VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20100162844A1
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: TS Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Akutsu, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US12/304,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/479.10
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6671 with cable actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/938 and provided with braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2205/20 Measures for elimination or compensation of play or backlash
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20207 Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element

Abstract

An operation device comprises a lock mechanism having a drum case having a cylindrical drum wall, a lock spring containing a coil portion which is fitted into the drum wall and is locked by a friction force against the inner peripheral face of the drum wall, and a shaft guide mounted rotatably in the drum case and operated to exert or cancel a friction force of the lock spring. A transmitting mechanism for transmitting a reaction force and an operation force from an actuating mechanism is provided between the lock mechanism and the actuating mechanism provided at a desired position. A rattling preventing spring for preventing a rattling in the rotation direction of the shaft guide provided between the drum case and the shaft guide.

Claims

1. An operation device comprising:

a lock mechanism having a drum case having a cylindrical drum wall, a lock spring containing a coil portion which is fitted into the drum wall and is locked by a friction force against the inner peripheral face of the drum wall, and a shaft guide mounted rotatably in the drum case and operated to exert or cancel a friction force of the lock spring;

a transmitting mechanism for transmitting a reaction force and an operation force from an actuating mechanism provided between the lock mechanism and the actuating mechanism provided at a desired position;

a rattling preventing spring for preventing a rattling in the rotation direction of the shaft guide provided between the drum case and the shaft guide.

2. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft guide is mounted within the inner cylindrical portion provided in the insertion hole in the drum case;

the rattling preventing spring has a coil having a smaller diameter than the inner cylindrical portion, the coil being wound around the inner cylindrical portion, and a projection projecting radiantly formed in part of the coil portion is fitted to a fitting hole of the guide flange of the shaft guide.

3. The operation device according to claim 2, wherein the coil portion of the lock spring is fitted to the cylindrical drum wall surface of the drum case, such that when the diameter of the coil portion is enlarged, the lock spring is locked by a friction force between the lock spring and the inner peripheral face of the drum wall and when the diameter of the coil portion is reduced, the friction force with respect to the drum wall is decreased so that the lock spring is unlocked;

the shaft guide has a shaft which is to be mounted within the inner cylindrical portion and provided with a cylindrical guide flange located inside the coil of the lock spring;

a cutout portion is formed in part of the guide flange by cutting out the guide flange in the direction of a bus bar;

a pair of leg portions of the lock spring bent toward the axis of the drum wall are located between a pair of contact faces of the cutout portion; and

the guide flange has the fitting hole in addition to the cutout portion.

4. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the contact faces of the cutout portion of the guide flange and the leg portions of the coil portion are formed such that the interval between the contact faces is larger than the interval between the leg portions.

5. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:

a connecting portion having a tongue piece which makes contact with any one of the contact faces within the cutout portion in the guide flange;

a holder guide to which an end of the wire cable rotatable integrally with the connecting portion is latched; and

a rotation transmitting portion which mounts the connecting portion and the holder guide on the shaft guide, and

the other end of the wire cable is connected to the actuating mechanism.

6. The operation device according to claim 4, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises:

a connecting portion having a tongue piece which makes contact with any one of the contact faces within the cutout portion in the guide flange;

a holder guide to which an end of the wire cable rotatable integrally with the connecting portion is latched; and

a rotation transmitting portion which mounts the connecting portion and the holder guide on the shaft guide, and

the other end of the wire cable is connected to the actuating mechanism.