seating equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a seating device that, when the seat is rotated, allows the table on the back of the seat to be linked to it, enabling reliable and easy return to the storage position. [Solution] In a seating device 10 in which a seat 11 is rotatably installed and a table 20 for use by a passenger in the rear seat is provided on the back side of the seat 11, the device includes a support mechanism 30 that supports the table 20 so that it can be raised and lowered between a storage position along the back side of the seat 11 and a usage position tilted backward from the back side of the seat 11, and a drive mechanism 40 that, in conjunction with the support mechanism 30, automatically returns the table 20 to the storage position when the table 20 is in the usage position during a series of operations to rotate the seat 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat apparatus in which a seat is rotatably installed, and a table for use by a seated person on a rear seat is provided on the back side of the seat.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, among seats installed in vehicles such as railway vehicles, those provided with a table for use by a seated person on a rear seat on the back side of a backrest are known. Here, the table is stored along the back surface of the backrest when not in use, and when in use, articles can be placed on the table in a state of being horizontally tilted to the rear of the backrest. In addition, many seats for this type of vehicle are rotatable to match the traveling direction of the vehicle, and can be turned to face forward or backward.

[0003] In such a seat, if the seat is rotated while the table is tilted rearward, in the limited space inside the passenger compartment, the table may interfere with the surroundings and cannot be rotated, or the table may collide with the surroundings and be damaged. Therefore, when rotating the seat, it is necessary to first return the table to its original stored state. However, when a large number of seats in the passenger compartment are to be rotated all at once, for example when the vehicle arrives at the terminal station, crew members or cleaning staff have to go around each seat to check and return the tables one by one, which is extremely troublesome by manual operation.

[0004] As a technique capable of solving such a problem, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, a seat in which the table on the back side of the backrest can be automatically raised and stored by electric power is already known. In these seats, in addition to the well-known support mechanism for raising and lowering the table respectively, a special device for automatically storing the table is required, that is, the operating device 52 and the biasing devices 51, 53 in Citation Document 1, and the electric drive device 10 and the like in Citation Document 2.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Publication number 7-52753 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6518232 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] However, in the seat described in Patent Document 1, the automatic retraction of the table does not necessarily occur in conjunction with the rotation of the seat itself. In other words, it was assumed that the retraction of the table and the rotation of the seat would be performed separately. Therefore, unless the table is retracted separately before the seat rotates, the problem of the table being unable to rotate or being damaged cannot be solved. Furthermore, the seat described in Patent Document 2 was not designed to rotate in the first place.

[0007] Furthermore, in both of the seats described in references 1 and 2, in addition to the support mechanism for raising and lowering the table, a special device is required to automatically store the table. Such special devices are each custom-made and structurally complex, resulting in a large number of parts and assembly steps, which increases costs. Moreover, the complexity of the structure of these special devices makes them more fragile and prone to failure.

[0008] This invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a seating device that can reliably and easily return a table on the back of the seat to its storage position when the seat is rotated, and that can significantly reduce costs by reducing the number of parts and labor through a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, one aspect of the present invention is: In a seating system in which the seat is rotatable and has a table on the back side of the seat for use by the occupant of the seat behind it, A support mechanism that allows the table to be raised and lowered between a storage position along the back of the seat and a usage position tilted backward from the back of the seat, The invention is characterized by comprising a drive mechanism that, in the series of operations for rotating the seat, automatically returns the table to the storage position in conjunction with the support mechanism when the table is in the use position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the seating device of the present invention, when the seat is rotated, the table on the back of the seat can be linked to it to be reliably and easily returned to the storage position, and moreover, the simple configuration reduces the number of parts and labor, thereby significantly reducing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a rearward perspective view showing the entire seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front-view perspective showing the entire seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a front perspective view showing the drive mechanism of a seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a side view showing the seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where the table is in use. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing the seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where the table is in the stored position. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the electric motor and electric rotating device of the drive mechanism of a seating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a plan view showing the normal state of the cam in the electric rotating device of the drive mechanism of a seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a plan view illustrating the operation of the cam in the electric rotating device of the drive mechanism of the seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]A perspective view showing a table lock mechanism of a seat device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the table lock mechanism of the seat device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] An exploded perspective view showing the table lock mechanism of the seat device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] A block diagram schematically showing each mechanism of the seat device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] A flowchart for explaining main operations of each mechanism of the seat device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, representative embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Fig. 1 to Fig. 13 show an embodiment of the present invention. In the seat device 10 of the present embodiment, the seat 11 is rotatably installed, and a table 20 for use by a seated person in a rear seat is provided on the back side of the seat 11. The type of the seat 11 is not particularly limited, but hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a two-person seat installed in a passenger compartment of a railway vehicle will be described as an example. Note that the components, shapes, numerical values and the like shown in the embodiments described below are all examples of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. In addition, in each drawing, slight differences in the shape of the same part are merely design changes.

[0013] <Overview of Seat 11> As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, in the seat 11, a base frame 13 is mounted on a leg base 12 fixed to the floor in the passenger compartment so as to be rotatable in both forward and reverse directions on a substantially horizontal plane. On the base frame 13, two sets each of a seat portion 14 and a backrest 15 are arranged side by side. The leg base 12 is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped mount made of, for example, a metal material. The base frame 13 is configured as a horizontally long rectangular frame-shaped frame made of, for example, a metal material. The base frame 13 is installed on the upper surface side of the leg base 12 via a well-known rotation mechanism. Further, the backrest 15 is supported on the rear end side of the seat portion 14 via a well-known reclining mechanism such that the tilt angle thereof is adjustable.

[0014] On both sides of the seat 11, armrest assemblies 16 are respectively fixed on both side ends of the base frame 13. The upper side of the armrest assembly 16 is formed as an armrest 16a. Further, between the two backrests 15, an armrest 17 is provided so as to be capable of being raised and lowered. A pedal 18 (see Figure 3) for performing a (foot-operated) unlocking operation of the rotation mechanism of the seat 11 is provided on one end side of the leg base 12. The seat 11 of the present embodiment is a two-seater with two sets of the seat portion 14 and the backrest 15 arranged side by side, but may be configured as a one-seater with only one set, or a three-seater with three sets arranged side by side, or the like. In the following description, terms representing directions such as "front" and "rear", "left" and "right", "upper" and "lower" are defined for convenience only, and do not limit the actual installation state or the like of the seat 11.

[0015] <Overview of Table 20> As shown in Figure 1, the table 20 is provided on the back side of the seat 11, that is, on the back side of the backrest 15. The table 20 is not used by the occupant of the seat 11 where the table 20 is provided, but is used by the occupant of a rear seat (not shown) installed behind this seat 11. The table 20 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin into a substantially rectangular plate shape with a predetermined thickness. The upper surface of the table 20 forms a flat surface over the entire area thereof, and it is preferable to, for example, affix a sheet material with a high friction coefficient or apply a non-slip surface treatment thereto.

[0016] The table 20 is supported by a support mechanism 30 so that it can be tilted up and down between a storage position along the back of the backrest 15 (see Figure 5) and a usage position tilted horizontally backward from the back of the backrest 15 (see Figure 4). Here, "horizontal" does not mean strictly horizontal, but rather to the extent that it is visually apparent as nearly horizontal (so-called "approximately horizontal"). The support mechanism 30 is also equipped with a drive mechanism 40 that, in conjunction with the support mechanism 30, automatically returns the table 20 from the usage position to the storage position during a series of movements in which the seat 11 is rotated. Furthermore, a table lock mechanism 60 is provided on the back of the backrest 15 to lock the table 20 in the storage position. In the following description, "lock" is synonymous with "restrain".

[0017] <Support mechanism 30> As shown in Figure 1, the support mechanism 30 includes a pair of left and right support members 31, 31 that support the table 20 from both sides. Each support member 31 is formed as a stay that extends in a nearly straight line, for example, from a metal material. Each support member 31 is positioned parallel to each other so as to sandwich both ends (both sides of the base edge) of the base edge 21 of the table 20, which is at the rear as viewed from the rear seat occupant.

[0018] As shown in Figure 4, when the table 20 is in a horizontal position, the base edge 21 of the table 20 points forward and the front edge 22 points backward. However, when viewed from the perspective of a person seated in the rear seats, the base edge 21 of the table 20 is at the rear and the front edge 22 is at the front. Thus, the front-to-back relationship of the table 20 changes relatively depending on the viewer.

[0019] The lower end 32 of each support member 31 is pivotally supported by a rotating shaft 32a so as to be able to be raised and lowered in the front-rear direction relative to the lower end (frame) of the backrest 15, which is located below the back of the seat 11. Here, the support members 31 are pivotally supported so as to be able to be raised and lowered within a predetermined angular range, that is, between the angles in which the table 20 is in the stored position and the usage position.

[0020] More specifically, each support member 31 can be raised and lowered to an upright position aligned with the back of the backrest 15 (see Figure 5) and to a tilted position tilted backward by a predetermined angle from the back of the backrest 15 (see Figure 4). If the rotation axis 32a that forms the center of raising and lowering of the support member 31 is on the same axis as the tilting center of the backrest 15, the table 20 will always be maintained in a constant position regardless of the tilting angle of the backrest 15.

[0021] Furthermore, both sides of the base end of the table 20 are rotatably connected between the upper ends 33 of each support member 31 within a predetermined angular range. The table 20 is rotatably connected to the upper ends 33 of the support member 31 by, for example, a hinge pin 33a that forms the pivot center, between an angle in which it extends upward from the upper ends 33 of the support member 31 (see Figure 5) and an angle in which it is tilted horizontally from the upper ends 33 of the support member 31 (see Figure 4). Both sides of the base end of the table 20 are provided with a well-known stopper structure, such as a cam, to hold the table 20 at the horizontal angle relative to the upper ends 33 of the support member 31 when it is tilted backward.

[0022] <Drive mechanism 40> As shown in Figure 3, the seating device 10 is equipped with a drive mechanism 40 for performing various operations of the seat 11. The drive mechanism 40 drives the aforementioned rotation and reclining mechanisms of the seat 11, and is also attached to the support mechanism 30 of the table 20. In this case, regarding the operation of the table 20, the drive mechanism 40, in conjunction with the support mechanism 30, automatically returns the table 20 to the stored position if the table 20 is in the use position immediately before the rotation of the seat 11 during the series of operations.

[0023] The drive mechanism 40 includes an electric motor 41, which is a power source, and an electric rotating device 42, which drives the rotation mechanism of the seat 11 using the power of the electric motor 41. Here, the electric motor 41 and the electric rotating device 42 are arranged inside the leg rest 12 located below the seat 11, as shown in Figure 3. The drive mechanism 40 also includes a first drive unit that drives the support member 31 and a second drive unit that drives the table 20. The electric motor 41 corresponds to the "power source" of the present invention, and the electric rotating device 42 corresponds to the "clutch" of the present invention.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the first drive unit includes a first cable 51 connected to at least one lower end 32 of a pair of support members 31, 31 at a position eccentric to the rotation axis 32a, which is the tilting center of the support member 31 (axis 32b in Figure 4). Here, the first cable 51 is connected to the support member 31 via a guide 34 provided on the lower end side of the backrest 15, which is fixed to the rotation axis 32a. Therefore, when the first cable 51 is pulled by the electric rotating device 42 described later, the support member 31 is set to rotate from the tilted position to the upright position. Note that the guide 34 is not particularly limited in its configuration, and can be a simple pin, cam, pulley, etc., as long as it is configured to wrap around the middle of the first cable 51.

[0025] On the other hand, the second drive unit includes a second cable 52 connected to at least one side of the base end of the table 20 at a position eccentric to the hinge pin 33a, which is the pivot point of the table 20 (axis 33b in Figure 4). Here, the second cable 52 is connected to the table 20 via a guide 35 provided on the upper end 33 of the support member 31, which is fixed to the hinge pin 33a. Therefore, when the second cable 52 is pulled by the electric rotating device 42, the table 20 is set to rotate from a horizontal angle to a vertical angle. The guide 35 is not particularly limited in its configuration; it can be a simple pin, cam, pulley, etc., as long as it is configured to wrap around the middle of the first cable 52.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the drive mechanism 40 of this embodiment includes a control cable 50 for pulling operation, which includes a first cable 51 and a second cable 52. Here, the control cable 50 is configured such that a relay section 54 is provided at the end of a single integrated cable 53, and from the relay section 54, the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 branch off into two. The relay section 54 of the control cable 50 is capable of transmitting the operating force generated by the power pulling of the integrated cable 53 to the first cable 51, and then to the second cable 52 with a predetermined time difference.

[0027] As shown in Figure 12, the drive mechanism 40 is equipped with a total of three control cables 50, and the base of the integrated cable 53 of the first control cable 50A is directly connected to the electric rotating device 42. The bifurcated ends that branch off from the relay section 54 of this first control cable 50A are used to form the integrated cable 53 for the other two control cables 50.

[0028] In the control cable 50, the predetermined time difference between the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the relay section 54. Since such a control cable 50 is a well-known off-the-shelf product, a detailed explanation of its configuration will be omitted. The length of the cable routing at various points in the control cable 50 and the predetermined time difference are design matters that can be determined as appropriate.

[0029] The control cable 50 that directly drives the table 20 is configured to be pulled by the power of the electric motor 41 via the first control cable 50A extending from the electric rotating device 42. Here, the electric motor 41 is set to be driven as the first operation in a series of operations that rotate the seat 11, in response to the release operation (switch operation) of the rotation lock state in which the seat 11 was locked to prevent rotation. More details will be described later.

[0030] <<Electric Rotating Device 42>> As shown in Figure 12, the electric motor 41 that drives the table 20 is configured to also serve as a power source for the seat 11's rotation mechanism, etc., through switching (clutch) by the electric rotating device 42. In other words, the power from the electric motor 41 is configured to be selectively switched by the electric rotating device 42 to either rotate the seat 11 using the rotation mechanism, or to store the table 20, release the rotation lock on the seat 11, and release the lock on the reclining mechanism.

[0031] As shown in Figure 6, the electric rotating device 42 includes a rotating main shaft 421 that rotates with the power of an electric motor 41, and a cam 422, a drum 423, and a sprocket 424 that are sequentially supported on the rotating main shaft 421. A reduction gear 410 is attached to the electric motor 41, and the rotating main shaft 421 is integrally fixed axially to its output shaft 411. The cam 422 and sprocket 424 are supported on the rotating main shaft 421 with the drum 423 in between.

[0032] The drum 423 acts as a clutch. That is, the drum 423 moves axially with the rotating spindle 421 as the switching pin 425 swings, and selectively engages with the cam 422 or the sprocket 424. Here, the drum 423 is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating spindle 421 around its axis, for example by splines. Therefore, the power of the electric motor 41 is transmitted directly from the rotating spindle 421 to the drum 423. The switching pin 425 swings at a predetermined timing based on the operation of the solenoid 426, but under normal circumstances, the drum 423 is biased by the spring 427 in the direction of engaging with the cam 422.

[0033] When the solenoid 426 is activated and the switching pin 425 swings against the biasing force of the spring 427, the drum 423 engages with the sprocket 424. At this time, the sprocket 424 rotates due to the power of the electric motor 41. When the sprocket 424 rotates, the rotation mechanism is driven and the seat 11 rotates. The predetermined timing here refers to operations such as rotating all the seats 11 electrically at once, which will be described later. The rotation mechanism is also configured to allow the seat 11 to be rotated manually.

[0034] On the other hand, under normal conditions when the drum 423 is engaged with the cam 422, the cam 422 rotates due to the power of the electric motor 41. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a control cable 50A (Figure 12) that connects to the table 20 is connected to the outer circumference of an arm 422a that extends radially from the center of the cam 422. In addition, a cable A that connects to the pedal 18 is connected to the inner circumference of the cam 422, closer to the center. The center of the cam 422 is coaxial with the axis of the rotating main shaft 421. Furthermore, a pair of stoppers 423b and 423c are provided around the cam 422 that contact the arm 422a to restrict the range of motion (rotation angle) of the cam 422.

[0035] As shown in Figure 7, under normal conditions when the cam 422 is not rotating, the arm 422a is in contact with one of the stoppers 423b. This restricts the counterclockwise rotation of the cam 422 in the figure. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8, when the cam 422 rotates clockwise in the figure due to the power of the electric motor 41, the arm 422a rotates until it comes into contact with the other stopper 423c. As a result, the control cable 50A and cable A connected to the cam 422 are wound up and pulled around the outer and inner circumferences of the cam 422, respectively. Note that the time difference in operation corresponding to the amount of pulling of each cable A and 50A may be appropriately set depending on the difference in the length of each cable A and 50A from the connection point to the center of the cam 422.

[0036] <Rotation mechanism for seat 11> This section provides additional information regarding the well-known rotation mechanism of the seat 11 and its rotation locking mechanism. The rotation mechanism supports the base frame 13 of the seat 11 on the leg base 12 so that it can rotate in forward and reverse directions on a substantially horizontal plane. The rotation mechanism allows the seat 11 to be converted, for example, to a forward-facing position facing the direction of vehicle travel and a rearward-facing position rotated 180 degrees, and in each position, it can be locked (restrained) to prevent rotation by the rotation locking mechanism.

[0037] The rotating mechanism is configured as a unit in which a pair of inner and outer ring-shaped rotating discs are combined with a bearing in between so that they can rotate circumferentially relative to each other. In this rotating mechanism, the outer rotating disc is fixed to the leg base 12, and the inner rotating disc is fixed to the frame 13. The rotating disc on the frame 13 side has numerous holes arranged in a circumferential direction that mesh with the aforementioned sprocket 424, and the frame 13 is rotated circumferentially by an electric motor 41. The rotating mechanism also allows the seat 11 to be rotated manually.

[0038] The rotation locking mechanism includes, for example, a locking pin that can extend and retract vertically from the leg rest 11 to the frame 13. The locking pin is configured to lock the seat 11 in a position where it cannot rotate, by fitting into a stopper hole on the frame 13 that matches vertically at each position when the seat 11 is converted between the forward-facing and rearward-facing positions.

[0039] The lock pin is normally biased to protrude upward by a spring or the like, but a cable B (see Figure 12) is connected to it that retracts it downward against this biasing force. This cable B is connected to the pedal 18, and when the pedal 18 is pressed down, it is pulled against the biasing force. Furthermore, the pedal 18 and cable B are configured to be pulled not only by the pressing operation but also by an electric operation at a predetermined timing, as will be described in more detail later.

[0040] <Backrest 15-degree reclining mechanism> The well-known reclining mechanism of the backrest 15 will also be explained. The reclining mechanism supports the backrest 15 so that it can be tilted relative to the seat 14 within a predetermined angle range, and can hold the backrest 15 at any tilt angle. The reclining mechanism consists of, for example, a damper (seat lock) with a stepless adjustment function such as a gas spring. The damper biases the backrest 15 in the direction that returns it to the most upright position.

[0041] Furthermore, the damper is equipped with a locking mechanism that allows for stepless locking of its extension and retraction. This locking mechanism allows the backrest 15 to be held at any desired tilt angle (seat lock state). The locking mechanism is equipped with a push pin, and when the push pin is pushed in, the seat lock state is released, and the backrest 15 returns to its most upright position. In this seat lock released state, the occupant can lean their weight against the backrest 15 against the biasing force from the damper and tilt it back, allowing the backrest 15 to be held at any tilt angle that leads to the most rearward reclined position.

[0042] A cable C (see Figure 12) extending from the pedal 18 is connected to the damper, separate from the cable B. When this cable C is pulled via the pedal 18 by the power of the electric motor 41, a push pin inside the damper is pushed in, releasing the lock. In addition to being powered by the electric motor 41, this lock can also be released manually, for example, by an operating lever provided on the armrest 16a.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, a table lock mechanism 60 capable of restraining the table 20 in the stored position is provided on the back side of the backrest 15. The table lock mechanism 60 is configured to automatically lock (restrain) the table 20 in the stored position when the table 20 is returned to the stored position by the drive mechanism 40.

[0044] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the table lock mechanism 60 comprises a base 61 attached to the back of the backrest 15 and a stopper 62 supported by the base 61. The stopper 62 is supported on the base 61 so as to be movable in the vertical direction between a restraining position that locks the table 20 in the stored position and a release position that releases the lock on the table 20. A separate cover 63 is fixed to the base 61. The base 61, stopper 62, and cover 63 are all molded products of synthetic resin.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1, the table lock mechanism 60 is positioned on the back of the backrest 15, just above the front edge 22 which faces upward when the table 20 is in the stored position. As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the base 61 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape overall, and is attached so that its front side is connected to the back of the backrest 15. On the front side of the base 61, there is a storage section 610 that is recessed and opens inward (towards the backrest 15) and stores and supports a part of the stopper 62 in a slidable state.

[0046] The stopper 62 is supported on the base 61 so as to be able to slide vertically between a restraining position that locks the table 20 in the stored position and a release position that releases the lock on the table 20. The stopper 62 has the shape shown, which is long in the vertical direction overall, and is provided on its lower end with a claw portion 620 that extends and retracts below the lower end of the base 61 as it slides, and engages with and disengages from the back surface (one side) of the front edge 22 of the table 20 when it is in the stored position.

[0047] When the stopper 62 moves to the lower restraining position, the claw portion 620 protrudes below the lower end of the base 61. At this time, the claw portion 620 of the stopper 62 is set to engage with the back surface of the front edge 22 of the table 20 in the retracted position. On the other hand, when the stopper 62 moves to the upper release position, the claw portion 620 retracts above the lower end of the base 61. At this time, the claw portion 620 of the stopper 62 is set to disengage from the back surface of the front edge 22 of the table 20.

[0048] The stopper 62 has a lower restrained position as its initial position, and is biased by a spring 621 to return to the initial position when it slides to the upper release position. On the outside of the claw portion 620 of the stopper 62, a taper 620a is provided to temporarily retract the stopper 62 from the restrained position to the release position against the biasing force of the spring 621 by pressing against the leading edge 22 of the table 20 when the table 20 is raised from the use position to the storage position. Such a stopper 62 can be moved up and down by touching it with a finger. On the back side of the stopper 62, a support portion 623 is provided which slides into the storage portion 610 of the base 61.

[0049] The cover 63 is fixed to the base 61 and holds the stopper 62 in a slidable state together with the base 61. The cover 63 extends from the lower end of the base 61 and has a receiving portion 632 that contacts the other side of the front edge 22 when the table 20 is in the storage position. Here, the distance L between the receiving portion 632 and the opposing claw portion 620 when the stopper 62 is in the restrained position is set according to the thickness dimension of the front edge 22 of the table 20.

[0050] The cover 63 comprises a surface portion 630 that covers the front side of the base 61, a bottom portion 631 that extends from the lower end of the surface portion 630 toward the backrest 15, and the receiving portion 632 that extends downward from the rear end of the bottom portion 631 toward the backrest 15. An opening 630a is formed in the center of the surface portion 630, which matches the opening of the storage portion 610, which is the movable range of the stopper 62. The opening 630a extends from the upper end to the lower end of the surface portion 630 and further extends partway down the bottom portion 631.

[0051] The bottom portion 631 extends approximately perpendicularly from the lower end of the surface portion 630 toward the backrest 15, and the lower end of the support portion 623 of the stopper 62 abuts against it, thereby restricting the downward sliding of the stopper 62 away from the base 61. An opening 630a extends from the upper end of the surface portion 630 to approximately the middle of the depth of the bottom portion 631. The inner side of the claw portion 620 of the stopper 62 abuts against the lower edge of the opening 630a in the bottom portion 631.

[0052] The receiving portion 632 extends downward from the rear end of the bottom portion 631 on the backrest 15 side and is the part that contacts the surface (other side) of the front edge 22 of the table 20 when it is in the storage position. Therefore, the receiving portion 632 extends downward from the lower end of the base 61. Here, the distance L between the receiving portion 632 and the opposing claw portion 620 when the stopper 62 is in the restraining position is determined to correspond to the thickness dimension of the front edge 22 of the table 20.

[0053] <Operation of seating device 10> Next, the operation of the seating device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 5, the table 20 located on the back of the backrest 15 is normally locked in a stored position along the back of the backrest 15 by the table lock mechanism 60. When a passenger in the rear seat wants to use the table 20, as shown in Figure 9, the stopper 62 of the table lock mechanism 60 is pushed up with a finger to release the lock on the table 20. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the pair of support members 31, 31 together with the table 20 are tilted to the rearward position, and the table 20 is tilted horizontally from the upper end 33 of each support member 31. This allows the passenger in the rear seat to use the table 20 by placing objects on it, etc.

[0054] Furthermore, the occupant of seat 11 can lock the backrest 15 at a desired tilt angle between an upright position and a reclined position using the reclining mechanism. In addition, seat 11 can be rotated 180 degrees horizontally by the rotation mechanism to change its orientation to front or back. However, when the backrest 15 is in the reclined position and the table 20 is in use, rotating seat 11 would cause problems as described in the prior art, so it is controlled as follows.

[0055] Figure 13 is a flowchart of the overall operation when seat 10 is rotated electrically. When seat 11 is rotated (START in Figure 13), the first step in the sequence of operations is to release the rotation lock state of seat 11. This release operation can be performed by pressing the pedal 18 or electrically. If done electrically, a switch connected to the drive mechanism 40 is operated (ON) (step S101 in Figure 13). The switch is not shown in the figure, but it is advisable to install it in an appropriate place, for example, on the armrest 16 or armrest 16a, or in the conductor's room for remote centralized control.

[0056] The electric motor 41 is driven by the operation of the switch (step S102 in Figure 13), but under normal conditions, including this time, the drum 423 is engaged with the cam 422 in the electric rotating device 42 shown in Figure 6. Therefore, as shown in Figures 7 to 8, the cam 422 rotates due to the power of the electric motor 41. As also shown in Figure 12, a control cable 50A is connected to the cam 422, and the control cable 50A is pulled when the cam 422 rotates. Therefore, if the table 20 was in the use position immediately before this, the table 20 is automatically raised from the use position to the storage position and returned to its original position (step S103 in Figure 13).

[0057] In other words, as shown in Figures 3 and 12, when the integrated cable 53 of control cable 50A is pulled, it splits into two at the intermediate section 54, and the integrated cable 53 of the two control cables 50 is also pulled. Then, at the intermediate section 54 of each control cable 50, it splits into two, and the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 are pulled. Here, the operating force from the cam 422 is first transmitted to the first cable 51, and then to the second cable 52 with a predetermined time difference.

[0058] In Figure 4, when the first cable 51 is pulled, each support member 31 that supports the table 20 from both the left and right sides rotates from the reclined state shown in Figure 4 to the upright state shown in Figure 5. Subsequently, with a predetermined time difference, when the second cable 52 is pulled, the table 20 rotates from the horizontal angle to the upright angle. As a result, the table 20 automatically returns from the usage position to the storage position. When the table 20 returns to the storage position, the table lock mechanism 60 locks the table 20 in the storage position.

[0059] In other words, in Figure 10, the stopper 62 of the table lock mechanism 60 moves temporarily from the restrained position to the released position against the biasing force of the spring 623 when its claw portion 620 engages with the front edge 22 of the table 20. Then, after the front edge 22 of the table 20 is caught between the receiving portion 632 of the cover 63 and the claw portion 620, the claw portion 620 of the stopper 62 returns to the restrained position while engaging with the front edge 22 of the table 20. Note that by pushing up the stopper 62 with a finger to release the lock, the table 20 can be tilted backward to the usable position.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, cable A is also connected to cam 422, and when cam 422 rotates, cable A is also pulled. This causes pedal 18, which is connected to the end of cable A, to be activated to the unlocked state (step S104 in Figure 13). As pedal 18 is activated, cable B, which is connected to pedal 18, is pulled, and the rotation lock state of seat 11 in the rotation lock mechanism connected to the end of cable B is released (step S105 in Figure 13).

[0061] As mentioned above, when the lock pin of the rotation lock mechanism is pulled by cable B, it disengages from the stopper hole on the frame 13 side, resisting the biasing force of a spring or the like. This allows the seat 11 to be rotated in any direction by the rotation mechanism, and, as will be described later, by the power of the electric motor 41. Once the rotation lock of the seat 11 is released, this release of rotation lock will continue until the seat 11 is rotated electrically. For example, the seat 11 can be moved slightly to maintain a state in which the lock pin of the rotation lock mechanism is displaced from the stopper hole on the frame 13 side.

[0062] Furthermore, when pedal 18 is activated (step S104 in Figure 13), another cable C connected to pedal 18 is also pulled, as shown in Figure 12, and the seat lock state of the backrest 15 in the reclining mechanism connected to the end of cable C is released (step S106 in Figure 13). The release of the seat lock state here occurs simultaneously with the release of the rotation lock state of seat 11, but it may be set to operate with a time difference by adjusting, for example, the amount of tension on cables B and C.

[0063] As mentioned above, when the push pin in the damper of the reclining mechanism is activated by the pulling of cable C, the seat lock state of the backrest 15 is released. Therefore, the backrest 15, which was reclined, returns to its original upright position. The seat lock of the reclining mechanism can also be released manually at any time using the operating lever provided on the armrest 16a.

[0064] The timing of the pull of the control cable 50 that operates the aforementioned table 20 is simultaneous with the operation of cable A (operation of pedal 18), however, there may be a time difference in the specific timing of the pulling of cable A and the control cable 50. Once the table returns to its original position (step S103 in Figure 13), the seat rotation lock is released (step S105 in Figure 13), and the seat back lock is released (step S106 in Figure 13), the process moves on to the next stage of the series of operations that rotate the seat 11.

[0065] In the next step, as shown in Figure 6, the power transmission system from the electric motor 41 in the electric rotating device 42 is first switched by the clutch function (step S107 in Figure 13). That is, the switching pin 425 swings at the predetermined timing mentioned above, disengaging the drum 423 from the cam 422 and engaging it with the sprocket 424. When the electric motor 41 is driven with the clutch engaged in this way (step S108 in Figure 13), the sprocket 424 rotates due to the power of the electric motor 41. Thus, the seat 11 can be rotated automatically (step S109 in Figure 13).

[0066] Then, once the seat 11 is turned in any direction, the seat 11 is locked again in that direction by the rotation lock mechanism (step S110 in Figure 13). This completes the entire process of rotating the seat 11 (END in Figure 13). In addition to the electric rotation by the electric motor 41, the user of the seat 11 can also manually rotate it by pressing the backrest 15 after releasing the rotation lock state of the seat 11 by pressing the pedal 18, similar to the electric rotation described above.

[0067] Thus, in the series of operations for rotating the seat 11, the first operation, which is the operation of the switch (step S101 in Figure 13), can be performed individually by the user of each seat 11, or it can be performed remotely by a controller installed in the conductor's compartment of a railway car, for example, to control multiple seats 11 in the passenger compartment all at once.

[0068] As described above, the seating device 10 according to this embodiment allows the use of the existing electric motor 41, which is the drive source for rotating the seat 11, and the well-known drive mechanism 40 of the table 20. Furthermore, by a simple mechanism of connecting a control cable 50 for moving the table 20 to the electric rotating device 42, the table 20 can be automatically stored with simple movements that match the rotation of the seat 11. Such a drive mechanism 40 including the control cable 50 can also meet the requirement for space saving within the limited space of the seating device 10.

[0069] <Construction and Effects of the Invention> Although this embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The present invention derived from the embodiments described above will be described below.

[0070] First, the present invention relates to a seating device 10 in which a seat 11 is rotatably installed and a table 20 for use by a passenger in the rear seat is provided on the back side of the seat 11, A support mechanism 30 supports the table 20 so that it can be raised and lowered between a storage position along the back of the seat 11 and a usage position tilted backward from the back of the seat 11. The present invention is characterized by comprising a drive mechanism 40 that, in the series of operations for rotating the seat 11, automatically returns the table 20 to the storage position in conjunction with the support mechanism 30 when the table 20 is in the use position.

[0071] With this type of seating device 10, even if the table 20 on the back of the seat 11 was in a position that would hinder the rotation of the seat 11 immediately before it was rotated, it can be reliably and easily automatically returned to its original storage position.

[0072] Furthermore, in the present invention, the support mechanism 30 includes a pair of left and right support members 31 that support the table 20 from both sides, The lower end 32 of each support member 31 is pivotally supported so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the lower rear side of the seat 11, and the base ends of the table 20 are rotatably connected between the upper end 33 of each support member 31. When each of the support members 31 is in an upright position along the back of the seat 11, and the table 20 is in an upright position extending above the upper end 33 of each of the support members 31, the table 20 is in a stored position, The table 20 is in the usable position when each of the support members 31 is tilted backward from the back of the seat 11, and the table 20 is in a horizontal position, tilted horizontally from the upper end 33 of each of the support members 31.

[0073] With this support mechanism 30, the table 20 can be reliably and easily converted with a simple configuration between a storage position that is flush against the back of the seat 11 and a convenient usage position that is tilted horizontally behind the back of the seat 11.

[0074] Furthermore, in the present invention, the drive mechanism 40 comprises a first drive unit that drives the support member 31 and a second drive unit that drives the table 20. The first drive unit includes a first cable 51 connected to at least one lower end 32 of each support member 31 at a position eccentric from the tilting center of the support member 31, and when the first cable 51 is pulled by power, the support member 31 returns from the tilted position to the upright position. The second drive unit is characterized in that it includes a second cable 52 connected to at least one of the base ends of the table 20 at a position eccentric from the rotation center of the table 20, and when the second cable 52 is pulled by power, the table 20 returns from a horizontal angle to a vertical angle.

[0075] With this drive mechanism 40, the table 20 can be reliably and easily converted between the storage position and the usage position with an even simpler configuration, while still utilizing the existing support mechanism 30.

[0076] Furthermore, in the present invention, the drive mechanism 40 includes a control cable 50 for pulling operation, which includes the first cable 51 and the second cable 52. The control cable 50 is formed by having a relay section 54 at the end of a single integrated cable 53, from which the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 branch off. The relay unit 54 is characterized in that it can transmit the operating force generated by the power pulling the integrated cable 53 to the first cable 51, and then to the second cable 52 with a predetermined time difference.

[0077] With this drive mechanism 40, the number of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced by combining the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 into a single control cable 50. Moreover, by operating the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 with a predetermined time difference, the support member 31 and the table 20 can be operated smoothly in a mutually efficient sequence.

[0078] Furthermore, in the present invention, the drive mechanism 40 is connected to the base end of the integrated cable 53 of the control cable 50 and includes a power source 41 capable of pulling the integrated cable 53. The power source 41 is characterized in that, as the first operation in a series of operations for rotating the seat 11, it is driven in response to the release of the rotation lock state in which the seat 11 was restrained and unable to rotate. Here, the power source 41 is synonymous with the electric motor 41.

[0079] With this drive mechanism 40, the power source 41 can automatically control the pulling of the integrated cable 53. In this case, the power source 41 can reliably pull the integrated cable 53 in advance, in the stage before the seat 11 actually rotates, and return the table 20 to its stored position.

[0080] Furthermore, the rotation of the seat 11 is not limited to operation powered by the power source 41, but also includes manual operation. In addition, the base end of the integrated cable 53 is not limited to being directly connected to the power source 41, but may also be indirectly connected via the same control cable 50 or other cables or other components.

[0081] Furthermore, in the present invention, the drive mechanism 40 is characterized by comprising a clutch 42 that switches the power from the power source 41 to either the pulling action of the integrated cable 53 or the rotational action of the seat 11. Here, the clutch 42 is synonymous with the electric rotating device 42.

[0082] With this drive mechanism 40, the clutch 42 makes it possible to use one power source 41 for two power transmission systems, further reducing the number of parts and assembly time, and thus lowering costs.

[0083] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized by comprising a table lock mechanism 60 that can automatically restrain the table 20 in the stored position when the table 20 is returned to the stored position by the drive mechanism 40.

[0084] This table locking mechanism 60 makes it possible to securely and easily lock the table 20 in the storage position. For example, if the configuration were to maintain the tension of each of the cables 51 and 52, extra power would be required.

[0085] Furthermore, in the present invention, the table lock mechanism 60 comprises a base 61 attached to the back side of the seat 11, and a stopper 62 supported by the base 61. The stopper 62 is supported on the base 61 so as to be movable in the vertical direction between a restraining position that locks the table 20 in the storage position and a release position that releases the lock on the table 20, and is normally biased to the restraining position. The stopper 62 is characterized in that, when the table 20 returns to the storage position, it engages with the leading edge 22 of the table 20, thereby resisting the biasing force, temporarily moves from the restrained position to the released position, and then returns to the restrained position again while engaging with the leading edge 22 of the table 20.

[0086] With this table locking mechanism 60, the table 20 can be automatically locked in accordance with its movement without using any power, with only a simple mechanical structure, and without the need for manual operation of the stopper 62 itself. Moreover, it is possible to continuously maintain the table 20 in the locked state.

[0087] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. For example, the specific shapes of the seat portion 14, backrest 15, frame 13, leg rest 12, etc. of the seat 11 that constitutes the seating device 10 are not limited to those shown. Furthermore, well-known rotating mechanisms and reclining mechanisms may be substituted with other well-known configurations.

[0088] Furthermore, the components of the table 20, its support mechanism 30, the drive mechanism 40, and the table lock mechanism 60 that constitute the seating device according to this embodiment are not limited to those shown in the figures. In particular, the first cable 51 and the second cable 52 that constitute the drive mechanism 40 may be configured by combining, for example, two cables, without employing a control cable 50.

[0089] Furthermore, the specific timing at which the drive mechanism 40 in this embodiment works in conjunction with the support mechanism 30 to automatically return the table 20 to its stored position is any point in the series of operations for rotating the seat 11, as long as it is before the actual rotation of the seat 11 is completed, and is not limited to the timing caused by the initial switch operation as described above. [Industrial applicability]

[0090] The seating device 10 according to the present invention can be widely applied not only to seats for vehicles installed in passenger compartments such as railway cars, aircraft, automobiles, and ships, but also to seats for viewing in movie theaters, theaters, and the like. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0091] 10…Seat equipment 11… Seats 12...Step stool 13…frame 14... Seat part 15...backrest 20... Table 30…Support mechanism 40…Drive mechanism 41…Electric motor (power source) 42…Electric rotating device (clutch) 50…Control cable 51…Cable No. 1 52…Second cable

Claims

1. In a seating system in which the seat is rotatable and has a table on the back side of the seat for use by the occupant of the seat behind it, A support mechanism that allows the table to be raised and lowered between a storage position along the back of the seat and a usage position tilted backward from the back of the seat, A seating device characterized by comprising a drive mechanism that, in the process of rotating the seat, automatically returns the table to the storage position in conjunction with the support mechanism when the table is in the use position.

2. The support mechanism comprises a pair of left and right support members that support the table from both sides, The lower end of each of the support members is pivotally supported so as to be able to be raised and lowered on the lower back side of the seat, and the base ends of the table are rotatably connected between the upper ends of each of the support members. When each of the support members is in an upright position along the back of the seat, and the table is in an upright position extending upward from the upper end of each of the support members, the table is in a stored position, The seating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the table is in the usable position when each of the support members is in a tilted position, tilted backward from the back of the seat, and the table is in a horizontal position, tilted horizontally from the upper end of each of the support members.

3. The drive mechanism comprises a first drive unit for driving the support member and a second drive unit for driving the table. The first drive unit includes a first cable connected to at least one lower end of each support member at a position eccentric to the tilting center of the support member, and when the first cable is pulled by power, the support member returns from the tilted position to the upright position. The seating device according to claim 2, wherein the second drive unit comprises a second cable connected to at least one of the base ends of the table at a position eccentric from the rotation center of the table, and when the second cable is pulled by power, the table returns from a horizontal angle to an upright angle.

4. The drive mechanism includes a control cable for pulling operation, which includes the first cable and the second cable. The control cable is formed by providing a relay section at the end of a single integrated cable, from which the first cable and the second cable branch off. The seating device according to claim 3, characterized in that the relay unit can transmit the operating force pulled by the integrated cable by power to the first cable, and then to the second cable with a predetermined time difference.

5. The drive mechanism is connected to the base end of the integrated cable among the control cables and includes a power source capable of pulling the integrated cable. The seating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the power source is set to be driven as the first operation in a series of operations for rotating the seat, resulting from an operation to release the rotation lock state in which the seat was restrained so as not to rotate.

6. The seating device according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive mechanism includes a clutch that switches the power from the power source to either a pulling operation of the integrated cable or a rotational operation of the seat.

7. The seating device according to claim 1, further comprising a table locking mechanism capable of automatically restraining the table in the stored position when the table returns to the stored position by the drive mechanism.

8. The table lock mechanism comprises a base attached to the back of the seat and a stopper supported by the base, The stopper is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction between a restraining position that locks the table in the storage position and a release position that releases the table, and is normally biased to the restraining position. The seating device according to claim 7, characterized in that when the table returns to the storage position, the stopper engages with the leading edge of the table, thereby resisting the biasing force, temporarily moves from the restrained position to the released position, and then returns to the restrained position again while engaging with the leading edge of the table.

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