Vehicle seats

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat capable of absorbing energy with a link while maintaining meshing of gears in a lifting device.SOLUTION: One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle seat including a seat cushion, a cushion frame supporting the seat cushion, and a lifting device configured to lift and lower at least a part of the seat cushion. The lifting device has a pinion gear held by the cushion frame, a sector gear meshed with the pinion gear, and a link to which the sector gear is fixed and which is rotatably connected to the cushion frame. A yield stress of a material forming the link is lower than a yield stress of the material forming the sector gear.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle seats. [Background technology]

[0002] A seat installed in an automobile or the like is provided with a lifting device, such as a lifter device, that moves a cushion frame up and down. The lifting device has a pinion gear that is rotated manually or by a power source, a sector gear that meshes with the pinion gear, and a link that rotates together with the sector gear.

[0003] The lifting device lifts and lowers a cushion frame connected to a link by rotation of the link integrated with a sector gear (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6614023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The sector gear is made of a material with high hardness (i.e., high yield stress) to maintain meshing with the pinion gear. Therefore, when a link is integrated with the sector gear, the hardness of the link itself is also increased.

[0006] If the link is too hard, the link may not be able to deform to absorb the energy during an impact such as a collision, which may result in the seat frame deforming excessively.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a vehicle seat that can absorb energy with a link while maintaining gear engagement in an elevator device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle seat (1) comprising a seat cushion (2), a cushion frame (4) that supports the seat cushion (2), and a lifting device (5) configured to raise and lower at least a portion of the seat cushion (2).

[0009] The lifting device 5 has a pinion gear 511 held by the cushion frame 4, a sector gear 512 meshing with the pinion gear 511, and a link 513 to which the sector gear 512 is fixed and which is rotatably connected to the cushion frame 4. The yield stress of the material constituting the link 513 is lower than the yield stress of the material constituting the sector gear 512.

[0010] With this configuration, the hardness of the sector gear (512) can be increased to maintain meshing with the pinion gear (511), while the hardness of the link (513) can be decreased to facilitate deformation upon impact. As a result, upon impact, energy can be absorbed by deformation of the link (513), thereby preventing excessive deformation of the vehicle seat (1). Furthermore, the link (513) can be manufactured from a material with low hardness, thereby reducing the cost of the vehicle seat (1).

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure may further include a support member (6A) disposed below the cushion frame (4). The link (513) may include a gear mounting portion (513A) to which the sector gear (512) is fixed, and an arm portion (513C) extending from the gear mounting portion (513A) toward the front of the seat and rotatably connected to the support member (6A). The arm portion (513C) may be disposed between a portion connecting to the support member (6A) and the gear mounting portion (513A) and may include a stepped portion (513F) recessed in the seat width direction. This configuration makes the stepped portion (513F) more likely to deform when an impact occurs. This reduces the likelihood of misalignment between the sector gear (512) and the pinion gear (511) causing misalignment and tooth chipping.

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the cushion frame (4) may have a first side frame (41) and a second side frame (42) arranged apart from each other in the seat width direction. The lifting device (5) may have a connecting rod (55) rotatably connected to the first side frame (41) and the second side frame (42). The link (513) may extend in the seat width direction from the gear mounting portion (513A) and have a rod mounting portion (513D) fixed to the connecting rod (55) from below the connecting rod (55). This configuration prevents the link (513) from falling in the seat width direction when an impact occurs. As a result, the energy absorption performance of the link (513) can be improved.

[0013] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the end portion (513H) of the rod attachment portion (513D) at the front of the seat may be located further forward of the step portion (513F). With this configuration, the deformation mode of the link (513) can be stabilized.

[0014] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the thickness in the seat width direction of the portion (513A) of the link (513) to which the sector gear (512) is fixed may be smaller than the thickness in the seat width direction of the sector gear (512). With this configuration, the material cost of the link (513) can be reduced, thereby facilitating cost reduction of the vehicle seat (1).

[0015] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the lifting device (5) may have fasteners (514A, 514B) that secure the sector gear (512) to the link (513) in the seat width direction. The link (513) may have a seat (513E) that protrudes in the seat width direction beyond the fasteners (514A, 514B). With this configuration, the seat (513E) comes into contact with another component, such as a cover, thereby preventing interference between the fasteners (514A, 514B) and other components.

[0016] Note that the symbols in the parentheses above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations, etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations, etc. shown by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views of a cushion frame and a lifting device in the vehicle seat of FIG. [Figure 3] 3A is a schematic perspective view of a first link mechanism in the lifting device of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B is a schematic perspective view of the first link mechanism of FIG. 3A with a cover bracket removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a sector gear and a link in the first link mechanism of FIG. 3A. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the sector gear and link of FIG. 4 in a state where they are fixed to a first connecting rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] The vehicle seat 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, a cushion frame 4, a lifting device 5, a first sliding device 6A, and a second sliding device 6B.

[0019] The vehicle seat 1 of this embodiment is used as a seat for a passenger vehicle. Note that the directions in the following description and in each drawing refer to directions when the vehicle seat 1 is assembled to the vehicle (i.e., the passenger vehicle). In this embodiment, the seat width direction coincides with the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the front of the seat coincides with the front of the vehicle.

[0020] The seat cushion 2 is a portion for supporting the buttocks and the like of a seated person. The seat back 3 is a portion for supporting the back of a seated person. The cushion frame 4 supports the seat cushion 2.

[0021] <Cushion frame> The cushion frame 4 has a first side frame 41, a second side frame 42, and a front panel 43.

[0022] The first side frame 41 and the second side frame 42 are panel-like members that extend in the front-rear direction of the seat and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the seat. The first side frame 41 is disposed on the right side of the second side frame 42. The front panel 43 is disposed so as to straddle the front end portions of the first side frame 41 and the second side frame 42.

[0023] <Slide device> The first sliding device 6A and the second sliding device 6B each slide the cushion frame 4 in the front-rear direction of the seat.

[0024] The first sliding device 6A has a movable rail connected to the first side frame 41 and a fixed rail that slidably supports the movable rail. The second sliding device 6B has a movable rail connected to the second side frame 42 and a fixed rail that slidably supports the movable rail.

[0025] The first sliding device 6A and the second sliding device 6B are disposed apart from each other in the seat width direction. The first sliding device 6A is disposed to the right of the second sliding device 6B. The first sliding device 6A and the second sliding device 6B are support members disposed below the cushion frame 4.

[0026] <Lifting device> The lifting device 5 is configured to lift and lower the entire seat cushion 2 by moving the cushion frame 4 up and down. The lifting device 5 is driven by manual operation by the seated occupant.

[0027] The lifting device 5 displaces the cushion frame 4 between a lowest position shown in Fig. 2A and an highest position shown in Fig. 2B. The lifting device 5 has a first link mechanism 51, a second link mechanism 52, a third link mechanism 53, a fourth link mechanism 54, a first connecting rod 55, and a second connecting rod 56.

[0028] (Connecting rod) The first connecting rod 55 and the second connecting rod 56 are rotatably connected to the first side frame 41 and the second side frame 42, respectively.

[0029] The first connecting rod 55 is disposed behind the seat relative to the second connecting rod 56. The first connecting rod 55 and the second connecting rod 56 are each a circular tube disposed so that the central axis is parallel to the seat width direction.

[0030] (First link mechanism) The first link mechanism 51 connects the first side frame 41 and the movable rail of the first sliding device 6A.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the first link mechanism 51 has a pinion gear 511, a sector gear 512, a link 513, a first fastener 514A, a second fastener 514B, a cover bracket 515, a brake mechanism 516, and an operating portion 517.

[0032] (pinion gear) The pinion gear 511 is connected to a brake mechanism 516 and is rotated by the brake mechanism 516. The rotation axis of the pinion gear 511 is parallel to the sheet width direction.

[0033] The pinion gear 511 is rotatably held by the first side frame 41 via a cover bracket 515 and a brake mechanism 516. The pinion gear 511 is disposed on the inner side in the seat width direction (i.e., on the left side) of the first side frame 41. The pinion gear 511 does not move relative to the first side frame 41.

[0034] The brake mechanism 516 is configured to rotate the pinion gear 511 by a driving force input from an operation unit 517. The brake mechanism 516 also prevents the pinion gear 511 from reversing due to the weight of a seated occupant acting on the seat cushion 2. The brake mechanism 516 is fixed to the first side frame 41 on the outer side of the first side frame 41 in the seat width direction.

[0035] The operating unit 517 is configured to input a driving force for raising and lowering the cushion frame 4 to the brake mechanism 516. The operating unit 517 is connected to an operating lever that is used by a seated person to perform a lift operation, for example.

[0036] (Sector Gear) The sector gear 512 is a plate-shaped gear that meshes with the pinion gear 511. The rotation axis of the sector gear 512 is parallel to the rotation axis of the pinion gear 511. The sector gear 512 is disposed behind the seat of the pinion gear 511.

[0037] The sector gear 512 rotates (i.e., oscillates) up and down due to the rotation of the pinion gear 511 (i.e., the power transmitted from the pinion gear 511). A certain amount of backlash is provided between the pinion gear 511 and the sector gear 512. The sector gear 512 is made of, for example, a hardened metal material.

[0038] The sector gear 512 is disposed further inward in the seat width direction than the first side frame 41. The sector gear 512 is fixed to a link 513. Specifically, the sector gear 512 is overlapped with the link 513 from the outer side in the seat width direction and fastened to the link 513 by a first fastener 514A and a second fastener 514B. A plurality of teeth of the sector gear 512 protrudes further forward in the seat than the link 513.

[0039] (link) The link 513 is a plate-like member that is rotatably connected together with the sector gear 512 to the cushion frame 4 (that is, the first side frame 41).

[0040] The link 513 is made of, for example, an unhardened metal material. The yield stress of the material that makes up the link 513 is lower than the yield stress of the material that makes up the sector gear 512. In other words, the link 513 is less hard than the sector gear 512 and is more likely to deform under load.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the link 513 has a gear attachment portion 513A, a rod insertion portion 513B, an arm portion 513C, a rod attachment portion 513D, and a seat 513E.

[0042] The gear attachment portion 513A is a portion to which the sector gear 512 is fixed. The thickness direction of the gear attachment portion 513A is parallel to the sheet width direction. The thickness of the gear attachment portion 513A in the sheet width direction is smaller than the thickness of the sector gear 512 in the sheet width direction.

[0043] A first fastener 514A and a second fastener 514B are inserted through the gear attachment portion 513A in the thickness direction. The first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B fix the sector gear 512 to the gear attachment portion 513A in the seat width direction.

[0044] The first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B are arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction (specifically, along the circumferential direction of the sector gear 512). As the first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B, for example, rivets, bolts, nuts, etc. are used.

[0045] The rod insertion portion 513B is a portion through which the first connecting rod 55 is inserted. The rod insertion portion 513B is provided behind the seat of the gear attachment portion 513A. The first connecting rod 55 is fixed to the rod insertion portion 513B by, for example, welding.

[0046] The arm portion 513C is a strip-shaped portion that extends from the gear attachment portion 513A toward the front of the seat and is connected to the movable rail of the first sliding device 6A, which is a support member. The thickness of the arm portion 513C is the same as the thickness of the gear attachment portion 513A.

[0047] The end of the arm portion 513C at the rear of the seat is connected to the lower end of the gear attachment portion 513A. As shown in FIG. 3B, the end of the arm portion 513C at the front of the seat is rotatably connected to the movable rail of the first sliding device 6A.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the arm portion 513C is disposed between the connecting portion of the first sliding device 6A to the movable rail (i.e., the front end of the seat) and the gear mounting portion 513A (i.e., the rear end of the seat), and has a step portion 513F recessed in the seat width direction.

[0049] The step portion 513F is curved so as to be convex toward the inside in the seat width direction. When a load is applied to the sector gear 512 or the link 513, the step portion 513F is preferentially deformed to absorb energy.

[0050] The step portion 513F extends from the upper end of the arm portion 513C to the lower end of the arm portion 513C (that is, the rod attachment portion 513D). The thickness direction of the arm portion 513C is parallel to the seat width direction except for the step portion 513F.

[0051] The rod mounting portion 513D is a plate-shaped portion extending inward in the seat width direction from the lower ends of the gear mounting portion 513A and the arm portion 513C. The plate surface of the rod mounting portion 513D is parallel to the seat width direction. The rod mounting portion 513D is a portion obtained by bending the lower end of the plate material constituting the link 513 inward and upward in the seat width direction. The thickness of the rod mounting portion 513D is the same as the thickness of the gear mounting portion 513A and the arm portion 513C.

[0052] The rod attachment portion 513D has a first end 513G behind the seat and a second end 513H in front of the seat. As shown in Fig. 5, the first end 513G is fixed to the first connecting rod 55 from below the first connecting rod 55 by, for example, welding. The first end 513G is spaced apart from the rod insertion portion 513B in the seat width direction.

[0053] The second end 513H is located further forward of the seat than the stepped portion 513F. The second end 513H is connected to the end of the arm portion 513C in front of the seat. The width of the second end 513H (i.e., the length in the seat width direction) is smaller than the width of the first end 513G.

[0054] 4 is a portion that protrudes from the gear attachment portion 513A further inward in the seat width direction than the first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B. In other words, the thickness of the region of the link 513 where the seat 513E is provided is greater than the sum of the thickness of the gear attachment portion 513A and the thickness of the head of the first fastener 514A or the second fastener 514B.

[0055] The link 513 and the sector gear 512 rotate together with the first connecting rod 55 relative to the first side frame 41. The link 513 and the sector gear 512 also rotate relative to the first sliding device 6A. Specifically, the link 513 and the sector gear 512 swing up and down relative to the first side frame 41 and the first sliding device 6A, respectively.

[0056] When the pinion gear 511 rotates so that the sector gear 512 swings upward, the link 513 swings upward, causing the cushion frame 4 to rise. On the other hand, when the pinion gear 511 rotates so that the sector gear 512 swings downward, the link 513 swings downward, causing the cushion frame 4 to descend.

[0057] (Cover bracket) The cover bracket 515 shown in FIG. 3A is a plate-shaped member that sandwiches the sector gear 512 together with the first side frame 41 in the seat width direction.

[0058] The cover bracket 515 covers the entire pinion gear 511 and the portion of the sector gear 512 that meshes with the pinion gear 511 from the inside in the seat width direction. The cover bracket 515 is fastened to the first side frame 41 with a plurality of bolts and nuts.

[0059] The outer surface of the cover bracket 515 in the seat width direction (i.e., the surface facing the sector gear 512) comes into contact with the seat 513E of the link 513, and does not come into contact with the heads of the first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B. This prevents the cover bracket 515 from rattling.

[0060] (Second link mechanism, third link mechanism, and fourth link mechanism) 2A connects the first side frame 41 and the movable rail of the first slide device 6A at a position forward of the seat from the first link mechanism 51. The second link mechanism 52 cooperates with the first link mechanism 51 to move the first side frame 41 up and down.

[0061] The third link mechanism 53 and the fourth link mechanism 54 each connect the second side frame 42 and the movable rail of the second slide device 6B. The third link mechanism 53 is connected to the first link mechanism 51 by a first connecting rod 55. The third link mechanism 53 operates in synchronization with the first link mechanism 51. The fourth link mechanism 54 is connected to the second link mechanism 52 by a second connecting rod 56. The fourth link mechanism 54 operates in synchronization with the second link mechanism 52.

[0062] [1-2.Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The hardness of the sector gear 512 can be increased to maintain meshing with the pinion gear 511, while the hardness of the link 513 can be decreased to facilitate deformation when an impact occurs. As a result, when an impact occurs, energy can be absorbed by deformation of the link 513, thereby suppressing excessive deformation of the vehicle seat 1. Furthermore, the cost of the vehicle seat 1 can be reduced because the link 513 can be manufactured from a material with low hardness.

[0063] (1b) The arm portion 513C has the step portion 513F, which makes it easier for deformation to occur at the step portion 513F when an impact occurs. This makes it possible to prevent misalignment between the sector gear 512 and the pinion gear 511 and to prevent tooth chipping or other problems caused by misalignment.

[0064] (1c) The link 513 has the rod attachment portion 513D, which prevents the link 513 from collapsing in the seat width direction when an impact occurs. As a result, the energy absorption performance of the link 513 can be improved.

[0065] (1d) The second end 513H of the rod attachment portion 513D is positioned further forward of the seat than the stepped portion 513F, so that the deformation mode of the link 513 can be stabilized.

[0066] (1e) The thickness of the gear attachment portion 513A of the link 513 is smaller than the thickness of the sector gear 512, which reduces the material cost of the link 513. This helps reduce the cost of the vehicle seat 1.

[0067] (1f) When the seat 513E of the link 513 comes into contact with the cover bracket 515, interference between the first fastener 514A and the second fastener 514B and the cover bracket 515 can be avoided.

[0068] 2. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0069] (2a) In the vehicle seat of the above embodiment, the front end of the rod attachment portion does not necessarily have to be located further forward of the step portion. (2b) In the vehicle seat of the above embodiment, the arm portion does not necessarily have to have a step portion.

[0070] (2c) In the vehicle seat of the above embodiment, the link does not necessarily have to have a rod attachment portion and a seat. (2d) In the vehicle seat of the above embodiment, the thickness of the gear attachment portion may be equal to or greater than the thickness of the sector gear.

[0071] (2e) In the vehicle seat of the above embodiment, the pinion gear may be configured to be rotated by a power source such as an actuator.

[0072] (2f) The configuration of the first link mechanism in the vehicle seat of the above embodiment can also be applied to a tilt device that swings a part of the seat cushion (for example, the front end) up and down. In other words, the present disclosure can also be applied to a vehicle seat equipped with a tilt device.

[0073] (2g) The vehicle seat of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in automobiles other than passenger cars, and seats used in vehicles other than automobiles, such as railway cars, ships, and aircraft.

[0074] (2h) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Furthermore, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical idea identified by the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1...vehicle seat, 2...seat cushion, 3...seat back, 4... cushion frame, 5... lifting device, 6A... first slide device, 6B...second slide device, 41...first side frame, 42...second side frame, 43...front panel, 51...first link mechanism, 52...second link mechanism, 53...third link mechanism, 54...fourth link mechanism, 55...first connecting rod, 56...second connecting rod, 511...pinion gear, 512...sector gear, 513...link, 513A...gear mounting portion, 513B...rod insertion portion, 513C...Arm part, 513D...Rod mounting part, 513E...Seat, 513F...Step part, 513G...first end, 513H...second end, 514A, 514B...fastener, 515...cover bracket, 516...brake mechanism, 517...operating part.

Claims

1. Seat cushion and a cushion frame supporting the seat cushion; a lifting device configured to lift and lower at least a portion of the seat cushion; a support member disposed below the cushion frame; Equipped with The cushion frame includes a first side frame and a second side frame that are spaced apart from each other in the seat width direction, The lifting device is a pinion gear held by the cushion frame; a sector gear meshed with the pinion gear; a link to which the sector gear is fixed and which is rotatably connected to the cushion frame; a connecting rod rotatably connected to the first side frame and the second side frame; and the yield stress of the material constituting the link is lower than the yield stress of the material constituting the sector gear; The link is: a gear mounting portion to which the sector gear is fixed; an arm portion extending from the gear attachment portion toward the front of the seat and rotatably connected to the support member; a rod attachment portion extending in the seat width direction from the gear attachment portion and fixed to the connecting rod from below the connecting rod; and The arm portion is disposed between a portion connected to the support member and the gear mounting portion, and has a stepped portion recessed in the seat width direction.

2. 2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, A vehicle seat, wherein a front end of the rod attachment portion is located further forward of the step portion.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, The vehicle seat, wherein the thickness of the link in the seat width direction at the portion to which the sector gear is fixed is smaller than the thickness of the sector gear in the seat width direction.

4. A seat cushion; a cushion frame supporting the seat cushion; a lifting device configured to lift and lower at least a portion of the seat cushion; Equipped with The lifting device is a pinion gear held by the cushion frame; a sector gear meshed with the pinion gear; a link to which the sector gear is fixed and which is rotatably connected to the cushion frame; a fastener for fixing the sector gear to the link in the seat width direction; and the yield stress of the material constituting the link is lower than the yield stress of the material constituting the sector gear; The link has a seat that protrudes in the seat width direction beyond the fastener.

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