Seat device that can convert state of seat

A seat device that can reliably regulates a reclining operation when in a long state where a back of a seat is along a wall. The seat device (10) that can convert the state of the seat (1) includes a reclining mechanism (50) that can tilt a backrest (3) of the seat (1), wherein an operation of tilting the backrest (3) by the reclining mechanism (50) is disabled when the seat (1) is in the long state.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a seat device that can convert the state of a seat.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there are seats of a stool type mounted in, for example, railroad cars, which are long in both directions and can seat a plurality of persons, and are generally installed along walls in cabins. As for this seat, a rotary seat is known that can be rotated about a rotation axis in the center of the seat to convert the orientation between a long state where the back of the seat is parallel to and along a wall, and a cross state where the back of the seat is orthogonal to the wall.

As for such a rotary seat, a seat device has been proposed that includes a sliding mechanism in addition to a rotation mechanism of the seat, and further includes a transmission mechanism for interlocking each mechanism, so that the trajectory (turning radius) of the seat does not interfere with a wall, when rotating the seat from the long state along the wall to the cross state. Refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1.

That is, in the rotary seat, in order to expand the aisle width between seats on both sides in a cabin as much as possible to obtain a comfortable space, the rotation axis of the seat is located near a wall in the long state, while the rotation axis of the seat is slid to an aisle side in the cross state, so that the seat does not interfere with the wall. Therefore, in the rotary seat, in order to prevent interference with the wall in the long state, the backrest cannot be tilted, and a reclining mechanism for improving seating comfort cannot be provided.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, with conventional rotating apparatuses, since the reclining mechanism is not provided, not only can the backrest not be tilted, but the aisle width between seats cannot be increased, and the aisle width is narrower than that in ordinary commuter trains. Particularly, there has been a problem that, even in the cross state where the backrest does not interfere with the wall, reclining is not possible and seating comfort is impaired.

The present invention has been made by focusing on the problems of the related art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seat device that enables a reclining operation of a backrest, can expand the aisle width, can obtain comfortable seating comfort, and can reliably regulate the reclining operation in a specific state (long state) where the reclining operation becomes a problem, even in a seat where rotation and sliding are interlocked.

In order to achieve the aforementioned object, in one aspect of the present invention,a seat device that can convert a state of a seat includesa reclining mechanism that can tilt a backrest of a seat,wherein an operation of tilting the backrest by the reclining mechanism is disabled when the seat is in a specific state.

With the seat device according to the present invention, even when the state of the seat can be converted, the reclining operation of the backrest is enabled, the aisle width can be expanded, comfortable seating comfort can be obtained, and the reclining operation can be reliably regulated when the seat is in the specific state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment representing the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG.1toFIG.15show one embodiment of the present invention.

A seat device10according to the present embodiment can convert the state of a seat1. Here, the state of the seat1is a concept including not only the orientation of the seat1by rotation, but also the change in the front and back position of the seat1, etc. Additionally, although the kind of the seat1is not particularly limited, a case will be described below as an example where the seat1is applied to a stool for two persons mounted in a cabin of a railroad car. Note that, in each figure, a slight difference in the shape of an identical part is merely a design change (for example, the difference in the shape of an underframe30inFIG.1andFIG.6, etc.).

<Outline of Seat Device10>

As shown inFIG.6, the seat device10includes a leg stand11fixed on a floor surface, a movable stand20supported by the leg stand11so as to be able to advance and retract in front and back directions, and the underframe30of the seat1supported by the movable stand20so as to be rotatable in forward and backward directions. Here, the leg stand11is “a fixed side of the seat1”, and the movable stand20and the underframe30are “a movable side of the seat1”. Note that the seat device10is arranged on the floor surface near a wall (window) in the cabin of the railroad car, and “A” inFIG.6is a part of the wall parallel to the moving direction of the railroad car.

In the seat device10, the underframe30of the seat1is supported on the movable stand20to be rotatable about a rotation axis via the rotation mechanism40. The movable stand20is supported on the leg stand11together with the rotation mechanism40via a sliding mechanism14so as to be able to advance and retract. Additionally, although an illustration is omitted, the seat device10includes an interlocking mechanism in order to interlock the rotation of the seat1by the rotation mechanism40with the advancement and retraction of the seat1by the sliding mechanism14.

As shown inFIG.1, the seat1is formed as a stool for two persons by arranging two seating portions2and backrests3side by side in both directions. A pair of sleeve portions4covering the seating portions2from the sides are provided on both sides of the seat1. An upper end side of each sleeve portion4serves as an armrest5that extends substantially horizontally in front and back directions. A lower end side of the backrest3is supported at a rear end side of the seating portion2via a reclining mechanism50(refer toFIG.3) in a tiltable manner.

As shown inFIG.3, the reclining mechanism50supports the backrest3with respect to the seating portion2in a predetermined angular range in a tiltable manner. The reclining mechanism50includes, for example, a damper51such as a gas spring. The damper51is configured such that a piston rod53is inserted into its cylinder body52so as to be able to protrude, and is arranged on the underframe30to be parallel to the front and back directions. Although the damper51is urged in a direction in which the piston rod53is housed in the cylinder body52, the piston rod53can be fixed in a state where only an arbitrary amount of the piston rod53is projected.

A rear end of the cylinder body52is connected to a lower end of a frame3aof backrest3so as to be able to be pushed and pulled. On the other hand, a tip of the rod53that protrudes from a front end of the cylinder body52is connected to a proper place of a front end side of the underframe30. With such a damper51, the backrest3can be held at an arbitrary tilt angle. That is, when the damper51is a locked state, the piston rod53is fixed in a state where only a predetermined amount of the piston rod53is projected from the cylinder body52, so that the backrest3can be held at an arbitrary tilt angle.

When the locked state of the damper51is released, the backrest3returns to a most upright initial position by the biasing force with which the piston rod53is housed in the cylinder body52. When a seated person presses the backrest3backward against the restoring force of the damper51in this lock released state, the backrest3can be adjusted to an arbitrary tilt angle.

Although a detailed description of the lock mechanism of the damper51is omitted since the lock mechanism is common, a release button54for releasing the locked state is provided near the piston rod53. A reclining operation unit100for pressing this release button54to release the locked state is provided in a front end of the armrest5. Note that the reclining operation unit100corresponds to an “operation unit” of the present invention.

As shown inFIG.1, in the reclining operation unit100, each component is incorporated and unitized in one housing101, and is incorporated inside the front end of the armrest5. The reclining operation unit100performs an operation (reclining operation) for tilting the backrest3by the reclining mechanism50.

As shown inFIG.9andFIG.10, the rotation operation unit100includes an operation lever104that is swingably supported by a supporting bracket102fixed to the housing101via an axis103. A lower end side of the operation lever104can be swung in front and back directions with the axis103, to which an upper end side of the operation lever104is pivotably supported, being the swing center. The operation lever104is swung between an initial position (refer toFIG.7) where the lower end side is housed in the housing101, and an operation position (refer toFIG.8) where the lower end side is pulled out forward.

A receiving member105of a reclining operation lock mechanism110, which will be described next, is fixed to a back side of the operation lever104. One end side of a reclining operation cable106extended to the release button54side is connected to the receiving member105. Here, by pulling the operation lever104forward to the operation position, a link on the release button54side is pulled via the reclining operation cable106to push the release button54, and the locked state of the damper51is released. Note that the operation lever104is normally urged backward to be housed at the initial position via the reclining operation cable106.

Additionally, the reclining operation unit100is provided with the reclining operation lock mechanism110that can restrain the reclining operation unit100in an inoperable manner. The reclining operation lock mechanism110restrains the reclining operation unit100in an inoperable manner, when the seat1is in a long state (specific state), which will be described later. Note that the reclining operation lock mechanism110corresponds to a “lock mechanism” of the present invention.

As shown inFIG.9, the reclining operation lock mechanism110includes a substantially L-shaped link112supported by the housing101via an axis111so as to be swingable in the front and back directions. In the link112, a lock pin113is further supported upward in one end side from the axis111. The lock pin113is disposed such that its upper end side penetrates through a guide hole102ain the supporting bracket102, and protrudes in up-and-down directions with the swing of the link112.

The receiving member105on the back side of the operation lever104is provided with a lock hole105ainto which a tip of the lock pin113can protrude and fit, the lock hole105abeing provided at a lower location to which the lock pin113opposes when the operation lever104is in the initial position. Here, the link112that moves the lock pin113is normally urged by a spring member114in the clockwise direction around the axis111inFIG.9, so as to be in a state where the lock pin113is disengaged from the lock hole105aof the receiving member105.

One end side of a reclining lock cable115is connected to the other end side of the link112from the axis111via a connector116. The other end side of the reclining lock cable115is extended to a rotation operation unit200side, which will be described later. When the seat1is in the specific state (the long state, which will be described later), the reclining lock cable115restrains the reclining operation unit100in an inoperable manner by being pulled from the rotation operation unit200side.

That is, the reclining lock cable115swings the link112in the counter clockwise direction around the axis111inFIG.9andFIG.10by resisting the biasing force of the spring member114. Accordingly, since the lock pin113fits into the lock hole105aof the receiving member105, the operation lever104is restrained in an inoperable manner. Note that the reclining lock cable115corresponds to “transmission means” of the present invention.

As shown inFIG.7andFIG.8, component parts of the reclining operation lock mechanism110arranged on the housing101are covered by a cover-like lid101a. An arc-shaped guide groove101bcentered on the axis111of the link112is formed in the housing101and the lid101a. An axis117, which pivotably supports the connector116to the other end of the link112, movably fits into the guide groove101b, and a swing centered on the axis111of the link112is regulated.

The seat device10can convert the state of the seat1between the long state (refer toFIG.6,FIG.2) in which the back of the seat is substantially parallel to and along a wall A, and a cross state (refer toFIG.1) in which the back of the seat is substantially orthogonal to the wall A. Here, for the cross state, there are one cross state (refer toFIG.1), and a reverse cross state that is 180 degrees in the opposite direction to the one cross state. As shown inFIG.15, when it is assumed that the long state of the seat1has a rotation angle of 0 degrees as an original position, the rotation angle of the one cross state is 90 degrees, and the rotation angle of the reverse cross state is −90 degrees. Note that the back of the seat is synonymous with the back of the backrest3. Hereinafter, when collectively referring to the one cross state and the reverse cross state, they are merely written as the cross state.

As shown inFIG.6, the leg stand11is fixed onto the floor surface near the wall A in the cabin. The leg stand11is formed by combining frame members into the shape of a stand that is long in the direction (front and back direction) substantially orthogonal to the wall A. Although an upper surface side of the leg stand11is substantially horizontal, and this upper surface side is surrounded by both side ends12and12, forming the long sides, and a rear end portion, forming a short side on the rear side (wall A side), the front side (aisle side) is opened.

The leg stand11is arranged so that its rear end portion is close to and substantially parallel to the wall A, and both side ends12and12are substantially orthogonal to the wall A and extend toward the aisle side. Note that, in addition to the sliding mechanism14, which will be described next, related parts such as a stopper for regulating the advance and retract range and the rotation direction of the underframe30are provided in the upper surface side of the leg stand11.

As shown inFIG.6, the movable stand20is attached to the upper surface side of the leg stand11via the sliding mechanism14, so as to be able to advance and retract in the direction substantially orthogonal to the wall A. The sliding mechanism14includes a pair of guide rails14aand14athat are provided inside both side ends12and12of the leg stand11. The pair of guide rails14aand14aare parallel to and oppose to each other along both the long sides of the upper surface of the leg stand11, and both side portions21and21of the movable stand20, which will be described next, directly and slidably fit inside the respective guide rails14a.

As shown inFIG.6, the movable stand20is substantially horizontally arranged on the upper surface side of the leg stand11, and is formed by combining frame members into a rectangular framework shape. Both side ends21and21, forming the long sides of the movable stand20, slidably fit inside the aforementioned pair of guide rails14aand14a. Thus, the movable stand20can be slid so as to advance or retract in the direction substantially orthogonal to the wall A. The rotation mechanism40that rotates the seat1about the rotation axis is provided at a substantially center of the movable stand20.

The rotation mechanism40supports the underframe30of the seat1on the movable stand20so as to be rotatable in the forward and backward directions in a substantially horizontal surface. The rotation mechanism40is formed as a unit in which, for example, a pair of inner and outer ring-shaped turntables are rotatably combined with each other by interposing a bearing, etc. between them. In this rotation mechanism40, the outer turntable is fixed to the moving table20, and the inner turntable is fixed to the underframe30.

The rotation axis, which serves as the rotation center of the seat1, is the center line of the rotation mechanism40, and does not have a physical substance in the present embodiment. As shown inFIG.4, the rotation mechanism40includes a motor41, which is a power source. The motor41is provided with a reducer, and a drive gear in its output axis is rotatably engaged with a sprocket42centered on the rotation axis provided in the underframe30side. Note that the rotation mechanism40also allows the seat to be manually rotated.

As shown inFIG.6, the seat1is attached to the underframe30, and the underframe30is supported by the rotation mechanism40on the movable stand20. The underframe30is formed by, for example, a metal plate that corresponds to a bottom surface of the seating portion2. Although described above, the sprocket42with which the drive gear of the motor41rotatably engages is integrally provided in the bottom surface side of the underframe30.

Additionally, the seat device10includes an interlocking mechanism (not shown) that interlocks the rotation and advancement and retraction of the seat1, so that the seat1does not interfere with the wall A, when converting the seat1to the long state, the one cross state, and the reverse cross state.

When the seat1is rotated with the underframe30, the interlocking mechanism converts the rotation of the underframe30into linear motion, transmits the linear motion to the movable stand20, and makes the movable stand20move in a linear direction so as to be close to or separated from the wall A together with the underframe30. Although the kind of such an interlocking mechanism is not particularly limited, specifically, for example, the invention already proposed by the present applicant and described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2018-187971 may be utilized, or, although not published, the invention proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-239066, etc. may be utilized.

The seat device10includes a rotation lock mechanism60that unrotatably restrains the underframe30(seat) in each rotation position of the long state, the one cross state, and the reverse cross state. Since the rotation lock mechanism60unrotatably locks the underframe30to the leg stand11, the movable stand20is also inevitably restrained to the leg stand11so as not to be able to advance and retract.

As shown inFIG.6, the rotation lock mechanism60includes a lock pin61that can protrude up and down from the leg stand11side to the underframe30, and locking holes62a,62b, and62cthat are provided in the underframe30, and with and from which the lock pin61are engaged and released. A total of three locking holes62a,62b, and62care provided in a long side along the back of the seat, and both short sides along the seat of the substantially rectangular underframes30, respectively.

The lock pin61is incorporated in a unit60a, and the unit60ais fixed near the rear end of the upper surface side of the leg stand11. The lock pin61is operated between a lock position at which the lock pin61can protrude upward from the upper surface side of the leg stand11to project upward and fit into the locking holes62a,62b, and62c, and a lock release position at which the lock pin61retracts downward to be released from the locking holes62a,62b, and62c.

When the seat1is converted into the long state, the one cross state, and the reverse cross state, the lock pin61unrotatably restrains the seat1by fitting into the locking holes62a,62b, and62con the underframe30side to which the lock pin61vertically corresponds at the respective positions. That is, in the long state, the lock pin61fits into the locking hole62ain one long side of the underframe30. Additionally, in the one cross state, the lock pin61is inserted into and engaged with the locking hole62bin one short side of the underframe30. Furthermore, in the reverse cross state, the lock pin61fits into the locking hole62cin the other short side of the underframe30.

As shown inFIG.13andFIG.14, the unit60ain which the lock pin61is incorporated is provided with each of a spring member (not shown) that always urges the lock pin61to project upward to the lock position, and a link60bthat makes the lock pin61resist the biasing force of the spring member to retract to the downward lock release position.

The lock pin61is configured to be normally maintained in the lock position by the biasing force of the spring member, but to retract in the lock release position against the biasing force of the spring member, when the link60bis pulled by each operating cable. Here, the other end side of the operating cable for manual operation is extended to the rotation operation unit200provided in the leg stand11side. Although described later, when the operating cable206(refer toFIG.11) is pulled by an operation in the rotation operation unit200, the restraint of the rotation lock mechanism60is released.

On the other hand, for example, the motor41of the rotation mechanism40also serves as the power source for pulling the operating cable for electric operation. That is, the motor41includes a clutch, and is configured to be able to switch between an operation for rotating the seat by the rotation mechanism40, and an operation for retracting the lock pin61to release the lock, by switching of the clutch. Note that a detailed description of the clutch of the motor41is omitted, since the configuration regarding the clutch of the motor41is common.

The rotation lock mechanism60according to the present embodiment is configured such that, when the seat1is in the long state, the restraint by the rotation lock mechanism60cannot be released by a manual operation in the rotation operation unit200, and can be released only by an electric operation by the motor41. Here, the electric operation is performed by a crew or station employee of a vehicle, and the manual operation is mainly performed by a passenger.

Additionally, the rotation lock mechanism60is provided with the rotation operation unit200for performing a release operation of the restraint by the lock pin61. As shown inFIG.1, the rotation operation unit200is unitized by incorporating each part in one housing201, and is fixed to an attaching portion22(refer toFIG.6) hanging from the front end side of the movable stand20.

As shown inFIG.1(a),FIG.2(a),FIG.11, andFIG.12, the rotation operation unit200includes a step pedal204swingably supported by a lower end of a supporting bracket202fixed to the front surface side of the housing201via an axis203. A tip side of the step pedal204can be swung in the front and back directions, with the axis203, to which its base end side is pivotably supported, being the swing center. Note that the step pedal204corresponds to a “pedal” of the present invention.

The step pedal204is swung between a using position (refer toFIG.11) at which the tip side protrudes forward of the housing201, and a housing position (refer toFIG.12) at which the tip side withdraws upward. The step pedal204is normally urged to protrude forward to be in the using position via the spring member205. Here, when the step pedal204is in the using position, an operation of stepping on this to release the restraint by the rotation lock mechanism60is enabled, but when the step pedal204is in the housing position, the operation of releasing the restraint by the rotation lock mechanism60is disabled. Note that the spring member205corresponds to “biasing means” of the present invention.

The base end side of the step pedal204is connected to the other end side of the operating cable206for manual operation extended to the rotation lock mechanism60side via a connector. Here, when the step pedal204in the using position is stepped downward, the operating cable206is pulled and the lock pin61(refer toFIG.13) is retracted downward, and the locked state of the rotation lock mechanism60is released.

Additionally, a pin-shaped engaged portion207projecting in both directions at a position eccentric from the axis203is fixed to the base end side of the step pedal204. The engaged portion207is connected to the other end side of the reclining lock cable115extending from the reclining operation lock mechanism110side via a connector. Here, when the engaged portion207is engaged with an engaging portion211, which will be described next, the reclining lock cable115is pulled, and the lock pin113of the reclining operation lock mechanism110projects upward, and the reclining operation unit100is restrained to disable the operation.

Additionally, the rotation operation unit200is provided with a rotation operation prevention mechanism210that disables the release operation of the restraint by the rotation operation unit200. The rotation operation prevention mechanism210disables the operation of the step pedal204when the seat1is in the long state. The long state here corresponds to “the seat1is in the specific state” in the present invention.

As shown inFIG.11andFIG.12, the rotation operation prevention mechanism210includes the engaging portion211provided in the leg stand11, which is the fixed side of the seat1, and the engaged portion207provided in the rotation operation unit200in the movable side of the seat1. The engaging portion211is arranged in the front end of the bottom surface side of the leg stand11, and is formed in a bracket shape that protrudes diagonally upward toward the front.

The engaged portion207is provided in the pin shape at the position eccentric from the axis203in the base end side of the step pedal204as described above. This engaged portion207is set to precisely engage with the engaging portion211when the seat1in the long state (specific state). Since the step pedal204is swung to be in the housing position against the biasing force of the spring member205when the engaged portion207is engaged with the engaging portion211, the release operation in the rotation operation unit200is disabled. At the same time, the reclining operation unit100is restrained to disable the operation.

<Operation of Seat Device10>

Hereinafter, based onFIG.15, the operation of converting the state of the seat1will be described. First, as shown inFIG.15(a), when the underframe30(seat1) is in the long state, the rotation axis (rotation mechanism40) of the underframe30is most retracted (close) to the wall A side. Here, the long side of the underframe30(the back of the seat) is substantially parallel to and along the wall A, and the rotation angle is 0 degrees.

<<Restraint of Rotation Operation of Seat1>>

When the seat1is in the long state, the underframe30is restrained to disable the rotation with respect to the movable stand20by the rotation lock mechanism60. That is, as shown inFIG.6, the lock pin61of the rotation lock mechanism60fits into the locking hole62ain the one long side of the underframe30. Here, since the lock pin61protrudes from the leg stand11, which is the fixed side of the seat1, the seat1is not only restrained to disable the rotation, but also simultaneously restrained to disable advancement and retraction.

As shown inFIG.2, when the seat1is in the long state, the release operation in the rotation operation unit200is disabled by the rotation operation prevention mechanism210. That is, in the long state, the movable stand20is most retracted (close) to the wall A side, and the front end side of the movable stand20overlaps with the front end side of the leg stand11. With this positional relationship, as shown inFIG.2(c), the engaged portion207of the step pedal204in the movable stand20is engaged with the engaging portion211in the leg stand11. Then, the step pedal204is swung to be in the housing position at which the step pedal204is upright against the biasing force of the spring member205, and is restrained in the housing position.

Accordingly, when the seat1is in the long state, the step pedal204is not only displaced to the housing position at which the operation is disabled, but also firmly held in the housing position by the engagement relationship between the engaging portion211and the engaged portion207. Thus, in the long state, the release operation in the rotation operation unit200is disabled. With such a simple configuration, the rotation operation of the seat1by a seated person can be reliably prevented in the long state.

<<Restraint of Reclining Operation of Backrest3>>

Additionally, when the seat1is in the long state, the reclining operation in the reclining operation unit100is disabled by the reclining operation lock mechanism110. To be more specific, when the step pedal204is swung upward by the engagement of the engaged portion207to the engaging portion211, the reclining lock cable115connected to the engaged portion207is pulled, and the reclining operation unit100is restrained to disable the operation.

That is, as shown inFIG.10, when the reclining lock cable115is pulled, the link112is swung in the counter clockwise direction around the axis111inFIG.10against the biasing force of the spring member114. Then, the lock pin113in the one end side of the link112projects upward to fit into the lock hole105ain the receiving member105integrated with the operation lever104in the initial position.

Accordingly, when the seat1is in the long state, the reclining operation by the reclining operation unit100is disabled, and the backrest3cannot be tilted by the reclining mechanism50. With such a simple configuration, in the long state, the reclining operation of the backrest3by a seated person can be reliably prevented, and the backrest3can be prevented from being carelessly tilted to interfere with the wall A.

<<Conversion from Long State to One Cross State>>

As shown inFIG.15(a)toFIG.15(c), in order to convert the underframe30(seat1) into the one cross state from the long state (the rotation angle 90 degrees), first, it is necessary to release the restraint of the rotation by the rotation lock mechanism60. Here, the operation of disengaging the lock pin61from the locking hole62acannot be performed by the operation of the step pedal204as described above, and is performed by the electric operation utilizing the power of the motor41.

In the long state shown inFIG.15(a), when the underframe30is rotated by the motor41to the forward direction (the counter clockwise direction inFIG.15) as shown inFIG.15(b)after releasing the restraint by the rotation lock mechanism60, the underframe30is rotated while moving forward by interlocking mechanism. That is, the underframe30is rotated while being rotated in the forward direction and moving forward to the aisle side, so as not to interfere with the wall A.

As shown inFIG.15(c), when the underframe30reaches the one cross state (the rotation angle 90 degrees), inFIG.6, the lock pin61of the rotation lock mechanism60fits into the locking hole62bin the one short side of the underframe30. Accordingly, the underframe30(seat1) is unrotatably restrained in the one cross state.

<<Release of Restriction of Rotation Operation of Seat1>>

When the seat1is in the cross state, the restraint to disable the operation of the rotation operation unit200by the rotation operation prevention mechanism210is released. That is, in the cross state shown inFIG.15(c), the movable stand20is most advanced (separated) from the wall A side, and the front end side of the movable stand20is located farther forward from the front end side of the leg stand11. In this positional relationship, as shown inFIG.11, the engaged portion207of the step pedal204in the movable stand20is not engaged with and separated from the engaging portion211in the leg stand11. Thus, the step pedal204protrudes forward to be in the using position by the biasing force of the spring member205.

At this time, the seated person of the seat1can release the restraint by the rotation lock mechanism60by stepping on the step pedal204. That is, inFIG.11, when the step pedal204is stepped on to be swung, the operating cable206is pulled, the lock pin61(refer toFIG.13) is retracted downward, and the locked state of the rotation lock mechanism60is released. Accordingly, the seated person can manually rotate the seat1.

<<Release of Restriction of Reclining Operation of Backrest3>>

Additionally, when the seat1is in the cross state, the restraint to disable the operation of the reclining operation unit100by the reclining operation lock mechanism110is also released. That is, as described above, in the cross state, as shown inFIG.11, the engaged portion207of the step pedal204in the movable stand20is not engaged with and separated from the engaging portion211in the leg stand11. Thus, the step pedal204protrudes forward to be in the using position by the biasing force of the spring member205, and the reclining lock cable115is in a state where the reclining lock cable115is not pulled.

Accordingly, as shown inFIG.9, in the reclining operation lock mechanism110, the link112is in a state where the lock pin113is not made to project upward, by the biasing force of the spring member114. Thus, the lock pin113has come out of the lock hole105ain the receiving member105integrated with the operation lever104, and the restraint to disable the operation of the operation lever104is released to enable the reclining operation. Therefore, the seated person can tilt the backrest3to an arbitrary angle by the reclining mechanism50, and can improve seating comfort.

<<Conversion from One Cross State to Reverse Cross State>>

In the one cross state shown inFIG.15(c), when the underframe30is rotated to the backward direction (the clockwise direction inFIG.15) after the restraint of the rotation lock mechanism60is released, the underframe30advances or retracts while, for example, being rotated by the interlocking mechanism, whose illustration is omitted. Subsequently, as shown inFIG.15(d), in a state where the underframe30is temporarily held at the position to which the underframe30has advanced in a state parallel to the long state, the underframe30is directly rotated to the opposite direction without advancing and retracting.

As shown inFIG.15(e), when the underframe30reaches the reverse cross state (the rotation angle −90 degrees), the lock pin61of the rotation lock mechanism60fits into the locking hole62cin the other short side of the underframe30, and the underframe30is restrained again to disable the rotation. Such conversion of the seat1into the reverse cross state from the one cross state can be performed by not only the manual operation, but also by the electric operation. Note that, in order to return the seat1from the reverse cross state to the one cross state, and further from the one cross state to the original long state, the inverse operations of the aforementioned conversion from the long state to the one cross state, and from the one cross state to the reverse cross state may be performed, respectively.

<Configuration and Effects of Present Invention>

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment. The present invention derived from the aforementioned embodiment will be described below.

First, in the present invention,the seat device10that can convert the state of the seat1includesthe reclining mechanism50that can tilt the backrest3of the seat1,wherein the operation of tilting the backrest3by the reclining mechanism50is disabled when the seat1is in the specific state.

In the present seat device10, the seat1is arranged along the wall A, and the aisle width is expanded as much as possible in the cabin. Thus, when the seat1is in the long state, although the backrest3is close to the wall A, when the seat1is in such a specific state, tilting of the backrest3by the reclining mechanism50can be reliably regulated.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the backrest3from being accidentally tilted and interfering with the wall A. When rotation and sliding are interlocked in a conventional seat, the reclining mechanism50cannot be uniformly provided to prevent interference with the wall A in the long state. On the other hand, the present seat device10includes the reclining mechanism50, enables the backrest3to be tilted when in the cross state, and can improve seating comfort.

Additionally, the present invention includesthe operation part100that performs the operation of tilting the backrest3by the reclining mechanism50, andthe lock mechanism110that can restrain the operation part100in an inoperable manner,wherein the lock mechanism110restrains the operation part100in an inoperable manner when the seat1is in the specific state.

In this manner, the present seat device10restrains the operation part100that performs the operation of the reclining mechanism50in an inoperable manner by the lock mechanism110. Therefore, when the seat1is in the long state, the reclining operation itself by a seated person cannot be performed, and the tilting of the backrest3can be regulated in a manner that is easily understood by the seated person.

Additionally, the present invention includesthe engaging portion211provided in the fixed side of the seat1, andthe engaged portion207that is provided in the movable side of the seat1, and can be displaced by being engaged with the engaging portion211when the seat1is in the specific state,wherein the engaged portion207and the lock mechanism110are connected to each other via the transmission means115, displacement of the engaged portion207is transmitted to the lock mechanism110via the transmission means115, and the lock mechanism110restrains the operation part100in an inoperable manner.

In this manner, according to the present seat device10, since the reclining operation is regulated due to the mechanical engagement relationship between the engaging portion211and the engaged portion207, it is possible to restrain the operation part100in an inoperable manner only in the long state, which is the specific state of the seat1, with a simple configuration, and without using electric power.

Additionally, in the present invention,the operation part100can be displaced from the ordinary initial position to the using position at the time of operation,the lock mechanism110includes the lock pin113that can be engaged with and released from the operation part100in the initial position, andthe lock pin113is engaged with the operation part100via the transmission means115by displacement of the engaged portion207, and restrains the operation part100in an inoperable manner.

In this manner, in the present seat device10, the displacement of the operation part100that causes the reclining operation can be easily prevented by directly engaging and releasing the lock pin113having a simple configuration with and from the operation part100.

Furthermore, the present invention includesthe rotation mechanism40that rotates the seat1about the rotation axis, andthe sliding mechanism14that advances and retracts the seat1together with the rotation mechanism40from the fixed side,wherein the state of the seat1can be converted by interlocking of the rotation mechanism40and the sliding mechanism14betweenthe long state where the back of the seat is substantially parallel to and along the wall A, andthe cross state where the back of the seat is separated from the wall A in the direction substantially orthogonal to the long state, andthe specific state of the seat1corresponds to the long state.

Accordingly, as described in the above embodiment, it becomes possible to directly apply the present seat device10to general rotary seats mounted in railroad cars.

Although the embodiments have been described above with the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and even when there are modification and addition in the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, they are included in the present invention.

For example, the shapes of the leg stand11, the movable stand20, and the underframe30are not limited to those shown. Additionally, although the example of the seat1for two persons has been described, the seat1may be for three persons or one person. In addition, the conversion of the state of the seat is not limited to the long state, the one cross state, and the reverse cross state.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be widely utilized as a seat device for chairs for theaters, home, and office, in addition to the seat1for vehicles installed in cabins of railroad cars, airplanes, automobiles, marine vessels, etc.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST