Armrest structure of vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide an armrest structure of a vehicle seat having adjustability of an angle of an armrest with the angle being kept regardless of a reclining angle of a seat back.SOLUTION: An armrest structure (AK) of a vehicle seat is provided to a vehicle seat (ST) having a seat cushion (91), a seat back (92) which can be reclined with respect to the seat cushion (91), and an armrest (93) which is attached to the seat back (92). It is provided with: a brake part (AKA) which, when a torque applied to the armrest (93) is greater than a prescribed value, makes an angle of the armrest (93) with respect to the seat cushion (91) adjustable by allowing rotation of it around an axis line (CL3) and when the torque does not exceed the prescribed value, inhibits the rotation; and a parallel link part (AKB) which maintains the angle of the armrest (93) with respect to the seat cushion (91) regardless of a reclining angle by a reclining of the seat back (92).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an armrest structure for a reclining seat installed in an automobile or the like, in which the armrest is maintained substantially horizontal regardless of the tilt angle of the seat back. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-145540 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The armrest structure described in Patent Document 1 maintains the armrest in a nearly horizontal position, and therefore cannot be adjusted to an angle preferred by the passenger.

[0005] Therefore, the problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an armrest structure for a vehicle seat in which the angle of the armrest is adjustable and the adjusted angle is maintained regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. 1) The present invention is provided in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat back capable of reclining relative to the seat cushion, and an armrest attached to the seat back, a brake unit that allows the armrest to rotate about an axis extending in a width direction of the seat back when a torque applied to the armrest exceeds a predetermined value, thereby making it possible to adjust an angle of the armrest with respect to the seat cushion, and that prohibits the armrest from rotating about the axis when the torque does not exceed the predetermined value; a parallel link portion that maintains the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion regardless of a reclining angle during the reclining operation of the seat cushion; It is an armrest structure equipped with. 2) The armrest has an arm-shaped box structure; The seat back has a seat back frame therein, The parallel link portion has a bracket rotatably connected to the seat back frame, The brake unit is an armrest structure described in 1), which comprises a fixed unit that is housed inside the armrest and fixed non-rotatably to the bracket, a rotating unit that is connected to the armrest and is rotatable relative to the fixed unit, and an intervening unit that is interposed between the fixed unit and the rotating unit and generates a rotational resistance force when the rotating unit rotates relative to the fixed unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the angle of the armrest is adjustable, and the adjusted angle is maintained regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a vehicle seat ST equipped with an armrest 93 that is provided as one embodiment of the armrest structure for a vehicle seat of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing an armrest structure AK, which is one embodiment of the armrest structure for a vehicle seat of the present invention. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an armrest 93 included in the armrest structure AK. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional assembly diagram showing the brake portion AKA in the armrest structure AK. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a slip tube 77 provided in the brake unit AKA. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a coil spring 76 provided in the brake unit AKA. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a pressing plate 78 provided in the brake unit AKA. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a stopper bracket 75 provided in the brake unit AKA. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] One embodiment of the armrest structure for a vehicle seat of the present invention will be described using an armrest structure AK. In the description, the up, down, front and rear directions are defined by the arrows shown in Fig. 1. The left direction is the front of the paper in Fig. 1, and the right direction is the back of the paper in Fig. 1. The left-right direction is also called the width direction.

[0010] First, an outline of the configuration of a vehicle seat ST equipped with an armrest structure AK will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a left side view of the vehicle seat ST.

[0011] 1, a vehicle seat ST (hereinafter referred to as 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 the vehicle via legs 911.

[0012] The seat cushion 91 has an internal cushion frame 912 that serves as a framework. The cushion frame 912 and the leg portion 911 are connected to each other and integrated together.

[0013] The seat back 92 is recliningly connected to reclining parts RK provided on the left and right sides of the rear part of the seat cushion 91. Specifically, the seat back 92 is rotatable around an axis CL1 set in the reclining parts RK as indicated by an arrow DR1, and is fixed at any angle by a locking mechanism (not shown), and is released from the fixation by operating a lock release lever (not shown).

[0014] The armrest 93 is attached to the left and right side surfaces of the seat back 92 with a symmetrical shape and structure. Specifically, the armrest 93 is connected via a brake unit AKA to a seat back frame 921, which serves as a skeleton housed inside the seat back 92. More specifically, the armrest 93 is rotated by the brake unit AKA around a base axis CL3 as indicated by an arrow DR2 by the force of the occupant's hand, making it possible to adjust the angle around the axis CL3. 1, the angle θ of the armrest 93 will be described as the angle θ relative to a line segment LN93 that passes through the axis CL3 and the vertical center position of the tip portion of the armrest 93, and a line segment LN91 that represents the seat cushion 91. The line segment LN91 may be replaced with the angle of a floor FL on which the seat cushion 91 is placed. In the following description, the armrest 93 attached to the left side surface of the seat back 92 will be taken as a representative example.

[0015] The armrest 93 is maintained at the adjusted angle unless an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied. This maintained position is hereinafter referred to as the maintained position. In the seat ST, the maintained position of the armrest 93 is the same regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back 92. For example, the maintained position A of the armrest 93 at the first reclining angle of the seat back 92 shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 is substantially the same as the maintained position B of the armrest 93 when the seat back 92 is reclined to the second reclining angle shown by the two-dot chain line.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, 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. In Fig. 2, the brake portion AKA is indicated by a dashed line.

[0017] The parallel link section AKB has a reclining frame 11 of the reclining section RK, a link bar 12, and a bracket 51. The reclining frame 11 is fixed to the cushion frame 912 by a fastener N, which is a set of a bolt and a nut. The reclining frame 11 has a connecting section P1 that connects the lower end of the seatback frame 921 rotatably about an axis CL1 extending in the left-right direction, and a connecting section P2 that is provided slightly below and rearward of the connecting section P1 and connects the lower end of the link bar 12 rotatably about an axis CL2 extending in the left-right direction. The brake section AKA is connected and fixed to the left side of the reclining frame 11.

[0018] A connecting portion P3 is provided on a side surface near the center in the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 2) of the seatback frame 921 to which the bracket 51 is connected so as to be rotatable about an axis CL3 extending in the left-right direction. The bracket 51 has a generally egg-shaped shape with a portion of its periphery projecting radially. A connecting portion P4 is provided at the tip of the projecting portion to which the upper end of the link bar 12 is connected so as to be rotatable about an axis CL4 extending in the left-right direction.

[0019] The inclination and distance of the line segment connecting the connecting portion P1 and the connecting portion P2 are approximately equal to the inclination and distance of the line segment connecting the connecting portion P3 and the connecting portion P4. That is, a so-called parallel link is configured by the reclining frame 11 connecting the connecting portion P1 and the connecting portion P2, the link bar 12 connecting the connecting portion P2 and the connecting portion P3, the bracket 51 connecting the connecting portion P3 and the connecting portion P4, and the seat back frame 921 connecting the connecting portion P3 and the connecting portion P1.

[0020] As a result, even when a reclining operation is performed in which the seat back frame 921 of the seat back 92 is rotated about the axis line CL1, the rotation angle (posture) of the bracket 51 about the axis line CL3 does not change substantially, but moves in parallel.

[0021] The armrest 93 is connected to the bracket 51 via the brake unit AKA so as to be rotatable about the axis CL3. Next, the armrest 93 having the brake unit AKA will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 8. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the armrest 93 included in the armrest structure AK. Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional assembly view showing the brake unit AKA in the armrest structure AK. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the slip tube 77 included in the brake unit AKA. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the coil spring 76 included in the brake unit AKA. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the pressing plate 78 included in the brake unit AKA. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the stopper bracket 75 included in the brake unit AKA.

[0022] 3 and 4, the armrest 93 has an elongated, arm-like, generally closed box structure formed by combining a box-shaped outer case 71 that is on the outer side of the seatback 92 and is open on the right (inward) side, and a box-shaped inner case 72 that is on the seatback 92 side and is open on the left (outward) side. The outer case 71 and the inner case 72 are made of, for example, polypropylene resin. A through hole 71a is formed at the end on the base side of the armrest 93, centered on an axis CL7 extending in the left-right direction.

[0023] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the armrest 93. The armrest 93 is fixed to the bracket 51 with the axis CL7 aligned with the axis CL3 of the connecting part P3. The bracket 51 is connected to a connecting seat 922 of a seat back frame 921 so as to be rotatable about the axis CL3.

[0024] Three pins are formed protruding from the left surface of the bracket 51 to prevent rotation of the fixed armrest 93. As described above, the link bar 12 is rotatably connected to the bracket 51 at the connecting part P4 at the rear end by screwing the bolt N3 and the nut N4.

[0025] The brake unit AKA is mostly housed inside the armrest 93. The brake unit AKA is configured by combining a base plate 73, a base bracket 74, a stopper bracket 75, a coil spring 76, a slip tube 77, and a retainer plate 78. The members that configure the brake unit AKA are functionally classified into a fixed part B1, a rotating part B2, and an intermediate part B3. The fixed portion B1 is a member that is fixed to the bracket 51, the rotating portion B2 is a member that rotates relative to the fixed portion B1, and the interposed portion is a member that is interposed between the fixed portion B1 and the rotating portion B2. The fixed part B1 includes a base plate 73, a slip tube 77, and a pressing plate 78. The rotating part B2 includes a base bracket 74 and a stopper bracket 75. The outer case 71 and the inner case 72 are included in the rotating part B2. The intermediate part B3 corresponds to the coil spring 76.

[0026] First, the base plate 73 and the slip tube 77 constituting the fixed portion B1 will be described. In FIG. 4, the base plate 73 is a substantially disk-shaped member, and has a through hole 73a centered on the axis CL3 and holes corresponding to the three pins 511 of the bracket 51. A 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 nut N2 is screwed and tightened from the right side. As a result, the pin 511 of the bracket 51 engages with the base plate 73, and the base plate 73 is fastened to the bracket 51 in a state where it is prevented from rotating relative to the bracket 51. That is, the base plate 73 is supported rotatably relative to the seat back frame 921, integrally with the bracket 51.

[0027] A slip tube 77 is fixed concentrically to the left surface of the base plate 73. As shown in Fig. 5, the slip tube 77 has a cylindrical base portion 771 with an outer diameter D77, and a small diameter portion 772 connected to the right side of the base portion 771 and having a smaller diameter than the base portion 771. Three protrusions 774 are formed on the left edge of the base portion 771 and protrude leftward at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction. Returning to Fig. 4, a coil spring 76 is fitted to the outside of the base portion 771.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, the coil spring 76, which is the intermediate portion B3, is formed of a spring wire material, and both ends are bent to form a first arm portion 761 and a second arm portion 762 that extend radially outward. In a natural state where no external force is applied, the first arm portion 761 and the second arm portion 762 extend in approximately the same direction. The coil spring 76 is fitted into the slip tube 77 with the first arm portion 761 facing right (inside). The inner diameter d76 of the coil spring 76 in the natural state is larger than the outer diameter D77 (see Fig. 5) of the base portion 771 of the slip tube 77.

[0029] Next, the rotating part B2 will be described. In Fig. 4, the inner case 72 has a circular opening 72a centered on the axis CL3 and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the base plate 73. The inner case 72 also has a through hole in front of the opening 72a, the edge of which is a short annular protruding part 72b formed to protrude leftward.

[0030] The base bracket 74 is a sheet metal member that is positioned and accommodated inside the inner case 72. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the base bracket 74 has a circular opening 74a that guides the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 772 of the slip tube 77, and an engaging protruding portion 74b having an inner peripheral surface that engages with the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 82b of the inner case 72. The base bracket 74 also has a pair of side walls (not shown) that are raised along the upper and lower inner walls of the inner case 72. That is, the base bracket 74 is positioned relative to the inner case 72 by the engaging protruding portion 74b and the pair of side walls, and is also positioned in the radial direction and the left-right direction relative to the slip tube 77 of the fixed part B1 by the opening 74a.

[0031] The stopper bracket 75 is a sheet metal member that is adjacent to the left side of the base bracket 74 and is positioned and housed inside the inner case 72. That is, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, the stopper bracket 75 has a board-like base 750, an engagement opening 75b, an upright portion 751, and a pair of side walls 75c, 75d.

[0032] The base 750 is positioned along the left surface of the base bracket 74, with the engagement opening 75b fitting into the outside of the engagement protrusion 74b and the pair of side walls 75c, 75d positioned near the upper and lower inner walls of the inner case 72, thereby being positioned and housed inside the inner case 72.

[0033] When the stopper bracket 75 is positioned and housed inside the inner case 72, the standing portion 751 is located so as to face the base portion 771 of the slip tube 77 on the radially outer side. The standing portion 751 has a notch 751a cut rightward from the tip edge. The width of the notch 751a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the wire material of the coil spring 76. During assembly of the brake portion AKA, as shown in FIG. 4, the first arm portion 761 of the coil spring 76 enters and engages with the notch 751a.

[0034] 3 and 4, the outer case 71 has a circularly recessed pressing recess 71b at a position away from the through hole 71a toward the tip side. A bottom wall 71b1 of the pressing recess 71b is located close to the tip of the engaging protruding portion 74b of the base bracket 74 when the outer case 71 and the inner case 72 are assembled with the brake portion AKA housed therein. In other words, the bottom wall 71b1 prevents the base bracket 74 and the stopper bracket 75 from coming off the protruding portion 72b of the inner case 72.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 7, the pressing plate 78 is a thin, annular part having an annular base 780 with a circular opening 78b. Three arc-shaped slits 78a are formed in the base 780 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The slits 78a are formed in a shape and arrangement that allows the three protrusions 774 of the slip tube 77 to enter and engage with them. The base 780 has a locking arm 781 that extends from an edge in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the base 780 (axial direction).

[0036] The retaining plate 78 is fixed to the slip tube 77 by engaging its protrusion 774 with the slit 78a, and by the locking arm 781, the second arm 762 of the coil spring 76 is rotated approximately 90° from its natural circumferential position in the direction tightening the coil spring 76 (see Figure 6).

[0037] 6, the inner diameter d76 of the coil spring 76 becomes smaller, and the coil spring 76 is in a state of tightening the outer circumferential surface of the base 771 of the slip tube 77. Therefore, when the first arm 761 is rotated in this tightening state, for example, a torque that resists the frictional force generated between the coil spring 76 and the outer circumferential surface of the base 771 must be applied.

[0038] That is, the rotating part B2 in the armrest structure AK can be rotated by applying a torque exceeding a predetermined value against the rotation resistance force generated by the interposed part B3 to the fixed part B1 from the outside. When the rotating part B2 reaches a desired rotation position, if the applied torque from the outside is released or the applied torque is set to a predetermined value or less, the rotating part B2 is prevented from rotating by the rotation resistance force generated by the interposed part B3 and is maintained at the rotation position. The torque against the rotation resistance force generated by the interposed part B3 is adjusted to a level that can be applied to the armrest 93 by hand.

[0039] In this way, the seat ST is provided with the armrest structure AK, and when an occupant of the vehicle applies a force to the armrest 93 with their hands or the like to intentionally rotate it, the armrest 93 rotates while generating an appropriate resistance force. Also, the armrest 93 is maintained in the rotated position from the point in time when the occupant stops applying the force.

[0040] Furthermore, because the armrest structure AK has the parallel link portion AKB, the rotation posture of the bracket 51 of the armrest base 5 remains substantially the same regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back 92. The fixing portion B1 of the brake portion AKA is fixed integrally to the bracket 51. As a result, when the rotation posture (rotation position) of the armrest 93 is adjusted to an arbitrary posture (position), the adjusted rotation posture (rotation position) is substantially maintained regardless of the reclining angle of the seat back 92.

[0041] As described above in detail, the armrest structure AK of the vehicle seat ST allows the angle of the armrest 93 to be adjusted to any angle, and the armrest 93 is maintained at any adjusted angle regardless of the reclining position of the seat back 92.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and procedure, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0043] As the structure of the brake unit AKA that exerts a force to restrict rotation when adjusting the armrest 93, a structure that utilizes the frictional force between the coil spring 76 and the outer peripheral surface of the slip tube 77 on which the coil spring 76 is fitted has been described, but the structure is not limited to this. The brake unit AKA may be any structure that restricts the rotation of the armrest 93 when the external force applied to the armrest 93 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and allows the rotation of the armrest 93 when the external force exceeds the predetermined value.

[0044] The term "vehicle" refers to a moving body that can carry people and includes not only automobiles, trains, and other vehicles, but also ships, aircraft, and other flying objects. Furthermore, the up, down, left, right, front and rear directions in the above description are directions defined for the convenience of description, and do not limit the usage posture of the seat ST and the armrest structure AK. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 11 Reclining frame 12 Link Bar 5 Armrest Base 51 Bracket 511 Pin 71 Outer case 71a Through hole 71b Retaining recess 71b1 Bottom wall 72 Inner case 72a opening 72b Protruding part 73 Base plate 73a Through hole 74 Base bracket 74a opening 74b Engagement protrusion 75 Stopper bracket 750 base 751 Standing part 751a Cutting section 75b Engagement opening 75c,75d side wall 76 Coil Spring 761 1st arm 762 2nd arm 77 Slip Tube 771 Base 772 Small diameter section 774 Protrusion 78 Retaining plate 780 base 781 Locking arm 78a Slit 78b opening 91 Seat Cushion 911 Legs 912 Cushion Frame 92 Seat back 921 Seat back frame 922 Connecting seat 93 Armrest AK Armrest Structure AKA Brake section AKB Parallel link part B1 Fixed part B2 Rotating part B3 Interposition part CL1,CL2,CL3,CL4,CL7 Axis d76 Inner diameter D77 outer diameter FL floor N Fixture N1, N3 bolts N2, N4 Nuts P1~P4 connection part RK Reclining section ST Vehicle seats (seats)

Claims

1. The seat cushion is provided in a vehicle seat having a seat back that can be reclined relative to the seat cushion, and an armrest attached to the seat back, a brake unit that allows the armrest to rotate about an axis extending in a width direction of the seat back when a torque applied to the armrest exceeds a predetermined value, thereby making it possible to adjust an angle of the armrest with respect to the seat cushion, and that prohibits the armrest from rotating about the axis when the torque does not exceed the predetermined value; a parallel link portion that maintains the angle of the armrest relative to the seat cushion regardless of a reclining angle during the reclining operation of the seat back; Armrest structure with.

2. The armrest has an arm-shaped box structure, The seat back has a seat back frame therein, The parallel link portion has a bracket rotatably connected to the seat back frame, 2. The armrest structure as described in claim 1, wherein the brake portion comprises a fixed portion that is housed inside the armrest and fixed non-rotatably to the bracket, a rotating portion that is connected to the armrest and is rotatable relative to the fixed portion, and an intervening portion that is interposed between the fixed portion and the rotating portion and generates a rotational resistance force when the rotating portion rotates relative to the fixed portion.

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