material. As shown in Figure 2, a storage recess 2c for housing the ottoman device 70 (ottoman pivot shaft 71) is formed in the central portion in the seat width direction at the front end of the seat cushion 2. The outer surface of the seat cushion 2 and the outer surface of the ottoman device 70 are configured to have a substantially integrated appearance. Furthermore, the storage recess 2c is formed such that its lower portion is recessed towards the rear of the seat at the front end of the seat cushion 2, ensuring that the seating surface (upper surface) of the seat cushion 2 is also maintained at the front end of the seat cushion 2. In other words, the cushion pad 1a is placed on the front end of the seat cushion 2 and covered with the surface material 1b. Therefore, it does not impair the seating comfort of the person sitting. In addition, it prevents foreign objects from entering between the various components of the ottoman device 70 from the outside (from above).

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, the back frame 10 consists of a rectangular frame-like body that forms the skeleton of the seat back 1, and left and right connecting brackets 11 for connecting to the support base 30 are attached to the lower part of the outer surface of the back frame 10 in the seat width direction. The connecting bracket 11 consists of a bow-shaped sheet metal member that extends vertically, with its upper end attached to the back frame 10 and its lower end attached to the support base 30. A reclining device 50 (reclining body 51) that rotatably connects the back frame 10 to the support base 30 is attached to the lower end of the right-side connecting bracket 11, and a back pivot shaft 52 that is pivotally supported by the support base 30 in the seat width direction is provided at the lower end of the left-side connecting bracket 11.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3-5, the cushion frame 20 consists of a rectangular frame-like body that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 2, and is mainly composed of left and right side frames 21 arranged laterally in the seat width direction, a front frame 22 connecting the front portions of each side frame 21, a pipe-shaped rear frame 23 connecting the rear portions of each side frame 21, a wire-shaped central frame 24 connecting the central portions of each side frame 21, and a pan frame 25 as a plate-shaped frame that connects the front frame 22, the rear frame 23, and the central frame 24.

[0024] The side frame 21 is made of a sheet metal member with a roughly C-shaped cross-section that is elongated in the front-rear direction of the seat. Specifically, it mainly consists of a frame side wall portion 21a that extends in the vertical direction, and a frame upper wall portion 21b and a frame bottom wall portion 21c that are bent from both ends of the frame side wall portion 21a in the vertical direction and extend outward in the width direction of the seat. A cushioning lever 64 is attached to the front end of the right side frame 21 via a lever mounting bracket 27, and a railing lever 43 is attached to the front end of the left side frame via a lever mounting bracket 27. Furthermore, on the front portion of the outer surface in the seat width direction of the right side frame 21 (frame side wall portion 21a), the ottoman operating lever 76 of the ottoman device 70 is attached, and on the central portion of the same outer surface, the second reclining operating lever 55 of the reclining device 50 is attached. On the rear end portion of the outer surface in the seat width direction of the left side frame 21 (frame side wall portion 21a), the cushion lock device 60 is attached.

[0025] Furthermore, the left and right side frames 21 are positioned differently from the left and right rail devices 40 in the seat width direction, specifically offset to the right of the left and right rail devices 40. This offset arrangement allows space to be secured on the outer surface of the left side frame 21, and in this space, the cushion lock device 60, as well as the armrest 4 and seat belt buckle 5 shown in Figure 1, are mounted. As a result, the size of the vehicle seat S in the seat width direction can be suppressed.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4-5, the front frame 22 is made of a composite member formed by combining multiple square pipes and extends in the width direction of the seat. The front frame 22 has left and right frame side portions 22a that are arranged to penetrate the sides of the left and right side frames 21, respectively, and a central frame portion 22b that connects the inner ends of the left and right frame side portions 22a in the seat width direction and is arranged to protrude forward of the seat from the frame side portions 22a. Of the left and right frame side sections 22a, an ottoman lock member 75 is attached to the rear surface of the inner end of the frame side section 22a on the side of the ottoman operating lever 76. Furthermore, a pillar support member 73 for supporting the ottoman pillar 72 is welded to the bottom surface of the inner end of the frame side portion 22a. The central part 22b of the frame is attached to the left and right side parts 22a by welding, while in contact with the front surfaces of the left and right side parts 22a of the frame. Three pillar support members 73 are welded to the bottom surface of the central part 22b of the frame, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the seat.

[0027] The rear frame 23 consists of multiple pipe members arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction of the seat. A base contact member 26 is attached to the bottom surface of the lateral portion of the rear frame 23 on the side to which the reclining device 50 and ottoman device 70 are attached, so as to contact the support base 30 (base cover 35) when the seat is in a seated position. The base contact member 26 consists of a frame mounting portion 26a that is welded to the rear frame 23 while sandwiched between them, and a resin base contact portion 26b that fits into a part of the rear frame 23 and the frame mounting portion 26a, and protrudes downward from the frame mounting portion 26a.

[0028] In the above frame configuration, as shown in Figure 4, the portion of the front frame 22 where the frame side portion 22a and the frame central portion 22b are connected supports the left and right pillar support members 73. Therefore, the front frame 22 can secure the support area for the left and right pillar support members 73, and the cushion frame 20 can increase the support rigidity of the pillar support members 73.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above frame configuration, as shown in Figure 5, the portion of the front frame 22 where the frame side portion 22a and the frame central portion 22b are connected will be attached to the pan frame 25 by welding. Therefore, the support rigidity of the pan frame 25 by the front frame 22 can be increased.

[0030] Furthermore, in the above frame configuration, as shown in Figure 5, the base contact member 26 and the pan frame 25 are connected to the rear frame 23, and the base contact member 26 is positioned so as to overlap a part of the pan frame 25 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the support rigidity of the base contact member 26 and the pan frame 25 can be increased.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4-7, the lever mounting bracket 27 is a component for attaching the cushion operating lever 64 and the rail operating lever 43 to the cushion frame 20, and is attached to the front end portion of the side frame 21 and positioned above the ottoman pivot axis. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lever mounting bracket 27 is mainly composed of an upper plate portion 27a that is attached in contact with the upper wall portion 21b of the side frame 21 and extends forward of the seat, a lower plate portion 27b that is attached in contact with the frame side wall portion 21a and the frame bottom wall portion 21c and extends forward of the seat, a connecting wire portion 27c that connects the upper plate portion 27a and the lower plate portion 27b, and a lever mounting portion 27d that is attached surrounded by the connecting wire portion 27c and is for attaching the cushion operating lever 64 (rail operating lever 43).

[0032] The upper plate portion 27a is a plate-like member having a crank shape in which its front portion is bent so as to protrude upward from its rear portion, and it also serves the function of supporting the seat cushion 2 (cushion pad 2a) from below. The lower plate portion 27b is a plate-like member having a box shape formed such that its outer edge portion protrudes upward, and a floor contact member 28 is attached to the bottom surface of the lower plate portion 27b so as to be able to contact the storage floor when the seat body is moved to the stored position. The connecting wire section 27c consists of left and right first extensions 27ca extending in the front-rear direction of the seat, left and right second extensions 27cb that bend continuously from the front ends of the left and right first extensions 27ca and extend downward, and a third extension 27cc that connects the lower ends of the left and right second extensions 27cb. The lever mounting portion 27d is welded to the left and right second extensions 27cb and third extensions 27cc, while being surrounded by them. Furthermore, the lever mounting portion 27d has mounting holes for attaching the cushion operating lever 64 (rail operating lever 43).

[0033] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the floor contact member 28 is made of a known elastic resin material and is positioned inward from the outer edge of the seat cushion 2 (cushion frame 20) in the seat width direction. Furthermore, the floor contact member 28 and the cushion operating lever 64 (rail operating lever 43) are positioned at the same location relative to each other in the seat width direction.

[0034] In the above configuration, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, reinforcing wires 29 are provided to connect the left and right lever mounting brackets 27 and the front frame 22 in order to ensure the mounting rigidity of the left and right lever mounting brackets 27. Specifically, the reinforcing wire 29 includes a roughly U-shaped first reinforcing wire 29a that connects the left and right lever mounting brackets 27 (upper plate portion 27a), and a roughly inverted U-shaped second reinforcing wire 29b that spans the central portion of the first reinforcing wire 29a in the seat width direction and the front frame 22 (frame central portion 22b). The reinforcing wire 29 is positioned above the ottoman's pivot axis.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the support base 30 is a member that supports the seat body and comprises left and right side base portions 31 provided on the lateral portion in the width direction of the seat and arranged along the left and right rail devices 40, a front base connecting portion 32 connecting the front portions of each side base portion 31, a rear base connecting portion 33 connecting the rear portions of each side base portion 31, and left and right reinforcing base portions 34 attached to the upper surface of each side base portion 31. The left and right ends of the front base connecting section 32 and the rear base connecting section 33 are connected by being sandwiched between the side base section 31 and the reinforcing base section 34. The support base 30 is covered from above by a base cover 35.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base cover 35 is a resin molded product that covers the entire support base 30 and the rail device 40 from above. In addition to protecting the support base 30 and rail device 40 from the outside, the base cover 35 also has the function of guiding the movement of the seat body (seat cushion 2) when the seat body switches from a seated state to a stored state. The base cover 35 mainly comprises left and right cover protrusions 35a provided on the lateral portion in the width direction of the seat and formed to protrude upward toward the seat cushion 2, and a cover storage recess 35b provided between the left and right cover protrusions 35a and formed to be recessed below the cover protrusions 35a for storing contents. The cover projection 35a has its highest upper surface at the center of its front-to-back direction of the seat, and the storage floor is located on the extension of the inclined surface in front of the seat. As shown in Figure 9, when the seat body moves from a seated position to a stored position, the cover protrusion 35a comes into contact with the base contact member 26 provided at the lower end of the seat cushion 2, and has the function of causing the base contact member 26 to slide (glide) toward the storage floor. In other words, the seat cushion 2 is guided by the base cover 35 to move smoothly toward the storage floor.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the rail device 40 is disposed between the seat body and the vehicle floor in the vertical direction and mainly consists of left and right lower rails 41 fixed to the vehicle floor and extending in the front-rear direction of the seat, left and right upper rails 42 supported so as to be slidable along the lower rails 41, a locking member (not shown) that locks the upper rails 42 so as not to slide relative to the lower rails 41, and a rail operating lever 43 that is operated to release the locked state of the locking member. Support bases 30 are installed on the upper surfaces of the left and right upper rails 42. The rail operating lever 43 is attached to the front end of the left side frame 21 via a lever mounting bracket 27.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the reclining device 50 is positioned on the inner surface of the right-side connecting bracket 11 in the seat width direction, thereby suppressing interference with the cushion frame 20 in the seat width direction. The reclining device 50 mainly consists of a reclining body 51 that is driven when the back frame 10 is rotated, a back rotation shaft 52, a spiral spring 53 that biases the back frame 10 to rotate forward around the back rotation shaft 52, a first reclining operation lever 54 shown in Figure 1 and a second reclining operation lever 55 shown in Figure 5 that are operated to release the locked state of the back frame 10, a first reclining cable 56 that connects the first reclining operation lever 54 and the reclining body 51, and a second reclining cable 57 that connects the second reclining operation lever 55 and the reclining body 51.

[0039] The reclining body 51 has a known locking mechanism, which allows the state of the back frame 10 to be switched between a locked state in which it is fixed to the support base 30 and an unlocked state in which it is rotatable relative to the support base 30. The back pivot shaft 52 is pivotally supported on the back frame 10 side and the support base 30 side in the seat width direction, and the spiral spring 53 has one end locked to the back frame 10 side and the other end locked to the support base 30 side. The first recliner cable 56 is pulled by the operation of the first recliner control lever 54 and acts to switch the seat back 1 from the locked state to the unlocked state. Furthermore, the second recliner cable 57 is pulled by the operation of the second recliner control lever 55 and acts to switch the seat back 1 from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0040] In the above configuration, the reclining device 50 locks the back frame 10 in the upright position shown in Figure 10. When the first reclining lever 54 (second reclining lever 55) is operated, the lock is released, and the biasing force of the spiral spring 53 rotates the back frame 10 forward, allowing it to be folded towards the vehicle floor (see Figure 12).

[0041] As shown in Figures 3 and 9, the cushion locking device 60 is positioned on the outer surface of the left side frame 21 in the seat width direction. The cushion locking device 60 mainly consists of a locking body 61 for locking the rotational movement of the cushion frame 20, a cushion pivot shaft 62, a spiral spring 63 that biases the cushion frame 20 downwards around the cushion pivot shaft 62, a cushion operating lever 64 that is operated to release the locked state of the cushion frame 20, a first cushion cable 65 that connects the first reclining operating lever 54 and the locking body 61, and a second cushion cable 66 that connects the cushion operating lever 64 and the locking body 61.

[0042] The cushion pivot shaft 62 is pivotally supported on the back frame 10 side and the cushion frame 20 side in the seat width direction, and the spiral spring 63 has one end locked to the back frame 10 side and the other end locked to the cushion frame 20 side. The spiral spring 63 may be omitted. The cushion control lever 64 is attached to the front end of the cushion frame 20 and is located at the right end of the cushion frame 20, in other words, at the end of the vehicle seat S on the vehicle door side. Therefore, it is possible for an occupant to operate the cushion control lever 64 from outside the vehicle while the vehicle door is open.

[0043] The first cushion cable 65 extends vertically along the outer surface of the back frame 10 and acts to switch the cushion frame 20 from a locked state to an unlocked state when pulled by the operation of the first recliner operating lever 54. Furthermore, the second cushion cable 66 extends along the outer surface of the cushion frame 20 in the front-to-back direction of the seat, and acts to switch the cushion frame 20 from a locked state to an unlocked state when pulled by the operation of the cushion operation lever 64.

[0044] The cushion locking device 60 locks the cushion frame 20 in the horizontal position shown in Figure 10. When the first reclining operation lever 54 is operated, it releases the lock in conjunction with the back frame 10, and the cushion frame 20 can be folded towards the vehicle floor while being biased forward by the biasing force of the spiral spring 63 (see Figure 12). Furthermore, when the cushion operating lever 64 is operated while the seat is seated, the cushion locking device 60 releases the lock on the cushion frame 20 and raises the cushion frame 20 upward against the biasing force of the spiral spring 63, thereby moving it to the tip-up state shown in Figure 13. Then, when the cushion operating lever 64 is operated again in the tip-up state (see Figure 14), the biasing force of the spiral spring 63 rotates the cushion frame 20 downward relative to the back frame 10, returning it to the seated state shown in Figure 15.

[0045] In the above configuration, as shown in Figure 3, the reclining device 50 is positioned on the right side of the seat body in the seat width direction, while the cushion lock device 60 is positioned on the left side of the seat body. As a result, relatively large components are arranged in a balanced manner, improving the overall balance of the seat body.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above configuration, as shown in Figure 5, the cushion operating lever 64 and the reclining body 51 are positioned inward from the outer edge of the seat cushion 2 in the seat width direction, and are also positioned at the same location in the seat width direction. Therefore, the components of the cushion locking device 60 and the reclining device 50 can be arranged compactly.

[0047] As shown in Figures 2-5, the ottoman device 70 is attached to the front end portion of the seat cushion 2 and is positioned between the cushion operating lever 64 and the rail operating lever 43 in the seat width direction. The ottoman device 70 includes an ottoman pivot shaft 71 that extends in the seat width direction and is pivotally supported on the cushion frame 20 (front frame 22), and a leg support member 80 that rotates around the ottoman pivot shaft 71 as the pivot point relative to the cushion frame 20. The device is capable of rotating the leg support member 80 between a stowed position shown in Figure 1 and an extended position shown in Figure 2, which is rotated further forward on the seat than the stowed position. The ottoman device 70 further includes an ottoman pillar 72 attached to the rear end of the ottoman pivot shaft 71 and supporting the leg support member 80 so that it can move back and forth; a pillar support member 73 attached to the bottom surface of the front frame 22 to support the ottoman pillar 72; a pillar guide 74 installed inside the pillar support member 73 and guiding the ottoman pillar 72; an ottoman lock member 75 attached to the rear surface of the front frame 22 and locking the back and forth movement of the leg support member 80; and an ottoman operating lever 76 operated to release the locked state of the ottoman lock member 75.

[0048] In other words, the ottoman device 70 has the function of rotating between a retracted position shown in Figure 1, in which the leg support member 80 is stored on the seat cushion 2 side, and an extended position shown in Figures 2 and 3, in which it is rotated to the front of the seat from the retracted position, in order to support the legs of the seated person. Furthermore, the ottoman device 70 also has the function of moving the leg support member 80 back and forth between a reference position shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the leg support member 80 is positioned on the seat cushion 2 side, and a protruding position shown in Figure 3, where it protrudes further forward than the reference position, in order to support the legs according to the sitter's physique.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, the ottoman pivot shaft 71 consists of a pipe member with a circular cross-section extending in the seat width direction, surrounded by an ottoman pad 71a, and the pipe member and ottoman pad 71a are covered with a surface material 71b. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ottoman pivot shaft 71 is positioned between the cushion operating lever 64 and the rail operating lever 43 in the seat width direction, and the ottoman pivot shaft 71, the cushion operating lever 64, and the rail operating lever 43 are arranged side by side in the seat width direction. Furthermore, the ottoman pivot shaft 71, the cushion operating lever 64, and the rail operating lever 43 are positioned so as not to protrude forward of the seat cushion 2 beyond the front end of the seat cushion 2 in the seat's front-to-back direction.

[0050] The ottoman pivot shaft 71 has both ends in the seat width direction that pass through the leg support member 80 (leg support frame 81). In addition, the rear end of the ottoman pivot shaft 71 has mounting holes 71c formed therein, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the seat width direction and are used to attach multiple ottoman pillars 72.

[0051] As shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5, the ottoman pillar 72 is a pipe member with a circular cross-section that extends in the seat-front-rear direction, and is used to move the leg support member 80 and the ottoman pivot axis 71 in the seat-front-rear direction relative to the seat cushion 2. The front end of the ottoman pillar 72 is fitted into the mounting hole 71c of the ottoman pivot shaft 71, and the rear portion of the ottoman pillar 72 is inserted inside the pillar support member 73. More specifically, when the leg support member 80 is in the protruding position, the rear portion of the ottoman pillar 72 is supported by the pillar support member 73, whereas when the leg support member 80 is in the reference position, the front portion of the ottoman pillar 72 is supported by the pillar support member 73, and the rear portion protrudes further back than the pillar support member 73. In other words, when the leg support member 80 is in the reference position, the ottoman pillar 72 and the pillar guide 74 housed in the pillar support member 73 are in contact with each other.

[0052] The pillar support members 73 are elongated pipe members with a rectangular cross-section in the front-to-back direction of the seat, and multiple such members are arranged at intervals in the width direction of the seat. The left and right pillar support members 73 are attached to the frame side portion 22a and the frame central portion 22b of the front frame 22, while the central pillar support member 73 is attached only to the frame central portion 22b.

[0053] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pillar guide 74 is a hollow rod-shaped body with a rectangular cross-section, and is a member that inserts and supports the ottoman pillar 72 into its internal space. The pillar guide 74 itself is inserted into the internal space of the pillar support member 73 from the front side of the seat and installed therein. More specifically, when the pillar guide 74 is fully retracted into the internal space of the pillar support member 73, the front flange 74a and rear flange 74b of the pillar guide 74 come into contact with the front and rear ends of the pillar support member 73, respectively. In other words, the front flange 74a and rear flange 74b sandwich the pillar support member 73 between them.

[0054] In the above configuration, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer circumferential surface of the ottoman pillar 72 has an engagement notch (not shown) that engages with an engagement claw (not shown) provided on the inner circumferential surface of the pillar guide 74 in a manner that allows for detachable attachment and removal. Multiple such engagement notches are formed at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction of the seat. Therefore, the ottoman pillar 72 can move in stages in the front-rear direction of the seat relative to the pillar support member 73 and the pillar guide 74, and the ottoman pillar 72 can be fixed in a predetermined front-rear position.

[0055] Furthermore, in the above configuration, as shown in Figure 4, the ottoman pillar 72, pillar support member 73, and pillar guide 74 are positioned below the front frame 22. Therefore, it can reduce discomfort when a person is seated.

[0056] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ottoman locking member 75 consists of a known locking member and locks the forward and backward movement of the ottoman pillar 72. The locked state can be released by operating the ottoman operating lever 76. Specifically, the ottoman locking member 75 normally locks the forward and backward movement of the right ottoman pillar 72. When the ottoman operating lever 76 is pushed in, an extrusion rod (not shown) connected to the ottoman operating lever 76 acts on the ottoman locking member 75. As a result, the ottoman locking member 75 releases the locked state of the right ottoman pillar 72. In other words, while the ottoman operating lever 76 is being operated, the ottoman locking member 75 will continue to release the lock state of the ottoman pillar 72.

[0057] As shown in Figure 2, the leg support member 80 is constructed by placing a leg support pad 82 on a rectangular frame-shaped leg support frame 81 that forms the skeleton, and then covering it with a surface material 83. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the leg support member 80 has a rear leg support portion 80a supported by the ottoman pivot axis 71, and a front leg support portion 80b located in front of the seat than the rear leg support portion 80a and formed to be wider in the seat width direction than the rear leg support portion 80a. As shown in Figure 2, the leg support frame 81 mainly consists of left and right leg side frames (not shown) arranged laterally in the seat width direction and to which the ottoman pivot axis 71 is attached, a leg connecting frame 81a that connects the front portions of each leg side frame, and a leg connecting auxiliary frame 81b that connects the central portions of each leg side frame.

[0058] In the above configuration, the leg support member 80 is attached to the ottoman pivot axis 71 via a ratchet mechanism that allows for rotational switching. Therefore, the leg support member 80 can rotate in stages toward the front of the seat relative to the ottoman pivot axis 71, and the leg support member 80 can be deployed from the stored position and fixed in a predetermined rotation position. Furthermore, the leg support member 80 can be rotated in stages toward the rear of the seat relative to the ottoman pivot axis 71, and the leg support member 80 can be moved from the deployed position to the retracted position and fixed in a predetermined rotation position.

[0059] <Seat retraction operation> Next, the operation of moving the seat body from the seated position to the stored position will be explained based on Figures 10-12. In Figures 10-12, the reclining device 50 and the cushion lock device 60 are shown as locked when indicated by a black circle and unlocked when indicated by a white circle. The same applies to Figures 13-15.

[0060] When the vehicle seat S is in the seatable position shown in Figure 10, the seat back 1 is supported by the support base 30 and locked in an upright position by the reclining device 50. The seat cushion 2 connected to the seat back 1 is supported from below by the base cover 35 (support base 30). At this time, the base contact portion 26b provided at the lower end of the seat cushion 2 is in contact with the surface of the base cover 35 (cover protrusion 35a).

[0061] To move the vehicle seat S from the seated position to the stowed position, the first recline control lever 54 (or the second recline control lever 55) located on the upper surface of the seat back 1 is operated. When a seated person operates the first recliner lever 54, the first recliner cable 56 and the first cushion cable 65 are pulled, respectively, and the lock state of the recliner device 50 and the cushion lock device 60 is released, as shown in Figure 11. Then, the seat back 1 begins to rotate forward around the back pivot axis 52, due to the biasing force of the spiral spring 53, so as to move the seat cushion 2 to the storage floor.

[0062] As shown in Figure 12, when the seat back 1 and seat cushion 2 reach the storage floor, the floor contact member 28 provided on the seat cushion 2 is able to contact the surface of the storage floor. Furthermore, when the seat back 1 and seat cushion 2 reach the storage floor, ending the operation of the first recliner lever 54 will cause the seat cushion 2 to be locked again by the cushion locking device 60. Furthermore, the reclining device 50 has a known unlock canceller mechanism that maintains the unlocked state of the reclining device 50 when the seat back 1 rotates forward to a predetermined angle relative to the vehicle floor. Therefore, even after the operation of the first reclining lever 54 is completed, the seat back 1 can still rotate relative to the vehicle floor. Through the above series of actions, the seat itself is stored in the storage floor, and the vehicle seat S switches to the stored state.

[0063] <Sheet tip-up operation> Next, we will explain the operation of moving the seat body from the stored state to the tip-up state based on Figures 12 and 13. When the vehicle seat S is in the stored state shown in Figure 12, for example, the occupant can manually raise the seat body upwards to switch to the tip-up state shown in Figure 13. At this time, since the cushion locking device 60 locks the rotational movement of the seat cushion 2, raising the seat back 1 upwards will also raise the seat cushion 2 upwards as a whole. Furthermore, when the seat is in the tip-up position, the occupant can operate the rail control lever 43 to slide the upper rail 42 toward the rear of the seat relative to the lower rail 41, thereby securing an even larger cargo space in front of the seat.

[0064] When the vehicle seat S is switched to the tip-up position shown in Figure 13, the seat back 1 returns to the same position as the seated position and is locked in the upright position by the reclining device 50.

[0065] Finally, when moving the vehicle seat S from the tip-up position to the seated position, the second cushion cable 66 is pulled by pulling the cushion operating lever 64 shown in Figure 14, and the locked state of the cushion locking device 60 is released, as shown in Figure 14. When the cushion locking device 60 is released, the seat cushion 2 rotates downward relative to the seat back 1 due to the biasing force of the spiral spring 63. If the spiral spring 63 is not required, for example, the occupant can manually rotate the seat cushion 2 downwards. Through the above series of actions, the vehicle seat S returns to the seatable state shown in Figure 15.

[0066] In addition to the above switching operation, it is also possible to move the vehicle seat S from the seated position to the tip-up position. Specifically, when a seated person operates the cushion control lever 64, the second cushion cable 66 is pulled, and the locked state of the cushion locking device 60 is released. Then, by rotating the seat cushion 2 upward against the biasing force of the spiral spring 63 relative to the seat back 1, it can be directly moved to the tip-up position. At this time, the seat back 1 remains locked by the reclining device 50.

[0067] <Other Embodiments> In the above embodiment, a storage floor is formed in front of the vehicle seat S, but the storage floor may also be formed behind the vehicle seat S, without any particular limitation. In that case, it is desirable that the vertical positional relationship between the seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2 be reversed when the seat itself is stored in the storage floor.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the stored state of the seat body was described as corresponding to the moving state as defined in the claims, but it is not particularly limited, and of course, the tip-up state or the like in this embodiment may also correspond to the moving state. In addition, the state in which the seat body has moved from the normal position shown in Figure 1 to a predetermined forward position (predetermined rearward position) by the rail device 40 may be considered equivalent to the moving state.

[0069] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the support base 30 is fixed to the vehicle floor via the rail device 40, but it is not particularly limited and may be modified as appropriate, such as by eliminating the rail device 40 and fixing it directly to the vehicle floor. Alternatively, a support bracket (support member) not shown, fixed to the vehicle floor, may be used instead of the support base 30.

[0070] In the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the reinforcing wire 29 is positioned above the ottoman pivot axis 71, but it may also be positioned below the ottoman pivot axis 71 without any particular limitation.

[0071] In the above embodiment, a retractable vehicle seat used in an automobile was described as a specific example, but it is not particularly limited and can be used as a seat for vehicles such as trains and buses, as well as for vehicles such as airplanes and ships.

[0072] In this embodiment, the vehicle seat according to the present invention was described primarily. However, the embodiments described above are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0073] S Vehicle Seat 1 seat back 1a, 2a Cushion pads 1b, 2b Skin material 2 seat cushions 2c Storage recess 3 Headrests 4 Armrests 5 Buckles 10 Backframe 11 Connecting brackets 20 Cushion Frames 21 Side Frames 21a Frame side wall 21b Upper wall section of the frame 21c Frame bottom wall 22 Front frame 22a Frame side section 22b Center of the frame 23 Rear frame 24 Central Frame 25 Pan Frames 26 Base contact member 26a Frame mounting section 26b Base contact area 27 Lever mounting bracket 27a Upper plate section (plate section) 27b Lower plate section 27c Connecting wire section 27ca 1st extension 27cb 2nd extension part 27cc 3rd extension 27d Lever mounting section 28 Floor contact member 29. Reinforcement wire (reinforcement member) 29a First reinforcing wire 29b Second reinforcing wire 30 Support base 31 Side base section 32 Front base connecting section 33 Rear base connection section 34 Reinforcement base section 35 Base Cover 35a Cover protrusion 35b Cover housing recess 40 Rail device 41 Lower Rail 42 Apparel 43 Rail-operated lever 50 Reclining devices 51 Reclining chair 52 Back pivot axis 53. Spiral spring 54. Operating lever for the first recliner 55. Operating lever for the second recliner 56 Cable for the first recliner 57 Cable for the second recliner 60. Cushion locking device (seat switching device) 61 Cushion Lock Body 62 Cushion pivot axis 63. Spiral spring 64. Cushion control lever (switching control lever) 65. Cable for the first cushion 66. Cable for the second cushion 70 Ottoman device 71 Ottoman pivot axis 71a Ottoman Pad 71b Skin material 71c mounting holes 72 Ottoman Pillar 73 Pillar support member 74 Pillar Guide 74a Front flange 74b Rear end flange 75 Ottoman lock component 76. Ottoman control lever 80 Leg support members 80a Rear leg support 80b Forward leg support 81 Leg support frame 81a Leg connecting frame section 81b Leg connecting auxiliary frame section 82 Leg support pads 83 Skin material

Claims

1. The seat body includes a seat back and a seat cushion, A vehicle seat that can be switched between a seating-ready state in which a person can sit, and a moving state in which the seat body has been moved from the seating-ready state, A seat switching device having a switching lever operated to switch the seat body between the seated state and the movable state, and operating in conjunction with the operation of the switching lever, The ottoman device is attached to the front portion of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable via an ottoman pivot axis, and has a leg support member for supporting the sitter's legs from below, and is rotatable between a stored position in which the leg support member is stored on the seat cushion side and an extended position in which it is rotated forward of the seat from the stored position, The aforementioned switching operation lever is attached to the front portion of the seat cushion. A vehicle seat characterized in that the switching operation lever and the ottoman pivot shaft are arranged side by side in the width direction of the seat.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching operation lever and the ottoman pivot axis do not protrude forward of the seat beyond the front end of the seat cushion in the seat front-rear direction.

3. The seat for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the leg support member moves to the deployed position, the front leg support portion located on the front side of the seat in the leg support member is formed to be wider in the seat width direction than the rear leg support portion supported by the ottoman pivot axis.

4. The seat switching device is a cushion locking device that rotatably connects the seat cushion to the seat back and locks the rotational movement of the seat cushion when it is in the seated position, The vehicle body floor is mounted on a rail device that supports the seat body so that it can move in the front-to-back direction, and further comprises a rail device that locks the movement of the seat body. The rail device is attached to the front portion of the seat cushion and has a rail operating lever that is operated to release the locked state of the seat body. The ottoman pivot axis is positioned in the seat width direction between the cushion operating lever and the rail operating lever, which serve as the switching operating levers. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ottoman pivot shaft, the cushion operating lever, and the rail operating lever are arranged side by side in the seat width direction.

5. The seat cushion is equipped with a cushion frame that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion, The aforementioned ottoman device, An ottoman pillar supports the leg support member so that it can move back and forth between a reference position located on the seat cushion side and a protruding position that protrudes forward of the seat from the reference position, It has a pillar support member that is attached to the front end portion of the cushion frame and supports the ottoman pillar, The aforementioned cushion frame is A lever mounting bracket for attaching the switching operation lever is provided at the front end portion of the cushion frame, A vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a reinforcing member positioned above or below the ottoman pivot axis and extending in the seat width direction to connect the pillar support member and the lever mounting bracket.

6. The aforementioned seat cushion is constructed by placing a cushion pad on the upper surface of the cushion frame and covering it with a surface material. The vehicle seat according to claim 5, characterized in that the lever mounting bracket is positioned above the ottoman pivot axis and has a plate-shaped portion for supporting the cushion pad from below.

7. The seat back is rotatably connected to the vehicle floor, and a reclining device is provided to lock the rotational movement of the seat back when it is in the seated position. The reclining device has a reclining body positioned laterally to the seatback and which operates to lock the rotational movement of the seatback. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switching operation lever and the reclining body are positioned inward from the outer edge of the seat cushion in the seat width direction, and are positioned at the same position relative to each other in the seat width direction.

8. The aforementioned moving state is a storage state in which the seat body is moved to a storage floor formed at a lower position than the vehicle floor, An elastic floor contact member is attached to the lower end portion of the seat cushion so as to come into contact with the storage floor when the seat body is moved to the storage position. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the switching operation lever and the floor contact member are positioned inward from the outer end of the seat cushion in the seat width direction and are positioned at the same position relative to each other in the seat width direction.

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