Equipment mounting device for vehicle seats

Abstract

To solve a problem of a conventional apparatus attachment device for a vehicle seat that an entire part of the device is large and heavy.SOLUTION: An apparatus attachment device is a device used to attach an apparatus A to an upper part of a seat back SB in a vehicle and including: a base 1 connected to a lower part of the apparatus A; and a first support leg L1 which may rotate around an axis along a lateral direction of the seat back SB relative to the base 1. The first support leg L1 has: a pair of stays 2 to be inserted into respective headrest attachment holes H; and a shaft body 3 which connects upper ends of the stays 2 with each other. A distance from a connection portion between the apparatus A and the base 1 to the first support leg L1 fixed to the seat back SB is reduced to achieve downsizing and reduction of the weight.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device mounting apparatus for a vehicle seat used to mount various devices such as a projector, a camera, and an audio device on a seat in a vehicle such as an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a device mounting apparatus for a vehicle, there is, for example, one described in Patent Document 1. The device mounting apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is an apparatus for installing a video camera on a seat of a vehicle. This device mounting apparatus includes, on a base, a pair of leg rods inserted into a headrest support cylinder of a seat and a support rod whose position can be adjusted in the vertical direction, and a camera stand whose position can be adjusted in the front-back, left-right directions is provided at the upper end of the support rod. Then, the above-described device mounting apparatus mounts a video camera on the camera stand, adjusts the height position of the video camera by the support rod, and adjusts the orientation of the video camera by the camera stand.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the conventional device mounting apparatus for a vehicle seat as described above has a problem that the whole is large-sized and heavy because there are a vertical support rod and a substrate projecting in the horizontal direction between the connection portion of the video camera and the camera stand and the leg rod fixed to the seat back. Solving such a problem has been an issue.

[0005] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a compact and lightweight device mounting apparatus for a vehicle seat.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The equipment mounting device for a vehicle seat according to the present invention is a device for mounting equipment to the upper part of a seat back in a vehicle, comprising a base connected to the lower part of the equipment, and a first support leg that is rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back relative to the base. The equipment mounting device further comprises a first support leg having a pair of stays that are inserted into the headrest mounting holes of the seat back, and a shaft that connects the upper ends of the stays. The base is equipped with a second support leg that is rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back, the second support leg having a pivot axis separate from the shaft of the first support leg, and an elastic member is provided between the first and second support legs that applies elastic force in a direction that decreases the angle between them. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] The equipment mounting device for vehicle seats having the above configuration basically consists of a base and a first support leg. The equipment is connected to the base and fixed by inserting the stay of the first support leg into the seat back mounting hole. In this case, the second support leg functions as an auxiliary to the first support leg by, for example, rotating it to the front of the seat back. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The equipment mounting device for vehicle seats according to the present invention, by adopting the above configuration, reduces the distance from the connection point between the equipment and the circuit board to the first support leg that fixes it to the seat back, thereby achieving a smaller and lighter design. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the first embodiment of an equipment mounting device for a vehicle seat, in a state where it is fixed to the seat back. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of the equipment mounting device shown. [Figure 3] This is a side view showing a magnified view of the base. [Figure 4] This is a front view of the equipment mounting device. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing a self-supporting equipment mounting device. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the equipment mounting device when stored. [Figure 7]This is a front view showing a second embodiment of an equipment mounting device for vehicle seats. [Figure 8] This is a front view showing the first support leg of the equipment mounting device shown in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <First Embodiment>

[0011] The equipment mounting device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a device for mounting equipment A to the upper part of the seat back SB in a vehicle. The seat back SB has a pair of mounting holes H for attaching a headrest. The equipment mounting device supports equipment A by removing the headrest and fixing it to the mounting holes H. Equipment A is not particularly limited, but can be a projector, camera, audio equipment, etc., and in the illustrated example it is a projector.

[0012] The above-described equipment mounting device has a basic configuration comprising a base 1 connected to the lower part of equipment A, and a first support leg L1 that is rotatable around an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back SB relative to the base 1. The first support leg L1 has a pair of stays 2, 2 that are inserted into the headrest mounting holes H, H of the seat back SB, and a shaft 3 that connects the upper ends of the stays 2.

[0013] Although not shown in the figures, the stay 2 and mounting hole H are provided with, for example, a structure in which a plurality of hemispherical recesses are arranged in a straight line, and a structure in which a ball with an engagement / disengagement function is elastically held in the protruding direction in the recesses. The first support leg L1 can maintain its adjusted position by adjusting the stay 2 in the vertical direction and engaging the ball with any recess. The first support leg L1 also has at least a round bar-shaped shaft 3. The stay 2 has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the mounting hole H.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 1 is, for example, a cubic resin block, and includes a through hole 4 for rotatably mounting the shaft body 3 of the first support leg L1, and a restraint mechanism for restricting the rotation of the shaft body 3 mounted in the through hole 4. The through hole 4 communicates in the left-right direction of the seat back SB.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, the restraint mechanism of this embodiment includes slits 5 extending from the through hole 4 to the side surfaces and the rear end surface on both sides of the base 1, fixing pieces 6, 6 divided vertically by the slits 5, an adjustment screw 7 penetrating the two fixing pieces 6, 6 vertically, and an operation portion 8 provided at the lower end of the adjustment screw 7. The adjustment screw 7 penetrates the upper fixing piece 6, and its upper end portion is screwed into a threaded hole provided in the device A. That is, the adjustment screw 7 also serves as a connecting portion of the device A to the base 1.

[0016] In the state where the adjustment screw 7 is loosened, the above-described restraint mechanism holds the first support leg L1 rotatably with respect to the base 1. Further, when the adjustment screw 7 is tightened with the first support leg L1 at an arbitrary rotation position, the fixing pieces 6, 6 are slightly deformed in the direction in which the interval of the slits 5 narrows, and the inner surface of the through hole 4 and the outer surface of the shaft body 3 are pressed against each other, thereby restricting the rotation of the shaft body 3 and maintaining the rotation adjustment position of the first support leg L1.

[0017] In addition to the first support leg L1, the device mounting apparatus in the illustrated example includes a second support leg L2 that can rotate about an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back SB with respect to the base 1. The second support leg L2 has left and right support rods 11, 11 and a connecting rod 12 connecting the lower end portions of the support rods 11, and in the assembled state shown in FIG. 4, has a length extending beyond the lower end portion of the stay 2 of the first support leg L1. Further, the support rod 11 in the figure is bent forward of the seat back SB on the lower end side.

[0018] Since the second support leg L2 described above only needs to be rotatable about an axis along the left - right direction of the seat back SB with respect to the base 1, it is possible to arrange the rotation center coaxially with the shaft body 3 of the first support leg L1. However, it needs to be rotated separately from the first support leg L1. Therefore, the second support leg L2 of this embodiment has rotation shafts 9, 9 different from the shaft body 3 at the upper ends of the left and right support rods 11, 11, and is rotatably connected to the upper ends of the left and right stays 2, 2 of the first support leg L1 by these rotation shafts 9, 9.

[0019] Furthermore, the above - mentioned device mounting apparatus includes an elastic member 13 that applies an elastic force in a direction in which the angle formed by the first support leg L1 and the second support leg L2 decreases between the first support leg L1 and the second support leg L2. The elastic member 13 is not particularly limited, but typically, a tension coil spring can be used.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device mounting apparatus for a vehicle seat having the above - described configuration is fixed by inserting the stay 2 of the first support leg L1 into the mounting hole H of the seat back SB while holding the device A. At this time, the height position is adjusted according to the insertion amount of the stay 2. Further, the device mounting apparatus can rotate the base 1 about the axis in the left - right direction of the seat back with respect to the fixed first support leg L1 by loosening the adjustment screw 7 with the operation portion 8, and adjusts the vertical angle of the device A.

[0021] At this time, since the device A can also rotate horizontally with respect to the base 1, the horizontal angle of the device A can be adjusted. After that, the device mounting apparatus restricts the rotation of the first support leg L1 with respect to the base 1, in other words, the rotation of the base 1 with respect to the fixed first support leg L1, by tightening the adjustment screw 7 with the operation portion 8, and maintains the adjustment positions of the device A in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0022] Also, in the state where the device mounting apparatus is fixed and position - adjusted as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the second support leg L2 extends forward of the seat back SB. At this time, due to the action of the elastic member 13 provided between the first support leg L1 and the second support leg L2, the second support member L2 is pressed against the seat back SB.

[0023] As described above, the equipment mounting device of the embodiment basically consists of a base plate 1 and a first support leg L1. Therefore, the distance from the connection point (adjustment screw 7) between the equipment A and the base plate 1 to the first support leg L1 fixed to the seat back SB is reduced, making the overall device smaller and lighter.

[0024] Furthermore, since the above-described equipment mounting device has a restraining mechanism that restricts the rotation of the shaft 3 mounted in the through hole 4 of the base 1, it is possible to easily fix and adjust the posture of the equipment A attached to the seat back SB.

[0025] Furthermore, the above-mentioned equipment mounting device includes a second support leg L2, and the second support leg L2 has a pivot axis 9 separate from the shaft body 3 of the first support leg L1, and has a length that extends further forward than the lower end of the stay 2. As shown in Figure 2, by independently rotating the second support leg L2 and extending it forward of the seat back SB, it deliberately becomes an obstacle when seated, effectively preventing seating and suppressing use while driving.

[0026] Furthermore, by providing an elastic member 13 between the first support leg L1 and the second support leg L2, the above-mentioned equipment mounting device can function as an auxiliary to the first support leg L1 when fixed to the seat back SB, as the second support leg L2 presses against the seat back SB.

[0027] Furthermore, the above-described equipment mounting device is a restraining mechanism comprising a slit 5 continuous with the through hole 4, fixing pieces 6, 6 divided into upper and lower halves by the slit 5, an adjustment screw 7 passing through the fixing pieces 6, 6 vertically, and an operating part 8 provided at the lower end of the adjustment screw 7, and the adjustment screw 7 is screwed into the screw hole provided in the equipment A.

[0028] As a result, the above-mentioned equipment mounting device allows for the attachment and detachment of equipment A to the base 1, as well as the adjustment of the vertical and horizontal angles and maintenance of the posture of equipment A, simply by operating a single control unit 8. This further simplifies the device configuration, makes it smaller and lighter, and contributes to reducing manufacturing costs.

[0029] Furthermore, if device A is a projector, the above-described equipment mounting device can hold device A facing upwards together with the base 1, allowing the screen to be projected onto the cabin ceiling. In this case, not only the function of the equipment mounting device but also the seatback reclining function can be used in conjunction.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the above-described equipment mounting device can be made self-supporting by rotating the first support leg L1 to the rear of the base 1 and the second support leg L2 to the front of the base A, or by rotating the first support leg L1 forward and the second support leg L2 to the rear. In this case, the equipment mounting device can maintain its self-supporting state by suppressing the rotation of both support legs L1 and L2 in opposite directions using the elastic member 13.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the above-mentioned equipment mounting device becomes more compact by aligning both support legs L1 and L2, and it is clear that it becomes even more compact when equipment A is removed, so it can be stored in a narrow space when not in use.

[0032] The above-mentioned equipment mounting device can be applied to various devices other than projectors, such as cameras and audio equipment, and is also very easy to use, thus fully meeting the new need for relaxing inside a vehicle.

[0033] <Second Embodiment> Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the equipment mounting device for vehicle seats according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components equivalent to those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0034] In this embodiment, the equipment mounting device has a first support leg L1 that is divided into two support members 21 and 22, each having a stay 2. The shaft 3 of the first support leg L1 has a cylindrical portion 3A provided on one support member 21, which is on the left side in Figure 8, and a rod-shaped portion 3B provided on the other support member 22. The rod-shaped portion 3B of the other support member 22 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 3A of the support member 21, and has a retaining element 3C at the end that penetrates the cylindrical portion 3A. In this case, the cylindrical portion 3A and the rod-shaped portion 3B only need to be slidable relative to each other in the axial direction, and do not need to be rotated around the axis, so the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 3A and the outer surface of the retaining element 3B can be made into a polygonal cross-sectional shape or have splines formed.

[0035] As a result, the equipment mounting device with the above configuration can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment, and the spacing between the pair of stays 2, 2 can be adjusted according to the spacing between the headrest mounting holes H, H in the seat back SB. In other words, the equipment mounting device can be applied to other vehicle models with different spacing between mounting holes H, achieving further improvements in convenience.

[0036] Furthermore, since the above-described equipment mounting device has a configuration in which the second support leg L2 is equipped with left and right support rods 11, 11 and a connecting rod 12, the second support leg L2 may be divided into left and right support members 23, 24, as shown in Figure 7. In this case, cylindrical members 25 are attached to the connecting rods 12, 12 of the left and right support members 23, 24 of the second support leg L2. This makes it possible for the second support leg L2 to accommodate the width adjustment of the stay 2 of the first support leg L1, and also allows both support members 23, 24 to rotate simultaneously.

[0037] The equipment mounting device for vehicle seats according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] A equipment H mounting hole L1 1st support leg L2 2nd support leg SB Seatback 1. Foundation 2 Stays 3-axis body 3A Cylindrical part 3B Rod-shaped part 4 through holes 5 Slits (restraint mechanism) 6 Fixed piece (restraint mechanism) 7. Adjustment screw (restraint mechanism) 8 Operation unit (restraint mechanism) 9 rotational axes 13 Elastic members 21,22 Support members

Claims

1. A device for attaching equipment to the upper part of a seat back in a vehicle, A base connected to the lower part of the aforementioned device, The base is equipped with a first support leg that is rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back, The first support leg has a pair of stays that are inserted into the headrest mounting holes of the seat back, and a shaft that connects the upper ends of the stays. The base is provided with a second support leg that can rotate about an axis along the left-right direction of the seat back, The second support leg has a pivot axis separate from the shaft of the first support leg, A device for mounting equipment for a vehicle seat, characterized by comprising an elastic member between the first support leg and the second support leg that applies elastic force in a direction that reduces the angle between them.

2. The equipment mounting device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that the base has a through hole for rotatably mounting the shaft of the first support leg, and a restraining mechanism for restricting the rotation of the shaft mounted in the through hole.

3. The second support leg has a length that extends further forward than the lower end of the stay, The equipment mounting device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, characterized in that, with the stay of the first support leg inserted into the headrest mounting hole, the second support leg extends forward of the seat back.

4. The restraint mechanism comprises a slit extending from the through hole to both sides and the rear end surface of the base, a fixing piece divided into upper and lower halves by the slit, an adjustment screw passing through the fixing piece vertically, and an operating part provided at the lower end of the adjustment screw, wherein the adjustment screw is screwed into a screw hole for the equipment to be provided in the equipment, as described in claim 2.

5. The first support leg is divided into two support members, each having one of the stays. The equipment mounting device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shaft body comprises a cylindrical portion provided on one of the support members and a rod-shaped portion provided on the other of the support member and inserted into the cylindrical portion.

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