Reclining devices and vehicle seats

Abstract

This restricts the unlocking of the seatback tilt during a side collision with the vehicle. [Solution] In the reclining device 16, the tilting of the seat back 14 is locked by a locking mechanism 18. A knob 28 is connected to a catch plate 24, and when the knob 28 is operated, the catch plate 24 rotates, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14. In the event of a side collision with the vehicle, the impact load is input to the cap 34 of the knob 28, causing the knob 28 to disconnect from the catch plate 24, and the bracket 22 restricts the rotation of the catch plate 24. Therefore, even if the knob 28 is operated by the impact load, the rotation of the catch plate 24 can be restricted, and the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back 14 can be restricted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a reclining device in which a lock mechanism locks the tilting of a seat back, and a vehicle seat provided with the reclining device.

Background Art

[0002] In the seat described in Patent Document 1 below, the tilting of the seat back is locked, and when a reclining lever is operated, the tilting of the seat back is unlocked.

[0003] Here, in this seat, during a side collision of the vehicle, when an impact load is input to the reclining lever, the operation of the reclining lever is suppressed by a bracket for preventing lever displacement and rising, and the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back is suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a reclining device and a vehicle seat that can regulate the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back during a side collision of the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A reclining device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a locking mechanism for locking the tilting of a seat back in a vehicle seat; a connecting member connected to the locking mechanism and rotated to release the locking mechanism from the tilting of the seat back; an operating member connected to the connecting member and operated to rotate the connecting member, and which is released from the connecting member when an impact load is applied during a side collision of a vehicle; and a restricting member that restricts the rotation of the connecting member when the operating member is released from the connecting member.

[0007] In a reclining device according to a first aspect of the present invention, a locking mechanism locks the tilting of the seat back of a vehicle seat. A connecting member is connected to the locking mechanism, and an operating member is connected to the connecting member. When the operating member is operated, the connecting member is rotated, and the locking mechanism unlocks the tilting of the seat back.

[0008] In this system, during a side collision with the vehicle, an impact load is applied to the operating member, causing it to disconnect from the connecting member, while the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member. Therefore, even if the operating member is operated by the impact load, the rotation of the connecting member can be restricted, thus preventing the unlocking of the seatback's tilt.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the operating member is released from the connecting member and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member, and then the operating member is operated to reconnect the operating member to the connecting member and the restricting member releases the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member.

[0010] In a reclining device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the operating member is released from the connecting member, and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member. Then, the operating member is operated to reconnect the operating member to the connecting member, and the restricting member releases the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member. As a result, the connecting member can be rotated by further operation of the operating member, thereby unlocking the tilt of the seat back.

[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the operating member is released from the connecting member and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member, and then the operating member is operated to move the connecting member, thereby connecting the operating member to the connecting member and releasing the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member.

[0012] In a reclining device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the operating member is released from the connecting member, and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member. Then, the operating member is operated to move the connecting member, thereby connecting the operating member to the connecting member and releasing the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the operating member can be connected to the connecting member, and the restricting member can release the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, wherein the operating member is connected to the connecting member, and the amount of operation of the operating member for the restricting member to release the rotation of the connecting member is greater than or equal to the amount of operation of the operating member for the locking mechanism to release the tilting of the seat back.

[0014] In the reclining device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operating member is connected to the connecting member, and the amount of operation of the operating member for the restricting member to release the rotation of the connecting member is made greater than the amount of operation of the operating member for the locking mechanism to release the tilt of the seat back. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the unnecessary connection of the operating member to the connecting member and the release of the rotation of the connecting member by the restricting member.

[0015] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion, a seat back, and a reclining device provided between the seat cushion and the seat back, which is one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention.

[0016] In the vehicle seat according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, any one of the reclining devices according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention is provided between the seat cushion and the seat back. Therefore, the same effects as any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention can be achieved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] In the reclining device and the vehicle seat of the present invention, it is possible to regulate the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back during a side collision of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is an exploded perspective view seen from the left front obliquely of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a side view seen from the left of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a side view seen from the left showing the main part of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] (A) is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention (cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2), and (B) is an enlarged view of region 4B in (A). [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view seen from the left front obliquely of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a side view seen from the left of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a side view seen from the left showing the main part of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view seen from the front of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention (cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6). [Figure 9] (A) is a cross-sectional view seen from the upper side of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention (cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6), and (B) is an enlarged view of region 9B in (A). [Figure 10]It is a perspective view seen from the front right obliquely showing a catch plate, a knob, etc. of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing a knob, etc. of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a perspective view seen from the front right obliquely, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the front left obliquely. [Figure 12] (A) and (B) are diagrams showing the operation of a knob in a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows the first operation of the knob, and (B) shows the second operation of the knob. [Figure 13] (A) is a side view seen from the right showing a catch plate, a knob, etc. of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the front right obliquely showing the time of a side collision of a vehicle in the vehicle seat. [Figure 14] (A) is a perspective view seen from the upper front right obliquely showing the time of a side collision of a vehicle in a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the front right obliquely showing the second operation of the knob in the vehicle seat. [Figure 15] (A) to (C) are diagrams showing a catch plate, a knob, etc. of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a perspective view seen from the right, (B) is a perspective view seen from the front, and (C) is a perspective view seen from the top. [[ID=**17]] [Figure 16] (A) to (C) are diagrams showing the initial stage of the second operation of the knob in a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a perspective view seen from the right, (B) is a perspective view seen from the front, and (C) is a perspective view seen from the top.<0**00105> [Figure 17] (A) to (C) are diagrams showing the intermediate stage of the second operation of the knob in a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a perspective view seen from the right, (B) is a perspective view seen from the front, and (C) is a perspective view seen from the top.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] **Note**: There seems to be a formatting issue in the original text where the tag ` [Figure 16] ` and ` ` are not properly aligned in the provided text. I've translated them as they are, but it might be a mistake in the original. Also, the tag ` ` etc. are likely some kind of internal reference tags that are not translated as they seem to be part of a specific system's identifiers and not actual text to be translated in a semantic sense. [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a vehicle seat 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left front. In the drawing, the front of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by arrow FR, the left side (outside in the vehicle width direction) of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by arrow LH, and the top of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by arrow UP.

[0020] The vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is installed on the front and left side of the passenger compartment of a vehicle (automobile), and the B-pillar of the vehicle is located near the left side of the rear end of the vehicle seat 10. A seat cushion 12 is provided at the bottom of the vehicle seat 10, and the occupant of the vehicle sits on the seat cushion 12. A seat back 14 is provided above the rear end of the seat cushion 12, and the seat back 14 supports the back of the occupant.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, a reclining device 16 is provided between the cushion hinge 12A of the seat cushion 12 and the back hinge 14A of the seat back 14.

[0022] The reclining device 16 is provided with a locking mechanism 18, which locks the tilting of the seat back 14 (back hinge 14A). The locking mechanism 18 is provided with a metal shaft 20 as a release part, which extends to the left and has a roughly rectangular column shape except for the base end (right end). The shaft 20 is rotatable by a predetermined angle in the release direction A from its initial position, and the shaft 20 is prevented from rotating beyond the predetermined angle in the release direction A from its initial position.

[0023] A metal bracket 22 (spring retaining bracket, see Figure 4(A)) with an L-shaped cross-section is fixed around the shaft 20 as a restricting member. The right wall of the bracket 22 is positioned perpendicular to the left-right direction, and the shaft 20 rotatably passes through the right wall of the bracket 22. The upper wall (restricting portion) of the bracket 22 protrudes to the left, and the upper wall of the bracket 22 is curved convexly upward in the front-rear direction.

[0024] A roughly rectangular resin catch plate 24 (see Figures 3 and 4(A)) is positioned at the tip (left end) of the shaft 20 as a connecting member. A cylindrical peripheral wall is integrally provided around the entire circumference of the catch plate 24, and the peripheral wall of the catch plate 24 protrudes to the left. The shaft 20 passes through and is fitted into the lower part of the bottom wall (right wall) of the catch plate 24, and the catch plate 24 is made rotatable integrally with the shaft 20. A long restricting hole 24A is formed through the upper part of the bottom wall of the catch plate 24 as a restricted part, and the restricting hole 24A is curved convexly upward in its longitudinal direction and faces the upper wall of the bracket 22 in the left-right direction. Roughly rectangular connecting holes 24B are formed through the upper, lower, front and rear parts of the catch plate 24 as connected parts, and the connecting holes 24B are located from the peripheral wall to the bottom wall of the catch plate 24.

[0025] A resin cover 26 is provided on the left side of the locking mechanism 18 as an arrangement member. The cover 26 covers the lower end of the seat back 14 from the left side, extending from the rear of the seat cushion 12. An arrangement recess 26A, which is roughly trapezoidal in front view, is formed at the rear of the cover 26. The arrangement recess 26A is open to the left, top, front, and rear. A portion of the bottom wall (right wall) of the arrangement recess 26A is open, and the tip of the shaft 20 and the catch plate 24 are arranged in the arrangement recess 26A, while the upper wall of the bracket 22 is exposed.

[0026] A roughly trapezoidal plate-shaped knob 28 made of resin (see (A) and (B) in Figures 2 and 4) is positioned in the arrangement recess 26A, which serves as the main body member of the operating member, with the front part of the knob 28 protruding forward. A cylindrical peripheral wall 28A is integrally provided around the entire circumference of the knob 28, and the peripheral wall 28A protrudes to the right. A roughly trapezoidal coupling recess 28B is formed in the knob 28 when viewed from the front, and the coupling recess 28B is open to the left. In addition, rectangular coupling holes 28C, which serve as the coupling parts, are formed through the upper, lower, front, and rear parts of the circumference of the coupling recess 28B.

[0027] A circular support hole 28D is formed through the center of the bottom wall (right wall) of the coupling recess 28B, and the legs of the screw 30 are coaxially inserted through and fitted into the support hole 28D. The legs of the screw 30 are coaxially screwed into the tip of the shaft 20, and the bottom wall of the coupling recess 28B is sandwiched between the tip of the shaft 20 and the head of the screw 30, allowing the knob 28 to rotate around the screw 30.

[0028] Rectangular insertion holes 28E are formed through the bottom wall of the connecting recess 28B on the upper, lower, front, and rear sides of the screw 30, and the insertion holes 28E are opposite the positions of the connecting holes 24B on the peripheral wall of the catch plate 24 in the left-right direction. A connecting claw 32 (see Figure 4(B)) with a roughly J-shaped cross section is integrally provided at the end of the insertion hole 28E opposite to the screw 30, and the connecting claw 32 is positioned on the outside of the peripheral wall of the catch plate 24. The base end portion of the connecting claw 32 protrudes to the left, and the tip portion of the connecting claw 32 extends to the right. A roughly triangular prism-shaped connecting projection 32A is integrally provided at the tip portion (right end) of the connecting claw 32, and the connecting projection 32A protrudes toward the screw 30, and its left surface is inclined toward the screw 30 as it moves to the right. Due to temporary elastic deformation, the connecting claw 32 has its connecting projection 32A inserted into the connecting hole 24B, and the left side of the connecting projection 32A is engaged with the left end of the connecting hole 24B from the right side. As a result, the knob 28 is rotatably connected to the catch plate 24, and when the occupant rotates the knob 28 by a predetermined angle in the release direction A, the catch plate 24 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A, causing the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18 to rotate by a predetermined angle in the release direction A, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14.

[0029] A roughly trapezoidal plate-shaped resin cap 34 (see Figures 4(A) and (B)) is fitted into the coupling recess 28B as a covering member for the operating member, and the left side of the cap 34 is flush with the left side of the knob 28. Roughly rectangular plate-shaped coupling claws 36 are integrally provided on the upper, lower, front, and rear parts of the circumference of the cap 34, and the coupling claws 36 extend to the right. A triangular prism-shaped coupling projection 36A is integrally provided at the tip (right end) of the coupling claw 36, and the coupling projection 36A protrudes outward from the outer circumference of the coupling recess 28B, with its left side positioned perpendicular to the left-right direction. The connecting claw 36 is inserted into the connecting hole 28C around the connecting recess 28B by temporary elastic deformation, and the connecting projection 36A is locked from the right side around the connecting hole 28C around the connecting recess 28B. This locks the movement of the connecting projection 36A to the left, and locks the movement of the cap 34 to the left, thereby connecting the cap 34 to the knob 28 so that it can rotate integrally with it.

[0030] On the right side of the cap 34, a rectangular cylindrical boss 34A is integrally provided as a release part to the left of each insertion hole 28E of the knob 28, and the boss 34A protrudes to the right. The boss 34A is opposed to the peripheral wall of the catch plate 24 in the left-right direction via the insertion hole 28E, and the outer wall of the boss 34A (the side wall opposite to the screw 30) is opposed to the tip portion of the connecting claw 32 of the knob 28 in the left-right direction via the insertion hole 28E.

[0031] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

[0032] In the reclining device 16 of the vehicle seat 10 configured as described above, a locking mechanism 18 locks the tilting of the seat back 14, and a catch plate 24 is rotatably connected to the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18. Furthermore, the left side of the connecting projection 32A of the connecting claw 32 of the knob 28 engages with the left end of the connecting hole 24B of the catch plate 24, and the knob 28 is rotatably connected to the catch plate 24. When the knob 28 (including the cap 34) is rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A, the catch plate 24 and the shaft 20 are rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A together with the knob 28, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14.

[0033] Here, during a side collision of the vehicle, an impact load from the vehicle's B-pillar is input to the cap 34, causing the cap 34 to move to the right (inward in the vehicle width direction). The boss 34A of the cap 34 is inserted into the insertion hole 28E of the knob 28, pressing the peripheral wall of the catch plate 24 to the right, thereby moving the catch plate 24 to the right (see Figures 4(A) and (B)). Furthermore, the left end of the connecting hole 24B presses the left surface of the connecting projection 32A to the right, causing the connecting claw 32 to move to the opposite side of the screw 30. This disengages the connecting claw 32 (connecting projection 32A) from the connecting hole 24B, and the knob 28 is disengaged from the catch plate 24. Then, the upper wall of the bracket 22 is inserted into the restricting hole 24A of the catch plate 24, and the bracket 22 restricts the rotation of the catch plate 24. As a result, even if the knob 28 is rotated due to an impact load, the rotation of the catch plate 24 can be restricted, preventing the unlocking of the seat back 14's tilting and suppressing unnecessary tilting of the seat back 14.

[0034] Furthermore, in the event of a side collision with a vehicle, when the cap 34 is moved to the right due to the impact load, the outer wall of the boss 34A moves the tip portion of the connecting claw 32 to the opposite side from the screw 30, assisting in the disengagement of the connecting claw 32 (connecting projection 32A) from the connecting hole 24B. As a result, the connecting claw 32 can properly disengage from the connecting hole 24B, and the knob 28 can properly disengage from the catch plate 24.

[0035] [Second Embodiment] Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a vehicle seat 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left front.

[0036] The vehicle seat 50 according to this embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, but differs in the following respects.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, in the reclining device 16 of the vehicle seat 50, a resin bush 52 (see Figures 8 and 11(A) and (B)) is positioned at the tip of the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18, and the inside of the bush 52 is open to the right. The tip of the shaft 20 is fitted into the bush 52, and the bush 52 is made to rotate integrally with the shaft 20. The bottom wall (left end) of the bush 52 is coaxially enlarged relative to the rest of the bush 52, and the bottom wall of the bush 52 is disc-shaped.

[0038] A rectangular plate-shaped restricting plate 22A is integrally provided at the center of the upper wall of the bracket 22 in the front-rear direction, and the restricting plate 22A protrudes to the left.

[0039] The catch plate 24 (see Figure 7) is roughly disc-shaped, and a roughly rectangular restricting hole 24A is formed through the upper part of the catch plate 24. The vicinity of the bottom wall of the bush 52 is inserted through and fitted into the center of the catch plate 24, so that the catch plate 24 can rotate integrally with the shaft 20 and the bush 52. The catch plate 24 is in contact with the bottom wall of the bush 52, thereby restricting the movement of the catch plate 24 to the left. Rectangular connecting notches 24C are formed through the front and rear ends of the catch plate 24 as connecting parts, and the connecting notches 24C are open to the radially outward side of the catch plate 24. Connecting holes 24B are formed through the upper and lower front and upper and lower rear parts of the catch plate 24.

[0040] On the right side of the catch plate 24, an inclined surface 24D (see Figures 10 and 13(A)) is formed at the upper and lower parts, which serves as the movable part. The inclined surface 24D is inclined to the right as it moves toward the release direction A. A rotating hook 24E, which has a roughly L-shaped cross-section, is integrally provided at the end of the inclined surface 24D on the release direction A side, and the base end portion of the rotating hook 24E protrudes to the right. The tip portion of the rotating hook 24E protrudes toward the opposite side from the release direction A, and the side with the screw 30 inside the rotating hook 24E is closed.

[0041] A roughly cylindrical resin spacer 54 (see Figures 8 and 11(A) and (B)) is coaxially positioned to the left of the support hole 28D in the bottom wall of the coupling recess 28B of the knob 28. The right portion of the spacer 54 is fitted into the support hole 28D, and the outer circumference of the spacer 54 is coaxially widened on the left side compared to the right side. The legs of the screw 30 are coaxially inserted through and fitted into the inside of the spacer 54 and the bottom wall of the bush 52, and the legs of the screw 30 are coaxially screwed into the tip of the shaft 20. As a result, the bottom walls of the spacer 54 and the bush 52 are sandwiched between the tip of the shaft 20 and the head of the screw 30, and the bottom wall of the coupling recess 28B is fitted between the left portion of the spacer 54 and the bottom wall of the bush 52, thereby allowing the knob 28 to rotate around the screw 30.

[0042] Insertion holes 28E are formed through the bottom wall of the connecting recess 28B on the upper and lower front and rear sides of the screw 30. A roughly rectangular plate-shaped connecting claw 32 (see Figure 9(A) and (B)) is integrally provided at the screw 30 side end of the insertion hole 28E. The connecting claw 32 extends to the right, and the connecting projection 32A at the tip (right end) of the connecting claw 32 protrudes on the opposite side from the screw 30, while the left side is inclined toward the opposite side from the screw 30 as it moves to the right. Due to temporary elastic deformation, the connecting claw 32 is inserted into the connecting hole 24B of the catch plate 24, and the left side of the connecting projection 32A engages with the outer end (the end opposite to the screw 30) of the connecting hole 24B from the right, thereby restricting the rightward movement of the catch plate 24. On the right side of the bottom wall of the connecting recess 28B, a roughly rectangular plate-shaped connecting projection 28F (see Figure 10) is integrally provided on both the front and rear sides of the screw 30, and the connecting projection 28F protrudes to the right. The connecting projection 28F is fitted into the connecting notch 24C of the catch plate 24, and the connecting projection 28F restricts the relative rotation of the catch plate 24. As a result, the knob 28 is connected to the catch plate 24 so as to be able to rotate together.

[0043] On the right side of the bottom wall of the coupling recess 28B, a movable hook 28G (see Figure 15 (A) to (C)) with an L-shaped cross-section is integrally provided as a movable part above and below the screw 30. The movable hook 28G protrudes to the right, and its tip (right end) protrudes toward the screw 30. The tip of the movable hook 28G is positioned opposite to the release direction A of the inclined surface 24D of the catch plate 24, and the tip of the movable hook 28G is spaced apart to the right from the catch plate 24.

[0044] On the right side of the cap 34, a rectangular plate-shaped rib 34B (see Figures 9(A) and (B)) is integrally provided as a release part to the left of each insertion hole 28E of the knob 28, and the rib 34B protrudes to the right. The rib 34B is inserted into the insertion hole 28E, and the rib 34B is opposed in the left-right direction to the connecting projection 28F of the connecting claw 32 of the knob 28.

[0045] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

[0046] In the reclining device 16 of the vehicle seat 50 with the above configuration, the tilting of the seat back 14 is locked by a locking mechanism 18, and a catch plate 24 is integrally rotatably connected to the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18. Furthermore, the left side of the connecting projection 32A of the connecting claw 32 of the knob 28 engages with the outer end of the connecting hole 24B of the catch plate 24, and the connecting projection 28F of the knob 28 is fitted into the connecting notch 24C of the catch plate 24, so that the knob 28 is integrally rotatably connected to the catch plate 24. When the knob 28 (including the cap 34) is rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A (see Figure 12(A)), the catch plate 24 and the shaft 20 (including the bush 52) are rotated integrally with the knob 28 by a predetermined angle in the release direction A, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14.

[0047] Here, during a side collision of the vehicle, the impact load from the vehicle's B-pillar is input to the cap 34, causing the cap 34 to move to the right (inward in the vehicle width direction). The cap 34 then presses the catch plate 24 to the right via the knob 28, causing the catch plate 24 to move to the right (see Figures 9(A) and (B)). Furthermore, the outer end of the connecting hole 24B presses the left side of the connecting projection 32A to the right, causing the connecting claw 32 to move towards the screw 30. This disengages the connecting claw 32 (connecting projection 32A) from the connecting hole 24B, and the connecting notch 24C detaches from the connecting projection 28F, disengaging the knob 28 from the catch plate 24. Then, the catch plate 24 contacts the tip of the movable hook 28G of the knob 28, and the restricting plate 22A of the bracket 22 is inserted into the restricting hole 24A of the catch plate 24, thereby restricting the rotation of the catch plate 24 (see Figures 13(B) and 14(A)). As a result, even if the knob 28 is rotated due to an impact load, the rotation of the catch plate 24 can be restricted, preventing the unlocking of the tilt of the seat back 14 and preventing unnecessary tilting of the seat back 14.

[0048] Furthermore, in the event of a side collision with a vehicle, when the cap 34 is moved to the right due to the impact load, the rib 34B of the cap 34 moves the connecting projection 32A of the connecting claw 32 toward the screw 30, assisting in the disengagement of the connecting claw 32 (connecting projection 32A) from the connecting hole 24B. As a result, the connecting claw 32 can properly disengage from the connecting hole 24B, and the knob 28 can properly disengage from the catch plate 24.

[0049] Furthermore, after a side collision with the vehicle (after the knob 28 is released from the catch plate 24), the knob 28 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A (see Figure 12(A)), causing the tip of the movable hook 28G to move the inclined surface 24D of the catch plate 24 to the left, and the catch plate 24 to move to the left (see Figure 16(A)~(C)). As a result, the restricting plate 22A of the bracket 22 is released from the restricting hole 24A of the catch plate 24, and the tip of the movable hook 28G comes into contact with the base end portion of the rotating hook 24E of the catch plate 24 (see Figure 14(B) and Figure 17(A)~(C)), causing the bracket 22 to release the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24, and the knob 28 to be connected to the catch plate 24 so that it can rotate together. As a result, when the knob 28 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A (see Figure 12(B)), the catch plate 24 and shaft 20 (including the bush 52) can be rotated by a predetermined angle in the release direction A together with the knob 28, thereby unlocking the tilt of the seat back 14 and allowing the seat back 14 to tilt, which in turn enables, for example, the occupant to escape from the vehicle.

[0050] Furthermore, as described above, after a side collision with the vehicle, the knob 28 is rotated to move the catch plate 24, thereby connecting the knob 28 to the catch plate 24, and the bracket 22 releases the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24. Thus, the knob 28 can be connected to the catch plate 24 with a simple configuration, and the bracket 22 can release the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24.

[0051] Furthermore, the amount of rotational operation (a predetermined angle) of the knob 28 to connect to the catch plate 24 and release the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24 by the bracket 22 after a side collision of the vehicle is the same as the amount of rotational operation (a predetermined angle) of the knob 28 to release the lock mechanism 18 to unlock the tilting of the seat back 14 during normal vehicle operation (before a side collision). Therefore, after a side collision of the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the knob 28 from unnecessarily connecting to the catch plate 24 and the bracket 22 from releasing the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24, thereby preventing the tilting of the seat back 14 from being unlocked.

[0052] In this embodiment, the amount of operation of the knob 28 to connect to the catch plate 24 and to release the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24 by the bracket 22 after a side collision of the vehicle is the same as the amount of operation of the knob 28 to release the tilt of the seat back 14 by the locking mechanism 18 during normal vehicle operation. However, the amount of operation of the knob 28 to connect to the catch plate 24 and to release the restriction on the rotation of the catch plate 24 by the bracket 22 after a side collision of the vehicle may be greater than the amount of operation of the knob 28 to release the tilt of the seat back 14 by the locking mechanism 18 during normal vehicle operation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14 Seatback 16 Reclining device 18 Locking mechanism 22 Bracket (regulating member) 24 Catch plate (connecting member) 28 Knob (operating component) 34 Cap (operating component) 50 Vehicle seats

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking the tilt of the seat back in a vehicle seat, A connecting member connected to the locking mechanism and rotated to unlock the tilting of the seat back by the locking mechanism, An operating member is connected to the aforementioned connecting member, and when operated, the connecting member is rotated, and when an impact load is applied during a side collision of a vehicle, the operating member is released from the connecting member. A restricting member that restricts the rotation of the connecting member when the operating member is released from the connecting member, A reclining device equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the operating member is released from the connecting member and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member, and then the operating member is operated so that the operating member is connected to the connecting member and the restricting member releases the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member.

3. The reclining device according to claim 2, wherein the operating member is released from the connecting member and the restricting member restricts the rotation of the connecting member, and then the operating member is operated to move the connecting member, thereby connecting the operating member to the connecting member and releasing the restriction on the rotation of the connecting member.

4. The reclining device according to claim 2, wherein the operating member is connected to the connecting member, and the amount of operation of the operating member for the restricting member to release the rotation of the connecting member is greater than or equal to the amount of operation of the operating member for the locking mechanism to release the tilting of the seat back.

5. Seat cushion and, The seatback and A reclining device according to claim 1, provided between the seat cushion and the seat back, A vehicle seat equipped with the following features.

Images