DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following detailed description, which should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings. This detailed description of particular preferred embodiments, set out below to enable one to build and use particular implementations of the invention, is not intended to limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as particular examples thereof.

[0036] Hereinafter, the seat arrangement structure of a vehicle according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the words “front”, “back (rear)”, “right”, and “left” used in the following explanation mean “front”, “back (rear)”, “right”, and “left” with respect to the body of a vehicle.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1 , the seat arrangement structure for a vehicle according to this embodiment of the present invention is applied to two three-person seat arrangement structures in a car for six passengers having first and second row seats, the first row seat including a pair of first side seats 11 which are disposed at the right and left sides of the vehicle and a first center seat 16 which is disposed between the first side seats 11 , and the second row seats including a pair of second side seats 21 which are disposed at the right and left sides of the vehicle and a second center seat 26 which is disposed between the second side seats 21 , and a trunk room 30 located directly behind the second row seats.

[0038] Each of the pair of right and left first side seats 11 in the front row includes a seat cushion 12 and a seat back 13 attached to the rear end of the seat cushion 12 . Also, each of the side seats 11 is disposed so as to be slidable in the back and forth direction, independently of each other, by means of a slide mechanism 14 which is placed below the seat cushion 12 . Note that the slidable range of the first side seats 11 by the slide mechanism 14 is the same with respect to each other.

[0039] The first center seat 16 which is disposed between the first side seats 11 at the front row has a width in the right and left direction narrower than that of each of the first side seats 11 . The first center seat 16 includes a seat cushion 17 and a seat back 18 attached to the rear end of the seat cushion 17 . Also, the first center seat 16 is disposed so as to be slidable in the back and forth direction by means of a slide mechanism 19 which is placed below the seat cushion 17 . Note that the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 is formed to be capable of being brought down in a front direction so as to be entirely placed on the seat cushion 17 . Also, the size of the first center seat 16 is substantially the same as the size of each of the first side seats 11 except the width thereof in the right and left direction.

[0040] In this embodiment, a part of the slidable range in the back and forth direction of the first center seat 16 by means of the slide mechanism 19 is shifted in a backward direction with respect to that of each of the first side seats 11 by the slide mechanism 14 . That is, the first center seat 16 is made slidable only in a backward direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the pair of first side seats 11 , and the pair of first side seats 11 are made slidable only in a front direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the first center seat 16 . Moreover, the slidable range of the first center seat 16 by the slide mechanism 19 is set to be larger than that of the first side seats 11 by means of the slide mechanism 14 .

[0041] More specifically, as indicated by double-dotted chain lines shown in FIG. 1 , when each of the pair of side seats 11 is located at the respective front end position by means of the slide mechanism 14 and the first center seat 16 is located at the front end position by means of the slide mechanism 19 , the first center seat 16 is located backward with respect to the pair of the first side seats 11 in a predetermined distance so as to form a V-shaped layout.

[0042] Also, when each of the first side seats 11 is located at the respective rear end position by means of the slide mechanism 14 as indicated by the solid lines shown in FIG. 1 , and the center seat is located at the front end position by means of the slide mechanism 19 by means of the slide mechanism 19 as indicated by double-dotted chain lines shown in FIG. 1, a straight line layout is formed in which the front and rear ends of the first side seats 11 and the first center seat 16 are aligned as is also shown in FIG. 2 .

[0043] Moreover, when each of the first side seats 11 is located at the front end position by means of the slide mechanism 14 as indicated by the double-dotted chain lines shown in FIG. 1 and the first center seat 16 is located at the rear end position by means of the slide mechanism 19 as indicated by the solid line shown in FIG. 1 , the first center seat 16 is located backward with respect to the pair of the first side seats 11 in a predetermined distance so as to form a V-shaped layout. In this layout, the sliding degree of the first center seat 16 by means of the slide mechanism 19 is predetermined so that the shoulders of a passenger sitting on the first center seat 16 are completely separated from the shoulders of a passenger sitting on each of the first side seats 11 when the reclining angle of the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 is the same as that of the seat back 13 of each of the first side seats 11 .

[0044] Furthermore, when each of the first side seats 11 is located at the rear end position by means of the slide mechanism 14 as indicated by the solid lines shown in FIG. 1 and the first center seat 16 is located at the rear end position by means of the slide mechanism 19 , the first center seat 16 is located backward with respect to the pair of the first side seats 11 at a predetermined distance so as to form a V-shaped layout as also shown in FIG. 3 . In this layout also, the sliding degree of the first center seat 16 by means of the slide mechanism 19 is predetermined so that the shoulders of a passenger sitting on the first center seat 16 are completely separated from the shoulders of passengers sitting on each of the first side seats 11 when the reclining angle of the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 is the same as that of the seat back 13 of each of the first side seats 11 .

[0045] That is, whenever the first center seat 16 is located at the rear end position, the shoulders of a passenger sitting on the first center seat 16 are always completely separated from the shoulders of a passenger sitting on each of the first side seats 11 regardless of the position of the first side seats 11 .

[0046] On the other hand, each of the pair of right and left second side seats 21 at the second row includes a seat cushion 22 and a seat back 23 attached to the rear end of the seat cushion 22 . The second side seats 21 are fixed and hence made so as not to be slidable in the front and back direction. Note that the size of each of the second side seats 21 is the same including the width in the right and left direction. Also, the width of each of the second side seats 21 at the second row in the right and left direction is made slightly narrower than that of each of the first side seats 11 at the first row.

[0047] Also, the width of each of the second center seat 26 which is disposed between the second side seats 21 in the right and left direction, is made narrower than that of each of the second side seats 21 , and is slightly wider than the width of the first center seat 16 at the first row in the right and left direction. In addition, the center position in the right and left direction of the second center seat 26 is aligned with the center position in the right and left direction of the first center seat 16 . The second center seat 26 includes a seat cushion 27 and a seat back 28 attached to the rear end of the seat cushion 27 , and is disposed so as to be slidable in the back and forth direction, independently, by means of a slide mechanism 29 which is placed below the seat cushion 27 . Note that the size of the second center seat 26 is substantially the same as the size of each of the second side seats 21 except the width thereof in the first and right direction.

[0048] In this embodiment, the slidable range of the second center seat 26 in the back and forth direction by means of the slide mechanism 29 extends backwardly beyond the rear end position of each of the second side seats 21 whose position is fixed, and the second center seat 26 is made slidable only in a backward direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the second side seats 21 .

[0049] More specifically, when the second center seat 26 is located at the front end position by means of the slide mechanism 29 as indicated by the double-dotted chain lines shown in FIG. 1, a straight line layout is formed in which the front and rear ends of the second side seats 21 and the second center seat 26 are aligned as also shown in FIG. 2 .

[0050] Also, when the second center seat 26 is located at the rear end position by means of the slide mechanism 29 as indicated by the solid lines shown in FIG. 1 , the second center seat 26 is located backward with respect to the pair of the second side seats 21 in a predetermined distance so as to form a V-shaped layout as also shown in FIG. 3 . In this layout, the sliding degree of the second center seat 26 by means of the slide mechanism 29 is predetermined so that the shoulders of a passenger sitting on the second center seat 26 are completely separated from the shoulders of passengers sitting on each of the second side seats 21 when the reclining angle of the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 is the same as that of the seat back 23 of each of the second side seats 21 .

[0051] Next, the second center seat 26 in the second row will be explained further in detail.

[0052] The second center seat 26 at the second row is disposed, as shown in FIG. 4 , at a floor 33 having difference in level formed by a low-level floor 31 located at the front side of the interior of the vehicle and a high-level floor 32 located at the rear side of the interior of the vehicle adjacent to the low-level floor 31 .

[0053] The seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 includes a seat back main body 35 which may function as a cushion to support the back of a passenger, and a seat back frame 36 which holds the seat back main body 35 .

[0054] Also, the seat cushion 27 of the second center seat 26 includes a seat cushion main body 38 which may function as a cushion to support the hip of a passenger, and a seat cushion frame 39 which holds the seat cushion main body 38 .

[0055] Moreover, a pair of slide rail members 41 extending along the front and back direction of the vehicle are provided with an interval between each other on the high-level floor 32 as is also shown in FIG. 5 . Each of the pair of slide rail members 41 supports a slide member 42 so as to be slidable only in the back and front direction. These slide rail members 41 and the slide members 42 form the slide mechanism 29 .

[0056] The seat back frame 36 includes a frame member 44 having an approximately rectangular shape, and a pair of supporting members 45 each of which is fixed to the right and left side, respectively, of the frame members 44 in the length direction of the frame member 44 so as to extend towards the outside of the frame member 44 . Also, a rotary shaft portion 46 whose axis line extends in the right and left direction of the vehicle is provided with an extending end portion of each of the supporting members 45 . The rotary shaft portion 46 is supported by the respective slide member 42 . In this manner, the seat back frame 36 can be brought down in a forward direction by rotating around the rotary shaft portion 46 from its normal state extending in a substantially vertical direction. The seat back 28 including the seat back main body 35 which is supported by the frame member 44 of the seat back frame 36 as a whole can be brought down in a forward direction by rotating around the rotary shaft portion 46 from its normal state extending in a substantially vertical direction.

[0057] As a result, the seat back 28 is supported so as to be rotatable in a front direction by the slide members 42 which move being guided by the slide rail members 41 .

[0058] A supporting shaft 48 whose central axis extends in the right and left direction of the vehicle is disposed at a position above the rotary shaft portion 46 provided with the supporting member 45 by a predetermined distance in a normal state of the seat back frame 36 . Also, a rear portion of the seat cushion frame 39 is rotatably supported by the supporting shaft 48 . That is, the seat cushion frame 39 as a whole has a U-shape, and includes a pair of extending portions 49 extending from the respective supporting shaft 48 in a downward direction and subsequently in a front direction, and a connection member 50 extending in the right and left direction of the vehicle which connects an extending end of each of the extending portions 49 . The seat cushion main body 38 is supported at more or less the connection member 50 side of the seat cushion frame 39 .

[0059] A pair of right and left supporting parts 52 are attached to the connection member 50 forming the front end of the seat cushion frame 39 , and a rotary shaft 53 having a central axis extending in the right and left direction is provided with each of the supporting parts 52 . An end portion of a link arm 55 is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft 53 . That is, the link arm 55 has a U-shape formed by a pair of extending portions 56 extending from the rotary shaft 53 , and a connection part 57 extending in the right and left directions so as to connect an extending end of each of the extending portions 56 .

[0060] Also, a supporting member 59 is disposed on the low-level floor 31 , which removably fixes the connection part 57 of the end of the link arm 55 and rotatably supports the connection part 57 in a fixed state.

[0061] As a result, the connection member 50 of the front portion of the seat cushion frame 39 is linked and connected to the low-level floor 31 .

[0062] As mentioned above, the pair of second side seats 21 and the second center seat 26 are disposed directly in front of the trunk room 30 having substantially the same width as the total width of the pair of second side seats 21 and the second center seat 26 . Note that a contact plate 61 which may contact a back surface 60 of the second center seat 26 is connected to a flat trunk room floor 62 of the trunk room 30 located behind the center seat 26 in an reciprocating manner.

[0063] The above-mentioned flat trunk room floor 62 is located behind the pair of second side seats 21 and the second center seat 26 , and has substantially the same width in the right and left directions as the total width of the pair of second side seats 21 and the second center seat 26 . Also, the trunk room floor 62 has a U-shape from which a portion of the contact plate 61 which contacts, in an inclined state, the back surface 60 of the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 in a seatable state is removed.

[0064] Note that as shown in FIG. 9 , the pair of the first side seats 11 and the first center seat 16 in the first row are disposed on a floor 69 , the level of which is lower than the lower-floor 31 located behind.

[0065] Next, the operation of the above second center seat will be explained.

[0066] First, a seatable state in which passengers may be seated normally will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6 .

[0067] In the seatable state, the seat back 28 is fixed to the slide members 42 in a normal state by a lock mechanism, which is not shown in the figure. Also, the connection part 57 of the link arm 55 is fixed by the supporting member 59 . Note that the lock mechanism is capable of fixing and releasing the seat back 28 to/from the slide members 42 in a seatable state.

[0068] In this seatable state, the slide members 42 slide along the slide rails 42 . In this embodiment, the slide members 42 may be fixed and released to/from the slide rails 42 at a plurality of positions by the slide lock mechanism 63 .

[0069] When the slide members 42 slide from a rear end position of the slidable range as shown in FIG. 4 to a front end position of the slidable range as shown in FIG. 6 by being guided by the slide rails 41 fixed to the high-level floor 32 , the seat back 28 fixed to the slide members 42 also slide while maintaining its positioning state. The seat cushion 27 which is rotatably connected to the supporting shaft 48 , on the other hand, slides while moving the front side thereof so as to draw a slightly arc shape track by rotating the link arm 55 which is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft 53 , around the connection part 57 supported by the supporting member 59 . Also, when slid backwardly, an opposite operation of the above operation is carried out.

[0070] As explained above, since the seat back 28 is axially supported by the slide members 42 which are guided by the slide rails 41 on the high-level floor 32 , and the rear portion of the seat cushion frame 39 which supports the seat cushion main body 38 is axially supported by the seat back 28 and the front portion thereof is linked to the low-level floor 31 when slid in a backward or forward direction, it is prevented from being risen from the floor and can be stably moved in the back and forth direction.

[0071] Next, a dive-down state of a seat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[0072] When the lock of the slide members 42 by the lock mechanism is released at the front end position of the slidable range shown in FIG. 6 , the seat back 28 rotates around the rotary shaft portion 46 in a forward direction by an energizing force of a spring which is not shown in the figure. Then, the supporting shaft 48 of the seat back 28 which has been located above the rotary shaft portion 46 moves in a front and downward direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , the rear portion of the seat cushion frame 39 , which is connected to the supporting shaft 48 , moves in a front and downward direction, and the front portion of the seat cushion frame 39 also moves in a front and downward direction when the link arm 55 which is rotatably connected to the rotary shaft 53 is brought forward by rotating around the connection part 57 supported by the supporting member 59 . Accordingly, the seat cushion frame 39 as a whole moves in a front and downward direction so that the seat cushion main body 38 is also moved in a front and downward direction to be located above the low-level floor 31 . At that time, the seat back 28 lies on the seat cushion 27 so that the back surface 60 thereof is substantially horizontally placed. Accordingly, the contact plate 61 which contacts the back surface 60 of the center seat 26 is also substantially horizontally placed.

[0073] In the above-mentioned state of the second center seat 26 in which the seat back 28 is brought forward and placed above the low-level floor 31 , since the contact plate 61 is aligned substantially horizontally with respect to the back surface 60 of the seat back 28 of the center seat 26 , the trunk room floor 62 is aligned substantially horizontally with respect to the upper surface 65 of the contact plate 61 and the back surface 60 of the seat back 28 so as to form, as shown in FIG. 8, a substantially flat floor 66 of a T-shape extending from the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 to the trunk room floor 62 . As a result, a T-shaped space 67 is formed on the T-shape floor 65 , which extends to the roof of the vehicle (not shown in the figure).

[0074] When the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 inat the first row is brought forward until it is placed on the seat cushion 17 , the back surface 70 of the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 at the first row located on the floor 69 which is lower than the adjacent lower-floor 31 , forms a substantially flat surface together with the back surface 60 of the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, a floor 71 of a T-shape in which the above-mentioned T-shaped floor 66 is extended in a front direction to the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 may be formed. As a result, a space 72 of T-shape in which the above-mentioned T-shaped space 67 is extended in the front direction, can be formed on the T-shaped floor 71 to the roof of the vehicle (not shown in the figure).

[0075] Also, in a seating state of the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 , it is possible to separate the link arm 55 from the supporting member 59 and rotate the seat cushion 27 around the supporting shaft 48 so as to stand together with the seat back 28 . At that time, the link arm 55 hangs from the seat cushion 27 downwardly due to the weight thereof, although this is not shown in the figures.

[0076] Moreover, although not shown in the figures, since the position for attaching a seat belt may become independent of the slide position if an inner anchor is attached to the slide member 42 guided by the slide rail 41 , excellent fit of the seat belt can always be obtained even when slide members 42 are moved.

[0077] According to the embodiment of the present invention explained above, since the pair of the first side seats 11 at the first row are designed to be slidable in the back and forth direction, it is possible to adjust the position thereof in accordance with the build of the driver. Accordingly, it becomes possible for a driver to comfortably drive the vehicle.

[0078] Also, in the seats of the first row, since the first center seat 16 is made slidable only in a backward direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the pair of first side seats 11 , and the pair of first side seats 11 are made slidable only in a front direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the first center seat 16 , if three passengers are sitting in the seats of the first row and they are unaware that a V-shaped layout can be formed, a V-shaped seat layout of the seats is surely formed by sliding the first side seat 11 or the first center seat 16 when a passenger feels cramped. In the seats in the second row also, since the second center seat 26 is made slidable only in a backward direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the pair of second side seats 21 , and the pair of second side seats 21 are made slidable only in a front direction from a position where the front end portion thereof is aligned with the front end portion of the second center seat 26 , if three passengers are sitting on the seats of the second row and they are unaware that a V-shaped layout can be formed, a V-shaped seat layout of the seats is surely formed by sliding the second side seat 21 or the second center seat 26 when he feels constrained. That is, according to the present invention, a V-shaped layout of the seats can be surely formed by sliding a seat. Accordingly, even for a small car, a comfortable seat arrangement structure for six passengers can be realized by preventing contact among the passengers.

[0079] Moreover, since it is possible to align the front end of the first center seat 16 and the front end of each of the pair of first side seats 11 in the first row, and the front end of the second center seat 26 and the front end of each of the pair of second side seats 21 in the second row, a straight line layout in which the position of the first center seat 16 is not shifted from the position of each of the first side seats 11 , and the position of the second center seat 26 is not shifted from the position of each of the second side seats 21 can be formed. Accordingly, if this layout is formed, a passenger can comfortably relax by lying on the first center seat 16 and the pair of first side seats 11 , or on the second center seat 26 and the pair of second side seats 21 .

[0080] Furthermore, since the width of the first center seat 16 is made narrower than the width of each of the pair of first side seats 11 , and the width of the second center seat 26 is made narrower than the width of each of the pair of second side seats 21 , the width of each of the first side seats 11 and that of each of the second side seats 21 , which are more frequently used than the center seats 16 or 26 , can be retained. Accordingly, it is not necessary to sacrifice a comfortable seating feeling obtained when a small number of passengers ride in a car, which occurs more frequently.

[0081] In addition, since the substantially flat T-shaped floor 66 which extends from the seat back 28 of the second center seat 26 to the trunk room floor 62 is formed and the space 67 of T-shape which extends to the roof of the vehicle is formed on the T-shaped floor 66 by moving the second center seat 26 , which has been located above the high-level floor 32 , so as to be located above the low-level floor 31 in a front brought-down state of the seat back 28 , an object which is long can be suitable accommodated in the vehicle. Accordingly, the convenience of the vehicle is improved.

[0082] Also, since the T-shaped floor 71 which extends in a forward direction to the seat back 18 is formed by bringing down the seat back 18 of the first center seat 16 in a forward direction, and the T-shaped space 72 which extends to the roof of the vehicle is formed on the T-shaped floor 71 , an object which is long can be suitably accommodated in the vehicle. Accordingly, the convenience of the vehicle is improved.

[0083] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements, though not expressly described above, are nonetheless intended and implied to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing discussion is intended to be illustrative only; the invention is limited and defined only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.