JP3563305B2 - Lock structure of hinged seat for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hinged seat for a vehicle including a unitized lock mechanism including a latch that locks on a vehicle-side striker, and in particular, for a vehicle in which the turning direction of the latch matches the forward and backward directions of the vehicle. The present invention relates to a hinged seat lock structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a so-called hinged seat capable of flipping up and retracting from a normal sitting posture with a hinge as a center of rotation has been provided as a vehicle seat for an automobile or the like. Then, for example, a so-called underfloor storage seat that enables a seatback that can be moved forward in a seatback to be stored in a storage recess on the floor under the rotation of a hinge, so that the luggage compartment is shared as a part of the passenger compartment. It is used as a rear seat of an RV-based vehicle (multipurpose vehicle), mainly as a third-row seat (third seat).
[0003]
In this type of underfloor storage sheet (seat with hinge), the seat back is rotatably connected to a seat cushion via a hinge pin on the seat back side serving as a first hinge, and particularly is pivotably connected to the seat cushion. Are rotatably connected to and supported on the floor of a vehicle, that is, an automobile, via a crank-shaped hinge rod at the rear end serving as a second hinge.
[0004]
A lock mechanism unitized with a latch is provided on the front side of the seat cushion and is fixed to the side wall surface of the automobile or the like. The underfloor storage seat can be held in a normal sitting posture in which the user can sit.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as a lock mechanism provided on such underfloor storage sheet or the like, for example, there is known a configuration in which rotation of a latch can be restricted under engagement with a lock plate. , The lock plate is biased in a predetermined direction under the biasing force of the lock spring.
[0006]
Here, in the underfloor storage sheet, usually, a lock mechanism is provided in such a manner that the turning directions of the latch and the lock plate coincide with the forward and backward directions of the vehicle. Accordingly, a high withstand resistance that allows the latch or lock plate to be held without being rotated in the lock-off direction even under the input of an excessive impact due to a forward collision (front collision) or a rear collision (rear collision). Impact performance is required for this lock mechanism, that is, the lock mechanism provided on the underfloor storage sheet.
[0007]
However, since this lock mechanism is commonly used in various types of hinged seats, design changes or the like for obtaining high impact resistance are not preferable from the viewpoint of common use and availability of existing products. .
[0008]
Generally, strengthening of the biasing force of the lock spring is considered as a countermeasure. However, this strengthening of the biasing force of the lock spring may cause an increase in the size of the lock mechanism, and an adverse effect on operability when used for other types of seats cannot be denied.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a lock structure of a hinged seat for a vehicle, which can ensure high impact resistance without being shared with other types of seats or deteriorating the use of existing products.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, in the present invention, the lock mechanism has a structure capable of securing high impact resistance by enhancing the biasing force of the lock spring, that is, the holding force of the latch at the lock-on position. We pay attention to.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the present invention, an external spring means is provided outside the case body of the unitized lock mechanism. The biasing force of the external spring means can be applied as a holding force at the lock-on position to the lock plate via the lever.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, in a lock structure 10 for a hinged seat for a vehicle according to the present invention, a lock mechanism 12 is unitized in advance with a latch 16 which can be engaged (locked on) with a vehicle side striker 14. ing.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, a so-called bench seat type mounted and used as a rear seat of an RV-type vehicle (multipurpose vehicle), mainly as a third-row seat (third seat). The underfloor storage sheet is exemplified as the vehicle hinged seat 18 and will be described below.
[0015]
In this type of underfloor storage seat (seat with hinge) 18, the seatback 20 is connected to the seat cushion 24 via a hinge pin 22 on the seatback side serving as a first hinge so as to be pivotable, in particular, forwardly tiltable. The seat cushion is rotatably connected to and supported on a floor surface 28 of a vehicle, that is, an automobile, via a crank-shaped hinge rod 26 at a rear end serving as a second hinge.
[0016]
The seat cushion 24 is rotatably connected to and supported by, for example, a crankshaft 26 a of a hinge rod 26, and a main shaft 26 b of the hinge rod is rotatable by a bracket 30 fixed to a floor 28. It is pivotally supported.
[0017]
Then, the seat back 20 is overlapped with the seat cushion 24 and folded (see the dashed line in FIG. 2) under the forward tilting movement about the hinge pin (first hinge) 22. 2 hinge) 26 can be retracted around the crankshaft 26a, and can be stored in the storage recess 32 of the floor surface 28 under the entire descent centering on the main shaft 26b. Reference numeral 18 denotes a configuration (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2).
[0018]
Note that this type of underfloor storage sheet is publicly known, and the configuration itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, here, the configuration in which the seat cushion 24 is rotatable with respect to the hinge rod 26 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the seat cushion is integrally fixed to the hinge rod, and the hinge rod is The configuration may be such that the seat cushion is rotated about the main shaft portion 26b as a rotation center.
[0019]
In the underfloor storage seat 18 of this type, the seat posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 is a normal sitting posture in which the user can sit, and the underfloor storage from the storage position to the sitting posture is performed in a procedure reverse to the storage procedure described above. It is possible to change the form of the sheet. For example, by locking on the lock mechanism 12 provided on the seat cushion 24 to the vehicle-side striker 14, the underfloor storage seat 18 can be held in a sitting posture.
[0020]
The vehicle-side striker 14 is, for example, bent in a substantially U-shape, and is fixed to and protrudes from a side wall surface of the automobile. The lock mechanism 12 is incorporated in the seat cushion 24 at the corresponding front side so that the latch 16 can be locked on the striker 14.
[0021]
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the lock mechanism 12 is usually unitized in the case body 34 in advance.
[0022]
In this lock mechanism 12, the latch 16 and a lock plate 36 that can hold the latch at its lock-on position by engagement between the latches 16 are rotatably juxtaposed by individual pivot pins 38 and 40, respectively. ing. The lock mechanism 12 is configured so that the latch can be held at the lock-on position with respect to the striker 14 by applying the biasing force of the lock spring 42 to the latch 16 and the lock plate 36 as a holding force at the lock-on position. ing.
[0023]
In the lock mechanism 12, a lever 44 having one end connected to the lock plate 36 is provided so as to partially extend outside the case body 34, and the lever is retracted against the biasing force of the lock spring 42. Under this condition, the lock mechanism can be locked off, that is, the latch 16 can be locked off with respect to the striker 14.
[0024]
It should be noted that the basic configuration of this lock mechanism is known, and the basic configuration itself is not the purpose of the present invention, and thus will not be described in detail here.
[0025]
Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock mechanism 12 usually changes the rotation direction of the latch 16 and the lock plate 36 in the forward and backward directions of the vehicle due to the relationship of the projecting direction of the striker 14. It is arranged to match. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, an external spring means 46 is disposed outside the case body 34 of the lock mechanism, and the biasing force of this external spring means is reduced by the holding force at the lock-on position. And can be applied to the lock plate 36 via the lever 44.
[0026]
Since the lock mechanism 12 is normally formed so as to be lockable off under a pulling operation of a wire means 48 having one end connected to the lever 44, for example, a compression coil spring wound around the wire means is used. Can be used as the external spring means 46.
[0027]
The external spring means (compression coil spring) 46 includes, for example, a locking piece 50 provided at one end of the wire means 48 and a movable locking piece 52 slidably disposed at an intermediate position of the wire means. Wound around the wire means between them. Then, the biasing force can be applied from the lever 44 to the lock plate 36 under the locking of the movable locking piece to the seat-side support piece 54 fixed to the side portion (not shown) of the seat cushion frame or the like. , External spring means 46 are provided.
[0028]
According to this configuration, the force obtained by adding the biasing force of the external spring means 46 to the biasing force of the lock spring 42 is a holding force for holding the lock plate 36 in the engagement position with the latch 16, that is, the latch is moved to the lock-on position. Acts on the lock plate as a holding force for holding the lock plate.
[0029]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when an impact F at the time of a rear collision is input to the underfloor storage seat 18 in the sitting posture, the lock plate 36 moves around the pivot pin 40 under the inertia force. Attempts to rotate clockwise. However, in the present invention, the force obtained by adding the biasing force of the external spring means 46 to the biasing force of the lock spring 42 acts and functions on the lock plate 36 as a holding force for holding the latch 16 at the lock-on position. Therefore, the lock plate can be held at the engagement position with the latch against the impact F at the time of the rear collision, whereby the latch can be reliably held at the lock-on position with respect to the striker 14.
[0030]
Thus, according to the locking structure of the hinged seat for a vehicle of the present invention, the holding force of the latch 16 at the lock-on position with respect to the striker 14 is enhanced under the biasing force of the external spring means 46. Thereby, the impact resistance performance in the event of an impact such as a rear collision is reliably enhanced. In other words, the impact resistance of the lock mechanism in the underfloor storage sheet 18 can be improved without any modification to the unitized lock mechanism 12, so that the lock mechanism can be shared and existing products can be easily used. .
[0031]
Then, since it is sufficient to wind the compression coil spring serving as the external spring means 46 around the wire means 48, the configuration is not complicated.
[0032]
Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the external spring means 46 is embodied as a compression coil spring. However, the external spring means 46 is provided outside the case body 34 of the lock mechanism 12 so that a desired biasing force can be applied to the lock plate 36. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as it can be arranged, and for example, a tension coil spring or the like may be used. However, when the compression coil spring is used as the external spring means 46, a desired biasing force can be appropriately applied to the lock plate 36 without complicating the configuration and the like. Compression coil springs are considered to be preferred.
[0033]
Also, if the external spring means 46 is a compression coil spring and this compression coil spring is wound around the wire means 48 between the locking piece 50 at one end and the movable locking piece 52 at the intermediate position, the external The spring means can be pre-assembled to the wire means, and the arrangement of the wire means can be performed by connecting one end to the lever 44 and locking the movable locking piece to the support piece 54. In addition, the work of disposing the wire means and the work of assembling the lock mechanism 12 can be easily simplified.
[0034]
By the way, in the embodiment of the present invention, the lock mechanism 12 having the combination of the latch 16 and the lock plate 36 has been described as an example. However, the configuration of the lock mechanism is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a lock mechanism having a configuration in which only a latch is provided.
[0035]
In this case, since the biasing force in the lock-on direction with respect to the vehicle-side striker is normally applied to the latch, if the biasing force of the external spring means can be applied to the latch via a lever or the like, the above-described description is provided. The same effect as the effect obtained by the embodiment can be sufficiently ensured even in the lock mechanism having this configuration.
[0036]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the impact resistance against the impact at the time of the rear collision is embodied. However, the rotation of the lock plate 36 and the latch 16 in the lock-off direction is caused by the bias of the external spring means 46. It is needless to say that since it is configured to be able to regulate under force, it also has impact resistance at the time of a frontal collision.
[0037]
Here, an example is shown in which the latch 16 is arranged on the vehicle forward direction side (left side in FIG. 1) and the lock plate 36 is arranged on the vehicle backward direction side (right side in FIG. 1). Conversely, the latch may be disposed on the vehicle retreat direction side and the lock plate may be disposed on the vehicle forward direction side.
[0038]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the underfloor storage sheet 18 is embodied as a vehicle hinged seat. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The hinged seat can be flipped up, folded, or stored by a hinge. The present invention can be applied to any sheet.
[0039]
The lock structure of a hinged seat for a vehicle according to the present invention is suitable for a seat of an automobile or the like, but is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can be applied to a seat of a train, an airplane, a ship, or the like. Needless to say, there is.
[0040]
The embodiments described above are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way, and all modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. Needless to say.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the lock structure for a hinged seat for a vehicle according to the present invention, the holding force of the latch at the lock-on position with respect to the vehicle-side striker is enhanced under the biasing force of the external spring means. This ensures that the impact resistance performance in the event of an impact such as a collision is enhanced. In other words, the impact resistance of the lock mechanism in the hinged seat can be enhanced without any modification to the unitized lock mechanism, so that the lock mechanism can be shared and existing products can be easily used.
[0042]
If the compression coil spring is used as the external spring means, the coil spring can be wound around the wire means, so that the desired biasing force on the lock plate or the latch can be obtained without complicating the configuration. Granting can be performed appropriately.
[0043]
Further, if the compression coil spring is used as an external spring means and this compression coil spring is wound around the wire means between the locking piece at one end and the movable locking piece at the intermediate position, the external spring means can be connected to a wire. It is possible to assemble the wire means in advance, and this wire means can also be provided by connecting one end to a lever or the like and locking the movable locking piece to the support piece. The installation work and the assembly work of the lock mechanism can be easily simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a lock structure of a hinged seat for a vehicle according to the present invention in a lock-on state.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a hinged seat for a vehicle (seat under the floor).
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Lock structure of vehicle hinged seat 12 Lock mechanism 14 Vehicle side striker 16 Latch 18 Hinged seat (seat under floor)
36 Lock plate 42 Lock spring 46 External spring means (compression coil spring)
48 wire means

Claims (4)

A latch that locks on to the vehicle side striker; a lock plate that enables the latch to be held in its lock-on position by mutual engagement; and a biasing force that can be applied to the latch and the lock plate as a holding force in the lock-on position. A hinged seat for a vehicle having a unit-type lock mechanism in which a lock spring provided; and a lever operably connected to a lock plate; are assembled to a case body.
A hinged seat for a vehicle in which external spring means is disposed outside the case body of the lock mechanism, and the biasing force of the external spring means can be applied to the lock plate via a lever as a holding force at the lock-on position. Lock structure. A lock mechanism is lockable under a pulling operation of a wire means connected at one end to the lever,
A compression coil spring wound around the wire means is interposed as an external spring means between a locking piece provided at one end of the wire means and a support piece fixed to the seat side. Item 4. A lock structure for a hinged seat for a vehicle according to Item 1. A movable locking piece that can be locked to the seat-side support piece is slidably disposed at an intermediate position of the wire means, and a movable locking piece is provided between the movable locking piece and the locking piece at one end of the wire means. A compression coil spring as an attachment spring means is wound, and an external spring means is provided so that a biasing force can be applied from the lever to the lock plate under the engagement of the movable engagement piece with the support piece on the seat side. The lock structure for a hinged seat for a vehicle according to claim 2, which is provided. A vehicle equipped with a unit-type lock mechanism in which a latch that locks on to a vehicle-side striker; and a lock spring that is provided so that a biasing force can be applied to the latch as a holding force at the lock-on position; A hinged seat,
A locking structure for a hinged seat for a vehicle, wherein an external spring means is disposed outside a case body of a lock mechanism, and a biasing force of the external spring means can be applied to a latch as a holding force at a lock-on position.

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