JP2025064633A - Seat back lock device and vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a switch for actuating a device mounted on a vehicle from being erroneously operated when a seat back is not tilted forward.

SOLUTION: A seat back lock device 20L comprises: a lock body 22 which is provided on a forward tiltable seat back of a vehicle seat, and is restrained to a vehicle body side part at a position where the seat back is erected; a lever 38 which is rotatably provided at a shoulder of the seat back, is held at a closed position in a restrained state of the seat back by the lock body 22, and is rotationally operated from the closed position to an open position, thereby releasing the restraint of the lock body 22; and a switch 42 which is provided at the shoulder of the seat back in order to actuate a device mounted on a vehicle, can be operated in a state that the lever 38 is positioned at the open position, and is covered by the lever 38 in a state that the lever 38 is positioned at the closed position.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

COPYRIGHT: (C)2025,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat, and in particular to a seat back lock device that holds the seat back in an upright position.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a seat lock device that restrains a foldable seat back of a vehicle's rear seat against the side of the vehicle body in an upright position. This seat lock device has an operating knob located on the shoulder of the seat back. Operating this operating knob releases the restraint, allowing the seat back to be folded forward.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-18964

In recent years, an increasing number of vehicle users are choosing to fold the rear seat backs forward to expand the vehicle's luggage compartment and spend the night in the vehicle. In addition, the luggage compartment of the vehicle may be equipped with a device that can only be used by the user when the seat back is folded forward. A measure was needed to prevent the switch for activating such a device from being erroneously operated when the seat back is not folded forward.

In consideration of the above, the present invention aims to provide a seatback lock device and a vehicle seat that can prevent the switch for activating a device installed in a vehicle from being erroneously operated when the seatback is not tilted forward.

The seatback lock device of the first aspect is provided with a lock body that is provided on a seatback of a vehicle seat that can be tilted forward and that restrains the seatback against the side of the vehicle body when the seatback is in an upright position; a lever that is rotatably provided on the shoulder of the seatback and is held in a closed position when the seatback is restrained by the lock body and that releases the restraint of the lock body when rotated from the closed position to the open position; and a switch that is provided on the shoulder of the seatback to operate a device installed in the vehicle, that is operable when the lever is in the open position and that is covered by the lever when the lever is in the closed position.

According to the first aspect of the seatback lock device, a lock body provided on a seatback of a vehicle seat that can be tilted forward restrains the seatback in an upright position against the side of the vehicle body. A lever rotatably provided on the shoulder of the seatback is held in a closed position when the seatback is restrained by the lock body. When the lever is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the lock body is released from the restraint. This allows the seatback to be tilted forward. In addition to the lever, a switch for operating a device mounted on the vehicle is provided on the shoulder of the seatback. This switch can be operated when the lever is in the open position, but is covered by the lever when the lever is in the closed position (i.e., when the seatback is not tilted forward). This makes it possible to prevent the switch from being erroneously operated when the seatback is not tilted forward.

In the seatback lock device of the second aspect, when the seatback is raised to the upright position with the switch in the on state in the first aspect, the lever rotates from the open position to the closed position and engages with the switch, turning the switch off.

In the seatback lock device of the second embodiment, when the seatback is raised to the upright position with the switch on, the lock body restrains the seatback in the upright position. At this time, the lever rotates from the open position to the closed position and engages with the switch, turning the switch off. This ensures that the switch is always off when the seatback is not tilted forward.

The vehicle seat of the third aspect has a seat cushion on which an occupant sits, a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, and the seat back lock device of the first or second aspect in which the lock body, the lever, and the switch are provided on the seat back.

In the vehicle seat of the third aspect, the back of the occupant seated on the seat cushion is supported by the seat back. The seat back is provided with a lock body, a lever, and a switch that are provided in the seat back lock device. This seat back lock device is of the first or second aspect, and therefore the above-mentioned effects are obtained.

As described above, the present invention can prevent the switch for activating the device mounted in the vehicle from being erroneously operated when the seat back is not tilted forward.

1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the seatback lock device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the seatback lock device according to the first embodiment, in which the lever is located in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the seatback lock device according to the first embodiment, in which the lever is in an open position. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a part of the seatback lock device according to the first embodiment, in which the lever is in an open position. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a two-way switch provided in the seatback lock device according to the first embodiment is in an off state. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which one circuit of a two-way switch is on; 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the other circuit of the two-way switch is on. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a lever is engaged with a two-way switch. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10 for explaining a state when the two-way switch is switched from on to off by engagement of the lever. FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a part of a seatback lock device according to a second embodiment, in which the lever is in an open position. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which two one-way switches provided in a seatback lock device according to a second embodiment are in an off state. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which one of the two one-way switches is on. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which one of the two one-way switches is on. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a lever is engaged with two one-way switches. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 16 for explaining a state when one of the two way switches is switched from on to off by engagement of the lever. FIG.

First Embodiment
A vehicle seat 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11. Note that in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted in order to make the drawings easier to see. Arrows FR, LH, RH, and UP, which are appropriately written in each figure, respectively indicate the front, left, right, and top of the vehicle seat 10. In the following description, when the front-rear, left-right, top-bottom directions are used, they will indicate directions relative to the vehicle seat 10.

1 and 2, a vehicle seat 10 according to this embodiment is a three-seater rear seat, and includes a seat cushion 12 on which an occupant sits, a seat back 14 that supports the occupant's back, and three head rests 16 that support the occupant's head. The seat back 14 is divided into a right seat back 14R for two-seater use and a left seat back 14L for one-seater use. The right seat back 14R and the left seat back 14L are each connected to the floor of the vehicle body via hinge brackets (not shown) and can be folded forward onto the seat cushion 12.

The left and right seat backs 14R, 14L are provided with seat back lock devices 20R, 20L for restraining the left and right seat backs 14R, 14L to the vehicle body side (not shown) in an upright position (position shown in FIG. 1; hereinafter referred to as the "upright position"). The left and right seat back lock devices 20R, 20L are configured symmetrically, so the following description will mainly focus on the left seat back lock device 20L.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the seatback lock device 20L has a lock body 22 provided on the left side of the seatback 14L, a lever base 32 provided at the left shoulder of the seatback 14L, a lever 38 rotatably attached to the lever base 32, and a 2-way switch 42 attached to the lever base 32.

The lock body 22 has a latch 24 that engages with a striker (not shown) provided on the side of the vehicle body, and a latch base 26 that rotatably supports the latch 24. The latch base 26 is made of, for example, metal, and is fixed to the frame (not shown) of the seat back 14L by means of bolt fastening or other means. The latch 24 is made of, for example, metal, and is attached to the latch base 26 so as to be rotatable around a shaft 28 that extends in the left-right direction.

The lever base 32 is made of, for example, resin, and is connected to the upper end of the latch base 26 by means of screws or the like. The lever 38 is made of, for example, resin, and is attached to the lever base 32 so as to be rotatable about an axis along the left-right direction. This lever 38 is rotatable with respect to the lever base 32 between the closed position shown in FIG. 4 and the open position shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6.

The lever 38 is engaged with the latch 24 via the connecting member 30 shown in FIG. 3 and a ratchet (not shown). This latch 24 engages with a striker provided on the side of the vehicle body when the seat back 14L is in the upright position. This restrains the seat back 14L in the upright position. In this restrained state, the lever 38 is configured to be held in the closed position by the connecting member 30.

When the lever 38 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the ratchet is disengaged from the latch 24 and the latch 24 is disengaged from the striker. This allows the seat back 14 to be tilted forward onto the seat cushion 12, and the lever 38 is held in the open position by the connecting member 30. When the seat back 14 is raised from the forward tilted state to the upright position, the latch 24 engages with the striker and the ratchet engages with the latch 24, restraining the seat back 14 in the upright position again. At this time, the lever 38 is pulled by the connecting member 30 and rotates to the closed position, and is configured to be held in the closed position.

The lever base 32 that rotatably supports the lever 38 has a pair of left and right side wall portions 34 arranged on both the left and right sides of the lever 38, and a bottom wall portion 36 that is arranged below the lever and connects the lower portions of the left and right side wall portions 34 in the left-right direction. The top surface of the bottom wall portion 36 forms an upward staircase shape toward the rear, and has a lower step portion 36A, a middle step portion 36B, and an upper step portion 36C.

The lever 38 has a pair of left and right side wall portions 38A spaced apart in the left-right direction, an upper wall portion 38B connecting the upper ends of the left and right side wall portions 38A in the left-right direction, and an intermediate wall portion 38C connecting the middle portions of the left and right side wall portions 38A in the left-right direction. The left and right side wall portions 38A are plate-shaped with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction as the plate thickness direction. The upper wall portion 38B is plate-shaped with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction and the up-down direction as the plate thickness direction. The intermediate wall portion 38C is plate-shaped with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction as the plate thickness direction. The rear ends of the left and right side wall portions 38A are provided with a pair of left and right shaft portions (not shown) that are supported by the left and right side wall portions 34 of the lever base 32. This allows the lever 38 to rotate between the closed position shown in FIG. 4 and the open position shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 38 is in the closed position, the upper surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 34 of the lever base 32 and the upper surface of the upper wall portion 38B of the lever 38 are arranged on approximately the same plane. Also, in this state, the front surface of the intermediate wall portion 38C and the front surface of the middle stage portion 36B of the lever base 32 are arranged on approximately the same plane. In this state, the intermediate wall portion 38C is arranged facing the front surface of the upper stage portion 36C of the lever base 32 from the front side.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the lever 38 is in the open position, the front side of the lever 38 protrudes upward from the lever base 32. In this state, the red indicators 40 provided on the outer lateral surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 38A are exposed. This allows the occupant to easily recognize that the seat back 14 is not restrained (unlocked) relative to the side of the vehicle body.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a two-way switch 42 is provided on the front surface of the upper section 36C of the lever base 32. The two-way switch 42 is, for example, an illuminated two-pole double-throw rocker switch, and has a paddle 44 that serves as an operation section. The two-way switch 42 is a switch for activating a heater (not shown), which is a device (electrical equipment in this case) mounted on the vehicle, and is electrically connected to the heater. The heater is, for example, in the form of a film, and is disposed on the back surface of the seat back 14L.

When the paddle 44 of the 2-way switch 42 is in the OFF position shown in FIG. 7, the heater is turned off. When the paddle 44 is in the first ON position shown in FIG. 8, the heater is turned on with its temperature adjusted to Low mode. When the paddle 44 is in the second ON position shown in FIG. 9, the heater is turned on with its temperature adjusted to High mode. When the 2-way switch 42 is on in Low mode or High mode, the illumination lamp of the 2-way switch 42 is configured to light up.

A similar heater is provided on the back of the right seat back 14R, and the seat back lock device 20R of the right seat back 14R is provided with a similar two-way switch. The heater of the right seat back 14R can be switched on and off by operating this two-way switch. The heaters are used when the vehicle occupant folds the seat backs 14R and 14L forward to expand the luggage compartment of the vehicle and stay overnight in the vehicle, etc.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 38 is in the closed position, the two-way switch 42 is covered from the front by the intermediate wall portion 38C of the lever 38, making it inoperable. As shown in FIG. 5, when the lever 38 is in the open position, the two-way switch 42 is exposed to the front and can be operated. A display portion 46 indicating the type of device operated by the two-way switch 42 is provided on the front surface of the intermediate wall portion 38C of the lever 38 by means of engraving, printing, or the like.

When the seat back 14L is in the upright position and the lever 38 is held in the closed position by the connecting member 30, as shown in FIG. 10, the intermediate wall portion 38C of the lever 38 contacts the paddle 44 of the 2-way switch 42 from the front side, thereby holding the paddle 44 in the off position.

On the other hand, when the seat back 14 is tilted forward and the 2-way switch 42 is turned on (i.e., the paddle 44 is operated to the first on position or the second on position), and the seat back 14L is raised to the upright position, the latch 24 engages with the striker on the side of the vehicle body. This causes the lever 38 to rotate from the open position to the closed position, and the intermediate wall portion 38C engages with the paddle 44 of the 2-way switch 42 from the front side. This moves the paddle 44 to the off position, as shown in FIG. 11, and the 2-way switch 42 is turned off.

According to the seatback lock device 20L configured as described above, the lock body 22 provided on the seatback 14L restrains the seatback 14L against the side of the vehicle body in an upright position. The lever 38 rotatably provided on the shoulder of the seatback 14L is held in a closed position when the seatback 14 is restrained by the lock body 22. When the lever 38 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the restraint of the lock body 22 is released. This allows the seatback 14L to be tilted forward.

In addition to the lever 38, a two-way switch 42 for activating a heater mounted on the back of the seat back 14L is provided on the shoulder of the seat back 14L. The two-way switch 42 can be operated when the lever 38 is in the open position, but is covered by the lever 38 when the lever 38 is in the closed position (i.e., when the seat back 14 is not tilted forward). This prevents the two-way switch 42 from being operated erroneously when the seat back 14L is not tilted forward (normal operation). In addition, since the two-way switch 42 is located inside the seat back lock device 20L, it is easy to prevent the two-way switch 42 from being operated erroneously by a sleeping occupant staying overnight in the vehicle. Furthermore, since the two-way switch 42 is located within easy reach of the occupant when staying overnight in the vehicle or in the cargo room mode, the occupant can easily operate the devices installed in the vehicle or change the settings.

In addition, with this seatback lock device 20L, when the seatback 14L is raised to the upright position with the 2-way switch 42 on, the lock body 22 restrains the seatback 14L in the upright position. At this time, the lever 38 rotates from the open position to the closed position and engages with the paddle 44 of the 2-way switch 42, turning the 2-way switch 42 off. This ensures that the 2-way switch 42 is always off when the seatback 14 is not tilted forward.

Second Embodiment
Next, a seatback lock device 20L according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 17. Note that the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment are used for configurations and functions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, the seatback lock device 20L according to the second embodiment has two 1-way switches 50, 52 instead of the 2-way switch 42 in the first embodiment. These 1-way switches 50, 52 are, for example, illuminated alternate push switches, and have push buttons 54, 56 that serve as operating units. These 1-way switches 50, 52 are aligned in the left-right direction and provided on the upper step 36C of the lower wall portion 36 of the lever base 32.

When the push buttons 54, 56 of these one-way switches 50, 52 are in the OFF position shown in FIG. 13, the heater provided on the back surface of the seat back 14L is turned off. When one push button 54 is in the ON position shown in FIG. 14, the other push button 56 is in the OFF position, and the heater is turned on with its temperature adjusted to Low mode. When the other push button 56 is in the ON position shown in FIG. 15, the one push button 54 is in the OFF position, and the heater is turned on with its temperature adjusted to High mode.

When the lever 38 is in the closed position, the two one-way switches 50, 52 are covered from the front by the intermediate wall portion 38C of the lever 38 and cannot be operated. As shown in FIG. 12, when the lever 38 is in the open position, the two one-way switches 50, 52 are exposed to the front and can be operated.

When the seat back 14L is placed in the upright position and the lever 38 is held in the closed position by the connecting member 30, as shown in FIG. 16, the intermediate wall portion 38C of the lever 38 contacts the push buttons 54, 56 of the two one-way switches 50, 52 from the front side, thereby holding the push buttons 54, 56 in the off position.

On the other hand, when the seat back 14 is tilted forward and one of the two one-way switches 50, 52 is turned on (i.e., one of the push buttons 54, 56 is operated to the on position), and the seat back 14L is raised to the upright position, the latch 24 engages with the striker on the side of the vehicle body. This causes the lever 38 to rotate from the open position to the closed position, and the intermediate wall portion 38C engages with the push buttons 54, 56 of the two way switches 50, 52 from the front side. This causes one of the push buttons (push button 54 in the example shown in FIG. 17) that was in the on position to move to the off position, and both of the two one-way switches 50, 52 are turned off.

In this embodiment, the configuration other than that described above is the same as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiments, the heaters arranged on the rear portions of the seat backs 14R and 14L are described as devices mounted on the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the device mounted on the vehicle may be of another type.

In addition, in the second embodiment, an example was shown in which two one-way switches 50, 52 were provided in the seatback lock device 20L, but the number of switches can be changed as appropriate. Also, the type of switch is not limited to those in the above embodiments.

The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. It goes without saying that the scope of the invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Vehicle seat 12 Seat cushion 14 Seat back 20L Seat back lock device 20R Seat back lock device 22 Lock body 38 Lever 42 2-way switch (switch)
50, 52 1-way switch (switch)

Claims (3)

A lock body is provided on a seat back of a vehicle seat that can be tilted forward, and the lock body restrains the seat back against a vehicle body side portion in an upright position;
a lever that is rotatably provided at a shoulder of the seat back, that is held in a closed position when the seat back is restrained by the lock body, and that releases the restraint of the lock body by being rotated from the closed position to an open position;
a switch that is provided at the shoulder of the seat back for activating a device mounted in the vehicle, the switch being operable when the lever is in the open position and being covered by the lever when the lever is in the closed position;
A seat back lock device comprising: The seatback lock device according to claim 1, wherein when the seatback is raised to the upright position while the switch is on, the lever rotates from the open position to the closed position and engages with the switch, turning the switch off. A seat cushion on which an occupant sits;
A seat back that supports the back of the occupant;
3. The seat back lock device according to claim 1, wherein the lock body, the lever, and the switch are provided on the seat back;
A vehicle seat having: