Armrest structure of vehicle seat

Abstract

Provided is an armrest structure for a vehicle seat, the angle of an armrest being adjustable, and the angle being maintained regardless of the reclining angle of a seat back. An armrest structure (AK) for a vehicle seat is provided to a vehicle seat (ST) having a seat cushion (91), a seat back (92) that can be tilted backward relative to the seat cushion (91), and an armrest (93) attached to the seat back (92), the armrest structure being provided with: a brake unit (AKA) that brakes the seat cushion (91) and the armrest (93); when the torque applied to the armrest (93) exceeds a specified value, the armrest (93) is allowed to rotate around an axis (CL3), so that the angle of the armrest (93) relative to the seat cushion (91) can be adjusted, and when the torque does not exceed the specified value, rotation is forbidden; and a parallel link portion (AKB) that maintains the angle of the armrest (93) with respect to the seat cushion (91) regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back (92) during the reclining operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an armrest structure of a seat for a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an armrest structure for maintaining an armrest substantially horizontally regardless of the inclination angle of a seat back in a reclining seat installed in an automobile or the like.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-145540 Summary of the invention

[0006] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0007] In the armrest structure described in Patent Document 1, since the armrest is maintained substantially horizontally, it cannot be adjusted to an angle preferred by the occupant.

[0008] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an armrest structure for a vehicle seat as follows: the angle of the armrest can be adjusted, and the adjusted angle can be maintained regardless of the rearward tilt angle of the seat back.

[0009] Technical solutions to technical problems

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0011] 1) An armrest structure provided on a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat back capable of reclining relative to the seat cushion, and an armrest mounted on the seat back, the armrest structure comprising:

[0012] a brake portion, which allows the armrest to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the seat back so as to adjust the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion when the torque applied to the armrest exceeds a specified value, and prohibits the armrest from rotating about the axis when the torque does not exceed the specified value; and

[0013] A parallel link portion maintains the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion regardless of a rearward tilt angle of the seat cushion in the rearward tilting motion.

[0014] 2) The handrail structure according to 1), wherein:

[0015] The armrest has an arm-shaped box structure.

[0016] The seat back has a seat back frame inside.

[0017] The parallel link portion has a bracket rotatably connected to the seat back frame.

[0018] The braking portion is accommodated inside the armrest, and comprises: a fixed portion, which is fixed relative to the bracket in a non-rotatable manner; a rotating portion, which is connected to the armrest and is rotatable relative to the fixed portion; and an intermediate portion, which is interposed between the fixed portion and the rotating portion and generates rotation resistance when the rotating portion rotates relative to the fixed portion.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained: the angle of the armrest can be adjusted, and the adjusted angle can be maintained regardless of the rearward tilt angle of the seat back. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a left side view of the vehicle seat ST equipped with an armrest 93 provided in one embodiment of the armrest structure of the vehicle seat according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 1 is a left side view showing an armrest structure AK which is one embodiment of the armrest structure of the vehicle seat according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the handrail 93 provided in the handrail structure AK.

[0024] Figure 4 1 is an assembly diagram showing a partial cross section of the brake portion AKA in the handrail structure AK.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a slide cylinder 77 provided in the braking unit AKA.

[0026] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing the coil spring 76 provided in the braking portion AKA.

[0027] Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing a pressure plate 78 provided in the braking unit AKA.

[0028] Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing a stopper frame 75 provided in the braking unit AKA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] One embodiment of the armrest structure of the vehicle seat of the present invention is described by the armrest structure AK. Figure 1 The arrows shown indicate the direction of the left side. Figure 1 The near side direction of the paper surface is Figure 1 The left-right direction is also referred to as the width direction.

[0030] First, refer to Figure 1 The outline of the structure of the vehicle seat ST equipped with the armrest structure AK will be described. Figure 1 It is a left side view of the vehicle seat ST.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, a vehicle seat ST (hereinafter referred to as a seat ST) includes a seat cushion 91, a seat back 92, and an armrest 93. The seat ST is attached to a floor FL of a vehicle via a leg portion 911.

[0032] The seat cushion 91 has a seat cushion frame 912 as a frame inside. The seat cushion frame 912 is connected to the leg portion 911 and integrated.

[0033] The seat back 92 is connected to the rearward reclining parts RK respectively provided on the left and right sides of the rear part of the seat cushion 91 in a manner that allows the seat back 92 to be reclined. Specifically, the seat back 92 is provided so as to be rotatable around the axis CL1 provided in the rearward reclining part RK as indicated by the arrow DR1, and is fixed at an arbitrary angle by a locking mechanism (not shown), and is released by operating a lock release lever (not shown).

[0034] The armrest 93 is installed in a bilaterally symmetrical shape and structure on the left and right sides of the seat back 92. Specifically, the armrest 93 is connected to the seat back frame 921 as a frame accommodated inside the seat back 92 via the brake part AKA. More specifically, due to the brake part AKA, the armrest 93 rotates around the axis CL3 of the root part as shown by the arrow DR2 by the hand of the passenger, so that the angle around the axis CL3 can be adjusted.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the angle θ of the armrest 93 is explained as the angle θ formed by the line segment LN93 relative to the line segment LN91, which passes through the axis CL3 and the center position in the vertical direction of the front end portion of the armrest 93, and the line segment LN91 represents the seat cushion 91. The line segment LN91 may be replaced by the angle of the floor FL on which the seat cushion 91 lands.

[0036] The following description will be made by taking the armrest 93 attached to the left side surface of the seat back 92 as a representative example.

[0037] The armrest 93 is maintained at the adjusted angle unless a force exceeding a predetermined value is applied from the outside. Hereinafter, the maintained posture is referred to as the maintained posture. In the seat ST, the maintained posture of the armrest 93 is the same regardless of the rearward tilt angle of the seat back 92. For example, the rearward tilt angle of the seat back 92 is Figure 1 The maintenance posture A of the armrest 93 at the first rearward tilt angle indicated by the solid line is substantially the same as the maintenance posture B of the armrest 93 when the seat back 92 is folded down to the second rearward tilt angle indicated by the two-dot chain line.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the seat ST has an armrest structure AK. The armrest structure AK has a parallel link portion AKB and a brake portion AKA connected to the parallel link portion AKB. Figure 2 In FIG. 1 , the braking portion AKA is shown by a single-dot chain line.

[0039] The parallel link section AKB has a tilting frame 11 of the tilting section RK, a connecting rod 12 and a bracket 51. The tilting frame 11 is fixed to the seat cushion frame 912 by a fixing member N, which is a set of bolts and nuts. The tilting frame 11 has a connecting portion P1 and a connecting portion P2. The lower end of the seat back frame 921 is connected to the connecting portion P1 in a manner that allows rotation around an axis CL1 extending in the left-right direction. The connecting portion P2 is set at a slightly lower position behind the connecting portion P1, and the lower end of the connecting rod 12 is connected to the connecting portion P2 in a manner that allows rotation around an axis CL2 extending in the left-right direction. The brake section AKA is connected and fixed to the left side of the bracket 51.

[0040] In the length direction of the seat back frame 921 ( Figure 2 A connecting portion P3 is provided on the side near the center (in the vertical direction), and the bracket 51 is connected to the connecting portion P3 in a manner that allows rotation around the axis CL3 extending in the left and right directions. The bracket 51 has a substantially egg-shaped shape with a portion of the periphery protruding in the radial direction. A connecting portion P4 is provided at the front end of the protruding portion, and the upper end of the connecting rod 12 is connected to the connecting portion P4 in a manner that allows rotation around the axis CL4 extending in the left and right directions.

[0041] The inclination and distance of the line segment connecting the connection part P1 and the connection part P2 are substantially equal to the inclination and distance of the line segment connecting the connection part P3 and the connection part P4. That is, the reclining frame 11 connecting the connection part P1 and the connection part P2, the connecting rod 12 connecting the connection part P2 and the connection part P4, the bracket 51 connecting the connection part P3 and the connection part P4, and the seat back frame 921 connecting the connection part P3 and the connection part P1 constitute a so-called parallel link.

[0042] Thus, even when the seat back frame 921 of the seat back 92 is tilted rearwardly to rotate about the axis CL1, the rotation angle (posture) of the bracket 51 about the axis CL3 does not substantially change, but the bracket 51 moves in parallel.

[0043] The armrest 93 is connected to the bracket 51 via the brake portion AKA so as to be rotatable around the axis CL3. Figure 3 to Figure 8 The armrest 93 having the braking portion AKA will be described. Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the handrail 93 provided in the handrail structure AK. Figure 4 1 is an assembly diagram showing a partial cross section of the brake portion AKA in the handrail structure AK. Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a slide cylinder 77 provided in the braking unit AKA. Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing the coil spring 76 provided in the braking portion AKA. Figure 7 It is a perspective view showing a pressure plate 78 provided in the braking unit AKA. Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing a stopper frame 75 provided in the braking unit AKA.

[0044] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the armrest 93 is a combination of a box-shaped outer shell 71 located outside the seat back 92 and open on the right side (inside) and a box-shaped inner shell 72 located on the seat back 92 side and open on the left side (outside), and has a substantially closed box structure with an elongated arm shape. The outer shell 71 and the inner shell 72 are formed of, for example, polypropylene resin. A through hole 71a is formed at the end on the root side of the armrest 93 with the axis CL7 extending in the left-right direction as the center.

[0045] Figure 4 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the armrest 93. The armrest 93 is fixed to the bracket 51 in a state where the axis CL7 coincides with the axis CL3 of the connecting portion P3. The bracket 51 is connected to the connecting seat 922 of the seat back frame 921 so as to be rotatable around the axis CL3.

[0046] In order to prevent the rotation of the fixed handrail 93, three pins are formed protrudingly on the left side of the bracket 51. At the connecting portion P4 of the rear end of the bracket 51, as described above, the connecting rod 12 is rotatably connected to the bracket 51 by threading the bolt N3 and the nut N4.

[0047] The brake part AKA is generally accommodated inside the handrail 93. The brake part AKA is composed of a base plate 73, a base frame 74, a stop frame 75, a coil spring 76, a slide cylinder 77 and a pressure plate 78. The components constituting the brake part AKA are functionally classified into a fixed part B1, a rotating part B2 and an intermediate part B3.

[0048] The fixed portion B1 is a member fixed to the bracket 51 , the rotating portion B2 is a member rotating relative to the fixed portion B1 , and the intermediate portion B3 is a member interposed between the fixed portion B1 and the rotating portion B2 .

[0049] The fixed part B1 includes a base plate 73, a slide cylinder 77 and a pressure plate 78. The rotating part B2 includes a base frame 74 and a stop frame 75. The outer shell 71 and the inner shell 72 are included in the rotating part B2. The middle part B3 corresponds to the coil spring 76.

[0050] First, the base plate 73 and the slide cylinder 77 constituting the fixed portion B1 will be described. Figure 4 In the figure, the base plate 73 is a roughly disk-shaped component having a through hole 73a centered on the axis CL3 and holes corresponding to the three pins 511 of the bracket 51. The bolt N1 is inserted into the through hole 73a. The bracket 51 and the seat back frame 921 are provided with a through hole (not shown) centered on the axis CL3, and the bolt N1 is inserted into the through hole of the bracket 51 and the lock nut N2 is tightened from the right side. As a result, the base plate 73 is engaged with the pin 511 of the bracket 51 and is fastened to the bracket 51 in a state where the base plate 73 is prevented from rotating and cannot rotate relative to the bracket 51. That is, the base plate 73 and the bracket 51 are integrally supported on the seat back frame 921 in a rotatable manner.

[0051] A slide cylinder 77 is concentrically fixed to the left side of the base plate 73. Figure 5 As shown, the slide cylinder 77 has a cylindrical base 771 with an outer diameter D77 and a small diameter portion 772 connected to the right side of the base 771 and having an outer diameter smaller than that of the base 771. Three protrusions 774 are formed on the left edge of the base 771 and are separated in the circumferential direction and protrude to the left. Figure 4 A coil spring 76 is embedded on the outer side of the base 771 .

[0052] like Figure 6 As shown, the coil spring 76 as the middle portion B3 is formed by a spring wire, and the two ends of the coil spring 76 are bent to form a first arm portion 761 and a second arm portion 762 extending radially outward. In a natural state without external force applied, the first arm portion 761 and the second arm portion 762 extend in approximately the same direction. The coil spring 76 is embedded in the slide 77 with the first arm portion 761 on the right (inside). The inner diameter d76 of the coil spring 76 in the natural state is larger than the outer diameter D77 of the base 771 of the slide 77 (see Figure 5 )big.

[0053] Next, the rotating part B2 will be described. Figure 4In the figure, the inner shell 72 has a circular opening 72a, the opening 72a is centered on the axis CL3, and the inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the substrate 73. In addition, the inner shell 72 has a through hole in front of the opening 72a, and the edge of the through hole is formed as a protrusion 72b, which is a short ring and is formed in a manner protruding to the left.

[0054] The base frame 74 is a sheet metal component that is positioned inside the inner shell 72 and accommodated therein. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the base frame 74 has a circular opening portion 74a for guiding the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 771 of the slide cylinder 77 and an engaging protrusion 74b having an inner peripheral surface engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 72b of the inner shell 72. In addition, the base frame 74 has a pair of side walls (not shown) erected along the upper and lower inner walls of the inner shell 72. That is, the base frame 74 is positioned relative to the inner shell 72 by the engaging protrusion 74b and the pair of side walls, and is also positioned relative to the slide cylinder 77 of the fixing portion B1 in the radial direction and the left-right direction by the opening portion 74a.

[0055] The stopper frame 75 is a sheet metal component that is adjacent to the left side of the base frame 74 and is positioned inside the inner shell 72 and accommodated therein. Figure 4 and Figure 8 As shown, the stopper frame 75 includes a substrate-shaped base portion 750, an engagement opening portion 75b, a rising portion 751, and a pair of side walls 75c, 75d.

[0056] The base 750 is arranged along the left side of the base frame 74. By making the snap-fit ​​opening 75b fit into the outer side of the snap-fit ​​protrusion 74b and making a pair of side walls 75c and 75d located near the upper and lower inner walls of the inner shell 72, the base 750 is positioned on the inner side of the inner shell 72 and accommodated therein.

[0057] When the stopper 75 is positioned and accommodated inside the inner shell 72, the rising portion 751 is arranged to face the base 771 of the slide cylinder 77 on the outside in the radial direction. A cutout portion 751a is formed on the rising portion 751, which is cut from the front edge toward the right. The width of the cutout portion 751a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the wire material of the coil spring 76. Figure 4 As shown, during the assembly of the brake unit AKA, the first arm portion 761 of the coil spring 76 enters the notch portion 751 a and is engaged.

[0058] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer shell 71 has a circular depression 71b at a position spaced from the through hole 71a toward the front end. The bottom wall 71b1 of the depression 71b is located near the front end of the engagement protrusion 74b of the base frame 74 when the outer shell 71 and the inner shell 72 are assembled together with the brake part AKA. That is, the bottom wall 71b1 prevents the base frame 74 and the stopper frame 75 from being separated from the protrusion 72b of the inner shell 72.

[0059] like Figure 7 As shown, the pressure plate 78 is a thin annular member having an annular base 780, and the annular base 780 has a circular opening 78b. Three arc-shaped slits 78a are formed in the base 780 in a circumferential direction. The slits 78a are formed in a shape and configuration that allows the three protrusions 774 of the slide 77 to enter and engage. The base 780 has a locking arm 781 extending from the edge portion to a direction (axial direction) orthogonal to the surface of the base 780.

[0060] The pressing plate 78 is configured to engage the protrusion 774 of the slide cylinder 77 with the slit 78a and rotate the second arm 762 of the coil spring 76 by approximately 90° from the circumferential direction position of the natural state to the direction of locking the coil spring 76 through the locking arm 781 (see Figure 6 ) is fixed relative to the slide 77.

[0061] By moving the second arm 762 to Figure 6 The inner diameter d76 of the coil spring 76 decreases, and the coil spring 76 is locked on the outer peripheral surface of the base 771 of the slide 77. Therefore, in this locked state, for example, when the first arm 761 is rotated, it is necessary to apply a torque that overcomes the friction force generated between the coil spring 76 and the outer peripheral surface of the base 771.

[0062] That is, by applying a torque exceeding a prescribed value that overcomes the rotational resistance generated in the middle portion B3 from the outside, the rotating portion B2 in the armrest structure AK can rotate relative to the fixed portion B1. In addition, if the applied torque from the outside is released or the applied torque is reduced to a prescribed value or less when the rotating portion B2 reaches the desired rotational position, the rotating portion B2 is prohibited from rotating due to the rotational resistance generated in the middle portion B3 and is maintained at its rotational position. The torque that overcomes the rotational resistance generated in the middle portion B3 is adjusted to a degree that can be applied to the armrest 93 by a person's hand.

[0063] Thus, since the seat ST has the armrest structure AK, the armrest 93 is rotated while generating appropriate resistance when the occupant of the vehicle intentionally applies a force to the armrest 93 by hand or the like to rotate the armrest 93. The armrest 93 is maintained at its rotation position from the time when the occupant stops applying the force.

[0064] Furthermore, since the armrest structure AK has the parallel link portion AKB, the rotational posture of the bracket 51 of the armrest base 5 is substantially the same regardless of the rearward tilt angle of the seat back 92. The fixing portion B1 of the brake portion AKA is integrally fixed to the bracket 51. Thus, when the rotational posture (rotational position) of the armrest 93 is adjusted to an arbitrary posture (position), the adjusted rotational posture (rotational position) is substantially maintained regardless of the rearward tilt angle of the seat back 92.

[0065] As described in detail above, the armrest structure AK of the vehicle seat ST can adjust the angle of the armrest 93 to any angle, and the armrest 93 is maintained at the adjusted angle regardless of the rearward tilt position of the seat back 92.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and sequence, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0067] As the structure of the brake part AKA that exerts a force to restrict the rotation of the armrest 93 when it is adjusted, although the structure using the friction between the coil spring 76 and the outer peripheral surface of the slide tube 77 on which the coil spring 76 is externally embedded has been described, it is not limited to this structure. The brake part AKA can be a structure that restricts the rotation of the armrest 93 when the external force applied to the armrest 93 is less than a specified value, and allows the rotation of the armrest 93 when the external force applied to the armrest 93 exceeds the specified value.

[0068] Transportation refers not only to vehicles such as cars and railways, but also to aircraft such as ships and airplanes, and means moving objects that allow people to travel.

[0069] In addition, the up, down, left, right, front, and back directions in the above description are directions defined for convenience of description, and do not limit the usage posture of the seat ST and the armrest structure AK.

[0070] Description of Reference Numerals

[0071] 11 Rear tilt frame

[0072] 12 Connecting rod

[0073] 5 Armrest base

[0074] 51 Bracket

[0075] 511 Pins

[0076] 71 Housing

[0077] 71a Through hole

[0078] 71b Pressing concave portion

[0079] 71b1 Bottom wall

[0080] 72 Inner shell

[0081] 72a Opening

[0082] 72b Protrusion

[0083] 73 substrate

[0084] 73a Through hole

[0085] 74 Scaffold

[0086] 74a Opening

[0087] 74b Snap-fit ​​protrusion

[0088] 75 Stop bracket

[0089] 750 base

[0090] 751 Stand-up

[0091] 751a Incision

[0092] 75b: Engagement opening

[0093] 75c, 75d side wall

[0094] 76 coil spring

[0095] 761 1st Arm

[0096] 762 2nd Arm

[0097] 77 Slide

[0098] 771 Base

[0099] 772 Trail

[0100] 774 protrusion

[0101] 78 Pressure Plate

[0102] 780 base

[0103] 781 Locking arm

[0104] 78a Slit

[0105] 78b Opening

[0106] 91 Seat Cushion

[0107] 911 Legs

[0108] 912 Cushion Frame

[0109] 92 Seat back

[0110] 921 Seat back frame

[0111] 922 Connecting seat

[0112] 93 Handrail

[0113] AK handrail structure

[0114] AKA Brake Department

[0115] AKB parallel link

[0116] B1 Fixed part

[0117] B2 Rotating part

[0118] B3 Middle

[0119] CL1, CL2, CL3, CL4, CL7 axis

[0120] d76 inner diameter

[0121] D77 outer diameter

[0122] FL Floor

[0123] N Fixing parts

[0124] N1, N3 bolts

[0125] N2, N4 nuts

[0126] P1~P4 Connection

[0127] RK Rear tilt

[0128] ST Vehicle Seats (Seats)

Claims

1. A handrail structure, characterized in that: The invention is provided in a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat back capable of reclining relative to the seat cushion, and an armrest mounted on the seat back, wherein the armrest structure comprises: a brake portion, which allows the armrest to rotate about an axis extending in the width direction of the seat back when the torque applied to the armrest exceeds a specified value, thereby adjusting the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion, and prohibits the armrest from rotating about the axis when the torque does not exceed the specified value; as well as A parallel link portion maintains the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion regardless of a rearward tilt angle of the seat back in the rearward tilting motion.

2. The handrail structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The armrest has an arm-shaped box structure. The seat back has a seat back frame inside. The parallel link portion has a bracket rotatably connected to the seat back frame. The braking portion is accommodated inside the armrest, and comprises: a fixed portion, which is fixed relative to the bracket in a non-rotatable manner; a rotating portion, which is connected to the armrest and is rotatable relative to the fixed portion; and an intermediate portion, which is interposed between the fixed portion and the rotating portion and generates rotation resistance when the rotating portion rotates relative to the fixed portion.

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