JP7392340B2 - footrest - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a footrest.

2. Description of the Related Art A footrest that can be slid toward or away from a vehicle seat installed on the floor of a vehicle is known. For example, in the footrest described in Patent Document 1, if the footrest position of an occupant seated on a vehicle seat is different from the footrest position, the footrest can be moved to the occupant's foot position by operating a slide device. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle seat in which a heater is incorporated into the footrest.

JP2019-43456A Publication No. 57-84131

In the footrest described in Patent Document 1, although the footrest can be slid toward or away from the vehicle seat, it is not possible to change the height or angle of the surface on which the feet are placed. There was a problem in that it was difficult to support the legs according to the posture. Furthermore, the footrest described in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that although it is possible to warm the soles of the occupant's feet by heat transfer from the surface on which the feet are placed, it is not possible to warm the shins and calves of the occupant by radiant heat. Ta.

In view of these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a footrest that can be slid toward or away from a seat, and to effectively support the feet of a seated person depending on the posture of the seated person. The purpose is to provide a footrest that can be heated.

A first aspect of the present invention is a footrest that can be slid in a direction toward or away from a seat, and includes a main body that can be moved parallel to the floor and on which a foot can be placed. A board on which a foot can be placed, one end of which is supported by a shaft extending in the width direction of the seat, which is disposed on the opposite side of the main body, and which is rotatable in the vertical direction about the shaft. The plate-shaped portion is characterized in that a heater capable of heating by heat transfer and/or radiant heat is disposed in the plate-shaped portion.

According to the first invention, it is possible to change the horizontal position and the angle with respect to the floor of the plate-shaped portion of the footrest on which the soles of the feet of the seated person are placed according to the physique and posture of the seated person, and also to conduct heat through the feet of the seated person. and/or heating by radiant heat. Specifically, the sole of the foot is placed on the upper surface of the main body part, and the shin part can be heated by radiant heat by the heater of the plate-like part disposed above. Furthermore, by placing the sole of the foot on the plate-shaped portion, the sole of the foot can be heated by heat transfer. Thereby, it is possible to improve the comfort of the person sitting on the seat.

A second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, a heater capable of heating by heat transfer and/or radiant heat is disposed in the main body.

According to the second invention, the sole of the foot can be heated by heat transfer by placing the sole on the upper surface of the main body, and the shin part can be heated by radiant heat by the heater of the plate-shaped portion disposed above. It can be heated by Further, by placing the sole of the foot on the plate-shaped portion, the sole can be heated by heat transfer, and the calf can be heated by radiant heat by the heater in the main body disposed below. Thereby, the comfort of the person sitting on the seat can be further improved.

A third aspect of the present invention is that in the first aspect or the second aspect, the main body part is capable of vertically moving the shaft with respect to the floor, and as the shaft moves, the upper surface part is moved. It is characterized in that the angle with respect to the floor changes.

According to the third invention, when the sole of the foot is placed on the upper surface of the main body, the angle at which the sole of the foot is supported can be changed. The vertical position and angle of the plate-shaped portion that can be heated can be optimized.

A fourth invention of the present invention is that in any one of the first to third inventions, the main body portion is arranged to be slidable on a lower rail of a pair of slide rails fixed to the floor. It is characterized by

According to the fourth invention, the sliding movement of the main body can be achieved with a simple structure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footrest that is an embodiment of the present invention. It is attached to the floor. It is a perspective view of the footrest of the above-mentioned embodiment. This is the state with the cover of the main unit removed. It is an exploded perspective view of the footrest of the above-mentioned embodiment. It is a perspective view explaining the slide mechanism part of the footrest of the said embodiment. It is a side view explaining the lifter mechanism part of the footrest of the said embodiment. It is a perspective view explaining the tilt mechanism part of the footrest of the said embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 1; It is a figure explaining the 1st usage mode of the footrest of the above-mentioned embodiment. It is a figure explaining the 2nd usage mode of the footrest of the said embodiment. It is a figure explaining the 3rd usage mode of the footrest of the said embodiment.

1 to 10 illustrate one embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an automobile seat 1. In each figure, 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. The left-right direction is the width direction of the sheet. In the following description, descriptions regarding directions will be made with this direction as a reference. Here, each of the automobile seats 1 corresponds to a "seat" in the claims.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automobile seat 1 is a rear seat, and includes a seat cushion 2 that serves as a seating area for a seated occupant, and a seat back 3 that serves as a backrest. In the normal posture in which the occupant is seated, the lower ends of the seat back 3 on both its left and right sides extend behind the left and right sides of the seat cushion 2 via recliners (not shown) that function as rotary shaft devices that can prevent rotation. connected to the end. An ottoman 2a is attached to the front end of the seat cushion 2 to support the calves of a seated occupant from below. In the automobile seat 1, an upper rail (not shown) of a seat cushion 2 is connected to a lower rail 4a of a pair of left and right slide rails 4 that are fixed to a floor F and extend in the front-rear direction. It is said that it can be moved by sliding. A footrest 5 is disposed in front of the automobile seat 1 and is connected to lower rails 4a of a pair of left and right slide rails 4 and is slidable on a floor F in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, the footrest 5 includes a main body 10 connected to the lower rails 4a of the pair of left and right slide rails 4, and a footrest 5 attached to the front end of the main body 10 and attached to the main body 10. It has a plate-shaped part 20 that is rotatable in the vertical direction.

The main body 10 includes a slide mechanism 11 , a lift mechanism 12 attached to the slide mechanism 11 , a tilt mechanism 13 attached to the lift mechanism 12 , and a cover 15 . The slide mechanism section 11 is arranged in a bridging manner between the lower rails 4a of the pair of left and right slide rails 4, and is formed so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slide mechanism section 11 includes a base section 11a extending in the left-right direction parallel to the floor F, and a substantially U-shaped section provided at the left and right ends of the base section 11a and opening downward. It has a pair of left and right gear support parts 11b that have a letter-shaped cross section and extend in the front-rear direction. An upper rail 4b that is slidably fitted to the lower rail 4a of the slide rail 4 is attached to the lower opening side of the gear support portion 11b. A pair of left and right first gears 11d connected by a rotation shaft 11c extending in the left-right direction are arranged inside the gear support portion 11b. The pair of left and right first gears 11d are exposed downward through vertically penetrating holes provided in the upper rail 4b, and mesh with a vertically extending rack gear 4a1 disposed on the upper surface of the lower rail 4a. When the motor 11e rotates, the second gear 11g rotates via the reduction gear 11f, and the third gear 11h meshing with the second gear 11g rotates, thereby creating a rotation shaft to which the third gear 11h is fixed. 11c rotates. As the rotation shaft 11c rotates, the pair of left and right first gears 11d rotate while meshing with the rack gear 4a1, so that the slide mechanism 11 moves back and forth on the lower rail 4a.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the lift mechanism 12 is supported by a bracket 12a having a pair of left and right support walls 12a1 that face each other and extend upward, and a pair of left and right support walls 12a1. It has a lift shaft 12b extending in the direction, and a pair of left and right lift arms 12c fixed to the lift shaft 12b. Further, the lift mechanism section 12 includes a pair of left and right lift motors 12d disposed between a pair of left and right support wall sections 12a1, and a lift speed reduction device 12e. The bracket 12a has a connecting wall portion 12a2 that connects the pair of left and right support wall portions 12a1 at the lower end side, and the connecting wall portion 12a2 is connected to the base portion 11a of the slide mechanism portion 11 via a connecting plate 12a3. It is attached to the slide mechanism section 11 by. The pair of left and right lift arms 12c are plate-like members that are disposed on the left and right outer sides of the pair of left and right support wall portions 12a1 and extend in the front and back direction, and the upper portions of the rear end portions thereof are fixed to the lift shaft 12b. ing. A toothed sector gear 12c1 centered on the lift shaft 12b is provided at the rear end of each lift arm 12c. A pair of left and right fourth gears 12f meshing with the sector gear 12c1 are connected to the lift reduction gear 12e via a rotation shaft 12g extending in the left-right direction. As each lift motor 12d rotates, the rotation shaft 12g rotates via the lift reduction gear 12e, and as each fourth gear 12f rotates, the sector gear 12c1 engaged therewith rotates around the lift shaft 12b. . As a result, each lift arm 12c rotates about the lift shaft 12b so that its front end side moves up and down. Here, two lift motors 12d are provided due to the relationship between size and output, but it is also possible to use one if the size and output are compatible.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the tilt mechanism section 13 includes a tilt shaft 13a rotatably supported on the front end side of each lift arm 12c, and a pair of left and right tilt shafts fixed to the tilt shaft 13a. It has an arm 13b. The tilt mechanism section 13 also includes a pair of left and right tilt motors 13c, a pair of left and right tilt reduction devices 13d, and a pair of left and right reduction gear groups 13e rotatably supported inside the left and right direction of each lift arm 12c. have The rear end of each tilt arm 13b is fixed non-rotatably to the tilt shaft 13a on the inside of each lift arm 12c in the left-right direction, and the rear end is provided with teeth centered around the tilt shaft 13a. A sector gear 13b1 is provided. Each tilt arm 13b is attached to the lower side of the rear end of the plate-shaped portion 20 and supports the plate-shaped portion 20. Each tilt motor 13c and each tilt deceleration device 13d are attached to the outside in the left-right direction of each lift arm 12c, and the rotation axis 13d1 of each tilt deceleration device 13d is attached to the center portion of each lift arm 12c in the front-rear direction. It extends in the left-right direction to the inside of 12c in the left-right direction. The reduction gear group 13e is arranged such that a fifth gear 13e1, a sixth gear 13e2, and a seventh gear 13e3 mesh with each other in this order from the rear side. The fifth gear 13e1 is fixed to the rotation shaft 13d1 and rotates around the rotation shaft 13d1. The sixth gear 13e2 has an inner gear part 13e21 on the inner side in the left-right direction and an outer gear part 13e22 on the outer side in the left-right direction, and the inner gear part 13e21 meshes with the fifth gear 13e1. The inner gear portion 13e21 is formed to have a larger diameter than the outer gear portion 13e22. The outer gear portion 13e22 meshes with a seventh gear 13e3, and the seventh gear 13e3 meshes with the sector gear 13b1 of each tilt arm 13b. The seventh gear 13e3 is formed to have a larger diameter than the fifth gear 13e1. As each tilt motor 13c rotates, each tilt arm 13b rotates through each tilt reduction gear device 13d and each reduction gear group 13e so as to move the front end side up and down about the tilt shaft 13a. The reduction gear group 13e is covered by a gear cover 13f. The output from the rotation shaft 13d1 is transmitted to each tilt arm 13b via a reduction gear group 13e whose size fits within the vertical width of the lift arm 12c, so the height of the main body 10 in the vertical direction can be set compactly. I can do it. Here, the tilt axis 13a corresponds to the "axis" in the claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the cover 15 is made of resin and includes a rear cover part 15a and a side cover part 15b fixed to the base part 11a of the slide mechanism part 11, and a lift mechanism part 12. It has a front cover part 15c fixed to each lift arm 12c. The rear cover portion 15a and the side cover portions 15b do not move relative to the base portion 11a, but the front cover portion 15c moves up and down with each lift arm 12c relative to the base portion 11a. A rectangular recess 15c1 is provided in the upper surface 15cUS of the front cover part 15c, and a planar heater 15c2 is disposed in the recess 15c1, and the upper surface thereof is covered with a fabric skin material 15c3. The heater 15c2 is connected to a power source (not shown) and has a heating effect both by heat transfer and by radiant heat.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, the plate-shaped portion 20 is a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above. The plate portion 20 includes a metal frame 21, a resin plate 22, a planar heater 23 disposed on the plate 22, and a fabric skin material 24 that covers the top surface of the heater 23. . The heater 23 and the skin material 24 are substantially the same as the heater 15c2 and the skin material 15c3, except for their sizes. The plate-shaped portion 20 has its rear end supported by each tilt arm 13b of the tilt mechanism section 13, so that it can rotate relative to the main body 10 so that its front end moves vertically about the tilt axis 13a. can.

How the footrest 5 is used will be explained using FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. 8 shows a first usage mode S1 in which the seated person P takes a normal posture. The automobile seat 1 is in a position where the seat back 3 is erected with respect to the seat cushion 2, and the ottoman 2a is stored below the seat cushion 2 so as not to come into contact with the calves of the seated person P. In the footrest 5, each lift arm 12c of the lift mechanism section 12 of the main body section 10 is at the lowest position, and the plate-like section 20 is at the lowest position due to the tilt mechanism section 13. In this state, the slide mechanism 11 of the footrest 5 is operated to move the main body 10 to the lower part of the seat cushion 2. The feet of the seated person P are supported with the soles of the feet in contact with the upper surface of the plate-like portion 20. At this time, when the heater 23 of the plate-shaped portion 20 is activated, the soles of the feet of the seated person P can be heated by heat transfer.

FIG. 9 shows a second usage mode S2 in which the seated person P takes a comfortable posture. The automobile seat 1 is in a position where the seat back 3 is tilted rearward with respect to the seat cushion 2, and the ottoman 2a is raised in front of the seat cushion 2 and is in a position to abut the calf of the seated person P. The footrest 5 is slid forward in the first usage mode S1 to operate the lift mechanism section 12 and the tilt mechanism section 13. In the footrest 5, each lift arm 12c of the lift mechanism section 12 of the main body section 10 is in the uppermost position with the front end side raised upward, and the plate-like section 20 is raised upward on the front end side by the tilt mechanism section 13. It was lifted up and placed in the highest position. The feet of the seated person P are supported with the soles of the feet in contact with the upper surface of the front cover portion 15c of the main body portion 10. At this time, when the heater 15c2 of the main body part 10 and the heater 23 of the plate-shaped part 20 are operated, the soles of the feet of the seated person P can be heated by heat transfer of the heater 15c2, and the radiant heat of the heater 23 can heat the soles of the seated person's P. It is possible to heat the shin area of the body. Note that each lift arm 12c does not necessarily have to be at the uppermost position, and may be selected at an appropriate position between the lowermost position and the uppermost position. The plate-shaped portion 20 does not necessarily have to be at the uppermost position, and may be selected at an appropriate position between the lowermost position and the uppermost position.

FIG. 10 shows a third usage mode S3 in which the seated person P takes a comfortable posture. The automobile seat 1 is in a position where the seat back 3 is tilted rearward with respect to the seat cushion 2, and the ottoman 2a is raised in front of the seat cushion 2 and is in a position to abut the calf of the seated person P. The footrest 5 is slid backward from the front-rear position in the second usage mode S2 to operate the lift mechanism section 12 and the tilt mechanism section 13. In the footrest 5, each lift arm 12c of the lift mechanism section 12 of the main body section 10 is at the lowest position, and the plate-like section 20 is at the highest position with the front end side raised upward by the tilt mechanism section 13. . The feet of the seated person P are supported with the soles of the feet in contact with the upper surface of the plate-like portion 20. At this time, when the heater 15c2 of the main body part 10 and the heater 23 of the plate-shaped part 20 are operated, the soles of the feet of the seated person P can be heated by the heat transfer of the heater 23, and the soles of the feet of the seated person P can be heated by the radiant heat of the heater 15c2. can heat the calf area. Note that the plate-shaped portion 20 does not necessarily have to be at the uppermost position, and may be selected at an appropriate position between the lowermost position and the uppermost position.

The present embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. The position and angle of the front cover part 15c or the plate-shaped part 20 of the main body part 10 on which the soles of the occupant P are placed can be changed according to the physique and posture of the occupant P of the automobile seat 1, and the position and angle of the The foot can be heated by conduction and/or radiant heat. Specifically, in the first usage mode S1, the soles of the feet of the seated person P in a normal posture are supported in contact with the upper surface of the plate-shaped portion 20, and are heated by heat transfer by the operation of the heater 23. can be done. In the second usage mode S2, the soles of the feet of the seated person P in a comfortable posture are supported in contact with the upper surface portion 15cUS of the front cover portion 15c of the main body portion 10, and are heated by heat transfer by the operation of the heater 15c2. In addition, the shin portion of the seated person P can be heated by radiant heat by operating the heater 23. Furthermore, in the third usage mode S3, the soles of the feet of the seated person P who takes a comfortable posture are supported in a state where they are in contact with the upper surface of the plate-like part 20, and can be heated by heat transfer by the operation of the heater 23. At the same time, the calf region of the seated person P can be heated by radiant heat by operating the heater 15c2.

In addition, the main body part 10 can change its position in the front and back direction by the action of the slide mechanism part 11, and the front cover part 15c can change the inclination of the upper surface part 15cUS with respect to the floor F by the action of the lift mechanism part 12. . Furthermore, the height from the floor F and the inclination with respect to the floor F of the plate-shaped part 20 can be changed by the functions of the lift mechanism part 12 and the tilt mechanism part 13. Thereby, the legs of the seated person P can be supported and warmed in a suitable state according to the physique and posture of the seated person P.

Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those configurations, and various changes, additions, and deletions can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. Examples include:

1. In the embodiment described above, the heater 23 of the plate-shaped portion 20 is activated in the first usage mode S1, but it can also be used without activation. Further, although the heater 15c2 of the main body portion 10 and the heater 23 of the plate-like portion 20 were activated in the second usage mode S2, it is also possible to use the heater without activating either or both of the heaters. Furthermore, although the heater 15c2 of the main body portion 10 and the heater 23 of the plate-like portion 20 were operated in the third usage mode S3, either or both heaters may be used without being operated.

2. In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the automobile seat 1 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to seats installed in ships, trains, airplanes, etc. other than automobiles. .

1 Automobile seat (seat)
4 Slide rail 4a Lower rail 4b Upper rail 5 Footrest 10 Main body 11 Slide mechanism 12 Lift mechanism 13 Tilt mechanism 13a Tilt axis (axis)
15 Cover 15c Front cover part 15cUS Upper surface part 15c2 Heater 20 Plate part 23 Heater F Floor P Seated person S1 First usage mode S2 Second usage mode S3 Third usage mode

Claims (4)

A footrest that can be slid toward or away from the seat,
A main body part that can be moved parallel to the floor and on which a foot can be placed; and one end part supported by a shaft extending in the width direction of the seat disposed on the opposite side of the main body part to the seat part. It has a plate-like part that is supported so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction about an axis and on which a foot can be placed;
A heater capable of heating by heat transfer and/or radiant heat is disposed in the plate-shaped part,
With the soles of the feet of the person sitting on the seat in contact with and supported by the upper surface portion of the main body portion, the plate portion is placed in front of the shin portion of the person sitting on the seat, and the front end side thereof is raised upward. Footrest that can be placed. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion is provided with a heater capable of heating by heat transfer and/or radiant heat. In claim 1 or claim 2, the main body section is configured to be able to move the shaft in a vertical direction with respect to the floor, and the angle of the upper surface section with respect to the floor changes as the shaft moves. footrest. The footrest according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main body is arranged to be slidable on a lower rail of a pair of slide rails fixed to the floor.

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