U.S. patent application number 17/614778 was filed with the patent office on 2022-07-21 for rotating device for vehicle interior item, and rotating device for vehicle seat.
The applicant listed for this patent is TS TECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Hirohisa ABE, Takuji KANEDA, Akira MIYOSHI, Haruki MOCHIZUKI.
Application Number | 20220227264 17/614778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220227264 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOCHIZUKI; Haruki ; et
al. |
July 21, 2022 |
ROTATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR ITEM, AND ROTATING DEVICE FOR
VEHICLE SEAT
Abstract
A rotating device for a vehicle interior item is provided with
latching means that is provided on a side of a base member having a
rotation support part, and engagement means that is provided on a
side of a rotating member supporting a vehicle interior item and
being rotatably supported by the rotation support part, and can be
switched between a state in which the engagement means engages with
the latching means so as to suppress detachment of the rotating
member from the base member and a state in which the engagement
with the latching means is released when the rotating member
attains the rotatable state, wherein the latching means and the
engagement means are disposed further outside than the rotating
member in plan view at least when the rotating member is in the
non-rotating state. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an
increase in the height while suppressing detachment when the
vehicle interior item is not rotating.
Inventors: |
MOCHIZUKI; Haruki;
(Shioya-gun, Tochigi, JP) ; MIYOSHI; Akira;
(Shioya-gun, Tochigi, JP) ; KANEDA; Takuji;
(Shioya-gun, Tochigi, JP) ; ABE; Hirohisa;
(Shioya-gun, Tochigi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TS TECH CO., LTD. |
Asaka-shi, Saitama |
|
JP |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/614778 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
May 29, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2020/021399 |
371 Date: |
November 29, 2021 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/14 20060101
B60N002/14; B60N 2/12 20060101 B60N002/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 2019 |
JP |
2019-102647 |
Jul 4, 2019 |
JP |
2019-125481 |
Dec 3, 2019 |
JP |
2019-218991 |
Apr 23, 2020 |
JP |
2020-076526 |
Claims
1. A rotating device for a vehicle interior item, comprising a base
member that has a rotation support part, a rotating member that
supports the vehicle interior item, is rotatably supported by the
rotation support part 044, and is disposed above the base member,
rotation-locking means that enables the rotating member to be
switched between a rotatable state and a non-rotatable state,
latching means that is provided on the base member side, and
engagement means that is provided on the rotating member side and
can be switched between a state in which the engagement means
engages with the latching means when the rotating member is in a
non-rotating state so as to suppress detachment of the rotating
member from the base member and a state in which the engagement
with the latching means is released when the rotating member
attains the rotatable state, wherein the latching means and the
engagement means are disposed further outside than the rotating
member in plan view at least when the rotating member is in the
non-rotating state.
2. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 1, wherein the engagement means is disposed at a position
where at least part of the engagement means overlaps the rotating
member when viewed from a side.
3. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 1, wherein the latching means is fixed to the base member at
a position where at least part of the latching means overlaps the
base member supported on a vehicle floor when viewed from the
side.
4. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 1, wherein the engagement means comprises a shaft support
member that is fixed directly or indirectly to the rotating member,
a shaft member that is supported by the shaft support member, and a
hook member that is pivotably and axially supported by the shaft
member, the latching means comprises a striker that can engage with
the hook member and a striker support member that supports the
striker and is fixed directly or indirectly to the base member, and
part of the hook member that is engaged with the striker is set
outside the shaft support member in plan view.
5. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 4, wherein the striker is disposed at a position lower than
the lower end of the rotating member when viewed from the side.
6. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 4 or 5, wherein the shaft support member comprises a shaft
support wall portion to which the shaft member is fixed while being
disposed outside the rotating member in plan view, and a pair of
extending wall portions that are connectedly provided on the shaft
support wall portion at positions sandwiching the shaft member
therebetween and extend toward the rotating member side, and the
extending wall portions are fixed directly or indirectly to the
rotating member.
7. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 1, wherein the rotating device has movement means that can
move the base member in a vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and the
engagement means is disposed at a position where the engagement
means avoids the movement means in plan view.
8. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 7, wherein the engagement means is disposed outside the
movement means in plan view.
9. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 7, wherein the movement means is disposed between the vehicle
floor and the base member, and the latching means is disposed
further outside than the movement means in plan view.
10. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 4, wherein provided between the shaft support member and the
hook member is an urging member that pivotingly urges the hook
member in a direction in which the hook member engages with the
striker.
11. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 1, wherein the latching means and the engagement means are
placed at two locations on each of opposite sides of the base
member and the rotating member in a vehicle width direction while
being spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and disposed
further rearward than the front end and further forward than the
rear end of the rotating member when viewed from the side in the
vehicle width direction.
12. The rotating device for a vehicle interior item according to
claim 11, wherein the pair of engagement means spaced in the
vehicle fore-and-aft direction are formed so as to have a structure
in which pivoting of lower end parts of the hook members of the two
engagement means toward the side on which the lower end parts move
away from each other in the non-rotatable state enables individual
engagement of the two hook members with the striker to be
released.
13. A rotating device for a vehicle seat in which the vehicle
interior item of the rotating device for a vehicle interior item
according to claim 1 is a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a
seat back disposed above the seat cushion, wherein the engagement
means is disposed at a position in which at least an upper part of
the engagement means overlaps the seat cushion when viewed from the
side.
14. The rotating device for a vehicle seat according to claim 13,
comprising a reclining lever that operates so as to switch between
a state in which tilting of the seat back, which is tiltable with
respect to the seat cushion, is enabled and a state in which said
tilting is restricted, and at least part of specific engagement
means, which is at least one of the plurality of engagement means,
is disposed so as to overlap the reclining lever when viewed from
the side.
15. The rotating device for a vehicle seat according to claim 14,
wherein a seat cushion frame supporting the seat cushion is formed
from a pair of side frames that are arranged at positions spaced
from each other and extend linearly, and a pair of linking frames
that provide a link between opposite end parts of the side frames,
and the engagement means is disposed at a position where at least
part of the engagement means overlaps the side frame when viewed
from the side.
16. The rotating device for a vehicle seat according to claim 14,
wherein the reclining lever is disposed outside one side frame of
the pair of side frames in plan view, and at least part of the
specific engagement means is disposed further outside than the
reclining lever in plan view.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the U.S. National Stage entry of
International Application No. PCT/JP2020/021399 filed under the
Patent Cooperation Treaty and having a filing date of May 29, 2020,
which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.
2019-102647 having a filing date of May 31, 2019, Japanese Patent
Application No. 2019-125481 having a filing date of Jul. 4, 2019,
Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-218991 having a filing date of
Dec. 3, 2019, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-076526
having a filing date of Apr. 23, 2020, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a rotating device for a
vehicle interior item that includes a base member that has a
rotation support part, a rotating member that supports the vehicle
interior item, is rotatably supported by the rotation support part,
and is disposed above the base member, rotation-locking means that
enables the rotating member to be switched between a rotatable
state and a non-rotatable state, latching means that is provided on
the base member side, and engagement means that is provided on the
rotating member side and can be switched between a state in which
the engagement means engages with the latching means when the
rotating member is in the non-rotating state so as to suppress
detachment of the rotating member from the base member and a state
in which the engagement with the latching means is released when
the rotating member attains the rotatable state, and to a rotating
device for a vehicle seat in which the vehicle interior item is a
vehicle seat.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] A rotating device for a vehicle seat in which a rotating
member supporting a vehicle seat as a vehicle interior item is
rotatably supported by a base member, engaging a lock pin on the
rotating member side with a lock hole on the base member side when
the rotating member is not rotating restricts rotation of the
vehicle seat and also suppresses detachment of the vehicle seat
when a large load acts on the vehicle seat, and when rotating the
rotating member, that is, the vehicle seat, disengaging the lock
pin from the lock hole releases the suppression of detachment and
enables rotation of the vehicle seat is known from Patent Document
1.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
05-330371 [0005] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2010-173491 [0006] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 2004-123044
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] <First Problem>
[0008] Accompanying an increase in the elements necessary for a
vehicle seat in recent years, a reduction in the size of the
vehicle seat is required, but in an arrangement that includes
detachment suppression means as disclosed in Patent Document 1
above, the height tends to increase by a proportion corresponding
to the detachment suppression means, and there is therefore a
desire for an arrangement that can prevent the height of a rotating
device for a vehicle interior item such as a vehicle seat from
increasing even it includes detachment suppression means, that is,
a desire for solving the first problem.
[0009] The present invention has been accomplished in light of such
circumstances, and it is a first object thereof to provide a
rotating device for a vehicle interior item that can solve the
first problem by enabling an increase in the height to be
suppressed while suppressing detachment when the vehicle interior
item such as a vehicle seat is not rotating, and to provide a
rotating device for a vehicle seat in which the vehicle interior
item is a vehicle seat.
[0010] <Second Problem>
[0011] Furthermore, a vehicle seat device that includes a rotation
mechanism having a rotating member having mounted thereon a seat
cushion frame supporting a seat cushion and a base member rotatably
supporting the rotating member from below, and making a seat
rotatable with respect to a floor is known from Patent Document 2,
etc.
[0012] In order to facilitate operation of the rotation mechanism
disposed beneath a seat cushion, the entry of foreign matter into
the rotation mechanism should be avoided as much as possible, but
Patent Document 2 does not disclose a structure that can solve the
second problem, for example, one that suppresses the entry of
foreign matter into the rotation mechanism.
[0013] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat device that can solve the second problem by
suppressing the entry of foreign matter into a rotation
mechanism.
[0014] <Third Problem>
[0015] Moreover, a vehicle seat device that includes a seat cushion
frame supporting a seat cushion, a rotation mechanism disposed
beneath the seat cushion frame while having a rotating member
supporting the seat cushion frame and a base member rotatably
supporting the rotating member from below, electrical equipment,
and an ECU for controlling operation of the electrical equipment,
wherein the rotating member is supported by the base member so that
it can rotate in response to operation of an electric motor, is
known from for example Patent Document 3, etc.
[0016] In a vehicle seat device that includes electrical equipment
such as an electric motor, in order to ensure there is space for
disposing an ECU controlling the operation of the electrical
equipment, there is a third problem that the height of a seat
cushion increases, and there is a desire to avoid this.
[0017] It is a third object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat device that can solve the third problem by enabling
any increase in height of the position of a seat cushion due to
disposition of an ECU to be avoided.
[0018] <Fourth Problem>
[0019] Furthermore, a vehicle rotating seat device that includes a
seat frame supporting a seat main body, a rotating member
supporting the seat frame, a base member rotatably supporting the
rotating member, and an electrical component such as an electric
motor for rotating the rotating member is known from for example
Patent Document 3, etc.
[0020] In such a vehicle rotating seat device, an electrical
component is often mounted on the seat frame side, and there is a
fourth problem that when a seat main body and a seat frame rotate,
an electric wire connected to the electrical component will slag or
be damaged due to an unreasonable load acting thereon, and there is
a desire to avoid this.
[0021] It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a
vehicle seat-rotating device that can solve the fourth problem by
avoiding the occurrence of slagging of an electric wire connected
to an electrical component or the occurrence of damage to the
electric wire when a seat main body is rotating.
Means for Solving the Problems
Solution Means for First Problem and Effects Thereof
[0022] In order to attain the first object, according to a first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotating
device for a vehicle interior item, comprising a base member that
has a rotation support part, a rotating member that supports the
vehicle interior item, is rotatably supported by the rotation
support part, and is disposed above the base member,
rotation-locking means that enables the rotating member to be
switched between a rotatable state and a non-rotatable state,
latching means that is provided on the base member side, and
engagement means that is provided on the rotating member side and
can be switched between a state in which the engagement means
engages with the latching means when the rotating member is in a
non-rotating state so as to suppress detachment of the rotating
member from the base member and a state in which the engagement
with the latching means is released when the rotating member
attains the rotatable state, characterized in that the latching
means and the engagement means are disposed further outside than
the rotating member in plan view at least when the rotating member
is in the non-rotating state. In accordance with the first aspect,
since the latching means and the engagement means are disposed
further outside than the rotating member in plan view at least when
the rotating member is not rotating, the latching means and the
engagement means do not overlap the rotating member in the height
direction, and it is possible to form the rotating device compactly
in the height direction while suppressing, by the latching means
and the engagement means, detachment of the rotating member.
[0023] Further, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first aspect, the engagement means is
disposed at a position where at least part of the engagement means
overlaps the rotating member when viewed from a side. In accordance
with the second aspect, since at least part of the engagement means
overlaps the rotating member when viewed from the side, it is
possible to suppress any increase in the height of the rotating
device due to disposition of the engagement means.
[0024] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the first or second aspect, the latching means is fixed
to the base member at a position where at least part of the
latching means overlaps the base member supported on a vehicle
floor when viewed from the side. In accordance with the third
aspect, due to the latching means being fixed to the base member
supported on the vehicle floor, the latching means can be attached
to the base member in advance when assembling the rotating device
onto the vehicle floor, it is possible to enhance the ease of
assembly, and it is also possible to suppress any increase in the
height of the rotating device due to disposition of the latching
means.
[0025] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to any one of the first to third aspects, the engagement
means comprises a shaft support member that is fixed directly or
indirectly to the rotating member, a shaft member that is supported
by the shaft support member, and a hook member that is pivotably
and axially supported by the shaft member, the latching means
comprises a striker that can engage with the hook member and a
striker support member that supports the striker and is fixed
directly or indirectly to the base member, and part of the hook
member that is engaged with the striker is set outside the shaft
support member in plan view. In accordance with the fourth aspect,
since the part where the hook member of the engagement means and
the striker of the latching means are engaged is set, in plan view,
outside the shaft support member fixed directly or indirectly to
the rotating member, when a detachment load is acting it is
possible for the striker to easily receive the load.
[0026] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the fourth aspect, the striker is disposed at a
position lower than the lower end of the rotating member when
viewed from the side. In accordance with the fifth aspect, since
the striker is present at a position lower than the lower end of
the rotating member when viewed from the side, it is possible to
prevent the rotating member from interfering with the striker when
it is rotating while suppressing any increase in the height of the
rotating device.
[0027] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the fourth or fifth aspect, the shaft support member
comprises a shaft support wall portion to which the shaft member is
fixed while being disposed outside the rotating member in plan
view, and a pair of extending wall portions that are connectedly
provided on the shaft support wall portion at positions sandwiching
the shaft member therebetween and extend toward the rotating member
side, and the extending wall portions are fixed directly or
indirectly to the rotating member. In accordance with the sixth
aspect, since the pair of extending wall parts forming part of the
shaft support part while sandwiching the shaft member therebetween
are fixed directly or indirectly to the rotating member, it is
possible to enhance the bracing strength of the shaft support
member when a load is acting on the rotating member.
[0028] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in
addition to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the rotating
device has movement means that can move the base member in a
vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and the engagement means is
disposed at a position where the engagement means avoids the
movement means in plan view. In accordance with the seventh aspect,
since the engagement means is disposed at a position in which, in
plan view, it avoids the movement means, which enables the vehicle
interior item to move in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, it is
possible, by preventing the movement means and the engagement means
from overlapping each other in the height direction, to suppress
any increase in the height of the rotating device.
[0029] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the seventh aspect, the engagement means is disposed
outside the movement means in plan view. In accordance with the
eighth aspect, since the engagement means is present outside the
movement means in plan view, the engagement means is disposed
closer to the outside of the rotating device, and it is possible to
receive a load from the vehicle interior item side via a more outer
part of the base member.
[0030] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the seventh or eighth aspect, the movement means is
disposed between the vehicle floor and the base member, and the
latching means is disposed further outside than the movement means
in plan view. In accordance with the ninth aspect, since the
latching means is disposed in plan view outside the movement means,
which is disposed between the vehicle floor and the base member, it
is possible to receive a load from the vehicle interior item side
via a more outer part of the base member while disposing the
latching means so as to avoid interference with the movement
means.
[0031] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the fourth aspect, provided between the shaft support
member and the hook member is an urging member that pivotingly
urges the hook member in a direction in which the hook member
engages with the striker In accordance with the tenth aspect, since
the hook member is pivotingly urged by the urging member in a
direction in which it engages with the striker, it is possible to
retain a state in which the hook member and the striker are
engaged.
[0032] According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the any of the first to tenth aspects, the latching
means and the engagement means are placed at two locations on each
of opposite sides of the base member and the rotating member in a
vehicle width direction while being spaced in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction and disposed further rearward than the front
end and further forward than the rear end of the rotating member
when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction. In
accordance with the eleventh aspect, due to the latching means and
the engagement means in the engaged state being disposed at two
locations on each of opposite sides of the base member and the
rotating member in the vehicle width direction while being spaced
in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the latching means and the
engagement means are disposed further rearward than the front end
and further forward than the rear end of the rotating member while
enabling the vehicle interior item to be retained in two attitudes
that are rotated through 180 degrees, and it is thus possible to
compactly dispose the latching means and the engagement means.
[0033] According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the eleventh aspect, the pair of engagement means
spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction are formed so as to
have a structure in which pivoting of lower end parts of the hook
members of the two engagement means toward the side on which the
lower end parts move away from each other in the non-rotatable
state enables individual engagement of the two hook members with
the striker to be released. In accordance with the twelfth aspect,
since the pair of engagement means spaced in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction are formed so as to disengage from the
striker by pivoting the lower end parts of the hook members of the
engagement means toward the side on which they move away from each
other in a state in which the rotating member cannot rotate, it is
possible to prevent the hook members from interfering with each
other when releasing the engagement with the striker in the
non-rotatable state.
[0034] According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a rotating device for a vehicle seat in which the
vehicle interior item of the rotating device for a vehicle interior
item according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects is a
vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back disposed above
the seat cushion, wherein the engagement means is disposed at a
position in which at least an upper part of the engagement means
overlaps the seat cushion when viewed from the side. In accordance
with the thirteenth aspect, since at least the upper part of the
engagement means overlaps the seat cushion of the vehicle seat when
viewed from the side, it is possible to suppress any increase in
the height of the vehicle seat.
[0035] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention,
in addition to the thirteenth aspect, the rotating device for a
vehicle seat comprises a reclining lever that operates so as to
switch between a state in which tilting of the seat back, which is
tiltable with respect to the seat cushion, is enabled and a state
in which the tilting is restricted, and at least part of specific
engagement means, which is at least one of the plurality of
engagement means, is disposed so as to overlap the reclining lever
when viewed from the side. In accordance with the fourteenth
aspect, since when viewed from the side at least part of the
specific engagement means, which is at least one of the plurality
of engagement means, overlaps the reclining lever, which operates
so as to switch the inclined state of the seat back, it is possible
to suppress any increase in the height of the rotating device for a
vehicle seat equipped with the reclining lever.
[0036] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in
addition to the fourteenth aspect, a seat cushion frame supporting
the seat cushion is formed from a pair of side frames that are
arranged at positions spaced from each other and extend linearly,
and a pair of linking frames that provide a link between opposite
end parts of the side frames, and the engagement means is disposed
at a position where at least part of the engagement means overlaps
the side frame when viewed from the side. In accordance with the
fifteenth aspect, since at least part of the engagement means
overlaps the pair of side frames forming part of the seat cushion
frame when viewed from the side, it is possible to suppress any
increase in the height of the rotating device for a vehicle
seat.
[0037] Moreover, according to a sixteenth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the fourteenth aspect, the reclining
lever is disposed outside one side frame of the pair of side frames
in plan view, and at least part of the specific engagement means is
disposed further outside than the reclining lever in plan view. In
accordance with the sixteenth aspect, since at least part of the
specific engagement means is present in plan view outside the
reclining lever disposed outside one side frame among the pair of
side frames, it is possible to receive a load from the vehicle
interior item side via a more outer part of the base member.
<Solution Means for Second Problem and Effects Thereof
[0038] In order to achieve the second object, according to a first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat
device that includes a rotation mechanism (117) that has a rotating
member (130) having mounted thereon a seat cushion frame (119)
supporting a seat cushion (112, 172) and a base member (129)
rotatably supporting the rotating member (130) from below,
characterized in that at least part, along a peripheral direction,
of an outer periphery of an upper part of the rotating member (130)
is covered by a cover (165, 175, 178) from the outside. In
accordance with the first aspect, since at least part along the
peripheral direction of the outer periphery of the upper part of
the rotating member is covered by the cover from the outside, it is
possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the interior via
at least the part of the rotation mechanism that is covered by the
cover.
[0039] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first aspect, the cover (165, 175,
178) is disposed at a position in which the cover (165, 175, 178)
covers the outer periphery of the upper part of the rotating member
(130) from a rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the
seat cushion (112, 172) faces forward in a vehicle fore-and-aft
direction. In accordance with the second aspect, since the cover
covers the outer periphery of the upper part of the rotating member
from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat
cushion faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, it is
possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation
mechanism from a rear passenger seat side in a state in which a
driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.
[0040] Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the second aspect, the cover (175) is
formed by extending a skin (172a) of the seat cushion (172). In
accordance with the third aspect, since the cover is formed from
the skin of the seat cushion, when suppressing the entry of foreign
matter into the rotation mechanism, it is possible to avoid any
increase in the number of components.
[0041] Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, in a state in
which an occupant seated on the seat cushion (112) faces forward in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, a skin (112a) of the seat
cushion (112) is linked to a rear edge of an upper end part of the
rotating member (130) while being in contact with an outer face of
the cover (165, 178). In accordance with the fourth aspect, since
the skin of the seat cushion is linked to the rear edge of the
upper end part of the rotating member in a state in which an
occupant seated on the seat cushion faces forward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction and, moreover, the skin is in contact with
the outer face of the cover, it is possible to link the upper part
of the cover directly to the skin of the seat cushion and to
suppress more effectively the entry of foreign matter into the
rotation mechanism from the rear passenger seat side in a state in
which the driver's seat or the passenger seat faces forward.
[0042] Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first, second or fourth aspect, the
seat cushion frame (119) has a pair of side frames (119a) that
extend linearly and are supported on the rotating member (130), and
the cover (165) is mounted on the side frames (119a). In accordance
with the fifth aspect, since the cover is mounted on the pair of
side frames of the seat cushion frame, it is possible to rotate the
cover together with the seat by a simple structure.
[0043] Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first, second, fourth or fifth
aspect, an outside face of the cover (165, 178) is formed into an
arc shape that protrudes toward the outside of the rotating member
(130). In accordance with the sixth aspect, since the outside face
of the cover has an arc shape that protrudes toward the outside of
the rotating member, when the cover rotates together with the seat,
even if the cover comes into contact with luggage, etc. on a floor
within a vehicle compartment, it is possible to realize smooth
rotation of the cover, and consequently the seat.
[0044] Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first to sixth aspects, in a state in
which an occupant seated on the seat cushion (112, 172) faces
forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, a fixed cover member
(167, 177) that covers at least the base member (129) from the rear
is fixedly disposed beneath the cover (165, 175, 178). In
accordance with the seventh aspect, since the fixed cover member,
which covers at least the base member from the rear in a state in
which an occupant seated on the seat cushion faces forward in the
vehicle fore-and-aft direction, is fixedly disposed beneath the
cover, it is possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into
the rotation mechanism from the rear passenger seat side in a state
in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.
[0045] Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the fixed cover
member (167) is formed so as to be in relatively slidable contact
with a lower part of the cover (165, 178) in a state in which an
occupant seated on the seat cushion (112) faces forward in the
vehicle fore-and-aft direction. In accordance with the eighth
aspect, since the fixed cover member is in relatively slidable
contact with the lower part of the cover, it is possible to
suppress more effectively the entry of foreign matter into the
rotation mechanism from the rear passenger seat side in a state in
which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.
[0046] Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh or eighth aspect, the lower
end position of a side cover (114) covering the side frame (119a)
from the outside is set at the same height as the lower end
position of the cover (165, 178). In accordance with the ninth
aspect, due to the lower end position of the side cover being the
same as the lower end position of the cover, it is possible to
suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism
from the rear passenger seat side in a state in which a driver's
seat or a passenger seat faces in the vehicle width direction.
[0047] Furthermore, according to a tenth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the ninth aspect, the cover (178) is
formed integrally with at least one of the pair of side covers
(114). In accordance with the tenth aspect, since the cover is
formed integrally with at least one of the pair of side covers, it
is possible to easily assemble the cover while avoiding any
increase in the number of components due to disposition of the
cover.
<Solution Means for Third Problem and Effects Thereof
[0048] In order to achieve the third object, according to a first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat
device that includes a seat cushion frame (216) that supports a
seat cushion (211a), a rotation mechanism (214) that is disposed
beneath the seat cushion frame (216) while having a rotating member
(230) supporting the seat cushion frame (216) and having a base
member (229) rotatably supporting the rotating member (230) from
beneath, electrical equipment (253, 265), and an ECU (270, 271)
that controls operation of the electrical equipment (253, 265),
characterized in that a circular housing part (241) opening at
least upward is formed in a central part of the rotating member
(230), and the ECU (270, 271) is present within the housing part
(241) in plan view and is disposed at a position in which at least
part of the ECU (270, 271) overlaps the rotating member (230) when
viewed from the side. In accordance with the first aspect, since
the ECU is housed in plan view within the circular housing part,
which is formed in the central part of the rotating member and
opens at least upward, and at least part of the ECU is present at a
position in which it overlaps the rotating member when viewed from
the side, it is possible, by suppressing upward protrusion of the
ECU from the rotating member, to avoid any increase in the height
of the seat cushion caused by disposition of the ECU and it is also
possible to avoid any increase in the size of the vehicle seat
device in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis of the
rotating member.
[0049] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first aspect, the rotating member
(230) is formed so as to have a taper portion (230a) whose diameter
increases in going upward, a cylindrical side wall portion (230b)
that rises upward from an upper end part of the taper portion
(230a) so as to form the housing part (241) in cooperation with the
taper portion (230a), and a collar portion (230c) that protrudes
outward from the side wall portion (230b), and the ECU (270, 271)
is disposed in an attitude in which it is inclined along the taper
portion (230a). In accordance with the second aspect, due to the
ECU being disposed in an attitude in which it is inclined along the
taper portion of the rotating member, it is possible to suppress
more effectively upward protrusion of the ECU from the rotating
member and suppress more effectively the height of the seat
cushion.
[0050] Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the second aspect, the rotating member
(230) has mounted thereon a mounting member (258) that in plan view
is disposed further inside than an outer periphery (230d) of the
rotating member (230), and the ECU (270, 271) is mounted on the
mounting member (258). In accordance with the third aspect, since
the ECU is mounted on the mounting member disposed further inside
than the outer periphery of the rotating member in plan view and
mounted on the rotating member, it is possible to avoid any
increase in the size of the vehicle seat device in a direction
orthogonal to the rotational axis of the rotating member due to
disposition of the mounting member for mounting the ECU.
[0051] Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the third aspect, the mounting member
(258) has an inclined plate portion (258b) that is inclined along
the taper portion (230a) and is disposed within the housing part
(241), and the ECU (270, 271) is mounted on the inclined plate
portion (258b). In accordance with the fourth aspect, since the ECU
is mounted on the inclined plate portion possessed by the mounting
member and disposed within the housing part, it is possible to
easily mount the ECU on the mounting member in an inclined attitude
along the taper portion of the rotating member, thus suppressing
upward protrusion of the ECU from the rotating member.
[0052] Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, the mounting member
(258) is joined to the collar portion (230c) of the rotating member
(230) further forward than a rotational axis (2C) of the rotating
member (230), and the ECU (270, 271) is mounted on the inclined
plate portion (258b) at a position in which it avoids interference
with a cushion-side pressure-receiving member (219) mounted on the
seat cushion frame (216) so as to receive a load from above the
seat cushion (211a). In accordance with the fifth aspect, since the
mounting member is joined to the collar portion of the rotating
member further forward than the rotational axis of the rotating
member, and the ECU is mounted on the inclined plate portion at a
position in which it avoids interference with the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member mounted on the seat cushion frame so as
to receive a load from above the seat cushion, it is possible to
avoid any increase in the vertical dimension of the vehicle seat
device.
[0053] Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the fifth aspect, the ECU (270, 271) is
disposed while avoiding a position immediately below a lowest end
(219a) of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member (219) when
viewed from the side. In accordance with the sixth aspect, since
the ECU is not disposed immediately below the lowest end of the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member when viewed from the side,
it is possible to more easily avoid interference between the ECU
and the cushion-side pressure-receiving member.
[0054] Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, the ECU (270,
271) and an electric motor (253) that exerts power for rotating the
rotating member (230) are mounted on the side of one of the base
member (229) and the rotating member (230). In accordance with the
seventh aspect, since the electric motor and the ECU are mounted on
the side of one of the base member and the rotating member, it is
possible to easily provide a connection between the electric motor
and the ECU.
[0055] Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the electric motor
(253) and the ECU (270, 271) are mounted on the side of the one of
the base member (229) and the rotating member (230) that has the
larger vertical dimension. In accordance with the eighth aspect,
since the electric motor and the ECU are mounted on the side of the
one of the base member and the rotating member that has the larger
vertical dimension, it is possible to easily ensure there is space
for disposing the electric motor and the ECU while suppressing any
increase in the height of the vehicle seat device.
[0056] Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh or eighth aspect, the
electric motor (253) and the ECU (270, 271) are mounted on a
mounting member (258) that is disposed further inside than the
outer periphery (230d) of the rotating member (230) in plan view
and mounted on one of the base member (229) and the rotating member
(230). In accordance with the ninth aspect, since the electric
motor and the ECU are mounted on the mounting member, which is
disposed further inside than the outer periphery of the rotating
member in plan view, it is possible to avoid any increase in the
dimension of the vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to
the rotational axis of the rotating member due to disposition of
the mounting member for mounting the ECU and the electric
motor.
[0057] Furthermore, according to a tenth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the ninth aspect, the mounting member
(258) is mounted on the rotating member (230). In accordance with
the tenth aspect, since the mounting member is mounted on the
rotating member, when the rotating member is rotating, the electric
motor and the ECU also rotate with respect to the base member, and
it is possible to compactly collect together connecting wires
between the electric motor and the ECU for controlling operation of
the electric motor.
[0058] It should be noted here that a second taper portion 230a of
an embodiment of the solution means for the third problem, which is
described later, corresponds to the taper portion of the present
invention, a fourth side wall portion 230b similarly corresponds to
the side wall portion of the present invention, a second collar
portion 230c similarly corresponds to the collar portion of the
present invention, and an electric motor 253 and a blower 265
similarly correspond to electrical equipment of the present
invention.
Solution Means for Fourth Problem and Effects Thereof
[0059] In order to achieve the fourth object, according to a first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle
rotating seat device that includes a seat frame (315) that supports
a seat main body (311), a rotating member (330) that supports the
seat frame (315), a base member (329) that rotatably supports the
rotating member (330) from below, and an electrical component (350,
365, 374, 378) that is mounted on at least one of the seat frame
(315) and the rotating member (330), characterized in that an
electric wire (359, 369, 376, 380) connected to the electrical
component (350, 365, 374, 378) is retained by an electric wire
retaining member (360, 384, 386) that is fixedly disposed at a
center of rotation (3C) of the rotating member (330). In accordance
with the first aspect, since the electric wire connected to the
electrical component mounted on at least one of the seat frame and
the rotating member is retained by the electric wire retaining
member positioned at the center of rotation of the rotating member,
it is possible to avoid the occurrence of sagging or damage to the
electric wire connected to the electrical component when the seat
main body is rotating.
[0060] Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first aspect, a plurality of the
electric wires (359, 369, 376, 380) individually connected to a
plurality of the electrical components (350, 365, 374, 378) are
retained collectively by the single electric wire retaining member
(360, 384, 386). In accordance with the second aspect, since the
plurality of electric wires individually connected to the plurality
of electrical components are retained collectively by the single
electric wire retaining member, it is possible to compactly collect
together the plurality of electric wires and carry out wiring.
[0061] Moreover, according to a third aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, a
cushion-side pressure-receiving member (319) that receives a load
from above a seat cushion (311a) forming part of the seat main body
(311) is mounted on a seat cushion frame (316) that forms part of
the seat frame (315) and is supported on the rotating member (330),
and the electric wire retaining member (360, 384, 386) is disposed
at a position in which the electric wire (359, 369, 376, 380) is
retained beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member (319).
In accordance with the third aspect, since the electric wire
retaining member is disposed at a position in which the electric
wire is retained beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member
mounted on the seat cushion frame forming part of the seat frame,
it is possible to suppress protrusion of the electric wire
retaining member toward the occupant seating face side, thus
enabling interference of the electric wire retaining member with an
occupant seated on the seating face to be avoided.
[0062] Furthermore, according to a fourth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the third aspect, the electric wire
retaining member (360) is mounted directly on the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member (319). In accordance with the fourth
aspect, since the electric wire retaining member is mounted
directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member while
retaining the electric wire beneath the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member, it is possible to avoid interference of
the electric wire retaining member with an occupant seated on the
seating face and also to efficiently dispose the electric wire
retaining member at the center of rotation of the rotating member
while avoiding any increase in the number of components due to
there being no need for newly providing a member for mounting the
electric wire retaining member.
[0063] Moreover, according to a fifth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the first or second aspect, the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member (319), which receives a load
from above the seat cushion (311a) forming part of the seat main
body (311), is mounted on the cushion frame (316), which forms part
of the seat frame (315) and is supported on the rotating member
(330), and the electric wire retaining member (360) is mounted
directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member (319). In
accordance with the fifth aspect, since the electric wire retaining
member is mounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving
member, it is possible to efficiently dispose the electric wire
retaining member at the center of rotation of the rotating member
while avoiding any increase in the number of components due to
there being no need for newly providing a member for mounting the
electric wire retaining member.
[0064] Furthermore, according to a sixth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the third to fifth aspects, the seat
frame (315) comprises the seat cushion frame (316), which is
supported on the rotating member (330), and a seat back frame (317)
that is tiltably mounted on the seat cushion frame (316) or the
rotating member (330) via a support shaft (312), an electric
actuator for tilting (378), which is the electrical component, is
mounted on a lower part of the seat back frame (317) so that the
seat back frame (317) can be driven so as to tilt, and the electric
wire (380) connected to the electric actuator for tilting (378) is
retained by the electric wire retaining member (360) via an
intermediate retaining member (381) mounted on the seat back frame
(317) or the rotating member (330) in the vicinity of the support
shaft (312). In accordance with the sixth aspect, since the
electric actuator for tilting, which is for driving and tilting the
seat back frame tiltably mounted on the seat cushion frame or the
rotating member via the support shaft, is mounted on the lower part
of the seat back frame, and the electric wire connected to the
electric actuator for tilting is retained by the electric wire
retaining member via the intermediate retaining member mounted on
the seat cushion frame or the rotating member in the vicinity of
the support shaft, it is possible to prevent the electric wire
between the electric wire retaining member and the electric
actuator for tilting from sagging or being damaged when the seat
main body is rotating or the seat back frame is being tilted.
[0065] Moreover, according to a seventh aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the third aspect, a retaining
member-supporting member (383, 385) is mounted on the base member
(329), and the electric wire retaining member (384, 386) is mounted
on the retaining member-supporting member (383, 385). In accordance
with the seventh aspect, since the electric wire retaining member
is mounted on the retaining member-supporting member, which is
mounted on the base member, it is possible to easily assemble the
electric wire retaining member when assembling the seat-rotating
device, thus improving the workability.
[0066] Furthermore, according to an eighth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the electric wire
retaining member (384) retains the electric wires (359, 369, 376,
380) above the retaining member-supporting member (383) and is
mounted on the retaining member-supporting member (383). In
accordance with the eighth aspect, since the electric wire
retaining member retains the electric wire above the retaining
member-supporting member, it is possible to carry out wiring by
compactly collecting together the electric wires within the
seat-rotating device.
[0067] Moreover, according to a ninth aspect of the present
invention, in addition to the seventh aspect, the electric wire
retaining member (386) retains the electric wires (359, 369, 376,
380) beneath the retaining member-supporting member (385) and is
mounted on the retaining member-supporting member (385). In
accordance with the ninth aspect, since the electric wire retaining
member retains the electric wire beneath the retaining
member-supporting member, it is possible to carry out operations in
a state in which the seat-rotating device is laid sideways when
assembling the seat-rotating device, thus enabling the electric
wire to be easily retained by the electric wire retaining member
and thereby improving the workability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for
First Problem
[0068] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating device for a
vehicle seat.
[0069] FIG. 2 is a side view of the rotating device for a vehicle
seat in which the vehicle seat is omitted.
[0070] FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2 in a
state in which a seat cushion is omitted.
[0071] FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3.
[0072] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 in FIG. 3.
[0073] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of a
rotation locking mechanism separately in a locked state (a) and a
lock release state (b).
[0074] FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 (a).
[0075] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an essential part of a
vehicle seat device.
[0076] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 9 in
FIG. 4.
[0077] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 10 in
FIG. 2.
[0078] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a part shown by arrow 11 in
FIG. 3.
Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for
Second Problem
[0079] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat device of a
first embodiment.
[0080] FIG. 13 is a perspective view when viewed from the direction
shown by arrow 13 in FIG. 12.
[0081] FIG. 14 is a perspective view in state in which a seat
cushion, a seat back, and a side cover are removed from FIG.
12.
[0082] FIG. 15 is a sectional view along line 15-15 in FIG. 16
showing part of a slide rail and a rotation mechanism.
[0083] FIG. 16 is a view when the slide rail and the rotation
mechanism are viewed from the direction shown by arrow 16 in FIG.
15.
[0084] FIG. 17 is a sectional view along line 17-17 in FIG. 16.
[0085] FIG. 18 is a sectional view along line 18-18 in FIG. 17.
[0086] FIG. 19 is a sectional view along line 19-19 in FIG. 16
showing part of the vehicle seat device.
[0087] FIG. 20 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 19, of a
second embodiment.
[0088] FIG. 21 is a perspective view, corresponding to FIG. 13, of
a third embodiment.
Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for
Third Problem
[0089] FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat device
in a state in which a seat main body is omitted.
[0090] FIG. 23 is a plan view when an essential part of the vehicle
seat device is viewed from above.
[0091] FIG. 24 is a sectional view along line 24-24 in FIG. 23.
[0092] FIG. 25 is a view of a slide rail and a rotation mechanism
from the same direction as in FIG. 23.
[0093] FIG. 26 is a view when the slide rail and the rotation
mechanism are viewed from the side opposite to that in FIG. 25.
[0094] FIG. 27 is a sectional view along line 27-27 in FIG. 25.
Explanation of Drawings Showing Embodiments of Solution Means for
Fourth Problem
[0095] FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a vehicle
seat-rotating device of a first embodiment in a state in which a
seat main body is omitted.
[0096] FIG. 29 is a plan view when an essential part of the vehicle
seat-rotating device is viewed from above.
[0097] FIG. 30 is a sectional view of the seat-rotating device
along line 30-30 in FIG. 29.
[0098] FIG. 31 is a view in the direction of arrow 31 in FIG. 30 in
a state in which a seat cushion frame and a cushion-side
pressure-receiving member are omitted.
[0099] FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the seat-rotating device
along line 32-32 in FIG. 31.
[0100] FIG. 33 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 30, of a
second embodiment.
[0101] FIG. 34 is a view in the direction of arrow 34 in FIG. 33 in
a state in which a seat cushion frame and a cushion-side
pressure-receiving member are omitted.
[0102] FIG. 35 is a sectional view, corresponding to FIG. 30, of a
third embodiment.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS
Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings Showing
Embodiment of Solution Means for First Problem
[0103] 11 Vehicle seat, which is a vehicle interior item [0104] 12
Seat cushion [0105] 13 Seat back [0106] 15 Seat cushion frame
[0107] 17 Reclining lever [0108] 18 Side frame [0109] 19 Pan frame,
which is a linking frame [0110] 20 Rear pipe, which is a linking
frame [0111] 22 Base member [0112] 23 Rotating member [0113] 30
Rotation support part [0114] 35 Vehicle floor [0115] 36 Movement
means [0116] 45 Rotation-locking means [0117] 62 Latching means
[0118] 63 Engagement means [0119] 66 Shaft support member [0120]
66a Shaft support wall portion [0121] 66b Extending wall portion
[0122] 67 Shaft member [0123] 69 Hook member [0124] 70 Striker
[0125] 71 Striker support member [0126] 74 Second coil spring,
which is an urging member
Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings Showing
Embodiments of Solution Means for Second Problem
[0126] [0127] 110 Vehicle seat device [0128] 112 Seat cushion
[0129] 112a Skin [0130] 114 Side cover [0131] 117 Rotation
mechanism [0132] 119 Seat cushion frame [0133] 119a Side frame
[0134] 129 Base member [0135] 130 Rotating member [0136] 165, 175,
178 Cover [0137] 167, 177 Fixed cover member
Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings Showing
Embodiment of Solution Means for Third Problem
[0137] [0138] 211a Seat cushion [0139] 214 Rotation mechanism
[0140] 216 Seat cushion frame [0141] 219 Cushion-side
pressure-receiving member [0142] 219a Lowest end of cushion-side
pressure-receiving member [0143] 229 Base member [0144] 230
Rotating member [0145] 230a Taper portion [0146] 230b Side wall
portion [0147] 230c Collar portion [0148] 230d Outer periphery of
rotating member [0149] 241 Housing part [0150] 253 Electric motor,
which is electrical equipment [0151] 258 Mounting member [0152]
258b Inclined plate portion [0153] 265 Blower, which is electrical
equipment [0154] 270, 271 ECU [0155] 2C Rotational axis
Explanation of Reference Numerals and Symbols of Drawings Showing
Embodiments of Solution Means for Fourth Problem
[0155] [0156] 311 Seat main body [0157] 311a Seat cushion [0158]
312 Support shaft [0159] 315 Seat frame [0160] 316 Seat cushion
frame [0161] 317 Seat back frame [0162] 319 Cushion-side
pressure-receiving member [0163] 329 Base member [0164] 330
Rotating member [0165] 350 Electric actuator for rotation, which is
an electrical component [0166] 359, 369, 376, 380 Electric wire
[0167] 360, 384, 386 Electric wire retaining member [0168] 365
Blower, which is an electrical component [0169] 374 Electric
actuator for raising/lowering, which is an electrical component
[0170] 378 Electric actuator for tilting, which is an electrical
component [0171] 381 Intermediate retaining member [0172] 383, 385
Retaining member-supporting member [0173] 3C Center of rotation
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment of Solution Means for First Problem
[0174] An embodiment of the present invention is explained below by
reference to the attached drawings. In the explanation below, `fore
and aft`, `left and right` and `up and down` refer to directions
viewed by an occupant when a vehicle seat is in an attitude in
which the occupant seated thereon faces forward.
[0175] First, in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 11, which is a vehicle
interior item, includes a seat cushion 12 for an occupant to be
seated on, a seat back 13 supporting the back of the occupant
seated on the seat cushion 12, and a headrest 14 provided on an
upper part of the seat back 13 so that the up-and-down position of
the headrest 14 can be adjusted.
[0176] Referring in addition to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the seat cushion
12 is supported by a seat cushion frame 15, and the seat back 13 is
supported by a seat back frame (not illustrated) that is tiltably
linked, via a reclining mechanism (not illustrated), to a rear part
of the seat cushion frame 15 when the vehicle seat 11 is in a state
in which the vehicle seat 11 faces a reference direction, that is,
in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 12 faces
forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.
[0177] The seat cushion frame 15 is formed from a pair of side
frames 18 that are arranged at positions spaced from each other and
extend linearly in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and a pair
of linking frames that provide a link between opposite end parts of
the side frames 18; in this embodiment one of the pair of linking
frames is a pan frame 19 that provides a link between front end
parts of the pair of side frames 18 in a state in which the vehicle
seat 11 faces the reference direction, and the other linking frame
is a rear pipe 20 that provides a link between rear end parts of
the side frames 18.
[0178] A reclining lever 17 for operating the reclining mechanism
is disposed, among the pair of side frames 18, outside one side
frame 18 in plan view, in this embodiment on the outside in plan
view of the side frame 18 disposed on the left side in a state in
which the vehicle seat 11 faces the reference direction.
[0179] Referring in addition to FIG. 5, the seat cushion frame 15
is provided on a rotation mechanism 21, the rotation mechanism 21
including a base member 22, an annular rotating member 23 that
supports the seat cushion frame 15 and is rotatably supported by
the base member 22, and a cover member 24 that covers part of the
rotating member 23 from above and is fixed to the base member
22.
[0180] The base member 22 has an annular first bottom wall portion
22a, a cylindrical first side wall portion 22b that rises upward
from an outer peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion 22a,
and a first collar portion 22c that protrudes outward from an upper
end part of the first side wall portion 22b, the first collar
portion 22c being formed into a rectangular shape.
[0181] The cover member 24 has an annular second bottom wall
portion 24a that abuts against the first bottom wall portion 22a of
the base member 22 from above, a cylindrical second side wall
portion 24b that rises slightly upward from the outer periphery of
the second bottom wall portion 24a, a first taper portion 24c that
is formed so as to have a larger diameter in going upward and is
connectedly provided on an upper end part of the second side wall
portion 24b, an annular first flat wall portion 24d that is
connected to an upper end part of the first taper portion 24c, and
a cylindrical third side wall portion 24e that rises upward from
the outer periphery of the first flat wall portion 24d, the second
bottom wall portion 24a being joined to the first bottom wall
portion 22a of the base member 22 by a plurality of rivets 25.
[0182] The rotating member 23 has a second taper portion 23a that
is disposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 24c of
the cover member 24 from the outside and is formed so as to have a
larger diameter in going upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall
portion 23b that rises upward from an upper end part of the second
taper portion 23a so as to oppose the third side wall portion 24e
of the cover member 24 from the outside, and a second collar
portion 23c that protrudes outward from the fourth side wall
portion 23b, the second collar portion 23c being formed into a
rectangular shape. A frame support plate 26 is fastened to opposite
sides of the second collar portion 23c in the vehicle width
direction by means of pluralities of first bolts 27 and first nuts
28, and the side frame 18 of the seat cushion frame 15 is mounted
on the frame support plate 26.
[0183] The rotating member 23 is rotatably supported on an annular
rotation support part 30 of the base member 22 via a bearing 31,
and the rotation support part 30 is formed into an annular shape
from the first bottom wall portion 22a and the first side wall
portion 22b of the base member 22 so that its cross-sectional shape
is substantially L-shaped.
[0184] The bearing 31 is formed by retaining balls 33 at a
plurality of locations in the peripheral direction of an annular
retainer 32, and an annular recess part 34 for the balls 33 to roll
in is formed in the second taper portion 23a of the rotating member
23.
[0185] The base member 22 can be made to move in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction by movement means 36, the movement means 36
being disposed between a vehicle floor 35 and the base member
22.
[0186] The movement means 36 includes a pair of left and right
fixed rails 37 that extend in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction
while being spaced in the left-and-right direction, and a pair of
left and right movable rails 38 that are slidably fitted to the
fixed rails 37; the fixed rails 37 are fixed to the vehicle floor
35 via a front rail support member 39 and rear rail support member
40 that are disposed so as to be spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction, and due to the front rail support member 39 being formed
so as to be higher than the rear rail support member 40 the fixed
rails 37 are supported on the vehicle floor 35 in an attitude in
which they are inclined downward to the rear.
[0187] As is clearly shown in FIG. 5, the movable rail 38 has
secured thereto by welding, etc. support brackets 42, and these
support brackets 42 are fastened to opposite sides in the vehicle
width direction of the first collar portion 22c of the base member
22 by means of pluralities of second bolts 43 and second nuts 44.
That is, the base member 22 is supported on the vehicle floor 35
via the support bracket 42 and the movement means 36.
[0188] Referring in addition to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a rotatable
state and a non-rotatable state of the rotating member 23 can be
switched between by rotation-locking means 45, the rotation-locking
means 45 including a lock member 46 supported on the rotating
member 23, an annular push-out member 47 disposed between the third
side wall portion 24e of the cover member 24 and the fourth side
wall portion 23b of the rotating member 23 and operating in
association with operation of the lock member 46, and a
rattle-suppressing member 48 disposed at a plurality of locations
spaced in the peripheral direction of the push-out member 47.
[0189] Provided at a plurality of locations, spaced in the
peripheral direction, of the push-out member 47 are housing holes
49 extending lengthwise in the peripheral direction of the push-out
member 47. The rattle-suppressing member 48 is housed in the
housing hole 49.
[0190] On the other hand, the lock member 46 having part thereof
protruding outward from the pan frame 19 is pivotably supported on
the second collar portion 23c of the rotating member 23 via a shaft
59. The lock member 46 can pivot between a locked position in which
as shown in FIG. 6 (a) it engages with the third side wall portion
24e of the cover member 24 so as to disable rotation of the
rotating member 23, and a lock release position in which as shown
in FIG. 6 (b) the engagement with the third side wall portion 24e
is released and rotation of the rotating member 23 is enabled.
Moreover, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 the lock member 46 is
pivotingly urged toward the locked position side by means of a
spring 51 provided between the lock member 46 and a first spring
support member 50 fixed to the second collar portion 23c, and in
this embodiment the spring 51 is a coil spring and two springs 51
are provided so as to stretch between the lock member 46 and the
first spring support member 50.
[0191] A link arm portion 46a of the lock member 46 is inserted
through a through hole 52 formed in the fourth side wall portion
23b of the rotating member 23, and an extremity part of the link
arm portion 46a can be inserted into a link hole 53 formed in the
push-out member 47; inserting the extremity part of the link arm
portion 46a into the link hole 53 links the lock member 46 to the
push-out member 47. The link arm portion 46a is linked to the link
hole 53 when the lock member 46 attains the lock release position
as shown in FIG. 6 (b), and the link arm portion 46a applies a
pushing force to the push-out member 47 in the pivoting
direction.
[0192] An engagement arm portion 46b of the lock member 46 engages
with a first through hole 54 formed in the fourth side wall portion
23b of the rotating member 23 and a second through hole 55 formed
in the third side wall portion 24e of the cover member 24 when the
lock member 46 is at the locked position shown in FIG. 6 (a), but
disengages from the second through hole 55 to thus release
engagement with the cover member 24 when it is at the lock release
position shown in FIG. 6 (b). The engagement arm portion 46b
operates between the locked position and the lock release position
so as to straddle the push-out member 47.
[0193] Formed in the fourth side wall portion 23b of the rotating
member 23 is a recess part 56 that houses part of the
rattle-suppressing member 48 and enables the rattle-suppressing
member 48 to be closely fitted thereinto.
[0194] The rattle-suppressing member 48 is formed into a wedge
shape so as to have an inclined face 48a whose height gradually
decreases as the push-out member 47 moves in a direction of
movement 57 in response to the lock member 46 operating from the
lock release position toward the locked position side, and the
recess part 56, which enables the rattle-suppressing member 48 to
be closely fitted therein, is formed into a triangular shape so as
to house part of the rattle-suppressing member 48 while having a
recess part-side inclined face 56a opposing the inclined face
48a.
[0195] A first coil spring 58 is provided in a compressed state
between the rattle-suppressing member 48 and, among longitudinally
opposite end parts of the housing hole 49 formed in the push-out
member 47, a front end part along the direction of movement. The
rattle-suppressing member 48 is urged in a direction opposite to
the direction of movement 57 by a spring force exerted by the first
coil spring 58.
[0196] When the lock member 46 is at the locked position, as shown
in FIG. 6 (a) the inclined face 48a of the rattle-suppressing
member 48 abuts closely against the recess part-side inclined face
56a of the recess part 56 to thus put the rattle-suppressing member
48 in close contact with the rotating member 23 and the cover
member 24, thereby preventing the rotating member 23 from
rattling.
[0197] When the lock member 46 attains the lock release position,
as shown in FIG. 6 (b), among the longitudinally opposite end parts
of the housing hole 49, a rear end part along the direction of
movement 57 abuts against the rattle-suppressing member 48, the
rattle-suppressing member 48 is pushed in the direction of movement
against the urging force of the first coil spring 58, and the
rattle-suppressing member 48 moves toward the side on which the
inclined face 48a of the rattle-suppressing member 48 moves away
from the recess part-side inclined face 56a, thus releasing the
state in which rattling is prevented.
[0198] Referring in addition to FIG. 8, detachment of the rotating
member 23 from the base member 22 due to a load acting on the
rotating member 23 in a non-rotatable state is suppressed by a
detachment suppression mechanism 61. The detachment suppression
mechanism 61 includes latching means 62 provided on the base member
22 side and engagement means 63 provided on the rotating member 23
side, the engagement means 63 being capable of switching between a
state in which it engages with the latching means 62 when the
rotating member 23 is in a non-rotating state and suppresses
detachment of the rotating member 23 from the base member 22 and a
state in which engagement with the latching means 62 is released
when the rotating member 23 attains a rotatable state.
[0199] Four of the latching means 62 are disposed on the base
member 22 side, a pair being disposed on each of opposite sides
along the vehicle width direction of the base member 22 so as to be
spaced in the fore-and-aft direction, and four of the engagement
means 63 are provided on the rotating member 23 side, the
engagement means 63 being capable of engaging with the latching
means 62. The latching means 62 and the engagement means 63 are
spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and are disposed
further rearward than the front end and further forward than the
rear end of the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side in the
vehicle width direction (see FIG. 2). That is, the latching means
62 and the engagement means 63 are disposed between a first
imaginary vertical plane IVA passing the front end of the rotating
member 23 (see FIG. 2) and a second imaginary vertical plane IVB
passing the rear end of the rotating member 23 (see FIG. 2).
Moreover, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 the latching means 62 and
the engagement means 63 are disposed further outside than the
rotating member 23 at least in a plan view when the rotating member
23 is in the non-rotating state.
[0200] Referring in addition to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, the engagement
means 63 includes a shaft support member 66 that is fixed directly
or indirectly to the rotating member 23, a shaft member 67 that is
supported by the shaft support member 66, and a hook member 68 that
is pivotably and axially supported by the shaft member 67.
[0201] The shaft support member 66 includes a shaft support wall
portion 66a that is disposed outside the rotating member 23 in plan
view while having fixed thereto the shaft member 67, and a pair of
extending wall portions 66b that are connectedly provided on the
shaft support wall portion 66a at positions sandwiching the shaft
member 67 therebetween and extend toward the rotating member 23
side. The extending wall portion 66b is fixed directly or
indirectly to the rotating member 23, and in this embodiment the
extending wall portion 66b is fixed by welding, etc. to a support
plate 69 fixed by welding, etc. to a lower face of the second
collar portion 23c of the rotating member 23. The hook member 68 is
disposed outside the shaft support wall portion 66a and pivotably
supported on the shaft member 67.
[0202] The engagement means 63 is disposed at a position in which
at least part of (part in this embodiment) of the engagement means
63 overlaps the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side, and
is disposed at a position in which it avoids the movement means 36
in plan view and, in particular, is disposed outside the movement
means 36 in plan view. As shown in FIG. 2, the engagement means 63
is disposed at a position in which at least the upper part of the
engagement means 63 overlaps the seat cushion 12 when viewed from
the side and at least part of (part in this embodiment) of the
engagement means 63 overlaps the side frame 18 when viewed from the
side.
[0203] The engagement means 63 are arranged so that they release
engagement with the latching means 62 by pivoting toward the side
on which, among the engagement means 63, a lower part of the hook
member 68 of the engagement means 63 disposed on the front side in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the rotating member 23 and a
lower part of the hook member 68 of the engagement means 63
disposed on the rear side in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of
the rotating member 23 move away from each other.
[0204] On the other hand, the latching means 62 are disposed on
opposite sides in the vehicle width direction of the base member 22
while being spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and
include a rod-shaped striker 70 that the hook member 68 can engage
with and a striker support member 71 that supports the striker 70
and is fixed directly or indirectly to the base member 22, in this
embodiment the striker support member 71 being fixed to the base
member 22 via the support bracket 42.
[0205] The second latching means 62 includes the striker 70, with
which the hook member 68 can engage, and a second striker support
member 71 that supports the striker 70 and is fixed directly or
indirectly to the base member 22, and in this embodiment the second
striker support member 71 is fixed to the base member 22 via the
support bracket 42.
[0206] The first striker support member 71 is formed so as to have
a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape while enabling the
hook member 68 to be inserted into and disengaged therefrom, and
the striker 70 is fixed to the striker support member 71 so as to
straddle the striker support member 71.
[0207] Among the latching means 62, the striker support member 71
of the latching means 62 disposed on the front side in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction of the base member 22 is fixed to the base
member 22 in an attitude in which it opens forward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction, and the striker support member 71 of the
latching means 62 disposed on the rear side in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction of the base member 22 is fixed to the base
member 22 in an attitude in which it opens rearward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction.
[0208] The striker 70 is disposed at a position lower than the
lower end of the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side. That
is, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4 the striker 70 is disposed at a
position lower than an imaginary horizontal plane IH passing the
lower end of the rotating member 23.
[0209] A second spring support member is secured to each of
opposite end parts in the fore-and-aft direction on opposite sides
in the vehicle width direction of the second collar portion 23c of
the rotating member 23, and a second coil spring 74 is provided
between the second spring support member and the hook member 68 of
the engagement means 63, the second coil spring 74 being an urging
member that pivotingly urges the hook member 68 in a direction in
which it engages with the striker 70.
[0210] The striker support member 71 is disposed on the outside in
the vehicle width direction of the fixed rail 37 of the movement
means 36, and the striker support member 71 is secured to a
mounting member 75 secured to the support bracket 42 by welding,
etc.
[0211] Since the hook member 68 is disposed outside the shaft
support member 66, the part of the hook member 68 that is engaged
with the striker 70 is set outside the shaft support member 66 in
plan view.
[0212] The latching means 62 is fixed via the support bracket 42 to
the base member 22 at a position in which the base member 22
overlaps at least part (part in this embodiment) of the latching
means 62 when viewed from the side, and in plan view as shown in
FIG. 3 it is disposed further outside than the movement means
36.
[0213] At least part (a lower part in this embodiment) of a
specific one among the engagement means 63, in this embodiment the
engagement means 63 disposed on the rear side in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction among the engagement means 63, is disposed
so as to overlap the reclining lever 17 when viewed from the side
as shown in FIG. 2. Moreover, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3, at
least part of the specific engagement means 63 is disposed further
outside than the reclining lever 17 in plan view. That is, at least
part of the specific engagement means 63 is disposed further
outside than a third imaginary vertical plane IVC that passes an
end part, on the side opposite to the vehicle seat 11, of the
reclining lever 17 and extends in the fore-and-aft direction.
[0214] The hook member 68 of the engagement means 63 pivots in
response to operation of the lock member 46 of the rotation-locking
means 45. Four cables 76 are provided between the lock member 46
and the hook member 68, the cables 76 transmitting to the hook
member 68 power for pivoting the hook member 68 against the spring
force of the second coil spring 74 when the lock member 46 is
pivoted from the locked position to the lock release position
side.
[0215] The cable 76 is formed by movably inserting an inner cable
76b through the interior of an outer cable 76a. One end part of
four outer cables 76a is fixed to a common cable retaining member
77 fixed to the second collar portion 23c of the rotating member 23
so as to oppose the lock member 46, and one end part of the inner
cable 76b protruding via the one end part of each outer cable 76a
is linked to the lock member 46. Individual retaining members 78 of
the cables are fixed to parts, corresponding to the four engagement
means 63, of the second collar portion 23c of the rotating member
23, and the other end parts of the outer cables 76a are fixed to
the individual retaining members 78. The other end part of the
inner cable 76b protruding via the other end part of each outer
cable 76a is linked to the respective hook member 68.
[0216] The operation of this embodiment is now explained. Since the
latching means 62, which is provided on the base member 22 side
having the rotation support part 30 rotatably supporting the
rotating member 23 supporting the vehicle seat 11, and the
engagement means 63, which is provided on the rotating member 23
side so as to be capable of switching between a state in which it
engages with the latching means 62 when the rotating member 23 is a
non-rotating state and suppresses detachment of the rotating member
23 from the base member 22 and a state in which engagement with the
latching means 62 is released when the rotating member 23 attains a
rotatable state, are disposed further outside than the rotating
member 23 in plan view at least when the rotating member 23 is in a
non-rotating state, the latching means 62 and the engagement means
63 do not overlap the rotating member 23 in the height direction,
and it is possible to form the rotating device compactly in the
height direction while enabling detachment of the rotating member
23 to be suppressed by the latching means 62 and the engagement
means 63.
[0217] Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 is disposed at a
position in which at least part of the engagement means 63 overlaps
the rotating member 23 when viewed from the side, it is possible to
suppress any increase in the height of the rotating device due to
disposition of the engagement means 63.
[0218] Moreover, since the latching means 62 is fixed to the base
member 22 at a position in which at least part of the latching
means 62 overlaps the base member 22 supported on the vehicle floor
35 when viewed from the side, it is possible to mount the base
member 22 on the latching means 62 in advance when assembling the
rotating device onto the vehicle floor 35, thus enhancing the ease
of assembly and also suppressing any increase in the height of the
rotating device due to disposition of the latching means 62.
[0219] Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 includes the
shaft support member 66 fixed directly or indirectly to the
rotating member 23, the shaft member 67 supported by the shaft
support member 66, and the hook member 68 pivotably and axially
supported by the shaft member 67, the latching means 62 includes
the striker 70, with which the hook member 68 can engage, and the
striker support member 71 supporting the striker 70 and directly or
indirectly fixed to the base member 22, and the part of the hook
member 68 that engages with the striker 70 is set outside the shaft
support member 66 in plan view, it is possible to make it easy for
the striker 70 to receive a load when a detachment load is
acting.
[0220] Moreover, since the striker 70 is disposed at a position
lower than the lower end of the rotating member 23 when viewed from
the side, it is possible to prevent the rotating member 23 from
interfering with the striker 70 when the rotating member 23 is
rotating while suppressing any increase in the height of the
rotating device.
[0221] Furthermore, since the shaft support member 66 includes the
shaft support wall portion 66a disposed outside the rotating member
23 in plan view while the shaft member 67 is fixed thereto, and the
pair of extending wall portions 66b connectedly provided on the
shaft support wall portion 66a at a position in which the shaft
member 67 is sandwiched therebetween and extending to the rotating
member 23 side, and the extending wall portions 66b are fixed
directly or indirectly to the rotating member 23, it is possible to
enhance the bracing strength of the shaft support member 66 when a
load is acting on the rotating member 23.
[0222] Moreover, since the movement means 36, which can move the
base member 22 in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, is provided,
and the engagement means 63 is disposed at a position in which it
avoids the movement means 36 in plan view, it is possible to
suppress any increase in the height of the rotating device by
preventing the movement means 36 and the engagement means 63 from
overlapping each other in the height direction.
[0223] Furthermore, since the engagement means 63 is disposed
outside the movement means 36 in plan view, the engagement means 63
is disposed on the part of the rotating device that is closer to
the outside, and it is possible to receive a load from the vehicle
seat 11 via part of the base member 22 that is further outside.
[0224] Moreover, since the movement means 36 is disposed between
the vehicle floor 35 and the base member 22, and the latching means
62 is disposed further outside than the movement means 36 in plan
view, it is possible for a load from the vehicle seat 11 to be
received by part of the base member 22 that is further outside
while disposing the latching means 62 so as to avoid interference
with the movement means 36.
[0225] Furthermore, since the second coil spring 74, which
pivotingly urges the hook member 68 in a direction in which it
engages with the striker 70, is provided between the shaft support
member 66 and the hook member 68, it is possible to retain a state
of engagement between the hook member 68 and the striker 70.
[0226] Moreover, since the latching means 62 and the engagement
means 63 are disposed at two locations on opposite sides of the
base member 22 and the rotating member 23 in the vehicle width
direction while being spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction
and disposed further rearward than the front end and further
forward than the rear end of the rotating member 23 when viewed
from the side in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to
compactly dispose the latching means 62 and the engagement means 63
by disposing them further rearward than the front end and further
forward than the rear end of the rotating member 23 while enabling
the vehicle seat 11 to be retained in two attitudes that are
rotated through 180 degrees.
[0227] Furthermore, since the pair of engagement means 63 disposed
so as to be spaced in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction are formed
with a structure that enables the hook members 68 to disengage from
the strikers 70, with which they have individually engaged, by
pivoting lower end parts of the hook members 68 of the engagement
means 63 toward the side on which they are moved away from each
other in a state in which the vehicle seat 11 cannot rotate, it is
possible to prevent the hook members 68 from interfering with each
other when releasing engagement with the striker 70 in the
non-rotatable state.
[0228] Moreover, since the engagement means 63 is disposed at a
position in which at least an upper part of the engagement means 63
overlaps the seat cushion 12 of the vehicle seat 11 when viewed
from the side, it is possible to suppress any increase in the
height of the vehicle seat 11.
[0229] Furthermore, since at least part of the specific engagement
means 63, which is at least one among the plurality of engagement
means 63, is disposed so that when viewed from the side it overlaps
the reclining lever 17, which operates so as to switch between a
state in which the seat back 13, which is tiltable with respect to
the seat cushion 12, can tilt and a state in which tilting is
restricted, it is possible to suppress any increase in the height
of the rotating device for the vehicle seat 11, which includes the
reclining lever 17.
[0230] Moreover, since the seat cushion frame 15 supporting the
seat cushion 12 is formed from the pair of side frames 18
positioned so as to be spaced from each other and extending
linearly, and the pan frame 19 and rear pipe 20 providing a link
between opposite end parts of the side frames 18, and at least part
of the engagement means 63 is disposed at a position in which it
overlaps the side frame 18 when viewed from the side, it is
possible to suppress any increase in the height of the rotating
device for the vehicle seat 11.
[0231] Furthermore, since the reclining lever 17 is disposed on the
outside, in plan view, of one side frame 18 of the pair of side
frames 18, and at least part of the specific engagement means 63 is
disposed further outside than the reclining lever 17 in plan view,
it is possible for a load acting from the vehicle seat 11 to be
received by part of the base member 22 that is further outside.
[0232] An embodiment of the present invention is explained above,
but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and may
be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do
not depart from the subject matter thereof.
[0233] In the above embodiment, the vehicle seat 11 is explained as
a vehicle interior item, but it is not limited to the vehicle seat
11.
Embodiments of Solution Means for Second Problem
[0234] Embodiments of the present invention are explained by
reference to the attached drawings. In the explanation below, `fore
and aft`, `left and right` and `up and down` refer to directions
viewed by an occupant when a vehicle seat is in an attitude in
which the occupant seated thereon faces forward.
[0235] A first embodiment of the present invention is explained
below by reference to FIG. 12 to FIG. 19. First, in FIG. 12 and
FIG. 13, a seat 111 of a vehicle seat device 110 mounted in a
vehicle includes a seat cushion 112 that forms a seat part for an
occupant and a seat back 113 that is disposed above the seat
cushion 112, a side cover 114 is disposed on each of opposite sides
of the seat cushion 112, and a headrest 115 for receiving a head
part of the occupant is disposed on an upper part of the seat back
113.
[0236] Referring in addition to FIG. 14, the vehicle seat device
110 includes a pair of slide rails 116 that are arranged in
parallel to each other while being spaced in the left-and-right
direction in order to make the seat 111 slidable and that extend
linearly, and a rotation mechanism 117 that can move along the
slide rail 116 while rotatably supporting the seat 111.
[0237] A seat frame 118 of the vehicle seat device 110 includes a
seat cushion frame 119 that supports the seat cushion 112 and a
seat back frame 120 that is linked to the seat cushion frame 119 so
as to support the seat back 113 disposed above the seat cushion
112.
[0238] The seat cushion frame 119 has a pair of side frames 119a
that are disposed so as to extend linearly in the fore-and-aft
direction at positions spaced from each other in the left-and-right
direction, a pan frame 119b that provides a link between front end
parts of the side frames 119a, and a rear pipe 119c that provides a
link between rear end parts of the pair of side frames 119a.
[0239] A cushion-side pressure-receiving member 121 bridges between
the pan frame 119b and the rear pipe 119c. The cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 121 has a plurality (four in this
embodiment) of seat springs 122 that are formed by curving a metal
wire in a zig-zag so as to snake to the left and right, these seat
springs 122 being disposed so that adjacent seat springs 122 have
lateral symmetry and the adjacent seat springs 122 being linked to
each other by means of a plurality of intermediate linking members
123 that are made of a resin and molded by insertion molding so as
to be integral with the seat spring 122.
[0240] Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 122 are
each engaged with latching parts 124 provided on the pan frame 119b
of the seat frame 118. Rear end parts of the mutually adjacent seat
springs 122 are engaged with the rear pipe 119c of the seat frame
118 and are linked by means of a rear end part-linking member 125
that is made of a resin and molded by insertion molding so as to be
integral with the seat spring 122, the rear end part-linking member
125 being formed so as to cover the rear pipe 119c.
[0241] The seat back frame 120 has a pair of seat back side frames
120a that extend in the up-and-down direction at positions spaced
from each other in the left-and-right direction, an upper frame
120b that provides a link between upper end parts of the seat back
side frames 120a, and a lower frame 120c that provides a link
between lower end parts of the pair of seat back side frames
120a.
[0242] A back-side pressure-receiving member 126 formed from a
resin, etc. so as to be elastically deformable is disposed between
the pair of seat back side frames 120a, the back-side
pressure-receiving member 126 bridging between the left and right
seat back side frames 120a via an upper link wire 127 and a lower
link wire 128.
[0243] Referring in addition to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the seat frame
118 is placed on the rotation mechanism 117, the rotation mechanism
117 including a base member 129 that can move along the slide rail
116, an annular rotating member 130 that supports the seat frame
118 and is rotatably supported on the base member 129, and a cover
member 131 that is fixed to the base member 129 while covering part
of the rotating member 130 from above.
[0244] The base member 129 has an annular first bottom wall portion
129a, a cylindrical first side wall portion 129b that rises upward
from an outer peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion
129a, and a first collar portion 129c that protrudes outward from
an upper end part of the first side wall portion 129b, the first
collar portion 129c being formed into a rectangular shape. The base
member 129 is disposed further inside than a middle part in the
width direction of the pair of slide rails 116 and beneath the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 121.
[0245] The cover member 131 has an annular second bottom wall
portion 131a that abuts against the first bottom wall portion 129a
of the base member 129 from above, a cylindrical second side wall
portion 131b that rises slightly upward from the outer periphery of
the second bottom wall portion 131a, a first taper portion 131c
that is formed so as to have a larger diameter in going upward and
is connectedly provided on an upper end part of the second side
wall portion 131b, an annular first flat wall portion 131d that is
connected to an upper end part of the first taper portion 131c, and
a cylindrical third side wall portion 131e that rises upward from
the outer periphery of the first flat wall portion 131d, the second
bottom wall portion 131a being joined to the first bottom wall
portion 129a of the base member 129 by a plurality of rivets
132.
[0246] The rotating member 130 has a second taper portion 130a that
is disposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 131c of
the cover member 131 from the outside and is formed so as to have a
larger diameter in going upward, a cylindrical third side wall
portion 130b that rises upward from an upper end part of the second
taper portion 130a so as to oppose the second side wall portion
131b of the cover member 131 from the outside, and a second collar
portion 130c that protrudes outward from the third side wall
portion 130b, the second collar portion 130c being formed into a
rectangular shape. The side frame 119a of the seat cushion frame
119 of the seat frame 118 is fastened to the second collar portion
130c via pluralities of first bolts 134 and second nuts 135.
[0247] The rotating member 130 is rotatably supported on an annular
rotation support part 136 of the base member 129 via a bearing 137,
the rotation support part 136 being formed from the first bottom
wall portion 129a and the first side wall portion 129b of the base
member 129 so that its cross-sectional shape is substantially
L-shaped.
[0248] The bearing 137 is formed by retaining balls 139 at a
plurality of locations in the peripheral direction of an annular
retainer 138, and an annular recess part 140 for the balls 139 to
roll in is formed in the second taper portion 130a of the rotating
member 130.
[0249] The slide rail 116 is formed from a fixed rail 141 that is
fixed to a vehicle floor face 133, and a movable rail 142 that is
slidably fitted to the fixed rail 141. Formed on the floor face 133
is a convex portion 133a that protrudes upward while extending in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction. Fixing the fixed rail 141 onto
the convex portion 133a enables a lower part of the rotation
mechanism 117 to be disposed at a position lower than the lower end
of the slide rail 116 in the up-and-down direction.
[0250] A support bracket 143 is connectedly provided on the movable
rail 142, the support bracket 143 extending toward the inside of
the pair of slide rails 116 and being formed integrally with or
separately from the movable rail 142 (in this embodiment
separately), and the base member 129 is fastened to the support
bracket 143 via a second bolt 145 and a second nut 146 screwed onto
the second bolt 145. That is, the base member 129 is fixedly linked
to the movable rail 142 via the support bracket 143.
[0251] The support bracket 143 is formed so as to integrally have a
flat plate-shaped mounting plate portion 143a that is disposed on
the movable rail 142 so that a lower face thereof is fixed to the
movable rail 142 by welding, etc., a side-plate portion 143b that
is connected to the mounting plate portion 143a at right angles
while extending in the up-and-down direction at a position adjacent
to the inner side of the slide rail 116, and a flat plate-shaped
linking plate portion 143c that extends from the lower end of the
side-plate portion 143b toward the side opposite to the slide rail
116 and abuts against the first collar portion 129c of the base
member 129 from below. The linking plate portion 143c is fastened
to the first collar portion 129c of the base member 129.
[0252] A first hook member 147 is fixed to the side-plate portion
143b of the support bracket 143 by welding, etc., and a second hook
member 148 that forms, in cooperation with the first hook member
147, a deformation-suppressing mechanism 149 that suppresses upward
lifting of the rotating member 130 with respect to the movable rail
142 is fixed to the third side wall portion 130b of the rotating
member 130 by welding, etc. and engaged with the first hook member
147 while allowing the rotating member 130 to rotate.
[0253] The first hook member 147 is fixed to the support bracket
143 via a total of four positions corresponding to front end parts
and rear end parts of the pair of left and right movable rails 142,
and the second hook member 148 is fixed to the third side wall
portion 130b of the rotating member 130 via four positions
corresponding to the first hook member 147.
[0254] Referring in addition to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, it is possible
to switch between a locked state of the rotating member 130 in
which it is locked with respect to the base member 129 and the
cover member 131 and release of the locked state by means of
operation of a lock member 152 supported on the rotating member
130, and a rattle-suppressing member 153 that operates in
association with operation of the lock member 152 is disposed
between the cover member 131 and the rotating member 130.
[0255] A tapered push-out member 154 whose diameter increases in
going upward is disposed between the first taper portion 131c of
the cover member 131 and the second taper portion 130a of the
rotating member 130. A housing hole 155 extending lengthwise in the
peripheral direction of the push-out member 154 is provided in a
plurality of locations, spaced in the peripheral direction, of the
push-out member 154, and the rattle-suppressing member 153 disposed
between the first taper portion 131c of the cover member 131 and
the second taper portion 130a of the rotating member 130 is housed
in the housing hole 155.
[0256] On the other hand, the lock member 152 is pivotably
supported on the rotating member 130 via a shaft 151 having a
vertical axis, and can pivot between a locked position in which as
shown in FIG. 17 (a) it engages with the first taper portion 131c
of the cover member 131 and prevents rotation of the rotating
member 130 and a lock release position in which as shown in FIG. 17
(b) the engagement with the first taper portion 131c is released
and rotation of the rotating member 130 is allowed, the lock member
152 being pivotingly urged toward the locked position side by means
of a spring 156.
[0257] A link arm portion 152a of the lock member 152 is inserted
through a through hole 157 formed in the second taper portion 130a
of the rotating member 130, an extremity part of the link arm
portion 152a can be inserted into a link hole 158 formed in the
push-out member 154, and inserting the extremity part of the link
arm portion 152a through the link hole 158 links the lock member
152 to the push-out member 154. The link arm portion 152a is linked
to the link hole 158 when the lock member 152 attains the lock
release position as shown in FIG. 17 (b), and the link arm portion
152a applies a pushing force to the push-out member 154 in the
pivoting direction.
[0258] An engagement arm portion 152b of the lock member 152
engages with a first through hole 159 formed in the second taper
portion 130a of the rotating member 130 and a second through hole
160 formed in the first taper portion 131c of the cover member 131
when the lock member 152 is at the locked position shown in FIG. 17
(a), but disengages from the second through hole 160 to thus
release engagement with the cover member 131 when it is at the lock
release position shown in FIG. 17 (b). The engagement arm portion
152b operates between the locked position and the lock release
position so as to straddle the push-out member 154.
[0259] Formed in the second taper portion 130a of the rotating
member 130 is a recess part 161 that houses part of the
rattle-suppressing member 153 and enables the rattle-suppressing
member 153 to be closely fitted thereinto.
[0260] The rattle-suppressing member 153 is formed into a wedge
shape so as to have an inclined face 153a whose height gradually
decreases in going forward in a direction of movement 162 in which
the push-out member 47 moves in response to the lock member 152
operating from the lock release position toward the locked position
side, and the recess part 161, which enables the rattle-suppressing
member 153 to be closely fitted therein, is formed into a
triangular shape so as to house part of the rattle-suppressing
member 153 while having a recess part-side inclined face 161a
opposing the inclined face 153a.
[0261] A coil spring 163 is provided in a compressed state between
the rattle-suppressing member 153 and, among longitudinally
opposite end parts of the housing hole 151 formed in the push-out
member 154, a front end part along the direction of movement 162.
The rattle-suppressing member 153 is urged in a direction opposite
to the direction of movement 162 by a spring force exerted by the
coil spring 163.
[0262] When the lock member 152 is at the locked position, as shown
in FIG. 17 (a) the inclined face 153a of the rattle-suppressing
member 153 abuts closely against the recess part-side inclined face
161a of the recess part 161 to thus put the rattle-suppressing
member 153 in close contact with the rotating member 130 and the
cover member 131, thereby preventing the rotating member 130 from
rattling.
[0263] When the lock member 152 attains the lock release position,
as shown in FIG. 17 (b), among the longitudinally opposite end
parts of the housing hole 151, a rear end part along the direction
of movement 162 abuts against the rattle-suppressing member 153,
the rattle-suppressing member 153 is pushed in the direction of
movement against the urging force of the coil spring 163, and the
rattle-suppressing member 153 moves toward the side on which the
inclined face 153a of the rattle-suppressing member 153 moves away
from the recess part-side inclined face 161a, thus releasing the
state in which rattling is prevented.
[0264] Referring in addition to FIG. 19, at least part, along the
peripheral direction, of the outer periphery of an upper part of
the rotating member 130 of the rotation mechanism 117 is covered by
a cover 165 from the outside, and in this embodiment in a state in
which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 112 faces forward in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction the cover 165 is disposed at a
position in which it covers an upper part of the third side wall
portion 130b of the rotating member 130 and the second collar
portion 130c from the rear.
[0265] Moreover, in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat
cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, a
skin 112a of the seat cushion 112 is linked to the rear edge of an
upper end part of the rotating member 130, that is, the rear edge
of the second collar portion 130c, and an upper part of the cover
165 is connected so as to be in contact with a part of the skin
112a that is linked to the second collar portion 130c.
[0266] The cover 165 is mounted on the pair of side frames 119a
forming part of the seat cushion frame 119 via a mounting arm 166
(see FIG. 16).
[0267] The cover 165 integrally has a flat plate-shaped upper plate
165a, a lower plate 165b that opposes the upper plate 165a from
below, a linking plate 165c that provides a link between end parts,
on the side opposite to the rotating member 130, of the upper plate
165a and the lower plate 165b, and an end wall 165d that provides a
link between opposite ends in the width direction of the upper
plate 165a, the lower plate 165b, and the linking plate 165c. An
outside face of the cover 165, that is, an outside face of the
linking plate 165c, is formed into an arc shape that protrudes
outward of the rotating member 130.
[0268] A fixed cover member 167 that covers at least the base
member 129 from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on
the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction is fixedly disposed beneath the cover 165, the fixed
cover member 167 being mounted on for example a rear end part in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the fixed rail 141 of the
slide rail 116.
[0269] In the same manner as for the cover 165, the fixed cover
member 167 integrally has a flat plate-shaped upper plate 167a, a
lower plate 167b that opposes the upper plate 167a from below, a
linking plate 167c that provides a link between end parts, on the
side opposite to the rotating member 130, of the upper plate 167a
and the lower plate 167b, and an end wall 167d that provides a link
between end parts, in the width direction, of the upper plate 167a,
the lower plate 167b, and the linking plate 167c. An outside face
of the linking plate 167c is formed into an arc shape that
protrudes outward of the rotating member 130.
[0270] The fixed cover member 167 is in relatively slidable contact
with a lower part of the cover 165, the upper plate 167a of an
upper end part of the fixed cover member 167 being in relatively
slidable contact with a lower face of the lower plate 165b of the
cover 165.
[0271] The side frame 119a is covered by the side cover 114 from
the outside, and as shown in FIG. 15 the lower end position of the
side cover 114 is set so as to be present slightly above an upper
face of the mounting plate portion 143a of the support bracket 143
in the up-and-down direction, and as shown in FIG. 13 the position
in the up-and-down direction is the same as the lower end position
of the cover 165.
[0272] The operation of the first embodiment is now explained.
Since at least part, along the peripheral direction, of the outer
periphery of an upper part of the rotating member 130 forming part
of the rotation mechanism 117 of the vehicle seat device 110 is
covered by the cover 165 from the outside, it is possible to
suppress the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism
117 via at least a part that is covered by the cover 165.
[0273] Furthermore, since the cover 165 is disposed at a position
in which it covers the outer periphery of an upper part of the
rotating member 130 from the rear in a state in which an occupant
seated on the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction, it is possible to suppress the entry of
foreign matter into the rotation mechanism 117 from the rear
passenger seat side in a state in which a driver's seat or a
passenger seat faces forward.
[0274] Moreover, since the skin 112a of the seat cushion 112 is
linked to the rear edge of an upper end part of the rotating member
130 while being in contact with the outer face of the cover 165 in
a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 112 faces
forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, it is possible to
connect an upper part of the cover 165 to the skin 112a of the seat
cushion 112 so as to be in contact therewith, and it is possible to
suppress more effectively the entry of foreign matter into the
rotation mechanism 117 from the rear passenger seat side in a state
in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces forward.
[0275] Furthermore, since the seat cushion frame 119 has the pair
of side frames 114, which extend linearly and are supported on the
rotating member 130, and the cover 165 is mounted on the side
frames 114, it is possible to rotate the cover 165 together with
the seat 111 by a simple structure.
[0276] Moreover, since the outside face of the cover 165 is formed
into an arc shape that protrudes outward of the rotating member
130, when the cover 165 rotates together with the seat 111, even if
the cover 165 comes into contact with luggage, etc. on the floor
within the vehicle compartment, it is possible to realize smooth
rotation of the cover 165 and consequently the seat 111.
[0277] Furthermore, since the fixed cover member 167 is fixedly
disposed beneath the cover 165, which covers at least the base
member 129 from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on
the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction, it is possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter
into the rotation mechanism 117 from the rear passenger seat side
in a state in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces
forward.
[0278] Moreover, since the fixed cover member 167 is in relatively
slidable contact with the lower part of the cover 165, it is
possible to suppress more effectively the entry of foreign matter
into the rotation mechanism 117 from the rear passenger seat side
in a state in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat faces
forward. Furthermore, since the outside face of the fixed cover
member 167 is formed into an arc shape that protrudes outward of
the rotating member 130 in the same manner as for the cover 165,
which is present above the fixed cover member 167, it is possible
to suppress as much as possible the occurrence of a gap between the
fixed cover member 167 and the seat 111, including the cover 165,
while the seat 111 is partway through rotation, and it is possible
to suppress effectively the entry of foreign matter into the
rotation mechanism 117.
[0279] Moreover, since the position of the lower end of the side
cover 114 covering the seat cushion 112 from the outside is set to
be the same as the position of the lower end of the cover 165, it
is possible to suppress the entry of foreign matter into the
rotation mechanism 117 from the rear passenger seat side in a state
in which a driver's seat or a passenger seat is facing in the
vehicle width direction.
[0280] FIG. 20 shows a second embodiment of the present invention;
parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by
the same reference numerals and symbols and are only illustrated,
detailed description thereof being omitted.
[0281] The rotation mechanism 117 is disposed beneath a seat
cushion 172 forming a seat 171 together with the seat back 113, and
a cover-mounting plate 174 that protrudes rearward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction in a state in which an occupant seated on
the seat cushion 172 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction is fixed to the second taper portion 130a of the rotating
member 130 forming part of the rotation mechanism 117.
[0282] On the other hand, part of a skin 172a of the seat cushion
172 is extended downward so as to form a cover 175 covering the
outer periphery of the upper part of the rotating member 130 from
the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion
172 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the lower
edge of the cover 175 is fixedly linked to the cover-mounting plate
174, and in this embodiment a hook 176 secured to the lower edge of
the cover 175 by sewing is engaged with the edge of the
cover-mounting plate 174. The cover 175 is thereby fixedly linked
to the cover-mounting plate 174 while covering the outer periphery
of the upper part of the rotating member 130 from the rear in a
state in which an occupant seated on the seat cushion 172 faces
forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, but the lower edge
of the cover 175 may be secured directly to the cover-mounting
plate 174 by adhesion, etc.
[0283] A fixed cover member 177 that covers at least the base
member 129 from the rear in a state in which an occupant seated on
the seat cushion 172 faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction is fixedly disposed beneath the cover 175.
[0284] The fixed cover member 177 is mounted on for example a rear
end part in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction of the fixed rail
141 of the slide rail 116, and is formed so as to integrally have a
flat plate-shaped vertical wall portion 177a that extends in the
up-and-down direction along a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal
direction of the slide rail 116, and a flat plate-shaped protruding
plate portion 177b that protrudes from the upper end of the
vertical wall portion 177a rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction.
[0285] The rear edge, in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, of the
protruding plate portion 177b is in contact with the hook 176, and
is formed into an arc shape having the rotational axis of the
rotating member 130 as the center in order to ensure smooth
rotation of the hook 176, which rotates together with the rotating
member 130.
[0286] In accordance with the second embodiment, since the cover
175 is formed from the skin 172a of the seat cushion 172, it is
possible to avoid any increase in the number of components when
suppressing the entry of foreign matter into the rotation mechanism
117.
[0287] FIG. 21 shows a third embodiment of the present invention;
parts corresponding to those of the first and second embodiments
are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols and are only
illustrated, detailed description thereof being omitted.
[0288] At least part along the peripheral direction of the outer
periphery of the upper part of the rotating member 130 (see first
and second embodiments) of the rotation mechanism 117 is covered by
a cover 178 from the outside, and in this embodiment it is covered
by the cover 178 from the rear in a state in which an occupant
seated on the seat cushion 112 faces forward in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction.
[0289] The cover 178 is basically formed in the same manner as for
the cover 165 of the first embodiment, and is formed integrally
with at least one of the pair of side covers 114 covering from the
outside the pair of side frames 112 (see first embodiment) forming
part of the seat cushion frame 112. The position of the lower end
of the side cover 114 is set to be the same as the position of the
lower end of the cover 177, and the fixed cover member 167 is
fixedly disposed beneath the cover 178.
[0290] Embodiments of the present invention are explained above,
but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and may
be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do
not depart from the subject matter thereof.
[0291] For example, in the embodiments above, the arrangement is
such that that the cover 165, 178 rotates together with the seat
111, 171, but the cover 165, 178 may be present at a fixed
position.
Embodiment of Solution Means for Third Problem
[0292] An embodiment of the present invention is explained below by
reference to the attached drawings. In the explanation below, `fore
and aft`, `left and right` and `up and down` refer to directions
viewed by a person seated on a seat in a normal attitude facing
forward.
[0293] First, in FIG. 22, a vehicle seat device includes a pair of
slide rails 213 that extend linearly while being arranged in
parallel to each other and spaced in the left-and-right direction
in order for a seat main body 211 to be slidable, and a rotation
mechanism 214 that rotatably supports the seat main body 211 and
can move along the slide rails 213.
[0294] The seat main body 211 includes a seat cushion 211a that is
supported on a seat cushion frame 216, a seat back 211b that is
supported on a seat back frame 217 linked to the seat cushion frame
216 and disposed above the seat cushion 211a, and a headrest 211c
supported by a guide tube 218 provided on the seat back frame 216
so that the height can be adjusted.
[0295] The seat cushion frame 216 has a pair of side frames 216a
that are disposed so as to extend linearly in the fore-and-aft
direction at positions spaced from each other in the left-and-right
direction, a pan frame 216b that provides a link between front end
parts of the side frames 216a, and a rear pipe 216c that provides a
link between rear end parts of the pair of side frames 216a.
[0296] Referring in addition to FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, mounted on the
seat cushion frame 216 is a cushion-side pressure-receiving member
219 that receives a load from above the seat cushion 211a. The
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 has a plurality (four in
this embodiment) of seat springs 220 that are formed by curving a
metal wire in a zig-zag so as to snake to the left and right, these
seat springs 220 being disposed so that adjacent seat springs 220
have lateral symmetry and the adjacent seat springs 220 being
linked to each other by means of a plurality of intermediate
linking members 221 that are made of a resin and molded by
insertion molding so as to be integral with the seat spring
220.
[0297] Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 220 are
each engaged with latching parts 222 provided on the pan frame 216b
of the seat cushion frame 216. Rear end parts of the mutually
adjacent seat springs 220 are engaged with the rear pipe 216c of
the seat cushion frame 216 and are linked by means of a rear end
part-linking member 223 that is made of a resin and molded by
insertion molding so as to be integral with the seat spring 220,
the rear end part-linking member 223 being formed so as to cover
the rear pipe 216c.
[0298] That is, the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219
bridges between the pan frame 216b and the rear pipe 216c of the
seat cushion frame 216 and is disposed between the pair of side
frames 216a in plan view. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 24 a majority
of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 is inclined
downward to the rear and bridges between the pan frame 216b and the
rear pipe 216c so that a lowest end 219a of the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 219 is present in the vicinity of the
rear pipe 216c in a rear end part of the seat cushion frame
216.
[0299] Referring again to FIG. 22, the seat back frame 217 has a
pair of seat back side frames 217a that extend in the up-and-down
direction at positions spaced from each other in the left-and-right
direction, an upper frame 217b that provides a link between upper
end parts of the seat back side frames 217a, and a lower frame 217c
that provides a link between lower end parts of the pair of seat
back side frames 217a.
[0300] A back-side pressure-receiving member 224 formed from a
resin, etc. so as to be elastically deformable is disposed between
the pair of seat back side frames 217a, and the back-side
pressure-receiving member 224 bridges between the left and right
seat back side frames 217a via an upper link wire 225 and a lower
link wire 226.
[0301] Referring in addition to FIG. 25 to FIG. 27, the seat
cushion frame 216 is placed on the rotation mechanism 214, the
rotation mechanism 214 including a base member 229 that can move
along the slide rails 213, a rotating member 230 that supports the
seat cushion frame 216 and is rotatably supported on the base
member 229, and a cover member 231 that is fixed to the base member
229 while covering part of the rotating member 230 from above.
[0302] The base member 229 has an annular first bottom wall portion
229a, a cylindrical first side wall portion 229b that rises upward
from an outer peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion
229a, and a first collar portion 229c that protrudes outward from
an upper end part of the first side wall portion 229b, the first
collar portion 229c being formed into a rectangular shape.
[0303] The cover member 231 has an annular second bottom wall
portion 231a that abuts against the first bottom wall portion 229a
of the base member 229 from above, a cylindrical second side wall
portion 231b that rises slightly upward from the outer periphery of
the second bottom wall portion 231a, a first taper portion 231c
that is formed so as to have a larger diameter in going upward and
is connectedly provided on an upper end part of the second side
wall portion 231b, an annular first flat wall portion 231d that
protrudes sideways from an upper end part of the first taper
portion 231c, and a cylindrical third side wall portion 231e that
rises upward from the outer periphery of the first flat wall
portion 231d, the second bottom wall portion 231a being joined to
the first bottom wall portion 229a of the base member 229 by a
plurality of rivets 232.
[0304] The rotating member 230 has a second taper portion 230a that
is disposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 231c of
the cover member 231 from the outside and is formed so as to have a
larger diameter in going upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall
portion 230b that rises upward from an upper end part of the second
taper portion 230a so as to oppose the third side wall portion 231e
of the cover member 231 from the outside, and a second collar
portion 230c that protrudes outward from the fourth side wall
portion 230b, the second collar portion 230c being formed into a
rectangular shape. A linking member 233 extending in parallel with
the slide rail 213 is fastened to the second collar portion 230c by
means of pluralities of first bolts 234 and second nuts 235. The
side frame 216a of the seat cushion frame 216 is linked to the
linking member 233, and the side frames 216a extend linearly while
being arranged at positions spaced from each other and are fixedly
disposed on the second collar portion 230c of the rotating member
230 via the linking member 233.
[0305] The rotating member 230 is rotatably supported on an annular
rotation support part 236 of the base member 229 via a bearing 237,
the rotation support part 236 being formed from the first bottom
wall portion 229a and the first side wall portion 229b of the base
member 229 so that its cross-sectional shape is substantially
L-shaped.
[0306] The bearing 237 is formed by retaining balls 239 at a
plurality of locations in the peripheral direction of an annular
retainer 238, and an annular recess part 240 for the balls 239 to
roll in is formed in the second taper portion 230a of the rotating
member 230.
[0307] A housing part 241 opening at least upward is formed in a
central part of the rotating member 230. In this embodiment, the
housing part 241 is arranged so as to open both upward and downward
via the second taper portion 230a and the fourth side wall portion
230b of the rotating member 230, and the cover member 231 is housed
and disposed within the housing part 241.
[0308] The slide rail 213 is formed from a fixed rail 245 that
extends in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and a movable rail
246 that is slidably fitted to the fixed rail 245, the first collar
portion 229c of the base member 229 being fastened to the movable
rail 246 by means of pluralities of second bolts 247 and second
nuts 248.
[0309] The rotating member 230 is rotatingly driven by a rotating
device 249 that is provided between the rotating member 230 and the
base member 229, the rotating device 249 including an actuator 250,
an output gear 251 that is rotated by rotational power exerted by
the actuator 250, and an input gear 252 that meshes with the output
gear 251.
[0310] The actuator 250 and the output gear 251 are mounted on one
of the rotating member 230 and the base member 229, and the input
gear 252 is fixed to the other of the rotating member 230 and the
base member 229.
[0311] Moreover, the actuator 250 is mounted on that one of the
base member 229 and the rotating member 230 that is longer in the
up-and-down direction, and in this embodiment the actuator 250 is
mounted on the rotating member 230 side and the input gear 252 is
fixed to the base member 229.
[0312] The actuator 250 includes an electric motor 253 that has a
rotational axis extending in the vehicle width direction, a gear
box 255 that is linked to a case 254 of the electric motor 253, and
an output shaft 256 that protrudes from the gear box 255 with its
rotational axis parallel to a rotational axis 2C of the rotating
member 230, the output gear 251 being provided on the output shaft
256. A gear reduction mechanism (not illustrated) that transmits
the rotational power of the electric motor 253 to the output shaft
256 by changing the rotational direction through 90 degrees and
decreasing the speed is housed within the gear box 255, this gear
reduction mechanism including a worm gear so as to prevent the
rotational power from the output shaft 256 side from being
transmitted toward the electric motor 253 side.
[0313] The rotating member 230 is rotatingly driven through a range
of 180 degrees, the input gear 252 is formed into an arc shape of
substantially 180 degrees while having a gear portion 252a on the
inner peripheral part, and the gear portion 252a is fixed to a
lower face of the inner peripheral part of the first bottom wall
portion 229a of the base member 229 so as to protrude radially
inward from the inner periphery of the first bottom wall portion
229a. The gear portion 252a is thereby disposed so as to face
toward the rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230.
[0314] When fixing the input gear 252 to the base member 229, some
of the plurality of rivets 232 that are used to join the second
bottom wall portion 231a of the cover member 231 to the first
bottom wall portion 229a of the base member 229 are used for
joining the second bottom wall portion 231a and the input gear 252
together to the first bottom wall portion 229a with the first
bottom wall portion 229a sandwiched therebetween. In this
arrangement, when an end part in the peripheral direction of the
input gear 252 is disposed at a position corresponding to the rivet
232 for joining both the second bottom wall portion 231a and the
input gear 252 together to the first bottom wall portion 229a, in
order to avoid the input gear 252 having a wasteful length in the
peripheral direction, as shown in FIG. 26 a cutout 257 may be
formed in the end part in the peripheral direction of the input
gear 252.
[0315] Mounted on the rotating member 230 is a mounting member 258
that is disposed further inside than an outer periphery 230d of the
rotating member 230 in plan view, and mounted on the mounting
member 258 is the actuator 250, which includes the electric motor
253. That is, the gear box 255 of the actuator 250 is mounted on an
upper face of the mounting member 258, and the output gear 251 is
provided on the output shaft 256, which extends through the
mounting member 258.
[0316] The mounting member 258 is disposed further forward than the
rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230. The mounting member
258 extends so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of
the slide rail 213 while having on opposite end parts joining plate
portions 258a that are joined to an upper face of the third collar
portion 230c of the rotating member 230, and are formed so as to
integrally have the pair of joining plate portions 258a, a pair of
left and right inclined plate portions 258b that are provided so as
to be connected to the joining plate portions 258a via an upper end
part while being inclined downward in going radially inward of the
rotating member 230, and a flat supporting plate portion 258c that
provides a connection between lower ends of the inclined plate
portions 258b.
[0317] Since the inclined plate portion 258b is disposed within the
housing part 241 in the central part of the rotating member 230
while opposing the first taper portion 231c of the cover member 231
from the inside, and the second taper portion 230a of the rotating
member 230 opposes the first taper portion 231c from the outside,
the inclined plate portion 258b is disposed within the housing part
241 while being inclined along the second taper portion 230a of the
rotating member 230.
[0318] The actuator 250 is mounted on an upper face of the
supporting plate portion 258c of the mounting member 258, and in a
state in which it is mounted on the mounting member 258 the
actuator 250 is disposed beneath the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 219 while avoiding interference with the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.
[0319] Disposed between the first taper portion 231c of the cover
member 231 and the second taper portion 230a of the rotating member
230 is an annular slider 260 that is in sliding contact with each
of the taper portions 231c, 230a. The slider 260 is employed in
order to share the cover member 231 and the rotating member 230
with a vehicle seat device in which the rotating member 230 is
rotated by applying manual power to the rotation mechanism 214
instead of electric power by means of the actuator 250. In a
vehicle seat device in which rotation by manual power is made
possible, instead of the slider 260, an annular member forming part
of a mechanism that suppresses rattling of the rotating member 230
in a locked state in which rotation of the rotating member 230 is
prevented is disposed between the first taper portion 231c and the
second taper portion 230a.
[0320] A blower 265 is disposed further rearward than the front
edge of the pan frame 216b forming a front part of the seat cushion
frame 216, and a duct 266 having one end portion 266a connected to
the blower 265 has an opening 267 formed in the other end portion
266b, which functions as a blower outlet.
[0321] As shown in FIG. 24 the blower 265 is mounted on a lower
part of the pan frame 216b via a support member 268, and the
opening 267 is disposed on the radially inner side of the annular
rotating member 230 and on the radially inner side of the cover
member 231 in plan view. The opening 267 opens toward the seat
cushion 211a side, and is disposed in plan view as is clearly shown
in FIG. 23 between a pair of seat springs 220 that are adjacent to
each other among a plurality of seat springs 220 forming the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.
[0322] The other end portion 266b of the duct 266 protrudes
slightly so as to be higher than the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 219, and an open edge 267a at the upper
end of the opening 267 is disposed at a position higher than the
annular rotating member 230 when viewed from the side.
[0323] The one end portion 266a of the duct 266 is connected to the
blower 265 so as to overlap the annular rotating member 230 in plan
view at a position higher than the upper end of the annular
rotating member 230, and an intermediate part of the duct 266 is
disposed so as to overlap the annular rotating member 230 when
viewed from the side and is housed in the housing part 241.
[0324] The operation of the electric motor 253, which is a first
item of electrical equipment, is controlled by a first ECU 270, and
the operation of the blower 265, which is a second item of
electrical equipment, is controlled by a second ECU 271, both the
first and second ECUs 270, 271 being present within the housing
part 241 in the central part of the rotating member 230 in plan
view, and at least parts of the ECUs 270, 271 (the entirety in this
embodiment) being disposed at positions in which they overlap the
rotating member 230 when viewed from the side.
[0325] The first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are disposed in an
attitude in which they are inclined along the second taper portion
230a of the rotating member 230, the first ECU 270 and the second
ECU 271 being mounted on the mounting member 258, which is mounted
on the rotating member 230 in order to mount the actuator 250,
which includes the electric motor 253. That is, the mounting member
258 has the pair of inclined plate portions 258b, which are
disposed within the housing part 241 in the central part of the
rotating member 230 while being inclined along the second taper
portion 230a, and the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are
respectively mounted on the pair of inclined plate portions 258b
disposed within the housing part 241 while being inclined along the
second taper portion 230a.
[0326] The first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are disposed
beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 while
avoiding interference with the cushion-side pressure-receiving
member 219 as in the case with the actuator 250, and are mounted on
the inclined plate portion 258b. As shown in FIG. 24, the actuator
250 and the mounting member 258, on which the first ECU 270 and the
second ECU 271 are mounted, are present beneath the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 219 further forward than the lowest end
219a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219 when viewed
from the side, and the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 are
therefore disposed at positions that avoid being immediately below
the lowest end 219a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member
219 when viewed from the side.
[0327] The operation of the embodiment is now explained. Since the
circular housing part 241, which opens at least upward, is formed
in the central part of the rotating member 230 forming part of the
rotation mechanism 214, and the first ECU 270, which controls the
operation of the electric motor 253, and the second ECU 271, which
controls the operation of the blower 265, are present within the
housing part 241 in plan view and are disposed at positions so that
at least parts of the ECUs 270, 271 overlap the rotating member 230
when viewed from the side, it is possible, by suppressing upward
protrusion of the first ECU 270 and the second ECU 271 from the
rotating member 230, to avoid any increase in the height of the
seat cushion 211a due to disposition of the first and second ECUs
270, 271 and also to avoid any increase in the size of the vehicle
seat device in a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis 2C of
the rotating member 230. Moreover, in this embodiment, since the
entireties of the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are disposed at
positions in which they overlap the rotating member 230 when viewed
from the side, it is possible to dispose the first ECU 270 and the
second ECU 271 by suppressing upward protrusion of the first ECU
270 and the second ECU 271 from the rotating member 230, thus
suppressing more effectively any increase in the height of the seat
cushion 211a.
[0328] Furthermore, since the rotating member 230 is formed so as
to have the second taper portion 230a, which is formed so that the
diameter increases in going upward, the cylindrical fourth side
wall portion 230b, which rises upward from the upper end part of
the second taper portion 230a so as to form the housing part 241 in
cooperation with the second taper portion 230a, and the second
collar portion 230c, which protrudes outward from the fourth side
wall portion 230b, and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are
disposed in an attitude in which they are inclined along the second
taper portion 230a, it is possible to suppress more effectively
upward protrusion of the first and second ECUs 270, 271 from the
rotating member 230 and to suppress more effectively the height of
the seat cushion 211a.
[0329] Moreover, the electric motor 253 and the first and second
ECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the rotating member 230 side, which is
the one that has the greater length in the up-and-down direction
among the base member 229 and the rotating member 230, and it is
thus possible to easily ensure there is space for disposition of
the electric motor 253 and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 while
suppressing any increase in the height of the vehicle seat
device.
[0330] Furthermore, since the mounting member 258, which is
disposed further inside than the outer periphery 230d of the
rotating member 230 in plan view, is mounted on the rotating member
230, and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the
mounting member 258, it is possible to avoid any increase in the
size of the vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to the
rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230 due to disposition of
the mounting member 258, on which the first and second ECUs 270,
271 are mounted.
[0331] Moreover, since not only the first ECU 270 and the second
ECU 271 but also the electric motor 253, which exerts power for
rotating the rotating member 230, are mounted on the mounting
member 258, it is also possible to avoid any increase in the size
of the vehicle seat device in a direction orthogonal to the
rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230 due to disposition of
the mounting member 258, on which the electric motor 253 is
mounted, thereby making it easy to connect the electric motor 253
and the first ECU 270, which controls the operation of the electric
motor 253.
[0332] Furthermore, due to the mounting member 258 being mounted on
the rotating member 230, both the electric motor 253 and the first
and second ECUs 270, 271 rotate with respect to the base member 229
when the rotating member 230 is rotating, and it is possible to
compactly collect together the wiring for connecting the electric
motor 253 and the first ECU 270, which controls the operation of
the electric motor 253.
[0333] Moreover, since the mounting member 258 has the inclined
plate portion 258b, which is inclined along the second taper
portion 230a of the rotating member 230 and is disposed within the
housing part 241, and the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are
mounted on the inclined plate portion 258b, it is possible to
easily mount the first and second ECUs 270, 271 on the mounting
member 258 in an inclined attitude in which they are inclined along
the second taper portion 230a of the rotating member 230, thus
suppressing upward protrusion of the first and second ECUs 270, 271
from the rotating member 230.
[0334] Furthermore, since the mounting member 258 is joined to the
second collar portion 230c of the rotating member 230 further
forward than the rotational axis 2C of the rotating member 230, and
the first and second ECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the inclined
plate portion 258b at positions in which they avoid interference
with the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219, which is
mounted on the seat cushion frame 216 so as to receive a load from
above the seat cushion 211a, it is possible to avoid any increase
in the size of the vehicle seat device in the up-and-down
direction.
[0335] Moreover, since the electric motor 250 and the first and
second ECUs 270, 271 are disposed while avoiding being immediately
beneath the lowest end 219a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving
member 219 when viewed from the side, it is possible to more easily
avoid interference of the electric motor 253 and the first and
second ECUs 270, 271 with the cushion-side pressure-receiving
member 219. Furthermore, the electric motor 250 and the first and
second ECUs 270, 271 are disposed beneath the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 219 further forward than the lowest end
219a of the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219, and it is
possible to dispose the electric motor 250 and the first and second
ECUs 270, 271 by utilizing effectively a space beneath the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 219.
[0336] An embodiment of the present invention is explained above,
but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and may
be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do
not depart from the subject matter thereof.
[0337] For example, in the above embodiment, the first ECU 270,
which controls the operation of the electric motor 253, and the
second ECU 271, which controls the operation of the blower 265, are
explained, but the present invention may be widely applied to an
ECU for controlling the operation of electrical equipment possessed
by the vehicle seat device.
[0338] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first and second
ECUs 270, 271 are mounted on the mounting member 258 mounted on the
rotating member 230, but an ECU may be mounted directly on the
rotating member 230.
Embodiments of Solution Means for Fourth Problem
[0339] Embodiments of the present invention are explained below by
reference to the attached drawings. In the explanation below, `fore
and aft`, `left and right` and `up and down` refer to directions
viewed by a person seated on a seat in a normal attitude facing
forward.
[0340] A first embodiment of the present invention is explained by
reference to FIG. 28 to FIG. 33. First, in FIG. 28, a seat main
body 311 of a vehicle seat mounted on a vehicle includes a seat
cushion 311a and a seat back 311b disposed above the seat cushion
311a, and a headrest 311c that receives a head part of an occupant
is disposed on an upper part of the seat back 311b.
[0341] A seat frame 315 supporting the seat main body 311 includes
a seat cushion frame 316 supporting the seat cushion 311a and a
seat back frame 317 that supports the seat back 311b and is linked
to a rear part of the seat cushion frame 316 via a support shaft
312, the seat frame 315 being supported by a pair of left and right
slide rails 313 provided on a vehicle floor face so as to extend in
the vehicle fore-and-aft direction via a seat-rotating device 314
that can slide in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction.
[0342] The seat cushion frame 316 includes a pair of left and right
side frames 316a that extend along the longitudinal direction of
the slide rail 313 when the seat-rotating device 314 is in a state
in which an occupant faces forward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction, a pan frame 316b that provides a link between front end
parts of the side frames 316a, and a link pipe 316c that provides a
link between rear parts of the pair of side frames 316a.
[0343] The seat back frame 317 includes a pair of left and right
seat back side frames 317a that extend in the up-and-down direction
and have their lower end parts tiltably linked to a rear end part
of the side frame 316a via the support shaft 312, an upper frame
317b that provides a link between upper end parts of the seat back
side frames 317a, and a lower frame 317c that provides a link
between lower end parts of the pair of seat back side frames 317a,
a pair of left and right pipe members 318 guiding up-and-down
movement of the headrest 311c being fixed to the upper frame
317b.
[0344] Referring in addition to FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, a cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 319 that receives a load from above the
seat cushion 311a bridges between the pan frame 316b and the rear
pipe 316c of the seat cushion frame 316. The cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 319 has a plurality (four in this
embodiment) of seat springs 320 that are formed by curving a metal
wire in a zig-zag so as to snake to the left and right, these seat
springs 320 being disposed so that adjacent seat springs 320 have
lateral symmetry and the adjacent seat springs 320 being linked to
each other by means of a plurality of intermediate linking members
321 that are made of a resin and molded by insertion molding so as
to be integral with the seat spring 320.
[0345] Front end parts of the plurality of seat springs 320 are
each engaged with latching parts 322 provided on the pan frame 316b
of the seat frame 316. Rear end parts of the mutually adjacent seat
springs 320 are linked by means of a rear end part-linking member
323 that is made of a resin, molded by insertion molding so as to
be integral with the seat spring 320, and engaged with the support
shaft 312 between the seat frame 315 and the seat back frame 317,
the rear end part-linking member 323 being formed so as to cover
the support shaft 312.
[0346] Referring again to FIG. 28, a back-side pressure-receiving
member 324 formed from a resin, etc. so as to be elastically
deformable is disposed between the pair of seat back side frames
317a of the seat back frame 317, and the back-side
pressure-receiving member 324 bridges between the left and right
seat back side frames 317a via an upper link wire 325 and a lower
link wire 326.
[0347] The slide rail 313 is formed from a fixed rail 345 that
extends in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and a movable rail
346 that is slidably fitted to the fixed rail 345, a front part of
the fixed rail 345 is fixed to a vehicle floor face 347 via a front
bracket 348, and a rear part of the fixed rail 345 is fixed to the
floor face 347 via a rear bracket 349. Moreover, the front bracket
348 is formed so as to be higher than the rear bracket 349, and the
fixed rail 345, that is, the slide rail 313, extends in the vehicle
fore-and-aft direction so as to be inclined so that its height
decreases in going rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft
direction.
[0348] Referring in addition to FIG. 31 and FIG. 32, the seat
cushion frame 316 is placed on the seat-rotating device 314, the
seat-rotating device 314 including a base member 329 that can move
along the slide rail 313, an annular rotating member 330 that
supports the seat cushion frame 316 and is rotatably supported on
the base member 329, and a cover member 331 that is fixed to the
base member 329 while covering part of the rotating member 330 from
above.
[0349] The base member 329 has an annular first bottom wall portion
329a, a cylindrical first side wall portion 329b that rises upward
from an outer peripheral part of the first bottom wall portion
329a, and a first collar portion 329c that protrudes outward from
an upper end part of the first side wall portion 329b, the first
collar portion 329c being formed into a rectangular shape.
[0350] The cover member 331 has an annular second bottom wall
portion 331a that abuts against the first bottom wall portion 329a
of the base member 329 from above, a cylindrical second side wall
portion 331b that rises slightly upward from the outer periphery of
the second bottom wall portion 331a, a first taper portion 331c
that is formed so as to have a larger diameter in going upward and
is connectedly provided on an upper end part of the second side
wall portion 331b, an annular first flat wall portion 331d that
protrudes sideways from an upper end part of the first taper
portion 331c, and a cylindrical third side wall portion 331e that
rises upward from the outer periphery of the first flat wall
portion 331d, the second bottom wall portion 331a being joined to
the first bottom wall portion 329a of the base member 329 by a
plurality of rivets 332.
[0351] The rotating member 330 has a second taper portion 330a that
is disposed at a position opposing the first taper portion 331c of
the cover member 331 from the outside and is formed so as to have a
larger diameter in going upward, a cylindrical fourth side wall
portion 330b that rises upward from an upper end part of the second
taper portion 330a so as to oppose the third side wall portion 331e
of the cover member 331 from the outside, and a second collar
portion 330c that protrudes outward from the fourth side wall
portion 330b, the second collar portion 330c being formed into a
rectangular shape.
[0352] A frame support member 333 extending in parallel with the
side frame 316a of the seat cushion frame 316 is fastened to the
second collar portion 330c of the rotating member 330 via
pluralities of first bolts 334 and second nuts 335. The side frame
316a is supported on the frame support member 333 so that it can be
raised and lowered and cannot undergo relative rotation.
[0353] The rotating member 330 is rotatably supported on an annular
rotation support part 336 of the base member 329 via a bearing 337,
the rotation support part 336 being formed from the first bottom
wall portion 329a and the first side wall portion 329b of the base
member 329 so that its cross-sectional shape is substantially
L-shaped.
[0354] The bearing 337 is formed by retaining balls 339 at a
plurality of locations in the peripheral direction of an annular
retainer 338, and an annular recess part 340 for the balls 339 to
roll in is formed in the second taper portion 330a of the rotating
member 330.
[0355] A housing part 341 is formed in a central part of the
rotating member 330 so as to open both upward and downward by means
of the second taper portion 330a and the fourth side wall portion
330b of the rotating member 330, the cover member 331 being housed
and disposed within the housing part 341.
[0356] The first collar portion 329c of the base member 329 is
fastened to the movable rail 346 by means of pluralities of second
bolts 342 and second nuts 343.
[0357] The rotating member 330 is rotatingly driven by power
exerted by an electric actuator for rotation 350 as a first
electrical component mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315
and the rotating member 330 (in this embodiment the rotating member
330), and an input gear 352 provided on the base member 329 is
meshed with an output gear 351 possessed by the electric actuator
for rotation 350.
[0358] The electric actuator for rotation 350 includes an electric
motor 353 that has a rotational axis extending in the vehicle width
direction, a gear box 355 that is linked to a case 354 of the
electric motor 353, and an output shaft 356 that protrudes from the
gear box 355 with its rotational axis parallel to a rotational
center 3C of the rotating member 330, the output gear 351 being
provided on the output shaft 356. A gear reduction mechanism (not
illustrated) that transmits the rotational power of the electric
motor 353 to the output shaft 356 by changing the rotational
direction through 90 degrees and decreasing the speed is housed
within the gear box 355, this gear reduction mechanism including a
worm gear so as to prevent the rotational power from the output
shaft 356 side from being transmitted toward the electric motor 353
side.
[0359] The rotating member 330 is rotatingly driven through a range
of 180 degrees, the input gear 352 is formed into an arc shape of
substantially 180 degrees while having a gear portion 352a on the
inner peripheral part, and the gear portion 352a is fixed to a
lower face of an inner peripheral part of the first bottom wall
portion 329a of the base member 329 so as to protrude radially
inward from the inner periphery of the first bottom wall portion
329a.
[0360] When fixing the input gear 352 to the base member 329, some
of the plurality of rivets 332, which are used to join the second
bottom wall portion 331a of the cover member 331 to the first
bottom wall portion 329a of the base member 329, are used for
joining the second bottom wall portion 331a and the input gear 352
together to the first bottom wall portion 329a with the first
bottom wall portion 329a sandwiched therebetween.
[0361] Mounted on the rotating member 330 is a mounting member 358
that is disposed further inside than an outer periphery 330d of the
rotating member 330 in plan view, and mounted in the mounting
member 358 is the actuator 350, which includes the electric motor
353. That is, the gear box 355 of the actuator 350 is mounted on an
upper face of the mounting member 358, and the output gear 351 is
provided on the output shaft 356, which extends through the
mounting member 358.
[0362] The mounting member 358 is disposed further forward than the
rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330. The mounting
member 358 extends so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal
direction of the slide rail 313 while having on opposite end parts
joining plate portions 358a that are joined to an upper face of the
third collar portion 330c of the rotating member 330, and is formed
so as to integrally have the pair of joining plate portions 358a, a
pair of left and right inclined plate portions 358b that are
provided so as to be connected to the joining plate portion 358a
via an upper end part while being inclined downward in going
radially inward of the rotating member 330, and a flat supporting
plate portion 358c that provides a connection between lower ends of
the inclined plate portions 358b.
[0363] An electric wire 359 connected to the electric motor 353 of
the electric actuator for rotation 350 is retained by an electric
wire retaining member 360 that is fixedly disposed at the
rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330.
[0364] Disposed between the first taper portion 331c of the cover
member 331 and the second taper portion 330a of the rotating member
330 is an annular slider 361 that is in sliding contact with each
of the taper portions 331c, 330a. The slider 361 is employed in
order to share the cover member 331 and the rotating member 330
with a vehicle seat device in which the rotating member 330 is
rotated by applying manual power to the seat-rotating device 314
instead of electric power by means of the electric actuator for
rotation 350. In a vehicle seat device in which rotation by manual
power is made possible, instead of the slider 360, an annular
member forming part of a mechanism that suppresses rattling of the
rotating member 330 in a locked state in which rotation of the
rotating member 330 is prevented is disposed between the first
taper portion 331c and the second taper portion 330a.
[0365] A blower 365, which is a second electrical component, is
mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315 and the rotating
member 330, in this embodiment the pan frame 316b of the seat
cushion frame 316 of the seat frame 315, and a duct 366 having one
end portion 366a connected to the blower 365 has an opening 367
formed in the other end portion 366b, which functions as a blower
outlet.
[0366] As shown in FIG. 30 the blower 365 is mounted on a lower
part of the pan frame 316b via a blower support member 368, the
opening 367 being disposed on the radially inner side of the
annular rotating member 330 and on the radially inner side of the
cover member 331 in plan view. The opening 367 opens toward the
seat cushion 311a side, and is disposed in plan view as is clearly
shown in FIG. 29 between a pair of seat springs 320 that are
adjacent to each other among a plurality of seat springs 320
forming the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319.
[0367] The other end portion 366b of the duct 366 protrudes
slightly so as to be higher than the cushion-side
pressure-receiving member 319, and an open edge 367a at the upper
end of the opening 367 is disposed at a position higher than the
annular rotating member 330 when viewed from the side.
[0368] An electric wire 369 connected to an electric motor (not
illustrated) of the blower 365 is retained by the electric wire
retaining member 360 fixedly disposed at the rotational center 3C
of the rotating member 330.
[0369] Referring to FIG. 28, a link mechanism 371 is provided
between the rotating member 330 of the seat-rotating device 314 and
the seat frame 315, the link mechanism 371 including a pair of left
and right link members 372 having one end part pivotably linked to
the link pipe 316c on the inside of the pair of side frames 316a of
the seat cushion frame 316 of the seat frame 315, and the other end
parts of the link members 372 being pivotably linked to the frame
support member 333 fixed to the rotating member 330 via a link pin
373. That is, the side frame 316a of the seat cushion frame 316 of
the seat frame 315 is supported on the frame support member 333
fixed to the rotating member 330 so that it can be raised and
lowered.
[0370] Mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315 and the
rotating member 330, in this embodiment an outside face of one of
the pair of side frames 316a of the seat frame 315, is an electric
actuator for raising/lowering 374, which is a third electrical
component, that can exert power for raising and lowering the seat
frame 315.
[0371] Among the pair of link members 372 of the link mechanism 371
provided between frame support member 333 fixed to the rotating
member 330 and the seat frame 315, the link member 372 on the one
side frame 316a side has provided integrally therewith a sector
gear (not illustrated) that can rotate around the axis of the link
pin 373, the electric actuator for raising/lowering 374 includes a
drive gear (not illustrated) meshing with the sector gear, and the
sector gear is pivoted around the axis of the link pin 373 together
with the link member 372 by rotation of the drive gear, thus making
it possible to raise and lower the seat frame 315.
[0372] An electric wire 376 connected to an electric motor 375 of
the electric actuator for raising/lowering 374 is guided to the
inside of the seat-rotating device 314 via a through hole 377
formed in the one side frame 316a and is retained by the electric
wire retaining member 360.
[0373] An electric actuator for tilting 378 as a fourth electrical
component is mounted on a lower part of the seat back frame 317 of
the seat frame 315. In this embodiment the electric actuator for
tilting 378 is mounted on a lower part of one of the pair of seat
back side frames 317a of the seat back frame 317.
[0374] An electric wire 380 connected to an electric motor 379 of
the electric actuator for tilting 378 is made to extend to the
inside of the seat-rotating device 314 and is retained by the
electric wire retaining member 360.
[0375] An intermediate retaining member 381 is mounted on the seat
back frame 317 or the rotating member 330 (in this embodiment the
lower part of the one seat back side frame 317a of the seat back
frame 317) in the vicinity of the support shaft 312 tiltably
linking the seat back frame 317 to the seat cushion frame 316, and
the electric wire 380 is retained on the electric wire retaining
member 360 via the electric wire retaining member 381.
[0376] The electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 individually connected
to the electric actuator for rotation 350 as the first electrical
component, the blower 365 as the second electrical component, the
electric actuator for raising/lowering 374 as the third electrical
component, and the electric actuator for tilting 378 as the fourth
electrical component are collected together and retained by the
single electric wire retaining member 360.
[0377] Moreover, the electric wire retaining member 360 is disposed
at a position in which it retains the electric wires 359, 369, 376,
380 beneath the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, and is
mounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member
319.
[0378] The operation of the embodiment is now explained. Electrical
components are mounted on at least one of the seat frame 315
supporting the seat main body 311 and the rotating member 330
supporting the seat frame 315; in this embodiment the blower 365,
the electric actuator for raising/lowering 374, and the electric
actuator for tilting 378 as electrical components are mounted on
the seat frame 315, and the electric actuator for rotation 350 as
an electrical component is mounted on the rotating member 330, the
electric wire 359 connected to the electric actuator for rotation
350, the electric wire 369 connected to the blower 365, the
electric wire 376 connected to the electric actuator for
raising/lowering 374, and the electric wire 380 connected to the
electric actuator for tilting 378 being retained by the electric
wire retaining member 360 fixedly disposed at the rotational center
3C of the rotating member 330, thus making it possible to avoid the
occurrence of sagging or damage to the electric wires 359, 369,
376, 380 when the seat main body 311 is rotating.
[0379] Furthermore, since the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380
individually connected to the electric actuator for rotation 350,
the blower 365, the electric actuator for raising/lowering 374, and
the electric actuator for tilting 378, which are the plurality of
electrical components, are collected together and retained by the
single electric wire retaining member 360, it is possible to
compactly and collectively carry out wiring of the plurality of
electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380.
[0380] Moreover, since the cushion-side pressure-receiving member
319, which receives a load from above the seat cushion 311a, is
mounted on the cushion frame 316, which forms part of the seat
frame 315 and is supported on the rotating member 330, and the
electric wire retaining member 360 is disposed at a position in
which it retains the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 beneath the
cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319, it is possible to
suppress protrusion of the electric wire retaining member 360
toward the seat face for an occupant, thus enabling interference of
the electric wire retaining member 360 with the occupant seated on
the seat face to be avoided.
[0381] Furthermore, since the electric wire retaining member 360 is
mounted directly on the cushion-side pressure-receiving member 319,
it is possible to efficiently dispose the electric wire retaining
member 360 at the rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330
while avoiding any increase in the number of components due to
there being no need for newly providing a member for mounting the
electric wire retaining member 360.
[0382] Furthermore, since the seat frame 315 includes the seat
cushion frame 316 supported on the rotating member 330, and the
seat back frame 317 tiltably mounted on the seat cushion frame 316
via the support shaft 312, the electric actuator for tilting 378,
which is the electrical component, is mounted on the lower part of
the seat back frame 317 so that the seat back frame 317 can be
driven so as to tilt, and the electric wire 380 connected to the
electric actuator for tilting 378 is retained by the electric wire
retaining member 360 via the intermediate retaining member 381
mounted on the seat back frame 317 in the vicinity of the support
shaft 312, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of sagging or
damage to the electric wire 380 between the electric wire retaining
member 360 and the electric actuator for tilting 378 when the seat
main body 311 is rotating or the seat back frame 317 is
tilting.
[0383] A second embodiment of the present invention is explained by
reference to FIG. 33 and FIG. 34; parts corresponding to those of
the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and
symbols and are only illustrated, detailed description thereof
being omitted.
[0384] A retaining member-supporting part 383 is mounted on the
base member 329 of the seat-rotating device 314, and an electric
wire retaining member 384 is mounted on the retaining
member-supporting member 383.
[0385] The retaining member-supporting member 383 is mounted on the
base member 329 so as to pass through the rotational center 3C of
the rotating member 330, and the electric wire retaining member 384
is mounted on the retaining member-supporting member 383 so as to
retain, above the retaining member-supporting member 383, the
electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 individually connected to the
electric actuator for rotation 350, the blower 365, the electric
actuator for raising/lowering 374, and the electric actuator for
tilting 378 as electrical components, while being disposed at the
center of rotation 3C.
[0386] In accordance with the second embodiment, as in the above
first embodiment, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of sagging
or damage to the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 when the seat
main body 311 is rotating, and it is also possible to carry out
wiring by compactly collecting together the plurality of electric
wires 359, 369, 376, 380. In addition thereto, when assembling the
seat-rotating device 314, the electric wire retaining member 384
can be easily assembled, the workability improves, and since the
electric wire retaining member 384 retains the electric wires 359,
369, 376, 380 above the retaining member-supporting member 383, it
is possible to carry out wiring of the electric wires 359, 369,
376, 380 by compactly collecting them together within the
seat-rotating device 314.
[0387] As a third embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIG. 35, an electric wire retaining member 386 retaining the
electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380 individually connected to the
electric actuator for rotation 350, the blower 365, the electric
actuator for raising/lowering 374, and the electric actuator for
tilting 378 as electrical components is mounted on a retaining
member-supporting member 385 mounted on the base member 329 of the
seat-rotating device 314, and the electric wires 359, 369, 376, 380
are retained by the electric wire retaining member 386 so that they
are present beneath the retaining member-supporting member 385 and
at the rotational center 3C of the rotating member 330.
[0388] In accordance with the third embodiment, the same effects as
those of the above second embodiment can be exerted and,
furthermore, due to assembly of the seat-rotating device 314 being
carried out in a state in which the seat-rotating device 314 is
laid sideways it is possible to easily retain the electric wires
359, 369, 376, 380 on the electric wire retaining member 386, thus
improving the workability.
[0389] Embodiments of the present invention are explained above,
but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and may
be modified in a variety of ways as long as the modifications do
not depart from the subject matter thereof.
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