Headrest

Abstract

To provide a headrest allowing an occupant to listen to music or the like with a simple structure.SOLUTION: The headrest 14 is the headrest 14 that is provided at the upper end portion of the seatback 12 of the vehicle seat 10, and has the stay 16 that is a frame member, the pad that is a cushion member that is mounted to the stay 16, the trim cover 22 that covers the pad and in which the insert-through hole is formed, and the impact absorbing member 36 that is embedded in the pad and in which the cavity portion 38 into which the portable music player can be inserted through the insert-through hole is formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a headrest for a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses that an in-vehicle display device used by passengers in the rear seats is housed inside the headrest of the front seats.

[0003] Patent Document 2 below discloses that two speakers, one on the left and one on the right, are mounted inside the headrest. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-138642 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-194953 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to the use of an in-vehicle display device housed in a headrest by an occupant in the front seat where the headrest is provided.

[0006] In the above Patent Document 2, a speaker is installed inside the headrest, allowing the occupant of the seat where the headrest is installed to listen to music, etc., but since the headrest is manufactured as a headrest with a speaker, the structure of the headrest becomes complex.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a headrest with a simple structure that allows an occupant to listen to music or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The headrest of the first embodiment is a headrest provided at the upper end of the seat back of a vehicle seat, and comprises a stay which is a skeletal member, a pad which is a cushioning material attached to the stay, a trim cover which covers the pad and has an insertion hole formed therein, and an impact absorbing member which is embedded in the pad and has a hollow portion into which a portable music player can be inserted through the insertion hole.

[0009] A headrest of a first aspect is provided at the upper end of a seat back of a vehicle seat. In this headrest, a pad, which is a cushioning material, is attached to a stay, which is a framework member. The pad is covered by a trim cover having an insertion hole formed therein. An impact absorbing member is embedded in the pad. The impact absorbing member has a cavity formed therein into which a portable music player, such as a smartphone, can be inserted through the insertion hole. This allows an occupant seated in the vehicle seat to listen to music by playing the music on the portable music player inserted into the cavity. Moreover, because the headrest is not manufactured as a headrest with a speaker, the structure can be simplified.

[0010] The headrest of the second aspect is the headrest of the first aspect, wherein the inner surface of the cavity is coated.

[0011] In the second embodiment of the headrest, the inner surface of the hollow portion into which a portable music player can be inserted is coated, making it possible to effectively reverberate the sound emitted from the portable music player within the hollow portion.

[0012] A headrest of a third aspect is the headrest of the first or second aspect, wherein the trim cover has a closing portion that closes the insertion hole.

[0013] In the headrest of the third aspect, the insertion hole of the trim cover is closed by the closing portion, so that the headrest can have a good appearance.

[0014] In a fourth aspect of the headrest, the impact absorbing member is formed with a sound hole that connects the cavity to the front surface of the impact absorbing member.

[0015] In the headrest of the fourth aspect, the hollow portion is connected to the front surface of the impact absorbing member by a sound hole formed in the impact absorbing member, so that sound reverberating within the hollow portion is easily transmitted to the front surface of the impact absorbing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the headrest according to the present invention allows the occupant to listen to music or the like with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a vehicle seat provided with a headrest according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a portion of the vehicle seat. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the vehicle seat, and is a first diagram showing a state in which a headrest pad and a trim cover have been removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the vehicle seat, and is a second view showing a state in which a headrest pad and a trim cover have been removed. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the vehicle seat, and is a first diagram showing a state in which a lid serving as a closing portion provided on a trim cover of a headrest is opened. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the vehicle seat, and is a second view showing a state in which the lid of the trim cover is open. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which the closing portion of the trim cover is a zipper. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example in which the closing portion of the trim cover is a folded pocket lid. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example in which a layer of coating is applied to the inner surface of the impact absorbing member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example in which a two-layer coating is applied to the inner surface of the impact absorbing member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A headrest 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Note that in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted to make the drawings easier to understand. Arrows FR, LH, RH, and UP, which are appropriately shown in each figure, respectively indicate the front, left, right, and top of a vehicle seat 10 provided with the headrest 14. Hereinafter, when the front-rear, left-right, top-bottom directions are used in the description, they will refer to directions relative to the vehicle seat 10.

[0019] 1 and 2, the headrest 14 according to this embodiment is provided at the upper end of the seat back 12 of the vehicle seat 10. This vehicle seat 10 is, for example, a front seat disposed on the right side of the front part of the vehicle compartment. When this vehicle seat 10 is disposed on the left side of the front part of the vehicle compartment, the configuration is symmetrical to that of this embodiment.

[0020] The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion (not shown) on which an occupant sits, a seat back 12 that supports the occupant's back, and a headrest 14 attached to the upper end of the seat back 12. The headrest 14 may be integral with the seat back 12.

[0021] The headrest 14 includes a stay 16 as a framework member, a pad 20 as a cushioning material, a trim cover 22 as a surface, and an impact absorbing member 36 embedded in the pad 20. The stay 16 is manufactured by bending a metal pipe material, for example, and as shown in Figures 2 to 4, has a pair of left and right leg portions 16A and a connecting portion 16B that connects the upper ends of the left and right leg portions 16A in the left-right direction.

[0022] The lower portions of the left and right legs 16A are inserted into two left and right headrest bushings 18 (see Figures 3 and 4) provided at the upper end of the seat back 12. This connects the stay 16 to the seat back 12 so that its vertical position can be adjusted. The vertical middle portions of the left and right legs 16A are bent in a generally crank shape. As a result, the upper portions of the left and right legs 16A are shifted toward the center and forward in the horizontal direction relative to the lower portions of the left and right legs 16A.

[0023] The upper portion and the vertical middle portion of the stay 16 are embedded in a pad 20. The pad 20 is made of a foam such as polyurethane foam and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The pad 20 is attached to the stay 16 by being foam-molded integrally with the stay 16. The pad 20 is covered with a trim cover 22. The trim cover 22 is made into a bag shape by sewing together multiple skin pieces made of, for example, cloth, leather, synthetic leather, etc., and is placed over the pad 20 from above.

[0024] The impact absorbing member 36 embedded in the pad 20 is made of a foam such as foamed polypropylene, and has a long box shape. The impact absorbing member 36 is disposed on the upper rear side of the stay 16 with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction. The impact absorbing member 36 is attached to the stay 16, for example, and embedded in the pad 20 by being foam-molded integrally with the pad 20. Because the impact absorbing member 36 is made of foam, it can be attached to various types of stays 16. The impact absorbing member 36 is a member for protecting the head of an occupant in a rear seat (not shown) located behind the vehicle seat 10 in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, etc.

[0025] The left-right dimension of the impact absorbing member 36 is set larger than the up-down dimension of the impact absorbing member 36, and the up-down dimension of the impact absorbing member 36 is set larger than the front-rear dimension of the impact absorbing member 36. A cavity 38 is formed inside the impact absorbing member 36. The cavity 38 has the same shape as the outer shape of the impact absorbing member 36. The left-right dimension of the cavity 38 is set larger than the up-down dimension of the cavity 38, and the up-down dimension of the cavity 38 is set larger than the front-rear dimension of the cavity 38.

[0026] The left end surface of the impact absorbing member 36 is exposed from the pad 20. An opening 40 is formed in the left end surface of the impact absorbing member 36, connecting the hollow portion 38 with the outside of the impact absorbing member 36. The opening 40 is generally elongated with its longitudinal direction in the vertical direction. A portable music player with a speaker, such as a smartphone, can be inserted into the hollow portion 38 through the opening 40.

[0027] 3 and 4, two sound holes 42, one on the left and one on the right, are formed in the front surface of the impact absorbing member 36. The left and right sound holes 42 penetrate the front wall of the impact absorbing member 36 in the front-rear direction, and connect the cavity 38 to the front surface of the impact absorbing member 36. The left and right sound holes 42 are located outward in the left-right direction from the upper parts of the left and right leg portions 16A of the stay 16, and are formed in a circular shape, for example.

[0028] 5 and 6, an insertion hole 24 is formed in the trim cover 22 at a location facing the opening 40. This insertion hole 24 is formed in the same shape as the opening 40 and is generally elongated with its longitudinal axis extending in the up-down direction. A portable music player can be inserted into the cavity 38 from outside the headrest 14 through this insertion hole 24. The trim cover 22 has a lid 26 that can be used as a closing portion to close this insertion hole 24.

[0029] The lid 26 is configured as a long plate, for example, with a skin piece 26A made of the same material as the skin material constituting the trim cover 22 and a resin plate 26B for preventing sound leakage joined to the back surface of the skin piece 26A, and is disposed with its longitudinal direction in the vertical direction. The front edge of the lid 26 is sewn to the trim cover 22 at a stitching portion S1 shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6. The lid 26 is rotatable between an open position (position shown in Figures 5 and 6) in which the insertion hole 24 is opened, and a closed position (position shown in Figure 1) in which the insertion hole 24 is closed.

[0030] A male or female hook-and-loop fastener 28 is attached by sewing or other means to the rear edge of the lid 26. A female or male hook-and-loop fastener 30 is attached by sewing or other means to the rear edge of the insertion hole 24 in the trim cover 22. When the lid 26 is in the closed position, the hook-and-loop fasteners 28, 30 engage with each other, thereby restraining the lid 26 in the closed position.

[0031] The closing portion is not limited to the lid 26. For example, the closing portion may be a fastener 32 shown in FIG. 7 or a folded-up pocket lid 34 shown in FIG. 8. In the example shown in FIG. 7, a slit-shaped insertion hole 24 formed in the trim cover 22 is opened and closed by a fastener 32 attached to the trim cover 22. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the slit-shaped insertion hole 24 formed in the trim cover 22 is covered by a folded-up pocket lid 34 attached to the trim cover 22. The front edge and both upper and lower edges of the folded-up pocket lid 34 are sewn to the trim cover 22 at stitching portions S2, and the rear edge is not sewn to the trim cover 22. The rear edge of the folded-up pocket lid 34 can be folded back toward the front edge to expose the insertion hole 24.

[0032] As shown in Figure 9, a layer of coating 44 is applied to the inner surface of cavity 38 of impact absorbing member 36. This coating 44 is made of a polystyrene resin using, for example, an ethanol-based solvent, and does not dissolve the foamed polypropylene that is the material of impact absorbing member 36. Note that, as shown in Figure 10, a configuration in which another layer of coating 46 is applied on top of coating 44 may also be used. This coating 46 is made of, for example, glass fiber reinforced resin.

[0033] In the headrest 14 configured as described above, a pad 20, which is a cushioning material, is attached to the stay 16, which is a framework member. The pad 20 is covered by a trim cover 22, which has an insertion hole 24 formed therein. An impact absorbing member 36 is embedded in the pad 20. The impact absorbing member 36 has a cavity 38 formed therein, into which a portable music player such as a smartphone can be inserted through the insertion hole 24.

[0034] Therefore, an occupant seated in the vehicle seat 10 can listen to music or radio broadcasts by playing music or radio broadcasts on a portable music player inserted in the cavity 38. In this case, there is no need to connect the portable music player to the vehicle's audio system, and no special operation is required; simply play a playlist or radio program stored on the portable music player. Moreover, because the headrest 14 is not manufactured as a headrest with a speaker, it can be made to have a simple and inexpensive structure.

[0035] Moreover, in this headrest 14, the inner surface of the cavity 38 into which a portable music player can be inserted is coated with a coating 44, so that the sound emitted from the portable music player can be effectively reflected within the cavity 38. Also, in this headrest 14, the insertion hole 24 of the trim cover 22 is covered with the lid 26, which improves the appearance.

[0036] Furthermore, in this headrest 14, the impact absorbing member 36 is formed with left and right sound escape holes 42 that connect the cavity 38 to the front surface of the impact absorbing member 36. This facilitates transmission of sound reverberating within the cavity 38 to the front surface of the impact absorbing member 36, preventing sound from diffusing to the surrounding area and ensuring that music, etc., is heard only by the occupant seated in the vehicle seat 10. As a result, the occupant seated in the vehicle seat 10 can listen to music, etc., without disturbing fellow passengers, which is effective, for example, when the fellow passenger is sleeping. The cavity 38 of the impact absorbing member 36 can also be used as a storage compartment for small items.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention can be practiced with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10 Vehicle seats 12 Seat back 14 Headrest 16 Stay 20 pads 22 Trim cover 24 Insertion hole 26 Lid (occlusion part) 32 Zipper (closure) 34 Folded pocket lid (closure part) 36 Impact absorbing member 38 Cavity 42 Sound hole 44, 46 Coating

Claims

1. A headrest provided at an upper end of a seat back of a vehicle seat, A stay, which is a skeletal member; a pad that is a cushioning material attached to the stay; a trim cover that covers the pad and has an insertion hole formed therein; an impact absorbing member that is embedded in the pad and has a hollow portion formed therein into which a portable music player can be inserted through the insertion hole; Headrest with.

2. The headrest according to claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the cavity is coated.

3. The headrest according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the trim cover has a closing portion that closes the insertion hole.

4. 3. The headrest according to claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing member has a sound hole formed therein, the sound hole communicating with the cavity and a front surface of the impact absorbing member.

Images