Seat component and vehicle seat

Abstract

To achieve reduction of a stopper pin.SOLUTION: An armrest, which is a seat component, includes: an armrest frame 28 which is rotatably connected to a seat back of a vehicle seat; an armrest pad and an armrest skin attached to the armrest frame 28; and a stopper pin body 42 which is formed in a hollow shape, fixed to the armrest frame 28, and inserted into an arc shaped stopper hole provided at the seat back to limit a rotation range of the armrest frame 28 relative to the seat back. The interior of the stopper pin body 42 is filled with a part of the armrest pad.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat and a seat component which is a component of the vehicle seat.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an armrest that rotates with respect to the seat back of a vehicle seat. This armrest includes a resin-made hollow shell to which a bracket supporting a rotation axis is joined, and a trim cover covering the shell. The bracket is provided with a stopper shaft (stopper pin) for defining the rotation range of the armrest.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the stopper pin as described above is made of metal, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of weight reduction.

[0005] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a seat component and a vehicle seat capable of reducing the weight of the stopper pin.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The seat component of the first aspect includes a frame rotatably connected to the seat body of the vehicle seat, a seat component body attached to the frame, a stopper pin body formed in a hollow shape and fixed to the frame, inserted into an arc-shaped stopper hole provided in the seat body, and restricting the rotation range of the frame with respect to the seat body, and a filler filled inside the stopper pin body and composed of a material having a lower density than the material of the stopper pin body.

[0007] In the seat component of the first aspect, the seat component body is attached to a frame rotatably connected to the seat body of the vehicle seat. The stopper pin body fixed to the frame is inserted into an arc-shaped stopper hole provided in the seat body, and restricts the rotation range of the frame with respect to the seat body. This stopper pin body is formed in a hollow shape and filled with a filler inside. This filler is composed of a material having a lower density than the material of the stopper pin body. Thereby, the weight of the stopper pin composed of the stopper pin body and the filler can be reduced.

[0008] The seat component of the second aspect is, in the first aspect, the seat component body has a pad made of a foam, the frame is embedded in the pad, and the filler is the pad.

[0009] In the seat component of the second aspect, the frame is embedded in a pad made of a foam, and a part of this pad is filled inside the stopper pin body. In this aspect, for example, by integrally foaming the frame, the stopper pin body, and the pad, a part of the pad can be filled inside the stopper pin body, which facilitates manufacturing.

[0010] The seat component of the third aspect is, in the second aspect, the cross-section of the stopper pin body as viewed from the axial direction of the rotation axis of the frame is arc-shaped.

[0011] In the seat component of the third aspect, since the stopper pin body is configured as described above, it becomes easy to fill the inside of the stopper pin body with a pad.

[0012] In the seat component of the fourth aspect, in the second aspect, the stopper pin body has a cylindrical shape with the axial direction of the rotation axis of the frame as the axial direction.

[0013] In the seat component of the fourth aspect, since the stopper pin body is configured as described above, for example, the stopper pin body can be manufactured by a metal pipe, and the manufacturing cost of the stopper pin body can be reduced.

[0014] In the seat component of the fifth aspect, in any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, it is an armrest of the vehicle seat.

[0015] Since the seat component of the fifth aspect is an armrest, the weight of the armrest can be reduced.

[0016] The vehicle seat of the sixth aspect includes a seat body having a seat cushion on which an occupant sits and a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, and the armrest of the fifth aspect in which the frame is rotatably connected to the seat back.

[0017] In the vehicle seat of the sixth aspect, the back of the occupant sitting on the seat cushion is supported by the seat back. The frame of the armrest is rotatably connected to the seat back. Since this armrest is a seat component of the fifth aspect, the above-described effects can be obtained.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, the weight of the stopper pin can be reduced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

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Figure 20

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, a vehicle seat 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 20. In each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of easy viewing of the drawings. Also, the arrows FR, RH, and UP shown in FIG. 1 indicate the front, right, and upper directions of the vehicle seat 10, respectively.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat 10 according to the present embodiment includes a seat body 11 which is a rear seat for three persons. The seat body 11 has a seat cushion 12 on which a vehicle occupant sits, a seat back 14 that supports the occupant's back, and three headrests 16 that support the occupant's head.

[0022] An armrest 20 is attached to the center portion in the left-right direction of the seat back 14. The armrest 20 corresponds to the "seat component" in the present invention. The armrest 20 is rotatable with respect to the seat back 14 between the deployed position shown in FIG. 1 and the stored position where it is stored in a recess 18 formed in the center portion in the left-right direction of the seat back 14.

[0023] In a state where the armrest 20 is in the deployed position, the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions of the armrest 20 coincide with the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions of the vehicle seat 10. In a state where the armrest 20 is in the stored position, the front-rear direction of the armrest 20 coincides with the height direction of the seat back 14, the left-right direction of the armrest 20 coincides with the left-right direction of the vehicle seat 10, and the up-down direction of the armrest 20 coincides with the front-rear direction of the seat back 14. Hereinafter, when simply explaining using the front-rear, left-right, up-down directions, it is assumed to indicate the direction with respect to the armrest 20.

[0024] The armrest 20 includes an armrest pad 22 made of a foam, an armrest skin 24 covering the surface of the armrest pad 22, a cup holder 26 attached to the armrest pad 22 by integral foam molding, an armrest frame 28 (see FIG. 2) embedded in the armrest pad 22 by integral foam molding, and a stopper pin body 42 attached to the armrest frame 28. The armrest pad 22 corresponds to the "pad" in the present invention. The armrest pad 22 and the armrest skin 24 constitute the "seat component main body" in the present invention.

[0025] The armrest pad 22 is made of, for example, urethane foam, and has a long rectangular parallelepiped shape with the front-rear direction of the armrest 20 as the longitudinal direction, the left-right direction of the armrest 20 as the width direction, and the up-down direction of the armrest 20 as the thickness direction. The width dimension of the armrest pad 22 is set to be larger than the thickness dimension of the armrest pad 22. The armrest skin 24 is formed in a bag shape by sewing a plurality of skin pieces made of a cloth material, leather, synthetic leather, etc., and is put on the armrest pad 22.

[0026] A cup holder 26 is disposed at the front portion of the armrest pad 22. The cup holder 26 is manufactured, for example, by injection molding of resin, and has a rectangular box shape with an open upper side. The cup holder 26 is disposed at the front portion of the armrest pad 22 with the longitudinal direction being the left - right direction, and is embedded in the armrest pad 22 in a state of opening upward. At the location where the cup holder 26 is provided, the armrest skin 24 is not provided. This cup holder 26 is capable of holding two beverage containers side by side in the left - right direction.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the armrest frame 28 includes a pipe frame 30, a pair of left - and - right side frames 32, a front frame 34, a wire frame 36, a pair of left - and - right rear brackets 38, and a pair of left - and - right rotation center axes 40 (the left - hand rotation center axis 40 is not shown).

[0028] The pipe frame 30 is, for example, a metal pipe material bent into a substantially U - shape, and has a pair of left - and - right front - and - rear extending portions 30A extending in the front - rear direction at the left - and - right side portions of the armrest 20, and a left - and - right extending portion 30B connecting the front end portions of the left - and - right front - and - rear extending portions 30A in the left - right direction.

[0029] The left - and - right side frames 32 are manufactured, for example, by press - forming a metal plate material, and have an elongated shape with the longitudinal direction being the front - rear direction. The rear portions of the left - and - right side frames 32 are overlapped with the front portions of the left - and - right front - and - rear extending portions 30A from the outside in the left - right direction, and are joined to the left - and - right front - and - rear extending portions 30A by means such as welding.

[0030] The front frame 34 is manufactured, for example, by press - forming a metal plate material, and has an elongated shape with the longitudinal direction being the left - right direction. Both left - and - right ends in the left - right direction of the front frame 34 are overlapped with the front end portions of the left - and - right side frames 32 from the front side, and are joined to the left - and - right side frames 32 by means such as welding.

[0031] The wire frame 36 is formed in a long rod shape by, for example, a wire made of metal, and is arranged with its longitudinal direction in the left - right direction. Both left - and right - hand ends of the wire frame 36 in the left - right direction are arranged below the left - and right - hand front - and - rear extending portions 30A, and are joined to the left - and right - hand front - and - rear extending portions 30A by means such as welding.

[0032] The left - and right - hand rear brackets 38 are manufactured by, for example, press - forming a metal plate material, and have a long shape with its longitudinal direction in the front - rear direction. The front portions of the left - and right - hand rear brackets 38 are overlapped with the rear end portions of the left - and right - hand front - and - rear extending portions 30A from the outside in the left - right direction, and are joined to the left - and right - hand front - and - rear extending portions 30A by means such as welding.

[0033] The left - and right - hand rotation center shafts 40 are formed in a columnar shape by, for example, metal bars. The left - and right - hand rotation center shafts 40 are arranged outside the left - and right - hand rear brackets 38 in the left - right direction with the left - right direction as the axial direction, and are arranged coaxially with each other. The end portions on the center side in the left - right direction of the left - and right - hand rotation center shafts 40 penetrate the left - and right - hand rear brackets 38, and are joined to the left - and right - hand rear brackets 38 by means such as welding. The left - and right - hand rotation center shafts 40 are the axes that serve as the rotation centers of the armrest frame 28.

[0034] The stopper pin body 42 is manufactured by, for example, roll - forming a metal plate material, and has a long shape with its longitudinal direction in the left - right direction. The stopper pin body 42 is arranged on the upper surface of the rear end portion of the right - hand rear bracket 38, and is fixed to the right - hand rear bracket 38 by means such as welding.

[0035] The cross - section of the stopper pin body 42 as viewed from the axial direction of the left - and right - hand rotation center shafts 40 (that is, the rotation axis direction of the armrest frame 28) is in an arc shape (C - shaped), and is formed in a hollow shape. The stopper pin body 42 is arranged in a posture that opens upward. The right - end portion of the stopper pin body 42 is a reduced - diameter portion with a smaller diameter than other parts of the stopper pin body 42.

[0036] Note that the stopper pin body 42 is not limited to having an arc-shaped cross section as described above. For example, as shown in the modified example in FIG. 4, the stopper pin body 42 may be cylindrical. The stopper pin body 42 according to this modified example is composed of, for example, a metal pipe material and is formed in a hollow shape. The stopper pin body 42 according to this modified example is arranged with the left-right direction as the axial direction and is joined to the upper surface of the rear end portion of the right rear bracket 38 by means such as welding.

[0037] When the armrest frame 28 is integrally foam-molded with the armrest pad 22, a part of the armrest pad 22 is filled inside the stopper pin body 42. A part of the armrest pad 22 filled inside the stopper pin body 42 corresponds to the "filling material" in the present invention. The stopper pin (overstroke prevention pin) of the armrest 20 is constituted by this filling material and the stopper pin body 42.

[0038] Note that the material of the stopper pin body 42 may be a metal material such as iron, aluminum, or magnesium, or may be a resin material. Further, the filling material is not limited to a foam such as the armrest pad 22, and may be a material having a lower density than the material of the stopper pin body 42, and may be a liquid. In that case, for example, the stopper pin body is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends sealed. Also, when the cylindrical stopper pin body 42 according to the above modified example is adopted, one end portion of the stopper pin body 42 may be formed in a mortar shape to facilitate filling a part of the armrest pad 22 inside the stopper pin body 42.

[0039] Corresponding to the above-mentioned armrest 20, a pair of left and right hinge brackets 44 (see FIG. 5; the left hinge bracket 44 is not shown) are provided on the seat back 14. The left and right hinge brackets 44 each have a bracket body 46 made of, for example, a metal plate material, and a resin portion 48 integrated with the bracket body 46 by, for example, insert molding, and are formed in a plate shape. The left and right hinge brackets 44 are arranged on both left and right sides in the lateral direction at the rear end portion of the armrest 20 with the lateral direction as the plate thickness direction.

[0040] The bracket bodies 46 of the left and right hinge brackets 44 are fixed to a frame (not shown) of the seat back 14 by means such as welding. Bearing holes 50 into which the left and right rotation center shafts 40 of the armrest frame 28 are rotatably inserted are formed in the left and right hinge brackets 44. Thereby, the armrest frame 28, that is, the armrest 20, is rotatably connected to the seat back 14. The inner peripheral surface of each bearing hole 50 is constituted by the resin portion 48, and is configured such that each rotation center shaft 40 rotates smoothly with respect to each bearing hole 50.

[0041] A stopper hole 52 into which a stopper pin body 42 is inserted is formed in the right hinge bracket 44. The stopper hole 52 is an elongated hole having an arc shape concentric with the bearing hole 50. The inner peripheral surface of this stopper hole 52 is constituted by the resin portion 48. In FIG. 5, a state where the armrest 20 is located at the storage position is shown. Also, in FIGS. 5 to 10, the stopper pin body 42 is of the cylindrical type shown in FIG. 4.

[0042] The stopper pin body 42 moves between both longitudinal ends of the stopper hole 52 as the armrest frame 28 rotates with respect to the seat back 14. When the stopper pin body 42 hits both longitudinal ends of the stopper hole 52, the rotation range of the armrest frame 28 with respect to the seat back 14 is restricted between the above-described deployment position and the storage position.

[0043] On one longitudinal end side and the other longitudinal end side of the stopper hole 52, narrow-width portions 52A where the width of the stopper hole 52 is narrowed are respectively provided. When the stopper pin main body 42 reaches one longitudinal end portion or the other longitudinal end portion of the stopper hole 52, it gets over the narrow-width portion 52A. Thereby, a knocking feeling is imparted to the rotation of the armrest 20 to the deployed position or the stored position, and the armrest 20 is configured to be suppressed from rotating inadvertently from the deployed position or the stored position.

[0044] Next, the operation and effects of the present embodiment will be described. In the vehicle seat 10 having the above configuration, the back of the occupant sitting on the seat cushion 12 is supported by the seat back 14. The armrest frame 28 of the armrest 20 is rotatably connected to the seat back 14. In this armrest 20, the armrest frame 28 is embedded in the armrest pad 22 by integral foam molding.

[0045] The stopper pin main body 42 fixed to the armrest frame 28 is inserted into an arcuate stopper hole 52 provided in the seat back 14 to limit the rotation range of the armrest frame 28 with respect to the seat back 14. This stopper pin main body 42 is formed in a hollow shape, and a part of the armrest pad 22 is filled inside. This armrest pad 22 is made of a material having a lower density than the material of the stopper pin main body 42. Thereby, the weight reduction of the stopper pin composed of the stopper pin main body 42 and a part of the armrest pad 22 can be achieved. That is, for example, compared with a configuration in which the stopper pin is formed in a solid columnar shape from a metal material, the stopper pin becomes lighter, so that the weight of the armrest 20 can be reduced.

[0046] In addition, in the present embodiment, an armrest frame 28 is embedded in an armrest pad 22 made of a foam, and a part of the armrest pad 22 is filled inside a stopper pin body 42. Therefore, by integrally foam-molding the armrest frame 28, the stopper pin body 42, and the armrest pad 22, a part of the armrest pad 22 can be filled inside the stopper pin body 42, and thus the manufacturing is easy.

[0047] In addition, as the stopper pin body 42, for example, one having an arc-shaped cross section when viewed from the axial direction of the rotation axis of the armrest frame 28 (see FIG. 3), one having a cylindrical shape with the axial direction of the rotation axis of the armrest frame 28 as the axial direction (see FIG. 4), etc. can be adopted. Since the stopper pin body 42 shown in FIG. 3 is open on the upper side of the armrest frame 28, it is easy to fill a part of the armrest pad 22 inside. Further, since the stopper pin body 42 shown in FIG. 4 has a cylindrical shape, it can be manufactured by, for example, a metal pipe, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0048] In addition, in the present embodiment, the material of the stopper pin body 42 that holds the armrest 20 in the deployed position is metal, and an armrest pad 22 made of a foam having a natural vibration frequency different from that of the metal is filled inside the stopper pin body 42, and the armrest pad 22 has damping performance. Thereby, micro-vibrations during vehicle travel or the like can be damped by the armrest pad 22, and shaking of the cup holder 26 or the like can be suppressed.

[0049] That is, when the armrest 20 is in the deployed position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, only one side of the outer peripheral surface of the stopper pin body 42 is in contact with the resin portion 48 of the hinge bracket 44. When minute vibrations associated with the running of the vehicle are applied to the armrest 20 in this state, as shown by the dashed lines in FIGS. 8 to 10, the stopper pin body 42 deforms in the axial direction and the circumferential direction. This deformation (vibration) is divided into several axial nodes A and circumferential nodes B, such as the "nodal pattern of a simply supported cylinder without axial restraint" shown in FIG. 11. FIGS. 12 to 16 illustrate circumferential nodal patterns of the 0th to 4th order, and FIGS. 17 to 19 illustrate axial nodal patterns of the 1st to 3rd order.

[0050] Even when deformation of the stopper pin body 42 occurs in various frequency ranges as shown in FIGS. 12 to 19, various frequencies can be canceled out by the armrest pad 22 filled inside the stopper pin body 42, so that the vibration of the armrest 20 can be absorbed.

[0051] Also, in the present embodiment, since the stopper pin body 42 is hollowed out and a part of the armrest pad 22 is filled inside the stopper pin body 42, the knocking sound and the touch when the stopper pin body 42 passes through the narrow portion 52A of the stopper hole 52 can be changed. That is, for example, by changing the thickness of the material of the stopper pin body 42, the density of the armrest pad 22, the filling amount, etc., the sound pressure, frequency, etc. of the clicking knocking sound when the stopper pin body 42 passes through the narrow portion 52A of the stopper hole 52 can be changed, and a comfortable sound can be set for the occupant. As a result, it is possible to give a comfortable operating feeling to the occupant who rotates the armrest 20 between the storage position and the deployed position.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the case where the armrest 20 is the "seat component" of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The "seat component" of the present invention may be rotatably attached to the seat body and the rotation range with respect to the seat body may be restricted by the stopper pin body and the stopper hole.

[0053] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the stopper pin body 42 is fixed only to the right-side (single-side) rear bracket 38, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 20, the stopper pin body 42 may be bridged between the left and right rear brackets 38. In that case, the stopper pin hole 52 is also formed in the left hinge bracket 44.

[0054] In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 10 Vehicle seat 11 Seat body 12 Seat cushion 14 Seat back 20 Armrest (seat component) 22 Armrest pad (pad) 28 Armrest frame (frame) 42 Stopper pin body 52 Stopper hole

Claims

1. A frame rotatably connected to a seat body of a vehicle seat, a seat component body attached to the frame, a stopper pin body formed in a hollow shape, fixed to the frame, inserted into an arc-shaped stopper hole provided in the seat body, and restricting the rotation range of the frame with respect to the seat body, a filler filled inside the stopper pin body and composed of a material having a lower density than the material of the stopper pin body, A seat component comprising:

2. The seat component body has a pad made of a foam, and the frame is embedded in the pad, The seat component according to claim 1, wherein the filler is the pad.

3. The seat component according to claim 2, wherein the stopper pin body has an arc-shaped cross section when viewed in the rotational axis direction of the frame.

4. The seat component according to claim 2, wherein the stopper pin body has a cylindrical shape with the rotational axis direction of the frame as the axis direction.

5. The seat component according to claim 1 or claim 2, which is an armrest of the vehicle seat.

6. A seat body having a seat cushion on which an occupant sits and a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat component according to claim 5, wherein the frame is rotatably connected to the seat back, A vehicle seat comprising:

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