WO2013038876A1

WO2013038876A1 - Vehicle seat device

Info

Publication number: WO2013038876A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/071043
Authority: WO
Inventors: 日比　和宏
Original assignee: トヨタ車体株式会社
Priority date: 2011-09-13
Filing date: 2012-08-21
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: CN103648840B; JP2013060090A; CN103648840A; JP5678847B2

Abstract

A vehicle seat device (20) has a vehicle seat (21), a lifting device (30), and a grasp arm (60). The vehicle seat (21) moves between the vehicle interior and the outside of the vehicle interior. The lifting device (30) vertically moves the vehicle seat (21). While the user is seated on the vehicle seat (21), the grasp arm (60) is either located at the position at which the grasp arm (60) is used as a constituent part of the vehicle seat (21), or stowed within the vehicle seat (21). While the user is away from the vehicle seat (21), the grasp arm (60) is extended to the outer side of the vehicle seat (21) in the width direction thereof and the height of the grasp arm (60) is changed as the vehicle seat (21) is moved vertically.

Description

Vehicle seat device

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat device that includes a vehicle seat that moves between a vehicle interior and a vehicle exterior and that allows a wheelchair user with weak legs to easily get on and off the vehicle.

Conventionally, a vehicle seat device described in Japanese Patent No. 4030331 is known. The vehicle seat device has a vehicle seat mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and the vehicle seat is designed to facilitate these operations when a wheelchair user with weak legs sits down or leaves. The vehicle seat device includes a vehicle seat on which an occupant is seated and a moving mechanism that changes the position of the vehicle seat. The moving mechanism includes a seat rotation mechanism, a seat slide mechanism, and a seat lifting mechanism. The seat rotation mechanism changes the direction of the vehicle seat in the vehicle compartment. The seat slide mechanism slides the vehicle seat between the vehicle interior and the exterior of the vehicle interior. The seat elevating mechanism elevates and lowers the vehicle seat outside the vehicle compartment. According to the vehicle seat device, the vehicle seat can move between a movement position outside the vehicle room where the wheelchair can move to the vehicle seat or move from the vehicle seat to the wheelchair, and a boarding position where the vehicle can be driven.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-119442 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-30793 disclose vehicle seats mounted on vehicles such as automobiles. The vehicle seat is provided with an armrest for ease of posture. The armrest is movable not only as an armrest but also so that functions are added as appropriate.

When a wheelchair user moves from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat and when moving from a vehicle seat to a wheelchair, an assistant who assists the movement of the wheelchair user is necessary. The assistant needs to hold the wheelchair user from the wheelchair when the wheelchair user moves from the wheelchair to the vehicle seat. For this reason, the assistant often takes a middle waist posture in order to lift the wheelchair user, and therefore suffers from back pain.

Therefore, when a wheelchair user is moved from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat, a vehicle seat device with a low load on a middle waist posture in which an assistant lifts the wheelchair user is conventionally required.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the vehicle seat device comprises a vehicle seat, an elevator and a gripping arm. The vehicle seat moves between the vehicle interior and the exterior of the vehicle interior. The elevator raises and lowers the vehicle seat. The gripping arm is stored in a position or used as a component of the vehicle seat when the user is seated on the vehicle seat, and the width of the vehicle seat when the user is away from the vehicle seat. The height of the vehicle seat is changed as the vehicle seat moves up and down.

Therefore, when the user moves from the wheelchair to the seat, the user grasps and grasps the arm, the height of the grasping arm is changed together with the seat, and the user's waist floats from the wheelchair. Therefore, when the user moves from the wheelchair to the seat, the assistant who assists the user takes less time to take the middle waist posture. Thus, the back pain of the assistant is reduced. The gripping arm is housed in a position that is a component of the seat when the user sits on the vehicle seat or in the seat. Therefore, the gripping arm does not get in the way.

It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the movement of a vehicle seat. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the movement of a vehicle seat. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the movement of a vehicle seat. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the movement of a vehicle seat. It is a plane schematic diagram which shows the movement of a vehicle seat. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus before a seat surface raises. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus after a seat surface raises. It is a typical perspective view of a movable armrest and a seat back. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus in the 1st step in which a user moves from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus in the 2nd step where a user moves from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus in the 3rd stage where a user moves from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat. It is a side surface schematic diagram of the vehicle seat apparatus in the 4th step where a user moves from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat. It is a side surface schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 of the modification of a tilt mechanism. It is a side surface schematic diagram corresponding to FIG. 7 of the modification of a tilt mechanism.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. A vehicle seat device 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is a seat for an automobile occupant mounted on an automobile 10 as a vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vehicle seat device 20 includes a vehicle seat 21 on which an occupant is seated and a moving mechanism 50 for moving the vehicle seat 21. The vehicle seat device 20 is mounted as a passenger seat of the automobile 10 and makes it easy for a wheelchair user who has weak legs to get on and off. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 21 moves from the vehicle compartment 11 inside the automobile 10 to the vehicle compartment exterior 12 outside the automobile 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the vehicle seat 21 is moved from the position in the vehicle compartment 11 to the position outside the vehicle compartment 12 by the moving mechanism 50.

1 to 5, the moving mechanism 50 is attached to the vehicle body (not shown) of the automobile 10 and supports the vehicle seat 21 so as to be movable. The moving mechanism 50 includes a rotating mechanism, a slide moving mechanism, and an elevating mechanism (four-bar linkage mechanism 52). The rotation mechanism changes the direction of the vehicle seat 21 in the vehicle compartment 11. The slide moving mechanism slides the vehicle seat 21 between the vehicle interior 11 and the vehicle exterior 12. The elevating mechanism raises and lowers the vehicle seat 21 outside the vehicle compartment 12.

The moving mechanism 50 is controlled by the operation controller 55 to move the vehicle seat 21. The operation controller 55 is connected to a moving mechanism 50 including the various mechanisms described above (a rotating mechanism, a slide moving mechanism, and an elevating mechanism) in a controllable manner. An occupant or an assistant operates the operation controller 55, and an operation signal is transmitted from the operation controller 55 to the moving mechanism 50. The vehicle seat 21 moves based on the operation signal.

The vehicle seat 21 moves between a normal boarding position in the vehicle compartment 11 shown in FIG. 1 and a boarding / exiting position outside the vehicle compartment 12 shown in FIG. The user gets on the vehicle seat 21 at the boarding / alighting position from a wheelchair (not shown) or gets off the wheelchair. The vehicle seat 21 moves from the normal boarding position to the boarding / alighting position in the order of FIGS. The vehicle seat 21 moves from the boarding / exiting position to the normal boarding position in the order shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile 10 includes a center console 15, a passenger seat door 16, and a center pillar 17. The vehicle seat 21 moves from the normal boarding position in FIG. 1 to the first movement position shown in FIG. The first movement position rotates counterclockwise so that it is closer to the passenger seat door 16 than the normal boarding position and faces outward. The vehicle seat 21 moves from the first movement position to the second movement position shown in FIG. In the second movement position, the user's leg is turned leftward to the outside facing the passenger compartment door 16 and toward the passenger seat door 16 than the first movement position. Therefore, the vehicle seat 21 slides toward the vehicle exterior 12 while rotating.

The vehicle seat 21 moves from the second movement position to the third movement position shown in FIG. The third movement position is closer to the vehicle exterior 12 than the second movement position. The boarding / alighting position shown in FIG. 5 is located outside the vehicle compartment 12 and is located below the third movement position. The user can sit or leave the vehicle seat 21 at the boarding / alighting position. The vehicle seat 21 in the boarding / alighting position is so low that the feet of the user P sitting on the vehicle seat 21 land on the ground G as shown in FIGS.

The vehicle seat 21 includes a seat cushion 22, a seat back 23, and a headrest 24 as shown in FIG. The seat cushion 22 has a seat surface 221 on which a user (occupant) P sits. The seat back 23 is supported by the seat cushion 22 and supports the back of the user P. The headrest 24 is supported by the seat back 23 and supports the head of the user P. When the vehicle seat 21 is in the getting-on / off position shown in FIG. 5, the seating surface 221 can be lifted (tilted up) as shown in FIGS. The seating surface 221 moves to the normal riding position shown in FIG. 6 and the tilt position shown in FIG.

The vehicle seat 21 includes a four-bar linkage mechanism 52 and a seat base 25 as shown in FIGS. The seat base 25 is supported by the four-bar linkage mechanism 52 and supports the seat cushion 22. The four-bar linkage mechanism 52 constitutes an elevating mechanism for the moving mechanism 50 and has a function of elevating the vehicle seat 21.

A tilt mechanism (elevator) 30 is provided between the seat base 25 and the seat cushion 22 as shown in FIGS. The tilt mechanism 30 moves the rear part of the seat cushion 22 up and down. The tilt mechanism 30 includes a rotary shaft support portion 31 provided at the front portion of the seat cushion 22 and an elevating drive portion 33 provided at the rear portion of the seat cushion 22. The rotation shaft support portion 31 rotatably connects the seat cushion 22 to the seat base 25.

The elevating drive unit 33 includes a drive motor 35, a pinion gear 36, and a driven gear 37 as shown in FIGS. The drive motor 35 is supported by the seat base 25 and generates a rotational driving force. The pinion gear 36 is attached to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 35 and is rotated by the drive motor 35. The driven gear 37 is rotatably supported by the seat base 25, meshes with the pinion gear 36, and is rotated by the pinion gear 36.

The driven gear 37 is provided with a connecting link portion 38 extending in the radial direction as shown in FIG. The distal end of the connecting link portion 38 is fitted into the guide slit 39 of the seat cushion 22 and connected to the seat cushion 22. When the pinion gear 36 is rotated, the connecting link portion 38 is rotated integrally with the driven gear 37. The distal end of the connecting link portion 38 moves in the guide slit 39 and the connecting link portion 38 raises and lowers the seat cushion 22.

The seat cushion 22 has a portion corresponding to the user's buttocks as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the portion is connected to the connecting link portion 38. The tilt mechanism 30 raises the seating surface 221 of the seat cushion 22 so as to raise the user's buttocks outside the vehicle compartment 12, and the seating surface 221 is inclined. The tilt mechanism 30 is operated by an operation input from an operation controller (height controller) 55. The tilt mechanism 30 can be operated by a signal from the operation controller 55 only when the vehicle seat 21 is positioned outside the vehicle compartment 12.

When the height of the seat cushion 22 is at the normal riding position shown in FIG. 6, the operation controller (height controller) 55 is operated so as to raise the seat cushion 22. The operation controller 55 issues an operation signal, and the tilt mechanism 30 is driven. In the tilt mechanism 30, the pinion gear 36 is rotated by the drive motor 35, and the driven gear 37 is rotated. The connecting link portion 38 raises the rear portion of the seating surface 221 of the seat cushion 22 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 7, and the seating surface 221 is inclined (seat surface raising operation). Since the seat back 23 is connected to the seat cushion 22, the seat back 23 moves up and down in conjunction with the seat cushion 22.

When the height of the seat cushion 22 is at the tilt position shown in FIG. 7, the operation controller 55 is operated so as to lower the seat cushion 22. The operation controller 55 issues an operation signal, and the tilt mechanism 30 is driven. In the tilt mechanism 30, the pinion gear 36 is rotated by the drive motor 35, and the driven gear 37 is rotated. The connecting link portion 38 lowers the rear portion of the seating surface 221 of the seat cushion 22 from the position of FIG. 7 to the position of FIG. 6, and the seating surface 221 is inclined (seat surface lowering operation).

The operation controller 55 transmits a signal to a control controller (not shown) that controls the tilt mechanism 30 when operated. The control controller that has received the signal controls the tilt mechanism 30 to raise or lower the seat cushion 22 based on the content of the signal.

As shown in FIG. 8, the seat back 23 of the vehicle seat 21 is provided with a movable armrest (grip arm) 60. The movable armrest 60 functions as an armrest for the user when the user is seated on the vehicle seat 21. The movable armrest 60 includes an armrest body 61 and a seat coupling portion 65. The armrest main body 61 functions as an armrest like the widely used armrest. The base end portion of the armrest body 61 is coupled to the side portion 231 in the width direction of the seat back 23 by the seat coupling portion 65. The seat connecting portion 65 serves as a base portion of the armrest body 61 that is rotatably supported by the frame of the seat back 23. The tip of the armrest body 61 rotates in a circular arc with the seat connecting portion 65 as a fulcrum.

The seat coupling portion 65 rotatably supports the armrest body 61 between the broken line and the solid line shown in FIG. The armrest body 61 is located at a position indicated by a broken line when the user sits on the vehicle seat 21. The armrest body 61 is positioned at a position indicated by a solid line by rotating outward in the width direction of the vehicle seat 21 when the user is away from the vehicle seat 21. The height of the armrest body 61 changes with the elevation of the height position of the vehicle seat 21. The armrest body 61 can be moved to the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat 21 when the vehicle seat 21 is positioned outside the vehicle compartment 12.

The wheelchair user (occupant) P can sequentially move from the wheelchair C to the vehicle seat 21 as shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 shows the occupant P and the vehicle seat device 20 in the first stage. 10 shows the occupant P and the vehicle seat device 20 in the second stage, FIG. 11 shows the third stage, and FIG. 12 shows the fourth stage. 9 to 12, an assistant (for example, a caregiver) who assists the occupant P when the occupant P transfers from the wheelchair C to the vehicle seat 21 is omitted.

The vehicle seat 21 shown in FIG. 9 is located at the boarding / alighting position shown in FIG. The wheelchair C on which the wheelchair user (occupant) P is seated is fastened adjacent to the vehicle seat 21. The wheelchair C is fastened to the side of the vehicle seat 21 where the movable armrest 60 is disposed. The armrest body 61 of the movable armrest 60 is located on the outer side in the width direction of the vehicle seat 21. Therefore, the armrest main body 61 is positioned in front of the wheelchair C and the wheelchair user P sitting on the wheelchair C.

As shown in FIG. 9, the wheelchair user P puts the armrest body 61 under the armpit. The wheelchair user P gradually leans forward and deposits his body in the armrest body 61. The weight of the wheelchair user P is added to the armrest body 61. When the wheelchair user P operates the operation controller 55 to raise (tilt up) the seat cushion 22, the armrest body 61 also rises together with the seat back 23. The waist of the wheelchair user P floats from the wheelchair C by the armrest body 61. When the assistant accommodates the wheelchair C in the vehicle compartment 11, the state shown in FIG.

By operating the operation controller 55, the four-bar linkage mechanism 52 is driven and the vehicle seat 21 is raised as shown in FIG. The wheelchair user P sits on the seat cushion 22 by rotating the body together with the armrest body 61 as shown in FIG. The wheelchair user P sits on the seat cushion 22 and drives the four-bar linkage mechanism 52 to lower the vehicle seat 21 as shown in FIG. When the wheelchair user P is seated on the seat cushion 22, an assistant may assist the wheelchair user P appropriately. When the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 21 moves from the vehicle seat 21 to the wheelchair C, the occupant P can move in the reverse order to the order described above, that is, in the order shown in FIGS.

As described above, the vehicle seat device 20 is provided with the movable armrest 60. When the user leaves the vehicle seat 21, the movable armrest 60 opens to the outside in the width direction of the vehicle seat 21, and the height is changed as the vehicle seat 21 is raised and lowered. Therefore, when the wheelchair user (occupant) P moves from the wheelchair C to the vehicle seat 21, the wheelchair user P is gripped by the movable armrest 60. As the vehicle seat 21 is raised and lowered, the height of the movable armrest 60 is changed, and the waist of the wheelchair user P floats from the wheelchair C. Thereby, when the wheelchair user P moves from the wheelchair C to the vehicle seat 21, the middle waist posture of the assistant who assists the wheelchair user P is reduced. Thus, the back pain of the assistant can be reduced. Further, the movable armrest 60 functions as an armrest and does not get in the way when the user sits on the vehicle seat 21.

The vehicle seat 21 is raised and lowered by the tilt mechanism 30, and the seat surface 221 is raised by the tilt mechanism 30. As the seat surface 221 increases, the center of gravity of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 21 increases, and the occupant P easily stands up. Therefore, the time required for the assistant to move the occupant P by lifting the occupant P is reduced.

The vehicle seat 21 is moved up and down by the operation controller 55 that is operated when the vehicle seat 21 moves outside the vehicle compartment 12. Therefore, the height of the vehicle seat 21 can be determined only by operating the operation controller 55. The height of the vehicle seat 21 can be determined according to the standing posture of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 21. Therefore, the height of the vehicle seat 21 can be easily adjusted so as to reduce the time required for the assistant to lift up the occupant P.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the above structure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many substitutions, improvements, and changes can be made without departing from the object of the present invention. Accordingly, aspects of the invention may include all alterations, modifications, and changes that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the form of the present invention is not limited to the special structure, and can be modified as follows.

A seating sensor (load change detection sensor) may be provided on the seating surface 221 of the seat cushion 22. As the seating sensor, a pressure sensor or the like that detects a change in the weight of the seated user P can be used. The seating sensor transmits a detection signal to a control controller that controls the tilt mechanism 30 based on a change in the load applied from the user P to the seat cushion 22. The controller (height control device) adjusts the height of the seat cushion 22 by operating the tilt mechanism 30 based on the detection signal.

2 to 4, the foot of the user P is floating from the ground G (shown in FIG. 6), and the entire weight of the user P is added to the seat cushion 22. In FIG. 5, the foot of the user P lands on the ground G, and the load applied to the seat cushion 22 from the user P decreases. The seating sensor detects a change in load and issues a detection signal to the control controller (height controller).

The controller (not shown) may have a memory (storage means) that stores past operations of the tilt mechanism 30. When the tilt mechanism 30 is provided with a memory, the tilt mechanism 30 can operate the height of the armrest body 61 (seat cushion 22) based on information stored in the memory. As a result, the height of the armrest body 61 can be automatically adjusted in a structure in which the control based on the operation controller 55 or the seating sensor is omitted. When the wheelchair user P matches the stored information, the height of the armrest body 61 is automatically adjusted, and the wheelchair user P can easily move.

The gripping arm may be a movable armrest or stored in a seat. For example, the gripping arm may be housed inside the seat back 23 and may be used as an arm that moves outward in the width direction of the vehicle seat 21 when the user leaves the vehicle seat 21.

An appropriate drive mechanism and operation function may be added to the gripping arm. For example, a drive motor that rotates and moves the armrest body 61 may be built in the seat connecting portion 65, and the drive motor may be operated by the operation controller 55. Thereby, the wheelchair user P can rotate the body as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 by the armrest body 61 rotated by the operation of the operation controller 55.

Further, the tilt mechanism 30 of the vehicle seat device 20 described above may be configured as a tilt mechanism 30A shown in FIGS. That is, (A) in FIGS. 13 and 14 is a schematic side view showing the tilt mechanism 30A, which is a modified example, before the seat surface raising operation. Moreover, (B) of FIG.13, 14 is a side surface schematic diagram which shows the bearing surface raising operation | movement of 30 A of tilt mechanisms used as a modification. The tilt mechanism 30A as a modification is different from the tilt mechanism 30 of the above-described embodiment in that the rotation shaft support portion 31A has a structure having a link. In addition, about the location which becomes the same structure as the tilt mechanism 30 of above-described embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted using the same code | symbol.

Instead of the tilt mechanism 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a tilt mechanism 30A shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be provided. The tilt mechanism 30A has a link as the rotation shaft support portion 31A. The rotation shaft support portion 31 </ b> A has a link structure including a rotation shaft support portion main body 321 and a shaft support link portion 322 that is supported by the rotation shaft support portion main body 321. The rotation shaft support portion main body 321 is configured in the same manner as the rotation shaft support portion 31 shown in FIGS. The shaft support link part 322 has a rod-like shape, and has a base end that is rotatably connected to the rotation shaft support part main body 321 and a tip end that is rotatably connected to the seat cushion 22. The distal end of the connecting link portion 38A of the elevating drive portion 33A is connected to the seat cushion 22 so as to be rotatable without being inserted into the guide slit 39 and relatively moved. The tilt mechanism 30A can also lift and lower the rear part of the seat cushion 22.

The seat back 23 may be connected to the seat cushion 22 and move integrally with the seat cushion 22 as described above. Alternatively, the seat back may be fixed separately from the seat cushion, and only the seat cushion 22 may move.

Claims

A vehicle seat device,
A vehicle seat that moves between the interior and exterior of the vehicle;
An elevator for raising and lowering the vehicle seat;
When the user is seated on the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat is stored in a position used as a component of the vehicle seat or in the vehicle seat and when the user is away from the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat device having a gripping arm that expands outward in the width direction of the vehicle and whose height is changed as the vehicle seat is raised and lowered.
The vehicle seat device according to claim 1,
The elevator is a vehicle seat device that is a tilt mechanism that tilts the seat so that the user can easily sit or leave the vehicle seat outside the vehicle compartment.
The vehicle seat device according to claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle seat apparatus which has an operation controller which is operated when the said vehicle seat moves out of the said vehicle compartment, and operates the said elevator.
The vehicle seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The elevator has a memory for storing the height of the vehicle seat, and the vehicle seat device raises and lowers the vehicle seat based on information stored in the memory.