Abstract:
A seat horizontal movement switching section ( 16 ) is operated in a horizontal direction for moving an entire seat in a horizontal direction. A bottom-front vertical movement switching section ( 17 ) is operated in a vertical direction for adjusting the bottom-front of a seat ( 12 ) in the vertical direction. A bottom-rear vertical movement switching section ( 18 ) is operated in the vertical direction for adjusting the bottom-rear of the seat in the vertical direction. An angle adjustment switching section ( 19 ) is operated in the horizontal direction for adjusting the angle of a back portion ( 13 ). A first knob ( 20 ) is capable of making a horizontal operation and a vertical operation to operate said seat horizontal movement switching section 16 and said bottom-front vertical movement switching section ( 17 ). A second knob ( 21 ) is capable of making the horizontal operation and the vertical operation to operate said bottom-rear vertical movement switching section ( 18 ) and said angle adjustment switching section ( 19 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improvement of a power seat switch apparatus for a vehicle. 
     Generally, as shown in FIG. 8, a seat  1  for a vehicle is placed on a base  1   a , and is constructed by a bottom  2  and back portion  3 . A power seat switch apparatus  4  for changing the form of the seat  1  according to user&#39;s preference is attached to the side of the base  1   a . The power seat switching apparatus  4  includes a seat horizontal-movement switching portion  5 , a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  6 , a bottom-rear vertical-movement switch portion  7  and an angle adjustment switching portion  8 . Incidentally, although not shown, a power section comprising a motor and a working portion is provided for moving the bottom  2  and the back portion  3  in each direction and adjusting their angle so as to correspond to the switching portions  5  to  8 , individually. 
     The seat horizontal-movement switching portion  5 , the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  6  and the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion  6  are operated by a knob  9 . Specifically, the knob  9  is movably operated in a horizontal direction (direction of arrow A); its front is movably operated in a vertical direction (direction of arrow B) around the rear end; and its rear is movably operated in a vertical direction (direction of arrow C). 
     When the knob  9  is operated in the direction of arrow A, an operated member (not shown) for the seat horizontal-movement is operated in the direction of arrow A to make a switching operation. Thus, the power section (not shown) is driven so that the seat  1  is moved in the direction of arrow A. When the knob  9  is operated in the direction of arrow B, the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  6  is switched so that the front of the bottom  2  is moved vertically by the power section. Further, when the knob  9  is operated in the direction of arrow C, the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section  7  is switched so that the rear of the bottom  2  is moved vertically by the power section. 
     Another knob  10  is provided so as to correspond to the angle adjustment switching portion  8 . The knob  10  is adapted so that the top is movable in the horizontal direction (direction of arrow D) around the bottom. When the knob  10  is moved in the horizontal direction, the angle adjustment switching section  8  is switched so that the angle of the back portion  3  (reclining angle) is adjusted by the power section. 
     Meanwhile, in the structure described above, since both front and rear of the knob  9  can be movably operated in the vertical direction, while the front of the knob  9  is operated in the direction of arrow B, the rear may be also operated in the direction of arrow C. Otherwise, the center of the knob  9  can be operated in the vertical direction. In this case, the bottom-front vertical movement switching section  6  and the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section  6  may be placed in the switched on state at the same timing. Thus, the two power sections will be driven in a manner superposed in time, which increases a working current. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention has been accomplished under the above circumstance. An object of this invention is to provide a power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle in which a plurality of power switching sections are not placed in the switched state at the same timing. 
     In order to solve the aforesaid object, the invention is characterized by having the following arrangement. 
     (1) A power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising: 
     a seat horizontal-movement switching portion including a first operated member to be operated in a horizontal direction for moving a seat in the horizontal direction; 
     a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion including a second operated member to be operated in a vertical direction for adjusting a bottom-front portion of the seat in the vertical direction; 
     a bottom-rear vertical movement switching portion including a third operated member to be operated in the vertical direction for adjusting a bottom-rear portion of the seat in the vertical direction; 
     an angle adjustment switching portion including a fourth operated member to be operated in the horizontal direction for adjusting an angle of a back portion of the seat; 
     a first knob capable of making a horizontal operation and a vertical operation to operate the seat horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion; and 
     a second knob capable of making the horizontal operation and the vertical operation to operate the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion and the angle adjustment switching portion. 
     (2) The power seat switch apparatus according to (1) further comprising an operating member for connecting the first knob to the seat-horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion. 
     (3) The power seat switch apparatus according to (2), wherein the operating member includes a knob coupling shaft fitted to the first knob, a first operating protrusion fitted to the second operated member so as to move the second operated member in the vertical direction, and a second operating protrusion fitted to the second operated member so as to move the first operated member in the horizontal direction. 
     (4) The power seat switch apparatus according to (3), wherein 
     the operating member, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion are accommodated in a base of the seat, 
     the knob coupling shaft is protruded from a cross-shaped through-hole formed in the base to the outside of the base so as to be fitted in the first knob, and 
     a supporting shaft protruded from the base is inserted in a sliding-contact hole of the first knob so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. 
     In the configuration described above, the first knob operates the seat horizontal movement switching section, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation, and the bottom-front vertical movement switching section, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation. Namely, the first knob does not operate the plural switching sections in the same direction. For this reason, the operation of the first knob will not cause these switching sections to make the switching operation at the same timing. Further, the second knob also operates the bottom-rear vertical movement switching section, which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation, and the angle adjustment switching section, which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation. For this reason, both switching sections will not make the switching operation at the same timing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat portion which shows an embodiment of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a substantially entire switching device which is illustrated with knobs taken away. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along arrow P in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along arrow Q in FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 5A to  5 C are views showing different contact states of a switching section  16 , respectively. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a first knob  20 , an operator  26 , etc. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view along arrow R in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 8 is a view of a prior art corresponding to FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now referring to FIGS. 1 to  7 , an explanation will be given of an embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a seat  11  is placed on a base  11   a , and is constructed by a bottom  12  and a back portion  13 . A power seat switch apparatus  4  for changing the form of the seat  1 , such as the horizontal position, slope, height of the bottom  12  and angle of the back portion, according to user&#39;s preference is attached to the side of the base  1   a.    
     As shown in FIGS. 2 to  4 , the power seat switch apparatus  14  is provided with an apparatus case  15 . A seat horizontal-movement switching portion  16 , a bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  17 , a bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion  18  and an angle adjustment switching portion  19  are provided to the apparatus case  15 . Although described later, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion  16  and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  17  are operated by a first knob  20 , and the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion  18  and the angle adjustment switching portion  19  are operated by a second knob  21 . The configuration including the switching portions  16 ,  17  and first knob  20  will be described below. 
     First, the seat horizontal-movement switching portion  16  will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The switching portion  16  includes a first operated member  22 , movable contacts  23 ,  23 ′, and a plurality of fixed contacts  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  24   a′ ,  24   b′ ,  24   c′ . The first operated member  22  is guided by a guiding wall  15   a  of the apparatus case  15  so that it is movable in the directions of arrows AL and AR in FIG.  3 . On the upper surface of the first operated member  22 , an engagement groove  22   a  is formed which extends in a direction (arrows BU, BD) perpendicular to the direction of arrows AL, AR (shown in also FIG.  6 ). In the lower surface of the operand  22 , a pushing piece  22   b  having two protrusions  22   c  (only one is shown) is fit together with a spring. The contacts  23 ,  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c  constitute a single switch. On the side opposite to the switch, another single switch is symmetrically provided which is composed of the contact  23 ′,  24   a′ ,  24   b′  and  24   c′ . Therefore, the switching portion  16  is constructed by two single switches. 
     In the switching section  16 , when the first operated member  22  is at the neutral position (state of FIGS. 4 and 5A, shaded portion represents a conducting portion), the contacts  24   a ,  23  and  24   b  are in the conducting state and the contacts  24   a′ ,  23 ′ and  24   c′  are also in the conducting state. At this time, the power section is a cut-off state. When the first operated member  22  is moved in the direction of arrow AL, the contacts  24   a ,  23  and  24   b  stay in the conducting state, and the other contact  24   a′ ,  23 ′ and  24   b′  are switched into the conducting state (FIG.  5 B). At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in one direction. 
     When the operand  22  is moved in the direction of arrow AR, while the  24   a′ ,  23 ′ and  24   c′  stay in the conducting state, the other contacts  24   a ,  23 ,  24   c  are switched into the conducting state (FIG.  5 C). At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in an opposite direction. 
     Next, the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  17  will be explained. This switch  17  basically has the same configuration as the switching section  16 , and has a second operated member  25 , movable contacts  26 ,  26 ′ and six fixed contacts (two contacts  27   b ,  27   b′  corresponding to the contacts  24   b ,  24   b′  are shown in FIG.  4 ). The second operated member  25  is guided by guiding walls  15   b ,  15   b  so that it is arranged movably in the direction of arrows BU and BD in FIG.  4 . On the upper surface of the second operated member  25 , an engagement groove  25   a  is formed which extends in a direction (arrows AL, AR) perpendicular to the direction of arrows BU, BD. In the lower surface of the second operated member  25 , a pushing piece  25   b  similar to the pushing piece  22   b  is fit together with a spring. 
     In the switching portion  17 , when the second operated member  25  is moved in the direction of arrow BU from the neutral position (see FIG.  1 ), the respective contacts operate in the same manner as in the switching portion  16 . At this time, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in one direction. When the second operated member  25  is moved in the direction of arrow BD, the power section is electrically activated so that the motor is rotated in an opposite direction. 
     On the upper plate  15   c  of the device case  15 , an operating protrusion arranging hole  15  is formed along arrows AL and AR so as to the first operand  22  of the switching section  16 . A cross-shaped operating protrusion arranging hole  15   e  is also formed so as to correspond to the second operand  25  of the switching section  17 . 
     On the upper plate  15   c  of the apparatus case  15 , an operating member  26  for operating the first and second operated members of the respective switches  16  and  17  are arranged. On the one surface of the operating member  26  (lower face of FIG.  2 ), operating protrusions  26   a  and  26   b  are formed. The one operating protrusion  26   a  is fit in the engagement groove  22   a  of the first operated member  22  through the above operating protrusion arranging hole  15   d . The other operating protrusion  26   b  is fit in the engagement groove  25   a  of the second operated member  25  through the operating protrusion arranging hole  15   e . A knob coupling shaft  26   c  is protruded from the other surface of the operating member  26  (upper face of FIGS.  2  and  4 ). The knob coupling shaft  26   c  is protruded from a cross-shaped through-hole  11   b  formed in the base  11   a  to the outside of the base  11   a . A supporting shaft  11   c  is protruded from the outer surface of the base  11   a.    
     The first knob  20  has a generally slightly rectangular shape. On the rear face thereof, a fitting hole  20   a  and a rectangular sliding-contact hole  20   b  are formed. The knob coupling shaft  26   c  is fit in the fitting hole  20   a  in a pressed state. The supporting shaft  11   c  is movably inserted in the sliding-contact hole  20   b.    
     Thus, when the first knob  20  is operated in the direction of arrow AL, the switching portion  16  makes a contact operation in one form as described above so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the seat  11  in the direction of arrow AL. Inversely, when the first knob  20  is operated in the direction of arrow AR, the switching portion  16  makes a contact operation in the other form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the opposite direction to move the seat  11  in the direction of arrow AR. 
     Further, when the first knob  20  is moved in the direction of arrow BU, the switching portion  17  makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the front of the seat  12  in the direction of arrow BU. Inversely, when the first knob  20  is moved in the direction of arrow BD, the switching portion  17  makes the contact operation in the other form so that the motor of the power section is rotationally driven in the other direction to move the front of the seat  12  in the direction of arrow BD. 
     On the other hand, the configuration including switches  18 ,  19  and second knob  21  is shown in FIG.  7 . This configuration is basically the same as that including the switching portions  16 ,  17  and first knob  20 . The switching portion  18  includes a third operated member  28  and a plurality of contacts similar to those in the switching portion  16 . The switching portion  19  includes a fourth operated member  29  and a plurality of contacts similar to those in the switching portion  17 . 
     In the configuration described above, when the second knob  21  is moved in the direction of arrow CU, the switching portion  18  makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the back portion  13  of the seat  12  in the direction of arrow CU. Inversely, when the second knob  21  is moved in the direction of arrow CD, the rear of the seat  12  is moved in the direction of arrow CD (opposite to the direction of arrow CU). Further, when the second knob  21  is moved in the direction of arrow DL, the switching portion  19  makes the contact operation in the one form so that the motor of the power section not shown is rotationally driven in the one direction to move the back portion  13  in the direction of arrow DL. Inversely, when the second knob  21  is moved in the direction of arrow DR, the back portion  13  is moved in the direction of arrow DR. 
     In this way, in accordance with this embodiment, the first knob  20  operates the seat horizontal-movement switching portion  16 , which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation, and the bottom-front vertical-movement switching portion  17 , which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation. Namely, the first knob  20  does not operate the plurality of switching portions (e.g. switching portions  17  and  18 ) in the same direction. Therefore, the operation of the first knob  20  will not cause the switching sections  16  and  17  to make the switching operation at the same timing. Further, the second knob  21  operates the bottom-rear vertical-movement switching portion  18 , which is operated in the vertical direction to make a switching operation, and the angle adjustment switching portion  19 , which is operated in the horizontal direction to make a switching operation. Therefore, both switching portions  18  and  19  will not make the switching operation at the same timing. In addition, the switching portion  16  and the switching portion  18  or  19  will not make the switching operation at the same timing, and the switching section  17  and the switching section  18  or  19  will not make the switching operation at the same timing. 
     As understood from the explanation hitherto made, this invention can provide a power seat switch apparatus for a motor vehicle in which a plurality of switching section are not fallen in the switching-operated state at the same timing.