JP2010284315A - Coupling device of vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the assembly strength of a coupling device by a holding member and the coupling strength of the coupling device to a member to be coupled. <P>SOLUTION: An internal gear member 10 and an external gear member 20 constituting a reclining device 4 (the coupling device) are assembled in the plate positioning direction in such a way as relatively rotatable to each other, and latched and held in the axial direction by an outer peripheral ring 60 (a holding member). The outer peripheral ring 60 is fixed to the external gear member 20 with folding pieces 62 inserted into recesses 23 and folded to an outside board surface. Coupling fins 24b and 24b constituting a coupling part to a cushion frame 3f (the member to be coupled) are formed in an inter-disposition area in the circumferential direction in which the respective recesses 23 of the external gear member 20 are formed. The area where the recesses 23 are formed occupies a wide area on the upper half of the external gear member 20, and the area where the coupling fins 24b and 24b are formed occupies a wide area on the lower half of the external gear member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connecting device for a vehicle seat. Specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat coupling device that couples two coupling target members in a state in which they can rotate relative to each other.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vehicle seat, a seat back is connected to a seat cushion via a reclining device (connecting device), and an operation for adjusting a backrest angle is known. Here, the following Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration of the reclining device described above. In this disclosure, the reclining device includes two disk-shaped connecting members that are integrally connected to the skeleton frame of the seat back and the skeleton frame of the seat cushion, and are assembled in the plate-matching direction so as to be relatively rotatable. It is configured.

  The two connecting members described above are assembled with a holding member across the outer peripheral portion, and the two connecting members are prevented from coming off in the axial direction by the holding member. Here, one of the two connecting members is formed such that a part of its outer peripheral portion extends greatly in a fin shape, and this extended fin portion is applied to the skeletal frame of the seat cushion and coupled. It has come to be.

  In the fin portion of the connecting member, a plurality of caulking holes curved in an arc shape are formed side by side at positions on the same circumference. These caulking holes function as caulking holes in which the respective holding pieces projecting from the holding member are inserted and caulked and fixed by bending. As a result, the connecting member described above is held in the axial direction by the holding member in each circumferential region where the caulking hole is formed in the fin forming region. .

Japanese Patent No. 3606901

  In the prior art disclosed above, each holding piece and the caulking hole are formed in a long shape in the circumferential direction in order to ensure a certain level of locking strength in the axial direction of the holding member. It is arranged with a gap between them. However, as described above, the caulking holes are arranged so as to be closely spaced in the circumferential direction, so that the surplus portion of the fin portion is reduced, and the strength of the fin portion is impaired.

  The present invention has been devised as a solution to the above-described problems, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to secure the assembling strength of the connecting device by the holding member and to connect the connecting device to the connection target member. The purpose is to balance the securing of strength.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the vehicle seat coupling device of the present invention takes the following means.
First, the first invention is a vehicle seat coupling device that couples two coupling target members in a relatively rotatable state with each other, and includes two coupling members and a holding member. The two connecting members are assembled in the plate alignment direction so that they can rotate relative to each other, and are integrally connected to one side or the other side of the two connecting members. The holding member is assembled to the two connecting members in the axial direction so as to hold the two connecting members in the assembled state in the plate alignment direction. The holding member is fixed to a connecting member on one side by bending a plurality of bent pieces extending in the axial direction on the outer panel surface. On one side of the connecting member, through portions are formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction through which the bent pieces of the holding member are received in the axial direction, and are arranged in the circumferential direction where the through portions are formed. In the inter-region, at least one connection fin portion that forms a connection portion with the connection target member is formed. The connecting member on one side is set as a holding region in which a continuous half region in the circumferential direction occupies most of the formation region of the penetrating portion held by the bent piece of the holding member, and the other half The area | region where the circumferential direction continued was set as a connection area | region where the formation area of the fin part for a connection connected with a connection object member occupies most.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the holding member set on the half of the circumferential direction of the connecting member on one side occupies most of the region held by the bent piece of the holding member. The assembly strength with respect to the connecting member on the other side is increased. In addition, the connection member on one side has a connection fin set to be connected to the connection target member in the connection region set in the circumferential direction of the remaining half of the connection member. The connection strength with respect to is increased. As described above, the holding region and the connecting region are set by dividing the region into half of the circumferential direction in a continuous manner, thereby securing the assembly strength of the connecting device by the holding member and the connecting strength of the connecting device to the connection target member. It is possible to achieve both of these.

  Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, in the circumferential region where the connection fin portion is formed, the holding member is applied to the inner board surface of the connection fin portion in the axial direction, and the connection portion is connected. The outer peripheral surface of the fin portion is in contact with the connection target member, and the connection fin portion, the connection target member, and the holding member are integrated with each other by laser welding the abutment portion in the axial direction. Are joined together.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the connecting fin portion, the connection target member, and the holding member are laser-welded so that they are integrally joined to each other, thereby increasing the assembly strength of the holding member even in the connection region. be able to.

It is the disassembled perspective view which represented the structure of the reclining apparatus of Example 1 from the one side. It is the disassembled perspective view which represented the structure of the reclining apparatus seeing from the other side. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vehicle seat. It is a perspective view showing the state which attached the reclining device to the cushion frame. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing showing the state by which the reclining apparatus was rotationally operated. It is the front view which represented the reclining device seeing from the arrangement | positioning side of an external gear member. It is the VIII-VIII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the IX-IX sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using drawing.

  First, the configuration of the vehicle seat coupling device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting device for a vehicle seat according to the present embodiment is provided in the vehicle seat 1 and connects the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 3 so that the backrest angle can be adjusted. The reclining device 4 or 4 is configured. These reclining devices 4, 4 connect the lower ends of the left and right sides of the seat back 2 and the rear ends of the left and right sides of the seat cushion 3, respectively. 3 is rotated forward and backward and rotated backward.

  Specifically, each of the reclining devices 4 and 4 described above is normally held in a rotation-stopped state in which the backrest angle of the seat back 2 is fixed, but the operation shafts 4c and 4c inserted into the reclining devices 4 and 4 are inserted therein. The backrest angle of the seat back 2 is changed by the movement of rotating the shaft. Here, the operation shafts 4c and 4c are integrally connected to each other by a connecting rod 4r, and the shafts are integrated with each other by a driving operation of an electric motor (not shown) connected to one of the operation shafts 4c. It is designed to be rotated.

  The above-described electric motor (not shown) is switched to ON / OFF by, for example, an operation of a switch provided on the side portion of the vehicle seat 1 or a forward / reverse switching operation is performed. With the above configuration, the reclining devices 4 and 4 are always kept in a state in which the backrest angle of the seat back 2 is fixed before the operation shafts 4c and 4c are rotated. The reclining devices 4 and 4 operate so as to change the backrest angle of the seat back 2 by driving the electric motor and simultaneously rotating the operation shafts 4c and 4c. Yes.

  Hereinafter, a specific configuration of each of the reclining devices 4 and 4 will be described in detail. Here, the reclining devices 4 and 4 have a bilaterally symmetric configuration and substantially the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, as a representative example, only the configuration of the reclining device 4 shown on the right side as viewed in FIG. 3 will be described.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the reclining device 4 includes an internal gear member 10 and an external gear member 20 formed in a disk shape, and a pair of left and right eccentric members 30A and 30B formed in a frame shape. The ring spring 40 formed in an open ring shape, the operation member 50 used by being integrally attached to the operation shaft 4c, and the outer peripheral ring 60 formed in a stepped cylindrical shape are assembled together. Configured. Here, the internal gear member 10 corresponds to the other side connecting member of the present invention, the external gear member 20 corresponds to the one side connecting member of the present invention, and the outer peripheral ring 60 corresponds to the holding member of the present invention. Each of the above-described constituent members can be assembled together as shown in FIG. 4 by sequentially setting the internal gear member 10 in the direction in which the internal gear member 10 is assembled inside the cylinder of the outer ring 60 (axial direction). Yes.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2, the specific configuration of each component described above will be described in detail. First, the configuration of the internal gear member 10 will be described. The internal gear member 10 is formed in a disk shape as described above, and an internal gear projecting in a cylindrical shape in the plate thickness direction (axial direction) as an assembly direction to the external gear member 20 on the outer peripheral portion thereof. 11 is formed. And, on the inner peripheral surface of the internal gear 11, internal teeth 11a (... indicates three or more) are formed over the entire circumference. A cylindrical portion 12 protruding in the same axial direction as the internal gear 11 is formed at the center of the internal gear member 10 described above.

  Both the cylindrical portion 12 and the internal gear 11 are formed by half-cutting the internal gear member 10 in the plate thickness direction, and each is formed in a cylindrical shape drawn around the center point 10r of the internal gear member 10. Has been. A shaft hole 12a is formed through the cylindrical portion 12 so as to allow the operation shaft 4c described above to be inserted in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer gear surface of the internal gear member 10 having the above configuration is integrally joined and fixed to the plate surface of the back frame 2 f that forms the skeleton of the seat back 2. Here, the back frame 2f corresponds to the connection target member on the other side of the present invention.

  Here, on the disk portion of the internal gear member 10, three dowels 13... Projecting in an arc shape from the outer disk surface are formed. These dowels 13 are arranged and arranged at equal intervals at three positions in the circumferential direction of the disk portion, and are located on the inner peripheral side of the internal gear 11 but relatively close to the outer peripheral side. Is formed. On the other hand, dowel holes 2a in which the above-described dowels 13 can be respectively fitted are formed in the back frame 2f so as to penetrate in the plate thickness direction.

  Thereby, the above-described internal gear member 10 is fitted to the dowel holes 2a,... Of the back frame 2f by welding the dowels 13,. Are firmly connected to each other. Here, the back frame 2f is also formed with a shaft hole 2c penetrating in the plate thickness direction so that the operation shaft 4c can be inserted in the axial direction.

  Next, returning to FIG. 1, the configuration of the external gear member 20 will be described. The external gear member 20 is formed in a disk shape having an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the internal gear member 10 described above. The external gear member 20 is formed with an external gear 21 projecting in a cylindrical shape in the plate thickness direction (axial direction), which is the assembling direction to the internal gear member 10 described above, at the center thereof. The external gear 21 is formed by half-cutting the external gear member 20 in the plate thickness direction. And the external gear 21a ... is formed in the outer peripheral surface of this external gear 21 over the perimeter.

  The external gear member 20 described above is assembled in a state in which the external gear member 20 is engaged with the internal gear member 10 so as to be relatively rotatable with each other. Here, the outer diameter of the external gear 21 is set smaller than the inner diameter of the internal gear 11. The external gear member 20 is arranged in a radial direction with respect to the internal gear member 10 so that the external gear 21 is engaged with the internal gear 11 and a part of the external teeth 21a is engaged with a part of the internal teeth 11a. It is assembled in an eccentric state, and can relatively rotate while changing the meshing position on the inner peripheral tooth surface (surface on which the inner teeth 11a... Are formed) of the internal gear 11. ing.

  Here, the number of external teeth 21 a of the external gear 21 is set to be smaller than the number of teeth of the internal gear 11 a of the internal gear 11. Specifically, the number of teeth of the external gear 21 is 33 and the number of teeth of the internal gear 11 is 34. As a result, the external gear member 20 is rotated by rotating the external gear 21 so as to change the meshing position along the inner peripheral tooth surface of the internal gear 11 as shown in FIG. The rotational direction with respect to the internal gear member 10 gradually changes due to the difference in number.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, when the external gear 21 rotates to change the meshing position of the internal gear 11 in the clockwise direction in the figure, the external gear member 20 The rotation direction of the member 10 is changed in the counterclockwise direction shown in the drawing. In practice, the internal gear member 10 is connected to the back frame 2f, and the external gear member 20 is connected to the cushion frame 3f that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 3 as will be described later. The internal gear 11 rotates so as to change the meshing position with respect to the external gear 21. Here, the cushion frame 3f corresponds to a connection target member on one side of the present invention.

  Therefore, the relative rotational movement between the external gear 21 and the internal gear 11 as described above causes the backrest angle of the seat back 2 to tilt forward depending on the rotational direction, as shown in FIG. It will be gradually changed in the direction and the direction of backward fall. Returning to FIG. 1, a large circular hole 22 having a perfect circular shape larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 12 formed at the central portion of the internal gear member 10 described above is formed at the central portion of the external gear member 20 described above. It is formed so as to penetrate in the axial direction.

  The large hole 22 is formed in a circular hole shape drawn around the center point 20 r of the external gear member 20, and protrudes in the axial direction when the external gear 21 is assembled inside the internal gear 11. The cylindrical portion 12 is received inside. A pair of eccentric members 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B for stopping the rotation of the external gear member 20 relative to the internal gear member 10 are assembled in the gap formed between the large hole 22 and the cylindrical portion 12. . This point will be described in detail later.

  By the way, the above external gear member 20 is integrally joined and fixed to the cushion frame 3f that forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 3. Specifically, the cushion frame 3f is formed in a U-shaped opening so that the upper part can receive the external gear member 20, and as shown in FIGS. In the form of receiving the lower half of the gear member 20, the gear member 20 is assembled in a state of being abutted against the outer peripheral surface of the lower half.

  The cushion frame 3f and the external gear member are then welded to the portion where the inner peripheral surface 3a of the opening of the cushion frame 3f and the outer peripheral surface of the lower half of the external gear member 20 are abutted. 20 are firmly and integrally joined to each other (the portion indicated by the weld mark B is welded). Here, as shown in FIG. 7, each of the bent pieces 62... Formed on the outer ring 60, which will be described later, can be received and passed through the outer peripheral portion of the external gear member 20 in the axial direction. Recesses 23 are formed at four positions in the circumferential direction.

  In each circumferential region where the recesses 23 of the outer periphery are formed, the open fin portions 24a having a shape projecting outward in the radial direction with respect to the recesses 23. And fins 24b and 24b for connection are formed. The former open fin portions 24a... Are formed in the circumferential region of the upper half of the external gear member 20, and are portions that do not function for joining with the cushion frame 3f. The latter connecting fins 24b, 24b are formed in the circumferential region of the lower half of the external gear member 20, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is the inner peripheral surface 3a of the opening of the cushion frame 3f. It is a part that is abutted to be in direct contact and laser welded.

  Here, the outer gear member 20 has a holding region in which the upper half of the circumferential region is largely occupied by the formation region of the recesses 23 that are held off by the bent pieces 62 of the outer ring 60 described above. It is set as A1. In this holding area A1, there are formed three recesses 23, and four open fins 24a, which are shorter in the circumferential direction than the recesses 23. And the circumferential direction length which these three recessed parts 23 ... occupy is longer than the circumferential direction length which four open fin parts 24a ....

  Further, the circumferential region of the lower half of the external gear member 20 is set as a connection region A2 that is largely occupied by the formation regions of the connection fin portions 24b and 24b that are directly abutted against the cushion frame 3f and laser-welded. . In the connection region A2, two connection fin portions 24b and 24b and one concave portion 23 having a shorter circumferential length than the connection fin portions 24b and 24b are formed. And the circumferential direction length which these two connection fin parts 24b and 24b occupy is longer than the circumferential direction length which one recessed part 23 occupies.

  Thus, in the circumferential region (holding region A1) of the upper half of the external gear member 20, a region that is held by the bent pieces 62. The strength of preventing the gear member 10 from coming off in the axial direction is increased. Further, in the circumferential region (connection region A2) of the lower half of the external gear member 20, a region that is abutted against and joined to the cushion frame 3f is widely secured, and the connection strength to the cushion frame 3f is increased. Yes.

  Therefore, even if the cushion frame 3f is formed in a small shape that can be joined only to the lower half of the external gear member 20 as described above, the cushion frame 3f is firmly and integrally joined to the external gear member 20. be able to. Further, as described above, the formation regions of the connection fin portions 24b, 24b occupy most of the circumferential region (connection region A2) of the lower half of the external gear member 20, and the outer ring 60 The holding area A1 due to the bent piece 62 is reduced.

  However, as shown in FIG. 8, in the circumferential region where the connecting fin portions 24b and 24b are formed, as will be described later, the contact surface portion 63 of the outer peripheral ring 60 on the inner surface of the connecting fin portions 24b and 24b. .. is applied in the axial direction, and as described above, laser welding is performed by irradiating the abutting portion between the connecting fin portions 24b, 24b and the cushion frame 3f with laser light in the axial direction. Further, the contact surface portion 63 of the outer peripheral ring 60 is also integrally joined with the connecting fin portions 24b and 24b and the cushion frame 3f.

  Therefore, also in the connection region A2, the axial direction of the external gear member 20 and the internal gear member 10 by the peripheral ring 60 is determined by the joint strength of the external gear member 20, the peripheral ring 60, and the cushion frame 3f that are integrally joined. It has a configuration with increased anti-slip strength. Here, in FIG. 7, the relief groove 3 b formed to be recessed on the inner peripheral surface 3 a of the opening of the cushion frame 3 f is for avoiding interference with the bent piece 62 inserted through the recess 23. It is a groove.

  By the way, the respective end portions forming the U-shaped end portions of the cushion frame 3f described above are respectively formed as a front-falling stopper 3c for regulating the forward-falling rotation of the seat back 2 and a rear-falling stopper 3d for regulating the rear-falling rotation. Has been. The forward-falling stopper 3c and the backward-falling stopper 3d are arranged such that, when the seat back 2 rotates forward or backward, the locking pieces (not shown) provided on the back frame 2f are brought into contact with each other. It works to stop the rotation.

  Next, returning to FIG. 1, the configuration of the pair of eccentric members 30A and 30B will be described. These eccentric members 30A and 30B are formed as a piece-like member curved in an arc shape symmetrically with respect to each other. As shown in FIG. 5, these eccentric members 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are set in a gap between the large hole 22 formed in the external gear member 20 and the cylindrical portion 12 formed in the internal gear member 10. In general, the ring spring 40 is pushed and held in a narrow gap (downward in the drawing) by the urging force of the ring spring 40.

  As a result, each of the eccentric members 30A and 30B is normally pushed in the direction in which the external gear member 20 is eccentric with respect to the internal gear member 10, and a partial region of the internal teeth 11a. The inner gear member 10 is held in a state where the rotational movement of the inner gear member 10 with respect to the outer gear member 20 is stopped. Here, each eccentric member 30A, 30B is formed in a shape that becomes thinner from the upper side to the lower side in the figure, and the large hole 22 of the external gear member 20 and the internal gear member 10 that are in an eccentric positional relationship with each other. It is set so that it may fit in the clearance gap between the cylindrical part 12 of this.

  Then, hooking portions 41A and 41B of the ring spring 40 are respectively hooked on the upper ends of the eccentric members 30A and 30B. The eccentric members 30A and 30B are always illustrated by the urging force of the ring spring 40. It is urged toward the gap direction which becomes narrower on the lower side, and is held in a state where the gap is closed. The eccentric members 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B press the inner peripheral surface of the large hole 22 of the external gear member 20 in a direction away from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 12 of the internal gear member 10 by the pressing force that closes the gap. Thus, the external gear member 20 is pushed in a direction to be eccentric with respect to the internal gear member 10.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the external gear member 20 is normally held in a state where the external gear 21 is pressed upward in the figure by the action of the pressing force by the eccentric members 30A and 30B. Thus, it is held in a state where it is pressed against the internal gear 11 and is prevented from rotating. And this rotation stop state is cancelled | released when it operates so that either one of eccentric member 30A, 30B may be pushed and moved by the press part 51 arrange | positioned between both lower end parts. .

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the pressing portion 51 is a part that constitutes the operation member 50, and the operation member 50 is rotated as the operation shaft 4 c rotates. Depending on the rotation direction, the bottom of either one of the eccentric members 30A, 30B is pushed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the operation member 50 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the drawing, the eccentric member 30 </ b> A disposed on the left side in the drawing is pushed in the same direction by the push portion 51. It is moved (see FIG. 6).

  Accordingly, the eccentric member 30A is pushed in the direction against the urging force of the ring spring 40, and is in a state of being extracted from the state where the eccentric member 30A is pushed toward the narrowing gap direction. This movement causes the state where the gaps between the eccentric members 30A, 30B are released, so that the eccentric member 30B on the other side closes the gap by the urging force of the ring spring 40, that is, as shown in FIG. It begins to move in a state where it can rotate clockwise.

  Therefore, when the operating member 50 is rotated, both the eccentric members 30A and 30B rotate in the operated direction, so that the pushing direction in which the outer gear 21 is pushed in the direction eccentric with respect to the inner gear 11 is pushed. Gradually changes in the clockwise direction in the figure, and this movement causes the internal gear 11 to rotate so as to change the meshing position with respect to the external gear 21. The above-described rotational movement is stopped by stopping the rotation operation of the operation member 50, so that both the eccentric members 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are held in a state where the gaps are again packed by the urging of the ring spring 40. With the above-described configuration, the seat back 2 is rotated in the forward or backward direction with respect to the seat cushion 3 in accordance with the rotation operation of the operation member 50.

  Here, referring back to FIG. 2, the operation member 50 is formed with a disk-shaped pressing surface portion 52 whose surface is directed in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing surface portion 52 is assembled so as to cover the large hole 22 of the external gear member 20 to which the above-described eccentric members 30 </ b> A and 30 </ b> B are assembled. 30 A and 30 B have a function of preventing detachment so as not to fall out of the large hole 22.

  Next, returning to FIG. 2, the configuration of the outer peripheral ring 60 will be described. The outer peripheral ring 60 is formed by punching a thin steel plate into a ring shape, and the disc portion is half-punched in the plate thickness direction (axial direction) so that an axial line is formed on the inner peripheral surface portion. It is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape having a flange-like support surface portion 61 with the surface facing in the direction. As shown in FIG. 1, bent pieces 62... Extending in the axial direction are formed at four positions in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface portion of the outer ring 60.

  Then, in each of the circumferential regions where the bent pieces 62... Of the outer peripheral surface portion are formed, there is an abutting surface portion 63 projecting outward in the radial direction with the surface directed in the axial direction.・ ・ Is formed. The outer ring 60 described above is crimped by bending the bent pieces 62... In the radial direction in a state where the internal gear member 10 and the external gear member 20 are assembled inside the cylinder. The internal gear member 10 and the external gear member 20 are held in a state in which they are prevented from coming off in the axial direction.

  Specifically, the outer peripheral ring 60 is configured such that the inner gear member 10 and the outer gear member 20 are assembled inside the cylinder, so that the outer surface of the inner gear 11 of the inner gear member 10 is applied in the axial direction by the support surface portion 61. Support it. In the above assembly, the bent pieces 62 of the outer ring 60 are inserted in the axial direction into the recesses 23 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the external gear member 20. The inserted tip extends to the outer panel surface side of the external gear member 20 (FIG. 9).

  Therefore, after the above assembly, the bent pieces 62... Are bent and caulked inward in the radial direction, so that these bent pieces 62. The gear member 20 is held in a state where it is sandwiched in the axial direction and is prevented from coming off. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the above-described application surface portions 63... Has an open fin portion 24 a formed on the outer peripheral portion of the external gear member 20 and a connecting fin portion 24 b. It is applied to the inner surface of 24b in the axial direction.

  As a result, the outer peripheral ring 60 is caulked integrally in a state where the external gear member 20 is clamped in the axial direction by the bent pieces 62... And the application surface portions 63. A fixed gap in the axial direction is secured in the support portion that supports the internal gear member 10 in the axial direction so that sliding resistance is difficult to be imparted to the rotation of the internal gear member 10. Of the pad surface portions 63..., Those applied to the inner surface of the connecting fin portions 24b, 24b are integrated with the connecting fin portions 24b, 24b and the cushion frame 3f by laser welding as described above. To be joined.

  Thus, according to the reclining device 4 (vehicle seat coupling device) of the present embodiment, the external gear member 20 (one side coupling member) is a holding region set in a half region in the circumferential direction. In A1, since the area held by the bent pieces 62 of the outer ring 60 (holding member) occupies a large area, the assembly strength for the internal gear member 10 (the other side connecting member) is increased. Further, the external gear member 20 has a large formation area of the connection fin portions 24b and 24b connected to the cushion frame 3f (member to be connected) in the connection area A2 set in the circumferential area of the remaining half. Therefore, the connection strength with respect to the cushion frame 3f is increased. As described above, the holding region A1 and the connection region A2 are set by dividing the region into half continuous regions in the circumferential direction, so that the assembling strength of the reclining device 4 by the outer peripheral ring 60 can be secured, and the cushion of the reclining device 4 It is possible to achieve both the securing of the connection strength to the frame 3f.

  Further, the connecting fins 24b, 24b, the cushion frame 3f, and the outer ring 60 are laser welded so that they are integrally joined to each other, so that the assembling strength by the outer ring 60 is also increased in the connecting region A2. be able to.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described using one example, the present invention can be implemented in various forms in addition to the above example. For example, the reclining device 4 that connects the seat back 2 to the seat cushion 3 so that the backrest angle can be adjusted is illustrated as the vehicle seat connecting device. The configuration of the vehicle seat connecting device includes two connecting devices. If it is a use which connects an object member to the state which can mutually be rotated relatively, it can apply to the thing of various uses. As an example, there may be mentioned one that rotatably connects an ottoman to the front part of the seat cushion.

  Further, as the reclining device 4, the backrest angle of the seat back 2 is changed in a stepless manner by meshing and rotating the internal gear member 10 (the other side connecting member) and the external gear member 20 (the one side connecting member). However, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to an unlocking type reclining device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-130237. That is, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which two connecting members assembled in the plate alignment direction so as to be rotatable relative to each other are prevented from coming off in the axial direction by the holding member. There is no particular limitation as to how these two connecting members are prevented from rotating.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the connecting fins 24b and 24b of the external gear member 20 (one side connecting member) and the inner peripheral surface of the cushion frame 3f (one side connecting target member) Although the surface contact shape of the abutment portion was not touched particularly strictly, for example, by joining both of these contact surfaces in a saw-tooth shape, the joint strength between both is further increased. be able to. Also, by forming a recess on one side and forming a protrusion that fits into the recess on the other side, the joint strength in the circumferential direction or the axial direction of both can be further increased.

  Further, the open fin portions 24a... Are formed in the holding region A1, but the holding regions A1 are recessed portions 23 that are held by the bent pieces 62 of the outer peripheral ring 60 (holding member). It suffices if the formation region of the (penetrating portion) occupies a large area, and the formation region of the open fin portion 24a. Moreover, in the connection area | region A2, although the recessed part 23 (penetration part) illustrated what was formed only in one place, the recessed part may be set in multiple places. Further, as shown in the above embodiment, if the connecting fins 24b, 24b are integrally welded and joined to the outer ring 60 (holding member), the formation of a recess is particularly preferred. The area may not be set.

  Further, although the example in which the connecting fin portions 24b and 24b function as a joint portion with the cushion frame 3f (one-side connection target member) is illustrated, the external gear member 20 (one-side connection member). However, the connecting fin portions 24b, 24b and the cushion frame 3f (one member to be connected) are originally formed in an integrated shape, and the connecting fin portions 24b, 24b have the strength of the connecting portion. It may be one that functions as a part that bears.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle seat 2 Seat back 2f Back frame (member to be connected on the other side)
2a Dowel hole 2c Shaft hole 3 Seat cushion 3f Cushion frame (member to be connected on one side)
3a Inner peripheral surface 3b Relief groove 3c Front tilt stopper 3d Back tilt stopper 4 Reclining device 4c Operation shaft 4r Connecting rod 10 Internal gear member (the other side connecting member)
10r Center point 11 Internal gear 11a Internal tooth 12 Cylindrical portion 12a Shaft hole 13 Dowel 20 External gear member (connecting member on one side)
21 External gear 21a External tooth 22 Large hole 23 Recessed portion (penetrating portion)
24a Open fin portion 24b Linking fin portion 30A, 30B Eccentric member 40 Ring spring 41A, 41B Hook portion 50 Operation member 51 Push portion 52 Holding surface portion 60 Outer ring (holding member)
61 Support surface portion 62 Bending piece 63 Placing surface portion A1 Holding region A2 Connection region B Welding bead

Claims (2)

A vehicle seat coupling device for coupling two coupling target members to each other in a relatively rotatable state,
Two connecting members that are assembled together in the plate alignment direction so as to be relatively rotatable with each other and are integrally connected to one side or the other side of the two connecting target members,
A holding member that is assembled across the two connecting members in the axial direction and holds the two connecting members assembled in the plate-matching direction;
The holding member has a plurality of bent pieces extending in the axial direction with respect to the connecting member on one side and is fixed by being bent on the outer panel surface, and each bent piece of the holding member is fixed to the connecting member on the one side. Are formed in a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction, and the connecting portion with the connection target member is formed in a region between the circumferential positions where the respective penetration portions are formed. A connecting fin is formed in at least one place,
The connecting member on the one side is set as a holding region in which a continuous half region in the circumferential direction occupies most of the formation region of the penetrating portion held by the bent piece of the holding member, and the other half A connecting device for a vehicle seat, wherein a continuous region in a circumferential direction is set as a connecting region in which a forming region of a connecting fin portion connected to the connection target member occupies most. The vehicle seat coupling device according to claim 1,
In the circumferential area where the connecting fin portion is formed, the holding member is applied to the inner surface of the connecting fin portion in the axial direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting fin portion is abutted against the connection target member. The connecting fin portion, the connection target member, and the holding member are integrally joined to each other by laser welding the abutting portion in the axial direction. A vehicle seat coupling device.

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