JP2691345B2 - Reclining device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reclining device, and more particularly to a reclining device including a fine adjustment mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

A seat such as a vehicle is provided with a reclining device that changes a tilt angle of a seat back so that a seated person can select an appropriate posture.

Some of these reclining devices are capable of stepless adjustment so that they can be accurately set according to the desired angle of the seated person.

As a conventional reclining device of this type, for example, there is one that utilizes a mechanism for engaging inner teeth and outer teeth having different numbers of teeth. (For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-48691) That is, this mechanism is composed of a toothed disc having inner teeth on its peripheral surface and a toothed annular plate having outer teeth meshing with the inner teeth on its inner periphery. The inner teeth of the disc are formed with at least one fewer tooth than the outer teeth of the toothed annular plate.For example, the toothed disc is supported on the seat cushion side and the toothed annular plate is supported on the seat back side. Become. Then, by rolling the toothed annular plate with respect to the toothed disc to move the meshing portion of the inner teeth and the outer teeth, the toothed annular plate becomes the toothed disc by the ratio of the number of teeth of the inner teeth to the outer teeth. The seat back is tilted and rotated with respect to the seat cushion.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In a reclining device that uses a mechanism for meshing inner and outer teeth with different numbers of teeth, there is always some backlash in the meshing portion between the inner and outer teeth due to tooth backlash. It appears as backlash and it is not possible to obtain a stable sitting comfort.In addition, when a large load or vibration is applied to the seat back due to sitting etc., the load moves the meshing part of the internal and external teeth. However, for this reason, the inclination angle of the seat back may change unexpectedly, and there is a problem of lack of reliability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a highly reliable reclining device with less backlash.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, a reclining device of the present invention comprises a base member arranged on the seat cushion side, a rotary arm pivotally supported in the front-rear direction and connected to a seat back, and a rotary arm. A reclining plate provided with a reclining mechanism including a sector gear provided on the moving arm and a locking member that meshes with the sector gear and locks the rotating arm in a non-rotatable manner is rotated at a position corresponding to the pivotal support portion of the rotating arm. A fine adjustment mechanism for movably supporting the reclining plate and rotating the reclining plate at a minute angle with respect to the base member is provided between the base member and the reclining plate at a position separated from the shaft supporting portion for the base member. Furthermore, fix the ratchet wheel on the operation shaft of this fine adjustment mechanism and rotate the fine adjustment lever. The fine adjustment lever is provided with a pawl that meshes with the ratchet wheel only when the fine adjustment lever rotates in one direction, and the fine adjustment mechanism is operated by reciprocally rotating the fine adjustment lever. It has a structure for fine adjustment.

[Action]

 The above-described means works as follows.

In a normal reclining operation, the seat back is removed by disengaging the lock member of the reclining mechanism from the sector gear, rotating the rotating arm, that is, the seat back, and engaging the lock member with the sector gear in a state where a desired inclination angle is set. It is locked at that tilt angle.

Then, from this state, the fine adjustment lever is reciprocally rotated to operate the fine adjustment mechanism to rotate the reclining plate with respect to the base member by a small angle, so that the seat back is integrally rotated together with the reclining mechanism. As a result, the seat back undergoes stepless fine adjustment below the pitch of the sector gear.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which S denotes a vehicle seat as a whole, and a book is provided at a connecting portion between a seat cushion Sc and a seat back Sb of the seat S. A reclining device (1) according to the invention is provided. (2) is a base plate of the reclining device, the base plate (2) is fixed to a side portion of the seat cushion Sc, and the lower surface side thereof is fixed to a slide rail (3) arranged on the floor surface side.

A reclining plate (5) having a reclining mechanism (4) is supported on the rear part of the base plate (2).

For this reclining mechanism (4), an existing generally used reclining mechanism is applied as it is, that is, it has the following configuration.

A shaft (6) is provided at a predetermined position on the rear portion of the reclining plate (5), and a rotating arm (7) is pivotally supported on the shaft (6) so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction. The free end side of the rotating arm (7) is connected to the side portion of the seat back Sb, that is, the rotating arm (7) is rotated integrally with the seat back Sb.

Further, a sector gear (8) is integrally fixed to the lower end of the rotating arm (7), and a shaft pin (protrudingly provided on the reclining plate (5) corresponding to the sector gear (8). A lock arm (10) as a lock member is rotatably and pivotally supported on the sector gear (8) in (9).

Further, in front of the lock arm (10), an operation lever (12) is pivotally supported by a shaft pin (11) protruding from the reclining plate (5) so as to be vertically rotatable. In the normal state, the biasing force of the coil spring (13) stretched between the lock arm (10) and the sector gear (8) in a normal state.
The lock arm (10) is released from the lock arm (10) by pushing the lock lever (12) upwards against the biasing force of the coil spring (13) by pulling the operation lever (12) upward. It is configured to disengage from the sector gear (8).

A cover plate (14) is fixedly supported on the tip ends of the shaft (6), the shaft pins (9) and (11) so as to cover the sector gear (8) and the lock arm (10). The meshing portion between 8) and the lock arm (10) is protected.

In addition, a notch-shaped locking portion (6a) is formed at the tip of the shaft (6) protruding from the cover plate (14), and the spiral spring (15) of the spiral spring (15) is formed in the locking portion (6a). The inner end is locked, and the outer end of the spiral spring (15) is locked by a locking projection (16) fixed to the rotating arm (7). ), The rotating arm (7), that is, the seat back Sb, is always urged to rotate in the forward direction.

The reclining plate (5) thus unitized and attached to the reclining mechanism (4) is rotatably supported with respect to the base plate (2) at a position corresponding to the pivotal support of the rotating arm (7). Has been done.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the reclining plate (5) is provided with a stepped engagement pin (17) projecting to the back side of the shaft (6) and having a step portion (17a) of small diameter in the middle thereof. On the other hand, an engaging support hole (18) is provided at the upper rear end of the base plate (2).
The reclining plate (5) is rotatably supported by the base plate (2) by inserting and engaging the engaging pin (17) in the engaging support hole (18).

The engagement support hole (18) has a round hole (18a) formed to have a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the tip of the engagement pin (17), and the engagement pin continuously under the round hole (18a). A so-called dharma hole consisting of a recess (18b) formed to have substantially the same width as the diameter of the step (17a) of (17). After inserting the engaging pin (17) into the round hole (18a), the recess is formed. By engaging the stepped portion (17a) with the (18b), the engagement pin (17) is prevented from coming off in the axial direction, and the reclining plate (5) is reliably supported by the base plate (2).

In addition, in the lower part of the reclining plate (5), there are arc-shaped elongated holes (2
0) and (21) are drilled, and guide screw pins (24) and (25) are inserted into these arcuate elongated holes (20) and (21) via flanged collars (22) and (23), respectively. And is fixed to the base plate (2) by screwing, so that in the reclining plate (5), the stepped portion (17a) of the engagement pin (17) is moved upward from the recess (18b) of the engagement support hole (18). It is firmly supported so that it will not come off.

A position separated from the support portion of the reclining plate (5) rotatably supported by the base plate (2), that is, the engagement portion of the engagement pin (17) and the engagement support hole (18) to the front. In, the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is provided between the base plate (2) and the reclining plate (5).
Is provided.

 The fine adjustment mechanism (26) is configured as follows.

An engaging elongated hole (27) that is long in the front-rear direction is formed at the front end portion of the reclining plate (5), and on the other hand, a shaft pin projectingly provided on the base plate (2) corresponding to the engaging elongated hole (27). An eccentric cam (29) is rotatably supported by (28),
The peripheral surface is inscribed in the upper and lower edges of the engagement elongated hole (27).

In addition, the eccentric cam (2
Brake device (30) is installed outside of 9). This brake device (30) uses, for example, a known friction brake mechanism adopted in a window regulator of an automobile, etc. Although the description of the internal structure thereof is omitted, the operation shaft (31) is provided on the outside and the operation shaft (31) is provided on the inside. When the operating shaft (32) is projected and the operating shaft (31) is rotated, the operating shaft (32) is rotated integrally with the operating shaft (31), but even if rotational force is applied from the operating shaft (32) side, the rotation Has a function that is blocked.

The operating shaft (32) of the braking device (30) is connected to the eccentric cam (29) via the connecting piece (33), that is, the eccentric cam (29) operates the operating shaft (32) of the braking device (30). )
It is made to rotate together with.

Further, a ratchet wheel (34) is fixed to the operation shaft (31) of the brake device (30), and a fine adjustment lever (35) is vertically provided within a predetermined range at a tip portion of the operation shaft (31). The fine adjustment lever (35) is rotatably supported, and is provided with a pawl (36) that meshes with the ratchet wheel (34) only when the fine adjustment lever (35) is rotated upward.

When the fine adjustment lever (35) is pivoted up and down, the pawl (36) moves the pawl wheel (3) only when pivoting upward.
By engaging with 5), the ratchet wheel (35) rotates in one direction (arrow direction), and the rotational force of this ratchet wheel (35) is transmitted to the eccentric cam (29) via the brake device (30). The eccentric cam (29) is configured to be eccentrically rotated.

Next, an operation example of the reclining device of this example configured as described above will be described.

First, in a normal reclining operation, the operating lever (12) of the reclining mechanism (4) is operated to disengage the lock arm (10) from the sector gear (8), thereby locking the rotating arm (7), that is, the seat back Sb. To cancel. Then, with the seat back Sb set at a desired angle, release the hand from the operation lever (12) and lock the arm (10).
The seat back Sb is locked at that angle by meshing with the sector gear (8).

Seat back Sb by this reclining mechanism (4)
The adjustment of the inclination angle is performed stepwise according to the pitch of the teeth of the sector gear (8).

After performing the stepwise adjustment by the reclining mechanism (4), the fine adjustment lever (35) of the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is operated to eccentrically rotate the eccentric cam (29).
The eccentric cam (29) is in a state of pressing one of the upper and lower edges of the engagement elongated hole (27) of the reclining plate (5), whereby the reclining plate (5), that is, the pivotal support portion of the rotating arm (7), that is, The engagement support pin (17) is rotated about a minute angle. Therefore, the whole of the reclining mechanism (4) arranged on the reclining plate (5) is slightly rotated, so that the seat back Sb in the locked state is integrally rotated by the reclining mechanism (4). That is, the stepless fine adjustment is performed, that is, the pitch is equal to or smaller than the pitch of the sector gear (8) of the seat back Sb.

In this fine adjustment operation, since the support portion of the reclining plate (5) with respect to the base plate (2) and the pivotal support portion of the rotating arm (7) are aligned with each other, the seat back Sb is normally operated by the reclining mechanism (4). Since it is rotated about the same rotation center as that of the stepwise rough adjustment, the fine adjustment can be smoothly performed in a natural state without giving a discomfort to the seated person.

By thus combining the stepwise coarse adjustment by the reclining mechanism (4) and the stepless fine adjustment by the fine adjusting mechanism (26), the seated person can adjust the seat back Sb to a desired inclination angle over the entire reclining adjustment range. It can be set quickly and accurately.

And in the configuration of this reclining device,
Since the structure of the existing reclining mechanism is used as it is as the reclining mechanism (4), it is highly reliable, there is little risk of rattling, it can be provided at low cost, and a general fine adjustment mechanism is provided. It has a high degree of commonality with reclining equipment and is effective in terms of production efficiency.

Further, since the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is arranged at a position apart from the support portion of the reclining plate (5) for the base plate (2), a large slewing of the seat back Sb to the reclining plate (5) by a seated person. Even if a load is applied, the load acting on the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is small, so that the eccentric cam (29) moves to the brake device (30).
There is no danger of rotating unexpectedly against the braking force of
Further, even if there is some play between the eccentric cam (29) and the engagement elongated hole (27), this play is caused by the reclining plate (5).
The support portion for the base plate (2) is extremely small, so that the seat back Sb is securely held in the locked state with almost no rattling.

Moreover, in this example, since the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is arranged in front of the reclining mechanism (4), the fine adjustment lever (35) is arranged at a position where it is easily reachable in the sitting state. Optimal operability for the seated person can be obtained.

Further, in the assembly of the reclining device of this example,
The reclining mechanism (4) is configured to support the reclining plate (5) in a unitized and mounted state on the base plate (2), and the reclining plate (5) is supported on the base plate (2) by engagement. Insert the pin (17) through the engagement support hole (18),
After that, the guide screw pins (24) and (25) are inserted into the arcuate elongated holes (20) and (21) through the collars (22) and (23), and the base plate (2) is simply screwed and fixed. Easy to assemble because it requires only work.

In the above embodiments, the example in which the reclining plate (5) is supported by the base plate (2) fixed to the side portion of the seat cushion Sc has been described.
The figure shows the case where the reclining plate (5) is supported by the seat frame (37) arranged inside the seat cushion Sc.

That is, on the side portion of the seat frame (37), the above-mentioned first
The Darma hole-shaped engagement support hole (18) and the shaft pin (28) formed in the base plate (2) in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 5 are provided, and the reclining plate is provided in the engagement support hole (18). The engaging pin (17) of (5) is inserted and engaged, and the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is configured around the shaft pin (18).

Further, FIG. 7 shows an example in which a U-shaped groove (38) is formed as a support portion of the reclining plate (5) in the base plate (2) instead of the engagement support hole.

In this case, the U-shaped groove (38) is the stepped portion (17) of the engaging pin (17).
The reclining plate (5) is formed to have a width substantially the same as that of a), and the step portion (17a) is engaged with the U-shaped groove (38) by associating the engaging pin (17) from above.
Is reliably supported by the base plate (2) in a state where the engagement pin (17) is prevented from coming off in the axial direction.

Further, FIG. 8 shows still another example of the supporting portion of the reclining plate (5), which is an ordinary engaging pin 3 having no step on the back surface of the reclining plate (5).
9) protruding, and correspondingly the base plate (2)
An engaging support hole (40) having substantially the same diameter as that of the engaging pin (39) is formed in the engaging pin (39), and the reclining is performed by inserting the engaging pin (39) into the engaging support hole (40). The plate (5) is supported on the base plate (2).

In this case, after inserting the engagement pin (39) into the engagement support hole (40), the washer () is inserted into the groove (39a) formed at the tip of the engagement pin (39) on the back side of the base plate (2). Four
It is necessary to prevent the engagement pin (39) from coming off in the axial direction by fitting the E-ring (42) through the (1).

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the support structure of the reclining plate (5) with respect to the base plate (2). That is, a shaft (6) as a shaft supporting member of the rotating arm (7) is provided so as to project toward the base plate (2) side, and the reclining plate (5) is coaxial with the rotating arm (7) on the shaft (6). Is supported by.

The other parts are constructed in substantially the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 described above, but especially in the case of this embodiment, the reclining plate (5) is supported by the base plate (2) in an axially supported state. Therefore, the arc-shaped elongated holes (20) (21) formed in the reclining plate (5) in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and the guide screws (24) (25) which are inserted into and engaged with the elongated holes. It is not necessary to provide a retaining means for preventing slippage.

Further, in the above embodiments, the configuration using the eccentric cam as the fine adjustment mechanism (26) is shown, but the fine adjustment mechanism is not limited to this, and for example, a gear mechanism or the like may be used.

Further, in the configuration of each of the other parts, various changes and modifications can be made other than those shown in the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that the embodiments do not specify the present invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the reclining device of the present invention includes a reclining plate that includes a reclining mechanism including a rotating arm that is connected to a seat back, a sector gear that is provided on the rotating arm, and a lock member that meshes with the sector gear. By rotating the base member at a minute angle with the adjustment mechanism, stepless fine adjustment can be performed in addition to the normal stepwise adjustment by the reclining mechanism. Since the support portion for the base member and the pivotal support portion of the rotating arm are aligned with each other, fine adjustment is performed in a natural state without giving the seated person any discomfort. In the structure of this reclining device, since the same structure as the existing reclining mechanism is applied as the reclining mechanism, the reliability is high,
There is no risk of rattling, and there is a high commonality of parts with a reclining device that does not have a general fine adjustment mechanism, which is effective in terms of production efficiency. Further, since the fine adjustment mechanism is arranged at a position separated from the supporting portion of the reclining plate for the base member, even if a large turning load acts on the reclining plate from the seat back due to seating or the like, the load applied to the fine adjustment mechanism is not increased. It is small, so there is no risk that the fine adjustment mechanism will operate unexpectedly, and even if there is some play in the fine adjustment mechanism, this play is small at the support part of the reclining plate, so the seat back is almost free of play. In various reclining devices of the present invention, in particular, such that the locked state is reliably held without occurrence of the occurrence of fine adjustment, the fine adjustment is performed by reciprocally rotating the fine adjustment lever. Therefore, the fine adjustment operation is easy and easy. Therefore, it is possible to provide a reclining device which is easy to operate for a seated person.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat equipped with a reclining device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the reclining device of the present invention with a part of the reclining device omitted, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the reclining device of the present invention, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view seen from the back side for explaining the support portion of the reclining plate with respect to the base plate, FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining an example in which the reclining plate is supported by the seat frame, FIGS. 7 and 8 are FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the support portion of the reclining plate in the base plate, seen from the back side, and FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing another example of the support structure of the reclining plate with respect to the base plate. In the figure, (2) is a base plate, (4) is a reclining mechanism, (5) is a reclining plate, (7) is a rotating arm, (8) is a sector gear, and (10) is a lock arm.
(26) is a fine adjustment mechanism, (29) is an eccentric cam, Sc is a seat cushion, and Sb is a seat back.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A base member arranged on the seat cushion side is rotatably supported in the front-rear direction and connected to a seat back, a rotating arm, a sector gear provided on the rotating arm, and the sector gear. A reclining plate that is provided with a reclining mechanism that meshes with a locking member that locks the rotating arm so that the rotating arm is not rotatable. A fine adjustment mechanism for rotating the reclining plate by a small angle with respect to the base member is provided between the base member and the reclining plate at a position separated from the shaft supporting portion of the plate with respect to the base member. The fine adjustment lever is rotatably supported and the fine adjustment lever is rotatably supported on the operation shaft of the adjustment mechanism. The lever is provided with a pawl that meshes with the ratchet wheel only when the lever is rotated in one direction, and the fine adjustment mechanism is operated by reciprocally rotating the fine adjustment lever to perform fine adjustment. A reclining device characterized by the above.