Vehicle seat

Provided is a vehicle seat capable of reliably moving a seat cushion or a seat back to a folded position by remote control without deformation or the like of an armrest. A vehicle seat has a seat cushion, a seat back, and an armrest movable between a use position and a stowed position, in which at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back is movable from a seated position to a folded position, and a remote control restraint element for restraining movement of the movable seat cushion or the movable seat back in the direction of the folded position when the armrest is at the use position is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase of the International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2010/073182 filed Dec. 22, 2010, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-298025 filed Dec. 28, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a vehicle seat. Disclosed herein are embodiments of a vehicle seat capable of moving a seat back or a seat cushion from a seated position to a pull-down position or a flip-up position (a folded position) by remote control.

Conventionally, there is a known a vehicle seat capable of enlarging a load chamber space provided on the rear side of a rear seat by pulling down a seat back of the rear seat or flipping up a seat cushion to move the seat to a predetermined position. For example, Japanese Patent Document No. 2002-079860 (“the '860 Patent Document”) discloses a technique in which a seat back of a rear seat is pulled down by operating a remote control portion provided on the rear end side of a load chamber portion, to enlarge a load chamber space (refer to the '860 Patent Document). According to this technique, at the time of enlarging the load chamber space, without directly operating an operation portion provided in a vehicle seat, a seat back can be pulled down by remote control. Thus, the load chamber space can be easily and promptly enlarged.

In recent years, among such vehicle seats, there is a widely known vehicle seat including an armrest pivotably supported on a seat back, the armrest being movable in the front and rear direction between a use position and a stowed position (refer to Japanese Patent Document No. 2006-271643 (“the '643 Patent Document”)).

The stowing technique of the vehicle seat described in the '860 Patent Document can also be applied to the vehicle seat including the armrest described in the '643 Patent Document.

However, in such a case, when the seat back is pulled down by operating the remote control portion while the armrest remains at the use position, the armrest is firstly brought into contact with the seat cushion of the vehicle seat. Thus, a situation that the seat back is stopped before reaching a proper pull-down position is caused. In such a case, in order to move the seat back to the proper pull-down position, a passenger has to move the armrest to the stowed position, and there is a problem that an enlargement task of the load chamber space is extremely troublesome.

As described above, when the armrest is brought into contact with the seat cushion, there is a disadvantage that the armrest is deformed due to impact thereof. Further, there are often cases where a cup holder, a housing box, and the like are attached to the armrest. When the seat back is operated in a state in which a drink or the like is disposed, there is also a disadvantage that the drink is sandwiched between the armrest and the seat back and spilled. Even in a type of vehicle seat capable of enlarging a load chamber space by flipping up a seat cushion, similar disadvantages are caused.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the invention may solve one or more of the above disadvantages. Described herein is a vehicle seat capable of moving a seat cushion or a seat back to a folded position by remote control without deformation or the like of an armrest.

A vehicle seat according to an embodiment comprises a seat cushion, a seat back, and an armrest movable between a use position and a stowed position, in which at least one of the seat cushion and the seat back is movable from a seated position to a folded position, and the vehicle seat includes a restraint element for restraining movement of the movable seat cushion or the movable seat back in the direction of the folded position when the armrest is at the use position.

With the above configuration, by restraining the movement of the seat cushion or the seat back in the direction of the folded position using the restraint element when the armrest is at the use position, the seat cushion or the seat back can be moved without deformation or the like of the armrest. Even when a drink or the like is disposed in the armrest, the drink is not spilled due to the movement of the seat cushion or the seat back.

In an embodiment, the vehicle seat includes a bias element for biasing the seat back or the seat cushion in the direction in which the seat back or the seat cushion is moved from the seated position to the folded position, a lock capable of being selectively switched between a lock state in which the seat back is fixable at the seated position and a lock cancellation state in which the movement of the seat back from the seated position to the folded position is permitted, a remote control unit capable of shifting the lock from the lock state to the lock cancellation state, and a coupling element for coupling the lock and the remote control unit, in which the coupling element has a lock side coupling member connected to the lock, a remote control unit side coupling member connected to the remote control unit, and a connection member for connecting the lock side coupling member and the remote control unit side coupling member, the restraint element has a conjunction element moved in conjunction with movement of the armrest, and a switch connected to the conjunction element, capable of being selectively switched between a movement restraint state in which movement of the connection member is restrained when the armrest is moved to the use position, and a movement permission state in which the movement of the connection member is permitted when the armrest is moved to the stowed position, and the restraint element restrains the lock from shifting from the lock state to the lock cancellation state by operation of the remote control unit.

With the above configuration, by moving the armrest to the stowed position, the connection member can be moved, and shift of the lock to the lock cancellation state can be permitted. That is, in a state in which the armrest is at the use position, even when the remote control unit is operated, the seat cushion or the seat back is never moved to the folded position. After the armrest is moved to the stowed position, the operation of the remote control unit is activated, so that the seat cushion or the seat back can be moved to the folded position. Therefore, when the armrest is at the use position, an action of the seat cushion or the seat back by remote control can be more reliably prevented.

In an embodiment, the connection member has an engagement portion, and the switch has a base member and a locking portion engageable with the engagement portion, and has a pivot member connected to the conjunction element and pivotably supported on the base member, and a bias member for biasing the pivot member in the direction in which the locking portion and the engagement portion are engaged.

With such a configuration, since a bias force is always applied to the pivot member having the locking portion in the direction in which the locking portion is engaged with the engagement portion of the connection member, the engagement portion and the locking portion can be reliably and firmly engaged. Therefore, even when improper operation of the remote control unit is performed with the armrest at the use position, the movement of the seat cushion or the seat back can be reliably prevented.

In an embodiment, a guide portion for guiding the locking portion in a manner that the locking portion is engaged with the engagement portion is formed in the connection member.

For example, in the case where the armrest is moved from the stowed position to the use position during the operation of the remote control unit, and when the operation of the remote control unit is stopped after that, the connection member starts the movement to the side of the lock in a state in which the locking portion of the switch is moved to the side of the connection member side. Even in such a case, with the above configuration, the guide portion provided from a front end on the side of the lock side coupling member to the engagement portion is formed in the connection member. Thus, the locking portion of the switch can be smoothly guided by the guide portion and engaged with the engagement portion of the connection member. In such a way, in the case where the armrest is at the use position, and even in a state in which the locking portion of the switch and the engagement portion of the connection member are not engaged, these portions can be smoothly and reliably engaged with each other.

With an embodiment of the vehicle seat described above, the seat cushion or the seat back can be reliably moved to the folded position by the remote control without the deformation or the like of the armrest.

With an embodiment of the vehicle seat described above, when the armrest is at the use position, the action of the seat cushion or the seat back by the remote control can be more reliably prevented.

With an embodiment of the vehicle seat described above, by biasing the pivot member in the engagement direction by the bias element, engagement is reliably performed with the armrest at the use position, so that the actuation of the seat cushion or the seat back by the remote control unit can be restrained.

With an embodiment of the vehicle seat described above, in the case where the armrest is at the use position, and even in a state in which the locking portion of the switch and the engagement portion of the connection member are not engaged, these portions can be smoothly and reliably engaged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 11. Members, arrangement, and the like described below do not limit the present invention but can be variously modified along the gist of the present invention, as a matter of course.

FIGS. 1 to 9show a first embodiment of the present invention and describe a vehicle seat according to the present invention.

In the figures, FR denotes the front side of a vehicle, RR denotes the rear side of the vehicle, and UP denotes the upper side of the vehicle. The right and left direction in the following description indicates the right and left direction in a state in which a passenger sees the front side of the vehicle. A “seated position” of a seat cushion or a seat back indicates a position in a normal state in which the passenger can be seated, and a “folded position” of the seat cushion or the seat back indicates a position where the seat cushion is flipped up and folded to be close to the side of the seat back (flip-up position), and a position where the seat back is pulled down and folded to be close to the side of the seat cushion (pull-down position).

The vehicle seat according to the first embodiment is favorably mounted on a vehicle having a load chamber space in a rear part of a vehicle body of an automobile. The present embodiment shows an example in which the vehicle seat is mounted on a wagon type automobile.

As shown inFIG. 1, a vehicle1according to the present embodiment is provided with a vehicle seat Si configuring a rear seat, and a load chamber (or rear storage) portion3configuring part of a vehicle body floor2, for loading cargo and the like is formed on the rear side of the vehicle seat S1. With this load chamber portion3, a space of the load chamber portion3can be appropriately enlarged or reduced by pivoting and moving a seat back20of the vehicle seat S1described later in the vehicle body front and rear direction.

The vehicle seat S1is provided with a seat cushion10, the seat back20, an armrest30, and a seat stowing device4.

The seat cushion10is provided with a known slide mechanism (not shown) including a lower rail, an upper rail, and the like in both right and left ends thereof, and configured slidably in the vehicle body front and rear direction by fixing this slide mechanism at a predetermined position of the vehicle body floor2(refer toFIG. 1).

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the seat back20has a seat back main body21and a platform portion22, and these portions are integrally formed. The platform portion22is provided to protrude from a right lower end of the seat back main body21in the right direction, and configured in a manner that the armrest30can be arranged on the upper side thereof.

In a left side frame (not shown) configuring a base frame of the seat back main body21and a right side frame (not shown) configuring a base frame of the platform portion22, a pair of pivot shafts23,23respectively protruding from both the right and left sides near lower ends thereof toward the outer sides in the lateral direction is provided. The pivot shafts23are configured to be inserted into hole portions (not shown) of a support member5fixed at a predetermined position of the vehicle body floor2. By inserting the pivot shafts23thereof through the hole portions of the support member5, the seat back20is pivotably supported on the vehicle body floor2, and configured to be moved between a seated position where the passenger can be seated and a pull-down position (folded position) where the seat back is arranged to cover the seat cushion10.

At a predetermined position of a right side frame21a of the seat back main body21on the side of the platform portion22, an axis24protruding on the upper side of the platform portion22from an outer surface of the right side frame on the side of the platform portion22, the axis for attaching the armrest30, is provided.

The armrest30according to the present embodiment has a headrest30a, a pair of left and right side frames30b,30cconfiguring a base frame thereof, and an upper frame (not shown) for coupling upper ends of the left and right side frames30b,30c. At predetermined positions near lower ends of the left and right side frames30b,30c, hole portions (not shown) through which the axis24of the seat back20is insertable are respectively formed.

The armrest30configured in such a way is pivotably attached to the seat back20taking the axis24as a pivot center, to be moved between the use position where the armrest is mainly used as an arm support and a storage for a drink or the like and the stowed position where the armrest can support a lumbar part, a back part, and the like of the passenger from the rear side.

On the inner side of the left side frame30b(on the side of the right side frame30c), a fixing pin32protruding in the right direction is provided. This fixing pin32is fixed to the left side frame30bby a screw, a bolt, or the like at a position spaced by a predetermined distance from the hole portion through which the axis24is insertable to the side of the headrest30a. A second operation cable82described later is attached to this fixing pin32by a screw, a bolt, or the like. Attachment positions of this fixing pin32will be described later in detail.

An embodiment of a vehicle seat also includes a vehicle seat S2as shown inFIG. 9in addition to the vehicle seat Si described above. In the vehicle seat S2shown inFIG. 9, a concave portion120ais formed on a surface on the front side of a seat back120extending to a predetermined position on the upper side of a platform portion122, and an armrest130movable between the use position and the stowed position is attached to the concave portion120a. In such a vehicle seat S2, the seat stowing device4described below can also be provided.

Next, the seat stowing device4will be described with reference toFIG. 1andFIGS. 3 to 8.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the seat stowing device4has a bias element40, a lock50, a remote control unit60, a first operation cable70, and a remote control restraint element80. This first operation cable70corresponds to a coupling element of the claims.

As shown inFIG. 4, the bias element40is a spiral spring having one end40alocked onto the pivot shaft23and the other end40bcaught and locked onto a locking pin5aprotrudingly formed in the support member5. The bias element40applies a bias force in a manner that the seat back20is pivotable to the vehicle body front side taking the pivot shaft23as a pivot center.

As shown inFIG. 5, the lock50has a base portion51, a lock piece52, and a coupling portion53. The base portion51is made of a metal plate shape member, and fixed at a predetermined position of the left side frame of the seat back20by a bolt or the like (refer toFIG. 3).

The lock piece52is made of a metal member, and is pivotably supported on the base portion51taking a support shaft (not shown) standingly fixed to the base portion51as a pivot center. This lock piece52is always biased by a twist spring (not shown) in the direction of a lock state in which a striker6fixed at a predetermined position on the side of the vehicle body can be locked. The lock piece52configured in such a way is brought into a lock cancellation state in which an engagement state with the striker6is cancelled when the lock piece is pivoted and moved in the direction against a bias force of the twist spring.

The coupling portion53is made of a metal member having a substantially plate shape, and attached to the base portion51to be slidable in the up and down direction. The coupling portion53has one end53aand the other end53b. The one end53ais pivotably attached to a support shaft (not shown) standingly fixed at a predetermined position of the lock piece52. A coupling rod93of an operation portion90and a cable member71bof a lock side cable71described later are connected to the other end53bby a bolt or the like.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the operation portion90has an operation cover91and an operation lever92pivotably supported on the operation cover91. The operation cover91has a concave shape to stow the operation lever92, and is fixed to the seat back20by a bolt or the like in a state in which a flange part thereof is abutted with an upper end of the seat back20.

The operation lever92is biased by a bias element such as a twist spring in the direction in which the operation lever is stowed in the operation cover91, and the coupling rod93made of a substantially zigzag shape metal member is coupled at a predetermined position thereof. This coupling rod93is configured to be moved upward in conjunction with upward pivot operation of the operation lever92.

An operation force of the lock50configured in such a way is transmitted to the lock piece52via the coupling portion53in accordance with upward movement of the coupling portion53, that is, movement of the coupling rod93by manual operation of the operation lever92, or movement of the cable member71bby manual operation of an operation handle64(refer toFIG. 6) of the remote control unit60described later. When such an operation force is transmitted to the lock piece52, the lock piece52is pivoted and moved against the bias force of the twist spring, so that the lock50is brought into the lock cancellation state in which the engagement state with the striker6is cancelled.

On the other hand, when the manual operation of the operation lever92is stopped, the operation lever92is stowed in the operation cover91by the bias element for applying a bias force to this operation lever. In accordance with this, a downward operation force thereof is transmitted to the lock piece52via the coupling rod93and the coupling portion53. When such an operation force is transmitted to the lock piece52, the lock piece52is pivoted and moved in the direction in which the twist spring biases, so that the lock50is brought into the lock state in which the lock is engageable with the striker6.

Next, the remote control unit60will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 6.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 6, the remote control unit60is provided at a predetermined position of a rear end side wall surface of the load chamber portion3, and has an operation cover63and the operation handle64.

The operation cover63is fixed to a wall surface of the vehicle1by a bolt or the like.

The operation handle64has a grip portion64aand an attachment portion64b, and these portions are integrally formed. The attachment portion64bhas a hole portion (not shown) into which a shaft portion65standingly fixed at a predetermined position of the operation cover63is insertable, and a long hole64cfor movably attaching a front end of a cable member72bof a remote control unit side cable72described later.

Next, assembling of the remote control unit60configured in such a way and attachment to the vehicle body will be described. Upon the assembling of the remote control unit60, firstly, a twist spring66capable of always biasing the grip portion64aof the operation handle64to the side of the operation cover63is installed in an outer circumference of the shaft portion65of the operation cover63, and then, the shaft portion is inserted into the hole portion of the operation handle64. The operation handle64is pivotably attached to the operation cover63in a state in which the operation handle is always biased to the side of the operation cover63by the twist spring66.

Next, the remote control unit side cable72is attached to the long hole64cof the operation handle64, and then, the remote control unit60whose assembling is finished is attached to the vehicle body.

In such a way, in the remote control unit60attached to the vehicle body, when the operation handle64is manually operated against a bias force of the twist spring66, the cable member72bof the remote control unit side cable72is pulled toward the vehicle body rear side. When the operation handle64is released in this state, the operation handle64is stowed in the operation cover63, and a force of pulling the cable member72bis cancelled.

Next, the first operation cable70will be described with reference toFIGS. 1,3, andFIGS. 5 to 7.

As shown inFIGS. 1,3, andFIGS. 5 to 7, the first operation cable70has the lock side cable71, the remote control unit side cable72, and a connector member73. The lock side cable71, the remote control unit side cable72, and the connector member73respectively correspond to a lock side coupling member, a remote control unit side coupling member, and a connection member.

As shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, the lock side cable71has a tube member71amade of a flexible member, and the cable member71bmade of a linear member such as a wire, and couples the coupling portion53of the lock50and a first cable attachment portion73cof the connector member73described later. The cable member71bis inserted through the tube member71a, and configured to be moved in the tube member71a.

The tube member71aand the cable member71bon the side of the lock50are respectively attached to the base portion51and the coupling portion53of the lock50by a bolt, a screw, or the like. The tube member71aand the cable member71bon the side of a second lock81are respectively attached to a front wall portion83bof a base member83of the second lock81and the first cable attachment portion73cof the connector member73by a bolt, a screw, or the like.

As shown inFIG. 1, the lock side cable71is arranged between the back side of a surface layer material (not shown) or the like disposed on a wall surface of the vehicle body floor2and the vehicle1, and the vehicle body, while maintaining a predetermined curvature radius without bending.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the remote control unit side cable72has a tube member72amade of a flexible member and the cable member72bmade of a linear member as well as the lock side cable71, and couples the second lock81of the remote control restraint element80serving as a restraint element described later and the operation handle64of the remote control unit60.

The tube member72aand the cable member72bon the side of the second lock81are respectively attached to a rear wall portion83cof the base member83of the second lock81and a second cable attachment portion73dof the connector member73described later by a bolt, a screw, or the like. The tube member72aand the cable member72bon the side of the remote control unit60are respectively attached to a predetermined position of the operation cover63of the remote control unit60and the long hole64cof the operation handle64by a bolt, a screw, or the like.

As shown inFIG. 1, as well as the lock side cable71, the remote control unit side cable72is arranged between the back side of the surface layer material (not shown) or the like disposed on the wall surface of the vehicle1, and the vehicle body, while maintaining a predetermined curvature radius without bending.

As shown inFIG. 7, the connector member73has a substantially cylindrical shape, and couples the lock side cable71and the remote control unit side cable72in a state in which the connector member is attached to the base member83of the remote control restraint element80described later.

This connector member73has an engagement groove73b, the first cable attachment portion73c, the second cable attachment portion73d, and a guide portion73e. By inserting a shaft member88of the base member83described later into an opening portion (not shown) formed along the longitudinal direction thereof, the connector member73is attached to the base member83slidably in the vehicle body front and rear direction. This engagement groove73bgenerally corresponds to an engagement portion described in the claims.

The engagement groove73bis formed into a substantially concave shape at a predetermined position on a side surface of a main body of the connector member73, and has a shape to be engageable with a claw portion85bof a latch member85described later.

The first cable attachment portion73cis standingly provided from a front end side surface of the main body of the connector member73, and has a hole portion (not shown) into which the cable member71bof the lock side cable71is insertable. The cable member71bis connected to the first cable attachment portion73cby inserting a front end thereof into the hole portion of the first cable attachment portion73cand attaching a fixing member such as a fixing pin to the front end.

The second cable attachment portion73dis standingly provided from a rear end side surface of the main body of the connector member73, and has a hole portion (not shown) into which the cable member72bof the remote control unit side cable72is insertable. The cable member72bis connected to the second cable attachment portion73dby inserting a front end thereof into the hole portion of the second cable attachment portion73dand attaching a fixing member such as a fixing pin to the front end.

The guide portion73ehas a substantially-arc-shape curved surface curved to be tapered off toward a front end of the connector member73from the vehicle body front side of the engagement groove73bin a sectional view. That is, this guide portion73eis provided to have the curved surface from the front end of the connector member73on the side of the lock side cable71to the engagement groove73b, and configured movably in a state in which the claw portion85bof the latch member85described later is abutted with this curved surface.

Next, the remote control restraint element80serving as the restraint element of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1,6, and7.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, the remote control restraint element80is provided with the second lock81and the second operation cable82. The second lock81has the base member83, the latch member85, and a twist spring87. The second lock81and the second operation cable82respectively generally correspond to a switch and a conjunction element described in the claims.

As shownFIG. 7, the base member83is made of a substantially plate shape metal, and has a base portion83afixed at a predetermined position of the wall surface of the vehicle1by a bolt or the like, the front wall portion83bcurved and extended from a front end of the base portion83a, the rear wall portion83ccurved and extended from a rear end of the base portion83a, and a lower wall portion83dcurved and extended from a lower end of the base portion83a.

At a predetermined position of the base portion83a, a pivot shaft84is standingly provided toward the inner side in the lateral direction, and as described later, the latch member85is pivotably attached to the base member83taking this pivot shaft84as a pivot center. In the rear wall portion83c, the shaft member88formed into a substantially rod shape is standingly provided toward the vehicle body front side, and as described later, the connector member73is slidably attached along this shaft member88.

At a predetermined position of the front wall portion83b, a hole portion (not shown) into which the tube member71aof the lock side cable71is insertable is formed. The tube member71a is attached to the front wall portion83bby inserting a front end thereof into the hole portion of the front wall portion83band screwing a nut member onto a screw part formed in the front end, or the like.

At a predetermined position of the rear wall portion83c, a hole portion (not shown) into which the tube member72aof the remote control unit side cable72is insertable is formed. The tube member72ais attached to the rear wall portion83cby inserting a front end thereof into the hole portion of the rear wall portion83cand screwing a nut member onto a screw part formed in the front end, or the like.

At a predetermined position of the lower wall portion83d, a hole portion (not shown) into which a tube member82aof the second operation cable82is insertable is formed. The tube member82ais attached to the lower wall portion83dby inserting a front end thereof into the hole portion of the lower wall portion83dand screwing a nut member onto a screw part formed in the front end, or the like.

Next, assembling of the connector member73to the base member83, the cable member71b, and the cable member72bwill be described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

Upon the assembling of these members, firstly, a compressed coil spring86is installed in an outer circumference of the shaft member88of the base member83, and then, the shaft member88is inserted into the opening portion (not shown) of the connector member73. After inserting into the connector member73, a stopper member89is attached to a front end of the shaft member88. The connector member73attached to the base member83in such a way receives a bias force of the compressed coil spring86and is always biased to the side of the stopper member89of the shaft member88.

After that, the cable member71bof the lock side cable71and the cable member72bof the remote control unit side cable72are respectively attached to the first cable attachment portion73cand the second cable attachment portion73dof the connector member73by a screw, a bolt, and the like, so that the cable member71band the cable member72bare coupled with each other.

In a state in which the connector member73coupling the lock side cable71and the remote control unit side cable72is attached to the shaft member88in such a way, when the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is operated, the operation force (pulling force) thereof is transmitted to the lock piece52of the lock50via the remote control unit side cable72, the connector member73, and the lock side cable71.

When the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is released, the operation handle64is stowed in the operation cover63, and the force of pulling the cable member72bis cancelled. Then, the connector member73of the remote control restraint element80is moved to the vehicle body front side by the bias force of the compressed coil spring86, and accordingly, a force of pulling the cable member71bis also cancelled.

Next, the latch member85will be described. The latch member85has a main body portion85ahaving a substantially plate shape, a hole portion (not shown), the claw portion85b, and a cable member attachment portion85c. This latch member85and the claw portion85brespectively generally correspond to a pivot member and a locking portion described in the claims.

The hole portion formed in the latch member85is formed on the one end side of the main body portion85a, and has a shape into which the pivot shaft84of the base member83is insertable. The latch member85is pivotably attached to the base member83by inserting the pivot shaft84of the base member83into the hole portion thereof and attaching with using a bolt or the like. In the latch member85, the twist spring87is installed around an outer circumference of the pivot shaft84in a manner such that the claw portion85bprovided on the free end side of the latch member can be always biased to the side of the connector member73. This twist spring87generally corresponds to a bias member described in the claims.

The claw portion85bis formed to protrude into a convex shape from the free end side of the main body portion85atoward the side of the connector member73. This claw portion85bis formed into a shape to be engageable with the engagement groove73bof the connector member73in a state in which the latch member85is pivotably attached to the base member83.

The cable member attachment portion85cis formed on the lower side of the claw portion85bin the main body portion85a, and provided in a manner that a cable member82bof the second operation cable82described later is attachable by a screw, a bolt, or the like.

In such a way, unless receiving a pulling force from the second operation cable82described later, the free end side of the latch member85is always biased to the side of the connector member73by the twist spring87.

Therefore, in a state in which the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is not operated, that is, in a state in which the connector member73is biased by the compressed coil spring86, and in a state in which the pulling force from the second operation cable82is not received, the claw portion85bof the latch member85is always engaged with the engagement groove73bof the connector member73. In this state, movement of the connector member73to the vehicle body rear side is restrained. In a state in which a pivot operation force from the second operation cable82is received, an engagement state of these portions is cancelled, so that the movement of the connector member73to the vehicle body rear side is permitted.

Next, the second operation cable82will be described with reference toFIGS. 1,3,7, and8.

As shown inFIGS. 1,3, and7, the second operation cable82has the tube member82amade of a flexible member and the cable member82bmade of a linear member as well as the first operation cable70, and couples the fixing pin32of the armrest30and the cable member attachment portion85cof the latch member85. The second operation cable82is arranged between the back side of the surface layer material (not shown) or the like disposed on the wall surface of the vehicle body floor2and the vehicle1, and the vehicle body, while maintaining a predetermined curvature radius without bending.

The tube member82aand the cable member82bon the side of the second lock81are respectively attached to the lower wall portion83dof the base member83of the remote control restraint element80and the cable member attachment portion85cof the latch member85by a bolt, a screw, or the like.

As shown inFIG. 8, the tube member82aon the side of the armrest30is attached at a predetermined position of the platform portion22or the like of the seat back20via a fixing member25(refer toFIG. 3). The cable member82bon the side of the armrest30is fixed to the fixing pin32of the armrest30.

The attachment positions of the fixing pin32of the armrest30to which to cable member82bis fixed will be described with reference toFIG. 8.

The fixing pin32is attached to the left side frame30bof the armrest30in a manner such that a distance x to the fixing member25when the armrest30is at the use position (position of an imaginary line inFIG. 8) is shorter than a distance x′ when the armrest is at the stowed position (position of a solid line inFIG. 8) (refer toFIG. 3).

By arranging the fixing pin32in such a way, the cable member82bof the second operation cable82is pulled to the side of the armrest30when the armrest30is moved from the use position to the stowed position. The latch member85is pivoted upon receiving this pulling force, so that the engagement state of the claw portion85bthereof and the engagement groove73bof the connector member73is cancelled.

Next, operations of the stowing device of the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment will be described dividing into a case where the armrest is at the stowed position and a case where the armrest is at the use position.

As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, when the armrest30is moved from the use position to the stowed position, the cable member82bfixed to the armrest30is pulled to the side of the armrest30. Accordingly, the latch member85of the remote control restraint element80is pivoted in the direction in which the latch member is brought away from the connector member73against a bias force of the twist spring87, so that the engagement state of the claw portion85bthereof and the engagement groove73bof the connector member73is cancelled.

In this state, when the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is pulled to the near side against the bias force of the twist spring66, the cable member72bof the remote control unit side cable72is pulled toward the vehicle body rear side, and the pulling force is transmitted to the lock piece52of the lock50via the connector member73and the cable member71bof the lock side cable71.

When such a pulling force is transmitted to the lock50, the lock piece52is pivoted against the bias force of the twist spring, and the lock50is shifted from the lock state in which the lock is engaged with the striker6to the lock cancellation state in which engagement is cancelled. When the lock50is brought into the lock cancellation state, the seat back20is pivoted to the vehicle body front side by the bias force of the bias element40and moved from the seated position to the pull-down state.

When the armrest30is moved from the stowed position to the use position, the cable member82bfixed to the armrest30is moved to the side of the second lock81. Then, the latch member85of the remote control restraint element80is pivoted and moved to the side of the connector member73by the bias force of the twist spring87, to be brought into the engagement state in which the claw portion85bthereof and the engagement groove73bof the connector member73are engaged.

In this state, even when the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is operated, the movement of the connector member73is restrained by the claw portion85bof the latch member85, so that the operation force thereof is not transmitted to the lock piece52of the lock50via the cable member72b, the connector member73, and the cable member71b.

In such a way, in the present embodiment, at the time of enlarging the space of the load chamber portion3, without directly operating the operation portion90provided in the seat back20, the seat back20can be moved to the pull-down position. Thus, enlarging operation of the space of the load chamber portion3can be easily and promptly performed. As a matter of course, the seat back20can also be moved to the pull-down position by operating the operation lever92of the operation portion90.

Even when the operation handle64of the remote control unit60is operated with the armrest30not at the stowed position, the seat back20is not moved from the seated position to the pull-down position. Thus, deformation or the like of the armrest30in accordance with movement of the seat back20to the pull-down position can be reliably avoided, and a disadvantage that the seat back20is stopped before reaching the pull-down position can be prevented.

The bias force is always applied to the latch member85having the claw portion85bin the direction in which the claw portion85bis engaged with the engagement groove73bof the connector member73by the twist spring87. Thus, the engagement groove73band the claw portion85bcan be reliably and firmly engaged. Therefore, even when improper operation of the remote control unit60is performed with the armrest30at the use position, pull-down of the seat back20can be reliably prevented.

In the above embodiment, in a state in which the armrest30is moved from the stowed position to the use position (refer toFIG. 7A) during the operation of the remote control unit60(refer toFIG. 7B), and in the case where the operation of the remote control unit60is stopped after that, the connection member73starts the movement to the vehicle body front side in a state in which the side of the claw portion85bof the latch member85finishes pivoting to the side of the connection member73by the bias force of the twist spring87. In such a case, since the guide portion73ehaving a substantially-arc-shape section is formed in the connection member73, the connector member73can be smoothly moved to the vehicle body front side while being abutted with a front end of the claw portion85bof the latch member85until the engagement groove73bof the connector member73and the claw portion85bare engaged. Therefore, in the case where the armrest30is at the use position and even in a state in which the claw portion85bof the latch member85and the engagement groove73bof the connector member73are not engaged, these portions can be smoothly and reliably engaged.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described based onFIGS. 10 and 11.FIG. 10is a schematic side view of a vehicle rear part of a vehicle seat according to the second embodiment, andFIG. 11is an enlarged side view of major parts of a seat cushion. The second embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11is different from the vehicle seat of the first embodiment described above only in terms of a configuration of the seat cushion, but is the same as the first embodiment in terms of other configurations. Thus, the same reference numerals will be given, and duplicated description will be omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, a seat cushion210of a vehicle seat S3according to the present embodiment has a pair of pivot shafts211respectively protruding from both the right and left sides near a front end thereof to the outer sides in the lateral direction, and second bias element212respectively attached to the pivot shafts211.

The pivot shaft211is inserted through a hole portion (not shown) formed in a support member200fixed at a predetermined position of the vehicle body floor2by a bolt or the like, and the seat cushion210is pivotably supported on the vehicle body floor2taking the pivot shaft211as a pivot center.

The second bias element212is a spiral spring as well as the bias element40described above, having one end212alocked onto the pivot shaft211and the other end212bcaught and locked onto a locking pin200aprotrudingly formed in the support member200, and applies a bias force in a manner that the seat cushion210is pivotable to the vehicle body front side taking the pivot shaft211as a pivot center.

The seat cushion210is provided with a lock mechanism (not shown) engageable with and disengageable from a striker (not shown) attached to the vehicle body floor2in a bottom surface portion thereof on the vehicle body rear side.

The seat cushion210configured in such a way is maintained at a seated position where the passenger can be seated on the seat cushion210against the bias force of the second bias element212in a state in which the striker and the lock mechanism are engaged. In a state in which an engagement state with the striker is cancelled by operation of an operation portion (not shown) provided at a predetermined position of the vehicle seat S3, the seat cushion210is pivoted and moved to a position where the bottom surface side of the seat cushion210becomes the upper side (hereinafter, referred to as a stowed position) by the bias force of the second bias element212.

In such a way, in the present embodiment, the seat cushion210can also be moved in addition to the seat back20. Thus, the load chamber space of the load chamber portion3can be further enlarged.

In the second embodiment, the engagement state of the striker and the lock mechanism can be cancelled by the operation of the operation portion provided in the vehicle seat S3. However, as well as the seat back20, the engagement state may also be cancelled by the operation of the remote control unit60provided on a rear wall side surface of the load chamber portion3.

In the above embodiments, the vehicle seat is configured to restrain the movement of the seat back to the pull-down position when the armrest is at the use position. However, various embodiments of the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle seat in which a seat cushion can be flipped up and folded. In such a case, by similarly providing a lock for locking/permitting movement of the seat cushion from a seated position to a flip-up position (folded position), a remote control unit capable of remotely controlling the lock, a restraint element for restraining remote control, and the like, the movement of the seat cushion to the flip-up position can be restrained when the armrest is at the use position.

Accordingly, the seat cushion or the seat back described herein can be reliably moved to the folded position by remote control without the deformation or the like of the armrest, and can be utilized as a vehicle seat provided with an armrest to be installed in various types of vehicles.

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