JP7331577B2 - ottoman device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an ottoman device.

2. Description of the Related Art Some vehicle seats are provided with an ottoman device for supporting the calves on the back side of the lower legs of a seated person. For example, in the ottoman device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a lower leg support having a substantially flat surface is brought into contact with the calves of the seated person in the unfolded position to lift and support the lower legs of the seated person.

JP 2018-95020 A

In the ottoman device described in Patent Document 1, since the surface of the lower leg support is substantially flat, the contact area between the calves of the seated person and the lower leg support is small. There is a problem that heat transfer becomes insufficient when the heater function is provided. In addition, there is also a problem that the lower leg of the seated person may come off sideways from the lower leg support during turning of the vehicle or the like.

In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an ottoman device that has a large area that abuts against the calves on the back side of the lower legs of a seated person and is capable of stably supporting the lower legs of the seated person. be.

A first aspect of the present invention is an ottoman device, comprising: a frame supported by a front portion of a seat cushion; and a cover member covering the frame and supporting the calves of a seated person in contact with the frame. has a main support portion positioned at the center in the seat width direction, and a pair of left and right side support portions positioned at left and right sides of the main support portion, and the pair of left and right side support portions with respect to the main support portion. The side support portion is configured to be movable relative to the surface of the main support portion in contact with the calf in a substantially vertical direction, and the cover member is provided on the pair of left and right sides with respect to the main support portion. It is characterized in that it is possible to form a concave shape that supports the calf from the left and right when the support part moves relatively.

According to the first aspect of the invention, in the ottoman device, when the pair of left and right side support portions move relative to the main support portion of the frame, the cover member becomes concave to support the calves of the seated person from the left and right. Therefore, the lower legs of the seated person are stably supported. In addition, in a state in which the pair of left and right side support portions are not relatively moved with respect to the main support portion of the frame, the ottoman can be used as a normal ottoman device. Note that the term "relative movement" as used herein includes the case where the side support portion protrudes from the main support portion and the case where the main support portion sinks into the side support portion.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the amount of relative movement of the pair of left and right side support portions with respect to the main support portion increases from the side closer to the front portion of the seat cushion in the frame toward the farther side. It is characterized in that it is configured to gradually increase in size.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the ottoman device, the curvature of the concave surface can be made larger on the side farther from the front of the seat cushion than on the side closer to the front. As a result, it is possible to stably support the tip side of the lower leg of the seated person who is more likely to move in the left-right direction when the vehicle turns.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second aspect, the pair of left and right side support portions are supported on the front portion of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of the seat. By rotating the pair of left and right side support portions about the rotation shaft, the pair of left and right side support portions move relative to the main support portion.

According to the third invention, the effects of the first invention or the second invention can be exhibited with a simple structure.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second aspect, the main support portion and/or the pair of left and right side support portions have a surface that contacts the calves of the main support portion when air is let in and out. It is characterized by having an air bag that expands or contracts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the air bag.

According to the fourth invention, the concave shape of the cover member can be formed by increasing the amount of expansion of the air bags of the pair of left and right side support portions relative to the amount of expansion of the air bags of the main support portion. . This makes it possible to achieve the effects of the first invention or the second invention with a simple structure.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the direction in which the pair of left and right side support portions expands or contracts with respect to the main support portion is the width direction of the seat of the ottoman device when the concave shape is formed. It is characterized in that it is set so that the length spreads.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the ottoman device is used, the length in the seat width direction can be increased, so that the ottoman device can be arranged compactly during normal use, and the support area can be expanded during use.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the cover member is provided with a heater for warming the calves.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the cover member has a concave shape, the contact area with the calves of the seated person is enlarged, so that the calves of the seated person can be warmed more effectively.

1 is a perspective view of an ottoman device that is a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. Indicates storage status. A cover member is omitted. It is a perspective view of the ottoman apparatus of the said embodiment. Indicates the expanded state. A cover member is omitted. It is a perspective view of the ottoman apparatus of the said embodiment. Fig. 10 shows a projecting state in which the side support portions are moved forward in the deployed state; A cover member is omitted. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2; 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment of the present invention; It is a sectional view corresponding to Drawing 5 of the above-mentioned embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 of a third embodiment of the present invention; It is a sectional view corresponding to Drawing 5 of the above-mentioned embodiment. It is a sectional view corresponding to Drawing 4 of a 4th embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view corresponding to Drawing 5 of the above-mentioned embodiment.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an automobile seat 1 . In each figure, the arrows indicate the directions of the vehicle and the vehicle seat 1 when the vehicle seat 1 is attached to the floor F of the vehicle. In the following description, descriptions regarding directions are based on this direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automobile seat 1 has a seat cushion 2 that serves as a seating portion for a seated occupant, and a seat back 3 that serves as a backrest. In a normal state in which an occupant is seated, the seat back 3 has its left and right lower ends positioned behind the right and left sides of the seat cushion 2 via recliners (not shown) functioning as rotating shaft devices capable of preventing rotation. connected to the ends. An ottoman device 10 is attached to the front end of the seat cushion 2 . The ottoman device 10 is stored in a standing posture below the front end portion of the seat cushion 2 when not in use as shown in FIG. It is configured to be able to adopt a developed state in which it is pulled upward so as to be inclined.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the ottoman device 10 has a frame 11 forming a skeleton, and a cover member 12 covering the front side of the frame 11 in the retracted state.

The frame 11 has a main support portion 11a arranged in the center in the left-right direction, and side support portions 11b arranged on both left and right sides of the main support portion 11a.

In the retracted state shown in FIG. 1, the main support portion 11a is formed as a plate-like member extending in the vertical direction and having a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens toward the rear. The upper end portion of the main support portion 11 a is connected to the front end portion of the seat cushion 2 via a pair of left and right reclining adjusters 13 . A pair of right and left reclining adjusters 13 are connected by a connecting shaft 14 extending in the left-right direction. The connecting shaft 14 rotates by operating a motor (not shown) disposed on the rear side of the main support portion 11a (on the side opposite to the seated person), and rotates the pair of left and right reclining adjusters 13, thereby adjusting the seat cushion 2. On the other hand, the main support portion 11a rotates in the front-rear direction. When the main support portion 11a is rotated forward with respect to the seat cushion 2 from the retracted state shown in FIG. 1, the expanded state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. The pair of left and right reclining adjusters 13 have the same configuration as the stepless electric reclining adjusters disclosed in documents such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-49797.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the side support portions 11b are formed in a bilaterally symmetrical shape, so the right side support portion 11b will be described as a representative, and the description of the left side support portion 11b will be omitted. The side support portion 11b is formed by arranging a driving device (not shown) in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped resin case. The upper end side is supported so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction about the side support shaft 10a extending in the left-right direction with respect to the main support portion 11a. In the retracted state shown in FIG. 1, the front surface of the side support portion 11b is positioned substantially parallel to the front surface of the main support portion 11a, and the position of the side support portion 11b with respect to the main support portion 11a at this time is the normal position P1. be. From this state, the main support portion 11a is brought into the unfolded state shown in FIG. Then, the ottoman device 10 can be used in a state where the side support portion 11b is at the normal position P1 with respect to the main support portion 11a. When the driving device of the side support portion 11b is operated while the main support portion 11a is in the unfolded state, the side support portion 11b rotates forward and upward on the side support portion shaft 10a at its lower end portion, as shown in FIG. It becomes the projecting position P2 shown. The driving device of the side support portion 11b can be operated only when the main support portion 11a is in the unfolded state by the interlock mechanism. However, this configuration is not necessarily required, and it may be configured such that the driving device of the side support portion 11b can be operated even when the main support portion 11a is in the retracted state. Here, the side support shaft 10a corresponds to the "rotating shaft" in the claims.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cover member 12 includes a pad body 12a which is a molded body of urethane foam resin, a skin material 12b covering the surface of the pad body 12a, and a space between the skin material 12b and the pad body 12a. and a sheet-like heater 12c arranged in the . The pad body 12a has a function as a cushioning material, is put on the frame 11, and its rear surface is fixed to the front surface of the main support portion 11a by adhesion at the central portion of the main support portion 11a in the left-right direction. . The skin material 12b is a layered body in which a thin urethane slab pad is laminated on the back side of the fabric (on the side of the pad body 12a), covering the pad body 12a put on the frame 11, and the terminal part is attached to the frame 11. ing. A planar heater 12c is arranged between the back side of the skin material 12b and the front side of the pad body 12a. When the side support portion 11b is moved relative to the main support portion 11a from the normal position P1 shown in FIG. 4 to the projecting position P2 shown in FIG. It transforms so that it can be pushed up. The surface side of the cover member 12 (the side with which the calf of the seated person abuts) has a concave shape in which the central portion in the left-right direction is recessed rearward and downward. At this time, since the side support portion 11b has a larger protrusion amount with respect to the main support portion 11a on the lower side, which is on the side closer to the side support shaft 10a, than on the upper side, which is on the side closer to the side support shaft 10a, the curvature of the concave surface shape is greater on the lower side than on the upper side. becomes larger.

The present embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. In the ottoman device 10, when the pair of left and right side support portions 11b are moved to the projecting position P2 with respect to the main support portion 11a of the frame 11, the cover member 12 becomes concave to support the calves of the seated person from the left and right. Therefore, the lower legs of the seated person are stably supported. Further, when the pair of left and right side support portions 11b are at the normal position P1 with respect to the main support portion 11a of the frame 11, the ottoman device can be used as a normal surface shape that does not change.

Further, in the ottoman device 10, the amount of protrusion at the protrusion position P2 of the pair of left and right side support portions 11b with respect to the main support portion 11a increases as the distance from the side support shaft 10a increases. As a result, when the vehicle turns, etc., the curvature of the concave shape of the portion that supports the distal end side of the lower leg of the seated person, which tends to move in the left-right direction, is increased to stably stabilize the lower leg of the seated person. can support Further, the pair of left and right side support portions 11b can be rotated about the side support shaft 10a to the projecting position P2, so that the structure is simple. In addition, the cover member 12 is provided with a heater 12c for warming the calves of the seated person. As a result, when the cover member 12 has a concave shape, the contact area with the calves of the seated person is enlarged, so that the calves of the seated person can be warmed more effectively.

6 and 7 show an ottoman device 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that, in the ottoman device 10, the side support portion 11b is moved to the projecting position P2 with respect to the main support portion 11a by the driving device, whereas in the ottoman device 10A, the side support portion 11Ab is moved. The point is that the air bag is inflated to move it to the projecting position P2. Other configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. The side support portion 11Ab has a fixed portion 11Ab1 fixed to the main support portion 11a and an air bag 11Ab2 attached to the front side of the fixed portion 11Ab1. A pump (not shown) is connected to the air bag 11Ab2. When the pump is operated, air is supplied into the air bag 11Ab2 to inflate the air bag 11Ab2. 11Ab2 is adapted to contract. The deflated state of the air bag 11Ab2 shown in FIG. 6 is the normal position P1 of the side support portion 11Ab, and the expanded state of the air bag 11Ab2 shown in FIG. 7 is the projecting position P2 of the side support portion 11Ab. In the ottoman device 10A, when the pair of left and right side support portions 11Ab moves to the projecting position P2 with respect to the main support portion 11a of the frame 11, the cover member 12 becomes concave to support the calves of the seated person from the left and right. can be done. By forming the length from the fixing portion 11Ab1 to the cover member 12 when the air bag 11Ab2 is inflated so as to increase as the distance from the connecting shaft 14 increases, a pair of left and right side supports can be provided as in the case of the ottoman device 10. The amount of protrusion of the portion 11Ab at the protrusion position P2 can be increased as the distance from the connecting shaft 14 increases. This embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the first embodiment except for the simplicity of the structure of the first embodiment.

8 and 9 show an ottoman device 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the second embodiment is that in the ottoman device 10A, the cover member 12 has the pad body 12a, whereas in the ottoman device 10B, the cover member 12B does not have the pad body 12a and instead has a main support portion 11a. The point is that the air bag 11Ba is arranged in the . Other configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. Like the air bag 11Ab2, a pump (not shown) is connected to the air bag 11Ba, and when the pump is operated, air is supplied into the air bag 11Ba to inflate the air bag 11Ba, and the operation of the pump is stopped. Then, the air is released and the air bag 11Ba is contracted. The state in which the air bag 11Ab2 is deflated and the air bag 11Ba is inflated shown in FIG. 8 is the normal position P1, and the state in which the air bag 11Ab2 is inflated and the air bag 11Ba is deflated shown in FIG. is. The ottoman device 10B can increase the curvature of the concave shape of the cover member 12B at the projecting position P2 compared to the ottoman device 10A. As a result, this embodiment can also achieve the same effect as the second embodiment, and can more effectively support the calves of the seated person from the left and right by increasing the curvature of the concave shape. In this embodiment, the state in which both the air bags 11Ab2 and 11Ba are inflated is defined as the normal position P1, and by deflating the air bag 11Ba while the air bag 11Ab2 is inflated, the air bag 11Ab2 is relatively compressed. can be set at the projecting position P2.

10 and 11 show an ottoman device 10C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the second embodiment is that, in the ottoman device 10A, the air bag 11Ab2 protrudes forward and upward with respect to the fixed portion 11Ab1, whereas in the ottoman device 10C, the air bag 11Cb2 protrudes from the fixed portion 11Cb1. It is a point which protrudes forward and upward on the outside in the seat width direction. Like the air bag 11Ab2, the air bag 11Cb2 is connected to a pump (not shown). When the pump is actuated, air is supplied into the air bag 11Cb2 to inflate the air bag 11Cb2, and the pump stops operating. Then, the air is released and the air bag 11Cb2 contracts. Other configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted. The fixed portion 11Cb1 is formed such that its front surface is inclined rearwardly outward in the seat width direction. As a result, when the air bag 11Cb2 is inflated, the air bag 11Cb2 pushes the left and right ends of the cover member 12 outward and forward in the seat width direction. As a result, this embodiment can achieve the same effects as the second embodiment, and the length of the ottoman device 10C in the left-right direction can be increased. It is possible to support the calves of the seated person from the left and right with a wider area.

Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those configurations, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without changing the gist of the present invention. For example:

1. In the above embodiment, the side support portion 11b is moved with respect to the main support portion 11a by means of rotation about the side support portion shaft 10a by the driving device and expansion or contraction of the air bags 11Ab2, 11Ba, 11Cb2. was used. However, without being limited to this, the side support portion 11b may be moved using a direct-acting motor, or may be moved using hydraulic pressure.

2. In the first, second, and fourth embodiments, the cover member 12 is configured to have the pad body 12a, the skin material 12b, and the heater 12c. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the configuration may be such that the pad body 12a and/or the heater 12c are not provided.

3. Although the case where the present invention is applied to the automobile seat 1 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to seats mounted on ships, trains, airplanes, etc. other than automobiles.

1 Automotive seat 2 Seat cushion 10 Ottoman device 10A Ottoman device 10B Ottoman device 10C Ottoman device 10a Side support shaft (rotating shaft)
11 Frame 11a Main support portion 11b Side support portion 11Ab Side support portion 11Ab2 Air bag 11Ba Air bag 11Cb2 Air bag 12 Cover member 12B Cover member 12a Pad body 12b Skin material 12c Heater P1 Normal position P2 Projection position

Claims (5)

An ottoman device,
a frame supported on the front part of the seat cushion; and a cover member covering the frame and supporting the calf of the seated person in contact therewith;
The frame has a main support portion positioned in the center in the seat width direction, and a pair of left and right side support portions positioned on left and right sides of the main support portion,
The pair of left and right side support portions are configured to be movable relative to the main support portion in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the surface of the main support portion that contacts the calf,
The cover member can form a concave shape that supports the calves from the left and right when the pair of left and right side support portions move relative to the main support portion,
The amount of relative movement of the pair of left and right side support portions with respect to the main support portion is determined by moving the main support portion from the side of the frame supported by the front portion of the seat cushion to the direction orthogonal to the seat width direction. An ottoman device configured to gradually increase in size as it goes away in a direction along a surface that abuts against the calves . In claim 1, the pair of left and right side support portions are supported on the front portion of the seat cushion so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of the seat,
An ottoman device in which the pair of left and right side support portions move relative to the main support portion by rotating the pair of left and right side support portions about the rotation shaft. According to claim 1, the main support part and/or the pair of left and right side support parts include an air bag that expands or contracts substantially perpendicularly to a surface of the main support part contacting the calf when air is taken in and out. An ottoman device comprising: In claim 3, the direction in which the pair of left and right side support portions expands or contracts with respect to the main support portion is set so that the length of the ottoman device in the seat width direction increases when the concave shape is formed. Ottoman device with. 5. The ottoman device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is provided with a heater for warming the calves.

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