TIP-UP/DIVE-DOWN TYPE RECLINING SEAT FOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A vehicle seat is disclosed. The vehicle seat includes reclining lock mechanisms for releasably locking a seat back, a first releasing mechanism for unlocking the reclining lock mechanisms and causing the seat back to be brought to a condition where the seat back is allowed to be pivoted forward and rearward, the first releasing mechanism including a collapsible link bar member 70, a braking link 71 having a laterally projecting induction pin 72, a first link plate 73, and a first operating lever 7, a tipping-up lock mechanism for releasably locking a seat cushion, the tipping-up lock mechanism including cutout teeth 52a to 52c provided at the seat cushion, and a latch 80 and a cam member 81 which are supported to the seat back, and a second releasing mechanism for unlocking the tipping-up lock mechanism and causing the seat cushion to be brought to a condition where the seat cushion is allowed to be pivoted, the second releasing mechanism including a recess portion 80d formed in the latch 80 for allowing the cam member 81 to be swung up, a second link plate 82, and a second operating lever 8.

Claims

1. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle, said vehicle including a vehicle body floor having an upper step portion and a lower step portion; said tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat comprising: a seat back including a pair of first spaced apart side brackets; a seat cushion including a pair of second spaced apart side brackets; a pair of third spaced apart base brackets mounted on said upper step portion; reclining lock means for releasably locking said seat back; said reclining lock means including a pair of reclining lock mechanisms each provided between a lower end portion of corresponding one of said first spaced apart side brackets and corresponding one of said third spaced apart base brackets, so that when said reclining lock mechanisms are locked, said seat back can be locked in a substantially vertical posture, and when said reclining lock mechanism are unlocked, said seat back is allowed to be pivoted forward and rearward and angularly adjusted; said reclining lock mechanisms including actuating shafts coupled to each other through a connecting shaft; said reclining lock mechanism being adapted to be unlocked when said actuating shafts are rotated, and adapted to be locked when said actuating shafts are rotated back; said seat cushion being pivotally supported at rear portions of said second spaced apart side brackets thereof to portions of said first spaced apart side brackets which are adjacent lower end portions of said first spaced apart side brackets, by first support pins, so that said seat cushion is adapted to be tipped up; a stand leg portion pivotally supported to forward portions of said second spaced apart side brackets and adapted to be releasably engaged with respect to said lower step portion of said vehicle body floor so as to stand from said lower step portion; tipping-up lock means on at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for releasably locking said seat cushion in a tipped-up position, at which said seat cushion becomes opposed to said seat back in a substantially vertical posture, and a used position at which said seat cushion becomes a substantially horizontal posture; first releasing means on said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for unlocking said reclining lock means; and second releasing means on said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for unlocking said tipping-up lock means; wherein an entire vehicle seat in a condition where said seat cushion is located at said tipped-up position or in a condition where said seat back is pivoted forward with respect to said seat cushion in said used position can be dived down and stored in a space on said lower step portion of said vehicle body floor.

2. A tip-up/dive-down reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a stopper pin is provided at said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets so as to be arranged upward of corresponding one of said first support pins; said first releasing means includes a collapsible link bar member coupled at a lower end portion thereof to corresponding one of said actuating shafts of said reclining lock mechanisms, a braking link having a laterally projecting induction pin provided at an upper end thereof and swingably supported at a middle portion thereof to an upper end portion of said collapsible link bar member by a second support pin, said braking link being adapted to stoppingly engaged with said stopper pin from a downward direction, a first link plate swingably supported at a rearward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by a third support pin and having a circular arc-shaped guide hole extending around said second support pin of said braking link, said induction pin of said braking link being inserted through said guide hole of said first link plate, and a first operating lever coupled to a forward portion of said first link plate via a first wire cable, so that when said first operating lever is pull-operated, said first link plate, said braking link and said collapsible link bar member are pulled up, whereby said reclining lock mechanisms are unlocked and, when said first operating lever is released from a pulled-state, said first link plate, said braking link and said collapsible link bar member come down by gravity, whereby said reclining lock mechanisms are locked; said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets includes a rear portion having a substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge extending about a first support pin of said at least one of said second side brackets; said tipping-up lock means includes first and second spaced apart cutout teeth provided at said substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge, said first cutout tooth serving as means to facilitate causing of said seat cushion to be locked in said used position and said second cutout tooth serving as means to facilitate causing of said seat cushion to be locked in said tipped-up position, a latch swingably supported at a forward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by a fourth support pin, said latch having a projecting tooth provided at a lower edge of a rearward portion thereof, said projecting tooth being adapted to be selectively and releasably engaged with said first and second cutout teeth, and an engaging step portion formed in an upper region of said rearward portion of said latch, and a cam member having a cam body and a lower portion extending downward from said cam body, said cam member being swingably supported to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by said third support pin of said first link plate with said lower portion thereof being releasably abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch; and said second releasing means includes a recess portion formed in said upper region of said rearward portion of said latch and continuing from an edge of said engaging step portion, said recess portion having a depth which is not less than a height of an engaged region between said projecting tooth of said latch and each of said cutout teeth and allows said projecting tooth of said latch to be escapingly disengaged from each of said cutout teeth, a second link plate supported at a rearward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by said third support pin of said first link plate so as to be swingable together with said cam member, said second link plate being formed with an opening hole including hole receiving said induction pin of said braking link, said opening hole having a middle hole edge region against which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be engagingly abutted when said entire vehicle seat is located at a used position of said entire vehicle seat, a lower hole edge region toward which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be escapingly moved from said middle hole edge region when said seat cushion is tipped up, and an upper hole edge region toward which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be escapingly moved when said seat cushion is in said tipped-up condition and said reclining lock means is unlocked, and a second operating lever coupled to a forward portion of said second link plate via a second wire cable, so that when said second operating lever is pull-operated, said cam member is swung up in such a manner that said lower portion of said cam member is disengaged from said engaging step portion of said latch and slips into said recess portion of said latch, and as said cam member is swung up, said latch is swung up in such a manner that said projecting tooth of said latch is disengaged from any one of said first and second cutout teeth and, when the second operating lever is released from a pulled-state, said second link plate, said cam member, and said latch come down by gravity, whereby said projecting tooth of said latch is engaged with any one of said first and second cutout teeth.

3. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an angle of said cam member with respect to said latch is set in such a manner that an angle between a reference line connecting an axial center of said fourth support pin of said latch and an abutment point of said cam member against said engaging step portion of said latch, and a line connecting an axial center of said second support pin of said cam member and said abutment point is kept to be an acute angle, so that engagement between said projecting tooth of said latch and any one of said first and second cutout teeth can be maintained by said angle of said cam member relative to said latch.

4. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said lower portion of said cam member is formed into a substantially semielliptical shape, said engaging step portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially J-shape which allows said lower portion of said cam member to be easily abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch, and said recess portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape which has a depth larger than the height of said engaged region between said projecting tooth and each of said cutout teeth and fits said lower portion of said cam member.

5. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said stand leg portion is typically urged toward a stored position under said seat cushion by a spring which is retained at one end thereof to an upper end region of said stand leg portion and retained at the other end thereof to said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets and said vehicle seat further includes a third wire cable which is coupled at one end portion thereof to said upper region of said stand leg portion and coupled at the other end portion to said seat back, so that when said tipping-up lock means is unlocked and said seat cushion to be tipped up, said third wire cable is pushed so as to overcome an action of said spring and allow said stand leg portion to be pivoted toward a developed position and as said seat cushion is pivoted toward said tipped-up position, said action of said spring is exerted on said third wire cable.

6. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle, said vehicle including a vehicle body floor having an upper step portion and a lower step portion; said tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat comprising: a seat back including a pair of first spaced apart side brackets; a seat cushion including a pair of second spaced apart side brackets; a pair of third spaced apart base brackets mounted on said upper step portion; reclining lock means for releasably locking said seat back; said reclining lock means including a pair of reclining lock mechanisms each provided between a lower end portion of corresponding one of said first spaced apart side brackets and corresponding one of said third spaced apart base brackets, so that when said reclining lock mechanisms are locked, said seat back can be locked in a substantially vertical posture, and when said reclining lock mechanism are unlocked, said seat back is allowed to be pivoted forward and rearward and angularly adjusted; said reclining lock mechanisms including actuating shafts coupled to each other through a connecting shaft; said reclining lock mechanism being adapted to be unlocked when said actuating shafts are rotated, and adapted to be locked when said actuating shafts are rotated back; said seat cushion being pivotally supported at rear portions of said second spaced apart side brackets thereof to portions of said first spaced apart side brackets which are adjacent lower end portions of said first spaced apart side brackets, by first support pins, so that said seat cushion is adapted to be tipped up; a stand leg portion pivotally supported to forward portions of said second spaced apart side brackets and adapted to be releasably engaged with respect to said lower step portion of said vehicle body floor so as to stand from said lower step portion; tipping-up lock means on at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for releasably locking said seat cushion in a tipped-up position, at which said seat cushion becomes opposed to said seat back in a substantially vertical posture, a used position at which said seat cushion becomes a substantially horizontal posture, and a middle position between said tipped-up position and said used position; first releasing means on said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for unlocking said reclining lock means; and second releasing means on said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets and said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets for unlocking said tipping-up lock means; wherein an entire vehicle seat in a condition where said seat cushion is located at said tipped-up position or in a condition where said seat back is pivoted forward with respect to said seat cushion in said used position can be dived down and stored in a space on said lower step portion of said vehicle body floor.

7. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a stopper pin is provided at said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets so as to be arranged upward of corresponding one of said first support pins; said first releasing means includes a collapsible link bar member coupled at a lower end portion thereof to corresponding one of said actuating shafts of said reclining lock mechanisms, a first braking link having a laterally projecting induction pin provided at an upper end thereof and swingably supported at a middle portion thereof to an upper end portion of said collapsible link bar member by a second support pin, said first braking link being adapted to be stoppingly at a lower portion thereof abutted said stopper pin from a downward direction, a first link plate swingably supported at a rearward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by a third support pin and having a circular arc-shaped guide hole extending around said second support pin of said braking link and a substantially L-shaped control hole, said induction pin of said braking link being inserted through said guide hole of said first link plate, a second braking link pivotally supported at a middle portion thereof to said first link plate, said second braking link being adapted to be stoppingly abutted at a lower portion thereof against said stopper pin from a direction opposite to the direction from which said lower portion of the first braking link is abutted against said stopper pin, an elongated bar pivotally supported to an upper end of said second braking link and having a wire retaining pin which is provided at a free end of said elongated bar and inserted through said substantially L-shaped control hole of said first link plate, said substantially L-shaped control hole having a vertical hole portion and a horizontal hole portion, and a first operating lever coupled to said wire-retaining pin via a first wire cable, so that when an entire vehicle seat is located at a used position thereof, said first braking link is abutted at said lower portion thereof against said stopper pin with said induction pin being located at a rear end portion of said guide hole and said second braking link is abutted at said lower portion thereof against said stopper pin with said wire retaining pin being located in said horizontal hole portion and, when said seat cushion is pivoted to said middle position, said stopper pin is separated from said stopper pin and said first braking link comes down by gravity in such a manner that said induction pin is moved toward a forward end of said guide hole, and said stopper pin kicks up said second braking link in such a manner that said wire retaining pin is moved toward a connecting hole portion between said horizontal hole and said vertical hole portion and, when said seat cushion is pivoted to said tipped-up position, said stopper pin is separated from said second braking link and said second braking link comes down by gravity in such a manner that said wire retaining pin is moved toward said horizontal hole portion; said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets includes a rear portion having a substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge extending about a first support pin of said at least one of said second side brackets; said tipping-up lock means includes first, second and third spaced apart cutout teeth provided at said substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge, said first cutout tooth serving as means to facilitate causing of said seat cushion to be locked in said used position, said second cutout tooth serving as means to facilitate causing of said seat cushion to be locked in said tipped-up position, and said third cutout tooth serving as means to facilitate causing of said seat cushion to be locked in said middle position, a latch swingably supported at a forward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by a fourth support pin, said latch having a projecting tooth provided at a lower edge of a rearward portion thereof, said projecting tooth being adapted to be selectively and releasably engaged with said first, second and third cutout teeth, and an engaging step portion formed in an upper region of said rearward portion of said latch, and a cam member having a cam body and a lower portion extending downward from said cam body, said cam member being swingably supported to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by said third support pin of said first link plate with said lower portion thereof being releasably abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch; and said second releasing means includes a recess portion formed in said upper region of said rearward portion of said latch and continuing from an edge of said engaging step portion, said recess portion having a depth which is not less than a height of an engaged region between said projecting tooth of said latch and each of said cutout teeth and allows said projecting tooth of said latch to be escapingly disengaged from each of said cutout teeth, a second link plate supported at a rearward portion thereof to said at least one of said first spaced apart side brackets by said third support pin of said first link plate so as to be swingable together with said cam member, said second link plate being formed with an opening hole including hole receiving said induction pin of said braking link, said opening hole having a middle hole edge region against which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be engagingly abutted when said entire vehicle seat is located at a used position of said entire vehicle seat, a lower hole edge region toward which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be escapingly moved from said middle hole edge region when said seat cushion is tipped up, and an upper hole edge region toward which said induction pin of said braking link is adapted to be escapingly moved when said seat cushion is in said tipped-up condition and said reclining lock means is unlocked, and a second operating lever coupled to a forward portion of said second link plate via a second wire cable; wherein when the entire vehicle seat is located at said used position of said vehicle seat and said second operating lever is pull-operated in order that the entire vehicle seat is allowed to be dive down, said first link plate is swung up by said wire retaining pin which is located in said horizontal hole portion of said control hole, said second link plate is swung up by said induction pin which is located at a rear end of said guide hole and said middle hole edge region of said opening hole, said link bar member is drawn up through said first braking link, and said cam member is swung up in such a manner that said lower portion of said cam member is disengaged from said engaging step portion of said latch and slips into said recess portion of said latch, whereby said latch is swung up in such a manner that said projecting tooth of said latch is disengaged from any one of said first, second and third cutout tooth; wherein when the entire vehicle seat is located at said used position of said vehicle seat and second operating lever is pull-operated in order that said seat cushion is allowed to be tipped up, said second ink plate is swung up, said cam member is swung up in such a manner that said lower portion of said cam member is disengaged from said engaging step portion of said latch and slips into said recess portion of said latch, whereby said latch is swung up in such a manner that said projecting tooth of said latch is disengaged from any one of said first, second and third cutouts, and said induction pin of said first braking link is escapingly moved toward said upper hole edge region of said opening hole, so that said first link plate is not swung up and is idly operated so as not to unlock said reclining lock means; wherein when said seat cushion is located at said tipped-up position and said first operating lever is pull-operated in that the entire vehicle seat is allowed to be dive down, said first link plate is swung up by said wire retaining pin which is located at said horizontal hole portion of said control hole, and said link bar member is drawn up by said first braking link whose induction pin is located at a forward end of said guide hole, whereby said reclining lock means is unlocked, and said induction pin is escapingly moved to said upper hole edge region of said opening hole from said lower hole edge region of said opening hole, so that said second link plate is not swung up and is idly operated so as not to unlock said tipping-up lock means; wherein when said seat cushion is located at said middle position and said first operating lever is pull-operated, said wire retaining pin which is located at said connecting hole portion between said horizontal hole portion and said vertical hole portion of said control hole is moved toward said horizontal hole portion, so that said first link plate is not swung up and is idly operated so as not to unlock said reclining lock means, so that said vehicle seat cannot be dived down; and wherein after said seat back is angularly adjusted rearward or said seat cushion is pivoted to said middle position or said tipped-up position, said first and second operating lever are released from the pulled-states, said first and second link plates, said first and second braking link, said link bar member, said cam member and said latch come down by gravity, whereby said reclining lock means and said tipping-up lock means are locked and, when said entire vehicle seat is dive down, said first and second braking link, said link bar member, said cam member and said latch cannot come down by gravity, so that said reclining lock means and said tipping-up lock means are maintained in unlocked-states.

8. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein an angle of said cam member with respect to said latch is set in such a manner that an angle between a reference line connecting an axial center of said fourth support pin of said latch and an abutment point of said cam member against said engaging step portion of said latch, and a line connecting an axial center of said second support pin of said cam member and said abutment point is kept to be an acute angle, so that engagement between said projecting tooth of said latch and any one of said first, second and third cutout teeth can be maintained by said angle of said cam member relative to said latch.

9. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said lower portion of said cam member is formed into a substantially semielliptical shape, said engaging step portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially J-shape which allows said lower portion of said cam member to be easily abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch, and said recess portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape which has a depth larger than the height of said engaged region between said projecting tooth and each of said first, second and third cutout teeth and fits said lower portion of said cam member.

10. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said stand leg portion is typically urged toward a stored position under said seat cushion by a spring which is retained at one end thereof to an upper end region of said stand leg portion and retained at the other end thereof to said at least one of said second spaced apart side brackets and said vehicle seat further includes a third wire cable which is coupled at one end portion thereof to said upper region of said stand leg portion and coupled at the other end portion to said seat back, so that when said tipping-up lock means is unlocked and said seat cushion to be tipped up, said third wire cable is pushed so as to overcome an action of said spring and allow said stand leg portion to be pivoted toward a developed position and as said seat cushion is pivoted toward said tipped-up position, said action of said spring is exerted on said third wire cable.

11. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said lower portion of said cam member is formed into a substantially semielliptical shape, said engaging step portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially J-shape which allows said lower portion of said cam member to be easily abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch, and said recess portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape which has a depth larger than the height of said engaged region between said projecting tooth and each of said cutout teeth and fits said lower portion of said cam member.

12. A tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said lower portion of said cam member is formed into a substantially semielliptical shape, said engaging step portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially J-shape which allows said lower portion of said cam member to be easily abutted against said engaging step portion of said latch, and said recess portion of said latch is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape which has a depth larger than the height of said engaged region between said projecting tooth and each of said first, second and third cutout teeth and fits said lower portion of said cam member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a tip-up/dive-down type reclining seat for a vehicle according to each of first and second embodiments of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating reclining lock means, tipping-up lock means, and first and second releasing means which are provided at the reclining seat according to the first embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view illustrating the reclining lock means, the tipping-up lock means, and the first and second releasing means;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a braking link provided with an induction pin, which is one element of the first releasing means;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a latch of the tipping-up lock means;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the tipping-up lock means;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a second link plate of the tipping-up lock means;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a stand leg portion provided at each of the first and second embodiments;

[0042] FIGS. 9a to 9c are each an explanatory view of a condition of a wire coupled to the stand leg portion, during pivotal movement of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat according to each of the first and second embodiments;

[0043] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the tipping-up lock means;

[0044] FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing an unlocked condition of the tipping-up lock means;

[0045] FIGS. 12a to 12c are each a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining tipping-up movement of the seat cushion;

[0046] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining locking operation of the tipping-up lock means;

[0047] FIG. 14 is an explanatory view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the reclining lock means;

[0048] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocked-state of the reclining lock means;

[0049] FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of the reclining seat which is of assistance in explaining an angularly rearward adjusting operation of a seat back of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 17a is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment, which is of assistance in explaining diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0051] FIG. 17b is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat, which is of assistance in explaining a stored-condition of the vehicle seat;

[0052] FIG. 18a is a schematic side view of the first and second releasing means at the time of the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0053] FIG. 18b is a schematic side view of the first and second releasing means at the time of storing of the vehicle seat;

[0054] FIGS. 19a and 19b are each a schematic side view of the vehicle seat, which is of assistance in explaining returning of the vehicle seat in the stored-condition to a used position;

[0055] FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of the tipping-up lock means in a locked-condition;

[0056] FIG. 21 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the reclining lock means;

[0057] FIG. 22a is an explanatory view of the tipping-up lock means at the time of the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0058] FIG. 22b is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0059] FIG. 23 is a schematic side view of the tipping-up lock means just before the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0060] FIG. 24 is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat, which is of assistance in explaining an angularly rearward adjusting operation of the vehicle seat in the tipped-up condition;

[0061] FIG. 25 is a schematic fragmentary side view of a side bracket of a seat cushion of a reclining vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 26 is a schematic side view of reclining lock means, tipping-up lock means, and first and second releasing means which are provided at the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment;

[0063] FIG. 27 is a schematic front view of the reclining lock means, the tipping-up lock means, and the first and second releasing means of the second embodiment;

[0064] FIG. 28 is a schematic side view illustrating a first link plate, a second braking link, an elongated bar and a wire retaining pin which are provided at the vehicle seat of the second embodiment;

[0065] FIG. 29 is a schematic view which is of assistance in explaining a locked condition of the tipping-up lock means;

[0066] FIG. 30 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the reclining lock means;

[0067] FIG. 31 is a schematic side view illustrating unlocked-conditions of the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means;

[0068] FIG. 32 is a schematic fragmentary side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocked-condition of the tipping-up lock means;

[0069] FIG. 33 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an angularly rearward adjusting operation of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment;

[0070] FIG. 34a is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining a diving-down movement of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment;

[0071] FIG. 34b is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining storing of the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment;

[0072] FIG. 35a is a schematic side view illustrating the first and second releasing means at the time of the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0073] FIG. 35b is a schematic side view illustrating the first and second releasing means at the time of storing of the vehicle seat;

[0074] FIG. 36a is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat in the stored-condition;

[0075] FIG. 36b is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining returning of the vehicle seat in the stored-condition to a used position;

[0076] FIG. 37 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the tipping-up lock means;

[0077] FIG. 38 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an tipping-up movement of a seat cushion of the vehicle seat;

[0078] FIG. 39 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining a tipped-up condition of the seat cushion;

[0079] FIG. 40 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining a locking operation of the tipping-up lock means in the condition shown in FIG. 39;

[0080] FIG. 41 is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocking operation of the reclining lock means at the time of diving-down of the vehicle seat in the tipped-up condition;

[0081] FIG. 42a is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat during the diving-down movement of the vehicle seat;

[0082] FIG. 42b is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining an unlocked-condition of the reclining lock means during the diving-down of the vehicle seat;

[0083] FIG. 43 is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat in an angularly rearward adjusted-condition;

[0084] FIG. 44 is a schematic side view of the reclining lock means, the tipping-up lock means and the first and second releasing means at the time when the seat cushion is located at a tipped-up position;

[0085] FIG. 45a is a schematic side view which is of assistance in explaining the reclining lock means when erroneously operated; and

[0086] FIG. 45b is a schematic side view of the vehicle seat at the time when the reclining lock means is erroneously operated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0087] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle seat includes a seat back 1 adapted to be pivoted forward and rearward and having a pair of spaced apart side brackets serving as side frame sections of a seat back frame for the seat back 1, a seat cushion 5 pivotally supported to the seat back 1 so as to be capable of being tipped up, reclining lock means including first and second reclining lock mechanisms for releasably locking the seat back 1 and preventing the pivotal movement of the seat back 1 (only first reclining mechanism 3 is shown in FIG. 1), the first and second reclining mechanisms being constructed in the same manner, first releasing means for unlocking the first and second reclining lock mechanisms 3 and allowing the seat back to be brought to a condition where the seat back is allowed to be pivoted forward and rearward, tipping-up lock means for releasably locking the seat cushion 5 and preventing the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion, and second releasing means for unlocking the tipping-up means and allowing the seat cushion to be brought to a condition where the seat cushion is allowed to be tipped up. The reclining lock mechanisms 3 are provided between lower end portions of the spaced apart side brackets of the seat back 1 and a pair of spaced apart base brackets 2 mounted on an upper step portion f.sub.1 of a vehicle body floor F so as to stand up from the upper step portion f1, so that the seat back 1 is allowed to be releasably locked with respect to the vehicle body floor F by the reclining lock mechanisms 3. As the reclining lock mechanisms 3, there may be employed reclining lock mechanisms which have actuating shafts 4 coupled to each other through a connecting shaft (not shown) which is connected at both ends thereof to the actuating shafts 4, whereby the reclining lock mechanisms are adapted to be synchronously actuated and can carry out unlocking operation by rotation of the actuating shafts 4 and locking operation by rotating-back of the actuating shafts 4 (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-173922 incorporated herein as a reference).

[0088] The seat cushion 5 includes a pair of spaced apart side brackets serving as side frame sections of a seat cushion frame for the seat cushion 5. The spaced apart side brackets of the seat cushion 5 are coupled at rear end portions thereof to portions of the side brackets of the seat back 1, which are adjacent the lower end portions of the spaced apart side brackets of the seat back 1, by support pins 50, so that the seat cushion 5 is pivotally supported to the seat back 1 so as to be allowed to be tipped up. The vehicle seat further includes a substantially U-shaped stand leg portion 6 in outline which is pivotally connected at upper end regions of spaced apart vertical portions thereof to lower regions of forward portions of the side brackets of the seat cushion 5 by support pins 6a. A receiving base 6b for receiving and engaging a lower horizontal portion of the stand leg portion 6 is mounted on a lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F. The stand leg portion 6 is adapted to be releasably engaged at the lower horizontal portion thereof with the receiving base 6b so as to obliquely stand up from the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F, whereby when the seat cushion is located at a first used position at which the seat cushion 5 becomes a substantially horizontal posture, the seat cushion 5 is horizontally supported by the stand leg portion 6 which is releasably engaged with the receiving base 6b.

[0089] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated the first releasing means which is provided on one of both sides of the vehicle seat. The first releasing means includes a collapsible link bar member 70, a braking link 71 having a laterally projecting induction pin 72 provided at an upper end thereof, a first link plate 73, and a first operating lever 7 (see FIG. 1).

[0090] The link bar member 70 includes a lower bar portion 70a coupled at a first end thereof to an actuating shaft 4 of the first reclining lock mechanism 3 which is provided on the one side of the vehicle seat, and an upper bar portion 70b connected at a first end thereof to a second end of the lower bar portion 70a by a support pin 70c and extending upward. As best shown in FIG. 4, the braking link 71 is swingably connected at a substantially middle portion thereof to a second end of the upper bar portion 70b by a support pin 70d. More particularly, the braking link 71 is swingably connected to the upper bar portion 70b with the lower end portion thereof being directed to a stopper pin 51 which is adapted to stoppingly engage the lower end portion of the braking link 71 from a downward direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the stopper pin 51 is provided on one 5 of the side brackets of the seat cushion which is arranged on the one side of the vehicle seat. More particularly, the stopper pin 51 is provided at a portion of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion so as to be arranged upward of a support pin 50 coupling the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion and one 1 of the side brackets of the seat back which is arranged on the one side of the vehicle seat.

[0091] The first link plate 73 is formed into a substantially triangular shape having three lobes, and swingably supported at a rearward lobe thereof to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1 by a support pin 77. The first link plate 73 has a circular arc-shaped guide hole 78 formed therein so as to extend about the support pin 70d of the braking link 71. The induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is inserted through the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73.

[0092] The first operating lever 7 of the first releasing means is provided in a recess portion formed in an upper region of a back of the seat back 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and coupled to a forward lobe of the first link plate 73 via a wire 7a of a first wire cable which is inserted through a tube 7b of the first wire cable. When a person pull-operates the first operating lever 7, the wire 7a is drawn upward and the first link plate 73 is swung upward while pulling up the collapsible link member 70 through the braking link 71, whereby the actuating shafts 4 of the reclining lock mechanisms are synchronously rotated. As a result, the reclining lock mechanisms 3 are synchronously brought to unlocked states. In this condition, the person can cause the seat back 1 to be pivoted forward or rearward in one motion and cause the angle of the seat back 1 relative to the vehicle body floor to be adjusted.

[0093] More particularly, the pulling operation of the first operating lever 7 causes the entire components including the first link plate 73, the braking link 71 and the link bar member 70 to be pulled up, whereby the actuating shaft 4 of the first reclining lock mechanism 3 is rotated, an actuating shaft of the second reclining lock mechanism is synchronously rotated and the reclining lock means is then unlocked. When the first operating lever 7 is released from the pulled condition, the entire components including the first link plate 73, the braking link 71 and the link bar member 70 come down by gravity and the actuating shafts of the reclining lock mechanisms are synchronously rotated back, whereby the reclining lock mechanisms are locked. Thus, the seat back is locked with respect to the vehicle body floor.

[0094] The tipping-up lock means is provided on the one side of the vehicle seat. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion has a substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge extending about the support pin 50 of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion. The tipping-up lock means includes first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b provided at the substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge of the side bracket 5 so as to be spaced apart from each other, and a latch 80 and a cam member 81 which are supported to side bracket 1 of the seat back 1. The first cutout tooth 52a serves as means to facilitate causing of the seat cushion 5 to be locked in the first used position at which the seat cushion becomes the substantially horizontal posture. The second cutout tooth 52b serves as means to facilitate causing of the seat cushion to be locked in a tipped-up position at which the seat cushion becomes opposed to the seat back located in a second used position at which the seat back becomes a substantially vertical posture.

[0095] The latch 80 is pivotally supported at a forward portion thereof to the side bracket 1 of the seat back by a support pin 80a so as to be swingable to an upward direction from a rearward direction. As best shown in FIG. 5, the latch 80 is provided at a lower edge region of a rearward portion thereof with a projecting tooth 80b which is adapted to be selectively and releasably engaged with the first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b of the side bracket 5 (FIG. 2). In order that the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 can be securely engaged with the second cutout tooth 52b of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5, the projecting tooth 80b is configured to include two spaced apart projecting tooth-portions.

[0096] The first cutout tooth 52a is configured to include a recess portion which is adapted to receive the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 during returning of the seat cushion to the first used position from the tipped-up position and has a length sufficient to allow the seat back in the second used position to be angularly adjusted rearward in the condition where the seat cushion is locked in the first used position. In the illustrated example, a third cutout tooth (not shown) which serves as means to facilitate causing of the seat cushion to be locked in a middle position between the first used position and the tipped-up position of the seat cushion may be provided at the substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion so as to be arranged between the first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b.

[0097] The cam member 81 includes a cam body and a lower portion extending downward from the cam body. The cam member 81 is swingably supported at the cam body to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1 by the support pin 77 of the first link plate 73, with the lower portion thereof being directed to an upper region of the rearward portion of the latch 80.

[0098] As best shown in FIG. 5, the latch 80 is formed in the upper region of the rearward portion thereof with an engaging step portion 80c against which the lower portion of the cam member 81 is releasably abutted. The lower portion of the cam member 81 is abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80, whereby the cam member 81 functions as a prop with respect to the latch 80, so that the engagement between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and each of the first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 can be positively maintained.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 6, an angle of the cam member 81 with respect to the latch 80 is set in such a manner that an angle between a reference line L.sub.1 connecting an axial center O.sub.1 of the support pin 80a of the latch 80 and an abutment point P of the cam member 81 against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80, and a line L.sub.2 connecting an axial center O.sub.2 of the support pin 77 of the cam member 81 and the abutment point P is kept to be an acute angle. A bottom surface of the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 is formed so as to be adjacent the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80, so that the reference line L.sub.1 is set so as to descend rearward from the axial center O.sub.1 of the support pin 80a of the latch 80.

[0100] In the illustrated example, the lower portion of the cam member 81 is formed into a substantially semielliptical shape. Correspondingly to such a shape of the lower portion of the cam member 81, the bottom surface of the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 is formed so as to have a substantially J-shape which allows the lower portion of the cam member 81 to be easily abutted against the engaging step portion 80c. Moreover, the substantially J-shaped bottom surface of the engaging step portion 80c is formed so as to have a curve which allows at least half or more region of the lower portion of the cam member 81 to be received by the engaging step portion 80c, so that the lower portion of the cam member 81 can be positively abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and stably received by the engaging step portion 80c.

[0101] The second releasing means for unlocking the tipping-up lock means includes a recess portion 80d (FIG. 5) formed in the upper region of the rearward portion of the latch 80 for allowing of the cam member 81 to be swung up, a second link plate 82, and a second operating lever 8 (FIG. 1). The recess portion 80d formed in the latch 80 extends continuously from an edge of the engaging step portion 80c and may be formed so as to have a depth which is not less than a height of an engaged region between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b and allows the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 to be escapingly disengaged from each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b.

[0102] In the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 5, the recess portion 80d of the latch 80 is formed so as to have a substantially U-shape (see FIG. 5) which has a depth larger than the height of the engaged region between the projecting tooth 80d and each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b and fits the lower portion of the cam 81.

[0103] The recess portion 80d of the latch 80 serves to allow the cam member 81 to be swung up in such a manner that the lower portion of the cam member 81 is disengaged from the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and slips into the recess portion 80d. As the cam member 81 is swung up, the latch 80 is swung upwardly in such a manner that the projecting tooth 80b is positively disengaged from any one of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion.

[0104] The latch 80 is held so as to be stably swingable with resort to a holding plate 90 (see FIG. 3) which is supported by the support pin 50 of the side bracket 5 and the support pin 80a of the latch 80.

[0105] The second link plate 82 is supported to the side bracket 1 of the seat back by the support pin 77 of the first link plate 73 so as to be swingable together with the cam member 81. As the second link plate 82, there is employed a link plate which is formed so as to have a substantially sector-shape which becomes gradually wider radially from a base portion thereof which is supported by the support pin 77.

[0106] The first link plate 73, the cam member 81, and the second link plate 82 are mounted to the support pin 77 which is rotatably supported to the side bracket 1 of the seat back. More particularly, the cam member 81 and the second link plate 82 are fixed to the support pin 77, so that they are swingable together.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 7, the second link plate 82 is formed with an opening hole 83 which receives the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71. The opening hole 83 of the second link plate 82 has a middle hole edge region 83a against which the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is adapted to be engagingly abutted when the entire vehicle seat is located at a used position of the entire vehicle seat, a lower hole edge region 83b toward which the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is adapted to be escapingly moved from the middle hole edge region 83a when the seat cushion is tipped up, and an upper hole edge region 83c toward which the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is adapted to be escapingly moved when the seat cushion is in the tipped-up condition and the reclining lock means is unlocked. The term used position of the entire vehicle seat means a position at which the seat cushion becomes the substantially horizontal posture and the seat back becomes the substantially vertical posture.

[0108] The second link plate 82 is coupled to the second operating lever 8 via a wire 8a of a second wire cable which is inserted through a tube 8b of the second wire cable. As shown in FIG. 1, the second operating lever 8 is provided in a recess portion formed in a bottom region of a forward section of the seat cushion 5. When the second operating lever 8 is pulled by the person, to thereby cause the second link plate 82 to be drawn up, the seat cushion can be brought to a condition where it is allowed to be tipped up in one motion by the person, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter.

[0109] The pulling operation of the second operating lever 8 causes the second link plate 82 and the cam member 81 to be swung, whereby the latch 80 is pulled upward and consequently the tipping-up lock means is brought to an unlocked state. Moreover, when the second operating lever 8 is released from the pulled-state, the entire components which include the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 come down by gravity, whereby the tipping-up lock mean is brought to a locked-state.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 8, the stand leg portion 6 is typically urged toward a stored position under the seat cushion by a tension spring 10 which is a coil spring or a helical torsion spring and retained at one end thereof to an upper end region of one of the spaced apart vertical portions of the U-shaped stand leg portion 6 and retained at the other end thereof to the one of the side brackets of the seat cushion (not shown). Moreover, a wire of a third wire cable 11 which is inserted through a tube 11c of the third wire cable 11 is coupled at one end portion 11a thereof to the upper end region of the vertical portion of the stand leg portion 6 and coupled at the other end portion thereof (not shown) to the seat back.

[0111] Referring now to FIGS. 9a to 9c, the other end portion 11b of the wire of the third wire cable 11 is supported to a retaining piece 12 which is provided at a suitable portion of the seat back frame. The other end portion 11b of the wire of the third wire cable 11 is provided with a spherical end stop 11d and penetrated through a slit of the retaining piece 12 so as to be movable relative to the retaining piece 12. Incidentally, any suitable compensator (not shown) for compensating a pulling force exerted on the wire of the third wire cable 11 and adjusting a total length of the wire of the third wire cable 11 is provided at a suitable portion of the wire of the third wire cable 11.

[0112] When the seat cushion is located at the first used position, the wire of the third wire cable 11 is in a condition shown in FIG. 9a. In this condition, when the person causes the tipping-up lock means to be unlocked by pulling the second operating lever 8 and then causes the seat cushion to be tipped up while allowing the stand leg portion 6 to be disengaged from the receiving base 6b (FIG. 1), the wire of the third wire cable 11 is pushed so as to overcome an action of the tension spring 10 (as shown in FIG. 9b) and allow the stand leg portion 6 to be pivoted toward a developed position thereof until the seat cushion reaches a position just before the tipped-up position. On the other hand, as the seat cushion is pivoted toward the tipped-up position from the position just before the tipped-up position, the action of the tension spring 10 (FIG. 8) is exerted on the wire of the third wire cable 11, whereby the wire of the third wire cable 11 is moved in such a manner that the wire end portion 11b is moved relative to the retaining piece 12 so as to project from the retaining piece 12 as shown in FIG. 9c. Thus, the stand leg portion 6 is moved to the stored position by the action of the tension spring 10.

[0113] By the wire of the third wire cable 11, the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the stored position synchronously with the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion and diving-down movement of the entire vehicle seat, and can be pivoted toward the developed position synchronously with returning of the entire seat toward the used position of the entire vehicle seat or returning of the seat cushion toward the first used position.

[0114] In the tip-up/dive down type reclining vehicle seat of the first embodiment which is constructed as discussed above, in a condition where the entire vehicle seat is located at the used position thereof (see FIG. 1) and the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are in the locked states (see FIG. 2), the lower end portion of the braking link 71 is stoppingly engaged with the stopper pin 51 provided on the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 and the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is located at a rearward end of the guide hole 78 formed in the first link plate 73, whereby the used position of the entire vehicle seat is determined.

[0115] In a case where the seat cushion 1 is to be tipped up from the first used position in a condition where the entire vehicle seat is located at the used position thereof, when the second operating lever 8 is pull-operated by the person, an upward pulling force is applied to the second link plate 82 through the wire 8a of the second wire cable as shown in FIG. 10. By the upward pulling force, the second link plate 82 is upwardly swung about the support pin 77 and the cam member 81 is also swung together with the second link plate 82 in such a manner that the lower portion of the cam member 81 is disengaged from the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and slips into the recess portion 80d of the latch 80.

[0116] As the lower portion of the cam member 81 slips into the recess portion 80d of the latch 80, the latch 80 is swung up, whereby the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is disengaged from the first cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion as shown in FIG. 11. The recess portion 80d of the latch 80 is configured to have the depth larger than the height of the engaged region between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 as discussed above, so that as the lower portion of the cam 81 slips into the recess portion 80d, the latch 80 is considerably swung up, whereby the projecting tooth 80b can be positively disengaged from the first cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion. Thus, the tipping-up lock means is brought to the unlocked state, that is, the seat cushion is brought to a condition where it is allowed to be tipped up.

[0117] In the condition where the tipping-up lock means is unlocked, namely, the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is disengaged from the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5, when the person lifts the seat cushion up from the forward direction while leaving the second operating lever pulled and holding the seat cushion with his/her hand, the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion is moved away from the first cutout tooth 80b of the latch 80 as shown in FIG. 12a. Thus, the seat cushion 5 is tipped up from the first used position to the tipped-up position around the support pins 50 as shown in FIGS. 12b and 12c.

[0118] When the second operating lever 80 is pull-operated at the time of causing the tipping-up lock means to be unlocked, the second link plate 82 is swung upward and the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is escapingly moved toward the lower hole edge region 83b from the middle hole edge region 83a of the second link plate 82 (FIG. 7) relative to the second link plate 82 as shown in FIG. 12a, so that the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is not drawn up by the second link 82 and the reclining lock mechanisms are not unlocked.

[0119] In the condition where the seat cushion is tipped-up as shown in FIG. 12c, when the second operating lever 8 is released from the pulled-state, the components which include the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 come down by gravity while pulling the wire 8a of the second wire cable down as shown in FIG. 13 and are returned to their original positions. In the condition where the components are returned to the original positions, the lower portion of the cam member 81 is engagingly abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is engaged with the second cutout tooth 52b of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5. Thus, the seat cushion 5 is maintained in the tipped-up posture.

[0120] Returning of the seat cushion 5 maintained in the tipped-up posture to the first used position can be performed by pulling the second operating lever 8 in the same manner as discussed above. Namely, when the second operating lever 8 is pulled, the tipping-up lock means is unlocked. In this condition, the seat cushion can be pivoted to the first used position by the person.

[0121] In a case where the reclining lock means is to be unlocked in the condition where the entire vehicle seat is located at the used position thereof and both the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are locked (FIG. 1), when the person pulls the first operating lever 7, the wire 7a of the first wire cable of the first operating lever 7 is drawn up as shown in FIG. 14 and the first link plate 73 is swung upward around the support pin 77. At this time, the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is located at the rearward end of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73 and engagingly abutted against the middle hole edge portion 83a of the second link plate 82 (see FIG. 7), so that the second link plate 82 is also swung upward synchronously with the upward swinging of the first link plate 73.

[0122] When the first link plate 73 is swung upward, the braking link 71 coupled via the induction pin 72 to the first link plate 73 is pulled up and the collapsible link bar member 70 coupled between the braking link 71 and the actuating shaft 4 of the first reclining lock mechanism 3 is pulled upward as shown in FIG. 15, whereby the actuating shafts of the first and second reclining lock mechanisms are synchronously rotated. Thereby, the reclining lock mechanisms are unlocked and the tipping-up lock means is also unlocked since the second link plate 82 is swung upward as discussed above.

[0123] In the condition where the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are unlocked, the person can cause the seat back 1 to be pivoted rearward so as to be angularly adjusted as shown in FIG. 16. When the first operating lever 7 is released from the pulled-state after the seat back 1 is angularly adjusted rearward, the components which include the first link plate 73, the braking link 71, the link bar member 70, the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 come down by gravity and are returned to their original positions, whereby the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are locked and the entire seat is maintained in a used position thereof at which the seat back is angularly adjusted rearward.

[0124] Moreover, in the condition where the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock mean are unlocked, the seat back is pivoted forward and the entire vehicle seat can be dived down and stored in a space on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F as shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b. In this case, the components which include the first link plate 73, the braking plate 71, the link bar member 70, the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 cannot come down by gravity as shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b during the forward pivotal movement of the seat back from the substantially vertical position, so that the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are maintained in the unlocked states.

[0125] In the condition which the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are maintained in the unlocked states, the person causes the entire seat to be forward pivoted to a certain extent while holding the seat back with his/her hand. Then, the person causes his/her hand to be removed from the recess portion of the seat back to the recess portion of the seat cushion and causes the seat cushion to be lifted down while holding the seat cushion with his/her hand. Thus, the entire vehicle seat can be dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F.

[0126] In the dived-down state of the entire vehicle seat, the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are still maintained in the unlocked states, so that when the vehicle seat in the dived-down state is to be returned to the used position of the entire vehicle seat, the person inserts his/her hand into the recess portion of the seat back, and can easily lift the entire vehicle seat up from the dived-down position shown in FIG. 19a to a position shown in FIG. 19b and then return the vehicle seat to the used position of the entire vehicle seat (FIG. 1), while holding the seat back with his/her hand.

[0127] In the condition where the seat cushion is locked in the tipped-up position by the tipping-up lock means, the stopper pin 51 projecting from the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 is separated from the lower portion of the braking link 71 and the braking link 71 comes down by gravity as shown in FIG. 20, so that the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is located at a forward end of the guide hole 78 formed in the first link plate 73.

[0128] When the first operating lever 7 is pull-operated in order that the seat cushion 5 maintained in the tipped-up position is pivoted forward together with the seat back and then dived down, the first link plate 73 is swung upward as shown in FIG. 21, whereby the induction pin 72 of the breaking link 71 which is located at the forward end of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73 is pulled upward, so that the reclining lock means is unlocked as discussed above.

[0129] Even if the reclining lock means is unlocked, the induction pin 72 of the braking link 71 is escapingly moved from the middle hole edge portion 83a of the second link plate 82 toward the upper hole edge portion 83c of the second link plate 82 (FIG. 7) with respect to the second link plate 82 according to the unlocking operation of the reclining lock means, so that the tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked state.

[0130] In the condition where the tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked state, the seat cushion 5 is prevented from being pivoted with respect to the seat back 1 as shown in FIGS. 22a and 22b, so that the seat cushion 5 can be forward pivoted together with the seat back 1 and the entire vehicle seat can be dived down as shown in FIG. 23 and then stored in the space on the lower step portion of the vehicle body floor.

[0131] The diving-down movement of the entire vehicle seat can be performed by the person in the same manner as discussed above. That is, the person inserts his/her hand into the recess portion of the seat back, causes the entire seat to be forward pivoted to the certain extent while holding the seat back with his/her hand. Then, the person causes his/her hand to be removed from the recess portion of the seat back to the recess portion of the seat cushion, and causes the seat cushion to be lifted down while holding the seat cushion with his/her hand. Thus, the entire vehicle seat can be dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F.

[0132] As discussed above, in the condition where the seat cushion 5 is tipped up, even if the reclining lock means is unlocked by operating the first operating lever 7, the tipping-up lock means is kept in the locked state, so that the entire vehicle seat can be angularly adjusted rearward as shown in FIG. 24.

[0133] During changing of the posture of the entire vehicle seat which has been discussed above, namely, during the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion 5 (FIGS. 12b and 12c) or the diving-down movement of the entire vehicle seat (FIGS. 17a and 17b), the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the stored position synchronously with such movement of the seat cushion or the entire vehicle seat. Moreover, during the returning movement of the entire vehicle seat to the used position thereof (FIGS. 19a and 19b) or the returning movement of the seat cushion in the tipped-up state to the first used position, the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the developed position synchronously with such movement of the entire vehicle seat or the seat cushion.

[0134] Incidentally, while the case where the tipping-up lock means and the first and second releasing means are provided on the one side of the vehicle seat has been discussed with respect to the embodiment of the present invention, second tipping-up lock means, third releasing means and fourth releasing means which are constructed in the same manner as the first tipping-up lock means, the first releasing means and the second releasing means are done, respectively, except that the third and fourth releasing means do not include any operating levers, may be provided on the other of the both sides of the vehicle seat. In this case, a fourth wire cable is connected between the first operating lever 7 and a link plate of the third releasing means and a fifth wire cable is connected between the second operating lever 8 and a link plate of the fourth releasing means, so that when the first operating lever is pull-operated, the first releasing means and the third releasing means can be synchronously actuated and, when the second operating lever is pull-operated, the second releasing means and the fourth releasing means can be synchronously actuated.

[0135] Referring to FIGS. 25 to 45b, a tip-up/dive down type vehicle seat according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be discussed hereinafter. The second embodiment is constructed in a substantially same manner as the first embodiment is done, except for following points. In FIGS. 25 to 45b, components that are substantially similar to those of the vehicle seat shown in FIGS. 1 to 24 are designated by the same reference numerals. Like the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of includes the seat back 1 (see FIG. 33) adapted to be pivotally movable and having the spaced apart side brackets serving as the side frame sections of the seat back frame for the seat back 1, the seat cushion 5 pivotally supported to the seat back 1 so as to be capable of being tipped up (see FIG. 33), the reclining lock means including the first and second reclining lock mechanisms 3 for releasably locking the seat back 1 and preventing the pivotal movement of the seat back 1 (only first reclining mechanism 3 is shown in FIG. 33), the first releasing means for unlocking the first and second reclining lock mechanisms 3 and allowing the seat back to be brought to the condition where the seat back is allowed to be pivoted forward and rearward (see FIG. 33), the tipping-up lock means for releasably locking the seat cushion 5 and preventing the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion (see FIG. 33), and the second releasing means for unlocking the tipping-up means and allowing the seat cushion to be brought to the condition where the seat cushion is allowed to be tipped up (see FIG. 33). The reclining lock mechanisms 3 are provided between the lower end portions of the spaced apart side brackets of the seat back 1 and the spaced apart base brackets 2 mounted on the upper step portion f.sub.1 of the vehicle body floor F so as to stand up from the upper step portion f.sub.1, so that the seat back 1 is allowed to be releasably locked with respect to the upper step portion f.sub.1 of the vehicle body floor F by the reclining lock mechanisms 3.

[0136] Like the seat cushion of the first embodiment, the seat cushion 5 of the second embodiment includes the spaced apart side brackets serving as the side frame sections of the seat cushion frame for the seat cushion 5. The spaced apart side brackets of the seat cushion 5 are coupled at the rear end portions thereof to the portions of the side brackets of the seat back 1, which are adjacent the lower end portions of the spaced apart side brackets of the seat back 1, by the support pins 50, whereby the seat cushion 5 is pivotally supported to the seat back 1 so as to be allowed to be tipped up. Like the vehicle seat of the first embodiment, the vehicle seat of the second embodiment further includes the substantially U-shaped stand leg portion 6 in outline which is pivotally connected at the upper end regions of the spaced apart vertical portions thereof to the side brackets of the seat cushion 5 by the support pins 6a. As shown in FIG. 33, the receiving base 6b for receiving and engaging the lower horizontal portion of the stand leg portion 6 is mounted on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F. The stand leg portion 6 is adapted to be engaged at the lower horizontal portion thereof with the receiving base 6b so as to obliquely stand up from the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F, whereby when the seat cushion is located at the first used position, the seat cushion is horizontally supported by the stand leg portion 6 which is releasably engaged with the receiving base 6b.

[0137] Like the reclining lock means of the first embodiment, the reclining lock means of the second embodiment is adapted to be unlocked by pull-operating the first operating lever 7 which is provided in the recess portion of the back of the seat back 1. In the condition where the reclining lock means is unlocked, the person can cause the seat back 1 to be pivoted forward or rearward in one motion while holding the seat back with his/her hand.

[0138] Like the tipping-up lock means of the first embodiment, the tipping-up lock means of the second embodiment is adapted to be unlocked by pull-operating the second operating lever 8 which is provided in the recess portion formed in the bottom region of the forward section of the seat cushion 5. In the condition where the tipping-up lock means is unlocked, the person can cause the seat cushion 5 to be tipped up in one motion while holding the seat cushion with his/her hand.

[0139] Like the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 of the first embodiment, the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 of the second embodiment is provided at the rear portion thereof with the substantially semicircular-arc shaped edge which extends about the support pin 50 of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion. The stopper pin 51 is provided on the side bracket 5 so as to be arranged upward of the support pin 50 of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5.

[0140] Referring to FIG. 25, the vehicle seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the vehicle seat of the first embodiment in that in addition to the first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b, the tipping-up lock means includes a third cutout tooth 52c provided at the substantially semicircular-arc shaped edge of the side bracket 5 so as to be arranged between the first and second cutout teeth 52a, 52b and serving as means to facilitate causing of the seat cushion to be locked in a middle position between the first used position and the tipped-up position of the seat cushion. Like the first cutout tooth 52a of the first embodiment, the first cutout tooth 52a of the second embodiment is configured to include the recess portion which is adapted to receive the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 during the returning of the seat cushion to the first used position from the tipped-up position and has a length X sufficient to allow the seat back in the second used position to be angularly adjusted rearward in the condition where the seat cushion is located in the first used position.

[0141] Referring to FIGS. 26 to 28, the first releasing means of the second embodiment is different from the first releasing means of the first embodiment in that, in addition to the collapsible link bar member 70, the first braking link 71 coupled to the collapsible link bar member 70 and having the induction pin 72, the first link plate 73, and the first operating lever 7, the first releasing means of the second embodiment includes a second braking link 74 provided at the first link plate 73 and an elongated bar 75 collapsibly supported to an upper end portion of the second braking link 74 and having a wire retaining pin 76 projecting laterally from the elongated bar 75 at a free end thereof.

[0142] Like the collapsible link bar member 70 of the first embodiment, the collapsible link bar member 70 of the second embodiment includes the lower bar portion 70a coupled at the first end thereof to the actuating shaft 4 of the first reclining lock mechanism 3 and the upper bar portion 70b connected at the first end thereof to the second end of the lower bar portion 70a by the support pin 70c and extending upward.

[0143] Like the braking link 71 of the first embodiment which is shown in FIG. 4, the first braking link 71 of the second embodiment is swingably connected at the substantially middle portion thereof to the second end of the upper bar portion 70b by the support pin 70d.

[0144] The first link plate 73 of the second embodiment is formed into a substantially triangular shape having three lobes as shown in FIG. 28, and swingably supported at a rearward lobe thereof to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1 by the support pin 77 as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. Like the first link plate 73 of the first embodiment, the first link plate 73 of the second embodiment has the circular arc-shaped guide hole 78 formed therein so as to extend about the support pin 70d of the first braking link 71. The induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is inserted through the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73. The first link plate 73 of the second embodiment is different from the first link plate 73 of the first embodiment in that it has a substantially L-shaped control hole 79 formed therein. The control hole 79 includes a horizontal engaging hole portion 79a located at a position lower than the forward end of the guide hole 78, and a vertical hole portion 79b vertically extending so as to continue from the horizontal engaging hole portion 79a. The wire retaining pin 76 of the elongated bar 75 is inserted through the control hole 79 of the first link plate 73.

[0145] The second braking link 74 is mounted at a middle portion thereof to the first link plate 73 by a support pin 74a in such a manner that a lower portion of the second braking link 74 is adapted to be abutted against the stopper pin 51 from the direction opposite to the direction from which the lower portion of the first braking link 71 is abutted against the stopper pin 51. The elongated bar 75 is connected to the upper end portion of the second braking link 74 by a support pin 74b. The vehicle seat of the second embodiment is further different from the vehicle seat of the first embodiment in that the wire 7a of the first wire cable of the first operating lever 7 is connected to the wire retaining pin 76 projecting laterally from the upper end of the elongated bar 75.

[0146] In the vehicle seat of the second embodiment, when the first operating lever 7 is pull-operated, the wire retaining pin 76 of the elongated bar 75 which is engaged with the horizontal engaging hole portion 79a of the control hole 79 is drawn upward and the first link plate 73, the first braking link 71, and the link bar member 70 are drawn up, whereby the actuating shafts 4 of the first and second reclining mechanisms are synchronously rotated and the reclining lock means is brought to the unlocked state. Moreover, when the first operating lever 7 is released from the pulled-state, the components including the first link plate 73, the first braking link 71 and the link bar member 70 come down by gravity, whereby the actuating shafts 4 of the reclining mechanisms are rotated back and the reclining lock means is brought to the locked state.

[0147] As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the tipping-up lock means of the second embodiment includes the first, second and third cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c provided at the substantially semicircular arc-shaped edge of the side bracket 5, the latch 80 swingably supported at the forward portion thereof to the side bracket 1 of the seat back by the support pin 80a, and the cam member 81 supported to the support pin 77 of the first link plate 73.

[0148] Like the latch 80 of the first embodiment which is shown in FIG. 5, the latch 80 of the second embodiment is provided at the lower edge region of the rearward portion thereof with the projecting tooth 80b as shown in FIG. 29. The projecting tooth 80b is adapted to be selectively and releasably engaged with the first, second and third cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5. In order that the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 can be securely engaged with the second and third teeth 52b, 52c, the projecting tooth 80b is configured to include the two spaced apart projecting tooth-portions.

[0149] As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the cam member 81 is swingably supported at the cam body thereof to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1 by the support pin 77 of the first link plate 73 with the lower portion thereof being directed to the upper region of the rearward portion of the latch 80.

[0150] Like the latch 80 of the first embodiment, the latch 80 of the second embodiment has the engaging step portion 80c formed in the upper region of the rearward portion thereof. The lower portion of the cam member 81 is releasably abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80, whereby the cam member 81 functions as the prop with respect to the latch 80, so that the engagement between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5 can be positively maintained.

[0151] Like the cam member 81 of the first embodiment, the angle of the cam member 81 relative to the latch 80 is set in such a manner that the angle between the reference line L.sub.1 connecting the axial center O.sub.1 of the support pin 80a of the latch 80 and the abutment point P of the cam member 81 against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80, and the line L.sub.2 connecting the axial center O.sub.2 of the support pin 77 of the cam member 81 and the abutment point P is kept to be an acute angle, as shown in FIG. 29.

[0152] Like the cam member 81 of the first embodiment, the lower portion of the cam member 81 of the second embodiment is formed into the substantially semielliptical shape. Correspondingly to such a shape of the lower portion of the cam member 81, the bottom surface of the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 is formed so as to have the substantially J-shape which allows the lower portion of the cam member 81 to be easily abutted against the engaging step portion 80c. Moreover, the substantially J-shaped bottom surface of the engaging step portion 80c is formed so as to have a curve which allows at least half or more region of the lower longitudinal portion of the cam member 81 to be received by the engaging step portion 80c, so that the lower longitudinal portion of the cam member 81 can be positively abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and stably received by the engaging step portion 80c.

[0153] Like the second releasing means of the first embodiment, the second releasing means of the second embodiment includes the recess portion 80d formed in the upper region of the rearward portion of the latch 80 for allowing the swinging movement of the cam member 81, the second link plate 82 supported to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1 by the support pin 77 of the first link plate 73, and the second operating lever 8. The second operating lever 8 is coupled to the second link plate 82 via the wire 8a of the second wire cable that is inserted through the tube 8b of the second wire cable.

[0154] The recess portion 80d of the latch 80 extends continuously from the edge of the engaging step portion 80c and is formed so as to have the depth which is not less than the height of the engaged region between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c and allows the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 to be escapingly disengaged from each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c. In the illustrated example, the recess portion 80d of the latch 80 is formed so as to have the substantially U-shape which has the depth larger than the height of the engaged region between the projecting tooth 80d and each of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c and fits the lower portion of the cam member 81.

[0155] The recess portion 80d of the latch 80 serves to allow the cam member 81 to be swung up in such a manner that the lower portion of the cam member 81 is disengaged from the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and slips into the recess portion 80d. As the cam member 81 is swung up, the latch 80 is swung up in such a manner the projecting tooth 80b is positively disengaged from any one of the cutout teeth 52a, 52b, 52c of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion. Incidentally, like the latch of the first embodiment, the latch 80 of the second embodiment is held so as to be stably swingable with respect to the holding plate 90 (FIG. 27) which is supported by the support pin 50 of the side bracket 5 and the support pin 80a of the latch 80.

[0156] As discussed above, the first link plate 73, the second link plate 82 and the cam member 81 are supported to the support pin 77 which is rotatably supported to the side bracket 1 of the seat back 1. The cam member 81 and the second link plate 82 are fixed to the support pin 77, so that they are swingable together.

[0157] Like the second link plate 82 of the first embodiment which is shown in FIG. 7, the second link plate 82 of the second embodiment is formed with the opening hole 83 which receives the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 and has the middle hole edge region 83a against which the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is adapted to be engagingly abutted when the entire vehicle seat is located at the used position of the entire vehicle seat, the lower hole edge region 83b toward which the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is adapted to be escaping moved from the middle hole edge region 83a when the seat cushion is tipped up, and the upper hole edge region 83c toward which the induction pin 72 is adapted to be escapingly moved when the seat cushion is in the tipped-up condition and the reclining lock means is unlocked.

[0158] When the second operating lever 8 is pull-operated by the person, the second link plate 82 and the cam member 81 are swung upward together and the latch 80 is swung upward by the upward movement of the cam member 81, whereby the tipping-up means is unlocked. Moreover, when the second operating lever 8 is released from the pulled-state, the entire components which include the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 come down by gravity, whereby the tipping-up lock means is brought to the locked state.

[0159] Like the stand leg portion 6 of the first embodiment which is shown in FIG. 8, the stand leg portion 6 of the second embodiment is typically urged toward the stored position under the seat cushion by the tension spring 10 which is retained at the one end thereof to the upper end region of the one of the spaced apart vertical portions of the U-shaped stand leg portion 6 and retained at the other end thereof to the one of the side brackets of the seat cushion. Moreover, the wire of the third wire cable 11 which is inserted through the tube 11c of the third wire cable 11 is coupled at the one end portion 11a thereof to the upper end region of the vertical portion of the stand leg portion 6 and coupled at the other end portion thereof to the seat back.

[0160] Like the third wire cable 11 of the first embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 9a to 9c, the other end portion 11b of the wire of the third wire cable 11 of the second embodiment is supported to the retaining piece 12 which is provided at the suitable portion of the seat back frame. The other end portion 11b of the wire of the third wire cable 11 is provided with the spherical end stop 11d and penetrated through the slit of the retaining piece 12 so as to be movable relative to the retaining piece 12. Like the first embodiment, any suitable compensator for compensating the pulling force exerted on the wire of the third wire cable 11 and adjusting the total length of the wire of the third wire cable 11 is provided at the suitable portion of the wire of the third wire cable 11.

[0161] When the seat cushion is located at the first used position, the wire of the third wire cable 11 is in the condition shown in FIG. 9a. In this condition, when the person causes the tipped-up lock means to be unlocked by pulling the second operating lever 8 and then causes the seat cushion to be tipped up while allowing the stand leg portion 6 to be disengaged from the receiving base 6b (FIG. 33), the wire of the third wire cable 11 is pushed so as to overcome the action of the tension spring 10 (as shown in FIG. 9b) and allow the stand leg portion 6 to be pivoted toward the developed position thereof until the seat cushion reaches a position just before the tipped-up position. On the other hand, as the seat cushion is pivoted toward the tipped-up position from the position just before the tipped-up position, the action of the tension spring (FIG. 8) is exerted on the wire of the third wire cable 11, whereby the wire of the third wire cable 11 is moved in such a manner that the wire end portion 11b is moved relative to the retaining piece 12 so as to project from the retaining piece as shown in FIG. 9c. Thus, the stand leg portion 6 is moved to the stored position by the action of the tension spring 10.

[0162] By the wire of the third wire cable 11, the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the stored position synchronously with the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion and the diving-down movement of the entire vehicle seat, and can be pivoted toward the developed position synchronously with returning of the entire seat toward the used position of the entire vehicle seat or returning of the seat cushion to the first used position.

[0163] In the tip-up/dive down type reclining vehicle-seat of the second embodiment which is constructed as discussed above, in a condition where the entire seat is located at the used position thereof (FIG. 1) and the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are in the locked states (FIG. 26), the lower end portion of the first braking link 71 is stoppingly engaged with the stopper pin 51 provided on the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion 5, so that the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is located at the rear end portion of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73, whereby the used position of the entire vehicle seat is determined.

[0164] In the condition where the entire seat is located at the used position thereof, the second braking link 74 is hanged down from the first link plate 73 by gravity and assumes a posture in which a lower portion of the second braking link 74 is located close to the stopper pin 51 but is not contacted with the stopper pin 51. Therefore, the elongated bar 75 is in a condition where it becomes collapsed relative to the second braking link 74, and the wire retaining pin 76 is located in the engaging hole portion 79a of the control hole 79 formed in the first link plate 73.

[0165] In the condition where the entire seat is located at the used position thereof, when the person pulls the first operating lever 7 in order to cause the reclining lock means to be unlocked, the wire 7a of the first wire cable is pulled up so as to drawn up the wire retaining pin 76 located at the horizontal engaging hole portion 79a of the control hole 79 as shown in FIG. 30, whereby the first link plate 73 is swung up about the support pin 77. Moreover, the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is located at the rearward end of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73 and engaged with the middle hole edge 83a of the opening hole 83 formed in the second link plate 82, so that the second link plate 82 is also pulled up by the drawing-up of the wire retaining pin 76.

[0166] When the first link plate 73 is swung up about the support pin 77, the induction pin 72 is drawn up and the first braking link 71 coupled via the induction pin 72 to the first link plate 73 is pulled upwardly, to thereby cause the collapsible link bar member 70 to be pulled upwardly as shown in FIG. 31. Thus, the reclining lock means is brought to the unlocked state.

[0167] Moreover, when the first link plate 73 is swung upward, the second link plate 82 is also swung upward as discussed above, whereby the cam member 81 is swung upward in such a manner that the lower portion of the cam member 81 is disengaged from the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and slips into the recess portion 80d of the latch 80. As the lower portion of the cam member 81 slips into the recess portion 80d of the latch 80, the latch 80 is swung up in such a manner that the projecting tooth 80b is disengaged from the first cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5, whereby the tipping-up lock means is also unlocked.

[0168] The recess portion 80d of the latch 80 is configured to have the depth larger than the height of the engaged region between the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 and the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 as discussed above, so that as the lower portion of the cam member 81 slips into the recess portion 80d, the latch is considerably swung up, whereby the projecting tooth 80b can be positively disengaged from the first cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5.

[0169] In the condition where the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are unlocked, the seat back can be angularly adjusted rearward by an extent corresponding to the length X of the recess portion of the first cutout tooth 52a (FIG. 25), as shown in FIG. 33. When the first operating lever 7 is released from the pulled-state after the seat back is angularly adjusted rearward, the components which include the first link plate 73, the first braking link 71, the link bar member 70, the second link plate 82, the cam member 81, and the latch 80 come down by gravity, whereby the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are locked. Thus, the entire vehicle seat is maintained in the used position thereof.

[0170] In the condition where the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are unlocked, the seat back 1 is pivoted forward and the entire vehicle seat can be dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F, as shown in FIGS. 34a and 34b. In this case, the components which include the first link plate 73, the first braking plate 71, the link bar member 70, the second link plate 82, the cam member 81 and the latch 80 cannot come down by gravity as shown in FIGS. 35a and 35b during the forward pivotal movement of the seat back from the substantially vertical position, so that the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are maintained in the unlocked states.

[0171] In the condition which the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are maintained in the unlocked states, the person causes the entire seat to be forward pivoted to a certain extent while holding the seat back with his/her hand. Then, the person causes his/her hand to be removed from the recess portion of the seat back to the recess portion of the seat cushion and causes the seat cushion to be lifted down while holding the seat cushion with his/her hand. Thus, the entire vehicle seat can be dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion f.sub.2 of the vehicle body floor F.

[0172] In the dived-down state of the entire vehicle seat, the reclining lock means and the tipping-up lock means are still maintained in the unlocked states, so that when the vehicle seat in the dived-down state is to be returned to the used position of the entire vehicle seat, the person inserts his/her hand into the recess portion of the seat back, and can easily lift the entire vehicle seat up from the dived-down position shown in FIG. 36a to a position shown in FIG. 36b and then return the vehicle seat to the used position of the entire vehicle seat (FIG. 1), while holding the seat back with his/her hand.

[0173] In a case where the seat cushion is to be tipped up in the condition where the entire vehicle seat is located at the used position thereof, when the second operating lever is pull-operated as shown in FIG. 37, as discussed above, the second link plate 82 is swung up about the support pin 77 and the cam member 81 is also swung up together with the second link plate 81 in such a manner that the lower portion of the cam member 81 is disengaged from the engaging step portion of the latch 80 and slips into the recess portion 80d of the latch 80, whereby the latch 80 is swung up in such a manner that the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is disengaged from the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5. Thus, the tipping-up lock means is brought to the unlocked-state (FIG. 32).

[0174] When the tipping-up lock means is unlocked, the induction pin 72 is escapingly moved toward the lower hole edge region 83b of the opening hole 83 relative to the second link plate 82. Therefore, the induction pin 72 is not drawn up by the second link plate 82, so that the reclining lock means is not unlocked.

[0175] In the condition where the tippling-up lock means is unlocked, namely, the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is disengaged from the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5, when the person lifts the seat cushion up from the forward direction while leaving the second operating lever pulled and holding the seat cushion with his/her hand, the cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 of the seat cushion is moved away from the first cutout tooth 80b of the latch 80. Thus, the seat cushion 5 is tipped up from the first used position to a middle position between the first used position and the tipped-up position (see FIG. 38) or tipped up from the first used position to the tipped-up position (see FIG. 39).

[0176] In the condition where the seat cushion is tipped up to the tipped-up position for example, when the second operating lever is released from the pulled-state, the components including the second link plate 82, the cam member 81, and the latch 80 come down by gravity as shown in FIG. 40. At this time, the lower portion of the cam member 81 is engagingly abutted against the engaging step portion 80c of the latch 80 and the projecting tooth 80b of the latch 80 is engaged with the second cutout tooth 52c, whereby the seat cushion is maintained in the tipped-up condition.

[0177] In a case where the seat cushion 5 is to be returned to the first used position from the tipped-up position or the middle position, when the second operating lever is pull-operated, the tipping-up lock means is unlocked. In this condition, the seat cushion can be returned to the first used position.

[0178] When the seat cushion is locked in the tipped-up position (FIG. 40), the stopper pin 51 of the side bracket 5 is separated from the lower portion of the first and second braking links 71, 74 and the first and second braking links 71, 74 come down by gravity. Thereby, the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is moved to the forward end of the guide hole 78 formed in the first link plate 73. On the other hand, the wire retaining pin 76 provided at the elongated bar 75 which is connected to the second braking link 74 is moved toward the horizontal engaging hole portion 79a of the control hole 79 formed in the first link plate 73.

[0179] When the first operating lever 7 is pull-operated in order that the seat cushion is pivoted forward together with the seat back from the tipped-up position, dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion of the vehicle body floor, the first link plate 73 is swung up as shown in FIG. 41 and the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 which is located at the forward end of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73 is drawn up, whereby the reclining lock means is unlocked as discussed above.

[0180] When the reclining lock means is unlocked, the induction pin 72 of the first braking link 71 is located at the forward end of the guide hole 78 of the first link plate 73 and escapingly moved toward the upper hole edge region 83c of the opening hole 83 formed in the second link plate 82, so that the second link plate 82 is not swung and the tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked-state.

[0181] The tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked-state, so that the seat cushion can be pivoted forward together with the seat back without pivoting with respect to the seat back as shown in FIG. 42a, and the entire vehicle seat can be dived down in the condition where the tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked-state as shown in FIG. 42b.

[0182] When the entire seat is to be dived down and stored in the space on the lower step portion of the vehicle body floor, the person causes the vehicle seat to be pivoted forward by the certain extent, while holding the seat back with his/her hand, causes his/her hand to be removed from the seat back to the seat cushion and can cause the vehicle seat to be dived down while lifting the seat cushion down with his/her hand.

[0183] Even if the reclining lock means is unlocked by pull-operating of the first operating lever 7, the tipping-up lock means is maintained in the locked-state, so that the entire vehicle seat in the condition where the seat cushion 5 is tipped up can be angularly adjusted rearward by the extent corresponding to the length X of the recess portion of the first cutout tooth 52a of the side bracket 5 (FIG. 25), as shown in FIG. 43.

[0184] When the seat cushion 5 is locked in the middle position, the second braking link 74 is kicked up by the stopper pin 51 as shown in FIG. 44. At this time, the elongated bar 75 is pushed by the second braking link 74, whereby the wire retaining pin 76 is moved to a connecting hole portion between the horizontal engaging hole portion 79a and the vertical hole portion 79b of the control hole 79.

[0185] In the condition where the seat cushion 5 is located at the middle position, even if the first operating lever 7 is erroneously pull-operated, the wire retaining pin 76 is moved toward the vertical hole portion 79b from the connecting hole portion of the control hole 79 (FIG. 28) at this time as shown in FIG. 45a, so that the reclining lock means is idly operated so as not to be unlocked. Thus, the seat cushion is not allowed to be pivoted with respect to the seat back and maintained in the condition where it is locked with respect to the seat back as shown in FIG. 45b.

[0186] During changing of the posture of the entire vehicle seat which has been discussed above, namely, during the tipping-up movement of the seat cushion 5 or the diving-down movement of the entire vehicle seat, the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the stored position synchronously with such movement of the seat cushion or the entire vehicle seat. Moreover, during the returning movement of the entire vehicle seat to the used position thereof or the returning movement of the seat cushion in the tipped-up state to the first used position, the stand leg portion 6 can be pivoted toward the developed position synchronously with such movement of the entire vehicle seat or the seat cushion.

[0187] Incidentally, while the case where the tipping-up lock means and the first and second releasing means are provided on the one side of the vehicle seat has been discussed with respect to the second embodiment of the present invention, second tipping-up lock means, third releasing means and fourth releasing means which are constructed in the same manner as the first tipping-up lock means, the first releasing means and the second releasing means are done, respectively, except that the third and fourth releasing means do not include any operating levers, may be provided on the other of the both sides of the vehicle seat. In this case, a fourth wire cable is connected between the first operating lever 7 and a link plate of the third releasing means and a fifth wire cable is connected between the second operating lever 8 and a link plate of the fourth releasing means, so that when the first operating lever is pull-operated, the first releasing means and the third releasing means can be synchronously actuated and, when the second operating lever is pull-operated, the second releasing means and the fourth releasing means can be synchronously actuated.

[0188] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and description, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible with the scope of the invention claimed.