JPH10236207A - Foot rest support structure of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the impediment of the free motion of a leg when a foot rest is used. SOLUTION: A fitting hole of a foot rest 20 is fitted to a male screw part 17A fixed to a bearing bracket 16 on the seat side, and the foot rest 20 is turnably supported. The foot rest 20 is held at a service position or a storage position by fitting a driven rod 31 of the foot rest 20 to a receiving hole 26 of a supporting member 17. Because the receiving hole 26 which is a means to hold the foot rest 20 is provided in the vicinity of the center of turn of the foot rest 20, and the driven rod 31 is provided inside the foot rest 20, the free motion of the leg is not impeded when the leg is placed on or off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support structure for a footrest that can be stored in a seat back of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle footrest support structure for mounting a footrest on a vehicle seat so as to be displaced between a retracted position along a rear surface of a front seat back and a use position protruding rearward from the seat back. An example is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 7-22838. This is, as shown in FIG.
The backboard 2 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the seatback 1 and both edges of the seatback 1 and the backboard 2 are connected to each other to hold the backboard 2 in a substantially horizontal position protruding forward from the seatback 1. A link stay 3 is provided, and a footrest 4 is attached to the back board 2. When the footrest 4 is not used, the backboard 2 is raised to follow the back of the seatback 1 and the locking piece 5 at the upper end of the seatback 1 is locked to the upper end of the backboard 2 so that the footrest is in the retracted state. Become. Also, when using the footrest 4,
If the backboard 2 is tilted to a substantially horizontal posture, the footrest 4 appears while being supported by the backboard 2,
The leg can be put on the footrest 4.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above prior art,
The link stay 3 is used as a means for holding the footrest 4 in a used state. However, since the link stay 3 projects obliquely between both side edges of the seat back 1 and the footrest 4, the link stay 3 There is a disadvantage that the link stay 3 is in the way when the legs are put on or off. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a footrest that does not hinder free movement of a leg when the footrest is used.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a seat of an automobile can be displaced between a storage position along a back surface of a seat back and a use position where the foot rest projects rearward from the seat back. A supporting means for supporting the footrest so as to be rotatable about a position near a lower end of the seat back, and a center of rotation of the seat by the supporting means. A configuration is provided that includes a receiving means provided at a nearby position and an engaging means provided along the footrest and capable of holding the footrest at the use position by engaging with the receiving means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the receiving means is a receiving hole, and the engaging means is a rod which can be radially fitted into the receiving hole. did. The invention of claim 3 is claim 1 or claim 2.
In the invention, the receiving means is disposed at a plurality of positions different from each other in the rotation direction of the footrest, and the engaging means selectively engages with the plurality of receiving means, so that the footrest has a plurality of positions. The configuration is such that it can be held in the use position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the first to third aspects.
In any one of the inventions described above, the footrest includes an urging means for urging the engaging means in an engaging direction with the receiving means, and a pressing operation for urging the engaging means to the urging of the urging means. And a release operating means for displacing the receiving means in a direction to remove the receiving means from the receiving means.

[0007]

Actions and effects of the present invention

<Claim 1> When the footrest is used, the footrest is tilted from the storage position to the use position, and is held at the use position by engaging the engagement means with the receiving means. The receiving means is provided in the vicinity of the center of rotation of the footrest and the engaging means is provided along the footrest. There is no need to provide holding members, so that free movement of the legs does not have to be impeded. In addition, since the footrest is directly supported on the seat without using other supporting members, the footrest on the back of the seatback is compared with a structure in which another supporting member is provided on the seat and the footrest is attached to the supporting member. Can be made thinner by the supporting member. As a result, it is possible to ensure a sufficient thickness of the seat back itself and comfort during sitting.

[0008] In using the footrest, if the rod is radially fitted into the receiving hole on the seat side while the footrest is rotated to the use position, the relation between the rod and the receiving hole is increased. In this case, the displacement of the footrest in the rotation direction is regulated, and the footrest is held at the use position. Since the means for holding the footrest in the use position is configured to fit into the receiving hole, the structure of the holding means is simplified.

<Claim 3> When the footrest is used, one of the plurality of receiving means is selected and the engaging means is engaged with the receiving means. By changing the engaging receiving means, the angle and height of the footrest can be adjusted. Compared with the method of adjusting the angle and height of the footrest by deforming the footrest in a bent shape on the support member held in a fixed posture, the present invention can keep the footrest flat when adjusting. It has excellent usability and stability when the legs are placed on the footrest.

<Claim 4> When the footrest is used, when the footrest is rotated to a predetermined use position, the engaging means is engaged with the receiving means by the urging of the urging means. When the footrest is stored, when the release operation means is pressed against the urging of the urging means, the engaging means is disengaged from the receiving means, so that the footrest can be turned from the use position to the storage position. The operation of engaging the engaging means with the receiving hole is automatically performed by the urging force without any operation, and the disengagement is performed by a simple operation of pressing, so that the operability is excellent. .

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a structure in which the footrest 20 is attached to the seat back 11 of the seat 10 will be described. The seat back 11 includes a seat back body 1 in which a cushion, a spring, and the like are housed.
2 and a back board 13 attached to the back of the seat back body 12 so as to hide the inside of the seat back body 12.
The backboard 13 is provided with a rectangular storage portion 14 which is relatively shallow and concave in a tray shape, and the footrest 20 is stored in the storage portion 14.

The footrest 20 has a rectangular plate shape as a whole, and is stored in a storage portion 14 as shown by a chain line in FIG. As shown by the solid line in the drawing, the support member is supported so as to be rotatable between a use position protruding rearward from the seat back 11. A pivot support structure for rotatably supporting the footrest 20 will be described. A seat frame 15 is provided inside the seat back 11 along the periphery of the back board 13, and a pair of left and right bearing brackets 16 welded near both ends of a lower end edge of the seat frame 15 are attached to a lower end of the storage unit 14. It protrudes at both ends. Between the two bearing brackets 16 is disposed a support member 17 having a hollow cross section and a pipe shape having a circular cross section. Male screw portions projecting from both ends of the support member 17 (in accordance with the requirements of the present invention). A certain bearing means 17A is inserted through a mounting hole (not shown) of the bearing bracket 16, and a nut 18 is screwed into a protruding end of the male screw portion 17A and fastened. Thus, the support member 17 is fixed to the seat frame 15 in a state where the rotation thereof is restricted. Then, both end surfaces of the support member 17 and the bearing bracket 1
6, a space for accommodating the mounting portion 21A of the footrest 20 is provided.

The footrest 20 includes a frame 21 formed into a generally "U" shape by connecting a pipe 22 bent into an "L" shape with a holder 23, and a base fixed to be sandwiched with respect to the frame 21. It is composed of a plate 24 and a mounting plate 25, and has a rectangular thick plate shape as a whole. The base plate 24 is disposed on a surface that is outward when the footrest 20 is in the storage position, and the mounting plate 25 is disposed on a surface that is upward when the footrest 20 is in the use position. At both ends of the frame 21, mounting portions 21A deformed into a plate shape are formed, and mounting holes 21B of the mounting portions 21A (shaft support means, which is a constituent feature of the present invention) are formed in the male screw portions 17A of the support member 17. Mated. Thus, the footrest 20 is rotatable with respect to the support member 17 and the seat back 11.

Next, a holding structure for holding the footrest 20 in the storage position and the use position will be described. A plurality (four in this embodiment) of receiving holes (receiving means, which is a constituent element of the present invention) 26 are formed at a central position in the length direction of the support member 17. These receiving holes 26
The bearing brackets 16 are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction around the axis of the bearing bracket 16.
Has an elongated hole shape extending in the axial direction. Of the plurality of receiving holes 26, the receiving hole 26 that opens in a direction along the rear surface of the seat back 11 (upward in FIG. 3) moves the footrest 20 to the storage position in cooperation with a driven rod 31 described below. It has a function to hold. Also, the direction opposite to the seat back 11 (FIG. 3)
Three receiving holes 26 opening diagonally to the lower right in FIG.
, Each independently function to hold the footrest 20 in the use position.

On the other hand, in the space between the base plate 24 and the mounting plate 25 of the footrest 20, a plate 28 is supported by a bracket 27 fixed to the base plate 24 so as to be rotatable by a shaft 29. A drive rod 30 and a driven rod (engaging means, a constituent element of the present invention) 31 are connected to both ends of the shaft 28 by shafts 32 and 33 so as to be relatively rotatable. The drive rod 30 is connected to a release button (release operation means, which is a constituent feature of the present invention) 35 described later, and the driven rod 31 is
And extends toward the receiving hole 26.

When the drive rod 30 is displaced away from the support member 17, the direction of the displacement is reversed by the rotation of the plate 28, and the driven rod 31 is displaced in the direction toward the support member 17, and the driven rod 31 The distal end can be fitted into any of the plurality of receiving holes 26. In a state where the driven rod 31 is fitted into the receiving hole 26, the two are engaged without play in the rotation direction, whereby the relative rotation of the driven rod 31 with respect to the support member 17 is restricted, and the driven rod 31 is pressed by the holding member 3.
4, the lifting of the footrest 20 from the base plate 24 is regulated, whereby the relative rotation of the footrest 20 with respect to the support member 17 is regulated, and the footrest 20 is held in a constant posture. On the contrary, the driving rod 30 is
When the support rod 17 is displaced toward
Since the distal end of the driven rod 31 is displaced in a direction away from the support member 17 and comes out of the receiving hole 26, the footrest 20 is allowed to rotate with respect to the support member 17.

Next, a mechanism for performing an engaging operation between the driven rod 31 and the receiving hole 26 and an releasing operation thereof will be described. The holder 23 that forms the frame 21 of the footrest 20 has a “U” shape that opens outward (upward when the footrest 20 is in the storage position). A guide portion 36 is formed as a guide when the member is displaced outward and inward (in a direction substantially parallel to the drive rod 30). The release button 35 has a box shape that opens inward, and its release
The drive rod 30 is connected to the side surface by a shaft 37 so as to be relatively rotatable. The driving rod 30 is attached to the holder 23.
The rod is penetrated by a rod-shaped through hole 38 formed in a long hole. A pair of engaging pins 39 projecting from the left and right sides of the release button 35 penetrate through the escape grooves 40 on the left and right sides of the holder 23. When the release button 35 moves, the engagement pins 39 It moves within the escape groove 40. The outer end of the escape groove 40 serves as a stopper 41.
The displacement of the release button 35 to the outside is restricted by contact with the release button 35.

A recess 42 is formed on the surface of the release button 35 on the side of the mounting plate 25, and mounting pins 43 projecting from the recess 42 are provided.
Is mounted with a torsion coil spring (biasing means, which is a component of the present invention). One of the arm portions 44A of the torsion coil spring 44 has a recess 4
The second arm portion 44B is locked by the second locking hole 42A.
Are locked in locking holes 23 </ b> A formed in the inner edge of the holder 23. Such a torsion coil spring 4
By the urging of 4, the release button 35 is always held at the position where the engagement pin 39 is locked by the stopper 41, that is, the position where the tip of the driven rod 31 is fitted into the receiving hole 26. Then, the release button 35 is pressed inwardly (by the support member 17) against the bias of the torsion coil spring 44.
When the push operation is performed to the right side, the driving rod 30 is displaced in the same direction, and the driven rod 31 comes out of the receiving hole 26.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When the footrest 20 is not used, as shown by a chain line in FIG.
Is stored in the storage unit 14 on the back of the camera. When using the footrest 20 from this state, the release button 35
Is pushed downward to separate the driven rod 31 from the receiving hole 26. Then, since the rotation restriction of the footrest 20 due to the engagement between the driven rod 31 and the receiving hole 26 is released, the footrest 20 is tilted backward. Then, when the footrest 20 falls to the use position at a desired inclination angle as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, the release button 35 is released. Then, the release button 35 returns to the current position by the urging of the torsion coil spring 44, and the driven rod 31 is fitted into the receiving hole 26 accordingly. When the driven rod 31 is fitted into the receiving hole 26, the footrest 20 is held in the use position with the mounting plate 25 facing obliquely upward even if the hand is released from the footrest 20. You can take a comfortable posture.

In addition, there are a plurality of use positions (3 in this embodiment).
One), the footrest 20
Angle and height can be changed. For example, when changing the angle and height of the footrest 20 from the state in which the driven rod 31 is engaged with the central receiving hole 26 of the three receiving holes 26 arranged as shown by the solid line in FIG. The driven rod 31 is pulled out of the receiving hole 26 by pressing the button 35, the footrest 20 is slightly rotated upward or downward, and the hand is released from the release button 35 to move the driven rod 31 to the upper receiving hole 26 or the lower receiving hole. What is necessary is just to engage with the hole 26. When storing footrest 20 after use, release button 3
5, the driven rod 31 is pulled out of the receiving hole 26 by turning the footrest 20, the footrest 20 is pivoted so as to rise greatly upward, is accommodated in the storage portion 14, and is released from the release button 35 to release the driven rod 31. The receiving hole 26 is engaged.
Then, the footrest 20 is held in a state housed in the storage unit 14.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as a means for holding the footrest 20 at the use position or the storage position, the receiving hole 26 of the seat 10 is provided near the center of rotation of the footrest 20 and the driven portion of the footrest 20 is driven. Since the rod 31 is housed inside the footrest 20 and is provided along the base plate 24, a holding member such as a link stay of the related art does not protrude at the rear edge or the left and right side edges of the footrest 20 without protruding. It is a configuration that can be completed. That is, when the leg is placed on the footrest 20 or lowered from the footrest 20, there is no obstacle that obstructs the movement of the leg, so that the usability is excellent.

In this embodiment, the footrest 20 is directly supported on the seat 10 without any intervening supporting members, and the angle of the footrest 20 during use can be adjusted. Therefore, as compared with a structure in which a support member that projects from the seat 10 at a fixed angle is provided and the angle and the height of the footrest 20 are adjusted on the support member, the space of the storage portion 14 of the seat back 11 is reduced. Can be made thinner. This makes it possible to secure a sufficient thickness of the seat back 11 itself, improve cushioning properties, etc., and secure comfort when seated, without reducing the foot space of the rear seat. ing.

Further, since the means for holding the footrest 20 at the use position or the storage position has a structure in which the driven rod 31 is fitted in the receiving hole 26 in the radial direction, the structure is simplified. Further, in the present embodiment, since the tilt angle and the height can be adjusted while the footrest 20 is kept flat, the footrest is deformed in a bent shape on the support member held in a fixed posture. In comparison with the case where the angle and the height are adjusted, the feeling of use and stability when the legs are placed on the footrest 20 are superior.

Further, the driven rod 3 with respect to the receiving hole 26
1 is automatically performed by the bias of the torsion coil spring 44, and the operation of pulling out the driven rod 31 from the receiving hole 26 is performed by a simple operation of pressing the release button 35. . Therefore, the operability is superior to the case where the engaging operation is performed manually and the case where the releasing operation is performed by pulling. Moreover,
Since the release button 35 is provided so as not to protrude from the footrest 20 but to be embedded inside the footrest 20, the release button 35 is excellent in aesthetics.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and described with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the footrest is supported by the seat back, but according to the present invention, the footrest may be supported by the seat cushion. (2) In the above embodiment, the footrest can be held not only at the use position but also at the storage position by the common structure of the receiving hole and the driven rod. According to the present invention, the means for holding the footrest at the storage position is provided. And a structure different from the driven rod.

(3) In the above embodiment, the footrest is held at the use position or the storage position by fitting the driven rod into the receiving hole. However, according to the present invention, the structure is not limited to the fitting structure between the hole and the rod. Instead, for example, the receiving means on the seat side may be formed as a projection projecting in the radial direction, and the engaging means on the footrest side may be formed as a cylindrical portion or a hole, so that both are fitted. (4) In the above embodiment, the receiving holes are arranged at a plurality of different positions in the rotation direction of the footrest. According to the present invention, only one receiving hole may be provided.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the operation of the release button for releasing the engagement of the driven rod with the receiving hole is performed by pressing. However, according to the present invention, pulling, turning, sliding, etc. are performed. Alternatively, the engagement may be released by an operation mode other than pressing. (6) In the above embodiment, the operation of engaging the driven rod with the receiving hole is automatically performed by the urging of the torsion coil spring. However, according to the present invention, the engagement is performed by performing a manual operation. May be performed.

(7) In the above embodiment, when the driven rod is inserted into the receiving hole, the tip of the driven rod stays inside the supporting member. According to the present invention, the supporting member is provided with the receiving hole. A through hole may be formed on the opposite side, and the driven rod may penetrate the support member and protrude from the through hole to the opposite side. In this case, the driven rod is engaged at two places, the receiving hole and the through hole.
Improves the stability of the footrest.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing a state where a footrest is in a storage position and a use position.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state where a footrest is in a storage position and a use position.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state where a mounting plate is removed from a footrest.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a release button.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a shaft supporting means.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway enlarged plan view showing a state in which the footrest is held at a use position.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged partially enlarged plan view showing a state in which the holding of the footrest at the use position is released.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional footrest can be used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Seat 11 ... Seat back 17A ... Male screw part (shaft support means) 20 ... Footrest 21B ... Mounting hole (shaft support means) 26 ... Receiving hole (receiving means) 31 ... Follower rod (engaging means) 35 ... Release button (Release operation means) 44 torsion coil spring (biasing means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle footrest support structure for supporting a vehicle seat such that the footrest can be displaced between a storage position along a rear surface of the seatback and a use position protruding rearward from the seatback. Bearing means for supporting the footrest rotatably about a position near the lower end of the seat back; receiving means provided at a position near the center of rotation of the seat by the bearing means; A footrest support structure for a motor vehicle, comprising: an engaging means provided along the guide and capable of holding the footrest at the use position by engaging with the receiving means. 2. The footrest support for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means is a receiving hole, and said engaging means is a rod which can be radially fitted into said receiving hole. Construction. 3. The footrest is disposed at a plurality of positions different from each other in a rotation direction of the footrest, and the engaging means selectively engages with the plurality of receiving means so that the plurality of footrests is formed. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device can be held at a use position.
A vehicle footrest support structure as described in the above. 4. An urging means for urging the engaging means in an engaging direction with the receiving means, and a pushing operation for urging the engaging means against urging of the urging means. 4. A footrest support structure for an automobile according to claim 1, further comprising a release operating means for displacing the receiving means in a direction in which the receiving means is disengaged from the receiving means.