Armrest

Abstract

To provide an armrest that allows for the proper assembly of an elastic mat to the bottom of a recess. [Solution] The armrest 1 has a recess 6 formed in the top plate 5 that forms the elbow rest surface, an elastomer elastic mat 7 placed on the bottom 6A of the recess 6, and a recessed fitting portion 8 formed between the elastic mat 7 and the bottom 6A. With this configuration, the armrest 1 can be assembled such that the elastic mat 7 does not easily lift or shift relative to the bottom 6A of the recess 6 by fitting the fitting portion 8.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest. Specifically, the present invention relates to an armrest having a recess in a top plate that forms an elbow rest surface.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an armrest having a recessed cup holder at the front part of the top plate of the armrest. An elastomer-made elastic mat serving as an insole is laid on the bottom of the cup holder. This elastic mat prevents the drink container placed in the cup holder from slipping, and suppresses vibration noise during vehicle travel.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0003]

PATENT DOCUMENT 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, when attaching the elastic mat to a recess such as a cup holder, there is a risk that the elastic mat may not be assembled at an appropriate position depending on the fitting. Accordingly, the present invention provides an armrest capable of appropriately assembling an elastic mat to the bottom of a recess.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0005] As a means for solving the above problems, the armrest of the present invention adopts the following configuration.

[0006] That is, a first invention of the present invention is an armrest comprising: a recess formed in a top plate that forms an elbow rest surface; an elastomer-made elastic mat laid on the bottom of the recess; and a concavo-convex fitting portion formed between the elastic mat and the bottom portion.

[0007] According to the first invention, the elastic mat can be assembled to the bottom of the recess in a manner that prevents lifting or displacement due to the fitting of the mating parts. Furthermore, the elastic mat can be assembled in a state that is properly positioned relative to the bottom of the recess.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is an armrest in which, in the first invention described above, the fitting portion has a fitting projection that protrudes from the elastic mat and a fitting recess formed at the bottom so that the fitting projection can be attached to and detached from it.

[0009] According to the second invention, unlike the configuration in which a recess for fitting is provided in the elastic mat, a fitting portion can be established between the bottom of the recess and the elastic mat without making the elastic mat thicker.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is an armrest in which, in the first or second invention described above, the elastic mat has a rising edge that rises along the inner circumferential wall of the recess and a thin portion that constricts the base of the rising edge.

[0011] According to the third invention, by providing a thin-walled portion, deformation caused by interference between the rising edge of the elastic mat and the inner circumferential wall of the recess can be concentrated at the base. As a result, the rising edge of the elastic mat can be positioned to conform appropriately to the inner circumferential wall of the recess.

[0012] The fourth invention of the present invention is an armrest in which, in the first or second invention described above, the elastic mat has a rising edge that rises along the inner circumferential wall of the recess, and a protruding portion that extends from the tip of the rising edge so as to be pressed against the inner circumferential wall.

[0013] According to the fourth invention, by providing an overhang, the rising edge of the elastic mat can be positioned to properly follow the inner circumferential wall of the recess.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the armrest according to the first or second aspect, wherein the bottom of the recess is inclined to rise forward, and the inclined leading edge serves as the upper edge of the recess.

[0015] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the recess is formed in a shape without a front wall due to the inclination of the bottom, the elastic mat can be provided on the bottom of the recess so as not to easily shift forward by the fitting of the fitting portion.

[0016] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the armrest according to the first or second aspect, wherein the fitting portion is disposed on the front side of the center in the front-rear direction of the elastic mat.

[0017] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible for a user to perform the work of fitting and disengaging the fitting portion relatively easily.

[0018] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the armrest according to the first or second aspect, wherein the fitting of the fitting portion is snap-fit fitting.

[0019] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the work of fixing the elastic mat to the bottom of the recess and removing it from the bottom can be performed simply and appropriately. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the armrest according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view with the elastic mat removed from the recess. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the elastic mat as viewed from the back side. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the armrest. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the V-V arrow line in Figure 4. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the VI-VI arrow line in Figure 4. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0021] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] <<First Embodiment>> (Schematic Configuration of Armrest 1) First, the configuration of the armrest 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6. In the following description, when directions such as front, rear, up, down, left, and right are indicated, each direction refers to the corresponding direction shown in each drawing. The directions indicated in the respective drawings are directions as viewed from a seated person on a bench seat to be described later. Further, when each direction is indicated with "seat" added thereto, such as "seat width direction", each direction refers to the corresponding direction based on the bench seat.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the armrest 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a center armrest provided at a central portion of a seat back of a rear seat of an automobile (not shown). The seat back is configured as a backrest of a bench seat capable of seating three persons in the same row.

[0024] The armrest 1 is provided so as to be deployable and storable in the central portion of the seat back. Specifically, the armrest 1 can be stored in a vertically long storage recess formed in the central portion of the seat back (not shown), and can be deployed so as to be tilted forward therefrom.

[0025] The armrest 1 is stored in the storage recess described above to serve as a backrest for the center seat. Further, the armrest 1 is tilted forward from the storage recess, so that seated persons in the left and right seats can use it as an elbow rest.

[0026] The armrest 1 includes a resin base material 2 forming its framework, a urethane foam pad 3 placed over the base material 2, and a fabric cover 4 placed over the pad 3. The armrest 1 is configured such that a recess 6 recessed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view is formed in a front portion of a top plate 5 that forms an elbow rest surface when the armrest is deployed.

[0027] Furthermore, the armrest 1 has an elastomer elastic mat 7 that is placed on the bottom 6A of the recess 6. The elastic mat 7 is detachably assembled to the bottom 6A of the recess 6 by a fitting portion 8 of interlocking grooves formed between it and the bottom 6A of the recess 6.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fitting portion 8 consists of a combination of four cylindrical fitting protrusions 7B (see Figure 3) that protrude downward from the main body portion 7A of the elastic mat 7, and four circular fitting recesses 6C formed in the bottom portion 6A of the recess 6. Each fitting protrusion 7B of the elastic mat 7 is an elastomer structure formed to protrude integrally from the main body portion 7A by the molding of the elastic mat 7.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the recess 6 is formed by the base material 2. The recess 6 is intended to function as a stand that allows a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet (not shown) to be set in an orientation that is easy for the seated person to view.

[0030] The recess 6 has an upward-sloping surface across its entire bottom 6A. More specifically, the entire bottom 6A of the recess 6 has a uniformly upward-sloping surface across its entire width in the sheet direction. Furthermore, the recess 6 is shaped such that the upward-sloping edge at the front of its bottom 6A becomes the upper edge of the recess 6. In other words, the recess 6 has a tapered shape without a front wall.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the recess 6 has an extended recess 6B that extends backward so as to slide under the top plate 5. The bottom 6A of the extended recess 6B is a sloping surface that is continuous with the bottom 6A of the recess 6. As shown in Figure 4, the recess 6, including the extended recess 6B, is precisely a trapezoidal shape in plan view, with its width (length in the sheet width direction) gradually narrowing towards the rear.

[0032] The recess 6 is shaped in such a way that it is possible to prop up a portable electronic device (not shown) at a rearward-upward angle that makes the screen easily viewable by occupants in the left and right seats. More specifically, since the entire bottom surface 6A of the recess 6 is inclined, it is possible to set the portable electronic device so that almost the entire bottom surface is in contact with the bottom surface 6A.

[0033] Furthermore, since the recess 6 has an expanded recess 6B, it is possible to insert a portable electronic device (not shown) deeply at an oblique angle along the bottom 6A while appropriately ensuring the length of the top plate 5 that serves as an armrest. As a result, the recess 6 can be set in a state where the portable electronic device is in broad surface contact with the bottom 6A.

[0034] Furthermore, by placing an elastomer-based elastic mat 7 in such a recess 6, it is possible to effectively prevent the portable electronic device (not shown) placed in the recess 6 from sliding. In addition, it is possible to effectively suppress vibration noise from the portable electronic device (not shown) placed in the recess 6 while the vehicle is in motion.

[0035] The elastic mat 7 is laid in a roughly tray-like shape that conforms to the bottom 6A of the recess 6 and the inner peripheral wall 6D that rises from its periphery. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the elastic mat 7 has a main body portion 7A that is roughly rectangular in plan view and laid on the bottom 6A of the recess 6, and rising edges 7C that rise from the left, right, and rear periphery of the main body portion 7A so as to follow the inner peripheral wall 6D of the recess 6.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, the rising edge 7C is formed in a roughly U-shape in plan view, rising from the entire left, right, and rear peripheral edges of the main body 7A. As shown in Figure 3, the four fitting protrusions 7B that project downward from the main body 7A are arranged at equal intervals in the sheet width direction in the region in front of the center of the elastic mat 7 in the front-to-back direction.

[0037] As shown in Figure 2, these fitting protrusions 7B are pressed from above into four fitting recesses 6C formed at corresponding positions on the bottom 6A of the recess 6, thereby snap-fitting with their own flex (see Figure 5). These fittings hold the elastic mat 7 in a properly positioned state relative to the recess 6. Furthermore, these fittings ensure that the elastic mat 7 is assembled relative to the bottom 6A of the recess 6 in a manner that minimizes lifting or displacement.

[0038] As the elastic mat 7 is positioned, its main body 7A is set to align with the bottom 6A of the recess 6. Also, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the elastic mat 7 is set so that its peripheral edge 7C is aligned with the inner peripheral wall 6D of the recess 6.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the rising edge 7C of the elastic mat 7 has a thin-walled portion 7D formed at the base of the rising edge. The thin-walled portion 7D is formed in a way that recesses the outer circumferential surface of the base of the rising edge 7C. More specifically, the thin-walled portion 7D is formed in a way that recesses only the outer circumferential surface of the rising edge 7C, without recessing the inner circumferential surface.

[0040] The thin-walled portion 7D is formed continuously over almost the entire area of ​​the left and right rising edges 7C that rise from the left and right peripheral edges of the main body portion 7A. As shown in Figure 6, the formation of such a thin-walled portion 7D causes deformation of the rising edge 7C due to interference with the inner peripheral wall 6D of the recess 6 to be concentrated at the base. Therefore, the rising edge 7C can be positioned to appropriately follow the inner peripheral wall 6D of the recess 6.

[0041] Furthermore, since the thin-walled portion 7D is formed to recess only the outer surface of the rising edge 7C, the thin-walled portion 7D can be set without compromising the design of the inner surface of the elastic mat 7 that is visible to the person sitting on it. In addition, the rising edge 7C has a protruding portion 7E that extends from the tip of the rise and is pressed against the inner wall 6D.

[0042] The protruding portion 7E is formed in such a way that it protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the tip of the rising edge 7C. More specifically, the protruding portion 7E is formed continuously over substantially the entire circumferential area of ​​the main body portion 7A to which the rising edge 7C extends (see Figure 2). As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the formation of such a protruding portion 7E ensures that the rising edge 7C is positioned to conform appropriately to the inner circumferential wall 6D so that no gap is formed between their tips and the inner circumferential wall 6D of the recess 6.

[0043] In summary, the armrest 1 according to this embodiment has the following configuration. The reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0044] In other words, the armrest (1) has a recess (6) formed in the top plate (5) that forms the elbow rest surface, an elastomer elastic mat (7) placed on the bottom (6A) of the recess (6), and a recessed fitting portion (8) formed between the elastic mat (7) and the bottom (6A). With the above configuration, the fitting portion (8) allows the elastic mat (7) to be assembled to the bottom (6A) of the recess (6) in a manner that prevents lifting or displacement. Furthermore, the elastic mat (7) can be assembled in a state that is properly positioned relative to the bottom (6A) of the recess (6).

[0045] Furthermore, the fitting portion (8) has a fitting projection (7B) that protrudes from the elastic mat (7), and a fitting recess (6C) formed on the bottom portion (6A) so that the fitting projection (7B) can be attached to and detached from it. With the above configuration, unlike a configuration in which a recess for fitting is provided in the elastic mat (7), the fitting portion (8) can be set between the bottom portion (6A) of the recess (6) without making the elastic mat (7) thicker.

[0046] Furthermore, the elastic mat (7) has a rising edge (7C) that rises along the inner circumferential wall (6D) of the recess (6), and a thin-walled portion (7D) that constricts the base of the rising edge (7C). With the above configuration, by providing the thin-walled portion (7D), the deformation caused by the interference between the rising edge (7C) of the elastic mat (7) and the inner circumferential wall (6D) of the recess (6) can be concentrated at the base. As a result, the rising edge (7C) of the elastic mat (7) can be positioned to appropriately follow the inner circumferential wall (6D) of the recess (6).

[0047] Furthermore, the elastic mat (7) has a rising edge (7C) that rises along the inner circumferential wall (6D) of the recess (6), and an overhanging portion (7E) that extends from the tip of the rising edge (7C) so as to be pressed against the inner circumferential wall (6D). With the above configuration, by providing the overhanging portion (7E), the rising edge (7C) of the elastic mat (7) can be positioned to conform appropriately to the inner circumferential wall (6D) of the recess (6).

[0048] Furthermore, the bottom (6A) of the recess (6) is sloped upwards towards the front, and the edge at the end of the slope becomes the upper edge of the recess (6). With the above configuration, even if the recess (6) has a shape without a front wall due to the slope of the bottom (6A), the elastic mat (7) can be positioned on the bottom (6A) of the recess (6) in a way that prevents it from sliding forward due to the fitting of the fitting portion (8).

[0049] Furthermore, the fitting portion (8) is positioned in front of the center of the elastic mat (7) in the front-to-back direction. With this configuration, the user can relatively easily engage and disengage the fitting portion (8).

[0050] Furthermore, the fitting of the mating portion (8) is a snap-fit ​​fitting. With the above configuration, the work of fixing the elastic mat (7) to the bottom (6A) of the recess (6) and removing it from the bottom (6A) can be performed simply and appropriately.

[0051] Regarding other embodiments: Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be implemented in various forms other than those described above.

[0052] 1. The armrest of the present invention may be applied not only to automobile seats, but also to seats used in other vehicles such as trains, aircraft, and ships. Furthermore, the armrest may be configured to be a center armrest of a three-seater bench seat, or to be a cantilevered type attached to the side of the seat back of a single-seater seat. The armrest may be configured to be deployed and retracted by rotation, or to be fixed in the deployed position in a way that prevents it from being retracted.

[0053] 2. The recess may have a flat bottom without a slope. In addition to being a cylindrical recess, the recess may also have an inner wall that slopes so that the opening gradually widens upwards.

[0054] Furthermore, the recess does not necessarily have to be an expandable recess that extends to tuck under the top of the armrest. The recess may be located not only at the front of the top of the armrest, but also at the rear or middle. The shape of the recess may be rectangular in plan view, or it may be circular or irregular in plan view.

[0055] 3. The elastic mat may not have a rising edge that extends along the inner circumferential wall of the recess, and may be laid only at the bottom of the recess. Alternatively, the elastic mat may be slightly smaller than the bottom of the recess. Even if the elastic mat has such a shape, it can be assembled in a state that is properly aligned with the bottom of the recess by fitting the mating parts together.

[0056] 4. When a thin-walled portion is provided in the elastic mat to constrict the base of the rising edge, the thin-walled portion may be formed on the inner surface of the base rather than the outer surface. Alternatively, it may be formed on both the outer and inner surfaces. The fitting portion may be configured such that a fitting projection is provided in the recess, and a fitting recess is formed in the elastic mat that allows the fitting projection to be attached to and detached.

[0057] Furthermore, the mating portion may be configured such that mating protrusions and mating recesses are arranged alternately on both the elastic mat and the bottom of the recess. The mating portion may be configured such that the mating protrusions snap-fit ​​into the mating recesses, or the mating protrusions and mating recesses fit together in a clearance fit. Alternatively, the mating protrusions may engage with the mating recesses through friction during mating. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1 Armrest 2 Base material 3 pads 4 Covers 5. Top plate 6 recesses 6A bottom 6B Expanded recess 6C Fitting recess 6D inner wall 7 Elastic Mat 7A Main body 7B Mating protrusion 7C Rising edge 7D Thin section 7E Overhang 8. Fitting part

Claims

1. It is an armrest, A recess formed in the tabletop that forms the armrest surface, An elastomer elastic mat is laid at the bottom of the recess, An armrest having a recessed fitting portion formed between the elastic mat and the bottom.

2. The armrest according to claim 1, The fitting portion of the armrest has a fitting projection that protrudes from the elastic mat and a fitting recess formed at the bottom so that the fitting projection can be attached to and detached from it.

3. An armrest according to claim 1 or claim 2, The elastic mat has an armrest having a rising edge that extends along the inner circumferential wall of the recess and a thin portion that constricts the base of the rising edge.

4. An armrest according to claim 1 or claim 2, The elastic mat has an armrest having a rising edge that rises along the inner circumferential wall of the recess, and a protruding portion that extends from the tip of the rising edge so as to be pressed against the inner circumferential wall.

5. An armrest according to claim 1 or claim 2, An armrest in which the bottom of the recess is inclined upwards towards the front, and the edge at the end of the inclination becomes the upper edge of the recess.

6. An armrest according to claim 1 or claim 2, An armrest in which the fitting portion is positioned forward of the center of the elastic mat in the front-to-back direction.

7. An armrest according to claim 1 or claim 2, An armrest in which the fitting portion of the aforementioned fitting is a snap-fit ​​fitting.

Images