JP4496382B2 - Cable-type actuator for vehicle seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cable seat actuating device for a vehicle seat that can prevent a connection error between a cable from an operation lever side and a cable from a seat side in a seat jumping mechanism or the like.

In recent years, with the diversification of the purpose of use of automobiles, the one that can change the shape of the cargo space by flipping up or folding the seat into various shapes is becoming widespread.
In this case, the seat deforming operation is such that, for example, the operating arm of the seat is operated via a cable by operating an operating lever installed near the driver's seat or part of the door trim. Since the assembly workability is poor, the cable from the operation lever side and the cable from the seat side are divided, and after mounting each member on the vehicle, the two cables are connected by a joint case ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

FIG. 6 shows an example of a conventional cable operating device for a vehicle seat as described above, and shows a case where it is incorporated in a seat flip-up mechanism.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 21 denotes an operation unit side cable, 22 denotes an operation side cable of a flip-up mechanism, 21 a denotes a spherical locking portion provided at an end edge of the operation unit side cable 21, and 23 denotes an end of the operation side cable 22. It is a joint case provided at the edge. In such an apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), after inserting the locking portion 21a into the joint case 23, the joint case 23 is further overcased as shown in FIG. 6 (c). 24 to prevent the locking portion 21a from coming off or preventing damage from the outside.

However, in the conventional device, even if the connection between the two cables is forgotten, the assembly of the vehicle is completed, and it is noticed that the connection between the cables is not made until the operation of the seat is checked by operating the operation lever. This happens. If a connection error occurs, it is necessary to remove all the body, trim, seat, etc., and reconnect the cables, which requires a lot of man-hours and time for repairs. There was a problem that the problem was pointed out.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-124048

  The present invention solves the problems as described above, and prevents a connection mistake between the cable from the operation lever side and the cable from the seat side in the seat flip-up mechanism or the like. It was completed for the purpose of providing an actuating device.

The cable seat actuating device for a vehicle seat according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems , transmits an operation force for unlocking the lock mechanism for fixing the vehicle seat to the vehicle body to the lock mechanism via the cable. A cable-type actuating device for a vehicle seat, wherein the cable includes a lock mechanism side cable extending from a lock mechanism and an end portion of an operation unit side cable extending from an unlock operation unit. The connection portion is provided with a joint lock knob for holding the lock mechanism side cable so that the lock mechanism is restricted to the unlocked state, and the connection portion is connected to the operation portion side case. It has a lock mechanism side case, and a joint lock knob is provided in the lock mechanism side case so that it can be projected and retracted. In a state of holding the table it is characterized in that in a state in which a part of the joint lock knob flew out from the lock mechanism side case.

The lock mechanism has a structure in which the striker on the seat side is hooked and held by a latch, and the position of the latch is held by a pole, and the connecting portion includes a lock mechanism side case fixed to the lock mechanism, and a lock mechanism side case. An operation unit side case provided on the operation unit side cable, a lock mechanism side connector having one end coupled to the pole and coupled to the other end of the lock mechanism side cable passing through the lock mechanism side case, and the lock mechanism side It is connectable with the connector, and has an operation unit side connector coupled to the operation unit side cable. By unlocking the lock mechanism side connector, the lock is released without holding the latch via the lock mechanism side cable. The joint lock knob can be moved in and out from the side of the lock mechanism side case. In the unlocked state where the lock mechanism side connector is pulled, the lock mechanism side connector can be positioned on the pole side of the lock mechanism side connector and hold the lock mechanism side connector against the return force of the pole spring. This is the invention according to claim 2 .

The present invention relates to a cable-type actuation device for a vehicle seat that is connected to a lock mechanism that releasably fixes a seat to a vehicle body, and that transmits the unlocking operation force to the lock mechanism via a cable. Is connected to the connecting portion in a detachable manner, and the connecting portion is provided with a joint lock knob for holding the cable on the lock mechanism side so that the lock mechanism is restricted to the unlocked state. By restricting the unlocked state by the joint lock knob, the seat is not locked to the lock mechanism except in a required state. In addition, a required state means the state which connected the cable provided by cut | disconnecting and open | released holding | maintenance of the cable by a joint lock knob. In other words, since the lock mechanism does not operate unless the cable is held by the joint lock knob, it is possible to prevent the seat from being fixedly installed on the vehicle body side with the cables disconnected. Further, whether or not the lock mechanism side cable is held can be determined at a glance by visually confirming whether or not the joint lock knob has popped out.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above effects, when the cables are connected, the lock mechanism side connector is held and does not move in the pressing direction, so that the connectors can be easily connected with one hand. Become.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The drawings show the case where the present invention is applied to a rear seat cushion flip-up mechanism in an automobile seat. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an essential part of an apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation explanatory drawing of the connection part of the apparatus which concerns on, and a locking mechanism, and the action | operation of FIGS. 4-5.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, 1 is an operation lever provided on, for example, a door trim on the driver's seat side, 2 is a connecting portion for connecting the operation portion side cable 3 and the lock mechanism side cable 4, and 5 is a striker 20 a of the seat cushion 20. A lock mechanism 6 for releasably fixing the seat to the vehicle body by holding the seat, and 6 is a mechanism for flipping up the seat cushion 20.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion 20 (not shown) is fixed to the cushion bracket 7, and by operating the operating lever 1, the flip-up mechanism 6 is unlocked and the spiral spring is released. The operating arm 9 is rotated forward by the return force of 8, and the seat cushion 20 is flipped forward.

  In the present invention, the cables 3 and 4 are detachably connected by the connecting portion 2 in the middle, and the locking mechanism side cable 4 is connected to the connecting portion 2 so that the lock mechanism 5 is regulated to the unlocked state. The joint lock knob 10 for holding the structure is provided.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion 2 is composed of an operation portion side case 2a and a lock mechanism side case 2b, and the lock mechanism side case 2b can be unlocked by an operator's operation. The lock knob 10 is provided.
That is, one end of the lever side cable 3 is inserted into the operation unit side case 2a, and an engagement member 11 having a claw piece 11a is attached to the tip of the operation unit side case 2a, while the lock mechanism side case 2b has a lock. One end of the mechanism-side cable 4 is inserted, and a receiving member 12 having a hole portion 12a for locking the claw piece 11a is attached to the tip end portion thereof. The end surface of the receiving member 12 is locked by the joint lock knob 10.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the lock mechanism 5 includes a latch 14 that opens and closes a notch groove 13a for receiving a striker formed in the main body 13, and a pawl 15 for locking the latch 14. 14 and the lower end of the pole 15 are connected by a spring 16, and the lower end of the pole 15 is connected to one end of the lock mechanism side cable 4. In addition, 17a is a pivoting portion of the latch 14, and 17b is a pivoting portion of the pole 15.

The operation of the present invention configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the operating mechanism 1 is operated to unlock the flip-up mechanism 6 and the return arm of the spiral spring 8 operates the operating arm. The point that 9 rotates to the front side and the seat cushion 20 fixed to the cushion bracket 7 jumps forward is basically the same as the conventional one.
The operation state of the seat at this time is shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 show a case where the seat back 20b is folded forward in conjunction with the flip-up operation of the seat cushion 20, and an enlargement of the luggage compartment on the rear side is achieved.

Next, a procedure for connecting cables in the apparatus of the present invention will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 2, before connecting the operation unit side cable 3 and the lock mechanism side cable 4 in the assembly operation, the joint lock knob 10 is raised, and the end surface of the receiving member 12 is moved by the joint lock knob 10. It is locked. In this state, the pawl 15 is pulled rightward by the lock mechanism side cable 4, and the latch 14 is rotated counterclockwise by the elastic force of the spring 16, and therefore the notch groove 13a for receiving the striker. Is open.

  Next, in the state of FIG. 2, the engaging member 11 is fitted to the receiving member 12 to connect the operation unit side cable 3 and the lock mechanism side cable 4. This completes the cable connection work. However, since the joint lock knob 10 is installed in the present invention, in this state, the latch 14 is rotated counterclockwise as described above, and the notch groove 13a for receiving the striker is formed. It remains open. Therefore, even if the striker 20a is inserted into the cutout groove 13a, the latch 14 is not closed, so that the seat cushion 20 cannot be fixedly held by the lock mechanism 5.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, after the cable is connected, by pressing the joint lock knob 10 downward, the receiving member 12 passes through the release hole 10a of the joint lock knob 10 to release the locked state. The lock mechanism side cable 4, the latch 14, and the pawl 15 are free, and the lock mechanism 5 operates normally. As a result, when the striker 20a is inserted into the cutout groove 13a, the latch 14 is closed, and the seat cushion 20 is securely fixed and held by the lock mechanism 5.
That is, in the present invention, not only the operation unit side cable 3 and the lock mechanism side cable 4 but also the lock mechanism 5 operates unless the assembly operator operates the joint lock knob 10 to release the lock after the connection. Since the structure does not, the assembly operator never forgets to connect the cable.
In addition, since the joint lock knob 10 is in a state of partially protruding from the lock mechanism side case 2b when the lock mechanism side cable 4 is held, the presence or absence of the joint lock knob protruding can be easily and reliably confirmed visually.

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is a vehicle seat that is connected to a lock mechanism that releasably fixes the seat to the vehicle body, and transmits the operation force for unlocking to the lock mechanism via a cable. It is a cable-type operating device, and the cable is detachably connected by a connecting part in the middle, and a joint lock knob for holding the lock mechanism side cable so that the lock mechanism is regulated to the unlocked state in the connecting part Since the lock mechanism does not operate unless the assembly operator releases the lock with the joint lock knob, forgetting to connect the operation unit side cable and the lock mechanism side cable can be prevented.
As a result, it is possible to supply a highly reliable product by eliminating the need to reconnect the cable due to a connection error and eliminating the problem of being put on the market.

It is a perspective view of the principal part which shows embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the principal part which shows embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the principal part which shows embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation of a sheet | seat. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation of a sheet | seat. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the principal part which shows a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation lever 2 Connection part 2a Operation part side case 2b Lock mechanism side case 3 Operation part side cable 4 Lock mechanism side cable 5 Lock mechanism 6 Bounce mechanism 7 Cushion bracket 8 Spiral spring 9 Actuation arm 10 Joint lock knob
10a Release hole 11 Engagement member
11a Claw piece 12 Receiving member
12a Hole 13 Body
13a Notch groove 14 Latch 15 Pole 16 Spring 20 Seat cushion
20a striker

Claims (2)

A cable-type operating device for a vehicle seat configured to transmit an unlocking operation force to a lock mechanism for fixing a vehicle seat to a vehicle body to the lock mechanism via a cable, wherein the cable extends from the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism side cable and the end of the operation part side cable extended from the unlocking operation part are connected to each other by a connecting part, and the lock mechanism is restricted to the unlocked state at this connecting part. In addition, a joint lock knob for holding the lock mechanism side cable is provided, and the connecting portion has an operation unit side case and a lock mechanism side case, and the joint lock knob can be projected and retracted in the lock mechanism side case. When the cable on the lock mechanism side is held, a part of the joint lock knob will fly off the case on the lock mechanism side. Cable actuation device for a vehicle seat, characterized in that in a state of out has. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 has a structure in which the striker on the seat side is hooked and held by a latch, and the position of the latch is held by a pole, and the connecting portion is a lock mechanism fixedly installed on the lock mechanism. An operation unit side case provided on the side case and the operation unit side cable, a lock mechanism side connector having one end coupled to the pole and coupled to the other end of the lock mechanism side cable passing through the lock mechanism side case, It can be connected to the lock mechanism side connector, and has an operation unit side connector coupled to the operation unit side cable. By pulling the lock mechanism side connector, the latch is held via the lock mechanism side cable. The joint lock knob can be operated from the side of the lock mechanism side case to the inside. Be freely, and characterized in that located on the pole side of the lock mechanism side connector in the lock mechanism side connector pull engineered unlocked state, it holds the locking mechanism side connector against a return force by pole spring A cable-type actuator for a vehicle seat.

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