Armrest and vehicle rear seat having the same

Abstract

To provide an armrest capable of stably supporting the forearm of a seated person and storing an article so as to be easily taken in and out, and a rear seat for a vehicle provided with the armrest.SOLUTION: The armrest 10 includes an armrest main body portion 24 that is disposed on the seat width direction outer side with respect to the seating portion of the vehicle seat 12 and includes a recessed portion that is recessed toward the vehicle lower side from an upper surface 24A on the vehicle upper side, and a lid member 28 that is provided on the inner side of the recessed portion and is configured to be movable in the vehicle up-down direction between an upper position at least capable of supporting a front arm of a seated person together with the upper surface 24A of the armrest main body portion 24 and a lower position that is positioned on the vehicle lower side of the upper position and capable of accommodating an article in the recessed portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest and a rear seat for a vehicle equipped with the armrest. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses an armrest that can swing between a storage position stored in the seat back of a vehicle rear seat and a use position where the armrest is tilted forward toward the seat. In the technology described in Patent Document 1, a storage space capable of storing items is provided in the armrest. This storage space is covered by an openable and closable lid member. With this technology, items can be stored in the storage space by opening the lid member, and the forearms of a seated occupant can be supported with the lid member closed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-118586 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the above technology, it is necessary to open the cover member each time an item is put in or taken out of the storage space (accommodation space). Of course, if the cover member is left open, it becomes easier to take in or take out items, but in this case, there is a risk that the open cover member may interfere with the seat occupant and become a nuisance.

[0005] On the other hand, if an item is simply placed on the flat top surface of the armrest, the occupant can place or pick up the item immediately, but if the vehicle shakes or the occupant suddenly bumps into the armrest, there is a risk that the item may fall off the armrest.

[0006] In consideration of the above, the present invention aims to provide an armrest that stably supports the forearms of a seated occupant and can easily store items, and a rear seat for a vehicle equipped with the armrest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The armrest of the present invention described in claim 1 comprises an armrest main body portion that is arranged on the outer side of the seating portion of a vehicle seat in the seat width direction and that has a recess that is recessed from the upper surface on the upper side of the vehicle toward the lower side of the vehicle, and a cover member that is provided inside the recess and is configured to be movable in the vertical direction of the vehicle between an upper position that can support at least the forearm of a seated occupant together with the upper surface of the armrest main body portion, and a lower position that is located below the upper position and can store items in the recess.

[0008] According to the present invention described in claim 1, the armrest is positioned on the side of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The term "armrest" is used to broadly include armrests that are positioned on the outer side of the seating portion of the vehicle seat in the seat width direction and support the forearms of the occupant, such as armrests located in the center or outer side of a rear seat in the vehicle width direction, armrests provided on a center console located between the left and right front seats, and armrests provided on the door trim of a side door.

[0009] The cover member is moved in the vertical direction of the vehicle inside the recess of the armrest main body. When the cover member is in the upper position, the upper surface of the armrest main body and the cover member widely support the forearms of the seated occupant. Therefore, the support area for the forearms of the seated occupant is wider than in a configuration where the cover member is not provided in the recess of the armrest.

[0010] On the other hand, when an item is placed on the lid member with the lid member in the lower position, the item is stored in a storage space surrounded by the upper surface of the lid member and the inner surface of the recess. Therefore, compared to when an item is simply placed on the flat upper surface of the armrest, the item is less likely to fall off the armrest even if the vehicle shakes due to acceleration / deceleration or cornering, or if the seated person suddenly bumps into the armrest. Also, compared to a configuration in which an openable lid member is provided on the armrest, the stored item is not covered by the lid member, making it easier for the seated person to take the item in and out.

[0011] The armrest of the present invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, further comprising a biasing portion that biases the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle from the lower position toward the upper position, and a locking mechanism that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the lower position.

[0012] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the cover member is biased upwardly toward the vehicle from the lower position toward the upper position by the biasing portion, and the cover member is restricted from moving upwardly toward the vehicle at the lower position by the locking mechanism.

[0013] When the cover member is pushed downward from the upper position against the biasing force of the biasing portion, the locking mechanism restricts the cover member from moving upward at the lower position and stops (locks) it. When the locking mechanism is released, the biasing force of the biasing portion moves the cover member upward and returns to the upper position. In other words, when the cover member is pushed downward from the upper position, it is locked and stops at the lower position, and when the locking mechanism is released, it automatically returns to the upper position.

[0014] The armrest of the present invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism locks the cover member at the lower position when the cover member is pushed from the upper position to a bottom position lower than the lower position, and unlocks the cover member when the cover member is pushed from the locked lower position to the bottom position.

[0015] According to the present invention described in claim 3, when the cover member disposed in the upper position is pushed to the bottom position, it is locked in the lower position by the locking mechanism. On the other hand, when the cover member locked in the lower position is pushed to the bottom position, it is unlocked and automatically returns to the upper position by the biasing force of the biasing part. In other words, switching from the upper position to the lower position and vice versa can be achieved simply by pushing. Therefore, the seat occupant can easily change the position of the cover member with one hand.

[0016] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is the invention as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an upper stopper portion that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the upper position.

[0017] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, the upper stopper portion restricts the cover member from moving upward in the upper position. Therefore, when the cover member bounces upward in the upper position due to the biasing force of the biasing portion, the upper stopper portion immediately stops the cover member in the upper position.

[0018] The armrest of the present invention described in claim 5 is the invention described in claim 1, in which a box member is arranged in the recess, and the cover member is connected to the box member inside the box member so as to be movable in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0019] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 5, in a state where the lid member is assembled to the box member, the integrated box member and lid member can be placed in the recess of the armrest main body portion.

[0020] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 6 is the invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cover member is pivotally supported by the box member at the end on the vehicle front side with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction.

[0021] According to the present invention described in claim 6, the cover member rotates around the end portion on the front side of the vehicle with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. In other words, when the cover member is pushed downward from the upper position, the rear side of the cover member moves downward. When the cover member is positioned in the lower position, the cover member inclines downward toward the rear side of the vehicle. This allows, for example, when a display device such as a smartphone or tablet is placed in the cover member and stored in the recess, the display screen of the gadget to be easily viewed and operated by a seat occupant.

[0022] The rear seat for a vehicle according to the present invention as described in claim 7 comprises a seat cushion arranged at the rear of the vehicle and configured to support the buttocks and thighs of an occupant; a seat back connected to the rear end of the seat cushion and configured to support the back of the occupant; an armrest main body connected to the center of the seat width direction of the seat back so as to be rotatable between a storage position stored in the seat back and a use position tilted toward the front of the seat; an armrest as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a recess recessed from the upper surface of the armrest main body on the upper side of the seat toward the lower side of the seat when the armrest main body is arranged in the use position; and a cover member provided inside the recess and configured to be movable at least between the upper position and the lower position.

[0023] According to the present invention as set forth in claim 7, the buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant are supported by the seat cushion. The back of the seated occupant is supported by the seat back. Here, the armrest main body of the armrest is rotatably connected to the center of the seat back in the vehicle width direction. The armrest main body is stored in the seat back when placed in the storage position. In this state, the seated occupant can also sit on the center of the seat cushion in the seat width direction. The armrest main body is also tilted toward the front of the seat and placed in the deployed position. This allows the forearms of a seated occupant sitting on the seat cushion to be supported on either side of the armrest main body in the seat width direction.

[0024] When the armrest main body is in the deployed position, the cover member moves in the up-down direction of the seat inside the recess of the armrest main body. When the cover member is in the upper position, the upper surface of the armrest main body and the cover member provide a wide support for the occupant's forearm. Therefore, the support area for the occupant's forearm is wider than in a configuration where the cover member is not provided in the armrest recess.

[0025] On the other hand, when the cover member is positioned in the lower position, an item is placed on the cover member. The item is stored in a storage space surrounded by the upper surface of the cover member and the inner surface of the recess. Therefore, compared to when an item is simply placed on the flat upper surface of the armrest, the item is less likely to fall off the armrest even when the vehicle shakes due to acceleration / deceleration or cornering, or when the seated person suddenly bumps into the armrest. Furthermore, compared to a configuration in which an openable cover member is provided on the armrest, the stored item is not covered by the cover member, making it easier for the seated person to take the item in and out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] As described above, the armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1 has the excellent effect of stably supporting the forearm of a seated occupant and allowing items to be easily stored and taken out.

[0027] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 2 has the excellent effect of allowing the seated occupant to easily and quickly change the position of the cover member.

[0028] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 3 has the excellent effect of enabling the seated occupant to switch the position of the cover member even more easily.

[0029] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4 has the excellent effect of being able to suppress the swinging of the flipped-up cover member and also being able to suppress wear on the biasing portion.

[0030] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 5 has the excellent effect of facilitating the work of assembling the cover member and the box member to the armrest main body.

[0031] The armrest according to the present invention as set forth in claim 6 has the excellent effect of improving the visibility and operability of the display device accommodated therein.

[0032] The vehicle rear seat according to the present invention as set forth in claim 7 has the excellent effect of providing stable support for the forearms of a seated occupant with the armrest, and also allowing items to be easily stored in and taken out of the armrest. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an armrest according to a first embodiment and a vehicle rear seat provided with the armrest; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the armrest shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the armrest shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, showing the armrest in use with the cover member disposed at the upper position. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a process in which the cover member shown in FIG. 4 is pushed from the upper position toward the lower side of the seat. [Figure 6] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover member shown in FIG. 5 is pushed down to a bottom position. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a storage-ready state in which the cover member shown in FIG. 6 has moved toward the upper side of the seat by a biasing force and is locked at a lower position. FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover member shown in FIG. 7 is pushed from a retractable state to a bottom position. FIG. [Figure 9] 9A to 9C are vertical cross-sectional views showing a process in which the cover member shown in FIG. 8 returns from the bottom position to the upper position due to the biasing force. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the armrest according to the second embodiment, showing the armrest in use with the cover member disposed at the upper position. [Figure 11] 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a storable state in which the cover member shown in FIG. 10 is pushed downwardly of the seat and locked at a lower position. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the armrest according to the third embodiment, showing the armrest in use with the cover member disposed at the upper position. [Figure 13] 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a stowable state in which the cover member shown in FIG. 12 is pushed downwardly of the seat and locked at the lower position. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] First Embodiment An armrest 10 and a vehicle rear seat 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Note that arrows FR, UP, LH, and RH shown as appropriate in each figure respectively indicate the front side, upper side, left side in the left-right direction (width direction), and right side in the left-right direction of the vehicle rear seat 12. Furthermore, when the terms "front-rear," "up-down," and "left-right" are used in the following description unless otherwise specified, they refer to front-rear in the seat front-rear direction, up-down in the seat up-down direction, and left-right in the seat left-right direction (width direction), respectively.

[0035] (Overall configuration of the vehicle rear seat 12) As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle rear seat 12 (hereinafter referred to as "rear seat 12") is a three-seater seat located at the rear of a vehicle, and includes a seat cushion 14 on which an occupant (seat occupant) sits, a seat back 16 that supports the occupant's back, and three headrests 18 that support the occupant's head. The seat back 16 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14. The three headrests 18 are each attached to the upper end of the seat back 16.

[0036] An armrest 10 is provided in the center of the seat width direction of the seat back 16. The armrest 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is connected to the seat back 16 so as to be rotatable between a stored position where it is stored in the seat back 16 and an extended position where it is tilted toward the front of the seat.

[0037] An armrest storage section 16A is formed in the center of the seat width direction of the seat back 16, recessed toward the rear of the seat in a shape corresponding to the armrest 10. When the armrest 10 is placed in the storage position, it is stored by fitting into the armrest storage section 16A in an upright state.

[0038] When the armrest 10 is in the storage position, the center portion of the rear seat 12 in the seat width direction can be used as a center seat. At this time, the armrest 10, together with the seat back 16, supports the back of the occupant seated in the center seat.

[0039] The armrest 10 is connected to both inner side surfaces in the seat width direction of an armrest storage portion 16A of the seat back 16 at both side surfaces in the seat width direction, at its lower end in the storage position and at its rear end in the deployed position.

[0040] (Armrest 10) 1 shows the armrest 10 in the unfolded position. In the following description, when the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are used with respect to the armrest 10 unless otherwise specified, they refer to the seat front-rear direction, seat up-down direction, and seat width direction (left-right direction), respectively, when the armrest 10 is in the unfolded position as shown in FIG.

[0041] Two cup holders 20 are provided in the front part of the upper surface of armrest 10. In addition, a lidded storage section 22 that is rectangular in plan view is provided on the upper surface of armrest 10 from the center in the front-to-rear direction to the rear part. Note that the armrest does not necessarily have to be provided with cup holders.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of armrest 10. As shown in Fig. 2, armrest 10 is configured to include an armrest main body 24 (hereinafter referred to as "main body 24"), a box member 26 housed in main body 24, and a lid member 28 attached to box member 26. In main body 24, a recess 24B is formed on the seat rear side of two cup holders 20, recessed from an upper surface 24A toward the lower side of the seat. Box member 26 and lid member 28 are each made of resin, for example.

[0043] The lid member 28 is connected to the box member 26 so as to be movable in the up-down direction of the seat inside the box member 26. Specifically, the lid member 28 is pivotally supported at its end on the front side of the seat to the box member 26 with its axial direction being the width direction of the seat, and its end on the rear side of the seat moves in the up-down direction of the seat while describing an arc in a side view of the seat.

[0044] When the upper surface 28A of the cover member 28 is placed in the upper position shown in Fig. 4, it is flush with the upper surface 24A of the armrest main body 24. In this state, the cover member 28 can widely support the forearms of an occupant seated on the right or left side of the seat in Fig. 1. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "armrest in use state."

[0045] 7, when the cover member 28 is pushed downward into the seat and placed in the lower position, an item can be stored in the storage space 30 enclosed by the upper surface 28A of the cover member 28 and the left and right inner surfaces of the box member 26. Hereinafter, this state will be referred to as the "storage-ready state."

[0046] The configuration of the armrest 10 in which the cover member 28 moves in the seat vertical direction inside the box member 26 to switch between an upper position and a lower position will be described in detail below.

[0047] 2, the box member 26 includes a front wall 32 extending in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat, a rear wall 34 extending in the seat width direction on the rear side of the seat, a pair of left and right side wall portions 36 extending in the front-to-rear direction of the seat on both sides in the seat width direction, and a lower wall portion 38 that forms the bottom surface. The box member 26 is formed so that the portion on the rear side of the seat is recessed deeper toward the bottom of the seat than the portion on the front side of the seat.

[0048] (Pivot shaft 40) A pivot shaft 40 having an axial direction parallel to the seat width direction is provided in the box member 26. Support holes 36A penetrating in the thickness direction are formed in the front ends of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36. Both ends of the pivot shaft 40 are inserted into the pair of left and right support holes 36A.

[0049] The lid member 28 is configured to include a lid main body 42 formed in a generally rectangular shape in a plan view, and a pair of left and right front connection portions 44 formed at the end of the lid main body 42 on the seat front side, protruding downward from both ends in the seat width direction. The pair of left and right front connection portions 44 are formed with the seat width direction as the plate thickness direction.

[0050] The pair of left and right front connection portions 44 are disposed inward in the seat width direction relative to the front portions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26. Support holes 44A penetrating in the plate thickness direction are formed in each of the pair of left and right front connection portions 44. The pivot shaft 40 is inserted through the pair of left and right support holes 44A. In this way, the front end portion of the lid member 28 is pivotally supported on the front end portion of the box member 26 so as to be able to pivot.

[0051] (torsion spring 46) As shown in FIG. 3 , the armrest 10 includes a pair of left and right torsion springs 46 as biasing portions. The cover member 28 is biased toward the upper side of the seat by the pair of left and right torsion springs 46 so that the rear end of the seat bounces up. The rotation shaft 40 is inserted through the pair of left and right torsion springs 46. The pair of left and right torsion springs 46 are fixed to the undersides of both ends of the cover member 28 in the seat width direction at the end on the front side of the seat and to the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26 in the seat width direction. Note that the number of biasing portions is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more. Furthermore, the arrangement of the biasing portions is not limited to the above, and may be provided, for example, in the center of the armrest 10 in the seat width direction.

[0052] (Upper stopper engaging portion 48 and upper stopper engaged portion 50) 2, the lid member 28 is provided with an upper stopper engagement portion 48 at the end of the lid main body 42 on the seat rear side. The upper stopper engagement portion 48 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape and is disposed so as to protrude further toward the seat rear side than the lid main body 42 in a plan view. Specifically, the upper surface of the end of the upper stopper engagement portion 48 on the seat front side is fixed to the underside of the seat width direction center of the end of the lid main body 42 on the seat rear side.

[0053] Meanwhile, an upper stopper engaged portion 50 is provided in the center of the rear wall 34 of the box member 26 in the seat width direction. The upper stopper engaged portion 50 penetrates the rear wall 34 in the plate thickness direction and is formed in a generally rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction extending in the seat up-down direction. The dimension of the upper stopper engaged portion 50 in the seat width direction is generally the same as the dimension of the upper stopper engaging portion 48 of the lid member 28 in the seat width direction.

[0054] The upper stopper engaging portion 48 of the lid member 28 moves in the seat up-and-down direction within the upper stopper engaged portion 50 of the box member 26. The upper stopper engaging portion 48 is locked onto the upper edge 50A of the upper stopper engaged portion 50, so that the lid member 28 is restricted from moving upward on the seat in the upper position. In other words, the upper edge 50A of the upper stopper engaged portion 50 constitutes a part of the upper stopper portion in the present invention.

[0055] (locking mechanism 52) 3, the armrest 10 is provided with a pair of left and right locking mechanisms 52 that restrict movement of the cover member 28 toward the upper side of the seat when in the lower position. The locking mechanisms 52 will be described in detail below.

[0056] 2, guide holes 36B penetrating in the thickness direction are formed in the rear portions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26. Only the left guide hole 36B is shown in FIG.

[0057] The lid member 28 also has a pair of left and right rear connection portions 54 formed at the seat rear end of the lid main body 42, protruding downward from both end portions in the seat width direction. The pair of left and right rear connection portions 54 are formed with the seat width direction as the plate thickness direction. The pair of left and right rear connection portions 54 are arranged inward in the seat width direction relative to the rear portions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26. Each of the pair of left and right rear connection portions 54 has a through hole 54A formed therethrough in the plate thickness direction.

[0058] A pair of left and right connectors 56 are hung between the guide holes 36B of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26 and the through holes 54A of the pair of left and right rear connection portions 54 of the lid member 28.

[0059] Each connector 56 is made of metal, for example, and is formed in an approximately U-shape, including an upper extending portion 56A and a lower extending portion 56B that extend in the seat width direction, and a connecting portion 56C that connects the upper extending portion 56A and the lower extending portion 56B.

[0060] Each connecting device 56 is disposed on the inner side of the side wall portion 36 of the box member 26 in the seat width direction, with its opening facing outward in the seat width direction. Specifically, the upper extending portion 56A of each connecting device 56 is inserted into the through hole 54A of the lid member 28. Meanwhile, the lower extending portion 56B of each connecting device 56 is movably inserted into the guide hole 36B of the box member 26. The lower extending portions 56B of the pair of left and right connecting devices 56 move within the guide holes 36B, causing the rear end of the lid member 28 to swing in the seat up-down direction. The manner in which the connecting devices 56 move within the guide holes 36B will be described in detail later.

[0061] Furthermore, patches 58 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the rear portions of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 of the box member 26 in the seat width direction. The pair of left and right patches 58 include a base portion 58A formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape and a protruding portion 58B formed to protrude inward in the seat width direction from the base portion 58A. The patch 58 is made of resin, for example. Note that the shape of the base portion is not limited to the above.

[0062] When viewed in the sheet width direction, the protruding portions 58B of the pair of left and right patches 58 are formed smaller than the pair of left and right guide holes 36B of the box member 26. The protruding portions 58B are disposed within the guide holes 36B at a distance from the inner edge portions of the guide holes 36B.

[0063] As a result, as shown in Figures 4 to 9, when viewed from the inside of the box member 26 in the seat width direction, the gap between the inner edge of the guide hole 36B and the outer edge of the protrusion 58B forms a guide groove 60 in which the lower extension portion 56B (see Figure 2) of the connector 56 can move.

[0064] As shown in Figure 4, the guide groove 60 has an upper guide portion 62 that extends at the top in approximately the up-down direction of the seat, a front guide portion 64 and a rear guide portion 66 that branch off from the upper guide portion 62 in approximately the front-to-rear direction of the seat, and a lower guide portion 68 that connects the lower ends of the front guide portion 64 and the rear guide portion 66.

[0065] The upper guide portion 62 is formed in a straight line. The front guide portion 64 has a front bent portion 64A bent toward the front of the seat. The rear guide portion 66 has a rear bent portion 66A bent toward the rear of the seat. The lower guide portion 68 is formed in a generally V-shape that is convex upward when viewed in the seat width direction. The apex of the lower guide portion 68 that is convex toward the upper side of the seat is called a lower stopper portion 70. An upper edge portion 70A of the lower stopper portion 70 is located closer to the front of the seat than a lower edge portion 70B of the lower stopper portion 70.

[0066] As shown in Figure 4, when the armrest is in use with the cover member 28 positioned in the upper position, the lower extending portion 56B (see Figure 2) of the connector 56 abuts against the upper edge 62A (see Figure 5) of the upper guide portion 62 of the guide groove 60. In other words, the upper edge 62A of the upper guide portion of the guide groove 60 functions as a stopper against movement of the cover member 28 toward the upper side of the seat due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 46 (see Figure 3). In other words, the upper edge 62A of the upper guide portion of the guide groove 60 constitutes a part of the upper stopper portion of the present invention.

[0067] The locking mechanism 52 is configured to lock the lid member 28 in the lower position as shown in Fig. 7 when the lid member 28 is pushed from the upper position shown in Fig. 4 toward the lower side of the seat as shown in Fig. 5 and further pushed to the bottom position lower than the lower position as shown in Fig. 6. Furthermore, the locking mechanism 52 is configured to unlock the lid member when the lid member 28 is pushed from the locked lower position as shown in Fig. 7 to the bottom position as shown in Fig. 8.

[0068] The manner in which the connector 56 moves within the guide groove 60 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0069] (Movement from upper position to lower position) First, the manner in which the cover member 28 is moved from the armrest use state (see FIG. 4) in which it is disposed at the upper position to the stowable state (see FIG. 7) in which it is disposed at the lower position will be described.

[0070] When the cover member 28 is pushed from the upper position toward the lower side of the seat, the lower extension portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 moves downward within the upper guide portion 62 of the guide groove 60. Thereafter, when the cover member 28 is pushed further toward the lower side of the seat, the lower extension portion 56B of the connector 56 moves downward within the rear guide portion 66 of the guide groove 60, as shown in FIG.

[0071] When the cover member 28 is further pushed downward toward the seat, the cover member 28 is positioned at the bottom position, which is the lowest end, as shown in Figure 6. At this time, the lower extension portion 56B (see Figure 2) of the connector 56 is positioned at the lower end of the rear guide portion 66 of the guide groove 60 (the connection portion with the lower guide portion 68).

[0072] When the cover member 28 is released from being pressed downward from the bottom position, the rear end of the cover member 28 moves upward due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 46 (see FIG. 3). At this time, the lower extension 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 moves upward along the rear of the lower guide portion 68 and is stopped by the upper edge 70A of the lower stopper portion 70, as shown in FIG. 7. This places the cover member 28 in a storable state in the lower position.

[0073] (Movement from lower position to upper position) Next, a manner in which the cover member 28 returns from the stowable state (see FIG. 7) in the lower position to the armrest use state (see FIG. 4) in the upper position will be described.

[0074] Since the upper edge 70A of the lower stopper portion 70 is located closer to the front of the seat than the lower edge 70B, when the cover member 28 is pushed downward from the lower position shown in FIG. 7, the lower extension portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connecting device 56 moves toward the front and lower side of the seat along the front of the lower guide portion 68.

[0075] As a result, when the cover member 28 is pushed back from the lower position to the bottom position at the lowest end, the lower extension portion 56B (see Figure 2) of the connector 56 is positioned at the lower end portion (connection portion with the lower guide portion 68) of the front guide portion 64 of the guide groove 60, as shown in Figure 8.

[0076] In this state, when the cover member 28 is released from being pushed downward toward the seat, the rear end of the cover member 28 moves upward toward the seat due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 46. At this time, the lower extension portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 moves the front guide portion 64 and the upper guide portion 62 toward the upper side of the seat and is engaged with the upper edge 62A (see FIG. 5) of the upper guide portion 62, as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the cover member 28 is again positioned in the upper position, providing a usable armrest.

[0077] (action) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

[0078] According to the armrest 10 and rear seat 12 of this embodiment, the armrest 10 is positioned to the left of an occupant seated on the right side of the rear seat 12 shown in Figure 1, or to the right of an occupant seated on the left side of the rear seat 12.

[0079] 4 to 9, lid member 28 is moved in the up-and-down direction of the seat inside box member 26 housed in recess 24B of main body 24. As shown in FIG. 4, when the armrest is in use with lid member 28 in the upper position, the forearms of the seated occupant are widely supported by upper surface 24A of main body 24 and upper surface 28A of lid member 28. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which a storage section is provided in the armrest but no lid member is provided in the storage section, the support area for the forearms of the seated occupant is wider.

[0080] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, when the lid member 28 is positioned in the lower position and an item is placed on the upper surface 28A of the lid member 28, the item is stored in the storage space 30 surrounded by the upper surface 28A of the lid member 28 and the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 and the rear wall portion 34 of the box member 26.

[0081] As a comparative example, if an item is simply placed on the top surface of a flat armrest, the item is likely to fall off the armrest if the vehicle shakes due to acceleration / deceleration or cornering, or if the seated person suddenly bumps into the armrest.

[0082] In contrast, with the armrest 10 of this embodiment, items placed on the cover member 28 and stored in the storage space 30 are surrounded by the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side wall portions 36 and the rear wall portion 34 of the box member 26, so even if the vehicle shakes or the seated person bumps into the armrest 10, the items are less likely to fall out and remain stored in the storage space 30.

[0083] In a comparative example, if an armrest storage compartment is provided with an openable lid, the stored items are covered by the lid, making it difficult for the seat occupant to take the items in and out. Furthermore, unless the lid is transparent, the items stored in the storage compartment cannot be seen.

[0084] In contrast, with the armrest 10 according to this embodiment, the items stored in the storage space 30 are not covered by the lid member 28, making it easy for the seated person to take items in and out of the storage space 30. Furthermore, the seated person can see the items stored therein. For example, the seated person can see the display screen of a display device such as a smartphone or tablet placed on the lid member 28 while the display device is stored in the storage space 30.

[0085] Furthermore, in the armrest 10 according to this embodiment, the cover member 28 is biased toward the upper side of the seat from the lower position toward the upper position by the torsion spring 46 (see FIG. 3), and movement toward the upper side of the seat at the lower position is restricted by the locking mechanism 52. As a result, when the cover member 28 is pushed toward the lower side of the seat from the upper position, it stops at the lower position as shown in FIG. 7, and automatically returns to the upper position shown in FIG. 4 when the lock is released.

[0086] Furthermore, with the armrest 10 according to this embodiment, when the cover member 28, which is disposed in the upper position as shown in FIG. 4, is pushed to the bottom position as shown in FIG. 6, it is locked in the lower position by the locking mechanism 52 as shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, when the cover member 28, which has been locked in the lower position, is pushed back to the bottom position as shown in FIG. 8, it is unlocked and automatically returns to the upper position as shown in FIG. 4 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 46 (see FIG. 3). In other words, switching from the upper position to the lower position and vice versa can be achieved simply by pushing the cover member 28 in. This allows the seat occupant to easily change the position of the cover member 28 with one hand.

[0087] Furthermore, according to the armrest 10 of this embodiment, the upper stopper engaging portion 48 is engaged with the upper edge 50A of the upper stopper engaged portion 50 shown in Fig. 2, and the lower extending portion 56B of the connector 56 is engaged with the upper edge 62A of the upper guide portion of the guide groove 60 shown in Fig. 5, so that the cover member 28 is restricted from moving upward toward the seat at the upper position as shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, the cover member 28, which has bounced up toward the seat from the lower position due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 46, is immediately stopped at the upper position by the two upper stopper portions described above.

[0088] Furthermore, with the armrest 10 according to this embodiment, the box member 26 and the lid member 28 can be placed in the recess 24B of the main body 24 in a state where the lid member 28 is assembled to the box member 26.

[0089] Furthermore, with the armrest 10 according to this embodiment, when the cover member 28 is disposed in the lower position as shown in Fig. 7, it is inclined downward toward the rear of the seat. As a result, when a display device such as a smartphone or tablet is placed on the cover member 28 and stored in the storage space 30, the display screen of the gadget can be easily viewed and operated by the seat occupant.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the armrest 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the armrest 10 is provided with a pair of left and right patches 58, which form guide grooves 60 (see Fig. 4) in the guide holes 36B in the side wall portions 36 of the box member 26. This makes it easier to punch out the box member 26 when forming it, compared to a configuration in which guide grooves recessed outward in the seat width direction are formed on the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side wall portions of the box member in the seat width direction.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the armrest 10 of this embodiment, the dimension of the upper stopper engaged portion 50 in the seat width direction is substantially the same as the dimension of the upper stopper engaging portion 48 of the cover member 28 in the seat width direction, and the upper stopper engaging portion 48 moves in the seat up-down direction within the upper stopper engaged portion 50. This reduces rattling when the cover member 28 moves in the seat up-down direction.

[0092] [Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment] In the above embodiment, the armrest 10 is described as being provided in the center of the three-seater rear seat 12 in the seat width direction, but this is not limited thereto. For example, a pair of left and right single-seater rear seats may be provided in the rear of the vehicle, and the armrest structure according to the present invention may be applied to the armrest on the outer or inner side of the rear seat in the vehicle width direction. The armrest may also be a center console disposed between the left and right front seats. For example, the armrest may be provided in the door trim of a side door.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the armrest 10 is described as being equipped with the torsion spring 46, but this is not limited to this. For example, the means for biasing the cover member toward the upper side of the seat is not limited to a torsion spring. Furthermore, the armrest does not have to be equipped with a biasing portion.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the armrest 10 is described as being equipped with the locking mechanism 52, but this is not limited to this. For example, the cover member 28 does not need to be equipped with a locking mechanism as long as it is not biased toward the upper side of the seat.

[0095] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 52 was described as locking the lid member 28 at the lower position when the lid member 28 is pushed from the upper position to the bottom position, which is lower than the lower position, and unlocking the lid member 28 when the lid member 28 is pushed from the locked lower position to the bottom position, but the configuration of the locking mechanism is not limited to this. Any locking mechanism may be used as long as it restricts movement of the lid member above the seat when in the lower position.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the upper stopper engaging portion 48 is engaged with the upper edge 50A of the upper stopper engaged portion 50, and the lower extending portion 56B of the connector 56 is engaged with the upper edge 62A of the upper guide portion of the guide groove 60. However, this is not limited to this. The upper stopper portion may be configured to restrict movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the seat when in the upper position. The armrest may not have an upper stopper portion. In this case, the upper position may be a position where the biasing force of the biasing portion is eliminated.

[0097] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the box member 26 is housed in the recess 24B of the main body 24, and the lid member 28 is connected to the box member 26, but this is not limiting. For example, the lid member may be directly connected to the recess of the main body.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cover member 28 is described as being pivotally supported at the end on the front side of the seat with its axial direction aligned with the seat width direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, the cover member may be pivotally supported at the end on the rear side of the seat with its axial direction aligned with the seat width direction. In this case, the seat occupant can switch between the upper and lower positions by pushing the front end of the cover member downward on the seat, allowing the occupant to switch between the upper and lower positions of the cover member in a natural, comfortable seated position. Furthermore, the cover member may be pivotally supported at the end on the right or left side of the seat width direction with its axial direction aligned with the seat front-rear direction.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the armrest 10 is provided with a pair of left and right patches 58, which form the guide groove 60 in the guide hole 36B in the side wall portion 36 of the box member 26. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the box member may have guide grooves recessed outward in the seat width direction formed on the inner surfaces of the pair of left and right side wall portions in the seat width direction.

[0100] Second Embodiment Next, an armrest 80 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0101] Figure 10 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an armrest 80 according to this embodiment, cut along the front-rear and up-down directions. The armrest 80 includes a main body 24 having a recess 24B (see Figure 2), a box member 82 housed in the main body 24, and a lid member 84 connected to the box member 82. The armrest 80 also includes a pair of left and right locking mechanisms 52 that lock the lid member 84 in the lower position shown in Figure 11. The armrest 80 also includes a link mechanism 86 that moves the lid member 84 substantially in the seat up-down direction.

[0102] As shown in Figure 10, the box member 82 is composed of a front wall portion 88 extending in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat, a rear wall portion 90 extending in the seat width direction on the rear side of the seat, a pair of left and right side wall portions 92 extending in the seat front-to-rear direction on both sides in the seat width direction, and a lower wall portion 94 forming the bottom surface.

[0103] The rear wall portion 90 is formed in an arc shape that bulges toward the rear of the seat in a side view. Similarly to the rear wall portion 90, the upper portion 88A of the front wall portion 88 is formed in an arc shape that bulges toward the rear of the seat in a side view. The distance between the upper portion 88A of the front wall portion 88 and the rear wall portion 90 is slightly larger than the dimension of the cover member 84 in the front-to-rear direction. The lower portion 88B of the front wall portion 88 is formed to slope downward toward the front of the seat. Guide holes 36B are formed in the pair of left and right side wall portions 92.

[0104] The lid member 84 is configured to include a lid main body 42, a pair of left and right rear connection portions 54, and a pair of left and right front connection portions 96 formed in the center of the lid main body 42 in the seat front-rear direction, protruding downward from both end portions in the seat width direction. The pair of left and right front connection portions 96 are formed with the seat width direction as the plate thickness direction.

[0105] The link mechanism 86 includes a front support shaft 98 that extends in the seat width direction and has both ends fixed to the front and lower ends of the pair of left and right side wall portions 92 of the box member 82. The link mechanism 86 also includes a rear support shaft 100 that extends in the seat width direction behind the front support shaft 98 and has both ends fixed to the pair of left and right side wall portions 92 of the box member 82, similar to the front support shaft 98. The front support shaft 98 and the rear support shaft 100 are arranged parallel to each other.

[0106] The link mechanism 86 also includes a pair of left and right front arms 102 that connect the front support shaft 98 and the cover member 84, and a pair of left and right rear arms 104 that connect the rear support shaft 100 and the cover member 84. Note that only the right front arm 102 and the right rear arm 104 are shown in Figure 10. Because the armrest 80 is configured symmetrically, the following description will focus on the right front arm 102 and the right rear arm 104, and will omit a description of the left front arm and left rear arm.

[0107] The right front arm 102 and rear arm 104 are arranged to be swingable in the seat up-down direction on the seat widthwise inner side of the right side wall portion 92 of the box member 82. The end portion of the right front arm 102 on the seat front side is rotatably connected to the right end portion of the front support shaft 98. In addition, the end portion of the right front arm 102 on the seat rear side is rotatably connected to the front connection portion 96 of the cover member 84.

[0108] An end portion of the right rear arm 104 on the seat front side is rotatably connected to a right end portion of the rear support shaft 100. Furthermore, an end portion of the right rear arm 104 on the seat rear side is rotatably connected to the rear connection portion 54 of the cover member 84. Specifically, a through hole (not shown) penetrating in the plate thickness direction is formed in the end portion of the rear arm 104 on the seat rear side. An upper extension portion 56A (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 is inserted into the through hole 54A of the rear connection portion 54 and the through hole (not shown) of the rear arm 104, respectively. A lower extension portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 is inserted into the guide holes 36B of the pair of left and right side wall portions 92 of the box member 82.

[0109] The distance between the front connection part 96 and the rear connection part 54 of the lid member 84 is the same as the distance between the front support shaft 98 and the rear support shaft 100. Note that the distance here refers to the distance between the centers of the respective rotation shafts. In other words, the front arm 102 and the rear arm 104 are designed to swing while maintaining a parallel state to each other, so that the lid main body 42 of the lid member 84 moves in the generally vertical direction of the seat, tracing an arc in a side view of the seat, while maintaining a generally horizontal state.

[0110] The front arm 102 is biased toward the upper side of the seat by a torsion spring 46 (see FIG. 3). Note that the rear arm 104 may be biased instead of the front arm 102. Also, both the front arm 102 and the rear arm 104 may be biased.

[0111] (action) The manner in which the cover member 84 is moved between the upper position shown in FIG. 10 and the lower position shown in FIG. 11 will be described below, and the operation of this embodiment will be explained through this explanation.

[0112] (Movement from upper position to lower position) When the lid member 84 is pushed downward from the upper position while maintaining a substantially horizontal state, the lower extension 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 moves downward within the guide groove 60. Then, when the lid member 84 is further pushed downward from the seat and positioned at the bottom position, at the lowest end, and then the lid member 84 is released from being pushed downward from the seat, the urging force of the torsion spring 46 (see FIG. 3) causes the lid member 84 to move upward from the seat while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. At this time, the lower extension 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connector 56 moves upward from the seat and is stopped by the lower stopper 70, as shown in FIG. 11. This places the lid member 84 in a stowable state in the lower position.

[0113] (Movement from lower position to upper position) When the cover member 84 is pushed back from the lower position shown in Figure 11 to the bottom position, the locking mechanism 52 is released. In this state, when the cover member 84 is released from being pushed downward toward the seat, the biasing force of the torsion spring 46 (see Figure 3) moves the cover member 28 toward the upper side of the seat while maintaining a substantially horizontal position. Then, as shown in Figure 10, the cover member 84 is again positioned in the upper position, providing a usable armrest.

[0114] According to the armrest 80 of this embodiment, when the armrest is in use with the cover member 84 positioned in the upper position as shown in Figure 10, the upper surface 24A of the main body 24 and the cover member 84 provide wide support for the forearms of the seated occupant.

[0115] On the other hand, in the storage state in which the lid member 84 is positioned in the lower position as shown in Figure 11, items are stored in a storage space 106 surrounded by the upper surface of the lid member 84, the front wall portion 88 of the box member 82, a pair of left and right side wall portions 92, and the rear wall portion 90.

[0116] Third Embodiment Next, an armrest 110 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0117] 12 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an armrest 110 according to this embodiment, cut along the front-rear and up-down directions. The armrest 110 includes a main body 24 having a recess 24B (see FIG. 2), a box member 112 housed in the main body 24, and a lid member 114 connected to the box member 112. The armrest 110 also includes four locking mechanisms 52 that lock the lid member 114 in the lower position shown in FIG.

[0118] Furthermore, the armrest 110 is provided with four compression springs 116 as biasing parts that bias the cover member 114 toward the upper side of the seat. In Figures 12 and 13, only the two locking mechanisms 52 on the right side and the two compression springs 116 on the right side are shown, and the two locking mechanisms on the left side and the two compression springs on the right side are not shown.

[0119] 12, the box member 112 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a front wall 118, a rear wall 120, a pair of left and right side walls 122, and a bottom wall 124 that forms the bottom surface. A pair of front and rear guide holes 36B are formed in each of the pair of left and right side walls 122.

[0120] The lid member 114 is configured to include a lid main body 42, a pair of left and right front connection portions 44, and a pair of left and right rear connection portions 54.

[0121] An upper extending portion 56A (see FIG. 2) of the front connector 56 is inserted into the front connecting portion 44 of the cover member 114. A lower extending portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the front connector 56 is inserted into the front guide groove 60 in the side wall portion 122 of the box member 112.

[0122] On the other hand, the upper extending portion 56A (see FIG. 2) of the rear connecting device 56 is inserted into the rear connecting portion 54 of the cover member 114. The lower extending portion 56B (see FIG. 2) of the rear connecting device 56 is inserted into the rear guide groove 60 in the side wall portion 122 of the box member 112.

[0123] The upper end of each compression spring 116 is fixed to the lower surface of the lid member 114. The lower end of each compression spring 116 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower wall portion 124 of the box member 112. The front compression spring 116 is fixed to the lid member 114 on the seat rear side of the front connection portion 44. The rear compression spring 116 is fixed to the lid member 114 on the seat front side of the rear connection portion 54. The four compression springs 116 are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions with respect to the lid member 42. The number of compression springs is not limited to four, and may be three or less, or five or more. The arrangement of the compression springs is also not limited to the above.

[0124] (action) The manner in which the cover member 114 is moved between the upper position shown in FIG. 12 and the lower position shown in FIG. 13 will be described below, and the operation of this embodiment will be explained through this explanation.

[0125] (Movement from upper position to lower position) When the lid member 114 is pushed downward from the upper position while maintaining a substantially horizontal state, the lower extensions 56B (see FIG. 2) of the four connectors 56 move downward within the four guide grooves 60. Then, after the lid member 114 is further pushed downward and positioned at the bottom position, the lid member 114 is released from being pushed downward, and the urging force of the four compression springs 116 moves the lid member 114 upward while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. At this time, the lower extensions 56B (see FIG. 2) of the connectors 56 move upward and are stopped by the lower stopper portion 70, as shown in FIG. 13. This places the lid member 114 in a storable state in the lower position.

[0126] (Movement from lower position to upper position) 12 back to the bottom position, the four locking mechanisms 52 are unlocked. In this state, when the cover member 114 is released from being pushed downwards on the seat, the biasing force of the four compression springs 116 causes the cover member 114 to move upwards on the seat while maintaining a substantially horizontal position. The armrest is then again placed in the upper position, providing a usable state for the cover member 114.

[0127] According to the armrest 110 of this embodiment, when the armrest is in use with the cover member 114 positioned in the upper position as shown in FIG. 12, the forearms of the seated occupant are widely supported by the upper surface 24A of the main body 24 and the upper surface of the cover member 114.

[0128] On the other hand, in the storage state in which the lid member 114 is positioned in the lower position as shown in Figure 13, items are stored in a storage space 126 surrounded by the upper surface of the lid member 114, the front wall portion 118 of the box member 112, a pair of left and right side wall portions 122, and the rear wall portion 120.

[0129] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments.

[0130] (Appendix 1) an armrest body portion disposed on the outer side of the seating portion of the vehicle seat in a seat width direction and having a recessed portion recessed from an upper surface on the vehicle upper side to a vehicle lower side; a cover member provided inside the recessed portion and configured to be movable in the vehicle up-down direction between at least an upper position where the cover member can support the forearm of a seated occupant together with the upper surface of the armrest main body portion and a lower position where the cover member is located below the upper position and where an item can be stored in the recessed portion; Armrests with. (Appendix 2) a biasing portion that biases the cover member upwardly toward the vehicle from the lower position toward the upper position; a locking mechanism that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the lower position. Armrest as described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) the locking mechanism locks the lid member at the lower position when the lid member is pushed from the upper position to a bottom position that is lower than the lower position, and unlocks the lid member when the lid member is pushed from the locked lower position to the bottom position. Armrest as described in Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) The cover member further includes an upper stopper portion that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the upper position. 1. An armrest as described in Appendix 2 or Appendix 3. (Appendix 5) a box member is disposed in the recess, and the lid member is connected to the box member inside the box member so as to be movable in the up-down direction of the vehicle; An armrest according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) The cover member is pivotally supported by the box member at an end portion on the vehicle front side with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. Armrest as described in Appendix 5. (Appendix 7) a seat cushion disposed at the rear of the vehicle and configured to be able to support the buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant; a seat back connected to an end of the seat cushion on the rear side of the seat and configured to support the back of a seated occupant; the armrest body portion connected to the center of the seat width direction of the seat back so as to be rotatable between a stored position stored in the seat back and a deployed position tilted toward the front of the seat; a recess recessed from an upper surface of the armrest body portion on the upper side of the seat toward a lower side of the seat when the armrest body is disposed at the deployed position; and the armrest according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6, which includes: A rear seat for a vehicle having: [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 10, 80, 110 armrest 12 Rear seat for vehicle 14 seat cushion 16 Seat back 24 Armrest body 24A Upper surface of armrest body 24B Recess 26, 82, 112 Box members 28, 84, 114 Cover member 46 Torsion spring (biasing part) 50A Upper edge of the engaged part of the upper stopper (upper stopper part) 52 Locking mechanism 62A Upper edge of the upper guide part of the guide groove (upper stopper part)

Claims

1. an armrest body portion disposed on the outer side of the seating portion of the vehicle seat in a seat width direction and having a recessed portion recessed from an upper surface on the vehicle upper side to a vehicle lower side; a cover member provided inside the recessed portion and configured to be movable in the vehicle up-down direction between at least an upper position where the cover member can support the forearm of a seated occupant together with the upper surface of the armrest main body portion and a lower position where the cover member is located below the upper position and where an item can be stored in the recessed portion; Armrests with.

2. a biasing portion that biases the cover member upwardly toward the vehicle from the lower position toward the upper position; a locking mechanism that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the lower position. The armrest of claim 1 .

3. the locking mechanism locks the lid member at the lower position when the lid member is pushed from the upper position to a bottom position that is lower than the lower position, and unlocks the lid member when the lid member is pushed from the locked lower position to the bottom position. The armrest according to claim 2 .

4. The cover member further includes an upper stopper portion that restricts movement of the cover member toward the upper side of the vehicle at the upper position. The armrest according to claim 2 .

5. a box member is disposed in the recess, and the lid member is connected to the box member inside the box member so as to be movable in the up-down direction of the vehicle; The armrest of claim 1 .

6. The cover member is pivotally supported by the box member at an end portion on the vehicle front side with the vehicle width direction as the axial direction. The armrest according to claim 5.

7. a seat cushion disposed at the rear of the vehicle and configured to be able to support the buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant; a seat back connected to an end of the seat cushion on the rear side of the seat and configured to support the back of a seated occupant; The armrest according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: the armrest main body portion connected to the center of the seat width direction of the seat back so as to be rotatable between a stored position stored in the seat back and a deployed position tilted toward the front of the seat; a recess recessed from an upper surface of the armrest main body portion on the upper side of the seat toward a lower side of the seat when the armrest is disposed in the deployed position; and the cover member provided inside the recess and configured to be movable at least between the upper position and the lower position; A rear seat for a vehicle having:

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