U.S. patent application number 12/441820 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for arrangement lever device for automobile seat.
Invention is credited to Masato Watanabe.
Application Number | 20110049954 12/441820 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39200623 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110049954 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watanabe; Masato |
March 3, 2011 |
Arrangement Lever Device for Automobile Seat
Abstract
An arrangement lever device for an automobile seat including a
reclining operation lever (1) mounted on a support shaft that is
concentrically joined with an actuating shaft (5) interconnecting
reclining lock mechanisms which are arranged between brackets (3)
of a seat cushion and brackets (4) of a seat back, a walk-in
operation lever (2) arranged to be adjacent to the reclining
operation lever (1) and supported on one of the brackets (3) of the
seat cushion, and a linkage mechanism for preventing the motion of
one of the levers (1, 2) from being transmitted to the other of the
levers (1, 2), the linkage mechanism coupled between the levers (1,
2).
Inventors: |
Watanabe; Masato; (Tochigi,
JP) |
Family ID: |
39200623 |
Appl. No.: |
12/441820 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
September 19, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/068732 |
371 Date: |
May 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/344.1 ;
74/491 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/20 20130101; B60N
2/206 20130101; Y10T 74/20396 20150115; B60N 2/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/344.1 ;
74/491 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/12 20060101
B60N002/12; B60N 2/22 20060101 B60N002/22; B60N 2/20 20060101
B60N002/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 19, 2006 |
JP |
2006-252754 |
Claims
1. An arrangement lever device for an automobile seat, the
automobile seat including a seat cushion having a pair of spaced
apart brackets, a seat cushion having a pair of spaced apart
brackets and pivotally supported to the seat cushion via first and
second reclining lock means arranged between the brackets of the
seat cushion and the brackets of the seat back, an actuating shaft
for actuating the first and second lock means, the actuating shaft
interconnecting the first and second locking means, a slide rail
mechanism for allowing the automobile seat to be slid in a vehicle
body, and slide lock means for locking the slide rail mechanism and
preventing the slide movement of the automobile seat, the
arrangement lever device comprising: a reclining operation lever
for unlocking the first and second reclining lock means to allow
the seat back to be angularly adjusted and pivoted forward and
rearward relative to the seat cushion; the reclining operation
lever being mounted on a support shaft that is concentrically
joined with the actuating shaft; a walk-in operation lever for
unlocking the first and second reclining lock means to allow the
seat back to be inclined forward and for unlocking the slide lock
means for the slide rail mechanism; the walk-in operation lever
being arranged to be adjacent to the reclining operation lever and
pivotally supported on one of the brackets of the seat cushion; and
a linkage mechanism for preventing the motion of one of the
reclining operation and walk-in operation levers from being
transmitted to the other of the levers; the linkage mechanism
coupled between the reclining operation lever and the walk-in
operation lever.
2. The arrangement lever device according to claim 1, wherein the
walk-in operation lever is provided at a rearward end portion
thereof with a standing pin, wherein the linkage mechanism includes
a first swinging bar supported by the actuating shaft, a link
bracket supported on the support shaft, a second swinging arm
pivotally supported on the bracket of the seat cushion and coupled
to the slide lock means for the slide rail mechanism via a wire
cable, the second swinging arm being provided at an upper end
portion thereof with an induction pin, a first link plate having an
elongated hole formed in a lower end portion thereof, the first
link plate being coupled at an upper end portion thereof to the
first swinging arm with the elongated hole thereof receiving the
standing pin of the walk-in operation lever, so that the first link
plate is coupled between the first swinging arm and the walk-in
operation lever, and a second link plate coupled at an upper end
portion thereof to the link bracket and coupled at a lower end
portion thereof to the induction pin of the second swinging arm, so
that the second link plate is coupled between the link bracket and
the second swinging arm, and wherein when the reclining operation
lever is operated, the actuating shaft is rotated to thereby cause
the first and second reclining lock means to be unlocked, the first
swinging arm is swung to thereby cause the first link plate to be
moved relative to the walk-in operation lever while allowing the
elongated hole thereof to be shifted relative to the standing pin
of the walk-in operation lever, and the second link plate is moved
to thereby cause the second swinging lever to be pivoted in a
direction in which the wire cable is not pulled, so that the
operation of the reclining operation lever is idled by the movement
of the first link plate relative to the walk-in operation lever
while allowing the elongated hole thereof to be shifted relative to
the standing pin of the walk-in operation lever, and is not
transmitted to the walk-in operation lever.
3. The arrangement lever device according claim 2, wherein the
linkage mechanism further includes a third link plate having a
laterally extending hole formed in one end portion thereof, the
third link plate being coupled at the other end portion to the
first swinging arm with the laterally extending hole thereof
receiving the induction pin of the second swinging arm, so that the
third link plate is coupled between the first swinging arm and the
second swinging arm, and wherein when the walk-in operation lever
is operated, the first link plate is pulled downward to thereby
cause the first swinging arm to be swung while allowing the third
link plate to be moved in such a manner that the laterally
extending hole thereof is shifted relative to the induction pin of
the second swinging arm, and the second swinging arm is swung in a
direction in which the wire cable is pulled, so that the operation
of the walk-in operation lever is idled by the movement of the
third link plate in such a manner that the laterally extending hole
thereof is shifted relative to the induction pin of the second
swinging arm, and is not transmitted to the reclining operation
lever.
4. The arrangement lever device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
the linkage mechanism further includes a retaining bracket for
supporting the link bracket, the retaining bracket having a
circular arc-shaped hole concentric with the actuating shaft, and
the retaining bracket being mounted on the support shaft and
mounted to the bracket of the seat cushion, and wherein the link
bracket is provided with a protruding piece extending
perpendicularly thereto, the link bracket being pivotally supported
on the support shaft with the protruding piece thereof being
inserted through the circular arc-shaped hole of the retaining
bracket, and wherein a return coil spring is stretched between the
link bracket and the retaining bracket, so that the reclining
operation lever is urged by the return coil spring so as to be
returned to its original position after the reclining operation
lever is released from the operated condition thereof.
5. The arrangement lever device according to any one of claims 2 to
4, wherein the bracket of the seat cushion has a substantially
L-shaped guide hole for guiding the induction pin of the second
swinging arm, and a support pin provided thereon, and the second
swinging arm has a vertically extending hole, the second swinging
arm being pivotally supported on the bracket with the induction pin
thereof being inserted through the substantially L-shaped guide
hole of the bracket of the seat back and with the vertically
extending hole thereof receiving the support pin of the bracket of
the seat cushion, and the second swinging arm being adapted to be
located relative to the bracket of the seat cushion at an initial
state in such a manner that the induction pin thereof is located at
a middle bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole of
the bracket of the seat cushion and a lower end portion of the
vertically extending hole thereof is abutted against the support
pin of the bracket of the seat cushion, wherein when the reclining
operation lever and the walk-in operation lever are operated, the
second swinging arm is swung forward and rearward while being
guided along the substantially L-shaped guide hole of the bracket
of the seat cushion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement lever device
for an automobile seat, the arrangement lever device including a
reclining operation lever and a walk-in operation lever.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There has been known an automobile seat which includes a
seat cushion, a seat back pivotally supported on the seat cushion
via first and second reclining lock means, a reclining operation
lever for unlocking the reclining lock means to allow the seat back
to be angularly adjusted and pivoted forward and rearward, a slide
rail mechanism for allowing the automobile seat to be slid forward
and rearward, a slide lock means for the slide rail mechanism, and
a walk-in operation lever for unlocking the reclining lock means to
allow the seat back to be inclined forward and for unlocking the
slide lock mechanism.
[0003] Generally, the reclining operation lever is mounted on a
support shaft that is concentrically joined with an actuating shaft
interconnecting the first and second reclining lock means that are
arranged between brackets of the seat cushion and brackets of the
seat back. The walk-in operation lever is provided on an upper
portion of the sea back of a front seat in order that an occupant
sitting on a rear seat can handle the walk-in operation lever
(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-22557).
[0004] In the automobile seat disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 2005-22557, the reclining operation lever
and the walk-in operation lever are arranged at completely
different positions, so that a person is hard to judge how to
arrange the automobile seat by any of the levers.
[0005] Moreover, there has been proposed an automobile seat in
which a reclining operation lever is mounted on a support shaft
that is concentrically joined with an actuating shaft
interconnecting first and second reclining lock means that are
arranged between brackets of a seat cushion and brackets of a seat
back, and a walk-in operation lever is also mounted on the support
shaft that is concentrically joined with the actuating shaft of the
reclining lock means (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2001-121994).
[0006] In the automobile seat disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 2001-121994, both the reclining operation
lever and the walk-in operation lever are mounted on the support
shaft, so that there is inconvenience in which when any one of the
reclining operation lever and the walk-in operation lever is
operated by the person, the other of the levers is swingingly moved
according to the operation of the one of the levers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention is to
provide an arrangement lever device for an automobile seat, which
includes a reclining operation lever and a walk-in operation lever
which are arranged to be adjacent to each other in order that a
person can easily find these levers, in which operation of one of
the levers is not transmitted to the other of the levers with a
simple mechanism, that is, when one of the levers is operated by
the person, the other of the levers that is in an unused state is
not swingingly moved according to the operation of the one of the
levers, and which is convenient to be handled.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention is to provide
an arrangement lever device for an automobile seat, in which
respective elements making up the arrangement lever device can be
smoothly actuated for predetermined purposes.
[0009] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an arrangement lever device for an automobile seat. The automobile
seat includes a seat cushion having a pair of spaced apart
brackets, a seat cushion having a pair of spaced apart brackets and
pivotally supported to the seat cushion via first and second
reclining lock means arranged between the brackets of the seat
cushion and the brackets of the seat back, an actuating shaft for
actuating the first and second lock means, the actuating shaft
interconnecting the first and second locking means, a slide rail
mechanism for allowing the automobile seat to be slid in a vehicle
body, and slide lock means for locking the slide rail mechanism and
preventing the slide movement of the automobile seat. The
arrangement lever device comprises a reclining operation lever for
unlocking the first and second reclining lock means to allow the
seat back to be angularly adjusted and pivoted forward and rearward
relative to the seat cushion, the reclining operation lever being
mounted on a support shaft that is concentrically joined with the
actuating shaft, a walk-in operation lever for unlocking the first
and second reclining lock means to allow the seat back to be
inclined forward and for unlocking the slide lock means for the
slide rail mechanism, the walk-in operation lever being arranged to
be adjacent to the reclining operation lever and pivotally
supported on one of the brackets of the seat cushion, and a linkage
mechanism for preventing the motion of one of the reclining
operation and walk-in operation levers from being transmitted to
the other of the levers, the linkage mechanism being coupled
between the reclining operation lever and the walk-in operation
lever.
[0010] In the arrangement lever device for the automobile seat, the
reclining operation lever is mounted to the support shaft that is
concentrically joined with the actuating shaft interconnecting the
reclining lock means that are arranged between the brackets of the
seat cushion and the bracket of the seat back, and the walk-in
operation lever is arranged to be adjacent to the reclining
operation lever and is pivotally supported on the bracket of the
seat cushion, so that the reclining operation lever and the walk-in
operation lever become easy to be found.
[0011] Moreover, the linkage mechanism for preventing the motion of
one of the levers from being transmitted to the other of the levers
is coupled between the levers, so that with the simple linkage
mechanism, one of the levers which is in the unused state is
prevented from being swingingly moved according to the operation of
the other lever in the used state and the operation of the other
lever in the used state is not interrupted with the lever in the
unused state, thus providing the arrangement lever device that is
convenient to be handled.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
walk-in operation lever is provided at a rearward end portion
thereof with a standing pin, and the linkage mechanism includes a
first swinging bar supported by the actuating shaft, a link bracket
supported on the support shaft, a second swinging arm pivotally
supported on the bracket of the seat cushion and coupled to the
slide lock means for the slide rail mechanism via a wire cable, the
second swinging arm being provided at an upper end portion thereof
with an induction pin, a first link plate having an elongated hole
formed in a lower end portion thereof, the first link plate being
coupled at an upper end portion thereof to the first swinging arm
with the elongated hole thereof receiving the standing pin of the
walk-in operation lever, so that the first link plate is coupled
between the first swinging arm and the walk-in operation lever, and
a second link plate coupled at an upper end portion thereof to the
link bracket and coupled at a lower end portion thereof to the
induction pin of the second swinging arm, so that the second link
plate is coupled between the link bracket and the second swinging
arm. When the reclining operation lever is operated, the actuating
shaft is rotated to thereby cause the first and second reclining
lock means to be unlocked, the first swinging arm is swung to
thereby cause the first link plate to be moved relative to the
walk-in operation lever while allowing the elongated hole thereof
to be shifted relative to the standing pin of the walk-in operation
lever, and the second link plate is moved to thereby cause the
second swinging lever to be pivoted in a direction in which the
wire cable is not pulled, so that the operation of the reclining
operation lever is idled by the movement of the first link plate
relative to the walk-in operation lever while allowing the
elongated hole thereof to be shifted relative to the standing pin
of the walk-in operation lever, and is not transmitted to the
walk-in operation lever.
[0013] In the arrangement lever device for the automobile seat, by
the operation of the reclining operation lever, the actuating shaft
is rotated to thereby cause the first and second reclining lock
means to be unlocked, the first swinging arm is swung to thereby
cause the first link plate to be moved relative to the walk-in
operation lever while allowing the elongated hole thereof to be
shifted relative to the standing pin of the walk-in operation
lever, and the second link plate is moved to thereby cause the
second swinging lever to be pivoted in a direction in which the
wire cable is not pulled, so that the operation of the reclining
operation lever is idled by the movement of the first link plate
relative to the walk-in operation lever while allowing the
elongated hole thereof to be shifted relative to the standing pin
of the walk-in operation lever, and is not transmitted to the
walk-in operation lever.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
linkage mechanism further includes a third link plate having a
laterally extending hole formed in one end portion thereof, the
third link plate being coupled at the other end portion to the
first swinging arm with the laterally extending hole thereof
receiving the induction pin of the second swinging arm, so that the
third link plate is coupled between the first swinging arm and the
second swinging arm. When the walk-in operation lever is operated,
the first link plate is pulled downward to thereby cause the first
swinging arm to be swung while allowing the third link plate to be
moved in such a manner that the laterally extending hole thereof is
shifted relative to the induction pin of the second swinging arm,
and the second swinging arm is swung in a direction in which the
wire cable is pulled, so that the operation of the walk-in
operation lever is idled by the movement of the third link plate in
such a manner that the laterally extending hole thereof is shifted
relative to the induction pin of the second swinging arm, and is
not transmitted to the reclining operation lever.
[0015] In the arrangement lever device for the automobile seat, by
the operation of the walk-in operation lever, the first link plate
is pulled downward to thereby cause the first swinging arm to be
swung while allowing the third link plate to be moved in such a
manner that the laterally extending hole thereof is shifted
relative to the induction pin of the second swinging arm, and the
second swinging arm is swung in a direction in which the wire cable
is pulled, so that the operation of the walk-in operation lever is
idled by the movement of the third link plate in such a manner that
the laterally extending hole thereof is shifted relative to the
induction pin of the second swinging arm, and is not transmitted to
the reclining operation lever.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
linkage mechanism further includes a retaining bracket for
supporting the link bracket, the retaining bracket having a
circular arc-shaped hole concentric with the actuating shaft, and
the retaining bracket being mounted on the support shaft and
mounted to the bracket of the seat cushion. The link bracket is
provided with a protruding piece extending perpendicularly thereto,
and is pivotally supported on the support shaft with the protruding
piece thereof being inserted through the circular arc-shaped hole
of the retaining bracket. A return coil spring is stretched between
the link bracket and the retaining bracket, so that the reclining
operation lever is urged by the return coil spring so as to be
returned to its original position after the reclining operation
lever is released from the operated condition thereof.
[0017] In the arrangement lever device for the automobile seat, the
link bracket is combined with the retaining bracket so as to be
pivoted relative to the retaining bracket, with the protruding
piece thereof being inserted through the circular arc-shaped hole
of the retaining bracket, so that the second link plate coupled to
the link bracket can be stably and smoothly operated by the link
bracket, and the second swinging arm can be also stably and
smoothly operated by the second link plate.
[0018] Moreover, the return coil spring is stretched between the
link bracket and the retaining bracket, whereby the reclining
operation lever is adapted to be returned to its original position
by the return coil spring after the reclining operation lever is
released from the operated state, thus making it possible to
provide the reclining operation lever that is convenient to be
handled.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
bracket of the seat cushion has a substantially L-shaped guide hole
for guiding the induction pin of the second swinging arm, and a
support pin provided thereon, and the second swinging arm has a
vertically extending hole, the second swinging arm being pivotally
supported on the bracket with the induction pin thereof being
inserted through the substantially L-shaped guide hole of the
bracket of the seat back and with the vertically extending hole
thereof receiving the support pin of the bracket of the seat
cushion, and the second swinging arm being adapted to be located
relative to the bracket of the seat cushion at an initial state in
such a manner that the induction pin thereof is located at a middle
bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole of the
bracket of the seat cushion and a lower end portion of the
vertically extending hole thereof is abutted against the support
pin of the bracket of the seat cushion. When the reclining
operation lever and the walk-in operation lever are operated, the
second swinging arm is swung forward and rearward while being
guided along the substantially L-shaped guide hole of the bracket
of the seat cushion.
[0020] In the arrangement lever device for the automobile seat, the
bracket 3 of the seat cushion has the substantially L-shaped guide
hole through which the induction pin of the second swinging arm is
inserted and which allows the second swinging arm to be swung
forward and rearward while allowing the induction pin thereof being
guided along the guide hole of the bracket of the seat cushion, so
that the second swinging arm can be stably swung on the bracket of
the seat cushion, and the slide lock means for the slide rail
mechanism can be smoothly unlocked by the wire cable which is
pulled by the smooth swinging movement of the second swinging
arm.
[0021] Moreover, the second swinging arm has the vertically
extending hole, the support pin for supporting the second swinging
arm so as to allow the second swinging arm to be pivoted is
provided on the bracket of the seat cushion, and the second
swinging arm is arranged with the vertically extending hole thereof
receiving the support pin of the bracket and with the induction pin
thereof being inserted through the substantially L-shaped guide
hole of the bracket of the seat cushion. At the initial state, the
second swinging arm is located with respect to the bracket of the
seat cushion with the induction pin thereof being located at the
middle bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole of the
bracket and with the lower end portion of the vertically extending
hole thereof being abutted against the support pin of the bracket
of the seat cushion. Therefore, when the levers are operated, the
second swinging arm can be positively and smoothly swung in the
forward/rearward direction while being guided by the substantially
L-shaped guide hole of the bracket of the seat cushion and
supported by the support pin of the bracket of the seat
cushion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an arrangement lever
device in a rest state according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the
arrangement lever device shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view showing a
protruding piece of a bracket of a seat back and an induction pin
which serve to restrict forward pivotal movement of the seat
back;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing a bracket of a seat
cushion to which first and second swinging arms that are elements
of the arrangement lever device of FIG. 1 are applied;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a first link plate
that is one of elements making up the arrangement lever device of
FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a second link plate
that is one of the elements making up the arrangement lever device
of FIG. 1;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a third link plate
that is one of the elements making up the arrangement lever device
of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a link bracket that
is one of the elements making up the arrangement lever device of
FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement
lever device of FIG. 1, in a state where a reclining operation
lever is pulled up;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing the entire
automobile seat employing the arrangement lever device of FIG. 1,
in which the reclining operation lever is pulled up;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing the arrangement
lever device of FIG. 1, in a state where a walk-in operation lever
is pulled up; and
[0033] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing the entire
automobile seat in which the walk-in operation lever is pulled
up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] An arrangement lever device for an automobile seat according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
discussed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Incidentally, the term "forward" and the term "rearward" which are
hereinafter referred to shall be used on the basis of a forward
direction in a vehicle body and a rearward direction in the vehicle
body, respectively.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an arrangement
lever device according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. An automobile seat to which the arrangement lever device
is applied includes a seat cushion, a seat back pivotally supported
on the seat cushion via first and second reclining lock means (not
shown) arranged at both sides of the automobile seat, a slide rail
mechanism for allowing the automobile seat to be slid in the
vehicle body, and slide lock means (not shown) for locking the
slide rail mechanism and preventing the slide movement of the
automobile seat. The arrangement lever device includes a reclining
operation lever 1 for unlocking the reclining lock means to allow
the seat back to be angularly adjusted and pivoted forward and
rearward relative to the seat cushion, a walk-in operation lever 2
for unlocking the reclining lock means to allow the seat back to be
inclined forward and for unlocking the slide lock means for the
slide rail mechanism, and a linkage mechanism for preventing the
motion of one of the levers 1, 2 from being transmitted to the
other of the levers 1, 2, the linkage mechanism being coupled
between the levers 1, 2. The walk-in operation lever 2 is arranged
to be adjacent to the reclining operation lever 1 and arranged at a
position lower than the reclining operation lever 1. Both the
reclining operation lever 1 and the walk-in operation lever 2 are
arranged at one of the both sides of the automobile seat, extend in
the forward/rearward direction in the vehicle body, and are adapted
to be pulled up by a person.
[0036] The seat cushion includes a pair of spaced apart brackets
(only one of the brackets of the seat cushion which is arranged on
the side of the automobile seat at which the levers 1, 2 are
arranged is shown and denoted with reference numeral 3 in FIGS. 1,
2, 4, 9 and 11). The seat back also includes a pair of spaced apart
brackets (only one of the brackets of the seat back which is
arranged on the side of automobile seat at which the levers 1, 2
are arranged is shown and denoted with reference numeral 4 in the
Figures). Each of the first and second reclining lock means is
arranged between a corresponding bracket of the seat cushion and a
corresponding bracket of the seat back. An actuating shaft 5 for
actuating the first and second reclining lock means interconnects
the first and second reclining lock means. The reclining operation
lever 1 is mounted on a support shaft 1a (FIG. 2) which is
concentric with the actuating shaft 5. More particularly, as shown
in FIG. 2, the reclining operation lever 1 has a longitudinal body
which includes a base portion and the support shaft 1a provided at
the base portion. The support shaft 1a has a tip end portion which
constitutes a press-fit portion 1b. The actuating shaft 5 has an
end surface facing the support shaft 1a of the reclining operation
lever 1, and a receiving hole (not shown) formed in the end
surface. The press-fit portion 1b of the support shaft 1a is
press-fitted in the receiving hole of the actuating shaft 5,
whereby an end surface of the press-fit portion 1b of the support
shaft 1a is joined with the end surface of the actuating shaft
5.
[0037] The walk-in operation lever 2 has a longitudinal body which
includes a supported portion curved upward at a substantially
middle region of the longitudinal body of the lever 2, and a
portion extending obliquely rearward and downward from the upward
curved supported-portion. The walk-in operation lever 2 is
pivotally supported at the upward curved supported-portion thereof
on the bracket 3 of the seat cushion via a support pin 2a so as to
be pivoted around the support pin 2a. A standing pin 2b is provided
on an end of the obliquely rearward and downward extending portion
of the walk-in operation lever 2. The standing pin 2b is movably
inserted through an elongated hole 12b that is formed in a first
link plate 12 of the linkage mechanism which will be discussed in
greater detail hereinafter.
[0038] The pivotal movement of the walk-in operation lever 2 is
adapted to be restricted by abutment of the obliquely rearward and
downward extending portion of the walk-in operation lever 2 against
a stopper piece 3a protruding from a lower edge of the bracket 3 of
the seat cushion. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, a coil spring 2d is
provided between a spring-retaining piece 2c rising up from an edge
of the end of the obliquely rearward and downward extending portion
of the walk-in operation lever 2, and a spring-retaining piece 3c
rising up from a flange portion of the bracket 3 of the seat
cushion, whereby the walk-in operation lever 2 is urged by the coil
spring 2d so as to be returned to its original position.
[0039] The actuating shaft 5 interconnecting the first and second
reclining lock means is supported by the brackets of the seat
cushion and the brackets of the seat back. The brackets of the seat
cushion are provided with spring-retaining pieces (only the
spring-retaining piece of the bracket 3 is shown and denoted with
reference numeral 6a in FIG. 2). The brackets of the seat back are
also provided with spring-retaining pieces (only the
spring-retaining piece of the bracket 4 is shown and denoted with
reference numeral 6b in FIG. 2). A spiral spring 6 is stretched
between each of the brackets of the seat cushion and each of the
brackets of the seat back with an innermost end thereof being
retained to the spring-retaining piece of the bracket of the seat
cushion and with an outermost end thereof being retained to the
spring-retaining piece of the bracket of the seat cushion, whereby
the seat back can be pivoted forward about the actuating shaft 5 of
the reclining lock means by the action of the spiral springs 6
(only one of the spiral springs 6 is shown in FIG. 2).
[0040] The forward pivotal movement of the seat back by the action
of the spiral springs 6 is adapted to be restricted by abutment of
the spring-retaining pieces of the brackets of the seat back
against rising-up flange portions of the brackets of the seat
cushion (only the rising-up flange portion of the bracket 3 of the
seat cushion is shown and denoted with reference numeral 3b in FIG.
2). Moreover, the forward pivotal movement of the seat back is also
adapted to be angularly restricted by abutment of a protruding
piece 4b (protruding outward from a rising-up flange portion 4a of
the bracket 4 of the seat back as shown in FIG. 3) against one end
portion of an induction pin 11a of a second swinging arm 11 of the
linkage mechanism which will be discussed in greater detail
hereinafter.
[0041] The linkage mechanism for preventing the motion of one of
the levers 1, 2 from being transmitted to the other of the levers
1, 2 is arranged on the side of the automobile seat at which the
levers 1, 2 are arranged. The linkage mechanism includes a first
swinging arm 10 supported by the actuating shaft 5, the second
swinging arm 11 briefly described above, the first link plate 12
briefly described above, a second link plate 13, a third link plate
14, a link bracket 15, and a retaining bracket 16.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 4, the first swinging arm 10 has a
longitudinal body which includes a base portion, a boss hole 10a
formed in the base portion of the first swinging arm 10, and a
support pin 10b provided at a rearward end of the longitudinal body
of the first swinging arm 10. The first swinging arm 10 is mounted
on the actuating shaft 5 with the boss hole 10a thereof being
fitted over the actuating shaft 5.
[0043] The second swinging arm 11 has a body of a branch-shape in
outline that includes a vertically extending arm portion and a
laterally extending arm portion extending laterally from the
vertically extending arm portion. The vertically extending arm
portion of the second swinging arm 11 is provided with the
induction pin 11a penetrating an upper end region of the vertically
extending arm portion, and a vertically extending hole 11b formed
in a lower end region of the vertically extending arm portion. The
laterally extending portion of the second swinging arm 11 is formed
with stop holes 11c in which an end portion of a wire cable 18 (see
FIG. 1) extending to the slide lock means for the slide rail
mechanism is retained.
[0044] The bracket 3 of the seat cushion has a guide hole 3d of a
substantially L-shape formed therein and a support pin 3e provided
thereon. The substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of the bracket 3
includes an obliquely forward and downward extending portion, an
obliquely rearward extending portion, and a middle bent-portion
between the obliquely forward and downward extending portion and
the obliquely rearward extending portion. The second swinging arm
11 is arranged on the bracket 3 with the one end portion of the
induction pin 11a thereof being inserted through the guide hole 3d
of the bracket 3 of the seat cushion so as to be stably guided
along the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d, and with the
vertically extending hole 11b thereof receiving the support pin 3e
of the bracket 3, so that the second swinging arm 11 can be stably
swung about the support pin 3e in the forward/rearward direction
while being guided by the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of
the bracket 3.
[0045] The second swinging arm 11 is also adapted to be vertically
moved while being supported by the support pin 3e received in the
vertically extending hole 11b of the second swinging arm 11.
Incidentally, the vertically extending hole 11b and the guide hole
3d may be omitted. In this case, the second swinging arm 11 is
pivotally supported by the support pin 3e of the bracket 3 and,
thus, the second swinging arm 11 can be also swung around the
support pin 3e.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 5, the first link plate 12 is formed
as a linear plate extending longitudinally. The first link plate 12
has a circular hole 12a formed in an upper end portion thereof and
the elongated hole 12b (briefly described above) formed in a lower
end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the support pin 10b of the
first swinging arm 10 is inserted through the circular hole 12a of
the first link plate 12 and the standing pin 2b of the walk-in
operation lever 2 is inserted through the elongated hole 12b of the
first link plate 12, so that the first link plate 12 is coupled
between the first swinging arm 10 and the walk-in operation lever
2.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 6, the second link plate 13 is formed
as a linear plate that extends longitudinally and is shorter than
the first link plate 12. The second link plate 13 has a circular
hole 13a formed in an upper end portion thereof and a circular hole
13b formed in a lower end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the
upper end portion of the second link plate 13 is coupled to the
link bracket 15 via a connection pin 13c penetrating through the
circular hole 13a of the second link plate 13 and the induction pin
11a of the second swinging arm 11 is inserted through the circular
hole 13b of the second link plate 13, so that the second link plate
13 is coupled between the second swinging arm 11 and the link
bracket 15.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 7, the third link plate 14 is formed
as a circular arc-shaped plate. The third link plate 14 has a
circular hole 14a formed in one end portion thereof and a laterally
extending hole 14b of a substantially ellipse-shape formed in the
other end portion thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the support pin 10b
of the first swinging arm 10 is inserted through the circular hole
14a of the third link plate 14 and the induction pin 11a of the
second swinging arm 11 is inserted through the ellipse-shaped hole
14b of the third link plate 14, so that the third link plate 14 is
coupled between the first swinging arm 10 and the second swinging
arm 11.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 8, the link bracket 15 has a body
having a shape substantially resemblant to the first swinging arm
10 and smaller than the first swinging arm 10. The body of the link
bracket 15 includes a tip end portion and a base portion having a
through-hole 15a through which the press-fit portion 1b of the
support shaft 1a of the reclining operation lever 1 is inserted.
The tip end portion of the link bracket 15 has a through-hole 15b
through which the connection pin 13c (FIG. 1) of the second link
plate 13 is inserted. Thus, the link bracket 15 is coupled between
the support shaft 1a concentrically joined with the actuating shaft
5 and the second link plate 13. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the
link bracket 15 is provided with a protruding piece 15c extending
perpendicularly to the body of the link bracket 15 from an edge of
the tip end portion of the body of the link bracket 15, and a
spring-retaining piece 15d extending from an edge of an upper
region of the base portion of the link bracket 15 in a direction
opposite to the direction in which the protruding piece 15c
extends.
[0050] The retaining bracket 16 serves to support the link bracket
15 and includes a plate-shaped body and a rising-up leg portion 16a
of a substantially L-shape standing up from the plate-shaped body
of the retaining bracket 6 as shown in FIG. 2. The retaining
bracket 16 is fixedly mounted at the rising-up leg portion 16a
thereof to the bracket 3 of the seat cushion.
[0051] Again referring to FIG. 2, the plate-shaped body of the
retaining bracket 16 is formed with a through-hole 16b through
which the press-fit portion 1b of the support pin 1a of the
reclining operation lever 1 is inserted. In addition, the
plate-shaped body of the retaining bracket 16 is formed with a
circular arc-shaped hole 16c that is concentric with the actuating
shaft 5. Moreover, the plate-shaped body of the retaining bracket
16 has a spring-retaining notch 16d formed in an upper edge region
thereof.
[0052] The link bracket 15 is combined with the retaining bracket
16 by inserting the protruding piece 15c of the link bracket 15
through the circular arc-shaped hole 16c of the retaining bracket
16, so that the link bracket 15 is adapted to be stably pivoted
along the circular arc-shaped hole 16c when the reclining operation
lever 1 is pulled up. A return coil spring 17 is mounted at its
coil portion around the press-fit portion 1b of the support pin 1a
of the reclining operation lever 1 with one end thereof being
retained to the spring-retaining piece 15d of the link bracket 15
and with the other end thereof being retained in the notch 16d of
the retaining bracket 16, whereby the reclining operation lever 1
is urged by the return coil spring 17 so as to be capable of
returning to its original position after the reclining operation
lever 1 is released from the operated condition thereof.
[0053] In the arrangement lever device constructed as discussed
above, when the seat back is in a sitting posture (FIG. 1), the
induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 is located at the
middle bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of
the bracket 3 of the seat cushion, and is maintained at the middle
bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d by the
action of a coil spring 11d (FIG. 2) provided between the induction
pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 and a spring-retaining pin 3f
(FIG. 2) standing up from the bracket 3 of the seat cushion as
shown in FIG. 2. Thus, in the state where the seat back is in the
sitting posture, the second swinging arm 11 is located with respect
to the bracket 3 of the seat cushion with a lower end of the
vertically extending hole 11b of the second swinging arm 11 being
abutted against the support pin 3e of the bracket 3 of the seat
cushion as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
[0054] Moreover, the first link plate 12 is located with respect to
the walk-in operation lever 2 with a lower end of the elongated
hole 12b of the first link plate 12 being abutted against the
standing pin 2b of the walk-in operation lever 2. The third link
plate 14 is located with respect to the second swinging arm 11 with
a forward end of the laterally extending hole 14b of the third link
plate 14 being abutted against the induction pin 11a of the second
swinging arm 11.
[0055] In the state where the seat back is in the sitting posture,
when the reclining operation lever 1 is pulled upward as shown in
FIG. 9, the actuating shaft 5 is rotated, whereby the reclining
lock means are unlocked, the brackets of the seat back are pivoted
forward by the action of the spiral springs 6 (only one of the
spiral springs 6 is shown in FIG. 9), and the seat back is pivoted
forward. At this time, downward movement of the second link plate
13 causes the induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 to be
shifted from the middle bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped
guide hole 3d of the bracket 3 toward the obliquely forward and
downward extending portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole
3d of the bracket 3, so that the induction pin 11a is not abutted
against the protruding piece 4b of the bracket 4 of the seat back.
Thus, the pivotal movement of the seat back is restricted by only
the abutment of the spring-retaining pieces of the brackets of the
seat back (only the spring-retaining piece 6b of the bracket 4 of
the seat back is shown in FIG. 9) against the rising-up flange
portions of the brackets of the seat cushion as shown in FIG. 9
(only the rising-up flange portion 3b of the bracket 3 of the seat
back is shown in FIG. 9).
[0056] According to the operation of the reclining operation lever
1, the first swinging arm 10 is pivoted to thereby cause the first
link plate 12 to be moved downward in such a manner that the
vertically extending hole 12b of the first link plate 12 is shifted
relative to the standing plate 2b of the walk-in operation lever 2.
Thus, the first link plate 12 is idled relative to the walk-in
operation lever 2 and the operation of the reclining operation
lever 1 is not transmitted to the walk-in operation lever 2.
[0057] Moreover, the link bracket 15 is pivoted and the second link
plate 13 coupled to the link bracket 15 is moved downward as
discussed above, whereby the second swinging arm 11 is swung in a
forward direction, namely, in a direction in which the wire cable
18 is not pulled, in such a manner that the induction pin 11a in
the state of being abutted against the forward end of the laterally
extending hole 14b of the third link plate 14 is allowed to be
moved relative to the bracket 3 from the middle bent-portion of the
substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of the bracket 3 toward the
obliquely forward and downward extending portion of the
substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d. Thus, the slide lock means
for the slide rail mechanism is not actuated for unlocking of the
slide lock means.
[0058] In summary, in the state where the seat back B is in the
sitting posture shown by a broken-line in FIG. 10, when the
reclining operation lever 1 is pulled up, the seat back B is
pivoted forward relative to the seat cushion C as shown by a solid
line in FIG. 10. At this time, the operation of the reclining
operation lever 1 is not transmitted to the walk-in operation lever
2 as discussed above, so that the walk-in operation lever 2 is not
swingingly moved. In addition, the slide lock means for the slide
rail mechanism S is not actuated for the unlocking of the slide
lock means as discussed above, so that the slide rail mechanism S
is not brought into a state where it allows the automobile seat to
be slid.
[0059] In the state where the seat back is in the sitting posture,
when the walk-in operation lever 2 is pulled up as shown in FIG.
11, the first link plate 12 is pulled downward to thereby cause the
first swinging arm 10 to be swung while allowing the third link
pate 14 to be moved relative to the induction pin 11a of the second
swinging arm 11 in such a manner that a rearward end portion of the
laterally extending hole 14b of the third link plate 14 receive the
induction pin 11a as shown in FIG. 11. By the swinging movement of
the first swinging arm 10, the reclining lock means are unlocked
and the brackets of the seat back are pivoted forward by the action
of the spiral springs 6, whereby the seat back B is pivoted
forward. As discussed above, when the first link plate 12 is pulled
downward, the third link plate 14 is moved relative to the
induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 in such a manner
that the rearward end portion of the laterally extending hole 14b
of the third link plate 14 receive the induction pin 11a.
Therefore, when the seat back is pivoted forward, the protruding
piece 4b of the bracket 4 of the seat back is abutted against the
induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11, whereby the seat
back B is maintained to be inclined at a predetermined angle as
shown by a solid line in FIG. 12.
[0060] When the third link plate 14 is moved relative to the
induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 as discussed above
and the protruding piece 4b of the bracket 4 of the seat back is
abutted against the induction pin 11a, the induction pin 11a is
shifted from the middle bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped
guide hole 3d of the bracket 3 of the seat cushion to the obliquely
rearward extending portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole
3d of the bracket 3, whereby the second swinging arm 11 is pivoted
in a rearward direction, namely, in a direction in which the wire
cable 18 is pulled. By the pulling of the wire cable 18, the slide
lock means for the slide rail mechanism is unlocked. The downward
movement of the first link plate 12 by the pulling operation of the
walk-in operation lever 2 is converted into the movement of the
third link plate 14 relative to the induction pin 11a of the second
swinging arm 11. Therefore, force which is produced by the
pulling-up operation of the walk-in operation lever 2 and then
transmitted to the third link plate 14 through the first link plate
12 is idly consumed by the movement of the third link plate 14
relative to the induction pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11, so
that the operation of the walk-in operation lever 2 is not
transmitted to the reclining operation lever 1.
[0061] In summary, in the state where the seat back B is in the
sitting posture as shown by a broken-line in FIG. 12, when the
walk-in operation lever 2 is pulled up, the reclining lock means
are unlocked and the seat back B is pivoted forward relative to the
seat cushion C and is maintained to be inclined at the
predetermined angle as shown in the solid line in FIG. 12.
Moreover, the slide lock means for the slide rail mechanism S is
unlocked, so that the vehicle seat is brought into the state where
it can be slide forward via the slide rail mechanism S. In
addition, the operation of the walk-in operation lever 2 is not
transmitted to the reclining lock lever 1, so that the reclining
operation lever is not swingingly moved.
[0062] As discussed above, the reclining operation lever 1 is
mounted to the support shaft 1a that is concentrically joined with
the actuating shaft 5 interconnecting the reclining lock means that
are arranged between the brackets of the seat cushion and the
bracket of the seat back, and the walk-in operation lever 2 is
arranged to be adjacent to the reclining operation lever 1 and is
pivotally supported on the bracket 3 of the seat cushion, so that
the reclining operation lever 1 and the walk-in operation lever 2
become easy to be found.
[0063] Moreover, the linkage mechanism for preventing the motion of
one of the levers 1, 2 from being transmitted to the other of the
levers 1, 2 is coupled between the levers 1, 2, so that with the
simple linkage mechanism, one of the levers 1, 2 which is in the
unused state is prevented from being swingingly moved according to
the operation of the other lever in the used state and the
operation of the other lever in the used state is not interrupted
with the lever in the unused state, thus providing the arrangement
lever device that is convenient to be handled.
[0064] In addition, the link bracket 15 is combined with the
retaining bracket 16 so as to be pivoted relative to the retaining
bracket 16, so that the second link plate 13 coupled to the link
bracket 15 can be stably and smoothly operated by the link bracket
15, and the second swinging arm 11 can be also stably and smoothly
operated by the second link plate 13. Moreover, the return coil
spring 17 is stretched between the link bracket 15 and the
retaining bracket 16, whereby the reclining operation lever 1 is
adapted to be returned to its original position by the return coil
spring 17 after the reclining operation lever 1 is released from
the operated state, thus making it possible to provide the
reclining operation lever 1 that is convenient to be handled.
[0065] Moreover, the bracket 3 of the seat cushion has the
substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d through which the induction
pin 11a of the second swinging arm 11 is inserted and which allows
the second swinging arm 11 to be swung forward and rearward while
allowing the induction pin 11a thereof being guided along the guide
hole 3d of the bracket 3 of the seat cushion, so that the second
swinging arm 11 can be stably swung on the bracket 3 of the seat
cushion, and the slide lock means for the slide rail mechanism can
be smoothly unlocked by the wire cable 18 which is pulled by the
smooth swinging movement of the second swinging arm 11.
[0066] As discussed above, the second swinging arm 11 has the
vertically extending hole 11b, the support pin 3e for supporting
the second swinging arm 11 so as to allow the second swinging arm
11 to be pivoted is provided on the bracket 3 of the seat cushion,
and the second swinging arm 11 is arranged with the vertically
extending hole 11b thereof receiving the support pin 3e of the
bracket 3 and with the induction pin 11a thereof being inserted
through the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of the bracket 3
of the seat cushion. At the initial state, the second swinging arm
11 is located with respect to the bracket 3 of the seat cushion
with the induction pin 11a thereof being located at the middle
bent-portion of the substantially L-shaped guide hole 3d of the
bracket 3 and with the lower end portion of the vertically
extending hole 11b thereof being abutted against the support pin 3e
of the bracket 3 of the seat cushion.
[0067] Therefore, when the levers 1, 2 are operated, the second
swinging arm 11 can be positively and smoothly swung in the
forward/rearward direction while being guided by the substantially
L-shaped guide hole 3d of the bracket 3 of the seat cushion and
supported by the support pin 3e of the bracket 3 of the seat
cushion.
[0068] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used
as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no
intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any
equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed.
* * * * *