JP2000270946A - Seat reclining device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily adjust a spring force by making one of the supports movable, which support the end of an energizing means energizing a backrest in the forward direction. SOLUTION: The inner most end 11a of a coil spring 11, which is an energizing means energizing a backrest in the forward direction, is hooked on the groove of a front end 13a of a support 13, which is a support part supporting the end of the coil spring 11, and the outer most end 1b is hooked on a flange 7a of an upper plate 7. At the bottom of the front end 13a of the support 13, a thread is formed which is fastened to the front end of a shaft 13b, at which a thread is formed, and a nut 13c is inserted into in advance. This makes the front end 13a fastened to the shaft 13b rotatable, and it can be fastened at any position by using the nut 13c. A result is that a spring force can easily be adjusted to improve usability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reclining device for a vehicle seat, and more particularly to a seat reclining device provided with an urging means for returning a seatback in a rearwardly inclined position to the front.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional vehicle seat is urged forward by a biasing force of a biasing means of a reclining device at the time of reclining adjustment from an inclined position after reclining. Normally, a spiral spring is generally used as an urging means of such a seat reclining device. However, the spiral spring has a large manufacturing tolerance, so that the spring force varies.

Further, a gear combination tolerance between the upper bracket on the seat back side and a lower bracket on the seat cushion side, a manufacturing tolerance of a spring for an unlock lever, an assembly tolerance, and the like are added, and the seat back return force as a seat reclining device is added. Product variation will occur.

Accordingly, if the spring force is increased to ensure that the seatback returns from the rearwardly inclined position, the seatback will surely return, but the seatback will return too vigorously, giving the occupant discomfort. Conversely, if the spring force is reduced, the seatback will return slowly without causing discomfort to the occupant, but the seatback may not automatically return from the backward tilt position.

As a method for solving such a problem, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 6-70642 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an urging force opposing a spiral spring b for urging a seatback a forward. Another spiral spring c is provided to generate a high speed from the seatback tilt position to the neutral position and return at a low speed from the neutral position to the forward position. Proposed.

[0006] Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-252868 shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, one end is fixed to the seatback side and the other end is fixed to the cover d side which covers the outside of the seat reclining device so as to expand the diameter in synchronization with the spiral spring b for urging the seatback forward. The coil spring e, which is supported and disposed on the back of the cover d, expands in diameter when the seatback tries to return from the rearwardly inclined position to the front, and is pressed against the back of the cover d. Has been proposed to reduce the forward return speed from near the neutral position by the resistance.

With this arrangement, when the seatback is returned from the rearwardly inclined position to the front, the optimal return speed at each seat reclining position can be set, so that even if the spring force varies, the seatback can be set within an allowable range. The returning speed is reduced, and the occupants do not feel discomfort and the seat back does not return.

[0008]

However, in each of the above prior arts, another urging means is newly provided in addition to the spiral spring which is the original urging means, and the characteristics are utilized by utilizing the characteristics thereof. Although the problem due to the variation in the spring force can be solved, the weight increases due to the provided urging means, the sheet shape is restricted due to the enlargement of the external dimensions, and the operability is deteriorated. Furthermore, it is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

In addition, these structures have a spring force adjustment in a state where the seat is assembled, a spring force adjustment in a state where the seat is assembled to the vehicle, and a seat aging due to aging when the vehicle is used for a long time. There is a problem that it is not possible to adjust the spring force to recover the decrease in the back return speed. An object of the present invention is to provide a seat reclining device which can solve such a problem and can easily adjust a spring force.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biasing means for biasing the seatback in a forward direction, one end of which is supported by the seatback and the other end of which is supported by the seat cushion. In the seat reclining device, at least one of the support portions for supporting the end portion of the urging means is movable so that the urging force of the urging means can be adjusted. This is a seat reclining device.

In other words, even when the vehicle is in the assembled state, the adjusting mechanism adjusts the urging force preset in the urging means by adjusting the urging force even when the vehicle is assembled. The strength can be adjusted and the back speed of the seat back can be optimized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the biasing means is formed by a spiral spring, and the innermost support portion located at the center thereof is rotatable. By being fixable, the amount of adjustment of the spring force of the spiral spring can be increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the biasing means is formed by a spiral spring, and the outermost end supporting portion is movable, so that even in a vehicle assembled state,
The adjustment function can be formed at a position where the adjustment operation is easier.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an assembled state of a seat reclining apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an exploded state thereof.

The upper arm fastened to the seat back 19
The upper bracket 2 supporting the gear 1 has a gear of an internal tooth type, and a lower arm fastened to the seat cushion 20.
The lower bracket 4 for supporting the cam 3 includes a cam 5 and a pole 6.
Through the upper bracket 2 and the upper press
And a lower plate 8 for sandwiching them.

The unlock lever 9 is constantly urged in the lock direction by a spiral spring 10 for locking.

A spiral spring 11, which is an urging means for urging the seat back 19 forward, is attached to the spring mounting bracket 12 in parallel with the locking spiral spring 10, and the innermost end 10a of the locking spiral spring 10 is , Flange 1 of spring mounting bracket 12
The outermost end 10b is hooked on the pin 9a of the lock release lever 9.

The innermost end 11a of the spiral spring 11 is
3, the outermost end 11b
Is hooked on the flange 7a of the upper plate 7.

The support shaft 13, which is a support portion for supporting the end of the biasing means, is formed of a tip portion 13a and a shaft portion 13b, and a thread groove fastened to the tip of the shaft portion 13b is formed at the bottom of the tip portion 13a. A thread is formed at the tip of the shaft portion 13b,
The nut 13c has been inserted in advance. The tip portion 13a fastened to the shaft portion 13b is rotatable and can be fixed at any position by a nut 13c.

The support shaft 13 passes through the lock release lever 9, the locking spiral spring 10, the spiral spring 11, the spring mounting bracket 12, the lower bracket 4, the upper bracket 2, and the cam 5, and is fitted with an E-ring 14. You.

The cover mounting bracket 17 serves as a seat for mounting a cover 21 for improving the appearance of the components of the seat reclining device including the spiral spring on a commercial product. It also serves as a function to prevent it from coming off.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described.
The seat back 19 is driven by the spring force of the spiral spring 11.
At the rearwardly inclined position from the normal use position, an urging force that tends to rise in the forward direction is applied, and the spring force increases and the urging force increases as the angle increases.

By operating the unlock lever 9, the pole 6 pressed by the biasing force of the spiral spring 10 via the cam 5 is released from the internal gear groove of the upper bracket 2, and the spiral spring 11 The seatback 19 can be caused in the forward direction by the spring force.

However, due to factors such as variations in the biasing force due to manufacturing tolerances of the spiral spring 11, variations in the products of the components of the seat reclining device, and sliding resistance in the assembled state of the seat reclining device, the seat reclining device is not used. Product variations occur in the seatback return force as an assembled state of the device. As a result, the seat back 19 may return vigorously to give an uncomfortable feeling to the occupant, or the convenience may be lacking because the seat back 19 does not automatically return from the backward tilt position.

The return speed of the seat back is adjusted by rotating the distal end 13a of the support shaft 13 hooking the innermost end 11a of the spiral spring 11 and fixing it at an arbitrary position with the nut 13c. can do.

That is, when the return speed of the seat back is too fast, the tip portion 13a of the support shaft 13 is turned clockwise so that the spiral spring 11 becomes loose and the spring force is reduced, and the return speed of the seat back is reduced. When the seat back is too slow or the seat back does not return automatically, the tip 13a of the support shaft 13 is adjusted so that the winding of the spiral spring 11 is tightened and the spring force is increased.
Is rotated counterclockwise to absorb the various variations described above, and the return speed of the seat back 19 can be adjusted optimally.

Further, since the adjustment is performed at the innermost end 11a of the spiral spring 11, the adjustment amount can be increased.

Next, only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an assembled state of the seat reclining device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows an exploded state thereof.

The innermost end 11a of the spiral spring 11 is hooked on a groove of a distal end portion 19a formed integrally with the flange 12a of the spring mounting bracket 12 and the support shaft 19, and supports the end portion of the biasing means. Movable flange 15
Is inserted into the slit 2c of the upper bracket 2 and hooks and supports the outermost end 11b. By operating the adjustment pin 2b, the movable flange 15 moves within the range of the slit 2c of the upper bracket 2.

The upper bracket 2 has an arcuate slit 2c which is concentric with the support shaft 19 and located outside and above the spiral spring 11 to which it is attached. The upper bracket 2 has a support flange 2a having a screw hole for supporting an adjustment pin 2b capable of adjusting a protrusion length by a rotary screw type at an end on an extension of a tangent line contacting a center line of the slit 2c.

On the head of the adjusting pin 2b, a groove for rotation with a tool or the like or a non-slip shape on the outer periphery of the head for manual rotation is formed.
The tip of the adjustment pin 2b contacts the movable flange 15.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described.
If the return speed of the seat back is not optimal,
By rotating b around the axis, the protrusion length protruding from the support flange 2a toward the movable flange 15 can be adjusted, so that the seat back return speed can be adjusted.

That is, when the return speed of the seat back is too high, the adjustment pin 2b is rotated in a direction in which the length of the adjustment pin 2b becomes short so that the spring force of the spiral spring 11 becomes small, and the seat back is rotated. When the return speed is too slow or the seat back does not automatically return, the adjustment pin 2b is rotated in a direction in which the length of the adjustment pin 2b increases so that the spring force of the spiral spring 11 increases. And the return speed of the seat back 19 can be adjusted optimally.

Further, the adjusting operation can be performed from the front or rear direction of the seat in the seat assembling state and in the vehicle assembling state, so that the usability is good.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the biasing means is described as having a spiral spring. However, the present invention is not limited to the spiral spring, but various springs such as a torsion bar spring, a plate spring, and a coil spring may be used. Needless to say, the urging force may be generated.

Further, it is needless to say that the adjustable supporting portion of the urging means is not limited to one end of the urging means but may be provided at both ends of the urging means.

Further, in the second embodiment in which the spiral spring 11 is supported at the outermost end, the slit 2c is an arc-shaped slit along the outer peripheral portion of the spiral spring 11, but may be a linear slit. Needless to say, a movable mechanism in which the support portion can be displaced three-dimensionally may be used.

[0040]

The effects of the present invention are as follows.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, either the inner or outer end of the spiral spring 11 of the seat reclining device is movable, and the urging force for urging the seatback 19 in the forward direction is adjusted.
It is possible to optimally adjust the return speed of the seat reclining device when the seat back is moved forward in the assembled state.

As a result, it is possible to adjust the return speed when the seat back is moved forward, which is impossible with the conventional seat reclining device in the state of assembling the seat, and there is an advantage that the commerciality is improved.

Further, since the structure of the seat reclining device is simple, there is no problem such as an increase in weight, an increase in external dimensions, and a deterioration in operability, and an inexpensive device can be provided.

Further, even if sliding resistance is added to the rear seat or front bench seat due to rubbing between the left and right seatbacks or the seat cushion when the vehicle is assembled, or rubbing with the armrest, trim, etc., the seatback is moved forward. The return speed at the time can be adjusted optimally. In addition, it is possible to easily adjust the decrease in the return speed when the seat back is moved forward due to the aging of each part or part during long-term use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the innermost end of the spiral spring 11 is rotatable. By adjusting the spring force of the spiral spring 11, the return speed adjustment range when the seatback is tilted forward is adjusted. Can be widened, and more reliable speed control is possible.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the outermost end of the spiral spring is made displaceable, so that the adjustment range of the return speed when the seatback is moved forward is not wide, but even when the seat is assembled to the vehicle, The adjustment function can be formed at a position where the adjustment operation is more easily performed, and there is an advantage that usability is good.

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled side view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an assembled side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the prior art.

9 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the prior art.

[0047]

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 spiral spring (biasing means) 11a innermost end 11b outermost end 13 support shaft (supporting portion) 15 movable flange (supporting portion) 19 seat back 20 seat cushion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A seat reclining device having a biasing means for biasing a seatback in a forward direction, one end of which is supported on a seatback side and the other end of which is on a seat cushion side. A seat reclining device wherein the biasing force of the biasing means can be adjusted by making at least one of the supporting portions supporting the end of the means movable. 2. A seat reclining device according to claim 1, wherein said urging means is a spiral spring, and an innermost support portion thereof is rotatable. 3. The seat reclining device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a spiral spring, and a support portion at an outermost end thereof is displaceable.