JPH08317830A - Reclining device for seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent generation of abnormal noise at the time of sliding movement of a longitudinal lock gear. CONSTITUTION: A guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) is formed of nonmetal material to have a closed sectional shape to enable holding of a longitudinal lock gear 12, and interposed and fixed between a base bracket 18 and a cover bracket 20. With the member 54, the gear 12 is supported so as to slide freely between the brakets 18, 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat reclining device capable of arbitrarily adjusting and setting a swing angle (reclining angle) of a seat back with respect to a seat cushion by locking and unlocking.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a seat back is swingably supported with respect to a seat cushion, and an inclination angle (reclining angle) of the seat back can be arbitrarily adjusted and set under locking and unlocking. A seat reclining device is provided for various types of seats such as automobiles.

As a reclining device, for example, a structure including a lock gear that integrally rotates around a hinge, which is a swing center of a seat back, and a stopper having a tooth portion that can mesh with a tooth portion of the lock gear, Is commonly known. In such a structure, the stopper is biased in the meshing direction with the lock gear under the biasing force of the lock spring, and the rotation of the lock gear is restricted due to the meshing between the two tooth portions. Reclining angle is set.

This type of reclining device is usually arranged around a hinge at one end or both ends of the seat.

[0005]

By the way, the reclining seat is usually provided with a return spring for biasing the seat back forward when the reclining device is unlocked. As the return spring, for example, a spiral spring wound around a hinge is used.

However, in the known reclining device, in addition to the return spring, the lock gear is arranged around the hinge of the seat, and the stopper and the lock spring are arranged around the lock gear. The protrusion of the hinge portion cannot be avoided due to the increase in size of the apparatus, which may lead to an increase in the size of the entire sheet in the width direction.

Such an increase in the size of the seat in the width direction due to the protrusion of the reclining device is not particularly preferable for a vehicle seat or the like to be arranged in a narrow space.

[0008] Therefore, there is provided a structure provided with a combination of a rack-shaped longitudinal lock gear, one end of which is connected to an arm on the seat back side and which is slidable in the longitudinal direction, and a stopper having a tooth portion which can be meshed with the longitudinal lock gear. , For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-036345.

With such a construction, the reclining device can be made thinner by juxtaposing the longitudinal lock gear and the stopper on the same plane in the vertical direction, and the reclining device can be arranged on the side surface of the seat cushion deviated from the seat hinge. It is possible to prevent the side portion from protruding at the hinge portion of the seat, etc., and to arrange the seat in a narrow space.

In the construction disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-036345, the vertical movement of the longitudinal lock gear during sliding in the longitudinal direction is prevented by the engagement pin and the elongated guide hole. Is prevented by the combination with. However, since the longitudinal lock gear and the engagement pin are usually formed as metal members, in such a configuration, abnormal noise due to metal contact may occur when the longitudinal lock gear slides. .

The occurrence of such an abnormal sound not only gives a seated person an unpleasant sensation, but also may cause a deterioration in quality.

In addition to the combination of the engaging pin and the guide hole described above, a structure is also known in which a fixing member such as a bracket is provided with a step portion or a claw to slidably support the longitudinal lock gear. Since these and the like are usually molded from a metal material, even with these configurations, metal contact is inevitable when the longitudinal lock gear slides.

An object of the present invention is to provide a seat reclining device which prevents the generation of abnormal noise when the longitudinal lock gear slides.

[0014]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, a guide member is molded from a non-metallic material into a closed cross-sectional shape capable of holding a longitudinal lock gear.
It is interposed and fixed between the base bracket and the cover bracket. And by hugging with this guide member,
A longitudinal lock gear is slidably supported between the base bracket and the cover bracket.

[0015]

In this structure, since the longitudinal lock gear is merely in sliding contact with the guide member made of a non-metallic material,
No metal contact occurs when the longitudinal lock gear slides.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of abnormal noise due to metal contact.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now 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 has a linear longitudinal lock gear 12 slidable in the longitudinal direction, and tooth portions 12a-on the upper and lower surfaces of the longitudinal lock gear. Teeth 14a, 15a that can mesh with 1, 12a-2
And a pair of stoppers 14 and 15 having As can be seen from FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 2, by sandwiching the longitudinal lock gear 12 and the pair of stoppers 14 and 15 by the pair of base brackets 18, the cover bracket 20,
The reclining device 10 is unitized in advance.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pair of stoppers 14 and 15 are formed, for example, as upper and lower latches rotatable around the support pin 24 of the base bracket 18, respectively, and corresponding teeth. Teeth to parts 12a-1, 12a-2
Sliding of the longitudinal lock gear 12 can be regulated, that is, lockable, by sandwiching 14a and 15a from above and below while engaging with each other.

The base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20 are connected to each other by a support pin 24 and a connecting pin 22 on the other side which is separated from the support pin (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Upper and lower latches (stoppers) 14, 1
5 is linked to the latch guide 30 by free insertion of the projecting pin 26 into the corresponding elongated hole-shaped guide holes 28-1 and 28-2.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the latch guide 30 is formed integrally with, for example, a support shaft 32, and is supported on the side of the cover bracket between the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20. It is rotatably arranged with its shaft protruding. Further, for example, the operating means 34 including an operating lever is provided rotatably integrally with the support shaft 32 of the latch guide.

The guide holes 28-1 and 28-2 of the latch guide
Under the rotation of the latch guide 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, the latches 14 and 15 are engaged with the tooth portions 12a-1 and 12a-2 of the longitudinal lock gear.
The teeth 14a and 15a are inclined so as to rotate in the direction in which the teeth 14a and 15a move away from each other, that is, in the unlocking direction (see FIG. 4).
reference).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch guide 30 is provided with a tooth 14a of the latch to the tooth portions 12a-1 and 12a-2 of the longitudinal lock gear under the biasing force of the lock spring 36. , 15a are biased in the meshing direction, that is, in the clockwise direction in the figure. As the lock spring 36, for example, a locking piece of the latch guide 30
A tension coil spring stretched between 30a and the locking piece 20a of the cover bracket 20 can be used.

Here, such a reclining device 10
As shown in FIG. 5, normally, the unit main body including the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20 is arranged on the side portion of the seat cushion 38, and as can be seen from FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. Use the fixing screw 40 of the
Fixed at 44. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end (the left end in the figure) of the longitudinal lock gear 12 is rotated to the connecting end 50a of the substantially frame-shaped side frame 50 of the seat back 48 via the support link 46, for example. Can be freely connected.

The seat back 48 is provided, for example, so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction about a fulcrum (hinge) 51 of a bent portion of the side frame 50. With the swing of the seat back, the longitudinal lock gear 12 is lengthened. It is provided so as to slide in the direction, that is, in the front-back direction of the seat (left-right direction in the drawing).

For example, under the biasing force of the lock spring 36, the tooth portions 12a-1 and 12a-2 of the longitudinal lock gear and the tooth portions 14a and 1 of the latch 14a.
The state of FIG. 1 in which the reclining device 10 is engaged with 5a, that is, the locked state is assumed to be the initial state of the reclining device 10. From this initial state, when the operating lever (operating means) 34 is operated counterclockwise against the biasing force of the lock spring 36, the latch guide 30 is integrally rotated to cause latching of the upper and lower latches.
14 and 15 are the corresponding teeth 12a-1 and 12a-2 of the longitudinal lock gear.
By rotating the tooth portions 14a and 15a away from each other, the longitudinal lock gear is unlocked as shown in FIG.

In the unlocked state of the longitudinal lock gear 12 shown in FIG. 4, since the longitudinal lock gear is free with respect to the unit main body including the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20, sliding in the longitudinal direction with respect to the unit main body. Under this condition, the position of the longitudinal lock gear, that is, the swing angle (reclining angle) of the seat back 48 with respect to the seat cushion 38 can be arbitrarily adjusted (see FIG. 5).

Then, at any position of the longitudinal lock gear 12,
In other words, when the operating force of the operating lever 34 is released at any reclining angle of the seat back 48, the latch guide 30 rotates clockwise under the biasing force of the lock spring 36, and the tooth portion Latch teeth on 12a-1, 12a-2
By the engagement of 14a and 15a, the longitudinal lock gear 12 is locked again, and the seat back 48 is set to an arbitrary reclining angle.

By the way, in the reclining device 10 having such a longitudinal lock gear 12, it is necessary to prevent the longitudinal lock gear from moving vertically, that is, blurring. However, since the longitudinal lock gear 12 is usually molded from a metal material, under the restriction of an equivalent metal member, metal contact during sliding in the longitudinal direction, and the generation of abnormal noise due to this, is generated. Is inevitable.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the present invention, the longitudinal lock gear 12 is formed by a pair of guide members 54 (54-1, 54-2) made of a non-metallic material, for example.
Is supported slidably in the longitudinal direction between the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20.

As can be seen from FIG. 6 in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) is made of a synthetic resin material such as polyamide resin or acetal resin and is provided with a longitudinal lock gear. The base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20 are formed at two locations separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gear, each of which is molded into a hollow closed cross-sectional shape capable of slidably embracing 12.
It is fixed in between.

Here, in the present invention, the longitudinal lock gear 12 is formed so as to have strip-shaped projections 12b formed by embossing and extending in the longitudinal direction on either of the opposite vertical surfaces, and the strip shape of the longitudinal lock gear is also formed. A recessed step portion 54a capable of loosely fitting and engaging the projection is provided on the inner surface of the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2), and with the loose fitting of the strip-shaped projection to the recessed step portion,
The longitudinal lock gear is loosely inserted in the guide member.

Then, for example, the protruding portion 54b formed by forming the concave step portion 54a on the inner surface is provided with the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-
2) are provided on the outer surface of the base bracket 18,
The guide member is fixed to each bracket by fitting and engaging the respective protrusions into the corresponding engaging holes 56 and 57 of the cover bracket 20.

In this structure, the strip-shaped projection of the longitudinal lock gear
Since the combination of 12b and the concave step portion 54a of the guide member functions as a guide, smooth sliding of the longitudinal lock gear 12 with respect to the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) can be ensured.

In the embodiment, the concave step portions 54a of the guide member are provided on the vertical walls facing each other. In this way, the concave step 54a
-If it is provided on each vertical wall of (2), the arrangement direction of the guide member is not limited, so that the arrangement and fixing work becomes easy and the workability is improved.

As described above, in the reclining device 10 of the present invention, the longitudinal lock gear 12 has the guide member 54.
Since it slides under the sliding contact with (54-1, 54-2), it is possible to reliably prevent the shake in the vertical direction when sliding in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, stable sliding of the longitudinal lock gear 12 can be ensured, and upper and lower latches 14, 15 can be secured.
The certainty of locking the longitudinal lock gear due to is improved.

Since the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) is molded from a synthetic resin material (non-metallic material), it is possible to reliably prevent metal contact when the longitudinal lock gear 12 slides in the longitudinal direction. The generation of abnormal noise due to metal contact is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the comfort of the seated person from being deteriorated and the quality of the reclining device itself from being deteriorated due to the generation of the abnormal noise.

Further, a synthetic resin guide member 54 (54-1, 54
-By holding and supporting the longitudinal lock gear 12 in (2), the frictional resistance generated during sliding of the longitudinal lock gear is sufficiently suppressed, so that smooth sliding of the longitudinal lock gear can be easily ensured.

Here, in the present invention, the guide member
54 (54-1, 54-2) are arranged at two locations separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gear 12, but it is sufficient to prevent metal contact during sliding, so it is limited to two locations. Instead, for example, the guide member may be arranged on only one of them.

However, if the guide members 54 (54-1, 54-2) are arranged at two positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal lock gear 12 is supported by so-called two-point support, so that the vertical rocking gear 12 is shaken in the vertical direction. It is possible to easily secure stable sliding with prevention.

Further, the guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) is fixed to the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20 by utilizing the protruding portion 54b on the outer surface formed by forming the concave step portion 54a. Since it suffices to interpose or fix the guide member between the brackets, it is limited to the configuration using the protruding portion. For example, the guide member can be fixed by locking or pinching with a locking claw provided on each bracket. You may fix between brackets.

However, if the projecting portion 54b on the outer surface is used, the engaging holes 56 and 57 corresponding to the projecting portion are provided in the base bracket 18 and the cover bracket 20, respectively, and
Since it suffices to fit and engage the protrusion into the engagement hole, the structure and workability can be simplified easily.

Further, in the examples, polyamide resin and acetal resin are exemplified as the synthetic resin material as the non-metal material, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example,
The guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) may be molded from another synthetic resin material.

The guide member 54 (54-1, 54-2) is not limited to the synthetic resin material because it is sufficient if it is molded from a non-metallic material that does not cause metal contact with the longitudinal lock gear 12, and, for example, The guide member may be molded from a ceramic material.

Here, for example, when the strip-shaped protrusion 12b extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the longitudinal lock gear 12 by embossing, the longitudinal lock gear is reinforced in the longitudinal direction by the strip-shaped protrusion, so that tension, compression, bending or twisting occurs. It is possible to obtain rigidity that resists the above, and to reliably prevent the occurrence of strain due to heat treatment and the like. Therefore, the strip-shaped projection 12 that serves as a guide
By providing b, it is possible to easily maintain the rigidity of the longitudinal lock gear at a high level.

By the way, in the embodiment, the reclining device 10 includes the longitudinal lock gear 12 having the tooth portions 12a-1 and 12a-2 on both the upper surface and the lower surface of the upper and lower latches 14 and 15, respectively.
However, since the reclining device need only have a longitudinal lock gear, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a structure having a tooth portion only on either the upper surface or the lower surface. You may.

However, like the reclining device 10 shown in the present invention, the upper and lower teeth 12a-1 and 12
If the longitudinal lock gear 12 can be locked under the engagement of the teeth 14a, 15a of the corresponding latch to a-2, the longitudinal lock gear is locked by being pinched from above and below.
The certainty of the lock can be maintained high enough.

Since the longitudinal lock gear 12, the upper latch 14 and the lower latch 14 are all juxtaposed in the vertical direction, the thickness of the unit main body, that is, the reclining device 10 can be sufficiently suppressed, as shown in FIG. In addition, the seat cushion 38 can be arranged on the side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the hinge portion of the seat from projecting and increase in size, and it becomes possible to sufficiently arrange the seat in a narrow space such as an automobile by narrowing the overall width of the seat.

In the embodiment, the upper and lower latches 14 and 15 rotatable about the support pin 24 are illustrated as stoppers, but the longitudinal lock gear 12 is locked under the meshing of the corresponding tooth portions. Since it is sufficient if it is possible, the stopper is not limited to the latch, and for example, a lock plate that is linearly slidable under a biasing force may be used as the stopper.

The embodiment is embodied as a seat reclining device for automobiles and the like and is said to be most suitable for this, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, seats for trains, airplanes, ships, etc. and hairdressing, hairdressing. The present invention may be applied to reclining devices for various types of seats for home and home use.

The above-mentioned embodiments are for explaining the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way.
It goes without saying that the present invention includes all those which are modified or modified within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the seat reclining device of the present invention, since the longitudinal lock gear is slid under the sliding contact with the guide member, the longitudinal lock gear can be slid in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to reliably prevent vertical blurring. Therefore, stable sliding of the longitudinal lock gear can be ensured, and the reliability of locking of the longitudinal lock gear by the stopper is improved.

Since the guide member is formed of a non-metallic material, metal contact can be reliably prevented when the longitudinal lock gear slides in the longitudinal direction, and abnormal noise due to metal contact can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to surely prevent the comfort of the seated person from being deteriorated and the quality of the reclining device itself from being deteriorated due to the generation of the abnormal noise.

Further, since the longitudinal lock gear is held and supported by the guide member made of a non-metallic material, the frictional resistance generated when the longitudinal lock gear slides is sufficiently suppressed, so that the longitudinal lock gear can easily slide smoothly. Can be secured.

Further, if the guide members are respectively arranged at two positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gear, the longitudinal lock gear is supported at two points, so that stable sliding in the vertical direction is prevented, and It can be easily secured.

If the guide member is fixed to the base bracket and the cover bracket by utilizing the projecting portion of the outer surface formed by the concave step, the engaging holes corresponding to the projecting portion are provided in each bracket. Since it suffices to fit and engage the protrusion into the engagement hole, the structure and workability can be simplified easily.

Further, if the longitudinal lock gear can be locked under the meshing of the teeth of the corresponding stoppers with the teeth of the upper and lower surfaces, the longitudinal lock gear is locked by being pinched from above and below. The certainty can be maintained high enough.

Since the longitudinal lock gear and the stopper are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, the thickness of the unit itself is sufficiently suppressed, and the seat cushion can be arranged on the side portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the hinge portion of the seat from projecting and increase in size, and it becomes possible to sufficiently arrange the seat in a narrow space such as an automobile by narrowing the overall width of the seat.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a seat reclining device.

3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the seat reclining device taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the seat reclining device when the lock is released.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the seat with a seat reclining device mounted, partially broken away.

6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the seat reclining device taken along the line BB of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Seat reclining device 12 Longitudinal lock gears 12a-1 and 12a-2 A pair of teeth of the longitudinal lock gear 12b Belt-shaped protrusions 14 and 15 Pairs of stoppers (upper and lower latches) 14a and 15a Stopper (latch) teeth 18 Base Bracket 20 Cover Bracket 28-1, 28-2 Guide hole 30 Latch guide 34 Operating means (operation lever) 54 (54-1, 54-2) Guide member 54a Recessed step 54b Projection 56, 57 Engagement hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A linear longitudinal lock gear which is connected to an arm of a seat back by a connecting pin and slides in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with swinging of the seat back; In a seat reclining device that is provided with a stopper that restricts the sliding of the lock gear and is sandwiched by a pair of base brackets and cover brackets, a non-metallic member having a closed cross-sectional shape that can hold a longitudinal lock gear. A guide member formed of a material is interposed and fixed between the base bracket and the cover bracket, and the longitudinal lock gear is slidably supported between the brackets by being held by the guide member. Reclining device. 2. A linear longitudinal lock gear which is connected to an arm of the seat back by a connecting pin and slides in the longitudinal direction in association with the swing of the seat back; In a seat reclining device that is provided with a stopper that restricts the sliding of the lock gear and is sandwiched by a pair of base brackets and cover brackets, a non-metallic member having a closed cross-sectional shape that can hold a longitudinal lock gear. A guide member formed of a material is interposed and fixed between the base bracket and the cover bracket at two locations separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gear, and the pair of guide members holds the longitudinal lock gear between the brackets. A seat reclining device that is slidably supported. 3. The swing angle of the seat back relative to the seat cushion is arbitrarily adjusted by locking and unlocking.
In a seat reclining device that can be set, a straight line that is formed with tooth portions on the upper and lower surfaces and that is slidable in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with the swing of the seat back around the hinge. -Shaped longitudinal lock gear; a pair of upper and lower latches, each of which is formed to have a corresponding tooth that can mesh with the tooth of the longitudinal lock gear, and is rotatably provided in the vertical position of the longitudinal lock gear; Each of the latches is formed with a long hole-shaped guide hole into which the projecting pin can be inserted, and is rotated around the support shaft in accordance with the operation of the integrally rotatable operation means. The latch guide for rotating the latch between the meshing position and the meshing disengagement position of the teeth is sandwiched between the pair of base brackets and the cover bracket to be unitized in advance, and the biasing force of the lock spring applied to the latch guide is also included. And with , Each latch can be biased in synchronism with the meshing direction of the tooth of the longitudinal lock gear, and a guide member molded from a non-metallic material with a closed cross-section that can hold the longitudinal lock gear is used for the base bracket and cover bracket. A reclining device for a seat, which is interposed and fixed between the brackets and slidably supports the longitudinal lock gear between the brackets by being held by the guide member. 4. The seat reclining device according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is interposed and fixed between the base bracket and the cover bracket at two locations separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gear. 5. The longitudinal lock gear is formed by having strip-shaped projections extending in the longitudinal direction on either of the opposite vertical surfaces, and a corresponding recessed step portion that allows loose fitting and engagement of the strip-shaped projections. The seat reclining device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided on a corresponding inner surface of the guide member. 6. The longitudinal lock gear is formed by having strip-shaped projections extending in the longitudinal direction on either of the opposite vertical surfaces, and a guide member is provided so that the strip-shaped projections can be loosely fitted and engaged. The recessed step portion is formed on the inner surface, and the protruding portion formed by forming the recessed step portion is formed on the outer surface, and the longitudinal lock gear slides into the guide member with loose fitting of the band-shaped projection into the recessed step portion. 6. The guide member is fixed to each bracket by being movably arranged and by fitting and engaging the protrusions in corresponding engaging holes of the base bracket and the cover bracket. Seat reclining device. 7. A linear longitudinal lock gear that is connected to an arm of the seat back by a connecting pin and slides in the longitudinal direction in conjunction with swinging of the seat back; In a seat reclining device that is provided with a stopper that regulates the sliding of the lock gear and is sandwiched by a pair of base brackets and cover brackets, the longitudinal lock gear has a longitudinal protrusion extending in a reciprocal direction. A guide member formed of a non-metallic material having a closed cross-sectional shape capable of holding the longitudinal lock gear can be loosely fitted and engaged with the strip-shaped projection of the longitudinal lock gear. The guide member is formed with a corresponding concave step portion on the inner surface and a protrusion formed by forming the concave step portion on the outer surface. By fitting and engaging the protrusions in the corresponding engaging holes of the brackets and cover brackets, the brackets are interposed and fixed at two positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal lock gears, and the belt-like recesses are formed. A reclining device for a seat, wherein a longitudinal lock gear is slidably supported between brackets by disposing a protrusion in a guide member accompanied by loose fitting.