JP2003310375A - Reclining device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow some freedom in establishing the characteristics of a spring and realize one unit construction of a reclining device regardless of an operating axle. <P>SOLUTION: This is a reclining device of a type in which an operating member 30, a cam (for example a slide cam) that is operated based on the rotation of this operating member 30, and a pawl that is operated by the operation of this cam are provided in a pair of housings 10, 12 that are assembled of relatively rotatably, and the relative rotation of both housings 10, 12 is changed into a locked state or an unlocked state by the operation of this pawl. A spring 40 that gives a force in rotating direction for maintaining the locked state to the operating member 30 is arranged on the outsides of the housings 10, 12, and further, this spring 40 is set so that its elastic force acts directly on the operating member 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to a reclining device for adjusting a tilt angle of a seat back of a vehicle seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of vehicle seat reclining devices, one of which is one in which two disk-shaped housings are assembled so as to be relatively rotatable, and this rotation is performed in a predetermined angular range. There is a configuration that locks in multiple stages. One of these housings is fixed to the frame of the seat cushion, and the other is fixed to the frame of the seat back. Further, inside both housings, an operating member that is integrally rotated on the shaft of the operating shaft, a slide cam and a slide pole that slide in conjunction with the rotation of the operating member are incorporated. By the sliding of the slide pole, the relative rotation of both housings is switched to a locked or unlocked state.

This type of reclining device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-79032. In the technique disclosed in this publication, a torsion spring that exerts an elastic force between the boss portion (cylindrical shaft portion) of the operating member and the housing is incorporated inside both housings. The elasticity of the spring urges the operating member in one direction, and this rotation direction is a direction in which the relative rotation of both housings is maintained in a locked state.

On the other hand, a reclining device in which a spring is arranged outside the housing is also known (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-65327). The spring in this case is attached so as to exert an elastic force between the operating shaft located outside the housing and the housing. That is, in this configuration, the operating member is biased through the operating shaft by the spring provided outside the housing.

[0005]

In a reclining device in which a spring is incorporated inside a housing,
Due to space restrictions in the housing, there is a limit to the degree of freedom in setting the elastic force or shape of the spring incorporated therein. On the other hand, in the reclining device in which the spring is provided outside the housing, the degree of freedom in setting the spring characteristics is increased, but the operation shaft must be assembled to complete the reclining device as a unit. . When this reclining device is used for a vehicle seat, the operating shaft has different lengths and shapes depending on the vehicle type, and therefore various reclining devices must be prepared for the operating shaft.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a degree of freedom in setting the characteristics of a spring and to enable a reclining device to be unitized regardless of an operation axis. Is.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to achieve the above object. According to the invention of claim 1, an operating member is provided inside a pair of housings assembled so as to be capable of relative rotation. A cam body that operates based on the rotation of the operating member and a pawl that operates based on the operation of the cam body, and the relative rotation of both housings is locked or unlocked by the operation of the pawl. In the reclining device of a switchable type, a spring that applies a force in a rotation direction for maintaining the locked state to the operating member is arranged outside the housing. Moreover, this spring is set so that its elastic force directly acts on the operating member. As a specific example of the cam body, as described in the embodiment, the cam body slides (acts) based on the rotation of the operation member.
There is a slide cam to do. The slide pole is operated by the operation of the slide cam. In addition to this, a rotary cam may be used. In this case, the rotation of the operating member directly causes the rotation (operation) of the rotation cam, and the slide pole is operated by the operation of the rotation cam.

According to the first aspect of the invention, since the spring is arranged outside the housing, the degree of freedom in setting characteristics such as elastic force or shape of the spring is increased. Further, since the elastic force of the spring is directly applied to the operation member, the reclining device can be unitized without the operation shaft being assembled. As a result, when the reclining device is used for a vehicle seat, it is possible to integrate the structure and design of the reclining device regardless of the operation shaft having the different length and shape for each vehicle type.

A second aspect of the present invention is the reclining device according to the first aspect, wherein the operating member is
It is provided with a cylindrical shaft portion into which an operation shaft for giving a rotational force can be inserted. The end portion of the tubular shaft portion is configured to extend to the outside of the housing in which the spring is arranged and receive the elastic force of the spring. Thus, after the housing is completely assembled, the spring can be assembled in a state in which the elastic force acts on the operating member.

A third aspect of the present invention is the reclining device according to the second aspect, wherein the spring is a spiral spring, the inner end portion of which is coupled to the outer surface of the cylindrical shaft portion, The end is connected to the housing. On the outer surface of the cylindrical shaft portion, a portion that is inserted into the circular hole of the housing is circular, and a portion that is connected to the inner end portion of the spring is polygonal. As a result, the support of the tubular shaft portion that rotates with respect to the housing is in a state with less rattling, and the inner end portion of the spring and the tubular shaft portion are joined together in a properly stopped state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the reclining device according to the third aspect, wherein the step portion located at a boundary between the circular portion and the polygonal portion of the tubular shaft portion is used to form the reclining device. It receives the inner end of the spring and regulates its axial position. In this case, the situation in which the spring is strongly pressed against the outer surface of the housing is eliminated, and the elastic force acting on the operating member is appropriately maintained.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a reclining device for a vehicle seat (a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow AA in FIG. 5), and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. This reclining device has a structure in which a fixed-side housing 10 and a rotating-side housing 12 each having a disc shape are combined so as to be relatively rotatable about their mutual centers. That is, the two housings 10 and 12 are held so as to be rotatable relative to each other and not to be disengaged from each other by the ring member 18 which is crimped at the outer peripheral portion after being assembled with each other. The fixed housing 10 is fixed to the frame 60 of the seat cushion of the vehicle seat, and the rotary housing 12 is fixed to the frame 62 of the seat back.

An operating member 30 is installed inside both housings 10 and 12 so as to be rotatable coaxially with the rotation axis of the rotation side housing 12. The operating member 30 includes a tubular shaft portion 32 and an arm portion 31 radially protruding from the tubular shaft portion 32. The tubular shaft portion 32 is inserted into the circular hole 24 of the fixed housing 10, and its end portion is located outside the fixed housing 10.
Then, the operating shaft 36 for rotating the operating member 30 is inserted into the tubular shaft portion 32 from the cushion frame 60 side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2). An operation knob 38 is attached to the left end of the operation shaft 36 (FIG. 1). A cam body (slide cam 14) and a pole (slide pole 16), which will be described next, are incorporated in both housings 10 and 12, but these are omitted in FIGS.

3 and 4 are plan views showing the interiors of both housings 10 and 12 in a partial cross section. As shown in these drawings, inside both housings 10 and 12, one slide cam 14 and a pair of slide poles 16 located on both sides thereof (upper and lower in the drawing) are incorporated. The slide cam 14 can slide in the left-right direction in the drawing, and the slide pole 16 slides in a direction orthogonal to the cam 14 based on the slide of the slide cam 14. Further, both slide poles 16 are provided with teeth 17 that mesh with the internal teeth 13 formed on the inner circumference of the rotary housing 12. The slide cam 14 and the slide pole 16 are individually slid by being guided by guides 20 provided at four positions on the inner wall surface of the fixed housing 10 so as to project.

The slide cam 14 receives a sliding force through the arm portion 31 of the operating member 30 as the operating member 30 rotates about its axis. The operation member 30 is
Due to the elastic force of the spring 40, which will be described below, FIG.
4 is urged counterclockwise. In FIG. 3, the operating member 30 is in the rotational position by the urging force of the spring 40, and the teeth 17 of both slide poles 16 mesh with the internal teeth 13 of the rotating side housing 12 so that both housings 10, 1
Two relative rotations are locked. This state is the locked state of the reclining device, and the tilting movement of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is locked.

When the operating member 30 is rotated clockwise against the biasing force of the spring 40, the slide cam 14 slides to the position shown in FIG. As a result, both slide poles 16 are pulled inward, and the engagement between the individual teeth 17 and the inner teeth 13 of the rotary side housing 12 is released, and the relative rotation of both housings 10 and 12 becomes possible. This state is the unlocked state of the reclining device, and the tilt angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion can be adjusted.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the reclining device as seen from the direction of the fixed housing 10, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the members shown in FIG. 5 in an exploded state. In these drawings, each guide 20 of the fixed side housing 10 is shown as a concave shape. As is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, the tubular shaft portion 32 of the operation member 30 has the fixed housing 1
It penetrates the circular hole 24 of 0 and protrudes outward. On the outer surface of the cylindrical shaft portion 32, a portion to be inserted into the circular hole 24 is set to be circular, and a portion located outside the fixed housing 10 is set to be polygonal (quadrangle). That is, the cylindrical shaft portion 32 is supported by the circular portion 32a with respect to the circular hole 24 of the fixed housing 10, and the polygonal portion 32b on the tip side of the cylindrical portion 32 is located outside the housing 10. Since the polygonal portion 32b is formed by cutting the outer periphery of the circle, the circular portion 32b
A step portion 32c is formed at the boundary between a and the polygonal portion 32b (FIG. 2).

The shaft center hole 34 of the tubular shaft portion 32 is set in a polygonal shape (quadrangle), and the small diameter portion 36 of the operating shaft 36 is formed.
a is set to have an outer shape corresponding to the shaft center hole 34. By inserting the small diameter portion 36a into the shaft center hole 34, the operation member 30 and the operation shaft 36 are coupled so as to be capable of transmitting rotation. At this time, the end surface of the large diameter portion 36b of the operation shaft 36 is received by the tip end surface of the operation shaft 36, and axial positioning is performed (FIG. 2). Since the shape of the shaft center hole 34 of the cylindrical shaft portion 32 and the shape of the small diameter portion 36a of the operating shaft 36 are means for transmitting rotation to each other, it is naturally possible to replace them with serration joints or the like.

A spring 40 (spiral spring) is arranged outside the fixed housing 10. The inner end portion 42 of the spring 40 is bent and formed into a shape corresponding to the polygonal portion 32b of the tubular shaft portion 32, and the inner end portion 42 is wound around the outer surface of the polygonal portion 32b. Combined so that they do not rotate with each other. The inner end portion 42 has a step portion 32c with respect to the axial direction of the tubular shaft portion 32.
It is received and positioned by (Fig. 2). On the other hand, the outer end portion 43 of the spring 40 is bent into a hook shape, and is hooked to one of the two protrusions 26 formed on the outer surface of the fixed housing 10 to be coupled to the housing 10 side. To be done. As a result, the elastic force of the spring 40 acts directly on the operating member 30, and the operating member 30 receives the urging force in the direction that keeps the reclining device in the locked state.

A cover 50 for covering the spring 40 is attached to the outside of the fixed housing 10. The cover 50 has a cylindrical shaft portion 3 at the center thereof.
2 is provided with an insertion hole 52, and a pair of mounting portions 54 and a projecting portion 56 are provided on the outer peripheral portion. The cover 50 is covered with the spring 40, and two protrusions 27, which are formed separately from the protrusion 26 on the outer surface of the fixed housing 10, are respectively positioned at the cut portions of both mounting portions 54 (FIG. 5). . Then, the cover 50 is fixed to the fixed-side housing 10 by crushing the tips of the protrusions 27 with pressure (caulking). In addition, both protruding portions 56 of the cover 50
Covers the portion of both projections 26 for selectively coupling the outer end 43 of the spring 40.

In the reclining device thus constructed, the following assembling procedure can be adopted. a. A slide body (slide cam 14 and slide pole 16) and an operating member 30 are incorporated in both housings 10 and 12. b. The spring 40 and the cover 50 are attached to the outer surface of the fixed housing 10. c. After this, the small-diameter portion 36a of the operating shaft 36 is attached to the cylindrical shaft portion 3
It is inserted into the second axial hole 34. That is, the reclining device can be unitized without the operation shaft 36. Therefore, the operating shaft 36 has different lengths and shapes depending on the vehicle type, but the operating shaft 3
It is possible to integrate the structure and design of the reclining device regardless of 6. Moreover, the fixed housing 1
By arranging the spring 40 on the outer side of 0, it is possible to give flexibility to characteristics such as elastic force or shape of the spring 40. Either of the steps a and b may be performed first. For example, it is possible to assemble the operation member 30 after the spring 40 is assembled to the fixed housing 10.

A circular portion 32 of the cylindrical shaft portion 32
By supporting a by the circular hole 24 of the fixed side housing 10, a supporting state with less rattling can be obtained. It is difficult to make the portion of the cylindrical shaft portion supported by the housing into a circular shape by using a spring incorporated in a conventional housing. This is because, as already mentioned, when the polygonal part is formed by partially cutting out the circular outer periphery, this circular part cannot pass through the coupling end of the spring located in front of the housing. is there. Therefore, the outer shape of the conventional cylindrical shaft portion has to be polygonal including the portion supported by the circular hole of the housing.

As described above, the spring 40 is axially positioned by the step portion 32c of the tubular shaft portion 32, and the operating shaft 36 is axially positioned by the tip end surface of the tubular shaft portion 32. Therefore, between the spring 40 and the outer surface of the fixed housing 10 or the operation shaft 3
A proper clearance is secured between the end surface of the large diameter portion 36b of 6 and the cover 50.

The cover 50 covering the outside of the spring 40 regulates the spring 40 so as not to come off from the fixed housing 10. The cover 50 is a cushion frame 60 in which both housings 10 and 12 are shown in FIG.
Also, it plays a role of preventing the spatter and the like generated by welding when individually fixing to the back frame 62 from adhering to the spring 40.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, this embodiment can be easily changed or modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the polygonal shape for connecting the polygonal portion 32b of the tubular shaft portion 32 and the inner end portion 42 of the spring 40 is not limited to the quadrangular shape shown in the drawings, and may include a triangular shape or a hexagonal shape. Further, in the operation member 30, the arm portion 31 and the tubular shaft portion 32 may be separately molded and coupled so as to be capable of transmitting rotation. Further, the tubular shaft portion 32 is replaced by, for example, a circular portion 32a and a polygonal portion 32.
It may be divided into b and b, and these may be coupled so that rotation can be transmitted. As the cam body, a rotary cam may be used instead of the slide cam 14 as described above. The rotary cam is arranged on the rotation axis of the operating member and rotates together with the operating member. This rotation causes the pawl to slide and controls the meshing between the pawl and the internal teeth of the rotary housing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a reclining device for a vehicle seat.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a partial cross section of the inside of the housing in a locked state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the interior of the housing in an unlocked state with a partial cross section.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the reclining device viewed from the direction of the fixed housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the member shown in FIG. 5 in a disassembled state.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,12 housing 14 Slide cam (cam body) 16 slide pole 30 Operation member 32 tubular shaft 32a circular part 32b polygon part 36 Operation axis 40 spring 42 Inner end 43 outer edge

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 3B087 BD03                 3B099 AA05 BA04 CA05 CA20 CA23                       CA31 CB06 DA07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operating member, a cam body that operates based on the rotation of the operating member, and a pole that operates by the operation of the cam body, inside a pair of housings that are assembled so as to be capable of relative rotation. Is provided, and the relative rotation of both housings is switched to a locked or unlocked state by the operation of this pawl. A reclining device in which a force-applying spring is arranged outside the housing, and the spring is set so that its elastic force acts directly on the operating member. 2. The reclining device according to claim 1, wherein the operating member includes a tubular shaft portion into which an operating shaft for applying a rotational force to the operating member can be inserted, and the tubular shaft is provided. The reclining device is configured such that an end portion of the portion is extended to the outside of the housing in which the spring is arranged and receives the elastic force of the spring. 3. The reclining device according to claim 2, wherein the spring is a spiral spring, an inner end portion of which is coupled to an outer surface of the tubular shaft portion, and an outer end portion of which is coupled to the housing. The reclining device is configured such that a portion of the outer surface of the cylindrical shaft portion that is inserted into the circular hole of the housing is circular and a portion that is coupled to the inner end portion of the spring is polygonal. 4. The reclining device according to claim 3, wherein the stepped portion located at the boundary between the circular portion and the polygonal portion of the tubular shaft portion receives the inner end portion of the spring. A reclining device that regulates the axial position.