armrest

Abstract

To provide an armrest capable of using a back face as the armrest by folding a seat back forward and enhancing convenience by arranging a port for power supply.SOLUTION: The armrest 10 functions as a seat back in a standing state. The elbow of the occupant seated on the side seat 2 can be supported by the upper surface part 11 when folded forward to be in a use state substantially parallel to the seating surface 35 of the center seat cushion 31. A universal serial bus (USB) port 61a is disposed on the upper surface portion 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest. [Background technology]

[0002] In some conventional vehicle seats, when the seatback of the adjacent seat is folded forward and placed in a state substantially parallel to the seating surface of the seat cushion, the back of the seatback can be used as an armrest. In the armrest of a vehicle seat described in Patent Document 1, when the seatback of the center seat of a two-seater seat on side 6 of a 6:4 split seat is folded forward, the back of the seatback can support the elbow of the occupant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 192095 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In armrests such as the one described in Patent Document 1, where the seat back can be folded forward so that it is roughly parallel to the seating surface of the seat cushion, and the back can be used as an armrest, there is a need to provide a power port such as a USB port to increase convenience.

[0005] In view of such demands, the object of the present invention is to provide an armrest that can be used as an armrest by folding the seat back forward, and that is equipped with a power supply port to enhance convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is characterized in that the armrest functions as a seat back when upright, and when folded forward and placed in a use state approximately parallel to the seating surface of the seat cushion, the upper surface can support the elbow of an occupant sitting in the adjacent seat, and a power supply port is provided on the upper surface.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is folded forward to be in use, the power supply port is located on the upper surface, allowing the passenger in the adjacent seat to charge their smartphone or other electronic device while having their elbow supported on the upper surface. Also, when the armrest is in the upright position to function as a seat back, the power supply port can be used from the rear to charge their smartphone or other electronic device.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the armrest allows a passenger seated in the rear seat to use the power supply port when the armrest is in an upright position.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is in the upright position, passengers seated in the rear seats can use the power supply port to charge electronic devices such as smartphones.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the power supply port is disposed near the front end of the upper surface portion when the armrest is in a usable state.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is in use, the power supply port is not located in the area rearward of the front end where the elbow is placed, thereby preventing the passenger sitting in the adjacent seat from feeling uncomfortable when resting their elbow on the upper surface.

[0012] The fourth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third invention, a pocket for holding an electronic device, made of a flexible skin material, is arranged in a portion rearward of the front end of the upper surface portion when the armrest is in use.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the electronic device can be safely stored in the pocket when charging it. Furthermore, when the electronic device is not stored in the pocket, the pocket is made of a flexible cover material, so that the elbow can be rested on it for comfortable support.

[0014] The fifth invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned fourth invention, the pocket allows a passenger sitting in the rear seat to hold the electronic device when the armrest is in an upright position.

[0015] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is in the upright position, a passenger sitting in the rear seat can safely store and hold the electronic device in his or her pocket when charging the electronic device.

[0016] The sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third aspect, the power supply port is formed at the tip of a rigid rod-shaped body extending in a straight line, and the rod-shaped body is arranged to extend obliquely with respect to the upper surface portion when the armrest is in a usable state.

[0017] According to the sixth invention, when a rigid rod-shaped body extending in a straight line is placed inside the armrest, the vertical dimension from the upper surface to the end opposite the tip of the rod-shaped body can be reduced, making it difficult to feel the rod-shaped body through the cushion body on the seating surface side opposite the upper surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a rear seat for an automobile provided with an armrest in a used state according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the armrest of the embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle when the armrest of the embodiment is in a usable state. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of a vehicle when the armrest of the embodiment is in an upright position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] 1 to 6 show one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a rear seat 1 for an automobile, which is a 6:4 split seat with six sides. In each figure, arrows indicate the directions when the rear seat 1 for an automobile is installed in the automobile. In the following description, descriptions of directions will be made based on these directions. The left-right direction corresponds to the seat width direction.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 , an automobile rear seat 1 includes a side seat 2 for a side occupant and a center seat 3 for a center occupant, arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The side seat 2 includes a side seat cushion 21 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant from below, a side seat back 22 that supports the waist and back of the seated occupant from behind, and a side headrest 23 that supports the head of the seated occupant from behind. The center seat 3 includes a center seat cushion 31 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the seated occupant from below, a center seat back 32 that supports the waist and back of the seated occupant from behind, and a center headrest 33 that supports the head of the seated occupant from behind. The side seat cushion 21 and the center seat cushion 31 are integrally formed and attached to a floor F. The center seat back 32 includes a lower portion 34 and an armrest portion 10. The lower portion 34 is formed integrally with the side seatback 22 and is attached to the side seat cushion 21 and the center seat cushion 31 via a reclining adjuster (not shown). This allows the lower portion 34 of the center seatback 32 and the side seatback 22 to change the tilt angle relative to the side seat cushion 21 and the center seat cushion 31. The armrest portion 10 of the center seatback 32 is connected to the lower portion 34 so as to be foldable forward. When the armrest portion 10 is folded forward relative to the lower portion 34 (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 5) with the lower portion 34 of the center seatback 32 and the side seatback 22 raised relative to the side seat cushion 21 and the center seat cushion 31 in an upright state (the state shown in FIG. 6), the upper surface portion 11 of the armrest portion 10 becomes approximately parallel to the seating surface 35 of the center seat cushion 31. In this state, the passenger seated on the side seat 2 can rest their elbows on the upper surface 11 of the armrest portion 10. Here, the armrest portion 10, the side seat 2, and the center seat cushion 31 correspond to the "armrest," the "adjacent seat," and the "seat cushion" in the claims, respectively.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the armrest portion 10 has a frame 12 that forms the skeleton, a pad 13 that is a cushion body supported by the frame 12, a cover 14 that covers the pad 13, and a USB port unit 6.

[0022] 1 and 5, the frame 12 has a pair of side frames 12a extending in the front-rear direction at both left and right ends of the armrest 10, and a front frame 12b connecting the front ends of the side frames 12a and extending in the left-right direction. The rear ends of each side frame 12a are connected to the lower section 34 by a pair of left and right bolts 12c whose axial direction extends in the left-right direction, allowing the side frames 12a to rotate in the front-rear direction relative to the lower section 34. A locking mechanism (not shown) selectively locks the armrest 10 between the used state shown in FIG. 5 and the upright state shown in FIG. 6. A plate 12d for fixing the USB port unit 6 is attached to the front frame 12b.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pad 13 is a molded body made of urethane foam resin and includes a lower pad 13a located on the lower side and an upper pad 13b located on the upper side when the armrest portion 10 is in use. The outer shapes of the lower pad 13a and the upper pad 13b when attached to the frame 12 define the outer shape of the armrest portion 10. The upper pad 13b elastically supports the elbows of a seated occupant when the armrest portion 10 is used as an armrest, and the lower pad 13a elastically supports the back of the seated occupant when the armrest portion 10 is used as a seat back. A notch 13c having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above is formed in the center of the left-right direction on the front end side of the upper pad 13b. The USB port unit 6 is disposed inside the notch 13c and is covered from above by a resin cover member 15.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cover 14 is formed into a three-dimensional shape by sewing together multiple pieces of cut up skin material such as fabric or leather laminated with a thin slab pad. When the armrest 10 is in use, the upper surface 11 is provided with an inner pocket 14a that opens forward and an outer pocket 14b above the inner pocket 14a, in the center of the front-to-rear direction. The inner pocket 14a has a lateral opening dimension that is approximately the same as the lateral dimension of the armrest 10, and can accommodate and hold a large electronic device such as a tablet terminal 4. The outer pocket 14b has two openings that are partitioned laterally in the lateral center, and can accommodate and hold a small electronic device such as a smartphone 5. The tablet terminal 4 and the smartphone 5 correspond to the "electronic device" in the claims.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the USB port unit 6 is formed by two rectangular, rigid USB connectors 61, which are connected side by side with their axes parallel to each other. A USB port 61a is provided at the front end of each USB connector 61, and a hinged lid 61b is provided. Wiring 62 for connecting to a power source extends from the rear end of each USB connector 61, opposite the USB port 61a. When the armrest 10 is in use, the USB port unit 6 is attached to the plate 12d through a mounting hole 15a formed in the lid member 15, with the axis of the USB connector 61 aligned upward and forward at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the horizontal. With the lid member 15 open, the USB port unit 6 enables charging of an electronic device by inserting a USB terminal attached to the tip of a wire extending from the electronic device into the USB port 61a. Here, the USB port 61a and the USB connector 61 correspond to the "power supply port" and the "rod-shaped body" in the claims, respectively.

[0026] The present embodiment configured as described above provides the following advantageous effects. As shown in Fig. 5, when the armrest portion 10 is folded forward to be in use, a USB port 61a is provided on the upper surface portion 11 of the armrest portion 10, allowing a passenger sitting in the side seat 2 to charge an electronic device such as a smartphone while resting their elbow on the upper surface portion 11. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, when the armrest portion 10 is in an upright position to function as a seat back, a passenger sitting in the rear seat 7 can use the USB port 61a to charge an electronic device such as a smartphone.

[0027] Furthermore, the USB port 61a is located near the front end of the upper surface 11 when the armrest 10 is in use. This prevents the seated occupant from feeling uncomfortable due to the presence of the USB port 61a in the area rearward of the front end of the side seat 2 where they place their elbows. Furthermore, the inner pocket 14a and the outer pocket 14b, which are made of a flexible skin material and which hold electronic devices, are located rearward of the area rearward of the front end of the upper surface 11 when the armrest 10 is in use. This allows the electronic device to be safely stored in the inner pocket 14a or the outer pocket 14b when charging. Furthermore, when the electronic device is not stored in the inner pocket 14a or the outer pocket 14b, the inner pocket 14a and the outer pocket 14b are made of a flexible skin material, so that the occupant can rest their elbows on them for comfortable support. In addition, the USB port 61a is formed at the tip of a rigid, rectangular-prism-shaped USB connector 61, and the USB connector 61 is disposed so as to extend obliquely relative to the top surface 11 when the armrest 10 is in use. This allows the vertical dimension between the top surface 11 and the lower end of the USB connector 61 to be smaller when the USB connector 61 is disposed inside the armrest 10 than when the USB connector 61 is disposed perpendicular to the top surface 11, making it difficult to feel the USB connector 61 through the lower pad 13a.

[0028] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those external appearances and configurations, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the following can be mentioned.

[0029] 1. In the above embodiment, the USB port 61a is used as the power supply port. However, this is not limiting, and any type of port for power supply, such as USB Type-C or Lightning, can be used.

[0030] 2. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the rear seat 1 for an automobile, but it may also be applied to a front seat for an automobile, and further to seats installed in an airplane, ship, train, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Rear seats for automobiles 2 Side seats (next to each other) 3 Center seat 4. Tablet devices (electronic devices) 5. Smartphones (electronic devices) 6 USB port unit 10 Armrest section (armrest) 11 Top part 14 Cover 14a Inner pocket (pocket) 14b outer pocket (pocket) 31 Center seat cushion (seat cushion) 32 Center seat back 35 seating surface 61 USB connector (rod-shaped) 61a USB port (power supply port)

Claims

1. The armrest functions as a seat back when upright, When folded forward and placed in a state of use substantially parallel to the seating surface of the seat cushion, the upper surface can support the elbow of the occupant sitting in the adjacent seat, The armrest has a power supply port disposed on the upper surface thereof.

2. In claim 1, The armrest allows a passenger seated in a rear seat to use the power supply port when the passenger is standing.

3. In claim 1, The power supply port is disposed near the front end of the upper surface portion when the armrest is in use.

4. In claim 2, The armrest has a pocket for holding an electronic device, the pocket being made of a flexible covering material and disposed in a portion of the upper surface portion rearward of the vicinity of the front end portion when the armrest is in a usable state.

5. 5. The armrest according to claim 4, wherein the pocket allows a passenger sitting in the rear seat to hold the electronic device when the armrest is in an upright position.

6. In claim 3, The power supply port is formed at the tip of a rigid rod-shaped body extending linearly, The rod-shaped body is disposed so as to extend obliquely relative to the upper surface portion when the armrest is in a usable state.

Images