ARMREST FOR VEHICLE SEATS

Abstract

Armrest (3000) for a vehicle seat (1000), wherein the armrest (3000) has: a connecting bracket (3700) that is coupled to the vehicle seat (1000), an armrest body (3100) connected to the connecting bracket (3700), which is rotatable about a pivot axis (04), a cam (3200) which is connected to the armrest body (3100) in order to be rotatable about the axis of rotation (04), a gas cylinder (3400) connected to the cam (3200), wherein the gas cylinder (3400) is configured to be extendable and retractable in a longitudinal direction, and an actuating button (3500) which is installed on the armrest body (3100), wherein the actuating button (3500) is configured to actuate the gas cylinder (3400), wherein the cam (3200) has a second guide rod (3240) which projects from one end of the cam (3200), wherein the second guide rod (3240) extends through a guide hole (3120) formed in the armrest body (3100) and a second guide hole (3740) formed in the connecting bracket (3700), wherein the second guide rod (3240) is configured to limit a rotation angle of the armrest (3000), the cam (3200) has a first coupling section (3251) on which the axis of rotation (04) is formed, a second coupling section (3252) on which the second guide rod (3240) is formed, and a third coupling section (3253) which is directly connected to the gas cylinder (3400), and the first coupling section (3251), the second coupling section (3252) and the third coupling section (3253) form a triangular shape with each other.

Description

BACKGROUND(a) Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an armrest for vehicle seats, and more particularly to an armrest for vehicle seats configured to finely adjust an angle of the armrest relative to a vehicle seat by means of a gas cylinder, thereby improving the comfort of a passenger sitting on the seat. (b) Related technology

[0002] Generally, a vehicle armrest includes a console armrest located between a driver's seat and a passenger seat, a rear armrest foldably mounted between the left and right rear seats, and an armrest attached directly to a separate seat.

[0003] With an armrest attached directly to the separate seat, the arm of a person sitting on the seat can be rested on the armrest. The armrest can be attached to one or either of the opposite sides of a seat back.

[0004] One end of the armrest is pivotally connected to the seat. The armrest rotates around a coupling, allowing the free end of the armrest to be moved up or down. At this point, the angle of the armrest can be adjusted to suit the passenger's comfort.

[0005] When the armrest is raised vertically to the seat, it is possible to ensure a clear path of movement for a passenger sitting on the seat or exiting the vehicle, improving space utilization. When the armrest is lowered to the horizontal position, it is possible to comfortably support the arm of a passenger sitting on the seat.

[0006] Fig. 1 is a side view of a conventional armrest for vehicle seats.

[0007] Referring to Fig. 1, the conventional armrest 200 for vehicle seats comprises an armrest body 210, the rear end of which is coupled to a seat 100 via a rotary shaft 222, a cam 220 coupled to the armrest body 210 so as to be rotatable about the same shaft as the rotary shaft 222, the cam 220 being provided on its outer surface with a fixing projection 221 configured to contact a stopper 111 provided on the seat to restrict a pre-rotation angle of the armrest body 210, a gas cylinder 230, one end of which is coupled to the cam 220 via a joint 225 and the other end of which is coupled to the front end of the armrest body 210, and an operating knob 240 provided at the front end of the armrest body 210, the operating knob 240 being provided with an operating portion 235 of the gas cylinder 230.The gas cylinder 230 is retracted or extended according to the operation of the operation button 240, thereby adjusting the angle of rotation of the armrest body 210 relative to the seat. State of the art

[0008] Patent Document 1: KR 10 2016 0 025 219 A (Publication Date: March 18, 2016)

[0009] The above information disclosed in this Background section is provided only to facilitate understanding of the background of the invention and may therefore contain information that is not part of the prior art already known to those skilled in the art. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF REVELATION

[0010] The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-described problems of the related art.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an armrest for vehicle seats (e.g. of motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, etc.) which is arranged such that a rotation axis of an armrest body and a rotation axis of a cam arranged to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest are arranged at different positions, thereby reducing the force required to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide an armrest for vehicle seats in which a cam has a two-rod connection structure, thereby reducing the operating force by indirect drive and further increasing the length of the armrest by adjusting the rotational position of the joint.

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an armrest for vehicle seats such that the armrest can be rotated or pivoted until the armrest is pushed back parallel to a vehicle seat in both a horizontal state and a downward tilt state of the armrest.

[0014] The objects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other objects of the present invention not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0015] To achieve the object, the present invention provides, in one aspect, an armrest for vehicle seats, the armrest comprising: a connecting bracket coupled to a vehicle seat, an armrest body rotatably connected to the connecting bracket about a fourth axis of rotation, a third cam (or generally: control disc) rotatably connected to the armrest body about the fourth axis of rotation, a gas cylinder (e.g. gas pressure spring) connected to the third cam, the gas cylinder being configured to extend and retract in a longitudinal direction, and an actuating button or actuating key (hereinafter referred to as actuating button) attached to the armrest body, the actuating button being configured to actuate the gas cylinder, the third cam having a second guide rod (e.g.guide pin) protruding from one end of the third cam, wherein the second guide rod extends through a guide hole (e.g. guide slot) formed in the armrest body and a second guide hole (e.g. guide slot) formed in the connecting bracket, wherein the second guide rod is configured to restrict a rotation or pivot angle of the armrest, wherein the third cam has a first coupling portion on which the fourth rotation axis is formed, a second coupling portion on which the second guide rod is formed, and a third coupling portion which is directly connected to the gas cylinder, and wherein the first coupling portion, the second coupling portion, and the third coupling portion form a triangular shape.

[0016] The first coupling section may, for example, be arranged in front of the second coupling section and may be arranged higher than the third coupling section (e.g. above it).

[0017] For example, the armrest body may include a first guide rod (e.g., guide pin) coupled to a surface of the armrest body, the first guide rod being inserted into a first guide hole formed in the connecting bracket, the first guide rod being configured to restrict a rotation angle of the armrest.

[0018] For example, the first guide hole may be located closer to the fourth axis of rotation than the second guide hole.

[0019] For example, the first guide hole may have a smaller radius of curvature than the second guide hole.

[0020] Further aspects and preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other features of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, which are given below for illustrative purposes only and thus are not limitative of the present invention, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a conventional armrest for vehicle seats, Fig. Figure 2 is a view showing the operation of an armrest for vehicle seats according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat support according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is an interior perspective view showing some components of an armrest for vehicle seats according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 is a view showing the horizontal state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a view showing the state in which the armrest for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned down, Fig. 7 is a detailed view of an armrest for vehicle seats according to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a side view of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9(a) is a view showing the extending state of a gas cylinder of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9(b) is a view showing the extending state of the gas cylinder of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9(c) is a view showing the retracted state of the gas cylinder of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9(d) is a view showing the retracted state of the gas cylinder of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10(a) is a view showing the horizontal state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10(b) is a view showing the horizontal state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10(c) is a view showing the downwardly turned state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 10(d) is a view showing the downwardly turned state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 11(a) is a view showing the upwardly turned state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 11(b) shows the upwardly turned state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 12(a) one to Fig. 11(b) is a corresponding view showing the extended state of the gas cylinder, and Fig. 12(b) is a view showing the retracted state of the gas cylinder.

[0022] It is understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, positions, and shapes, will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use.

[0023] In the figures, the reference numerals refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] To clarify the objects, technical details, and advantages of the embodiments of the disclosure, the technical solutions of the embodiments are described in a clear and fully understandable manner in conjunction with the drawings relating to the embodiments of the disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part, but not all, of the embodiments of the disclosure. Starting from the embodiments described here, one skilled in the art can obtain other embodiments without inventive activity, which should fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms "first...", "second...", etc., used in the specification and claims of this disclosure application are not intended to indicate order, quantity, or importance, but rather to distinguish various components. The terms "comprise," "comprising," "having," "including," etc., are intended to indicate that the elements or items listed before these terms include the elements or items listed after these terms and their equivalents, but do not exclude other elements or items.Terms such as "on", "under", "right", "left", "in front of", "behind" and the like are used only to indicate the relative positional relationship, and if the position of the described object is changed, the relative positional relationship may be changed accordingly (the relative positional relationships refer, for example, to the arrangements of the components shown in FIGS.).

[0026] Fig. 2 is a view showing the operation of an armrest for vehicle seats according to the present invention.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 2, one end of the armrest 2000 or 3000 for vehicle seats according to the present invention can be rotatably connected (hereinafter referred to as rotatable) to a vehicle seat 1000, and the other end thereof can be rotated (hereinafter referred to as rotated) upward or downward. The armrest 2000 or 3000 can be freely rotated upward or downward from its horizontal state S1. When rotated upward, the armrest 2000 or 3000 can be rotated to the same angle as the vehicle seat 1000 (S2). When rotated downward, the armrest 2000 or 3000 can be rotated further downward (S3) than the horizontal state (S1) to comfortably support a passenger's arm.

[0028] The state S1 can be defined as the extended state (e.g., horizontal state) of the armrest, the state S2 can be defined as the receptacle state (e.g., folding state) of the armrest, and the state S3 can be defined as the multi-stage adjustment state of the armrest, in which the armrest is tilted downwards by approximately 30 degrees (e.g., relative to state S1).The armrest 2000 or 3000 for vehicle seats according to the present invention can be quickly, easily and forcibly rotated between the horizontal state (S1) and the state in which the armrest is folded horizontally to the vehicle seat 1000 (S2) in a free angle adjustment section B, and the comfort of a passenger who wishes to sit in a desired sitting posture based on physical characteristics can be further improved by operating the armrest in a multi-stage angle adjustment section A between the horizontal state (S1) and the state in which the armrest is adjusted forward by a predetermined angle (S3).

[0029] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat support according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is an interior perspective view showing some components of a vehicle seat armrest according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle seat armrest 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0030] The armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention may include an armrest body 2100, a first cam 2200, a second cam 2300, a gas cylinder 2400, an operation button 2500, an operation bracket 2600, and a seat bracket 2700.

[0031] Referring to Fig. 3, the seat mount 2700, which is a structure configured to mount the armrest 2000 on a seat 1000 (see Fig. 2) to be installed, be removably attached to the seat 1000. The seat bracket 2700 installed on the seat 1000 can support the weight of the armrest 2000 (as well as the load from an arm resting thereon), which is pivotally attached to the seat bracket 2700.

[0032] The seat support 2700 may include a seat support body 2701 and fixing brackets 2750 and 2751 fixedly connected to a frame 1101 of the seat 1000. The fixing brackets 2750 and 2751 may be formed at the front end and the rear end of the seat support body 2701, respectively, in a front-to-rear direction of the seat.

[0033] The seat bracket 2700 may include a bracket center hole 2710 (e.g., a hole in the center of the seat bracket) and a bracket guide hole 2740 formed in the seat bracket body 2701. The bracket center hole 2710 is a hole into which a rotation rod 2720 configured as the rotation axis O1 of the armrest 2000 is rotatably inserted. The bracket guide hole 2740 may have an arc shape with a predetermined angle around the bracket center hole 2710. The bracket guide hole 2740 serves as a stopper that limits the possible rotation angle of the armrest 2000 when the armrest 2000 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise about the rotation axis O1.

[0034] As in Fig. 4, the first cam 2200 may be connected to the bracket guide hole 2740 of the seat bracket 2700 so that it is rotatable about the rotation axis O1.

[0035] The first cam 2200 may include a first cam body 2201, a first cam coupling portion 2220 formed at one end of the first cam body 2201, and a cam guide rod 2210 formed at the other end of the first cam body 2201.

[0036] The first cam body 2201 may have a unidirectional elongated shape. The rotation axis O1 may be formed at a central portion of the first cam body 2201. The first cam body 2201 may have a flat shape in the front-rear direction of the seat 1000. When viewed from the left or right side, the first cam body 2201 may have a (for example, substantially) diamond shape.

[0037] The first cam coupling portion 2220, which is one end of the first cam body 2201, is rotatably connected to the second cam 2300 and forms a second rotation axis O2. The second rotation axis O2 may be formed in a left-right direction of the seat and may be parallel to the first rotation axis O1.

[0038] The cam guide rod 2210 may have a shape that protrudes toward the seat bracket 2700 and may be formed inward in a direction in which a passenger is located in the left-right direction of the seat. The cam guide rod 2210 may extend through a guide hole 2130 of the armrest body and may extend through the bracket guide hole 2740 of the seat bracket 2700.

[0039] When the armrest 2000 is rotated up or down, the cam guide rod 2210 can be guided in the bracket guide hole 2740 and can limit the angle of rotation of the armrest 2000 up or down of the armrest 2000.

[0040] Referring to Fig. 4, the second cam 2300 is rotatably connected to the first cam coupling portion 2220 of the first cam 2200, which constitutes the second rotation axis O2. The second cam 2300 may include a second cam body 2301, a second cam hole 2310 formed in one end of the second cam body 2301, and a second cam rotating portion 2320 formed at the other end of the second cam body 2301.

[0041] The second cam body 2301 may have a shape that extends long in one direction. The rotation axis O2 may be formed at a central portion of the second cam body 2301. The second cam body 2301 may have a flat shape in the front-back direction of the seat 1000. Viewed from the left or right side, the second cam body 2301 may have a (e.g., at least substantially) rectangular shape (e.g., the cam body 2301 extends with a greater length in the up-down direction than in the front-back direction). The second cam body 2301 is installed farther away from the seat bracket 2700 than the first cam body 2201.

[0042] The second cam hole 2310 is formed in one end of the second cam body 2301 at a distance from the second rotation axis O2 and can limit the rotation angle of the second cam 2300. The length from the second rotation axis O2 to the second cam hole 2310 and the length from the second rotation axis O2 to the second cam rotating portion 2320 can be shorter than the length from the second rotation axis O2 to the cam guide rod 2210. The second cam hole 2310 can be formed higher than or above the second rotation axis O2.

[0043] A rotation stopper 2330, which is attached to the seat bracket 2700, may be inserted into the second cam hole 2310 and may serve to restrict the rotation of the second cam 2300. The second cam hole 2310 may have an arc shape with a predetermined angle around the second rotation axis O2.

[0044] The gas cylinder 2400, which will be described below, is rotatably connected to the second cam rotation section 2320. The second cam rotation section 2320 can be formed lower than or below the second rotation axis 02. Since the second cam rotation section 2320 is formed outside the second cam 2300 or on the outside of the second cam 2300, the gas cylinder 2400 can be connected to the outside of the second cam 2300.

[0045] Fig. 5 is a view showing the horizontal state of the armrest for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a view showing the state in which the armrest for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned downward.

[0046] Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the armrest body 2100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is a frame configured to support an arm of a passenger, may have an internal space 2110 formed therein, in which the first cam 2200, the second cam 2300, the gas cylinder 2400, and the actuator bracket 2600 may be installed. The internal space 2110 refers to a space formed as a result of the coupling between a first frame 100a of the armrest body 2100, which is located inward toward the passenger, and a second frame (not shown) of the armrest body 2100, which is located outward toward the passenger.

[0047] The armrest body 2100 may be rotatably connected to the seat bracket 2700 about the first rotation axis O1. The armrest body 2100 may have an armrest body guide hole 2130 into which the cam guide rod 2210 is inserted. The armrest body guide hole 2130 may have an arc shape with a predetermined angle to limit the range of movement of the cam guide rod 2210. The center of the arc of the armrest body guide hole 2130 is located on the first rotation axis O1.

[0048] The gas cylinder 2400 can be arranged in the interior space 2110 in a longitudinal direction of the armrest body 2100. The rear end of the gas cylinder 2400 can be rotatably connected to the second cam 2300, and the front end thereof can be connected to the actuating bracket 2600. The second cam 2300 is rotated about the second rotation axis O2 according to the retraction and extension of the gas cylinder 2400.The gas cylinder 2400 may include an actuating portion 2410 configured to change the flow path of the gas inside according to its positional movement, a piston rod 2420 configured to retract and extend depending on an internal gas pressure difference, a cylinder 2430 configured to store gas therein, the piston rod 2420 extending through the cylinder 2430, and a cylinder connecting portion 2440 provided at the end of the cylinder 2430, the cylinder connecting portion 2440 being rotatably connected to the second cam 2300.

[0049] The operation button 2500, which is a member configured to operate the gas cylinder 2400, may be provided on a side surface of the front end of the armrest body 2100, on which an arm of a passenger sitting on the seat 1000 can be conveniently arranged.

[0050] The actuating bracket 2600 may be provided between the actuating button 2500 and the actuating portion 2410 to transmit the pressure of the actuating button 2500 to the actuating portion 2410 of the gas cylinder 2400.

[0051] Next, the operation of the armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0052] In the case where the armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention is in a horizontal state as shown in Fig. 5, the second cam 2300 is subjected to a torque counterclockwise around the second rotation axis O2 by the extended gas cylinder 2400, and the second cam 2300 remains in the maximum rotation state, while it is no longer rotated or can no longer be rotated by the rotation stopper 2330. In this case, the movement of the cam guide rod 2210 of the first cam 2200 is also restricted by the upper end of the bracket guide hole 2740 of the seat bracket 2700, thereby fixing the position of the armrest 200 in the horizontal state (see Fig. 4).

[0053] When the operating button 2500 is pressed, as in Fig. 6, the armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention can be rotated downward from the horizontal state.

[0054] When the operation button 2500 is pressed, the operating portion 2410 of the gas cylinder 2400 is pressed by the operating bracket 2600 connected to the operation button 2500, the gas flow path in the gas cylinder is ensured, and the piston rod 2420 is in a movable state. When the armrest 2000 is pushed downward in the state where the operation button 2500 is pressed, the length of the gas cylinder 2400 (e.g., the length to which the piston rod is extended) is reduced, causing the second cam 2300 to rotate clockwise about the second rotation axis O2. This allows the armrest 2000 to rotate counterclockwise about the first rotation axis O1, and thus the armrest 2000 to rotate downward. In this case, the counterclockwise rotation angle of the armrest 2000 may be proportional to the clockwise rotation angle of the second cam 2300.

[0055] When the force applied to the operating knob 2500 is released during the rotation of the armrest 2000, the operating portion 2410 returns to its original position and closes the gas flow path in the cylinder, stopping the movement of the piston rod 2420. Furthermore, the retraction of the gas cylinder 2430 is stopped, fixing the length of the gas cylinder 2430 (e.g., the length the piston rod is extended) and thus restricting the rotation of the second cam 2300. Consequently, the rotation of the armrest 2000 is stopped and fixed in the state where the current angle is maintained.

[0056] In the armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention, a force can be applied to the armrest 2000 so that the armrest is rotated upward in the state in which the operation button 2500 is pressed, whereby the armrest 2000 can be rotated upward. When the operation button 2500 is pressed, the gas cylinder 2400 is in a state in which it can be retracted and extended. When force is applied to the armrest 2000 so that the armrest 2000 is rotated clockwise, the length of the gas cylinder 2400 (e.g., the length to which the piston rod is extended) increases, whereby the second cam 2300 is rotated counterclockwise to the maximum, as shown in FIG. Fig. 5 shown.

[0057] The armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention can be rotated to the state S2 in a direction parallel to the seat. When a force is applied to the armrest 2000 so that the armrest 2000 is in the Fig. 5 is rotated clockwise without pressing the operation button 2500, the armrest 2000 is rotated about the first rotation axis 01 and the movement of the cam guide rod 2210 of the first cam 2200 is restricted by the lower end of the bracket guide hole 2740 of the seat bracket 2700, thereby restricting the maximum clockwise rotation angle of the armrest 2000.

[0058] The armrest 2000 for vehicle seats according to the embodiment of the present invention can be rotatably connected to the vehicle seat 1000, and the angle of the armrest 2000 can be changed so that the armrest 2000 can be rotated upward or downward relative to the vehicle seat 1000. Furthermore, the first rotation axis O1 of the armrest 2000 and the second rotation axis O2 of the cam (e.g., second cam 2300) configured to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest 2000 can be arranged at different positions, thereby reducing the force required to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest 2000.

[0059] Fig. 7 is a detailed view of an armrest for vehicle seats according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a side view of the armrest for vehicle seats according to another embodiment of the present invention. The armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the other embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 described.

[0060] The armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention may include an armrest body 3100, a third cam 3200, a gas cylinder 3400, an operation button 3500, an operation bracket 3600, and a connection bracket 3700.

[0061] Referring to Fig. 7, the connecting bracket 3700, which is a structure configured to install the armrest 3000 to the seat 1000, may be detachably attached to the seat 1000.

[0062] The connecting bracket 3700 may include a connecting bracket body 3710, a center hole 3720 formed in the connecting bracket body 3710 (e.g., a hole formed in the center of the connecting bracket), a first guide hole 3730 formed in the connecting bracket body 3710, and a second guide hole 3740 formed in the connecting bracket body 3710.

[0063] The connecting bracket body 3710 may be detachably connected to a seat frame of the seat 1000 and may be formed of a metal material or a reinforced plastic material to support the weight of the armrest (as well as, for example, an arm resting thereon).

[0064] The center hole 3720 is a hole into which a center rod 3220 is inserted, which serves as the fourth rotation axis 04 of the armrest 3000. The center rod 3220 connects the armrest body 3100 and the third cam 3200 to the connecting bracket 3700, allowing it to rotate about the fourth rotation axis 04.

[0065] The first guide hole 3730 may have an arcuate shape with a predetermined first angle around the center hole 3720. The second guide hole 3740 may have an arcuate shape with a predetermined second angle around the center hole 3720. The first guide hole 3730 may be located closer to the center hole 3720 than the second guide hole 3740. The predetermined first angle may be smaller than the predetermined second angle. The first guide hole 3730 may be located higher or further above the second guide hole 3740.

[0066] The first guide hole 3730 may have a smaller radius of curvature than the second guide hole 3740.

[0067] A first guide rod 3230, described below, is inserted into the first guide hole 3730 and guides and restricts the movement of the first guide rod 3230. A second guide rod 3240, described below, is inserted into the second guide hole 3740 and guides and restricts the movement of the second guide rod 3240.

[0068] The first guide hole 3730 may be a guide hole of the bracket, and the second guide hole 3740 may be an auxiliary guide hole of the bracket. The first guide rod 3230 may be a guide rod of the armrest body 3100, and the second guide rod 3240 may be a guide rod of the (e.g., third) cam.

[0069] As in Fig. 7 and Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the armrest body 3100 is configured to serve as a frame for the armrest 3000. The operation knob 3500 and the operation bracket 3600, which will be described below, may be fixedly connected to the armrest body 3100. The armrest body 3100 may have a shape whose height gradually decreases toward the front, and may have a thin, flat shape extending in the left-to-right direction.

[0070] The operation knob 3500 may be coupled to the front end of the armrest body 3100, and the fourth rotation axis 04 of the armrest 3000 may be formed at the rear of the armrest body 3100. The armrest body 3100 may have an armrest body center hole 3130 into which the center rod 3220 is inserted, and an armrest body guide hole 3120 into which the second guide rod 3240 is inserted.

[0071] The armrest body guide hole 3120 may have an arc shape with a predetermined angle around the armrest body center hole 3130. The predetermined angle of the armrest body guide hole 3120 may be, for example, 30 degrees. The armrest body guide hole 3120 may have a smaller angle than the first guide hole 3730 or the second guide hole 3740.

[0072] The center rod 3220 may be provided on a surface 3110 of the armrest body 3100 to protrude therefrom. The first guide rod 3230 may be coupled to the armrest body 3100 to protrude from a surface of the armrest body 3100 in front of the center rod 3220 (e.g., further forward). The second guide rod 3240 may extend through the guide opening 3120 of the armrest body to protrude from a surface of the armrest body 3100 behind the center rod 3220 (e.g., further back).

[0073] One surface (e.g., facing inward of the seat) of the armrest body 3100 may be connected to the connecting bracket 3700 so that it is rotatable about the fourth rotation axis O4, and the third cam 3200 may be connected to the other surface (e.g., a surface facing outward of the seat) of the armrest body 3100 so that it is rotatable about the fourth rotation axis O4. The third cam 3200, the armrest body 3100, and the connecting bracket 3700 may be connected to each other so that they are rotatable about the center rod 3220. The center rod 3220 may be inserted through a center hole (not shown) of the third cam 3200, the center hole of the armrest body 3130, and the center hole of the connecting bracket 3720, or it may be integrally formed with the third cam 3200 and inserted through the center hole of the armrest body 3130 and the center hole of the connecting bracket 3700.

[0074] Referring to Fig. 8, the third cam 3200 may have a triangular shape and include a first coupling portion 3251 to which the center rod 3220 is coupled, a second coupling portion 3252 to which the second guide rod 3240 is coupled, and a third coupling portion 3253 to which the gas cylinder 3400 is coupled, near the vertices thereof. The first coupling portion 3251, the second coupling portion 3252, and the third coupling portion 3253 may form a triangular shape with each other.

[0075] The center rod 3220 is rotatably connected to the first coupling portion 3251 of the third cam 3200, and the third cam 3200 can be rotated relative to the armrest body 3100 about the fourth rotation axis 04. The second guide rod 3240, which is coupled to the second coupling portion 3252, is inserted into the second guide hole 3740 via the armrest body guide hole 3120.

[0076] The third coupling portion 3253 is rotatably connected to one end of the gas cylinder 3400 and can generate a torque for the third cam 3200 about the fourth rotation axis O4 according to an extension and retraction of the gas cylinder 3400.

[0077] The gas cylinder 3400 may include an actuating portion 3410 configured to change the flow path of the internal gas according to its positional movement, a piston rod 3420 configured to retract and extend depending on an internal gas pressure difference, a cylinder 3430 configured to store gas therein, the piston rod 3420 extending through the cylinder 3430, and a cylinder connecting portion 3440 provided at the end of the cylinder 3430, the cylinder connecting portion 3440 being rotatably connected to the third cam 3200.

[0078] The operation button 3500, which is a member configured to operate the gas cylinder 3400, may be provided on a side surface of the front end of the armrest body 3100, on which an arm of a passenger sitting on the seat 1000 can be conveniently placed.

[0079] The operating bracket 3600 may be provided between the operating button 3500 and the operating portion 3410 to transmit the pressure of the operating button 3500 to the operating portion 3410 of the gas cylinder 3400.

[0080] The operation of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0081] Fig. 9(a) and Fig. 9(b) are views showing the extension state of the gas cylinder of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9(c) and Fig. 9(d) are views showing the retracted state of the gas cylinder of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] With reference to Fig. 9(a) and Fig. 9(b), the extended gas cylinder 3400 exerts a force on the third cam 3200 to rotate the third cam 3200 counterclockwise, and the third cam 3200 is rotated until the third cam 3200 can no longer be rotated by the upper end of the armrest body guide hole 3120.

[0083] Referring to Fig. 9(c) and Fig. 9(d), the gas cylinder 3400 is in a state where it can be extended and retracted when the operation button 3500 is pressed. In this state, the gas cylinder 3400 cannot generate the force required to rotate the third cam 3200 counterclockwise. The third cam 3200 is in a state where the third cam 3200 can be rotated clockwise and can be rotated toward the lower end of the armrest body guide hole 3120.

[0084] When the force applied to the actuating knob 3500 is released, the gas cylinder 3400 is in a locked state in which the gas cylinder 3400 cannot be retracted or extended. In this state, the gas cylinder 3400 restricts the rotation of the third cam 3200.

[0085] Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b) are views showing the horizontal state of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10(c) and Fig. 10(d) are views showing the downwardly turned state of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11(a) and Fig. 11(b) are views showing the upwardly turned state of the armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12(a) is a Fig. 11(b) corresponding view showing the extended state of the gas cylinder, and Fig. 12(b) is a view showing the retracted state of the gas cylinder.

[0086] The armrest 3000 in the horizontal state is described with reference to Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b). The third cam 3200 is in the state where the third cam 3200 is rotated counterclockwise to the maximum by the extended gas cylinder 3400, and the movement of the second guide rod 3240 of the third cam 3200 is restricted by the upper end of the second guide hole 3740. Consequently, the armrest 3000 is maintained in the state where the armrest 3000 is not rotated downward due to its weight but is arranged horizontally.

[0087] The armrest 3000 in the downward-turned state is rotated with respect to Fig. 10(c) and Fig. 10(d). When the operation button 3500 is pressed, the gas cylinder 3400 is in a retractable and extendable state, and the length of the gas cylinder 3400 can be adjusted by external force. When an external force is applied to the armrest 3000 to rotate it downward in this state, the third cam 3200 can be rotated clockwise until the movement of the second guide rod 3240 is restricted by the lower end of the armrest body guide hole 3120. Furthermore, the armrest 3000 can be rotated downward until the movement of the first guide rod 3230 fixed to the armrest body 3100 is restricted by one end of the first guide hole 3730.

[0088] The armrest 3000 in the upwardly turned state is described with reference to Fig. 11(a) and Fig. 11(b). If the operating button 3500 is not pressed, the length of the gas cylinder 3400 remains fixed. If an external force is applied to the armrest 3000 in the horizontal state, as shown in Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b) is applied to rotate the armrest 3000 upward without pressing the operation button 3500, the armrest 3000 can be rotated upward until the movement of the first guide rod 3230 fixed to the armrest body 3100 is restricted by the other end of the first guide hole 3730. The armrest 3000 can be rotated to be tilted more backward than in its vertical state.

[0089] Fig. 12(a) shows the case where the armrest 3000 is in the horizontal state as shown in Fig. 10(a) and Fig. 10(b), is rotated upward without pressing the operation button 3500. The first guide rod 3230 is moved to the other end of the first guide hole 3730, but the second guide rod 3240 is not moved to the other end of the second guide hole 3740.

[0090] Fig. 12(b) shows the case where the armrest 3000 is in the downward tilt state as shown in Fig. 10(c) and Fig. 10(d), is rotated upward without pressing the operation button 3500. The first guide rod 3230 is moved to the other end of the first guide hole 3730, and the second guide rod 3240 is moved to the other end of the second guide hole 3740.

[0091] The armrest 3000 for vehicle seats according to the further embodiment of the present invention causes the armrest 3000 to be pushed back downward in or out of the tilted state with the same rotation angle as when the armrest 3000 is pushed back in or into the horizontal state.

[0092] As is apparent from the above, the present invention has the following effects.

[0093] In the armrest for vehicle seats according to the present invention, the rotation axis of the armrest body and the rotation axis of the cam configured to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest can be arranged at different positions, whereby the force required to adjust the multi-stage rotation of the armrest can be reduced.

[0094] In the armrest for vehicle seats according to the present invention, the cam may have a two-rod link structure, whereby the operating force by indirect operation can be reduced and the length of the armrest can be further increased by adjusting the rotational position of the link.

[0095] In the armrest for vehicle seats according to the present invention, the armrest can be rotated so far that the armrest is pushed back parallel to the vehicle seat both in the horizontal state and in the tilted state of the armrest downward.

[0096] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the above description.

[0097] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention described above is not limited to the above embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and that various substitutions, modifications and variations can be made without departing from the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

[1] Armrest (3000) for a vehicle seat (1000), the armrest (3000) comprising: a connecting bracket (3700) coupled to the vehicle seat (1000), an armrest body (3100) connected to the connecting bracket (3700) and rotatable about a rotation axis (04), a cam (3200) connected to the armrest body (3100) to be rotatable about the rotation axis (04), a gas cylinder (3400) connected to the cam (3200), the gas cylinder (3400) being adapted to be extendable and retractable in a longitudinal direction, and an actuating button (3500) installed on the armrest body (3100), the actuating button (3500) being arranged to actuate the gas cylinder (3400), wherein the cam (3200) has a second guide rod (3240) projecting from one end of the cam (3200), the second guide rod (3240) extending through a guide hole (3120) formed in the armrest body (3100) and a second guide hole (3740) formed in the connecting bracket (3700), the second guide rod (3240) being configured to restrict a rotation angle of the armrest (3000), the cam (3200) has a first coupling portion (3251) on which the rotation axis (04) is formed, a second coupling portion (3252) on which the second guide rod (3240) is formed, and a third coupling portion (3253) which is directly connected to the gas cylinder (3400), and the first coupling section (3251), the second coupling section (3252) and the third coupling section (3253) form a triangular shape among themselves. [2] The armrest (3000) according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion (3251) is arranged in front of the second coupling portion (3252) and is arranged higher than the third coupling portion (3253). [3] The armrest (3000) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the armrest body (3100) has a first guide rod (3230) coupled to a surface of the armrest body (3100), the first guide rod (3230) being inserted into a first guide hole (3730) formed in the connecting bracket (3700), the first guide rod (3230) being configured to restrict a rotation angle of the armrest (3000). [4] Armrest (3000) according to claim 3, wherein the first guide hole (3730) is arranged closer to the rotation axis (04) than the second guide hole (3740). [5] Armrest (3000) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first guide hole (3730) has a smaller radius of curvature than the second guide hole (3740).

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