Armrests and vehicle seats

Abstract

The present invention provides an armrest capable of effectively dissipating heat from a device, and a vehicle seat equipped with the armrest. [Solution] The armrests 1 and 101 include armrest bodies 21 and 103 and a device 18 supported on the surface of the armrest body, and the armrest body is provided with flow passages 72U and 131 that are connected to the device on the upstream side and open on the downstream side at a position that does not overlap with the device on the surface of the armrest body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest and a vehicle seat provided with the armrest.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a door trim provided with an armrest portion. The armrest portion is formed to bulge toward the vehicle interior side and is used as an elbow rest for an occupant. The armrest portion is provided with a storage portion whose upper side is open.

[0003] The storage portion has a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and front and rear walls, and an inclined surface on which an electronic device such as a smartphone is placed is provided on one of the side walls. A coil (power feeding coil) for non-contact power transmission and charging of the electronic device is embedded in the inclined surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The power feeding coil described in Patent Document 1 is embedded in the inclined surface. Therefore, there is a problem that heat generated from the power feeding coil hardly escapes from the storage portion to the outside.

[0006] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide an armrest capable of effectively discharging heat of a device, and a vehicle seat provided with the armrest.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides an armrest (1, 101) comprising an armrest body (21, 103) and a device (18) supported on the surface of the armrest body, wherein the armrest body is provided with a flow passage (72U, 131) connected to the device on the upstream side and opening on the downstream side at a position on the surface of the armrest body that does not overlap with the device.

[0008] According to this embodiment, since a flow passage is provided in the armrest, heat from the device can be effectively dissipated through the flow passage.

[0009] In the above embodiment, preferably, the device is supported on the free end side of the armrest body, and the downstream end of the flow passage is provided on the base end side of the armrest body.

[0010] According to this embodiment, the device can be positioned in a location that is easy for the person sitting in the seat to operate.

[0011] In the above embodiment, preferably, a cover member (139) having a ventilation hole (143) is provided at the downstream end of the flow passage.

[0012] According to this embodiment, a flow passage can be formed by the cover member.

[0013] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body comprises a support member (109) on which the device is placed, and a duct (111) supported by the support member, wherein the support member comprises a support portion (117) that forms a surface on the front side that supports the device, and a connecting portion (119) that opens at the support portion and extends to the back side, the duct is groove-shaped at a position opposite the support member, is connected to the connecting portion, abuts against the back surface of the support member, and defines the downstream side of the flow passage.

[0014] According to this embodiment, a flow path connected to a device can be configured with a simple structure.

[0015] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body is provided with a pivot shaft (34) for rotatably connecting to the seat back, the pivot shaft extending in the left-right direction and passing through the duct.

[0016] In this embodiment, the duct is positioned so as to overlap the pivot axis in a side view. Therefore, the armrest body can be made more compact compared to when the duct is located away from the pivot axis.

[0017] In the above embodiment, preferably, the duct has a bottom wall (111A) and a pair of side walls (111B) erected on the bottom wall, the side walls are provided with notches (135) cut out in a direction away from the support member, and the pivot shaft passes through the notches.

[0018] According to this embodiment, the duct can be positioned so as to overlap the pivot axis in a side view.

[0019] In the above embodiment, preferably, a fixing portion (149) for fixing a harness connected to the device is provided on the downstream side of the duct.

[0020] According to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a separate member for fixing the harness to the support member, thus reducing the number of parts in the armrest.

[0021] In the above embodiment, preferably, a pad member (105) is provided on the back side of the armrest body, and the pad member is provided with a receiving recess (133) for receiving the connecting portion and the duct.

[0022] According to this embodiment, the support member and the duct can be securely connected to the pad member.

[0023] In the above aspect, preferably, a pair of restricting pieces (155) protruding toward the pad member are provided on the duct, and a bulging portion (159) that protrudes between the pair of restricting pieces is provided on the pad member.

[0024] According to this aspect, the movement of the pad member with respect to the duct can be restricted by the bulging portion and the restricting pieces.

[0025] In the above aspect, preferably, ribs (161) having surfaces facing each other are provided on the restricting pieces, and the bulging portion is sandwiched between the ribs.

[0026] According to this aspect, since the bulging portion is sandwiched by the ribs, the movement of the pad member with respect to the duct can be favorably restricted.

[0027] In the above aspect, preferably, the device is a power supply device (18) for supplying power to a terminal.

[0028] According to this aspect, power can be supplied to the terminal using the device provided on the armrest.

[0029] In the above aspect, preferably, it is a vehicle seat (1) having the above armrest, and the armrest main body is rotatably connected at the base end to the seat back about an axis extending in the left - right direction, and a storage recess (16) for storing the armrest is provided on the seat back.

[0030] According to this aspect, the heat of the device can be effectively discharged, and a vehicle seat provided with an armrest that can be stored can be provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0031] One aspect of the present invention is an armrest (1, 101) comprising an armrest body (21, 103) and a device (18) supported on the surface of the armrest body, wherein the armrest body is provided with a flow passage (72U, 131) connected to the device on the upstream side and opening on the downstream side at a position on the surface of the armrest body that does not overlap with the device.

[0032] According to this embodiment, since a flow passage is provided in the armrest, heat from the device can be effectively dissipated through the flow passage.

[0033] In the above embodiment, preferably, the device is supported on the free end side of the armrest body, and the downstream end of the flow passage is provided on the base end side of the armrest body.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the device can be positioned in a location that is easy for the person sitting in the seat to operate.

[0035] In the above embodiment, preferably, a cover member (139) having a ventilation hole (143) is provided at the downstream end of the flow passage.

[0036] According to this embodiment, a flow passage can be formed by the cover member.

[0037] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body comprises a support member (109) on which the device is placed, and a duct (111) supported by the support member, wherein the support member comprises a support portion (117) that forms a surface on the front side that supports the device, and a connecting portion (119) that opens at the support portion and extends to the back side, the duct is groove-shaped at a position opposite the support member, is connected to the connecting portion, abuts against the back surface of the support member, and defines the downstream side of the flow passage.

[0038] According to this embodiment, a flow path connected to a device can be configured with a simple structure.

[0039] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body is provided with a pivot shaft (34) for rotatably connecting to the seat back, the pivot shaft extending in the left-right direction and passing through the duct.

[0040] In this embodiment, the duct is positioned so as to overlap the pivot axis in a side view. Therefore, the armrest body can be made more compact compared to when the duct is located away from the pivot axis.

[0041] In the above embodiment, preferably, the duct has a bottom wall (111A) and a pair of side walls (111B) erected on the bottom wall, the side walls are provided with notches (135) cut out in a direction away from the support member, and the pivot shaft passes through the notches.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the duct can be positioned so as to overlap the pivot axis in a side view.

[0043] In the above embodiment, preferably, a fixing portion (149) for fixing a harness connected to the device is provided on the downstream side of the duct.

[0044] According to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a separate member for fixing the harness to the support member, thus reducing the number of parts in the armrest.

[0045] In the above embodiment, preferably, a pad member (105) is provided on the back side of the armrest body, and the pad member is provided with a receiving recess (133) for receiving the connecting portion and the duct.

[0046] According to this embodiment, the support member and the duct can be securely connected to the pad member.

[0047] In the above embodiment, preferably, the duct is provided with a pair of restricting pieces (155) that protrude toward the pad member, and the pad member is provided with a bulge (159) that intrudes between the pair of restricting pieces.

[0048] According to this embodiment, the bulge and the restricting piece can restrict the movement of the pad member relative to the duct.

[0049] In the above embodiment, preferably, the restricting piece is provided with ribs (161) having opposing surfaces, and the bulging portion is sandwiched between the ribs.

[0050] In this embodiment, the bulging portion is held between the ribs, thus effectively restricting the movement of the pad member relative to the duct.

[0051] In the above embodiment, preferably, the device is a power supply device (18) for supplying power to a terminal.

[0052] According to this embodiment, power can be supplied to the terminal using a device provided on the armrest.

[0053] In the above embodiment, preferably, the vehicle seat (1) having the armrest described above, wherein the armrest body is rotatably connected at its base end to the seat back about an axis extending in the left-right direction, and the seat back is provided with a storage recess (16) for storing the armrest.

[0054] According to this embodiment, a vehicle seat can be provided that can effectively dissipate heat from the device and also has a retractable armrest. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0055] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a rear seat equipped with an armrest according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the armrest from the left side. [Figure 3] Exploded perspective view of the armrest [Figure 4] (A) Top view of the armrest, and (B) Bottom view of the armrest with the back pad removed. [Figure 5] VV section view in Figure 2 [Figure 6] Perspective view of the armrest with the cover, upper pad member, device, and surface material removed. [Figure 7] Perspective view of the tray from the rear at an angle. [Figure 8] Rear view of the tray [Figure 9] Perspective view of the armrest with the upholstery removed, seen from the right rear. [Figure 10] Perspective view of the armrest according to the second embodiment, viewed from the left side. [Figure 11] Exploded perspective view of the armrest body according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] Perspective view showing the regulatory mechanism and fixing member according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] Figure 10: Cross-sectional view of XIII-XIII [Figure 14] A perspective view from below of the duct and the support member to which the cap member is connected. [Figure 15] Top view showing the arrangement of the lower pad member, duct, and cover member. [Figure 16] Rear view of the cover member [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0056] The following describes an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the armrest of a three-seater rear seat of an automobile, with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can also be applied to armrests provided on mid-seats, front seats, door trims, center console boxes, etc.

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the rear seat 1 comprises a right-side seat 2 which constitutes the right seat, and a left-side seat 3 which constitutes the left seat and center seat. The left-side seat 3 and the right-side seat 2 are independent of each other and are arranged to be continuous from left to right.

[0058] The right-side seat 2 has a seat cushion 5, a seat back 6, and a headrest 7. The seat cushion 5 is connected to the floor 8, and the seat back 6 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 5. The headrest 7 is connected to the top of the seat back 6.

[0059] The left seat 3 has a seat cushion 10, a seat back 11, a headrest 12, and an armrest 15. The seat cushion 10 is connected to the floor 8, and the seat back 11 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 10. The headrest 12 is connected to the top of the seat back 11.

[0060] The right-side seat 2 and the left-side seat 3 are arranged to be continuous from left to right. The seat back 6 of the right-side seat 2 and the seat back 11 of the left-side seat 3 are integrated to form the seat back 13 of the rear seat 1. The seat cushion 5 of the right-side seat 2 and the seat cushion 10 of the left-side seat 3 are integrated to form the seat cushion 14 of the rear seat 1.

[0061] A storage recess 16 that recedes towards the rear is formed in the central part of the front of the seat back 11. The base end of the armrest 15 is located inside the storage recess 16 and is rotatably connected to the seat back 11 around a rotation axis that extends left and right. The armrest 15 rotates between a usage position in which the free end protrudes forward relative to the base end (see solid line in Figure 1) and a storage position in which the free end is located above the base end and inside the storage recess 16 (see dashed line in Figure 1).

[0062] <<First Embodiment>> The structure of the armrest 15 according to the first embodiment will be described below, with reference to the case where the armrest 15 is in the usage position.

[0063] As shown in Figure 2, the armrest 15 is provided with a recessed storage area 17 at its front end (i.e., free end). The storage area 17 is used to store various items such as beverage cups.

[0064] The armrest 15 is equipped with a contactless power supply device 18 for charging devices such as smartphones. The power supply device 18 is located slightly forward of the center of the armrest 15 and behind the storage recess 17. By positioning the power supply device 18 slightly forward of the center of the armrest 15 in this way, the power supply device 18 can be placed in a position that is easily accessible to the seated person.

[0065] However, the power supply device 18 is just one example of a device provided on the armrest 15, and the armrest 15 may be equipped with any device powered by electricity supplied from a battery mounted on the automobile. For example, the device provided on the armrest 15 may be an LCD panel, a heater, a fan, etc.

[0066] As shown in Figure 3, in addition to the power supply device 18, the armrest 15 includes an armrest body 21, an upper pad member 22 (see also Figure 4(A)) positioned along the upper surface of the armrest body 21, a lower pad member 23 provided on the lower side of the armrest body 21, and a surface material 25 that covers the outer surfaces of the upper pad member 22 and the lower pad member 23.

[0067] As shown in Figures 3, 4(A), and 4(B), the armrest body 21 includes a frame 26 (see Figures 3 and 4(B)), a cover member 27 (see Figures 3 and 4(B)) supported by the frame 26, a tray 28 (see Figures 3 and 4(B)) attached to the lower surface of the cover member 27, and a cap member 29 (see Figures 3 and 4(A)) attached to the upper surface of the cover member 27.

[0068] As shown in Figure 4(B), the frame 26 includes a pair of left and right side members 31, a front member 32 and a rear member 33 connecting the left and right side members 31, and a shaft 34.

[0069] As shown in Figure 3, the side member 31 is made of a metal plate material having a surface facing left to right. As shown in Figure 4(B), the front member 32 and the rear member 33 are each made of metal wire members. The front member 32 is located in front of the rear member 33. The front member 32 and the rear member 33 each have bent portions 35 that bend towards the rear at both the left and right ends, and are welded to the front member 32 and the rear member 33 at these bent portions 35.

[0070] The shaft 34 is made of a round metal bar extending in the left-right direction. Near its left end, the shaft 34 penetrates the left side member 31 and protrudes further to the left. Near its left end, the shaft 34 is fixed to the left side member 31 by welding or the like. Near its right end, the shaft 34 penetrates the right side member 31 and protrudes further to the right. Near its right end, the shaft 34 is fixed to the right side member 31 by welding or the like.

[0071] As shown in Figure 2, both ends of the shaft 34 are rotatably connected to brackets 36 fixed to the seat back 11 (more specifically, the frame of the seat back 11). In other words, the shaft 34 constitutes a connection for connecting the armrest body 21 to the seat back 11. A known locking mechanism for locking the armrest 15 in a stored position or a usage position may be provided between the shaft 34 and the brackets 36.

[0072] The cover member 27 is made of a resin material. As shown in Figures 3 and 4(B), the cover member 27 has a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above. The cover member 27 is fastened to the upper part of the left side member 31 at its left edge and to the upper part of the right side member 31 at its right edge. In this way, the cover member 27 is supported by the left and right side members 31.

[0073] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the cover member 27 has a front cover portion 27A that constitutes the front part, a central cover portion 27B that constitutes the central part, and a rear cover portion 27C that constitutes the rear part. The front cover portion 27A, the central cover portion 27B, and the rear cover portion 27C are each substantially rectangular in shape when viewed from above.

[0074] The cover member 27 is provided with a housing hole 37 that penetrates vertically to accommodate the power supply device 18. In this embodiment, the housing hole 37 is provided in the central part 27B of the cover, and the central part 27B of the cover has a roughly rectangular frame shape.

[0075] As shown in Figure 5, the power supply device 18 is housed in the housing hole 37. The power supply device 18 is provided with hooks 38 on its front and rear edges that hook onto the edge of the housing hole 37. By engaging the hooks 38 with the edge of the housing hole 37, the power supply device 18 is coupled to the cover member 27. As a result, the power supply device 18, while housed in the housing hole 37, is coupled to the frame 26 via the cover member 27 and supported on the surface of the armrest body 21.

[0076] As shown in Figures 3 and 4(B), the front portion 27A of the cover is provided with a front hole 39 that penetrates in the vertical direction, and the front portion 27A of the cover is roughly rectangular in shape.

[0077] As shown in Figure 6, the tray 28 is constructed as a box-shaped rectangular tube with a bottom. The tray 28 has an opening 28A at its top, which opens upward. As shown in Figure 5, the tray 28 is positioned behind the front member 32 and above the rear member 33. As shown in Figure 4(B), the tray 28 is connected to the lower surface of the cover member 27 by fastening or the like. As a result, the opening 28A of the tray 28 is sealed from above by the cover member 27. That is, as shown in Figure 5, the cover member 27 functions as a lid that seals a part of the opening 28A of the tray 28. By being connected to the cover member 27, the tray 28 is supported by the side member 31 via the cover member 27.

[0078] The tray 28 is fastened to the lower surfaces of the central portion 27B and the rear portion 27C of the cover, and is positioned slightly towards the rear in the front-to-back direction of the lower surface of the cover member 27.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6, the tray 28 has a roughly rectangular bottom wall 41 extending in the front-to-back direction and a peripheral wall 42 erected along the edge of the bottom wall 41.

[0080] The peripheral wall 42 has a front wall 44 erected along the front edge of the bottom wall 41, a rear wall 45 erected along the rear edge of the bottom wall 41, and a pair of left and right side walls 46 erected along the left and right side edges of the bottom wall 41. The front wall 44 is located on the free end side of the armrest body 21, and the rear wall 45 is located on the base end side of the armrest body 21. The left side wall 46 (hereinafter, left wall 46L) connects the left edge of the front wall 44 and the left edge of the rear wall 45. The right side wall 46 (hereinafter, right wall 46R) connects the right edge of the front wall 44 and the right edge of the rear wall 45.

[0081] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, a corner portion 48 is provided between the rear wall 45 and the bottom wall 41, which gently bends to form an arc shape in a side view. The corner portion 48 connects to the rear wall 45 at its upper end and, in a side view, extends forward and downward while gently bending to form a circular arc. The corner portion 48 connects to the bottom wall 41 at its lower end.

[0082] As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R extend from the front end to the rear, bend at approximately the center in the front-rear direction so that they are close to each other, and then extend further rearward. As a result, the lateral distance between the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R at the base end (rear end) is smaller than the lateral distance between the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R at the free end (front end).

[0083] As shown in Figure 5, the front half of the bottom wall 41 is provided with a bottom wall recess 50 that is recessed downwards. The bottom wall recess 50 is formed by the front half of the bottom wall 41 bulging downwards. The bottom wall recess 50 is positioned to be aligned vertically with the housing hole 37. When viewed from above, the bottom wall recess 50 overlaps with the housing hole 37.

[0084] As shown in Figure 6, a raised portion 52 is provided on the rear half of the bottom wall 41, which rises upward. The raised portion 52 extends in the front-rear direction approximately in the center of the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R.

[0085] The bottom wall 41 is provided with at least one rib 54 extending in the front-rear direction. The rib 54 is a vertical wall shape with a surface facing left-right. The rib 54 extends in the front-rear direction approximately in the center of the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R. At its front end, the rib 54 connects to the rear surface of the front wall 44, and at its rear end, it connects to the front surface of the rear wall 45. By providing the rib 54 that connects the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45, the rigidity of the armrest body 21 can be increased.

[0086] In this embodiment, a single rib 54 is provided on the bottom wall 41. The rib 54 has a front rib 54F that extends front to back in the bottom wall recess 50 and a rear rib 54R that extends front to back on the upper surface of the raised portion 52. The front end of the front rib 54F is connected to the rear surface of the front wall 44, and the rear end of the front rib 54F is connected to the front end of the rear rib 54R. The rear end of the rear rib 54R is connected to the front surface of the rear wall 45.

[0087] In this way, by providing ribs 54 on the bottom wall 41, the internal space 56 of the tray 28 is divided into two spaces 56: a space 56 located to the left of the ribs 54 (hereinafter referred to as the left space 56L) and a space 56 located to the right of the ribs 54 (hereinafter referred to as the right space 56R).

[0088] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the rear wall 45 is provided with slits 58 that penetrate in the front-rear direction. The slits 58 are positioned to avoid the connection between the rib 54 and the rear wall 45. It is preferable that the rear wall 45 has multiple slits 58 in both the portion located to the left of the rib 54 and the portion located to the right of the rib 54. Each of the slits 58 is substantially the same shape when viewed from the rear. In this embodiment, four slits 58 are provided in both the portion located to the left of the rib 54 and the portion located to the right of the rib 54.

[0089] As shown in Figure 8, the slit 58 extends downward from a portion below the upper edge of the rear wall 45 and reaches the lower edge of the rear wall 45. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the slit 58 may further extend from the lower edge of the rear wall 45, passing through the corner 48 and reaching the interior of the bottom wall 41.

[0090] As shown in Figure 8, the left wall surface defining the left edge of the slit 58 and the right wall surface defining the right edge of the slit 58 are configured to move away from each other downwards. As a result, the slit 58 is configured to expand downwards (i.e., as it moves away from the cover member 27) when viewed from the rear.

[0091] As shown in Figure 6, the protruding end (i.e., upper end) of the rib 54 is provided with at least one notch 60 cut downwards. In this embodiment, the rear rib 54R is provided with two notches 60. The left space 56L and the right space 56R are connected to each other via the notches 60. In this embodiment, the rear upper end of the rear rib 54R is provided with a cut-out portion 62 cut downwards.

[0092] As shown in Figure 3, the cap member 29 has a front cap portion 29F which constitutes its front part and has a receiving recess 17, and a rear cap portion 29R which constitutes its rear part and has a through hole 64 positioned to align with the power supply device 18. In a side view, the front cap portion 29F protrudes downward compared to the rear cap portion 29R. The cap member 29 is positioned so that a part of the front cap portion 29F passes through the front hole 39 of the front cover portion 27A, and is coupled to the upper surface of the cover member 27. The front cover portion 27A is covered from above by the front cap portion 29F, and the central cover portion 27B is covered from above by the rear cap portion 29R.

[0093] The upper pad member 22 is made of a cushioning material such as polyurethane. The upper pad member 22 is plate-shaped with a surface facing vertically. As shown in Figures 4(B) and 5, the upper pad member 22 is connected to the upper surface of the cover member 27 (specifically, the upper surface of the rear part 27C of the cover) and the upper surface of the frame 26 (side member 31).

[0094] As shown in Figure 9, the upper pad member 22 is provided with a pad hole 70 that penetrates in the thickness direction. As shown in Figure 2, the pad hole 70 is located at the rear end of the armrest 15. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the upper pad member 22 has an extension portion 68 that extends rearward from the cover member 27, and the pad hole 70 is formed so that at least a part of it overlaps with the extension portion 68. The rear end (extension end) of the extension portion 68 may extend to the rear of the shaft 34.

[0095] The lower pad member 23 is made of a cushioning material such as polyurethane. The lower pad member 23 is positioned to cover the lower surfaces of the frame 26, cover member 27, and cap member 29, and is bonded to the lower surface of the frame 26.

[0096] The outer covering material 25 is made of a sheet-like (or cloth-like) material and covers the outer surface of the upper pad member 22 and the outer surface of the lower pad member 23. Preferably, the outer covering material 25 is made of a breathable cloth material. In addition, the portion of the outer covering material 25 that overlaps the opening of the pad hole 70 may be made of mesh. The outer covering material 25 may be fastened at its ends to the cover member 27 or tray 28 by hooks or the like.

[0097] As shown in Figure 5, with this configuration, a heat dissipation passage 72 is formed inside the armrest 15, extending from the bottom surface of the power supply unit 18 through the inside of the tray 28 and the slit 58 to the pad hole 70. As indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, the heat dissipated from the power supply unit 18 is discharged to the outside of the armrest 15 through this heat dissipation passage 72.

[0098] The heat dissipation passage 72 includes a flow passage 72U that constitutes its upstream side and a discharge passage 72D that constitutes its downstream end. The flow passage 72U is defined by the space 56 between the cover member 27 and the tray 28. The upstream end of the flow passage 72U is connected to the power supply device 18, and the downstream end of the flow passage 72U is connected to the discharge passage 72D via a slit 58. That is, the slit 58 constitutes the downstream opening of the flow passage 72U, and the flow passage 72U opens on the surface (rear surface) of the armrest body 21 at a position that does not overlap with the power supply device 18. The upstream end of the discharge passage 72D is connected to the downstream end of the flow passage 72U, and the downstream end of the discharge passage 72D is defined by a pad hole 70. That is, the pad hole 70 is formed to penetrate the upper pad member 22 at the position where it connects to the flow passage 72U, and the heat dissipation opening 72A of the heat dissipation passage 72 is defined by the pad hole 70. The heat exhaust port 72A is located above the airflow passage 72U when viewed from the side.

[0099] In this embodiment, the armrest 15 is equipped with a harness 80 for supplying power to the power supply device 18. The harness 80 has a heat dissipation passage 72 routed through it. Specifically, the harness 80 is connected at one end to the lower surface of the power supply device 18, passes through the flow passage 72U and the pad holes 70, and extends above the upper pad member 22. By routing the harness 80 through the heat dissipation passage 72 in this way, it is not necessary to provide separate holes or the like in the armrest 15 for routing the harness 80, thus allowing the armrest 15 to be constructed simply.

[0100] Next, we will explain the effects of the armrest 15 configured in this way.

[0101] As shown in Figure 5, the armrest body 21 is provided with a flow passage 72U that is connected to the power supply device 18 on the upstream side and opens at the rear end of the surface of the armrest body 21 where it does not overlap with the power supply device 18 on the downstream side. Therefore, heat from the power supply device 18 can be dissipated to a position that does not overlap with the power supply device 18. Furthermore, a discharge passage 72D defined by the pad hole 70 is connected to the downstream end of the flow passage 72U, forming a heat dissipation passage 72 connected to the power supply device 18 in the armrest 15. Therefore, the heat generated by the power supply device 18 can be dissipated more effectively.

[0102] Thus, the power supply device 18 is supported by the armrest body 21 at the front end. Therefore, the power supply device 18 can be positioned in a location that is easy for a passenger in the rear seat 1 to operate.

[0103] Furthermore, the heat exhaust port 72A of the heat exhaust passage 72 is defined by the pad hole 70 located at the rear end of the armrest body 21. Therefore, the heat exhaust port 72A can be placed in a less conspicuous location on the armrest 15 compared to the front end of the armrest 15, thereby improving the aesthetic design of the armrest 15.

[0104] The upper pad member 22 is provided with a pad hole 70 that penetrates in the thickness direction and forms the downstream end of the heat dissipation passage 72. The pad hole 70 is located at the rear end of the armrest 15. This allows heat to be dissipated through the pad hole 70 while providing cushioning to the rear end of the armrest 15.

[0105] In this embodiment, the upper pad member 22 has an extension portion 68 that extends rearward from the cover member 27, and the pad hole 70 is formed to overlap with the extension portion 68. This makes it less likely for the airflow through the pad hole 70 to be obstructed by the cover member 27, and allows for good heat dissipation through the pad hole 70. As shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the rear end of the extension portion 68 extends until it reaches the shaft 34.

[0106] As shown in Figure 7, a slit 58 is provided in the rear wall 45 of the tray 28, penetrating in the front-to-back direction. This slit 58 connects the space 56 between the cover member 27 and the tray 28 to the outside. This allows for the creation of a heat dissipation passage 72 in the armrest 15 with a simple configuration.

[0107] The slit 58 widens as it moves away from the opening 28A of the tray 28, and the slit 58 has a tapered structure in which its width narrows from left to right as it moves upward. This prevents warm air discharged to the outside of the tray 28 from flowing back into the inside of the tray 28, thus enabling good heat dissipation from the armrest 15. In addition, if the tray 28 is manufactured by mold molding using two molds, the molds can be easily separated. Thus, the manufacturing of the tray 28 becomes easier.

[0108] Furthermore, the slit 58 extends through the lower end of the rear wall 45 to the bottom wall 41. Therefore, compared to the case where the slit 58 does not extend to the bottom wall 41, the area of ​​the opening of the slit 58 can be made larger, thus enabling better heat dissipation from the armrest 15.

[0109] In this embodiment, a corner portion 48 that forms an arc shape in a side view is provided between the rear wall 45 and the bottom wall 41, and the slit 58 is configured to pass through this corner portion 48. Therefore, compared to the case where the rear wall 45 and the bottom wall 41 are connected at a right angle in a side view, air can flow more easily through the slit 58, and heat can be dissipated from the armrest 15 more effectively.

[0110] As shown in Figure 6, to increase rigidity, a rib 54 extending in the front-to-back direction is provided on the bottom wall 41 of the tray 28. Because of the provision of this rib 54, the space 56 between the tray 28 and the cover member 27 is divided into left and right halves, which may cause heat to be unevenly distributed in one of the spaces 56.

[0111] Therefore, in this embodiment, a notch 60 is provided at the protruding end of the rib 54. By providing this notch 60, heat can be circulated effectively between the spaces 56 located on the left and right sides of the rib 54. As a result, heat is less likely to be concentrated in one of the spaces 56, and heat can be dissipated effectively from the armrest 15.

[0112] As shown in Figure 5, the bottom wall 41 is provided with a bottom wall recess 50 that is recessed downward at a position that is vertically aligned with the housing hole 37. This makes it less likely for the harness 80 connected to the power supply device 18 to interfere with the bottom wall 41, and makes it easier to connect the harness 80 to the power supply device 18.

[0113] The bottom wall recess 50 is provided in the front half of the bottom wall 41. As a result, the bottom wall 41 is configured to rise toward the downstream side, allowing warm air to be preferentially discharged from the slit 58, thereby promoting heat dissipation. Furthermore, the distance between the left wall 46L and the right wall 46R in the left-right direction is smaller at the rear end than at the front end, so that the air flowing through the heat dissipation passage 72 can be effectively guided toward the slit 58.

[0114] In the first embodiment described above, an example was given in which one rib 54 is provided on the bottom wall 41, but two or more ribs 54 may be provided on the bottom wall 41. In addition, although a slit 58 was provided on the rear wall 45 in this embodiment, one or more holes penetrating the rear wall 45 may be provided instead of (or in addition to) the slit 58.

[0115] In the first embodiment described above, the upper pad member 22 was provided with pad holes 70, but the lower pad member 23 may also be provided with pad holes 70. If the upper pad member 22 is made of a sufficiently breathable foamed material or if the upper pad member 22 is thin enough to allow heat to dissipate, the pad holes 70 may not be provided.

[0116] <Summary of the first embodiment described above> One embodiment is an armrest 15 comprising an armrest body 21 and a device (a power supply device 18 being one example) supported on the surface of the armrest body 21, wherein the armrest body 21 is provided with a flow passage 72U that is connected to the device on the upstream side and opens on the downstream side at a position on the surface of the armrest body 21 that does not overlap with the device.

[0117] According to this embodiment, since the armrest 15 is provided with a flow passage 72U, heat from the device can be effectively dissipated through the flow passage 72U.

[0118] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body 21 is provided with a connecting portion (a shaft 34 is one example) at its base end for connecting to the seat back 13, the device is supported on the free end side of the armrest body 21, and the downstream end of the flow passage 72U is provided on the base end side of the armrest body 21.

[0119] According to this embodiment, the device can be positioned in a location that is easy for a seated person to operate.

[0120] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body 21 has a pad member (an upper pad member 22 is one example) bonded to the surface of the armrest body 21, and a surface material 25 that covers the pad member, wherein the pad member is provided with a pad hole 70 that penetrates at a position where it connects to the flow passage 72U.

[0121] According to this embodiment, the armrest 15 can be given cushioning while heat can be dissipated through the pad holes 70.

[0122] In the above embodiment, preferably, the device has a harness 80 connected at one end, the harness 80 passing through the flow passage 72U and the pad hole 70.

[0123] According to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a separate hole for routing the harness 80, thus simplifying the structure of the armrest 15.

[0124] In the above embodiment, preferably, the armrest body 21 has a rectangular cylindrical box (a tray 28 is one example) having a bottom wall 41 and a peripheral wall 42, and a lid (a cover member 27 is one example) that seals the opening 28A of the box, the lid is provided with a housing hole 37 that penetrates to accommodate the device, the peripheral wall includes a front wall 44 located on the side of the free end, a rear wall 45 located on the side of the base end, and a pair of side walls 46 that connect the edges of the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45, respectively, the box and the lid define the flow passage 72U, and the rear wall 45 is provided with a slit 58 that constitutes the downstream opening of the flow passage 72U.

[0125] According to this embodiment, a heat dissipation passage 72 can be configured in the armrest 15 with a simple configuration.

[0126] In the above embodiment, preferably, the slit 58 widens as it moves away from the opening 28A of the box body.

[0127] According to this embodiment, heat can be effectively dissipated from the armrest 15.

[0128] In the above embodiment, preferably, the slit 58 passes through the lower end of the rear wall 45 and extends to the bottom wall 41.

[0129] According to this embodiment, heat can be effectively dissipated from the armrest 15.

[0130] In the above embodiment, preferably, the bottom wall 41 is provided with at least one rib 54 connecting the front wall 44 and the rear wall 45.

[0131] According to this embodiment, the rigidity of the armrest body 21 can be increased.

[0132] In the above embodiment, preferably, at least one notch 60 is provided at the protruding end of the rib 54.

[0133] According to this embodiment, heat can be circulated effectively within the armrest 15.

[0134] In the above embodiment, preferably, the bottom wall 41 is provided with a bottom wall recess 50 that is recessed at a position that aligns with the accommodation hole 37.

[0135] According to this embodiment, the connection of the harness 80 to the device becomes easier.

[0136] In the above embodiment, preferably, the pad member includes an extension portion 68 that extends toward the base end side of the lid, and at least a portion of the pad hole 70 is formed in the extension portion 68.

[0137] According to this embodiment, heat can be effectively dissipated from the pad holes 70.

[0138] In the above embodiment, preferably, the device is a power supply device 18 for supplying power to a terminal.

[0139] According to this embodiment, power can be supplied to the terminal using a device provided on the armrest 15.

[0140] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle seat (a rear seat 1 is one example) having the armrest 15 described above, wherein the armrest body 21 is rotatably connected at its base end to the seat back 13 about an axis extending in the left-right direction, and the seat back 13 is provided with a storage recess 16 for storing the armrest 15.

[0141] According to this embodiment, a vehicle seat can be provided that can effectively dissipate heat from the device and is equipped with a retractable armrest 15.

[0142] <<Second Embodiment>> The structure of the armrest 101 according to the second embodiment will be described below, similar to the first embodiment, with reference to the case when the armrest 101 is in the usage position.

[0143] As shown in Figure 10, the armrest 101 is rotatably connected at its base end to the seatback 13 about an axis extending in the left-right direction, similar to the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the seatback 13 is provided with a storage recess 16 for accommodating the armrest 101 (see Figure 1).

[0144] The armrest 101 also has a storage recess 17 on its front end (i.e., free end) side, similar to the first embodiment. The storage recess 17 is used to store various items such as beverage cups. In this embodiment, the armrest 101 is provided with a sealing member 17A for sealing the storage recess 17.

[0145] The armrest 101 is further equipped with a contactless power supply device 18 for charging devices such as smartphones. The power supply device 18 is located slightly forward of the center of the armrest 101 and behind the housing recess 17.

[0146] In this embodiment, the power supply device 18 is provided with a heat dissipation fan 18A. The fan 18A is located on the right half of the power supply device 18. An opening (not shown) communicating with the inside of the case is provided on the right half of the lower surface of the case that forms the outer shell of the power supply device 18. The fan 18A is housed inside the case and dissipates heat from the power supply device 18 through this opening.

[0147] Similar to the first embodiment, the armrest 101 includes, in addition to the power supply device 18, an armrest body 103, an upper pad member 22 positioned along the upper surface of the armrest body 103, a lower pad member 105 provided on the lower side of the armrest body 103, a surface material 25 covering the outer surfaces of the upper pad member 22 and the lower pad member 105, and a cap member 29.

[0148] Note that the upper pad member 22, surface material 25, and cap member 29 of the armrest 101 according to the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, so their description is omitted. Figure 11 shows an exploded perspective view of the armrest body 103.

[0149] As shown in Figure 11, the armrest body 103 comprises a frame 26, a support member 109 supported by the frame 26, and a duct 111 connected to the support member 109.

[0150] The frame 26, similar to the first embodiment, includes a pair of left and right side members 31, a front member 32 connecting the left and right side members 31, and a shaft 34.

[0151] The shaft 34 is made of a round metal bar and is positioned to extend in the left-right direction. The shaft 34 passes through through holes provided at the rear of the left and right side members 31 and is fixed to the corresponding side member 31 at the through holes.

[0152] The shaft 34 is rotatably supported at both its left and right ends by a pair of left and right brackets 36 fixed to the seat back frame. As a result, the frame 26 is connected to the seat back 13 so that it can rotate about the central axis X of the shaft 34 (also called the pivot axis) (see also Figure 10).

[0153] As shown in Figure 11, a restricting mechanism 112 is provided between the armrest 101 and the bracket 36 to restrict the rotation range of the armrest 101. The restricting mechanism 112 includes a rod-shaped member 116 provided on the frame 26 and a guide groove 36A provided on the bracket 36.

[0154] As shown in Figure 12, the rod-shaped member 116 is a rod-shaped member that extends to the left and right, and is connected to the rear end of the side member 31, protruding outward to the left and right of the bracket 36. The bracket 36 is provided with guide grooves 36A that receive the left and right sides of the rod-shaped member 116, and the rod-shaped member 116 is received in these guide grooves 36A. This limits the rotation range of the armrest 101 between the usage position and the storage position.

[0155] As shown in Figure 11, the support member 109 is a flat plate made of resin, metal, or the like. The support member 109 is positioned and fixed so as to overlap the side members 31 from above at both left and right edges, and the front member 32 at its front edge. The support member 109 may also be fixed to the frame 26 with screws or the like. The power supply device 18 is placed on the upper surface of the support member 109 and supported by the upper surface (also called the surface) of the support member 109.

[0156] More specifically, the support member 109 comprises a rectangular frame-shaped frame body 115 extending in the front-rear direction, a support portion 117 positioned to connect the front-rear central portions of the long sides of the frame body 115, a connecting portion 119 provided on the support portion 117, and a sealing portion 121 provided behind the support portion 117.

[0157] The frame 115 includes a left frame 115L positioned along the left side member 31, a right frame 115R positioned along the right side member 31, a front frame 115F that connects the front end of the left frame 115L and the front end of the right frame 115R and is positioned along the front member 32, and a rear frame 115B that connects the rear end of the left frame 115L and the rear end of the right frame 115R.

[0158] The front frame 115F, left frame 115L, and right frame 115R are each positioned along the upper surface of the frame 26. The rear frame 115B passes above the shaft 34 and extends to the rear of the shaft 34. The rear frame 115B further includes an extension 123 that extends downward at its rear end. The extension 123 is located behind the shaft 34 and constitutes a wall with a surface facing in the front-rear direction.

[0159] The support portion 117 is plate-shaped with a surface facing vertically. When viewed from above, the support portion 117 has a roughly rectangular shape extending horizontally. The support portion 117 is connected to the left frame 115L at its left edge, approximately to the center in the front-to-back direction, and the support portion 117 is connected to the right frame 115R at its right edge, approximately to the center in the front-to-back direction. The support portion 117 forms a surface (hereinafter referred to as the support surface 125) on its front side (top surface) that supports the power supply device 18, and the power supply device 18 is placed on the support surface 125. A sealing member 126 is provided between the power supply device 18 and the support surface 125, positioned along the edge of the opening 129.

[0160] In this embodiment, a heat dissipation hole 127 is provided in the support portion 117, approximately in the center in the left-right direction, and penetrates vertically. The heat dissipation hole 127 is approximately rectangular in shape when viewed in the vertical direction.

[0161] The support portion 117 is provided with an opening 129 that penetrates in the thickness direction at the right edge of the support surface 125, opposite the fan 18A of the power supply device 18. The opening 129 has a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above.

[0162] As shown in Figure 13, the connecting portion 119 is joined to the opening 129 from below and forms a groove shape extending downward from the opening 129.

[0163] More specifically, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the connecting portion 119 is connected to the front edge of the opening 129 and comprises a front wall 119A extending downward, a pair of left and right side walls 119B connected to the left and right side edges of the opening 129 and extending downward, and bottom walls 119C connected to the lower ends of the front wall 119A and the side walls 119B and extending rearward. As a result, the connecting portion 119 has a sealed front end and a groove shape with a U-shaped cross-section extending rearward, and comprises an opening 119D that opens toward the rear.

[0164] As shown in Figures 11 and 14, the sealing portion 121 is a rectangular plate shape with surfaces facing in the vertical direction. The sealing portion 121 is connected to the left frame 115L at its left edge, to the rear frame 115B at its rear edge, and to the right frame 115R at its right edge. As shown in Figure 15, the upper pad member 22 is placed on the upper surface of the sealing portion 121.

[0165] As shown in Figure 11, the duct 111 has a bottom wall 111A that extends in a substantially horizontal direction and side walls 111B that are erected from the left and right edges of the bottom wall 111A. The side walls 111B of the duct 111 are connected by upper walls 111C that extend to the left and right at approximately the center of the upper end. As a result, the central part of the duct 111 has a cylindrical shape with a front opening 111D that opens toward the front and a rear opening 111E that opens toward the rear.

[0166] Furthermore, the front end of the duct 111 is provided with a front groove 111F, which is formed by the front part of the bottom wall 111A and the front parts of the left and right side walls 111B. The rear end of the duct 111 is also provided with a rear groove 111G, which is formed by the rear part of the bottom wall 111A and the rear parts of the left and right side walls 111B. The front groove 111F and the rear groove 111G each have a U-shaped cross-section that opens upward. With the provision of the front groove 111F and the rear groove 111G, the duct 111 has a groove shape at its front and rear ends, respectively.

[0167] The duct 111 extends in the front-rear direction, and the front groove portion 111F is positioned to cover the connection portion 119 from below. As a result, the duct 111 is connected to the connection portion 119 at the front end of the central portion. At this time, the sealing portion 121 is located above the rear groove portion 111G, and the rear groove portion 111G (the groove-shaped rear end portion of the duct 111) is positioned to face the sealing portion 121 vertically. Furthermore, the rear upper edges of the side walls 111B each abut against the lower surface of the sealing portion 121, and the rear groove portion 111G is sealed from above by the sealing portion 121. As a result, as shown in Figure 13, the duct 111 and the support member 109 define a passage 131 that extends from the connection portion 119 to the rear end of the duct 111. Therefore, the duct 111 can be referred to as a passage-forming member (or flow path-forming member) that works in cooperation with the support member 109 to form a passage 131, and the support member 109 can also be referred to as a lid member that seals the upper side of the rear groove portion 111G. As shown in Figure 11, it is preferable that a sealing member 132 is provided between the duct 111 and the sealing portion 121 to seal the gap between the side wall 119B (the rear part of the side wall 119B) that constitutes the rear groove portion 111G and the sealing portion 121.

[0168] The front groove portion 111F of the duct 111 may be bonded to the connection portion 119, or it may be configured so that the duct 111 is maintained in a state where it is connected to the connection portion 119 by being biased upward by the lower pad member 105.

[0169] As shown in Figures 13 and 15, the lower pad member 105 is provided with a receiving recess 133 that is recessed downward to receive the connecting portion 119 and the duct 111. By providing the receiving recess 133, the lower pad member 105 is well coupled to the support member 109 and the duct 111.

[0170] As shown in Figure 13, the rear of the side wall 111B of the duct 111 is provided with a notch 135 cut out from the upper edge downward (i.e., in the direction away from the support member 109). The notch 135 is provided in the side wall 111B that constitutes the rear groove 111G (see also Figure 11). The shaft 34 passes through the notch 135 of the duct 111. As a result, the passage 131 defined by the duct 111 and the support member 109 is configured to overlap the shaft 34 in a side view.

[0171] The rear end of the duct 111 extends to near the front of the extension 123. The extension 123 has a through hole 137 (see also Figure 14) formed at a position opposite the rear end of the duct 111 in the front-rear direction. The extension 123 is provided with a rear cover member 139 that seals the through hole 137. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the rear cover member 139 is plate-shaped and has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The rear cover member 139 has a through hole 140 that penetrates behind the rear end of the duct 111. As shown in Figure 16, the through hole 140 is provided with a grid frame 141 that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. As a result, the rear cover member 139 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 143 arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. Note that the rear cover member 139 is provided with a design portion 139A (see Figure 16) to enhance the design of the armrest 101, but this is not essential.

[0172] As shown in Figure 11, the support portion 117 is provided with a harness hole 145 that penetrates to the left of the heat dissipation hole 127. Similar to the first embodiment, the harness 147 is connected to the power supply device 18. The harness 147 passes through the harness hole 145 and reaches the space between the support member 109 and the lower pad member 105, and extends further rearward. The harness 147 further extends through the rear cover member 139 and the duct 111 to the gap between the bracket 36 and the armrest 101, as shown in Figure 15 (see also Figure 12).

[0173] In order to stably hold the harness 147 between the rear cover member 139 and the duct 111, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, a fixing portion 149 for fixing the harness 147 is provided on the rear edge of the bottom wall 111A of the duct 111. The fixing portion 149 has a locking hole 153 into which a harness clip 151 (see Figures 13 and 15) is locked. The harness 147 is fastened to the harness clip 151, and the harness clip 151 is locked into the locking hole 153. As a result, the harness 147 is locked to the rear edge of the duct 111 and held between the rear cover member 139 and the duct 111. Furthermore, by providing the fixing portion 149 for fixing the harness 147 on the duct 111, there is no need to provide a separate member for fixing the harness 147 on the support member 109, thus reducing the number of parts of the armrest 101.

[0174] As shown in Figures 11 and 15, a pair of regulating pieces 155 are provided on at least one side wall 111B of the duct 111. The regulating pieces 155 are spaced apart on the upstream (front) and downstream (rear) sides of the side wall 111B located at the rear of the duct 111.

[0175] Each restricting piece 155 extends parallel to the bottom wall 111A from the side wall 111B and protrudes toward the lower pad member 105. Each restricting piece 155 is plate-shaped with a surface facing in the vertical direction. Due to its shape, the restricting piece 155 is also called a tab or a flat rib (flat rib). In this embodiment, the restricting piece 155 protrudes to the left from the lower edge of the left side wall 111B of the duct 111.

[0176] The lower pad member 105 has a recess 157 formed at a position corresponding to the restricting piece 155. As a result, the lower pad member 105 protrudes between the pair of restricting pieces 155 arranged front to back within the recess 157. Hereinafter, the portion of the lower pad member 105 located between the restricting pieces 155 will be referred to as the bulge portion 159. The bulge portion 159 protrudes between the pair of restricting pieces 155 arranged front to back, restricting the front-to-back movement of the lower pad member 105 relative to the support member 109.

[0177] Each restrictor piece 155 is provided with a rib 161 that protrudes upward and has opposing surfaces. In this embodiment, the rib 161 on the front restrictor piece 155 extends in the left-right direction along the rear edge of the front restrictor piece 155. On the other hand, the rib 161 on the rear restrictor piece 155 extends in the left-right direction along the front edge of the rear restrictor piece 155. As a result, each of the two ribs 161 has opposing surfaces in the front-rear direction.

[0178] The bulging portion 159 is sandwiched between the rear surface of the rib 161 provided on the front restricting piece 155 and the front surface of the rib 161 provided on the rear restricting piece 155. This more firmly restricts the movement of the lower pad member 105 in the front-rear direction relative to the support member 109.

[0179] Next, a method for manufacturing the armrest 101 configured in this way will be described. The worker manufacturing the armrest 101 first forms the frame 26 of the armrest 101 by joining a pair of left and right side members 31, a front member 32, and a shaft 34. Then the worker joins the rod-shaped member 116 to the frame 26. Next, the worker joins the duct 111 to the support member 109, and then joins the power supply device 18 to the support member 109. Next, the worker joins the upper pad member 22 and the lower pad member 105 and the cap member 29 to the support member 109 and the frame 26, and covers the upper pad member 22 and the lower pad member 105 with the surface material 25, thereby completing the manufacturing of the armrest 101.

[0180] Next, we will explain the effects of the armrest 101 configured in this way.

[0181] Air heated by the heat generated by the power supply device 18 is discharged by the fan 18A through an opening in the case. This air flows downward through the opening 129 and connection 119 in the support part 117 and enters the passage 131 between the duct 111 and the support member 109. The air that has entered between the duct 111 and the support member 109 is then discharged to the outside of the armrest 101 through the ventilation holes 143 in the rear cover member 139 (see arrow in Figure 13).

[0182] Thus, the passage 131 functions as a flow passage for releasing heat from the power supply device 18. The passage 131 is connected to the power supply device 18 on the upstream side and opens on the downstream side at a position on the surface of the armrest body 103 that does not overlap with the power supply device 18. Therefore, heat from the power supply device 18 can be effectively discharged through this passage 131.

[0183] A rear cover member 139 with ventilation holes 143 is provided at the downstream end of the passage 131. By providing the rear cover member 139, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the passage 131. In addition, the simple configuration of the duct 111 and the support member 109 can form part of the flow passage for heat dissipation connected to the power supply device 18.

[0184] This concludes the description of the second embodiment described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be broadly modified and implemented.

[0185] In the second embodiment described above, an example was shown in which a grid frame 141 is provided in the through hole 137. However, instead of the grid frame 141, the rear cover member 139 may be provided with a frame extending in the vertical direction (or horizontal direction), and slits may be formed in a row on the rear cover member 139. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0186] 1: Rear seat (an example of a vehicle seat) 13: Seat back 15: Armrest 16: Storage recess 18: Power supply device (an example of a device) 72U: Distribution path 101: Armrest 103: Armrest body 109: Support member 111: Duct 111A:Bottom wall 111B: Side wall 117: Support part 119: Connection part 131: Passageway (an example of a flow passageway) 133: Receptive recess 135: Notch 139: Rear cover member (an example of a cover member) 143: Ventilation holes 147: Harness 149:Fixed part 155: Regulatory piece 157: Recess 159 :bulge 161: Rib

Claims

1. It is an armrest, The armrest body and The armrest body has a device supported on its surface, The armrest body is provided with a flow passage that is connected to the device on the upstream side and opens on the downstream side at a position on the surface of the armrest body that does not overlap with the device.

2. The device is supported on the free end side of the armrest body, The armrest according to claim 1, wherein the downstream end of the flow passage is provided on the base end side of the armrest body.

3. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein a cover member having ventilation holes is provided at the downstream end of the flow passage.

4. The armrest body comprises a support member on which the device is placed, and a duct supported by the support member. The support member comprises a support portion that forms a surface on the front side for supporting the device, and a connecting portion that opens at the support portion and extends to the back side. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein the duct has a groove shape at a position opposite the support member, is connected to the connection portion, abuts against the back surface of the support member, and defines the downstream side of the flow passage.

5. The armrest body is provided with a pivot shaft for rotatably connecting to the seat back. The armrest according to claim 4, wherein the pivot axis extends in the left-right direction and passes through the duct.

6. The duct has a bottom wall and a pair of side walls erected on the bottom wall. The side wall is provided with a notch cut out in a direction away from the support member. The armrest according to claim 5, wherein the pivot shaft passes through the notch.

7. The armrest according to claim 4, wherein a fixing portion for fixing a harness connected to the device is provided on the downstream side of the duct.

8. A pad member is provided on the back side of the armrest body. The armrest according to claim 4, wherein the pad member is provided with a receiving recess for receiving the connecting portion and the duct.

9. The duct is provided with a pair of restricting pieces that protrude toward the pad member. The armrest according to claim 8, wherein the pad member is provided with a bulge that protrudes between the pair of restricting pieces.

10. Each of the regulating pieces is provided with ribs having surfaces facing each other. The armrest according to claim 9, wherein the bulging portion is sandwiched between the ribs.

11. The armrest according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the device is a power supply device for supplying power to a terminal.

12. A vehicle seat having the armrest described in any one of claims 1 to 4, The armrest body is rotatably connected at its base end to the seatback around an axis extending in the left-right direction. A vehicle seat having a storage recess in the seat back for accommodating the armrest.

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