JP3762188B2 - Reclining device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
More particularly, the present invention relates to a reclining mechanism that can adjust an inclination angle of an upper arm with respect to a lower arm, a spiral spring that urges the upper arm in a forward direction, and tilting of the upper arm. The present invention relates to a reclining device provided with a stopper mechanism that regulates within a certain range.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of reclining device, for example, the stopper mechanism shown in FIG. 12 is used as a stopper mechanism for restricting the tilt of the upper arm within a certain range. In this figure, the lower arm 1 is provided on the seat cushion side, and the upper arm 2 is pivotally supported by a hinge pin 3 projecting from the lower arm 1 so as to be tiltable. The upper arm 2 is provided on the seat back side, and can be adjusted to a desired inclination angle by a reclining mechanism (not shown).
[0003]
The upper arm 2 is provided with two step portions 2a and 2b by forming a lower peripheral flange low. On the other hand, a hook plate 5 is fixed to the lower arm 1, and a stopper 5 a that abuts against the step portions 2 a and 2 b of the upper arm 2 to restrict the tilt of the upper arm 2 within a certain range. A spring hook 5b is formed.
[0004]
The spiral spring 6 is a return spring that urges the upper arm 2 in a forward and backward direction. The inner end portion 6 a is hooked to the slit portion at the tip of the hinge pin 3, and the outer end portion 6 b is attached to the spring hook 5 b of the hook plate 5. It is hanging.
[0005]
In this configuration, the upper arm 2 can be tilted forward until the step 2 a contacts the stopper 5 a of the hook plate 5, and conversely, the step 2 b can tilt backward until the step 2 b contacts the stopper 5 a of the hook plate 5.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The reclining device cannot meet the weight reduction and cost reduction of the reclining device as described below.
[0007]
{Circle around (1)} In order to reduce the weight, it is effective to make the upper arm 2 thinner. However, in the above configuration, if the upper arm 2 is made thinner, the strength of the stepped portions 2a, 2b and the like is lowered, so that the thickness cannot be reduced. For this reason, not only can the weight be reduced, but a large amount of material is used, and the material cost is high.
[0008]
(2) The tilting range of the upper arm 2 by the stopper mechanism varies depending on the seat to be mounted. For this reason, in the said structure, many types of upper arms 2 which are large press products must be manufactured, and a manufacturing cost becomes high.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to realize a reclining mechanism that can be reduced in cost and weight.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1, which solves the above problem, is a reclining mechanism capable of adjusting an inclination angle of the upper arm with respect to the lower arm, a spiral spring for urging the upper arm forwardly, and restricting the tilt of the upper arm within a certain range. In the reclining device comprising a stopper mechanism, the upper arm is fixed to the first arm when either the upper arm or the lower arm is a first arm and the other arm is a second arm. A first hook plate having an engaging projection and a first spring hook at a position away from the tilting central axis of the first and second stoppers, which are fixed to the second arm and abut against the engaging projection to restrict the tilting of the upper arm And a second hook plate having a second spring hook, the spy Kakeyoshi an inner end portion of the Le spring to the first spring hook, is characterized in that the outer end of the spiral spring has hooked on the second spring hook.
[0011]
In this invention, the first arm side part of the stopper mechanism is a separate part from the first arm and is constituted by the first hook plate having the engagement protrusion and the first spring hook. However, the strength of the stopper mechanism does not drop. Even if the first arm is the same, the tilting range of the upper arm can be changed only by changing the shape or the fixing position of the first hook plate, and there is no need to manufacture many kinds of first arms. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the weight.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first hook plate according to the first aspect of the present invention is arranged so as to surround the tilting central axis of the upper arm, and the inner cylinder on which the inner end of the spiral spring is hooked. A central plate portion connected to an end portion of the inner cylinder piece portion opposite to the first arm so as to intersect a tilt central axis of the upper arm, and a tilt central axis of the upper arm. First and second outer cylindrical piece portions that are substantially symmetrical positions, each functioning as the engaging protrusion, an end of the inner cylindrical piece portion on the first arm side, and the first and second outer cylindrical piece portions The inner cylinder piece portion and the first and second outer cylinder piece portions are connected to the end portion of the first arm side and the outer ring connecting portion fixed to the first arm. Pass the spiral spring through the space between It is characterized in.
[0013]
In this invention, since the outer ring connecting portion located outside the inner cylinder piece portion in the first hook plate is fixed to the first arm, the peripheral portion of the tilting central axis of the upper arm in the first arm is the first hook plate. There is an advantage that it is reinforced by.
[0014]
Further, in this configuration, if the inner peripheral portion of the spiral spring is configured to contact the inner cylinder piece portion, the spiral spring is not only supported by the inner end portion and the outer end portion, but also by the inner cylinder piece portion. Since the inner periphery is supported, the spiral spring can be mounted in the correct posture.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, two reclining mechanisms are arranged on both sides of the seat so that the respective spiral springs are located on the center side of the seat, and the lock / Both reclining mechanisms are connected by a connecting pipe that synchronizes the unlocking operation, and a part of the central plate portion is cut out in order to place the connecting pipe on the tilting central axis of the upper arm. It is what.
[0016]
In the present invention, in the so-called both-side reclining device, the connecting pipe can be disposed between the reclining mechanisms on both sides without interfering with the spiral spring and the first hook plate even when the spiral spring is located on the center side of the seat. .
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(overall structure)
The overall configuration of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment relates to a both-side reclining device in which reclining mechanisms are arranged on both sides of a seat, and FIGS.
[0018]
In these drawings, the lower arm 11 is provided on the seat cushion side, and the upper arm 12 is tiltably provided on a hinge pin 13 protruding from the lower arm 11 via a reclining mechanism 50 described later. The upper arm 12 is provided on the seat back side and can be adjusted to a desired inclination angle by the reclining mechanism 50.
[0019]
A first hook plate 15 is fixed to the upper arm 12. In the first hook plate 15, the first and second inner cylinder piece portions 15 a and 15 b are disposed so as to surround the tilting central axis of the upper arm 12 and are substantially symmetrical with respect to the tilting central axis of the upper arm 12. The central plate portion 15c is connected to end portions of the inner cylinder piece portions 15a and 15b opposite to the upper arm 12 so as to intersect with the tilting center of the upper arm 12. The first and second outer cylinder piece portions 15 d and 15 e are substantially symmetrical with respect to the tilting central axis of the upper arm 12. The first outer ring connecting portion 15f connects the end portions of the first inner cylinder piece portion 15a and the first outer cylinder piece portion 15d on the upper arm 12 side, and is fixed to the upper arm 12. The second outer ring connecting portion 15g connects the ends of the second inner cylinder piece portion 15b and the second outer cylinder piece portion 15e on the upper arm 12 side, and is fixed to the upper arm 12.
[0020]
Due to this shape, the first hook plate 15 has first and second outer cylindrical piece portions 15d and 15e as engaging protrusions at positions away from the tilt center of the upper arm 12, and the upper arm 12 is moved forward. The first inner cylinder piece portion 15a is provided as a first spring hook to which the inner end portion 16a of the spiral spring 16 to be biased is hooked. The spiral spring 16 is disposed so as to pass through a space sandwiched between the first and second inner cylinder piece portions 15a and 15b and the first and second outer cylinder piece portions 15d and 15e.
[0021]
A second hook plate 17 is fixed to the lower arm 11. The second hook plate 17 includes a stopper 17a that abuts against the first and second outer cylinder pieces 15d and 15e functioning as engagement protrusions to restrict the tilt of the upper arm 12, and an outer end 16b of the spiral spring 16. The second spring hook 17b is formed.
[0022]
Since the present embodiment has a reclining mechanism on both sides of the seat, a connecting pipe 18 is provided in order to synchronize the lock / unlock operation in the reclining mechanisms on both sides. A portion of the central plate portion 15c of the first hook plate 15 is cut out to allow the connecting pipe 18 to pass through. In this embodiment, a through hole 15h is drilled, and a connecting pipe 18 is inserted therein.
[0023]
(Recliner mechanism)
An example of a reclining mechanism used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the base 101 is fixed to the lower arm 11 (see FIG. 6). A hinge pin 13 is fixed to the base 101, and an operation handle 102 is rotatably attached to the hinge pin 13. ing.
[0024]
The ratchet 107 is fixed to the upper arm 12 (see FIG. 6). In the ratchet 107, a hole 109 is formed at the center, and the internal teeth 111 (see FIG. 5) are formed over the entire circumference around the hole 109. Reference) is formed.
[0025]
Between the base 101 and the ratchet 107, there are two poles 115 on which external teeth 113 that can mesh with the internal teeth 111 of the ratchet 107 are formed. On the other hand, the hinge pin 13 is rotatably provided with a cam 117 that pushes the back portion of the pole 115 and meshes the outer teeth 113 of the pole 115 with the inner teeth 111 of the ratchet 107.
[0026]
The base 101 is formed with guide portions 141 that are positioned on both sides of each pole 115 and guide the pole 115 in a direction to approach / detach from the internal teeth 111 of the ratchet 107 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). .
[0027]
Two pins 121 are fixed to the cam 117, and one end of the pin 121 is formed in the base 101 and has an arc-shaped elongated hole 123 centering on the hinge pin 13 (see FIGS. 4 and 7). And is attached to the operation handle 102. The other end of the pin 121 is provided between the cam 117 and the ratchet 107, and is attached to a guide plate 131 that is rotatably attached to the hinge pin 13 (see FIG. 7). Accordingly, the rotation of the operation handle 102 is transmitted to the cam 117, and the cam 117 and the guide plate 131 rotate together.
[0028]
Further, a projection 116 that engages with a guide groove 133 formed in the guide plate 131 is formed on the surface of the pole 115 that faces the guide plate 131 (see FIG. 6). When the guide plate 131 rotates in the unlocking direction, the guide groove 133 disengages the pole 115 from the inner teeth 111 of the ratchet 107 and rotates in the locking direction so that the pole 115 meshes with the inner teeth 111 of the ratchet 107. The shape to be made is set (see FIG. 5).
[0029]
The spring 119 pushes the pole 115 through the cam 117 in the direction in which the outer teeth 113 mesh with the inner teeth 111 of the ratchet 107, and the inner end portion of the spring 119 has a half cross-sectional shape formed on the base 101. The outer end is locked to a notch groove 118 formed in the cam 117 (see FIG. 5).
[0030]
In this embodiment, the hinge pin 13 is rotated by engaging the oval portion 151 (see FIG. 6) formed in the hinge pin 13 with the oval hole 100 (see FIG. 4) formed in the base 101. The hinge pin 13 is prohibited by abutting the large-diameter portion 153 connected to the oval portion 151 of the hinge pin 13 against the back surface of the base 101 and caulking the G portion (see FIG. 6) of the oval portion 151 of the hinge pin 13. The base 101 is fixed.
[0031]
Two arc-shaped elongated holes 120 (see FIG. 10) centered on the hinge pin 13 are formed in the cam 117, and an arc-shaped elongated hole 135 (FIG. 7) is formed.
[0032]
The large-diameter portion 153 of the hinge pin 13 extends from the same circumference in the direction of the ratchet 107, passes through the long hole 120 formed in the cam 117, engages with the hole 109 of the ratchet 107, and rotates the ratchet 107. Two protrusions 155 (see FIG. 10) having a circular cross-sectional shape as a plurality of rod portions that are supported are formed.
[0033]
The cam 117 is formed with a hollow oval projection 161 (see FIG. 10) extending in the direction of the ratchet 107, and a transmission member that transmits the movement of the cam 117 to the other reclining mechanism. The connecting pipe 18 (see FIG. 6) is fixed.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, two protrusions 173 (see FIGS. 9 and 11) are formed on the base 101 so as to face the outer edge of the ratchet 107 through a space and can contact the outer edge of the ratchet 107. . Then, the base 101 and the ratchet 107 are inserted from the ratchet 107 and are coupled to each other by a mounting bracket 200 that bends a plurality of pieces 201 on the base 101 side as shown in FIG.
[0035]
(Operation of the embodiment)
Normally, the cam 117 pushes the back portion of the pole 115 by the biasing force of the spring 119, and the outer teeth 113 of the pole 115 mesh with the inner teeth 111 of the ratchet 107. In this locked state, the rotation of the ratchet 107 is prohibited and the upper arm 12 (seat back) is fixed.
[0036]
When the operation handle 102 is lifted upward, the cam 117 and the guide plate 131 rotate about the hinge pin 13 against the urging force of the spring 119. Then, the cam 117 is released from the back of the pole 115, and the pole 115 is guided to the guide portion 141 and the guide groove 133 of the guide plate 131, and the external teeth 113 of the pole 115 and the internal teeth 111 of the ratchet 107 are Is released. In this unlocked state, the ratchet 107 can tilt and the upper arm 12 can also tilt.
[0037]
The movement of the cam 117 is transmitted to the cam of the other reclining mechanism via the connecting pipe 18, and the reclining mechanisms on both sides are locked or unlocked synchronously.
[0038]
When the seat back is tilted to a desired position and the operating force on the operating handle 102 is released, the cam 117 pushes the back surface of the pole 115 by the biasing force of the spring 119, and the external teeth 113 of the pole 115 are the internal teeth of the ratchet 107. , The ratchet 107 is inhibited from rotating, and the upper arm 12 returns to the locked state.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the unlocked upper arm 12 can be tilted forward until the first outer cylinder piece 15d that functions as the engagement protrusion of the first hook plate 15 contacts the stopper 17a of the second hook plate 17. Further, the second outer cylinder piece portion 15e functioning as an engaging protrusion can be tilted backward until it comes into contact with the stopper 17a.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the upper arm 12 side component of the stopper mechanism is a separate component from the upper arm 12 and has first and second outer cylinder piece portions 15d and 15e as engagement protrusions, and the first spring Since the hook is constituted by the first hook plate 15 having the first inner cylinder piece portion 15a, the strength of the stopper mechanism does not decrease even if the upper arm 12 is made thin. Even if the upper arm 12 is the same, it is possible to change the tilting range of the upper arm 12 simply by changing the shape or fixing position of the first hook plate 15, and there is no need to produce many types of upper arms 12 that are large press products. This can be dealt with by changing the first hook plate 15, which is a small accessory. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and reduce the weight.
[0041]
Further, the first and second outer ring connecting portions 15f and 15g located outside the first and second inner cylinder piece portions 15a and 15b connected by the central plate portion 15c of the first hook plate 15 are fixed to the upper arm 12. Therefore, the peripheral part of the tilt center of the upper arm can be reinforced by the first hook plate 15. For this reason, even if the strength of the peripheral portion around the tilt center of the upper arm decreases due to the thinning, the strength can be recovered.
[0042]
Further, even when the spiral spring 16 is disposed on the seat side, the connecting pipe 18 can be disposed between the reclining mechanisms on both sides without interfering with the spiral spring 16 and the first hook plate 15.
[0043]
In this embodiment, if the inner peripheral portion of the spiral spring 16 is configured to contact the inner cylinder piece 15a and the inner cylinder piece 15b, the spiral spring 16 has the inner end portion 16a and the outer end portion 16b. Is supported, and the inner peripheral portion is supported by the inner cylinder piece portion 15a or 15b, so that the spiral spring 16 can be mounted in a correct posture.
[0044]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the shape of the first hook plate 15 and the structure of the reclining mechanism 50 need not be limited to those having the above-described configuration. Specifically, in this embodiment, the inner cylinder piece portion is formed of two inner cylinder piece portions (15a, 15b), but these may be connected to form one inner cylinder piece portion. Similarly, the outer ring connecting portion is formed by two outer ring connecting portions (15f, 15g), but these may be connected to form one outer ring connecting portion.
[0045]
The reclining device may be configured by reversing the functions of the lower arm 11 and the upper arm 12, using the lower arm 11 as an upper arm, and using the upper arm 12 as a lower arm. In other words, the first hook plate 15 may be fixed to the lower arm 11 and the second hook plate 17 may be fixed to the upper arm 12.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the first hook plate having the engagement protrusion and the first spring hook is provided, even if the upper arm or the lower arm that fixes the first hook plate is thinned, The strength of the stopper mechanism does not drop. Further, even if the upper arm or the lower arm for fixing the first hook plate is the same, the tilting range of the upper arm can be changed only by changing the shape or fixing position of the first hook plate. There is no need to make many types of lower arms. Therefore, the cost can be reduced and the weight can be reduced.
[0047]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the outer ring connecting portion located outside the inner cylindrical piece portion of the first hook plate is fixed to the upper arm or the lower arm, the periphery of the tilting central axis of the upper arm in the upper arm or the lower arm The portion can be reinforced by the first hook plate.
[0048]
According to the third aspect of the invention, in the so-called both-side reclining device, the connecting pipes on both sides can be connected without interfering with the spiral spring or the first hook plate even when the spiral spring is located on the center side of the seat. Can be placed between reclining mechanisms.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an arrangement of main parts when an embodiment of the present invention is viewed from the inside of a sheet.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention taken along section line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of main components of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a view for explaining the appearance of a reclining mechanism used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram in which a base is removed from FIG. 4;
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line CC in FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line DD in FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line EE in FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting line FF in FIG.
10 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the reclining mechanism shown in FIG.
11 is a perspective view of the main part of the reclining mechanism shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the ratchet side.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional reclining device.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Lower arm 12 Upper arm 13 Hinge pin 15 1st hook plate 15a, 15b 1st, 2nd inner cylinder piece part 15c Center plate part 15d, 15e 1st, 2nd outer cylinder piece part 15f, 15g 1st, 2nd outer ring connection Part 16 Spiral spring 17 Second hook plate 17a Stopper 17b Second spring hook 18 Connecting pipe 50 Reclining mechanism 101 Base 102 Operation handle 107 Ratchet

Claims (3)

In a reclining device comprising a reclining mechanism that can adjust the inclination angle of the upper arm with respect to the lower arm, a spiral spring that urges the upper arm in a forward-falling direction, and a stopper mechanism that restricts the inclination of the upper arm within a certain range,
When either one of the upper arm or the lower arm is a first arm and the other arm is a second arm, the upper arm is fixed to the first arm, and the engagement is at a position away from the tilting central axis of the upper arm. A first hook plate having a mating protrusion and a first spring hook;
A second hook plate having a second spring hook and a stopper fixed to the second arm and contacting the engaging protrusion to restrict the tilting of the upper arm;
A reclining device characterized in that an inner end portion of the spiral spring is hooked on the first spring hook, and an outer end portion of the spiral spring is hooked on the second spring hook. As the first hook plate,
An inner cylinder piece portion disposed so as to surround the tilting central axis of the upper arm, and an inner end portion of the spiral spring being hooked;
A central plate portion connected to the end of the inner cylinder piece portion opposite to the first arm so as to intersect the tilting central axis of the upper arm;
First and second outer cylinder pieces that are substantially symmetrical with respect to the tilting central axis of the upper arm and each function as the engagement protrusion;
An outer ring connection that connects the first arm side end of the inner cylinder piece and the first arm side ends of the first and second outer cylinder pieces and is fixed to the first arm. Using a component consisting of
The reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the spiral spring is passed through a space sandwiched between the inner cylinder piece part and the first and second outer cylinder piece parts. Two reclining mechanisms are arranged on both sides of the seat so that the spiral springs are located at the center of the seat, and the two reclining mechanisms are connected by connecting pipes that synchronize the locking / unlocking operation of both reclining mechanisms. The reclining device according to claim 2, wherein a part of the central plate portion is cut out in order to dispose the connecting pipe on the tilting central axis of the upper arm.

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