Power seat operation device and power seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446690-B2
Application number	US-201314423573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2013
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A power seat operation device is configured in such a manner that, when a dial member is rotated and operated, a movable mechanism which is to be operated is selected from among movable mechanisms. When a switch member is rotated and operated, the selected movable mechanism is actuated. The switch member is rotated and operated about a rotation axis extending in the widthwise direction of the seat. Thus the direction of operation of the switch member can be aligned with or nearly aligned with both the direction of the actual movement of a seat back when a recliner mechanism is actuated and the direction of the actual movement of an ottoman when an ottoman mechanism is actuated. Also, in a state in which a seat slide mechanism is selected, the direction of the operation of the switch member is aligned with the front-rear direction of the seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power seat operation device comprising:
a selection operation member that is disposed in such a way as to be turnable relative to a power seat, with the turning operation of the selection operation member relative to the power seat being a selection operation that selects a moving mechanism that becomes a target of operation from among a plurality of moving mechanisms disposed in the power seat, the selection operation member comprising an outer peripheral portion and a recessed portion disposed in the outer peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion defining a virtual circle centered on the turning axis of the selection operation member, the recessed portion being open in a direction away from the turning axis at least at the outer peripheral portion; and
an activation operation member that is disposed in such a way as to be turnable about a turning axis of the selection operation member or about a turning axis along that turning axis relative to the selection operation member, with the turning operation of the activation operation member relative to the selection operation member being an activation operation that activates the moving mechanism selected by the selection operation, the activation operation member comprising an operation portion,
wherein the operation portion is disposed in the recessed portion.

2. The power seat operation device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of moving mechanisms includes a moving mechanism that causes a moving part to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction, and
the selection operation member is disposed in such a way that the turning axis of the activation operation member is along the seat width direction.

3. The power seat operation device according to claim 1 , wherein the activation operation member is disposed on one turning axis direction side of the selection operation member relative to the selection operation member and is turnable about the turning axis of the selection operation member relative to the selection operation member.

4. A power seat comprising:
a plurality of moving mechanisms that includes:
a seat sliding mechanism that causes a seat cushion to slide in the seat front and rear direction relative to a vehicle body floor portion, and
a recliner mechanism that causes a seat back to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction relative to the seat cushion, and also includes one of:
a lifter mechanism that causes the seat cushion to move up and down relative to the vehicle body floor portion, and
an ottoman mechanism that causes an ottoman to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction relative to the seat cushion; and

the power seat operation device according to claim 1 , with the selection operation member being disposed on a side portion of the seat cushion in a state in which the turning axis of the selection operation member is aligned with the seat width direction, wherein:
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of an operation portion of the activation operation member are along the seat front and rear direction, the seat sliding mechanism is selected as the target of operation,
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along a direction slanted relative to the seat front and rear direction, the recliner mechanism is selected as the target of operation, and
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along the seat up and down direction, either the lifter mechanism or the ottoman mechanism is selected as the target of operation.

5. A power seat comprising:
a plurality of moving mechanisms that includes:
a seat sliding mechanism that causes a seat cushion to slide in the seat front and rear direction relative to a vehicle body floor portion,
a recliner mechanism that causes a seat back to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction relative to the seat cushion,
a lifter mechanism that causes the seat cushion to move up and down relative to the vehicle body floor portion, and
an ottoman mechanism that causes an ottoman to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction relative to the seat cushion; and

the power seat operation device according to claim 1 , with the selection operation member being disposed on a side portion of the seat cushion in a state in which the turning axis of the selection operation member is aligned with the seat width direction, wherein:
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of an operation portion of the activation operation member are along the seat front and rear direction, the seat sliding mechanism is selected as the target of operation,
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along the seat up and down direction, the lifter mechanism is selected as the target of operation,
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along a direction slanted up in front relative to the seat front and rear direction, one of the recliner mechanism and the ottoman mechanism is selected as the target of operation, and
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along a direction slanted down in front relative to the seat front and rear direction, the other of the recliner mechanism and the ottoman mechanism is selected as the target of operation.

6. A power seat comprising:
a plurality of moving mechanisms that includes:
a seat sliding mechanism that causes a seat cushion to slide in the seat front and rear direction relative to a vehicle body floor portion,
a recliner mechanism that causes a seat back to turn about a turning axis along the seat width direction relative to the seat cushion,
a lifter mechanism that causes the seat cushion to move up and down relative to the vehicle body floor portion, and
a tilt mechanism that causes a front portion of the seat cushion to move up and down relative to the vehicle body floor portion; and

the power seat operation device according to claim 1 , with the selection operation member being disposed on a side portion of the seat cushion in a state in which the turning axis of the selection operation member is aligned with the seat width direction, wherein
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a first position in which the operational directions of an operation portion of the activation operation member are along the seat front and rear direction, the seat sliding mechanism is selected as the target of operation,
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a second position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along the seat up and down direction, the lifter mechanism is selected as the target of operation,
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a third position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along a direction slanted down in front relative to the seat front and rear direction, one of the recliner mechanism and the tilt mechanism is selected as the target of operation, and
in a state in which the selection operation member is positioned in a fourth position in which the operational directions of the operation portion are along a direction slanted furthe

Assignees

• Nhk Spring Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shigematsu Ryohei
• Iino Shinji
• Nakayama Souichi
• Shirao Masato
• Nakamura Takeshi
• Oda Masahiro
• Katsube Kenichi

Classifications

• B60N2002/4425

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/449

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60N2/442 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01H2025/048

  having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it · CPC title

• B60N2/0296

  Central command actuator to selectively switch on or engage one of several special purpose circuits or mechanisms · CPC title