JP5325723B2 - Vehicle saddle and inverted pendulum type moving body - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle saddle, and more particularly to a saddle used as a seat for a vehicle such as an inverted pendulum type moving body.

  As a bicycle saddle, it has a part that handles the buttocks and thighs separately on the left and right sides, and the front side of the part is provided so that it can be displaced to the hanging side by the hinge structure, and the front part is pushed by the thighs when pedaling There are some which reduce the pressure of the thigh while supporting the thigh by sagging against the elastic restoring force of the hinge structure itself and the spring force of the spring incorporated in the hinge structure (see FIG. For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-7046 Japanese Patent No. 354277

  However, the conventional saddle has a structure in which the front side part clearly defined by the hinge structure is bent into a “bent” shape with the hinge structure part as a folding line, and is called “slippery” when pushed by the thigh. Since it hangs down with the touch, it lacks a fit and is not always good.

  In addition, in the case of a hinge structure made of a flexible material having elastic restoring properties, the hinge structure part is damaged relatively early due to local repeated deformation of the hinge structure part, or it is deformed depending on repeated use and drooping to the front part. There is a problem such as sticking.

  In addition, with a hinge structure having a hinge structure having a hinge shaft body, the number of parts and assembly man-hours including the incorporation of a spring for applying a restoring force increase, and, in the long-term use, deformation and foreign object biting There is a risk that the smooth hinge operation may be hindered by the insertion, or on the contrary, the hinge operation may become defective due to wear.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the saddle for a vehicle is excellent in fit to the occupant's body, maintains initial characteristics over a long period of time, hardly changes over time, and has excellent durability.

  A vehicle saddle according to the present invention is a vehicle saddle provided in a vehicle, and includes a rigid base attached to a vehicle body via an attachment portion, and a first cushion member attached so as to cover an upper portion of the rigid base. And a second cushion member attached to cover an upper portion of the first cushion member, the second cushion member having a lower hardness than the first cushion member, The overlapping portion that overlaps the first cushion member as viewed, and the front portion of the first cushion member that extends forward and is not overlapped with both the rigid base and the first cushion member when viewed in the vertical direction. Part.

  The vehicle saddle according to the present invention is preferably further provided with an outer shape holding member for holding the outer shape at least in the forward direction.

  The vehicle saddle according to the present invention preferably has a joint surface between the single portion of the second cushion member and the first cushion member, and the joint surface is the first cushion member of the second cushion member. It inclines in the forward direction with respect to the extending direction with respect to the cushion member.

  The vehicle saddle according to the present invention is preferably a saddle that handles the hip and thigh separately on the left and right sides, and the second cushion member has a circular or elliptical shape in plan view.

  In the vehicle saddle according to the present invention, preferably, the attachment portion is provided at a portion between the centroid of the rigid base and the centroid of the second cushion member in plan view.

  The inverted pendulum type moving body according to the present invention has the vehicle saddle according to the above-described invention.

  According to the vehicle saddle according to the present invention, when pedaling or rowing is performed, the single portion of the soft second cushion member itself is pushed by the thigh and hangs down from the hard first cushion member. The elastic deformation in the direction reduces the pressure on the thigh. The elastic deformation of the single portion of the second cushion member is not a local deformation as in the case of the hinge, but a smooth large arc-shaped deformation. In addition, there are no cases where the front part hangs down and becomes wrinkled due to repeated use.

  In addition, since the single portion of the second cushion member is elastically deformed, a spring member or the like that provides a restoring force is not required.

  For these reasons, the vehicle saddle according to the present invention has an excellent fit to the occupant's body, hardly changes with time, maintains initial characteristics over a long period of time, and exhibits excellent durability.

The perspective view of the saddle step storing state which shows one Example of the inverted pendulum type moving body to which the saddle for vehicles by this invention was applied. The perspective view of the saddle step extension state of the embodiment. The top view of the saddle for vehicles by a present Example. FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. The figure which shows the use condition of the saddle for vehicles by a present Example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle saddle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, vertical three-dimensional coordinate axes in the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the horizontal direction are defined as illustrated according to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  First, an overall configuration of an inverted pendulum type moving body using a vehicle saddle according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The inverted pendulum type moving body has a lower frame 10 and an upper frame 20 that are connected to each other.

  The lower frame 10 supports the traveling unit 12. The traveling unit is of a one-wheel type, and is maintained as an entire standing posture of the lower frame 10 and the upper frame 20 under an inverted pendulum control using a built-in gyroscope and a load sensor (not shown). It is responsible for running in all directions diagonally forward, backward, left and right. For detailed explanation of the traveling unit 12, refer to the pamphlet of International Publication No. 2008/132779.

  On the left and right sides of the lower frame 10, left and right steps 14 are provided so as to be able to be stored in a flip-up manner. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the left and right steps 14 are stored in a step storage unit 16 formed on both the left and right sides of the lower frame 10, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the left and right steps 14 are extended from the step storage unit 16 to a horizontal posture. Each is shown.

  On the left and right sides of the upper frame 20, left and right individual saddles 30 are provided by left and right curved saddle arms 22 so as to be retractable. The upper frame 20 is provided with a handle 26 for carrying the vehicle body so as to be retractable.

  The left and right individual type saddles 30 are saddles that individually handle the occupant's buttocks and thighs on the left and right sides, and each has a disk shape in plan view. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the left and right saddles 30 are stored in a saddle storage part 24 by a cylindrical space penetrating the upper frame 20 in the left-right direction, and FIG. 24 shows a state of being extended to a horizontal posture from 24.

  Details of the saddle 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. The saddle 30 has a plate-like rigid base portion 32. The rigid base 32 is made of a highly rigid material such as carbon fiber reinforced resin (CFRP) or a metal plate.

  The rigid base portion 32 has a substantially rectangular main plate portion 32A having a straight front edge a extending in the left-right direction and a linear shape of the main plate portion 32A in a plan view in a state where the saddle 30 is extended in a horizontal posture. A front hanging part 32B bent downward from the front edge a is integrally provided. The main plate portion 32A has a shape obtained by removing a section having a straight leading edge a as a chord from a circle, that is, a planar shape defined by a chord and a dominant arc by the straight leading edge a.

  A flange portion 22 </ b> A formed at the distal end portion of the bending arm 22 is fixedly connected to the lower bottom surface of the main plate portion 32 </ b> A of the rigid base portion 32 by a fastener 27 as an attachment portion of the saddle 30 to the vehicle body. Further, a bottom cover member 34 made of a resin molded product or the like that covers the connecting portion of the bending arm 22 is attached to the lower bottom portion of the main plate portion 32A.

  A hard cushion member (first cushion member) 36 is bonded to the upper surface side of the rigid base portion 32 so as to entirely cover the upper portion of the rigid base portion 32. The hard cushion member 36 is made of a highly hard cushion material (elastic body) such as a relatively hard urethane rubber or sponge. The hardness of the hard cushion member 36 may be about 7 as the Shore E hardness defined in JIS-K6253.

  The rigid cushion member 36 has a shape obtained by removing one section from a circle, that is, a planar shape defined by a chord and a dominant arc, like the rigid base portion 32, and is viewed in the vertical direction (direction of seating load operation). It has an upper overlapping portion 36A that overlaps with the main plate portion 32A of the rigid base portion 32, and a front side portion 36B that exists in the front portion of the front side hanging portion 32B.

  A soft cushion member (second cushion member) 38 is bonded to the upper surface side of the hard cushion member 36 so as to entirely cover the upper portion of the hard cushion member 36. The soft cushion member 38 is entirely made of a cushion material (elastic body) having a lower hardness than the hard cushion member 36, such as relatively soft urethane rubber or sponge, and has a softer cushioning property than the hard cushion member 36. The hardness of the soft cushion member 38 may be about 25 as the hardness of Shore E defined by JIS-K6253.

  Specifically, the soft cushion member 38 extends forward from the upper overlapping portion 38A that overlaps the upper overlapping portion 36A of the hard cushion member 36 and the front portion 36B of the hard cushion member 36 when viewed in the vertical direction (direction of seating load). It includes a front single portion 38B that does not overlap both the rigid base 32 and the hard cushion member 36 when viewed in the vertical direction, and has a circular shape in plan view as shown in FIG.

  The joint surface b of the front single portion 38B of the soft cushion member 38 and the front side portion 36B of the hard cushion member 36 is a convex arc surface, and the extending direction of the soft cushion member 38 relative to the hard cushion member 36, that is, the front Inclined in the forward direction with respect to the direction.

  Further, the central portion of the upper surface of the soft cushion member 38 forming a circular shape is a gentle spherical recess 38C that matches the shape of the collar.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the centroid Cc of the connecting portion of the bending arm 22 to the saddle 30, that is, the centroid Cc of the attachment portion (flange portion 22 </ b> A) of the saddle 30 to the vehicle body is planar. It is provided at a site between the front and back of Ca and the centroid Cb of the soft cushion member 38.

  An annular upper outer cushion member 40 and a lower outer cushion member 42 are bonded to the circular outer peripheral edge of the soft cushion member 38. The upper outer cushion member 40 and the lower outer cushion member 42 are made of a cushion material that is slightly harder than the soft cushion member 38.

  The hard cushion member 36, the soft cushion member 38, the upper outer cushion member 40, and the lower outer cushion member 42 described above may be an integrally molded product by a multi-insert molding method using the rigid base 32 as an insert member.

  An annular piano wire 44 covered with a resin tube 46 is attached to the outer edges of the upper outer cushion member 40 and the lower outer cushion member 42. The piano wire 44 is an outer shape holding member that holds the outer shape of the saddle 30, and restrains deformation of the cushion portion to some extent to maintain cushioning properties and prevent the saddle outer peripheral edge from being sagged. Thereby, the durability of the saddle 30 is improved.

  The outer surface of the soft cushion member 38 is covered with an upper skin cushion member 40, a lower outer cushion member 42, a piano wire 44 covered with a resin tube 46, and a skin 48 made of leather, synthetic leather, vinyl sheet or the like. Yes.

  According to the saddle 30 configured as described above, when pedaling or rowing is performed, the front single portion 38B of the soft cushion member 38 is pushed by the thigh as shown in FIG. The part single portion 38B itself is elastically deformed in the direction of hanging with respect to the hard cushion member 36.

  The elastic deformation of the front single portion 38B is not a local deformation as in the case of the hinge, but a smooth large arc-shaped deformation, so that it does not touch the thigh with a feeling of “perpeller”. Compressing the thigh with a good fit is reduced. Moreover, since it is not a local deformation | transformation, even if the elastic deformation of the front single part 38B is repeatedly performed, it is not damaged at an early stage, and the front part does not hang down and become wrinkled due to repeated use.

  The elastic deformation of the front single portion 38B is caused by the fact that the joint surface b between the front single portion 38B of the soft cushion member 38 and the front side portion 36B of the hard cushion member 36 has a convex arc surface, so that the hard cushion member of the soft cushion member 38 By inclining in the forward direction with respect to the extending direction with respect to 36, compared to the case where the joining surface b is a vertical surface, it is performed with a smoother large arc shape and a good fit. It is better to reduce pressure on the thigh with a feeling and not to be damaged early even if repeated deformation is performed.

  Since the front single portion 38B of the soft cushion member 38 is elastically deformed due to its own material, it does not require a spring member or the like that provides a restoring force. In this embodiment, in order to prevent sagging, an annular piano wire 44 provided so as to border the outer periphery of the soft cushion member 38 is also used for the soft cushion member 38, particularly the front single portion 38B. The elastic deformation of the front single portion 38B is given to the elastic deformation of the front single portion 38B. This increases the degree of freedom in design that can provide a good fit.

  For these reasons, the saddle 30 according to the present embodiment has an excellent fit to the occupant's body, hardly changes with time, maintains initial characteristics over a long period of time, and exhibits excellent durability.

  The portion on which the occupant sits has a double cushion structure of the upper overlapping portion 36A of the hard cushion member 36 and the upper overlapping portion 38A of the soft cushion member 38, so that an appropriate seating cushion feeling can be obtained.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the attachment portion (flange portion 22A) of the saddle 30 to the vehicle body is between the front and rear between the centroid Ca of the rigid base portion 32 and the centroid Cb of the soft cushion member 38 in plan view. This makes it difficult for the load due to sitting to act in a sliding direction with respect to the soft cushion member 38, so that the center of the upper surface of the soft cushion member 38 has a gentle spherical shape following the shape of the buttocks. Coupled with the depression 38C, a stable seating feeling can be obtained.

  The planar shape of the soft cushion member 38 is not limited to a circle, and may be an ellipse or an ellipse.

10 Lower frame 12 Traveling wheel 14 Step 20 Upper frame 22 Curved arm 30 Saddle 30
32 rigid base portion 32A main plate portion 32B front drooping portion 36 hard cushion member 36A upper overlapping portion 36B front portion 38 soft cushion member 38A upper overlapping portion 38B front single portion

Claims (6)

A vehicle saddle provided on a vehicle,
A rigid base attached to the vehicle body via the attachment,
A first cushion member attached to the rigid base so as to cover an upper portion of the rigid base ;
A second cushion member attached to the first cushion member so as to cover an upper portion of the first cushion member ;
The second cushion member has a lower hardness than the first cushion member, and overlaps with the first cushion member when viewed in the vertical direction, and forward from the front portion of the first cushion member. A vehicle saddle including a rigid base and a single portion that does not overlap both the first cushion member when viewed in the vertical direction.   The saddle according to claim 1, wherein an outer shape holding member that holds the outer shape in at least the front direction is attached.   It has a joint surface between the single portion of the second cushion member and the first cushion member, and the joint surface is in order with respect to the extending direction of the second cushion member with respect to the first cushion member. The vehicle saddle according to claim 1 or 2, which is inclined in a direction.   The saddle which handles a hip part and a thigh separately on the left and right sides, and the second cushion member has a circular shape or an elliptical shape in plan view alone or complementarily with the first cushion member. 4. The vehicle saddle according to any one of 3 above.   5. The vehicle saddle according to claim 4, wherein the attachment portion is provided at a portion between a centroid of the rigid base and a centroid of the second cushion member in plan view.   An inverted pendulum type moving body having the vehicle saddle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images