JP2001088589A - Operating force reducing mechanism for seat lifter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enlarge an effective body weight range for reducing operating force by a helper spring. SOLUTION: A locking member 36 serving as a crank rod is extended and journalled between the lateral side parts of side frames (upper members) 20 so that the crank part 36b can be set and held in a backward projecting position and a forward projecting position respectively by the rotation of the crank rod. The helper spring 12 formed of a tension coil spring is tightly stretched between the crank part 36b of the crank rod and a connecting pin 34 of a sector gear 30 interlocked with a handle 18 so as to be able to offset a lifter link 14R in its rising direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for reducing the operating force of a seat lifter for reducing the upward operating force of a driving member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A seat lifter mounted on a seat of an automobile or the like is formed with a pair of front and rear lifter links so that the height of the seat can be arbitrarily adjusted and set. The seat lifter is configured so that the seat can be raised and lowered under the swing of a lifter link that is interlocked with a driving operation (rotating operation) of a driving member including a handle, a lever, and the like.

In this type of seat lifter, the seat itself seated by the occupant is a target to be moved by the driving member, and the load is large. A great amount of operating force (rotational power) is required to withstand the weight of the occupant. Therefore, normally, the load from the seat is reduced by biasing the lifter link in the rising direction under the biasing force of the helper spring, and the reduction of the load reduces the lifting operation force of the operating member. There is provided a configuration having a so-called operating force reducing mechanism.

As the helper spring, a tension coil spring is generally used. Usually, a tension coil spring is interlocked with a fixed locking member and, for example, a driving member so that the biasing force can be applied in the rising direction of the lifter link. And one end of a rotating sector gear.

[0005]

As described above, in the seat lifter, since the weight of the occupant becomes a load during the lifting operation, the operating force imposed on the lifting operation varies depending on the weight. However, in the known configuration, since the biasing force applied from the helper spring is always constant, the effective weight range in which the operating force can be reduced is:
It is likely to be limited to a range corresponding to the biasing force of the helper spring.

That is, when the weight of the occupant is extremely heavy, it cannot be denied that the operation force cannot be sufficiently reduced by the helper spring. It is highly probable that the performance will not be sufficiently improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation force reducing mechanism for a seat lifter capable of extending an effective weight range in which an operation force is reduced by a helper spring.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a locking member serving as a crank rod moves a crank portion protruding from a main shaft portion into a rear protruding position and a front protruding position. The upper member is erected and supported between the left and right sides of the upper member so that it can be set and held under rotation. A helper spring composed of a tension coil spring is erected and stretched between the crank portion of the crank rod and the movable end of the interlocking member interlocking with the driving member so that the lifter link can be biased in the rising direction. I have.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operation force reducing mechanism 10 for a seat lifter according to the present invention includes a helper spring 12 composed of a tension coil spring. Then, the biasing force of the helper spring 12 is applied to the lifter links 14F, 14R.
The operation force reducing mechanism 10 is configured so that the lifting operation force of the driving member 18 in the seat lifter 16 can be reduced by applying the force in the rising direction of the vehicle.

The seat lifter 16 includes an upper member, for example, a side frame 20 of a seat cushion, a lower member,
For example, a pair of front and rear lifter links 14F and 14R are rotatably interposed between a runner (also referred to as an upper rail) 22 of the seat slide device, thereby enabling the seat 2 to be rotated.
4 is formed to be able to move up and down. The seat lifter 16 includes a driving unit 28 that uses a handle or the like fixed to a driving shaft 26a of a braking unit 26 as a driving member 18.One end of a sector gear 30 serving as an output member of the driving unit is connected to, for example, a rear gear. Connecting arm to movable piece 14a of lifter link 14R
This seat lifter is configured such that the height of the seat 24 can be adjusted and set arbitrarily by being linked to each other via the link 32.

The structure of this type of seat lifter 16 itself is well-known, and this structure is not the purpose of the present invention, and will not be described in detail here.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat lifter 16 includes an operating force reducing mechanism 10 for reducing the upward operating force of a handle (drive member) 18, that is, the rotational operating force in the upward direction. ing. The operating force reducing mechanism 10 includes a helper spring 12 formed of a tension coil spring, and the helper spring applies a biasing force in a rising direction to the lifter link 14R connected to the driving means 28 to the handle 18 so as to apply a biasing force to the lifter link 14R. A movable end of an interlocking interlocking member, for example, a connecting pin 34 of a sector gear 30 and a locking member 36 provided in front of the left and right side frames (upper member) 20 under an interposition between the left and right side frames (upper member) 20. , Has been laid.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 (A) in addition to FIG. 1, in the present invention, the locking member 36 has a crank rod 36 at least partially having a crank portion 36b protruding from a main shaft portion 36a. The helper spring is formed between the crank portion and the connecting pin 34 of the sector gear.
12 are erected and stretched.

Here, the crank rod (locking member)
36 is a rear projecting position shown in FIG.
And at the front protruding position shown in FIG. 2 (B).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the crank portion 36b of the crank rod is formed at a position where it can be engaged with the inner flange 20a at the lower end edge of the side frame 20, and the upper portion of the crank portion 36b is connected to the inner flange from above. Under the engagement, the rear protruding position and the front protruding position of the crank portion can be defined and set, respectively.

In this configuration, the position of the connecting pin 34 to be locked at the other end of the helper spring 12 is set below the position where the crank portion 36b is engaged with the inner flange 20a. The holding of the crank portion at the rearward projecting position and the forward projecting position can be secured under the biasing force of the helper spring.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the embodiment of the present invention, an operation lever 38 for rotating the crank rod 18 can rotate integrally with the crank rod. It is provided at the extension end 36c of the crank rod. In other words, the turning operation of the crank portion 36b between the rear protruding position and the front protruding position can be ensured by the reversing turning of the operation lever 38 on the substantially upper half side of the main shaft portion 36a of the crank rod as a boundary. Become.

In this configuration, the position of the crank portion 36b of the crank rod is shifted between the rearward projecting position shown in FIG. 2A and the forward projecting position shown in FIG. Is switched between. Then, FIG. 2 (A),
As can be seen from FIG. 1 (B) with reference to FIG. 1, the distance between the connecting pin 34 is short at the rearward projecting position of the crank portion 36b, and the distance is long at the forward projecting position of the crank portion 36b. By switching between the rearwardly projecting position and the forwardly projecting position of the crank portion, the strength of the biasing force of the helper spring 12 erected and stretched between the crank portion and the connecting pin is switched.

That is, in the seat lifter operating force reducing mechanism 10 of the present invention, the strength of the biasing force of the helper spring 12 can be switched and set in two stages, and each strength of the biasing force is controlled by the operating force. Since the effective weight range for power reduction is ensured, the effective weight range for operating force reduction is reliably extended. If the biasing force of the helper spring 12 at the time of this weak setting is set as a biasing force equivalent to that of the related art, the strong setting of the biasing force allows a large load to act, that is, a seated person who is extremely heavy in weight. Since it is possible to sufficiently reduce the lifting operation force at the time, the operability of the seat lifter 16 is reliably improved.

Further, in the present invention, the locking member to which one end of the helper spring 12 is locked is a rotatable crankshaft 36, and one end of the helper spring is locked to a crank portion 36b of the crankshaft. Since it is sufficient, the effective weight range for reducing the operating force can be expanded without complicating the configuration.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the rearward projecting position and the forward projecting position of the crank portion 36b are defined and set under engagement with the inner flange 20a of the side frame. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the crank portion may be set at each position under engagement with a dedicated stopper or the like. However, by using the inward flange 20a of the side frame to set the rear protruding position and the front protruding position of the crank portion 36b, it is possible to define and set the crank portion at each position without increasing the number of parts. Therefore, complication of the configuration can be reliably prevented.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
The extension end of the crankshaft 36
An operation lever 38 provided on 36c is embodied. But,
The configuration is not limited to this as long as the rotation operation of the crankshaft 36 is possible. For example, a configuration in which a crank-shaped operation piece is provided integrally with the main shaft portion 36a may be adopted.

Further, in this embodiment, the terminal of the helper spring 12 is locked to the connecting pin 34 of the sector gear. However, the member to which the terminal of the helper spring 12 is locked is a movable end of an interlocking member which is interlocked with the handle and which can bias the rear lifter link 14R to which the turning operation force of the handle 18 is transmitted in the rising direction. It is not limited to the connection pin 34 of this sector gear,
For example, the terminal of the helper spring may be locked to the movable piece 14a of the rear link or the like.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
Although a seat lifter for an automobile or the like is embodied, the present invention is not limited to an automobile but may be applied to, for example, a seat lifter for another vehicle such as a train, an airplane, and a ship.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are intended to explain the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way. Modifications, alterations, and the like made within the technical scope of the present invention are also possible. It goes without saying that all are included in the present invention.

[0027]

As described above, according to the seat lifter operating force reducing mechanism of the present invention, the strength of the biasing force of the helper spring can be switched and set in two stages.
Since each of the strengths of the biasing force has an effective weight range for reducing the operating force, the effective weight range for reducing the operating force is reliably extended. By setting the biasing force of the helper spring to be strong, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the ascending operation force when a large load acts.
The operability of the seat lifter is definitely improved.

Further, the locking member to be locked at one end of the helper spring is a rotatable crankshaft, and it is sufficient to lock one end of the helper spring to the crank portion of the crankshaft, which complicates the configuration. The effective weight range for reducing the operating force can be extended without incurring the problem.

Furthermore, if the rearward projecting position and the forward projecting position of the crank portion are defined and set under engagement with the inner flange of the side frame, the crank portion can be defined at each position.
Since setting can be performed without increasing the number of parts,
Complicated configuration can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a seat lifter showing a mechanism for reducing an operation force of the seat lifter according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial cross-sectional views of the operation force reducing mechanism of the seat lifter at a rearward projecting position and a forward projecting position of the crank portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Seat lifter operating force reduction mechanism 12 Helper spring (tensile coil spring) 14 (14F, 14R) Front and rear lifter links 16 Seat lifter 34 Connecting pin (interlocking member) 36 Crank rod (locking member) 36b Crank

Claims (2)

[Claims] A seat is supported by a pair of front and rear lifter links interposed between an upper member and a lower member so as to be able to move up and down, and is rotated by a driving member with respect to at least one of the lifter links. In a seat lifter capable of adjusting and setting a seat to an arbitrary height, a locking member serving as a crank rod moves a crank portion protruding from a main shaft portion to a rear protruding position and a front protruding position. The crank part of the crank rod is provided so that it can be set and held, respectively, and is erected and supported between the left and right side parts of the upper member, and a helper spring composed of a tension coil spring can bias the lifter link in the rising direction. And a movable end of an interlocking member interlocking with the driving member. Work force reducing mechanism. 2. The left and right side portions of the upper member are formed to have an inner flange at least at a lower end edge thereof, and the crank portion of the crank rod can be engaged with the inner flange from above to thereby provide a crank. The rear protruding position and the front protruding position of the portion can be defined and set respectively at the engagement position with the inner flange, and the movable end of the interlocking member interlocking with the drive member can be connected to the inner flange by the crank portion. 2. The mechanism for reducing operation force of a seat lifter according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is set lower than the combined position.