JPH0529442U - Seat reclining device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To prevent the main shaft from becoming large in the axial direction and to secure a wide effective width of the seat. [Structure] Base plate 1 connected by main shaft 16
2, a lock mechanism 48 that regulates the swing of the arm plate 14
Is configured to be operable under the rotation of the main shaft. The arm plate 14 is integrally formed with an extension piece 58 extending downward from the main shaft 16. Then, a return spring 66 that biases the arm plate 14 in the forward tilt direction,
Stopper means 60 to prevent excessive swinging of the arm plate
And are respectively provided on the extending pieces 58 of the arm plate at positions sufficiently separated from the main shaft 16.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a seat reclining device that supports a seat back swingably in a front-rear direction with respect to a seat cushion and arbitrarily sets an inclination angle (reclining angle) of the seat back by locking a lock mechanism.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 For example, a reclining device that arbitrarily adjusts a tilt angle (reclining angle) of a seat back by swinging the seat back in the front-rear direction with respect to a seat cushion is attached to a seat of a vehicle or the like.

The reclining device includes, for example, a base plate attached to a seat cushion and an arm plate attached to a seat back. The arm plate is swingably connected to the base plate by a main shaft. ing. Further, such a reclining device is provided with a lock mechanism that interlocks with an operation member such as an operation lever, and the lock mechanism is configured to restrict the swing of the seatback with respect to the seat cushion.

The lock mechanism is configured to include an arcuate lock gear integrally provided on the arm plate and a lock claw that is interlocked with the operation lever. Further, the arm plate is biased forward under the biasing force of the return spring, for example, and excessive swinging of the arm plate forward is prevented by the stopper means.

In such a configuration, for example, when the lock mechanism is locked off by operating the operation member, the arm plate, that is, the seat back is biased forward under the biasing force of the return spring. The reclining angle can be easily adjusted based on the strength of the seat back pushing force.

Here, normally, the operation lever is connected to the lock pawl so as to be interlocked with each other via a transmission means including a combination of various gears and links. Since such a transmission means is arranged below the arm plate together with the operation lever, the return spring and the stopper means are usually arranged around the main shaft in order to prevent the reclining device from increasing in size. Has been done. Therefore, as a return spring, a spring spring wound around a main shaft is usually used, and a projecting piece that can be locked to an arm plate is provided around the spring spring as a stopper means.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Here, since the known reclining device is equipped with a transmission means composed of various gears and links, etc., which are appropriately combined, the structure is complicated due to an increase in the number of parts, and the play between the gears is reduced. Occurrence of backlash is unavoidable.

Therefore, for example, a configuration is known in which a main shaft is used and a lock mechanism that is operable by rotation of the main shaft is provided. Such a lock mechanism includes, for example, a pair of teeth that can be meshed with each other, and one of the teeth is formed integrally with the arm plate, while the other of the teeth is rotated by the main shaft to cause the arm to rotate. It is provided so as to be movable in the axial direction of the main shaft with respect to the teeth of the plate.

In such a configuration, the transmission means is omitted, and the rotational operating force of the operating member directly acts on the lock mechanism via the main shaft, so the number of parts is reduced and the configuration may be complicated. Absent.

However, in such a configuration, in addition to the return spring and the stopper means, the lock mechanism is arranged around the main shaft. That is, since the components of the reclining device are concentrated around the main shaft, it is inevitable that the reclining device becomes large in the axial direction of the main shaft.

Here, the width of the seat including the reclining device in the left-right direction is generally determined by standards or the like. In other words, when the reclining device becomes large in the axial direction of the main shaft, the effective width of the seat must be narrowed and the seat width must be set within a predetermined width. Therefore, the effective width of the seat, that is, the seating surface is narrowed, which may give the seated person an unpleasant feeling and reduce the comfort.

The mainspring spring is wound around the main shaft and arranged. In other words, the biasing force from the mainspring spring acts on the arm plate at the position closest to the main axis, which is the center of swing of the seat back, and therefore a strong biasing force is required of the spring. For this reason, it is unavoidable that the mainspring spring becomes large, and in this respect also, the reclining device tends to become large.

Further, since the stopper means is provided at a position around the main shaft and close to the return spring, the stopper means is required to have high rigidity capable of counteracting the large biasing force of the main spring. Therefore, the stopper means tends to be large and complicated, and from this point also, the reclining device becomes large, which is not preferable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a seat reclining device that prevents the main shaft from becoming large in the axial direction and ensures a wide effective width of the seat.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 To achieve this object, according to the present invention, a base plate and an arm plate are swingably connected by a main shaft, and a lock mechanism that restricts the swing of the arm plate with respect to the base plate is used as a source of rotation of the main shaft. It is configured to be operable with. Further, the arm plate is formed integrally with an extension piece extending downward from the main shaft. A return spring for biasing the arm plate in the forward tilt direction and a stopper means for preventing excessive swinging of the arm plate are respectively provided on the extending pieces of the arm plate in a position away from the main shaft.

[0016]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a seat reclining device 10 according to the present invention includes a base plate 12 attached to a seat cushion side and an arm plate 14 attached to a seat backside. However, the main shaft 16 is connected to the base plate so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction.

As can be seen from FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2, the main shaft 16 is integrally formed with a large-diameter locking piece 16 a at one end thereof, and is inserted into the insertion hole 18 of the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14. The insertion holes 20 are continuously inserted and arranged. Then, for example, the washer 22 is attached to the base plate side, the washer is sandwiched, and the locking member 24 is attached to the main shaft 16, so that the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14 are irremovably connected. As the locking member 24, for example, a spring pin that locks the washer 22 by fitting it into an insertion hole 26 formed in advance at the extending end 16b of the main shaft can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main shaft 16 is formed with a lead screw 28 on the outer periphery of the corresponding portion between the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14. Then, a drive plate 32 integrally having a nut 30 capable of being screwed with the lead screw 28 in the central portion is arranged between the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14 around the main shaft 16. The nut 30 of the drive plate is formed, for example, on the arm plate side so as to project in a boss shape.

Then, for example, a lock plate 36 having an insertion hole 34 into which the nut 30 of the drive plate can be loosely inserted is arranged around the nut between the drive plate 32 and the arm plate 14. That is, the lock plate 36 is supported by the drive plate 32.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the drive plate 32 and the lock plate 36 are formed, for example, with notches 38 and 40 having the same shape, and the notches can be continuously inserted. The stopper 42 is provided on the inner surface of the base plate 12 so as to project. The stoppers 42 are provided, for example, at two positions separated by a predetermined angle, for example, 180 ° with respect to the insertion hole 18.

In such a configuration, the drive plate 32 and the lock plate 36 cannot rotate with respect to the base plate 12 due to the engagement of the notches 38, 40 and the stopper 42. The nut 30 can be screwed in and out of the lead screw 28, that is, the drive plate and the lock plate can be moved in the axial direction of the main shaft.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the present invention, the arm plate 14 and the lock plate 36 are provided with a pair of tooth portions 44 and 46 that can be meshed with each other, respectively. The pair of teeth are formed as the lock mechanism 48 of the reclining device.

For example, the tooth portion 44 of the arm plate is formed on the inner surface, that is, the surface facing the lock plate 36, in the shape of a crown gear around the insertion hole 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lock plate tooth portion 46 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the arm plate tooth portion 44 on the surface facing the arm plate 14.

In such a configuration, since the lock plate 36 is non-rotatably supported with respect to the base plate 12, when the arm plate tooth portion 44 and the lock plate tooth portion 46 are in a meshed state, the lock mechanism is locked. The lock state of 48 is set, and the swing of the arm plate with respect to the base plate is restricted.

Then, the drive plate 32 and the lock plate 36 are moved in the axial direction in accordance with the rotation of the main shaft 16 so that the lock plate is moved away from the arm plate 14, and the tooth portion 46 of the lock plate is moved. When separated from the tooth portion 44 of the plate, the lock mechanism 48 enters the lock-off state. Then, the swing restriction of the arm plate 14 with respect to the base plate 12 is released, and the swing angle of the seat back (reclining angle) can be adjusted by the swing of the arm plate.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the lock plate 36 is biased by the biasing means 50, for example, in the direction away from the arm plate 14, that is, in the drive plate direction. As can be seen from FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1, as the biasing means 50, for example, a compression coil spring wound around the main shaft 16 between the arm plate 14 and the lock plate 36 can be used.

In such a configuration, for example, when the drive plate 32 moves in a direction away from the arm plate 14 due to the rotation of the main shaft 16, the lock plate 36 is displaced by the biasing force of the compression coil spring (biasing means) 50. Moves following the arm plate. When the drive plate 32 moves in the arm plate direction due to the rotation of the main shaft 16, the lock plate 36 is pressed against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 50 and moves in the arm plate direction together with the drive plate. ..

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present invention, an operating member such as an operating handle 52 is directly attached to one end of the main shaft 16, and the main shaft is directly moved by rotating the operating handle. It is configured to be rotatable. One end of the main shaft 16 is formed with, for example, a spline shaft-shaped protruding piece 54, and by fitting the protruding piece into the corresponding bearing 56 of the operating handle (operating member) 52, the operating handle is attached to the main shaft. , Is rotatably mounted as a unit.

That is, according to the reclining device 10 having such a configuration, the main shaft 16 is integrally rotated by the rotation operation of the operation handle 52, and the lock mechanism 48 is operated under the rotation of the main shaft. It becomes unnecessary to use a transmission means or the like in which Therefore, the structure is simplified by reducing the number of parts, and the backlash of the seat back due to the play of the gears is reliably prevented.

The reclining device 10 of the present invention is not limited to the structure and operation of the lock mechanism described in the above embodiment, as long as the structure allows the lock mechanism 48 to be operated by the rotation of the main shaft 16. Since the configuration and operation centering on the lock mechanism 48 are not the purpose of this invention, they will not be described in detail here.

By the way, in this invention, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the transmission means is removed from below the arm plate 14, so that a sufficient space can be secured below the arm plate.

Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arm plate 14 is integrally formed with the extending piece 58 extending downward from the main shaft 16, and the base plate is formed. Stopper means 60 for restricting the swing of the arm plate with respect to 12 is provided at a position sufficiently separated from the main shaft, for example, at the lower end of the extending piece 58. ing.

The stopper means 60 includes, for example, a head 62 formed at the lower end of the extension piece 58 of the arm plate so as to project in the base plate direction, and a lower wall 12a of the base plate that is engageable with the head of the extension piece. And a protrusion 64 that is provided so as to protrude from the. The stopper step 60 is configured, for example, so as to prevent the arm plate 14 from swinging in the forward tilt direction, and when the head 62 is engaged with the protrusion 64 of the stopper means, the foremost tilt position of the seat back is set. Is set.

Further, like the stopper means 60, the arm plate 14 and, in other words, the return spring 66 that biases the seat back in the forward tilt direction, is at a position sufficiently separated from the main shaft 16, and the arm plate extension piece 58. It is provided in. As the return spring 66, for example, an extension coil spring can be used, and the extension coil spring includes a locking pin 68 protruding from the head 62 of the extension piece and a locking pin 70 provided at the lower rear end of the base plate. It is stretched between.

In such a configuration, the arm plate 14 is biased in the forward tilt direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1) about the main shaft 16 under the biasing force from the return spring (tensile coil spring) 66. ..

According to this structure, since the return spring 66 and the stopper means 60 are provided at positions separated from the main shaft 16, the components of the reclining device 10 are distributed from the rotation of the main shaft. Therefore, the reclining device 10 can be downsized in the axial direction of the main shaft, that is, the reclining device can be thinned. Therefore, the effective width of the seat in the left-right direction, that is, the seating surface of the seated person can be secured widely, and the seated person's comfort is improved.

Further, according to this invention, since the stopper means 60 and the return spring 66 are respectively provided at the lower ends of the extending pieces 58, the biasing force from the return spring and the reaction force generated in the stopper means are , And work together at a position sufficiently separated from the main shaft 16. That is, in comparison with the known configuration in which the biasing force from the return spring is applied to the position close to the main shaft, in the present invention, the point of action of the biasing force of the return spring 66 and the swing center of the arm plate 14 are The distance between the main shaft 16 and the stopper means 60 and the main shaft can be set sufficiently long.

Therefore, both the biasing force of the return spring 66 and the rigidity of the stopper means 60 can be small, and the return spring and the stopper means can be downsized due to the decrease of the biasing force and the rigidity of the stopper means 60. Can be made thinner.

Since both the biasing force of the return spring 66 and the rigidity of the stopper means 60 can be reduced, the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14 are not required to have so large rigidity.

Therefore, for example, the base plate 12 and the arm plate 14 made of synthetic resin can be used for the reclining device 10, and the reclining device, that is, the entire sheet can be sufficiently reduced in weight.

Here, in the embodiment, the operation handle 52 is illustrated as an operation member, but it is sufficient if the main shaft 16 can be easily rotated, and therefore the invention is not limited to the operation handle, and for example, the operation lever. Alternatively, the main shaft may be directly rotated by such means.

Further, in the embodiment, the return spring 66 is embodied as the tension coil spring stretched between the lower end of the extending piece of the arm plate 14 and the lower rear end of the base plate 12. Since it suffices if the plate is biased in the forward tilt direction, it is not limited to the tension coil spring, and another biasing means may be provided as a return spring.

However, in the configuration in which the tension coil spring is used as the return spring 66 as in this embodiment, it suffices to lock each end of the tension coil spring to the locking pins 68, 70, etc. Can be sufficiently prevented and the workability is improved.

Further, the head 62 and the protrusion 64 of the stopper means are sufficient as long as they can be engaged with each other, and are not limited to the illustrated shapes.

In the embodiment, the reclining device 10 is embodied as a structure having the lock mechanism 48 on one of the left and right sides of the seat, but the invention is not limited to this, and the reclining device 10 can be interlocked with the left and right sides of the seat. The present invention may be applied to a so-called double-sided lock type reclining device having a lock mechanism.

Although the present invention is optimal as a reclining device for automobile seats, it is not limited to this, and is also applied as a reclining device for other various sheets such as trains, airplanes, and ships. it can.

The above-described embodiments are for explaining the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way, and all the modifications and alterations made within the technical scope of the present invention are also applicable. Needless to say, it is included in the device.

[0049]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the seat reclining device according to the present invention, since the return spring and the stopper means are provided at positions separated from the main shaft, the components of the reclining device are dispersed around the main shaft. The reclining device can be miniaturized in the axial direction of the main shaft, that is, the reclining device can be thinned. Therefore, the effective width of the seat in the left-right direction, that is, the seating surface of the seated person can be secured widely, and the comfort of the seated person is improved.

Further, according to the present invention, since the stopper means and the return spring are respectively provided at the lower ends of the extending pieces, the biasing force from the return spring and the reaction force generated in the stopper means are sufficient from the main shaft. It works together in a position away from. Therefore, both the biasing force of the return spring and the rigidity of the stopper means can be reduced, and from this point also, the reclining device can be made thinner.

Since both the biasing force of the return spring and the rigidity of the stopper means can be reduced, the base plate and the arm plate are not required to have so much rigidity. Therefore, for example, a base plate and an arm plate made of synthetic resin can be used for the reclining device, and the reclining device, that is, the seat as a whole can be sufficiently reduced in weight.

In addition, in the structure in which the tension coil spring is used as the return spring, it is sufficient to lock each end of the tension coil spring to the locking pin or the like, so that the structure can be sufficiently prevented from being complicated, and the work can be prevented. The property is improved.

Further, by forming the stopper means by the head of the arm plate and the projection of the base plate, it is possible to prevent excessive swinging of the arm plate without complicating the structure, so that the reclining device is thin and lightweight. It will become even more popular.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a seat reclining device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a seat reclining device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a seat reclining device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Seat reclining device 12 Base plate 14 Arm plate 16 Spindle 48 Lock mechanism 58 Arm plate extension piece 60 Stopper means 62 Head 64 Protrusion 66 Return spring (tensile coil spring)

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A base plate and an arm plate are swingably connected by a main shaft, and a lock mechanism for restricting the swing of the arm plate with respect to the base plate is configured to be operable under the rotation of the main shaft. A return spring that is integrally formed with an extension piece that extends downward from the main shaft, biases the arm plate in the forward tilt direction, and stopper means that prevents excessive swinging of the arm plate are provided from the main shaft. A seat reclining device provided on each of the extending pieces of the arm plate at the separated positions. 2. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the return spring is a tension coil spring stretched between the lower end of the extension piece of the arm plate and the lower rear end of the base plate to bias the arm plate forward. Reclining device. 3. A head provided with a stopper means projecting toward a base plate at a lower end of the extension piece of the arm plate; and a protrusion projectingly provided on the base plate so as to be locked to the head of the extension piece. 3. The seat reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the arm plate is configured to be capable of preventing excessive swinging of the arm plate in the forward tilt direction.