Vehicle seat switches

Abstract

An example of a vehicle seat switch that takes into account the case where a pressing force in the seat width direction acts on the operating part is disclosed. [Solution] The vehicle seat switch 7 is equipped with at least one stopper 11 that forms an operating displacement restricting part, which restricts the transmission of operating displacement to the switch body 9 when the operating part 8 is displaced beyond a predetermined dimension toward the switch body 9. As a result, even if the recess in the side cover 4 is eliminated or the depth of the recess is reduced, malfunctions of the vehicle seat switch 7 can be reliably suppressed. Consequently, malfunctions of the vehicle seat switch 7 can be reliably suppressed without significantly impairing operability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to

Background Art

[0002] For example, an operation portion of a switch for a vehicle seat (also referred to as a "switch knob") described in Patent Document 1 is disposed in a recess provided in a side cover of the vehicle seat. This is to prevent the door trim from displacing toward the side cover when a side collision occurs and contacting the operation portion, thereby suppressing malfunction of the switch for the vehicle seat.

[0003] That is, if the operation portion is disposed in the recess of the side cover, even if the door trim displaces toward the side cover, it can be suppressed that the door trim contacts the outer edge portion of the recess and the door trim contacts the operation portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] To surely suppress the door trim from contacting the operation portion, the depth dimension of the recess may be increased. However, if the depth dimension increases, there is a possibility that the operability of the operation portion by the user may be significantly reduced. The present disclosure discloses an example of a switch for a vehicle seat in view of this point.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] When a user operates the electrically movable part of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat switch, which is operated by the user and located on the side cover (4) of the vehicle seat, preferably has at least one of the following constituent elements.

[0007] In other words, the constituent elements are: an operating part (8) that a user touches and operates, which is displaceable in the sheet width direction relative to the side cover (4); a switch body (9) positioned on the opposite side of the side cover (4) from the operating part (8) in the sheet width direction; a transmission member (10) that transmits the displacement to the switch body (9) when the operating part (8) is displaced in a direction intersecting the sheet width direction; a proximity displacement restricting part (10A) that allows the operating part (8) to be displaced by a predetermined dimension toward the switch body (9) when the force pressing the operating part (8) toward the switch body (9) exceeds a predetermined magnitude; and an operating displacement restricting part (11) that restricts the transmission of the operating displacement to the switch body (9) when the operating part (8) is displaced by a predetermined dimension toward the switch body (9) when the operating displacement is defined as the operating displacement in a direction intersecting the sheet width direction.

[0008] As a result, even if the recessed portion of the vehicle seat switch is eliminated or its depth is reduced, malfunctions of the vehicle seat switch can be reliably suppressed. In other words, malfunctions of the vehicle seat switch can be reliably suppressed without significantly impairing its operability.

[0009] The vehicle seat switch may also have the following configuration, for example. In other words, it is desirable that the operating displacement restricting part (11) restricts the operating displacement of the operating part (8) by contacting the operating part (8).

[0010] The operating displacement restricting part (11) is preferably composed of a projection that protrudes from the side cover (4) toward the operating part (8). It is desirable that the portion of the operating section (8) facing the operating displacement restricting section (11) is provided with a recess (8G) into which the projection constituting the operating displacement restricting section (11) can be fitted.

[0011] Furthermore, it is desirable that the proximity displacement restricting section (10A) be composed of a spring that exerts an elastic force in a direction that separates the operating section (8) from the switch body (9). Incidentally, the symbols in each of the parentheses above are just examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations etc. described in the embodiments described later, and this disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations etc. indicated by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This figure shows a vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows a vehicle seat switch according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This figure shows the structure of a vehicle seat switch according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows the structure of a vehicle seat switch according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows the structure of a vehicle seat switch according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing the structure of the operating section according to the first embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The following "Embodiments of the Invention" are examples of embodiments that fall within the technical scope of this disclosure. In other words, the features defining the invention as described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the embodiments below.

[0014] This embodiment is an example in which a vehicle seat switch according to the present disclosure (hereinafter referred to as a seat switch) is applied to a seat mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle seat). Arrows, diagonal lines, etc. indicating directions attached to each figure are described to facilitate understanding of the relationship between each figure and the shape of members or parts.

[0015] Therefore, the seat switch is not limited to the directions attached to each figure. The directions shown in each figure are the directions in the state where the vehicle seat according to this embodiment is assembled to the vehicle. The figure with diagonal lines does not always show a cross-sectional view.

[0016] At least one member or part described with a sign is provided at least one, unless otherwise stated such as "one". That is, when there is no statement such as "one", two or more of the members may be provided. The seat switch shown in the present disclosure includes at least one of the components such as the members or parts described with a sign and the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0017] (First Embodiment) <1. Overview of Vehicle Seat> As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 1 includes at least a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3. The seat cushion 2 is a part for supporting the buttocks of the seated person. The seat back 3 is a part for supporting the back of the seated person.

[0018] A side cover 4 is provided on the side surface of the seat cushion 2 (the left side surface in FIG. 1). The side cover 4 is made of a resin having a relatively high hardness (for example, polypropylene). And, as shown in FIG. 2, seat switches 5 to 7 are provided on the side cover 4.

[0019] The seat switch 5 is a switch for performing a function of sliding and displacing the entire vehicle seat 1 in the seat front-rear direction. The seat switch 6 is a switch for performing a function of displacing the lumbar support portion. The lumbar support portion is a portion that supports the lumbar region of the seated person.

[0020] The seat switch 7 is a switch for changing and adjusting the angle of the seat back 3 with respect to the seat cushion 2 (also referred to as the "reclining angle"). And in the present embodiment, the seat switch according to the present disclosure is applied to the seat switch 7. The following description is about the seat switch 7.

[0021] <2. Details of the seat switch> As shown in FIG. 3, the seat switch 7 includes at least an operation unit 8, a switch body 9, a transmission member 10, a spring 10A, and a stopper 11. The operation unit 8 is a switch knob that a user touches and operates.

[0022] <2.1 Switch body> The switch body 9 is disposed on the opposite side of the operation unit 8 across the side cover 4 in the seat width direction. The switch body 9 has a movable contact, a fixed contact, etc., and opens and closes an electric circuit such as a motor drive circuit according to the displacement of the operation unit 8.

[0023] <2.2 Transmission member> The transmission member 10 is a member that transmits the displacement to the switch body 9 when the operation unit 8 is displaced in a direction intersecting the seat width direction. That is, the operation unit 8 according to the present embodiment is supported by the shaft member 12 so as to be rotatably displaced in the operation displacement direction (see the arrow D in FIG. 2) about the shaft member 12.

[0024] Specifically, the transmission member 10 and the shaft member 12 are fitted into concave holes 8A and 8B provided in the operating section 8, respectively, as shown in Figure 4. Therefore, the operating section 8 can rotate and displace so as to swing in the direction of the operating displacement around the shaft member 12. The direction of the operating displacement is the direction that intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) the sheet width direction.

[0025] In this embodiment, the depth dimension L1 of the hole 8A is larger than dimension L2. Dimension L2 is the length of the portion of the transmission member 10 that fits into the hole 8A. Therefore, the operating section 8 can be displaced relative to the side cover 4 in the sheet width direction (left-right direction in Figure 4) (see Figure 5).

[0026] In this embodiment, the depth dimension of the hole 8B is approximately the same as the length dimension of the portion of the shaft member 12 that fits into the hole 8B (see Figure 4). Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, the operating section 8 according to this embodiment is in an inclined state and close to the side cover 4.

[0027] Specifically, when an external force (hereinafter referred to as pressing force F) is applied to the operating part 8 in a direction that brings it closer to the side cover 4, the operating part 8 is displaced toward the side cover 4 in a tilted state, as shown in Figure 5, such that only the side with the transmission member 10 approaches the side cover 4.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, tapered portions 8C and 8D are provided on the stopper 11 side (upper left side of Figure 6) of each hole 8A and 8B. The tapered portion 8C is an inclined surface tilted with respect to the central axis of the transmission member 10, and is inclined to move further away from the transmission member 10 as it approaches the switch body 9 (see Figure 4).

[0029] The tapered portion 8D is an inclined surface tilted with respect to the central axis of the shaft member 12, and is inclined to move further away from the shaft member 12 as it approaches the switch body 9. <2.3 Spring> Spring 10A is an example of a proximity displacement restricting mechanism. A proximity displacement restricting mechanism allows the operating part 8 to be displaced beyond a predetermined dimension toward the switch body 9 when the force pressing the operating part 8 toward the switch body 9, i.e., the pressing force F, exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

[0030] In other words, as shown in Figure 4, the spring 10A is positioned between the bottom of the hole 8A and the tip of the transmission member 10. The spring 10A exerts an elastic force that separates the operating part 8 from the switch body 9.

[0031] Specifically, when no pressing force F is acting on the operating part 8, the spring 10A applies a preset force (hereinafter referred to as the initial load) to the operating part 8. This initial load is a force that pushes the operating part 8 in the direction opposite to the switch body 9.

[0032] Therefore, if the pressing force F is less than or equal to the initial load, the operating part 8 will not be displaced toward the switch body 9. If the pressing force F exceeds the initial load, the operating part 8 will be displaced toward the switch body 9. In other words, when the pressing force F exceeds the initial load, the displacement of the operating part 8 toward the switch body 9 is permitted.

[0033] In this embodiment, "the operating part 8 is displaced toward the switch body 9 beyond a predetermined dimension" means, for example, that it is displaced to a position where the stopper 11 and the operating part 8 can come into contact, as shown in Figure 5. Hereinafter, this displacement toward the switch body 9 will be referred to as "proximity displacement".

[0034] <2.4 Stopper> The stopper 11 is an example of an operating displacement restricting unit. The operating displacement restricting unit prevents the transmission of operating displacement to the switch body 9 when the operating unit 8 is displaced in proximity. Operating displacement refers to the displacement of the operating unit 8 in a direction intersecting the sheet width direction.

[0035] In this embodiment, the rotation of the operating unit 8 around the shaft member 12 in the direction of the operating displacement is referred to as the operating displacement. In other words, the stopper 11 prevents the operation of the switch body 9, i.e., the execution of the reclining function, when the operating unit 8 is subjected to a proximity displacement.

[0036] Specifically, the stopper 11 restricts the operational displacement of the operating part 8 by contacting it. As a result, the stopper 11 restricts the displacement of the transmission member 10 and prevents the operation of the switch body 9 (see Figure 5).

[0037] In other words, as shown in Figure 3, the stopper 11 is composed of a projection that protrudes from the side cover 4 toward the operating section 8. As shown in Figure 4, a recess 8G is provided in the part of the operating section 8 that faces the stopper 11. The recess 8G is a recess into which the stopper 11 can be fitted.

[0038] Therefore, when the operating part 8 is subjected to pressing force and displaced toward the other part, the stopper 11 fits into the recess 8G, as shown in Figure 5. In this state, if the operating part 8 attempts to displace itself, the stopper 11 comes into contact with the inner wall of the recess 8G, thereby restricting the operating displacement of the operating part 8.

[0039] <3. Features of the sheet switch according to this embodiment> In the seat switch 7 according to this embodiment, when the operating part 8 is displaced by a pressing force, the transmission of the operating displacement to the switch body 9 is restricted. Therefore, malfunctions of the reclining function due to the operating part 8 being displaced by a pressing force are suppressed.

[0040] As a result, even if the recess in the side cover 4 is eliminated or the depth of the recess is reduced, malfunctions of the seat switch 7 can be reliably suppressed. Consequently, malfunctions of the seat switch 7 can be reliably suppressed without significantly impairing operability.

[0041] In this embodiment, tapered portions 8C and 8D are provided in the holes 8A and 8B of the operating section 8, respectively. This helps to suppress the generation of excessive bending moments in the transmission member 10 and the shaft member 12 when a pressing force F is applied to the operating section 8.

[0042] In other words, when a pressing force is applied to the operating part 8, as shown in Figure 5, the operating part 8 is displaced in the sheet width direction relative to the side cover 4 while tilted. As a result, bending moments are generated in the transmission member 10 and the shaft member 12, causing the tip of the transmission member 10 and the tip of the shaft member 12 to be displaced.

[0043] However, in this embodiment, since tapered portions 8C and 8D are provided in holes 8A and 8B respectively, the operating portion 8 can be tilted with respect to the transmission member 10 and the shaft member 12, thereby suppressing the generation of excessive bending moments in the transmission member 10 and the shaft member 12.

[0044] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the operating unit 8 was displaceable in the sheet width direction relative to the transmission member 10. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure may also include a configuration in which the transmission member 10 and the operating unit 8 are integrated, and the operating unit 8 is displaceable in the sheet width direction integrally with the transmission member 10. In this configuration, a proximity displacement restricting unit and an operating displacement restricting unit are provided within the switch body 9.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the stopper 11, which forms the operating displacement restricting part, contacts the operating part 8 to restrict the operating displacement of the operating part 8. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0046] In other words, the disclosure may include, for example, a configuration in which the stopper 11 contacts the transmission member 10, or a configuration in which the stopper 11 or the transmission member 10 breaks and interrupts the transmission of the operating displacement when the force acting on it in the direction of the operating displacement exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the proximity displacement restricting section was configured by a spring 10A. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the disclosure may also include a configuration in which, for example, when a pressing force F exceeding the initial load is applied to the operating section 8, the engagement of the engaging section connecting the operating section 8 and the transmission member 10 is released or broken.

[0048] In the embodiments described above, the vehicle seat according to this disclosure was applied to a vehicle. However, the application of the invention disclosed herein is not limited to this. That is, the disclosure can be applied, for example, to seats used in vehicles such as railway cars, ships and aircraft, as well as to stationary seats used in theaters, homes, etc.

[0049] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is sufficient to be consistent with the intent of the disclosures described in the embodiments described above. The configuration may be a combination of the two embodiments, or it may be a configuration in which one of the illustrated components or components described with reference numerals in the above-described embodiment is omitted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1… Vehicle seats 2… Seat cushion 3… Seat back 4… Side cover 5… Seat switch 6… Seat switch 7… Seat switch 8…Operation unit 9… Nintendo Switch console 10… Transmission member 10A... Spring 11… Stopper 12... Shaft member

Claims

1. A switch operated by a user when operating the electrically movable part of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat switch located on the side cover of the vehicle seat, An operating part that is touched and operated by the user, comprising at least an operating part that is displaceable in the sheet width direction relative to the side cover, A switch body is positioned on the opposite side of the operating section from the side cover in the seat width direction, A transmission member that transmits the displacement to the switch body when the operating part is displaced in a direction intersecting the sheet width direction, A proximity displacement restricting unit that allows the operating unit to be displaced beyond a predetermined dimension toward the switch body when the force pressing the operating unit toward the switch body exceeds a predetermined magnitude, When the displacement of the operating part in a direction intersecting the sheet width direction is defined as the operating displacement, When the operating part is displaced beyond a predetermined dimension toward the switch body, an operating displacement restricting unit restricts the transmission of the operating displacement to the switch body. A vehicle seat switch equipped with the following features.

2. The vehicle seat switch according to claim 1, wherein the operating displacement restricting unit restricts the operating displacement of the operating unit by contacting the operating unit.

3. The vehicle seat switch according to claim 2, wherein the operating displacement restricting portion is configured as a projection that protrudes from the side cover toward the operating portion side.

4. The vehicle seat switch according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the operating portion facing the operating displacement restricting portion is provided with a recess into which a projection constituting the operating displacement restricting portion can be fitted.

5. The vehicle seat switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the proximity displacement restricting portion is composed of a spring that exerts an elastic force in a direction that separates the operating portion from the switch body.

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