GB2494996A - Leg cover and vehicle seat with leg cover - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a leg cover which can easily be attached to a leg bracket even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket, and a vehicle seat with the leg cover. A leg cover 10 includes a main body portion 11 which covers a support body 20 fixed to a vehicle floor and supporting a seat portion. A first locking portion 12 protrudes from a peripheral edge of the main body portion 11 and is locked to the support body 20. A second locking portion 13 is formed at a position facing the first locating portion 12 so as to protrude toward the inside of the main body portion 11 and be locked to the support body 20. Also claimed is a vehicle seat having the leg cover and a support body fixed to a vehicle floor, the support body including a hole portion 22 and a flange portion which lock the leg cover.

Description

DESCRIPTION

LEG COVER AND VEHICLE SEAT WITH LEG COVER

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg cover and a vehicle seat with the leg cover, and particularly, to a leg cover which may easily be attached even when a sufficient peripheral space is not ensured, and a vehicle seat with the leg cover.

Related Art [0002] Hitherto, many structures have been proposed in which a seat sliding device adjusting a seat position in the longitudinal direction is provided below a vehicle seat.

The seat sliding device includes a lower rail which is provided in a vehicle floor and an upper rail which slides on the lower rail, and a leg bracket which is fixed to the vehicle floor is attached to the lower rail. In general, a leg cover is provided in the leg bracket so that a portion fixed to the vehicle floor is not exposed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of attaching a leg cover to a leg bracket, where a first locking portion and a second locking portion are respectively provided at the inside of the side surface portion of the leg cover (which is described as a "foot cover" in Patent Document 1) and the inside of the end portion thereof.

Patent Document [0004] Patent Document 1: W02009/028535

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention [0005] The leg cover disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attached to the leg bracket by fitting the first locking portion and the second locking portion protruding inward to the flange portion of the leg bracket. Then, the first locking portion is provided at the inside of the side surface portion (the surface formed along the extension direction of the lower rail) of the leg cover, and the side surface portion of the leg cover is formed so as to cover the side portion the leg bracket.

[0006] Tn this way, the leg cover which includes the first locking portion provided at the inside of the side surface portion is formed so as to be wider than the width of the leg bracket by the protruding width of the first locking portion. The leg bracket with such a configuration has a problem in that the leg bracket may not be easily attached when it is difficult to ensure a sufficient space around the leg bracket (for example, when the vehicle floor is recessed at a portion to which the leg bracket is fixed) Accordingly, there has been a desire for a leg cover which may easily be attached to a leg bracket even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket.

[0007] Further, in the leg cover of Patent Document 1, the first locking portions formed in the facing side surface portions are also disposed so as to face each other.

Then, the leg cover is attached to the leg bracket by interposing the leg bracket between the facing first locking portions, but there is a problem in that the leg cover is easily released when an upward force is added to the leg cover. Accordingly, there has been a demand for further improving the attachment strength by suppressing the leg cover from being released from the leg bracket particularly when the upward force is added to the leg cover.

[0008] Further, the leg cover of Patent Document 1 includes a configuration of a vertical regulating surface or an introducing rib so as to define the relative position with respect to the leg bracket, but there is a problem in that the configuration is complex. Accordingly, there has been a desire for a leg cover with a simple configuration which easily defines the relative position with respect to the leg bracket and may easily be attached to the leg bracket.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a leg cover which may easily be attached to a leg bracket even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket, and a vehicle seat with the leg cover.

Further, another object of the present invention Is to provide a leg cover with a simple configuration which may easily define a relative position with respect to a leg bracket and may easily be attached to the leg bracket, and a vehicle seat with the leg cover.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a leg cover which may robustly be attached to the leg bracket and a vehicle seat with the leg cover.

Means for Solving Problem [0010] According to the present invention, the above-described problems are solved by a leg cover including: a main body portion covering a support body which is fixed to a vehicle floor and supports a seat portion; a first locking portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the main body portion and locked to the support body; and a second locking portion formed at a position facing the first locking portion so as to protrude toward the inside of the main body portion and be locked to the support body.

[0011] Tn this way, the leg cover according to the present invention includes the main body portion which covers the support body (leg bracket) fixed to the vehicle floor and the locking portions (the first locking portion and the second locking portion) which face each other.

Then, one locking portion (the first locking portion) is formed so as to protrude from the peripheral edge of the main body portion, and the other locking portion (the second locking portion) is formed so as to protrude toward the inside relative to the peripheral edge of the main body portion. Accordingly, the first locking portion may easily be locked by being inserted into the hole portion or the concave portion provided in advance in the leg bracket.

That is, since the first locking portion and the second locking portion facing each other do not need to interpose the leg bracket therebetween, a size reduction of the peripheral structure of the first locking portion may be achieved.

Further, since the second locking portion is formed so as to protrude toward the inside of the peripheral edge of the main body portion, the second locking portion may be attached in the range of the main body portion of the leg bracket. Accordingly, the size of the peripheral structure of the second locking portion does not increase, and a size reduction of the leg cover may be achieved.

As described above, since one locking portion (the first locking portion) protrudes from the peripheral edge of the main body portion and the other locking portion (the second locking portion) protrudes toward the inside of the peripheral edge of the main body portion, the leg cover may easily be attached to the leg bracket even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket.

OOl2] In this case, it is preferable for the first locking portion to be fitted into a hole portion formed in the support body.

In this way, since the first locking portion protruding from the peripheral edge of the main body portion is inserted and fitted into the hole portion formed in the support body (the leg bracket), an size increase of the peripheral structure of the first locking portion may be suppressed.

Further, because of the first locking portion fitted to the leg bracket, the first locking portion is not easily released from the leg bracket, and hence the first locking portion may robustly be attached to the leg bracket. Since the first locking portion is fitted to the leg bracket in an inserted state, it is possible to suppress the leg cover from being released from the leg bracket even when particularly an upward force is added to the leg cover.

[0013] Further, it is preferable for the second locking portion to be locked to a flange portion provided in a peripheral edge of the support body.

Because of the flange portion formed in the peripheral edge of the support body (the leg bracket), the rigidity of the leg bracket is improved. Accordingly, since the second locking portion is locked to the leg bracket with an improved rigidity, the second locking portion may robustly be attached to the leg bracket. As a result, it is possible to suppress the second locking portion from being released from the leg bracket.

[0014] Tn this case, it is preferable for the first locking portion and the second locking portion to be formed from a flexible material.

In this way, since the first locking portion and the second locking portion are formed by a flexible material, by inserting one locking portion (the first locking portion) into the support body (the leg bracket) and then bending the first locking portion and the second locking portion, the leg cover may easily be attached to the leg bracket. Further, in this case, the leg cover is locked to the leg bracket due to the repelling force generated when the first locking portion and the second locking portion are elastically deformed. Accordingly, the leg cover may robustly be attached to the leg bracket.

[0015] In this case, it is preferable to further provide a position regulating portion protruding toward the inside of the main body portion and regulating the relative positions of the main body portion and the support body.

In this way, since the position regulating portion is provided at the inside of the main body portion, the relative position between the leg cover and the support body (the leg bracket) may easily be defined and attachment of the leg cover may be facilitated.

[0016] Further, it is preferable for the position regulating portion to include position regulating surfaces which face each other so as to interpose a part of the support body therebetween.

In this way, since the position regulating surfaces face each other so as to interpose a part of the support body (the leg bracket) therebetween, the relative position between the leg cover and the support body may easily be defined with a simple configuration.

[0017] In this case, it is preferable to provide a reinforcement flange portion formed in the peripheral edge of the main body portion and bent upright from the main body portion.

In this way, since the reinforcement flange portion is provided in the peripheral edge of the main body portion, the strength of the leg cover may be improved. As a result, the leg cover may robustly be attached to the support body (the leg bracket) [0018] Further, according to the present invention, the above-described problems are solved by a vehicle seat with a leg cover including: a support body fixed to a vehicle floor and supporting a seat portion; and a leg cover covering the support body, in which the support body includes a hole portion and a flange portion which lock the leg cover, and in which the leg cover includes a main body portion covering the support body, a first locking portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the main body portion and locked to the hole portion, and a second looking portion formed at a position facing the first locking portion so as to protrude toward the inside of the main body portion and be locked to the flange portion.

[0019] Tn the vehicle seat with the leg cover of the present invention, the support body (the leg bracket) fixed to the vehicle floor is provided with the hole portion and the flange portion which lock the leg cover. On the other hand, the leg cover is provided with the first locking portion locked to the hole portion formed in the leg bracket and the second locking portion locked to the flange portion.

Accordingly, the first locking portion may easily be locked by being inserted into the hole portion provided in the leg bracket. That is, since the first locking portion and the second locking portion facing each other do not need to interpose the leg bracket therebetween, a size reduction of the peripheral structure of the first locking portion may be achieved. Further, since the first locking portion is inserted and locked to the hole portion formed in the leg bracket, the first locking portion may robustly be held in the leg bracket.

Further, since the second locking portion is formed so as to protrude toward the inside of the peripheral edge of the main body portion, the second locking portion may be attached in the range of the main body portion of the leg bracket. Accordingly, the size of the peripheral structure of the second locking portion does not increase, and a size reduction of the leg cover may be achieved. Further, since the second locking portion is locked to the flange portion provided in the leg bracket, the leg cover may robustly be attached to the leg bracket.

As described above, since the first locking portion protrudes from the peripheral edge of the main body portion so as to be inserted into the hole portion of the leg bracket and the second locking portion protrudes toward the inside of the peripheral edge of the main body portion, the leg cover may easily be attached to the leg bracket even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket.

[0020] In this case, it is preferable for the support body to include an upper flat portion provided at the upper side, a lower flat portion provided at the lower side relative to the upper flat portion, and an inclined surface portion connecting the upper flat porticn and the lower flat portion to each other. Further, it is preferable for the hole portion to which the first locking portion is locked to be formed in the inclined surface portion.

Furthermore, it is preferable for the inclined surface portion to be formed so as to be inclined with respect to an extension direction of a surface locked to the second looking portion in the flange portion.

Since the support body (the leg bracket) is provided with the inclined surface portion and the inclined surface portion is provided with the hole portion, the first locking portion may be locked to the inclined surface portion. Then, since the inclined surface portion is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the extension direction of the surface locked to the second locking portion in the support body, the inclined surface portion to which the first locking portion is locked and the surface to which the second locking portion is locked in the flange portion are not parallel to each other.

Accordingly, when the leg cover is attached to the leg bracket, by inserting the first locking portion into the inclined surface portion and rotating the second locking portion about the first locking portion so as to approach the flange portion of the leg bracket, the second locking portion may easily be locked to the flange portion.

Further, because of the above-described configuration, the first locking portion and the second locking portion are disposed so as to have a difference in height therebetween, and thus it is possible to suppress the leg cover from being released from the leg bracket compared to the case where the first locking portion and the second locking portion are disposed without a difference in height.

That is, the leg cover may robustly be attached to the leg bracket.

[0021] In this case, it is preferable for the support body to be disposed in the longitudinal direotion of the seat portion. Further, it is preferable for the leg cover to be locked to an end of the support body in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, it is preferable for the first locking portion and the second locking portion to be respectively formed in the ends of the main body portion in the longitudinal direction.

Tn this way, by disposing the first locking portion and the second locking portion facing each other so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction respectively, the leg cover is fixed to the front end and the rear end of the support body. Accordingly, the leg cover may robustly be attached to the support body (the leg bracket) -Further, since the leg cover may be disposed so as not to protrude toward the side portion of the leg bracket, the leg cover may easily be attached to the leg bracket even when a sufficiently wide space is not ensured particularly around the leg bracket, particularly the side portion.

[0022] Further, it is preferable for the support body to include a concave portion formed in a part of the flange portion. Further, it is preferable for the leg cover to include a position regulating portion which engages with the concave portion and regulates the relative positions of the main body portion and the support body.

In this way, the support body (the leg bracket) inoludes the ooncave portion, and the leg cover inoludes the position regulating portion which is provided at the inside of the main body portion so as to engage with the concave portion. Due to this configuration, the relative position between the leg cover and the leg bracket may easily be defined, and attachment of the leg cover may be facilitated.

Effect of the invention [0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the leg cover which may easily be attached to the leg bracket even when a suffioient spaoe is not ensured around the support body (the leg bracket) of the vehicle seat.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress size increase of the peripheral structure of the first locking portion and robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the second locking portion from being released from the leg bracket and robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily attach the leg cover to the leg bracket and robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, since the relative position between the leg cover and the leg bracket may easily be defined, it is possible to provide the leg cover which may easily be attached to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, the relative position between the leg cover and the leg bracket may easily be defined with a simple configuration, and thus it is possible to easily attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, since the strength of the leg cover may be improved, it is possible to robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracker, it is possible to easily attach the leg cover to the leg bracket. Further, it is possible to robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, it is possible to easily attach the leg cover to the leg bracket and robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, it is possible to robustly attach the leg cover to the leg bracket. Further, even when a sufficient space is not ensured around the leg bracket, it is possible to easily attach the leg cover to the leg bracket.

According to the present invention, since the relative position between the leg cover and the leg bracket may easily be defined, it is possible to easily perform an attachment operation of the leg cover.

BRIEF DESCRTPTION CF DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat that includes a leg cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a front surface of the leg cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rear surface of the leg cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a front surface of a leg bracket according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the front surfaces of the leg cover and the leg bracket according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the rear surfaces of the leg cover and the leg bracket according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line A-A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation of attaching the leg cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an attachment operation of the leg cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a leg cover according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Furthermore, the members, the arrangement, and the like to be described hereinafter do not limit the invention, and of course, may be modified into various forms within the spirit of the invention. Further, in the specification, the term "vehicle" indicates a vehicle such as an automobile or a train that has a vehicle wheel and runs on a ground, and a vehicle such as an airplane or a ship that moves in a place other than a ground and is equipped with a seat.

Further, "the transverse direction" indicates the transverse direction in a state where a passenger faces the vehicle front side and is identical to the seat width direction. Further, "the longitudinal direction" indicates the longitudinal direction in a state where a passenger takes a seat.

[0026] FIGs. 1 to 10 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat with a leg cover, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view cf a front surface of the leg cover, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rear surface of the leg cover, FIG. 4 Is a schematic perspective view of a front surface of a leg bracket, FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the front surfaces of the leg cover and the leg bracket, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the rear surfaces of the leg cover and the leg bracket, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line A-A of FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line B-B of FIG. 5, FIG. 9 is a diagram illuscrating an operation of attaching the leg cover, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation of attaching the leg cover. Further, FTG. 11 is a bottom view of a leg cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the letter FR of the drawing indicates the front side of the vehicle, and the letter RB indicates the rear side of the vehicle.

0027] In this embodiment, as described above, a leg cover 10 covers a front end or a rear end of a support body (hereinafter, a leg bracket 20) that supports a seat portion 1. A fixing member 40 which fixes a vehicle seat S to a vehicle floor F is attached to the front end and the rear end of the leg bracket 20, and the leg cover 10 protects the fixing member 40 so as to avoid exposure of the fixing member.

[0028] <Attachment structure of the vehicle seat> Hereinafter, a structure in which the vehicle seat S of the present invention is attached to the vehicle floor F (an attachment struccure of the vehicle seat S) will be mainly described by referring to FIG. 1. Furthermore, hereinafter, a configuration is illustrated in which the leg cover 10 is attached to the front end of the leg bracket 20, but of course, a leg cover that has substantially the same configuration as that of the leg cover 10 described in the embodiment may be provided in the rear end.

[0029J In the vehicle seat S which is disposed on the vehicle floor F (not illustrated in FTG. 1) , the lower side is provided with a seat sliding device which is able to move a passenger sitting portion (that is, the seat portion 1) in the longitudinal direction. Then, the further lower side of the seat sliding device is provided with a leg bracket 20 which is fixed as a support body supporting the seat portion 1 to the vehicle floor F. More specifically, the leg bracket 20 is provided at the lower side of a lower rail 30 which is a part of the seat sliding device disposed below the seat portion 1. Furthermore, the lower rail 30 is a member which constitutes the seat sliding device together with an upper rail (not illustrated) [0030] As for the leg bracket 20, one end is attached to the lower surface of the lower rail 30 and the other end is fixed to the vehicle floor F so that the seat portion 1 of the vehicle seat S floats from the vehicle floor F. Accordingly, the leg bracket 20 is formed in a shape which is bent in two levels as described later in detail, and is formed in a shape which is bent in two levels by performing sheet-metal working or press working on a metal sheet.

[0031] <Structure of leg cover> Next, a configuration of the leg cover 10 as a characteristic component of the present invention will be described by mainly referring to FIGs. 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIGs. 2 and 3, the leg cover 10 includes main components, that is, a main body portion 11 which is formed so as to cover the front end of the leg bracket 20, a first locking portion 12 which protrudes from the edge of the main body portion 11 and is locked to the leg bracket 20, and a second locking portion 13 which protrudes toward the inside of the main body portion 11 at a position facing the first locking portion 12 and is locked to the leg bracket 20.

[00321 The leg cover 10 is a member that is formed by a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene, and at least the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 are formed by a material having flexibility.

Furthermore, the flexibility" indicates a material which is bent in an appropriate range by an operator's hand working when attaching the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20. For example, as described above, the appropriate flexibility may be obtained by using a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene.

Furthermore, the main body portion 11, the first locking portion 12, and the second locking portion 13 may be all integrated with each other without forming the respective members by different materials. For example, the leg cover 10 may easily be manufactured by integrally molding the leg cover 10 using a technique suoh as injection-molding.

[0033] The main body portion 11 is a substantially planar plate-like member, and is formed in a size and a shape that covers the front end (or the rear end) of the leg bracket 20. The main body portion 11 is installed so as to prevent the exposure of the fixing member 40 in a manner that the main body portion 11 is disposed so as to cover the upper side of the fixing member 40 that fixes the leg bracket 20 to be described later in detail to the vehicle floor F (see FIG. 7) [0034] Accordingly, the shape of the main body portion 11 is formed along the shape of the leg bracket 20, and in the embodiment, a convex portion ha having a narrow width is formed so as to be continuous to a wide portion in the plan view. The convex portion ha is formed with a width substantially identical to the width between flange portions 23 so as to be fitted between the flange portions 23 which are provided in the leg bracket 20 to be described later in detail. The convex portion ha is formed so as to protrude backward in the plan view while the convex portion ISa is attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0035] The first locking portion 12 is formed so as to protrude from one end of the convex portion ha of the main body portion 11 (more specifically, the rear end when the convex portion is attached to the leg braoket 20) The first looking portion 12 is a protrusion portion which protrudes from the edge of the main body portion 11 so as to be inserted and fitted into a hole portion 22 (see FIG. 4) formed in the leg bracket 20.

[0036] The first locking portion 12 is a hook-like protrusion portion which extends from the convex portion ISa of the main body portion 11 and is bent in a substantially L-shape, and has appropriate flexibility.

The first looking portion 12 has a width and a thickness in which the first locking portion may be Inserted and fitted into the hole portion 22 of the leg bracket 20. Further, the surface of the first locking portion 12 may be provided with a step portion which is provided in a surface coming into contact with the leg bracket 20 so as to be further robustly locked to the leg bracket 20.

[00371 On the other hand, the second locking portion 13 is formed at a position that faces the first locking portion 12 through the main body portion 11. That is, in a state where the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20, the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 are formed so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second locking portion 13 is formed so as to protrude inward relative to the peripheral edge of the main body portion 11 at the rear side of the main body portion 11.

[00381 The second locking portion 13 is a protrusion portion which is formed upright in the substantially perpendicular direction from the rear surface of the main body portion 11, and has appropriate flexibility. The second locking portion 13 is formed in a hook shape so as to be locked to the flange portions 23 (see FIG. 4) of the leg bracket 20.

[0039] The peripheral edge of the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10 is provided with a reinforcement flange portion 15 which improves the strength (rigidity) of the main body portion 11 and the leg cover 10. The reinforcement flange portion 15 is formed in the rear surface of the main body portion 11 so as to have a shape which is bent upright from the peripheral edge of the main body portion 11. Further, the reinforcement flange portion may prevent foreign particles or the like from intruding between the leg cover 10 and the leg bracket 20.

[00401 The reinforcement flange portion 15 is formed in the entire peripheral edge of the main body porticn 11 including the convex portion ila, but includes a notch portion 15a which is formed at an appropriate position so that the leg cover 10 follows the shape of the leg bracket (see FIG. 3) Further, since the second locking portion 13 is disposed so as to be slightly spaced inside the reinforcement flange portion 15, the second locking portion 13 may be protected by the reinforcement flange portion 15.

[0041] Further, the inside of the reinforcement flange portion 15 is provided with a position regulating portion 14 which engages with a concave portion 23b (see FIG. 4) of the leg bracket 20 so as to guide the leg cover 10 to an appropriate position on the leg bracket 20 and to easily define the relative position between the leg cover 10 and the leg bracket 20. Furthermore, a mechanism which defines the relative position between the leg cover 10 and the leg bracket 20 by the position regulating portion 14 will be described later in detail.

[0042] The position regulating portion 14 includes a pair of position regulating surfaces Ha, 14a which faces each other, and the pair of position regulating surfaces Ha, 14a is formed so as to protrude upright from the rear surface of the main body portion 11 with the second locking portion 13 interposed therebetween. In this way, since the pair of position regulating surfaces 14a, 14a is formed at a position with the second locking portion 13 interposed therebetween, the rigidity of the second locking portion 13 and the rigidity of the position regulating surfaces Ha, Ha are improved, and hence the leg cover 10 may be further robustly attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0043] Further, the position regulating surface 14a is provided with a notch portion l4ax which is formed at an appropriate position so as to follow the shape of the leg bracket 20. Since the relative position of the leg cover with respect to the leg bracket 20 may be further easily defined by forming the notch portion l4ax, the attachment of the leg cover 10 may easily be performed.

[0044] <Structure of leg bracket> Next, a configuration of the leg bracket 20 will be mainly described by referring to FIG. 4.

The leg cover bracket 20 is a support body (a support member) which is disposed in the longitudinal direction and supports the seat portion 1, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, includes main components, that is, a main body portion 21 which is attached to the lower surface of the lower rail 30 and is fixed to the vehicle floor F, the hole portion 22 which looks the first locking portion 12 of the leg cover 10, and a flange portion 23 which looks the second locking portion 13 of the leg cover 10.

[0045] The main body portion 21 of the ieg bracket 20 is formed in a shape which is bent in two levels (bent in a step shape), and includes an upper flat portion 21a which is provided at the upper side, a lower flat portion 21c which is provided at the lower side relative to the upper flat portion 21a, and an inclined surface portion 21b which connects the lower flat portion 21o and the upper flat portion 21a to each other.

[0046] The upper flat portion 21a is a portion which is fixed to the lower surface of the lower rail 30, and is an attachment portion for the seat sliding device. On the other hand, the lower flat portion 21c is attached to the vehicle floor F by the fixing member 40, and the upper flat portion 21a and the lower flat portion 21c are formed so as to be substantially parallel to each other. Further, the substantial center position of the lower flat portion 21o is provided with a fixing portion 24 attached with the fixing member 40. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixing portion 24 is formed as an insertion hole through which the fixing member 40 is inserted.

[0047] The inclined surface portion 2lb which connects the upper flat portion 21a and the lower flat portion 21c to each other is inclined so that the lower side of the inclined surface portion 21b is positioned at the front side and the upper side of the inclined surface portion 21b is positioned at the rear side in a state where the ipper flat portion 21a and the lower flat portion 21c are disposed horizontally.

[004J The inclined surface portion 21b is provided with a bulged portion 2lbx which is bulged upward. The bulged portion 2lbx is a convex portion which is formed so as to bend a part of the inclined surface portion 21b. In this way, since the inclined surface portion 21b is provided with the bulged portion 2lbx, an appropriate uneven shape is formed. As a result, the rigidity of the inclined surface portion 21b and the rigidity of the leg bracket 20 may be improved.

[0049] The hole portion 22 into which the first locking portion 12 of the leg cover 10 is inserted is formed on the bulged portion 2lbx which is formed in the inclined surface portion 21b. Accordingly, since the hole portion 22 is formed in the inclined surface portion 2lb having improved rigidity by forming the bulged portion 2lbx, the leg cover may be robustly assembled and the leg cover 10 may be made to be hardly released. Further, since the hole portion 22 is formed in the bulged portion 2lbx which partially increases in height in the inclined surface portion 21b, the first locking portion 12 of the leg cover may easily be inserted into the hole portion 22.

Aocordingly, the leg cover 10 may easily be attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0050] As desoribed above, the peripheral edge of the main body portion 21 including the upper flat portion 21a, the inclined surface portion 21b, and the lower flat portion 21c is provided with the flange portion 23 which improves the strength (rigidity) of the main body portion 21 and the leg bracket 20. The flange portion 23 is formed in the surface of the main body portion 21 so as to have a shape (a reverse U-shape in the cross section) which is bulged upright from the peripheral edge of the main body portion 21. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cross section is formed in a U-shape, but the cross section may be, of oourse, a substantial L-shape or a semi-circular shape.

[0051] The flange portion 23 is formed in the entire peripheral edge of the upper flat portion 21a, the inclined surface portion 21b, and the lower flat portion 21o, but more specifically, the flange portion 23 is formed at a position except a part of the upper flat portion 2la.

A part of the flange portion 23 is provided with a claw portion 23a which engages with the second locking portion 13 of the leg cover 10. The claw portion 23a is formed in the front end of the leg bracket 20 in a protruding manner so as to correspond to the position of the second locking portion 13 of the leg cover 10.

[0052] The claw portion 23a is a protrusion portion which is formed by notching both left and right sides of the claw portion 23a in the flange portion 23. The claw portion 23a is installed in a manner of extending forward in a planar shape from the lower flat portion 21c so as to easily lock the second locking portion 13 of the leg cover 10.

[0053] As described above, the flange portion 23 is provided with the concave portions 23b, 23b which are formed at a position of Interposing the claw portion 23a so as to form the claw portion 23a as a part of the flange portion 23.

The concave portions 23b, 23b are provided not only to form the claw portion 23a on the flange portion 23, but also to engage with the position regulating surfaces Ha, 14a, respectively. The position of the leg cover 10 attached onto the leg bracket 20 may easily be defined in a manner that the position regulating surfaces 14a, 14a come into contact with the concave portions 23b, 23b.

Furthermore, the relation between the position regulating surfaces 14a, Ha and the concave portions 23b, 23b will be described later in detail.

[0054] <Attachment structure of the leg cover> Next, a configuration for attaching the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20 (an attachment structure of the leg cover 10) will mainly be described with reference to FIGs. to 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the leg cover 10 is attached so as to cover the front end of the leg bracket 20 which is disposed in the longitudinal direction.

The lower flat portion 2lc of the leg bracket 20 is provided with the fixing portion 24 which is formed as a hole to which the fixing member 40 (for example, a bolt 40a, a washer 40b, and the like) is attached, and the leg bracket 20 is attached to the vehicle floor F with the fixing member 40 (see FIG. 7) . The leg cover 10 is disposed so as to cover at least the lower flat portion 21c of the leg bracket 20. In this way, the leg cover 10 may protect the periphery of the fixing member 40 from the external force by covering the fixing member 40 from the upper side.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a part (more specifically, the convex portion ha) of the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10 is disposed so as to be fitted between the flange portions 23 provided at both ends of the leg bracket 20 in the transverse direction. Further, the portion which is wider than the convex portion Ha in the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10 is formed so as to have the substantially same width as that of the leg bracket 20 without protruding from the width of the leg bracket 20 in the transverse direction. Accordingly, even when the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20 disposed in the concave portion formed in the vehicle floor F, the leg cover 10 may easily be attached thereto. In this way, in the leg cover 10 with the above-described configuration, the leg cover 10 may easily be attached even when it is difficult to ensure a sufficient space in the periphery of the leg bracket 20.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first locking portion 12 which has a hook shape and protrudes backward from the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10 is locked by being inserted through the hole portion 22 provided in the leg bracket 20.

Hitherto, the leg cover was formed so as to be wider than the leg bracket (to cover the wide area), and the leg cover was formed so as to interpose the leg bracket from the side portion thereof. On the contrary, as in the present invention, when the first locking portion 12 is inserted through the leg bracket 20, there is no need to increase the size of the leg cover 10 to the further outside of the range where the leg bracket 20 is provided.

Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a size increase of the peripheral structure of the leg bracket 20 to which the leg cover 10 is attached.

[0057] On the other hand, the second locking portion 13 which is formed in the rear surface of the leg cover 10 so as to have a hook shape and protrude inward relative to the peripheral edge is locked to the claw portion 23a. In this way, since the second locking portion 13 is provided inside relative to the peripheral edge of the leg cover 10, there is no need to excessively increase the size of the leg cover 10, and the leg cover 10 is formed so as to have the substantially same size as that of the lower flat portion 21c of the leg bracket 20 (and the flange portion 23 provided in the peripheral edge of the lower flat portion 21c) In this way, when the first looking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 respectively provided in the ends of the leg cover 10 in the longitudinal direotion are looked to the leg bracket 20, there is no need to ensure a large peripheral space in order to assemble the leg cover 10. Accordingly, even when a sufficiently wide space is not ensured in the periphery of the leg bracket 20, the leg cover 10 may easily be attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the first locking portion 12 is inserted through the hole portion 22 formed in the leg bracket 20 to the rear surface side of the leg bracket 20, and a part of the first locking portion 12 is locked while coming into contact with a part of the rear surface of the leg bracket 20. Accordingly, even when an external force which raises the leg cover 10 upward is added to the leg cover 10, the first locking portion 12 comes into contact with the rear surface of the leg bracket 20, and hence the leg cover 10 may be suppressed from being released upward.

[0059] On the other hand, the second locking portion 13 is locked so as to come into contact with the claw portion 23a provided in the leg bracket 20 from the lower side.

The second locking portion 13 is installed so as to extend inward relative to the outer peripheral end of the claw portion 23a and is formed in a hook shape. The second locking portion 13 having a hook shape is locked by coming into contact with the claw portion 23a.

[0060] As described above, when the first locking portion 12 and the second looking portion 13 are looked to the leg bracket 20, the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0061] Further, as described above, the rear surface of the leg cover 10 is provided with the position regulating portion 14 including the pair of position regulating surfaces 14a, 14a provided at a position interposing the second locking portion 13 therebetween. The position regulating surfaces 14a are respectively locked while coming into contact with the concave portion 23b which is formed by notching a part of the flange portion 23 of the leg bracket 20. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20 in a state where the claw portion 23a of the flange portion 23 is interposed between the position regulating surfaces 14a.

[0062] In this way, since the position regulating surfaces 14a, 14a may interpose the claw portion 23a, it is easy to define the position of the leg cover 10 in the transverse direction when attaching the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20. Accordingly, the attachment operation of the leg cover 10 may easily be performed.

[0063] <Attachment procedure of leg cover> Next, a procedure in which the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20 will be described with reference to FIGs. 9 and 10.

FIGs. 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c) are perspective views illustrating an operation of attaching the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20, where FIG. 9(a) illustrates a state before attaching (rotating) the leg covey 10, FIG. 9(b) illustrates a state when attaching (rotating) the leg cover, and FIG. 9(c) illustrates a state after attaching (rotating) the leg cover. Further, FIGs. 10(a) and 10(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of attaching the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20, where FIG. (a) illustrates a state when attaching (rotating) the leg cover 10 and FIG. 10(b) illustrates a state after attaching (rotating) the leg cover.

[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 9(a), the attachment of the leg cover 10 to the leg bracket 20 is started by inserting the first locking portion 12 of the leg cover 10 into the hole portion 22 formed in the leg bracket 20. At this time, since the width of the hole portion 22 is formed so as to be slightly larger than the width and the thickness of the first locking portion 12, the first locking portion 12 may easily be inserted into the hole portion 22.

Further, since the hole portion 22 is formed in the bulged portion 2lbx which is formed in the inclined surface portion 21b as described above, the first locking portion 12 may easily be inserted into the hole portion.

[0065] Next, the first locking portion 12 is inserted into the hole portion 22 until the convex portion ha constituting the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10 comes into contact with the inclined surface portion 21b (more specifically, the bulged portion 2lbx) of the leg bracket 20, and the leg cover 10 is rotated about the rear end of the leg cover 10 toward the leg bracket 20. More specifically, the leg cover 10 is pressed down in a direction indicated by the arrow of FIG. 9(b) rotating about the line (the line X illustrated in FIG. 9(b)) passing the contact portion between the rear end of the leg oover 10 and the inclined surface portion 21b.

[00661 At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 10(a), since the leg cover 10 rotates in a state where the first locking portion 12 is inserted into the hole portion 22, the leg cover 10 may easily be rotated without being released from the leg bracket 20.

[0067] As in the states of FIG. 9(c) and FIG. 10(b), when the leg cover 10 rotates to the attachment position of the leg bracket 20 and further presses the upper portion of the second locking portion 13 provided in the leg cover 10 downward, the second locking portion 13 is elastically deformed. When the second locking portion 13 is elastically deformed, the second locking portion 13 may further press the end (the front end) of the claw portion 23a downward while sliding thereon, and the claw portion 23a is nipped between the upper end of the second locking portion 13 and the main body portion 11 of the leg cover 10.

That is, the second locking portion 13 is locked to the claw portion 23a of the leg bracket 20. Accordingly, the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0068] Further, at this time, since the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 (the leg cover 10) are formed by a flexible material, an elastic repelling force is applied to the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13. As a result, the leg cover 10 may robustly be attached to the leg bracket 20.

Hereinafter, the configuration and the effect of the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 will be described in detail.

[00691 FIG. 10(b) is a longitudinal sectional view of the center portion of the leg cover 10 and the leg bracket in a state where the leg cover 10 is attached.

As described above, the leg cover 10 is attached to the leg bracket 20 by rotating the leg cover 10 about the first locking portion 12 (more specifically, the line X illustrated in FIG. 9(b)) [00701 Since the second locking portion 13 has flexibility, a force that pushes the claw portion 23a upward from the lower side is added due to the repelling force during the elastic deformation. As a result, the second locking portion 13 is robustly locked to the claw portion 23a. Further, since the second locking portion 13 is locked to the lower surface of the claw portion 23a, it is possible to suppress the leg cover 10 from being released upward even when an external force that raises the leg cover 10 is added to the leg cover 10.

[0071] Further, the first locking portion 12 which is provided so as to face the second locking portion 13 is formed by a flexible material as in the second locking portion 13. An upward pressing force is added to the first looking portion 12 due to the repelling force during the elastic deformation of the second locking portion 13. That is, an upward rotating force about the first locking portion 12 is normally added to the leg cover 10 due to the repelling force during the elastic deformation of the second locking portion 13. At this time, a force that further largely bends the first locking portion 12 is added to the first locking portion 12 which is formed in a hook shape. Accordingly, the first locking portion 12 Is further robustly pressed against the rear surface of the leg bracket 20. As a result, the leg cover 10 is further robustly attached to the leg bracket 20, and hence the leg cover 10 is not easily released. Further, since the leg cover 10 may further robustly be attached, it is possible to suppress a positional deviation of the leg cover 10 after the leg cover 10 is Installed.

[0072] Further, the inclined surface portion 21b of the leg bracket 20 is inclined with respect to the extension direction (that is, the horizontal direction) of the surface (the lower surface of the claw portion 23a) locked to the second locking portion 13. In this way, since the hole portion 22 of the leg bracket 20 is provided in the inclined surface portion 21b so as to attach the leg cover which is attached by rotating the leg cover 10 about one locking portion (the first locking portion 12), it is possible to rotate the leg cover 10 with ease. As a result, the leg cover 10 may easily be attached to the leg bracket 20.

[0073] In other words, since the claw portion 23a which looks the second locking portion 13 is formed horizontally, and the hole portion 22 which locks the first locking portion 12 is formed in the inclined surface portion 21W inclined with respeot to the horizontal plane, the leg cover 10 may be rotated and attached with ease.

[0074] Further, since the leg cover 10 is attached in a manner of rotating the leg cover as described above instead of the manner of being fitted to the leg bracket 20 by being directly pressed down from the upper side, the leg cover 10 may not easily be released therefrom.

[0075] <Another Embodiment> Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described by referring to FIG. 11.

In the above-described embodiment, the leg cover 10 has been described in which the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 13 are respectively provided at one position in the leg cover 10, but as described below, the leg cover may be provided with a plurality of second locking portions 113.

Furthermore, a leg cover 110 according to this embodiment includes the plurality of second locking portions 113. Since the other configurations and the other effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0076] A leg cover 110 according to this embodiment includes a main body portion 111, a first locking portion 112 which protrudes from the peripheral edge of the main body portion 111 and is locked to a leg bracket, and a second locking portion 113 which is formed at a position facing the first locking portion 112 so as to protrude toward the inside of the main body portion 111 and be looked to the leg bracket. That is, the first locking portion 112 and the second locking portion 113 are provided at a position (in the vicinity of the facing edges) where they face each other with the main body portion 111 interposed therebetween.

[0077] The leg cover 110 according to this embodiment includes two second locking portions 113 at a position facing the first locking portion 112. Furthermore, the shape of the second locking portion 113 is the same as that of the second locking portion 13.

In the leg bracket attached with the leg cover 110 in which the second locking portions 113 are provided at two positions, the claw portions are provided at two positions corresponding to the second locking portions 113 so as to be locked to the second locking portions 113. Furthermore, the configuration of the claw portion and the like is also the same as that of the claw portion 23a provided in the leg bracket 20 of the above-described embodiment and the attachment procedure with respect to the leg bracket is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, the

description thereof will not be repeated.

[0078] In this way, when the leg cover 110 in which the second locking portions 113 are provided at two positions includes the first locking portion 112, the leg cover is fixed to the leg bracket at three points, and hence the leg cover may further be robustly attached to the leg bracket.

[0079] Ps described above, according to the present invention, the front end and the rear end of the leg cover 10, 110 are respectively provided with the first locking portion 12, 112 and the second locking portion 13 or 113, one locking portion (the first locking portion 12, 112) is inserted into the leg bracket 20, and the other locking portion (the second locking portion 13 or 113) is made to get into under the leg bracket 20. With such an attachment operation, even in the attachment operation of the related art which is difficult and cannot ensure a sufficient attachment space, the attachment operation may easily be performed by using the product according to the present invention.

[00801 Further, since the leg cover 10, 110 may be attached to the leg bracket 20 in a manner that one locking portion (the first locking portion 12, 112) is inserted into the leg bracket 20 and the leg cover 10, 110 is rotated forward by rotating about the first locking portion 12, 112 inserted into the leg bracket 20, the attachment may easily be performed and the attachment strength is improved.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the leg cover 10, has been described which is attached to the leg bracket attached to the front side of the lower rail 30 of the front sheet of the automobile as a specific example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, Of course, the same configuration may be adopted even when the leg cover is attached to the leg bracket provided at the rear side of the lower rail or the leg bracket of the rear seat.

Reference Numerals [0082] 5: VEHICLE SEAT F: VEHICLE FLOOR 1: SEAT PORTION 10, 110: LEG COVER 11, 111: MAIN BODY PORTION ila: CONVEX PORTION 12, 112: FIRST LOCKING PORTION 13, 113: SECOND LOCKING PORTION 14: POSITION REGULATING PORTION 14a: POSITION REGULATING SURFACE 14ax: NOTCH PORTION 15: REINFORCEMENT FLANGE PORTION iSa: NOTCH PORTION 20: LEG BRACKET (SUPPORT BODY) 21: MAIN BODY PORTION 2la: UPPER FLAT PORTION 21b: INCLINED SURFACE PORTION 2lbx: BULGED PORTION 21c: LOWER FLAT PORTION 22: HOLE PORTION 23: FLANGE PORTION 23a: CLAW PORTION 23b: CONCAVE PORTION 24: FIXING PORTION 30: LOWER RAIL 40: FIXING MEMBER 40a: BOLT 40b: WASHER

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>CLAIMS1. A leg cover comprising: a main body portion covering a support body which is fixed to a vehicle floor and supports a seat portion; a first locking portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the main body portion and locked to the support body; and a second locking portion formed at a position facing the first focking portion so as to protrude toward an inside of the main body portion and be locked to the support body.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the first locking portion is fitted into a hole portion formed in the support body.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The leg cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second locking portion is locked to a flange portion provided in a peripheral edge of the support body.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The leg cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first locking portion and the second locking portion are formed from a flexible material.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The leg cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a position regulating portion protruding toward the inside of the main body portion and regulating the relative positions of the main body portion and the support body.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The leg oover aocording to olaim 5, wherein the position regulating portion includes position regulating surfaces facing each other so as to interpose a part of the support body therebetween.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The leg cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a reinforcement flange portion formed in the peripheral edge of the main body portion and bent upright from the main body portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A vehicle seat with a leg cover comprising: a support body fixed to a vehicle floor and supporting a seat portion; and the leg cover covering the support body, the support body including a hole portion and a flange portion which lock the leg cover, and the leg cover including: a main body portion covering the support body, a first locking portion protruding from a peripheral edge of the main body portion and locked to the hole portion, and a second locking portion formed at a position facing the first locking portion so as to protrude toward an inside of the main body portion and be looked to the flange portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The vehicle seat with the leg cover according to claim wherein the support body inoludes an upper flat portion provided at an upper side, a lower flat portion provided at a lower side relative to the upper flat portion, and an inclined surface portion connecting the upper flat portion and the lower flat portion to each other, wherein the hole portion to which the first locking portion is locked is formed in the inclined surface portion, and wherein the inclined surface portion is formed so as to be inclined with respect to an extension direction of a surface locked to the second locking portion in the flange portion.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The vehicle seat with the leg cover according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the support body is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the seat portion, wherein the leg cover is locked to an end of the support body in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the first locking portion and the second locking portion are respectively formed in ends of the main body portion in the longitudinal direction.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The vehicle seat with the leg cover according to any one of claims B to 10, wherein the support body includes a concave portion formed in a part of the flange portion, and wherein the leg cover includes a position regulating portion which engages with the concave portion and regulates the relative positions of the main body portion and the support body.</claim-text>