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 the locking mechanism 18, and when the knob 28 is operated, the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14. In the event of a side collision with the vehicle, the knob 28 bends and engages with the restricting bracket 22, thereby restricting the operation of the knob 26. This prevents operation of the knob 26 due to impact load, and thus prevents the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back 14.

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 the reclining lever is operated, the tilting of the seat back is unlocked.

[0003] Here, in this seat, at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the operation of the reclining lever due to an impact load being input to the reclining lever is suppressed by a lever displacement prevention bracket, 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 at the time of 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, an operating member connected to the locking mechanism and operated to release the locking mechanism from the tilting of the seat back, and an engaging member which, when an impact load is applied to the operating member during a side collision of a vehicle, causes the operating member to bend, thereby engaging the operating member and restricting its operation.

[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. An operating member is connected to the locking mechanism, and when the operating member is operated, the locking mechanism unlocks the tilting of the seat back.

[0008] In this scenario, during a side collision, an impact load is applied to the operating member, causing it to flex. This causes the operating member to engage with the engaging member, thereby restricting its operation. This prevents the unlocking of the seatback's tilt.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a reclining device in which, in the reclining device of the first aspect of the present invention, the bending of the operating member can be released after the operating member is engaged with the engaging member.

[0010] In a reclining device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the bending of the operating member can be released after the operating member has engaged with the engaging member. Therefore, the operating member can be disengaged from the engaging member, and the operating member can be operated.

[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the operating member is engaged with the engaging member on the front-rear side of the rotation axis of the operating member.

[0012] In the reclining device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the operating member is engaged with the engaging member on the front-rear side of the rotation axis of the operating member. Therefore, the amount of deflection of the operating member due to impact load on the front-rear side of the rotation axis of the operating member is large, allowing the operating member to properly engage with the engaging member.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the operating member is provided with and operated by an operating part, and the operating member is engaged with the engaging member on the side of the operating part from the rotation axis of the operating member.

[0014] In a reclining device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an operating member is operated at an operating unit. Here, the operating member engages with an engaging member on the operating unit side of the operating member's rotation axis. Therefore, the bending of the operating member can be released by moving the operating unit, and the operating member can be easily disengaged from the engaging member.

[0015] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a reclining device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, comprising: an engagement hole provided in one of the operating member and the engaging member; and an insertion portion provided in the other of the operating member and the engaging member, which is inserted into the engagement hole so that the operating member engages with the engaging member.

[0016] In a reclining device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the other insertion portion of the operating member and the engaging member is inserted into the engagement hole of one of the operating member and the engaging member, thereby engaging the operating member with the engaging member. Therefore, the operating member can engage with the engaging member with a simple configuration.

[0017] A vehicle seat according to the sixth aspect of the present invention comprises 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 fifth aspects of the present invention. In the vehicle seat according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, any one of the reclining devices according to the first to fifth 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 fifth aspects of the present invention can be achieved.

Effects of the Invention

[0018] In the reclining device and the vehicle seat of the present invention, it is possible to restrict the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back during a side collision of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front left obliquely. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, the left side (outer side in the vehicle width direction) of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow LH, and the upper side of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow UP. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above (a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of a regulation bracket or the like in the vehicle seat according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] In FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in an exploded perspective view as viewed from the front left obliquely. In the drawings, the front of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow FR, the left side (outer side in the vehicle width direction) of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow LH, and the upper side of the vehicle seat 10 is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0021] The vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is provided on the front side and the left side of the passenger compartment of a vehicle (automobile). Near the left side of the rear end portion of the vehicle seat 10, the B-pillar of the vehicle is arranged. A seat cushion 12 is provided at the lower portion of the vehicle seat 10, and an occupant of the vehicle sits on the seat cushion 12. A seat back 14 is provided above the rear end portion of the seat cushion 12, and the seat back 14 supports the back of the occupant.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, a reclining device 16 is provided between a cushion hinge 12A of the seat cushion 12 and a back hinge 14A of the seat back 14.

[0023] The reclining device 16 is provided with a lock mechanism 18, and the lock mechanism 18 locks the tilting of the seat back 14 (back hinge 14A). The lock mechanism 18 is provided with a metal shaft 20 as a rotating shaft. The shaft 20 extends leftward, and a portion other than the base end portion (right end portion) is substantially rectangular columnar.

[0024] On the front side of the shaft 20, a regulating bracket 22 (see FIG. 4) made of metal and having an L-shaped cross-section in the form of a plate is arranged as an engaging member. The base end side portion of the regulating bracket 22 is fixed to the rear portion of the cushion hinge 12A and is arranged perpendicular to the left-right direction. The tip side portion of the regulating bracket 22 is formed into an insertion portion 22A in the form of a rectangular plate as an engaged portion. The insertion portion 22A projects leftward and is arranged perpendicular to the radial direction of the shaft 20.

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

[0026] A roughly trapezoidal plate-shaped knob 26 (see Figure 2), made of resin, is positioned in the recess 24A, which serves as the main body component of the operating member. A cylindrical peripheral wall 26A is integrally provided around the entire circumference of the knob 26, and the peripheral wall 26A protrudes to the right. The front part of the knob 26 is an operating section 26B, which is roughly triangular in front view, and the operating section 26B protrudes forward. A roughly trapezoidal coupling recess 26C is formed in the knob 26, and the coupling recess 26C is open to the left. In addition, rectangular coupling holes 26D, which serve as the coupling parts, are formed through the upper, lower, front, and rear parts of the circumference of the coupling recess 26C.

[0027] The central part of the bottom wall (right wall) of the coupling recess 26C is fixed (connected) to the tip of the shaft 20 by a screw 28, and the knob 26 is made to rotate integrally with the shaft 20, with the shaft 20 as the axis of rotation. When the occupant rotates the knob 26 upward at the operating part 26B, the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18 rotates, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14.

[0028] A long rectangular engagement hole 26E is formed through the bottom wall of the coupling recess 26C on the front side of the shaft 20, and the engagement hole 26E is positioned perpendicular to the radial direction of the shaft 20 and faces the insertion portion 22A of the restricting bracket 22 in the left-right direction.

[0029] A roughly trapezoidal plate-shaped resin cap 30 (see Figure 3), which serves as a covering member for the operating member, is fitted into the coupling recess 26C, and the left side of the cap 30 is flush with the left side (outer circumference) of the knob 26. Roughly rectangular plate-shaped coupling claws 32 are integrally provided on the upper, lower, front, and rear parts of the circumference of the cap 30, and the coupling claws 32 extend to the right. A triangular prism-shaped coupling projection 32A is integrally provided at the tip (right end) of the coupling claw 32, and the coupling projection 32A protrudes outward from the coupling recess 26C, with its left side positioned perpendicular to the left-right direction. The coupling claw 32 is inserted into the coupling hole 26D around the coupling recess 26C by temporary elastic deformation, and the coupling projection 32A is locked from the right side around the coupling hole 26D around the coupling recess 26C. This locks the coupling projection 32A to the left, and locks the cap 30 to the left, thereby coupling the cap 30 to the knob 26 so that it can rotate integrally with it.

[0030] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

[0031] In the reclining device 16 of the vehicle seat 10 configured as described above, the tilting of the seat back 14 is locked by a locking mechanism 18. The knob 26 is fixed to the shaft 20 of the locking mechanism 18 and is rotatable integrally with the shaft 20. When the knob 26 (including the cap 30) is rotated upward at the operating part 26B, the shaft 20 rotates integrally with the knob 26, and the locking mechanism 18 unlocks the tilting of the seat back 14.

[0032] Here, in the event of a side collision with the vehicle, an impact load from the vehicle's B-pillar is applied to the knob 26, causing the knob 26 to bend to the right (inward in the vehicle width direction). At this point, the insertion portion 22A of the restricting bracket 22 is inserted into the engagement hole 26E of the knob 26, and the knob 26 engages with the restricting bracket 22, thereby restricting the rotational operation of the knob 26 (see the dashed line in Figure 3). As a result, rotational operation of the knob 26 due to the impact load can be restricted, the unlocking of the tilting of the seat back 14 can be restricted, and unnecessary tilting of the seat back 14 can be restricted.

[0033] Furthermore, as described above, the insertion portion 22A of the restricting bracket 22 is inserted into the engagement hole 26E of the knob 26, thereby engaging the knob 26 with the restricting bracket 22. Therefore, the knob 26 can engage with the restricting bracket 22 with a simple configuration.

[0034] Furthermore, while the knob 26 exhibits a large amount of deflection to the right due to impact load both in front of and behind the shaft 20, the knob 26 engages with the restricting bracket 22 (insertion portion 22A) in front of the shaft 20 (engagement hole 26E). As a result, the knob 26 can properly engage with the restricting bracket 22, and the restricting bracket 22 can properly restrict the rotational operation of the knob 26.

[0035] Furthermore, after a side collision with the vehicle (after the knob 26 engages with the restricting bracket 22), the knob 26 is moved to the left, releasing its deflection and thus disengaging from the restricting bracket 22. This allows the knob 26 to be rotated, unlocking the tilt of the seatback 14 and allowing the seatback 14 to tilt, for example, enabling the occupant to escape from the vehicle.

[0036] Furthermore, in the event of a side collision with the vehicle, the knob 26 (engagement hole 26E) engages with the restricting bracket 22 (insertion portion 22A) on the operating portion 26B side of the shaft 20 of the knob 26. Therefore, after a side collision with the vehicle, the occupant can move the operating portion 26B to the left, releasing the deflection of the knob 26 and easily disengaging the knob 26 from the restricting bracket 22.

[0037] In this embodiment, the knob 26 is provided with an engagement hole 26E, and the restricting bracket 22 is provided with an insertion portion 22A. However, the knob 26 may be provided with an insertion portion 22A, and the restricting bracket 22 may be provided with an engagement hole 26E.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the knob 26 engages with the restricting bracket 22 in front of the shaft 20. However, the knob 26 may also engage with the restricting bracket 22 in rear, above, or below the shaft 20. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10 Vehicle seats 12 seat cushions 14 Seatback 16 Reclining device 18 Locking mechanism 20 Shaft (rotating axis) 22 Regulating bracket (engaging member) 22A Insertion section 26. Knob (operating component) 26B Operation section 26E Engagement hole 30 Cap (operating component)

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for locking the tilt of the seat back in a vehicle seat, An operating member connected to the locking mechanism and operated to unlock the tilting of the seat back, An engaging member is provided which, when an impact load is applied to the operating member during a side collision of a vehicle, causes the operating member to bend, thereby engaging with the operating member and restricting its operation; A reclining device equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the bending of the operating member can be released after the operating member is engaged with the engaging member.

3. The reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the operating member engages with the engaging member on the front-rear side of the rotation axis of the operating member.

4. The reclining device according to claim 1, comprising an operating part provided on the operating member and operated, wherein the operating member engages with the engaging member on the side of the operating part relative to the rotation axis of the operating member.

5. An engagement hole provided in one of the operating member and the engaging member, An insertion portion is provided on the other of the operating member and the engaging member, which is inserted into the engaging hole so that the operating member engages with the engaging member, The reclining device according to claim 1, comprising:

6. 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.

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