headrest device

Abstract

To provide a headrest device which can appropriately prevent viewing from a through-hole permitting movement of a reclinable headrest and mixing of a foreign matter.SOLUTION: A headrest device 20 including a reclinable headrest 21 has a rotating mechanism 23, a resin plate 26, and a resin cover 25. The rotating mechanism 23 connects a headrest stay 22 supporting the headrest 21 so as to be reliable to a seatback 10. The resin plate 26 covers a through-hole which is formed in the seatback 10 and permits movement of the headrest 22. The resin plate 26 is pushed away to the outside by the headrest stay 22, and is energized and returned to a state of covering the through-hole by reclining of the headrest sty 22, in the use state of the headrest 21. The resin cover 25 is provided on the headrest stay 22, and is moved to a position of supporting the resin plate 26 by the reclining of the headrest stay 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a headrest device, and more particularly to a headrest device including a headrest that can be tilted forward. [Background technology]

[0002] A headrest device is known that allows the headrest to be folded forward from the use position at the top of the seatback and stored (Patent Document 1). The headrest device described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the headrest stays that support the headrest are connected to the seatback so that they can be folded forward. The seatback is formed with through-holes that allow the headrest stays to be raised and rotated.

[0003] The seat back is also fitted with fin members to prevent the interior from being seen through the through-holes. The fin members are provided inside the through-holes and protrude from both sides. The fin members are made of elastic material that can deflect to release movement of the headrest stays. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-102445 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the fin members are made of flexible materials that allow the headrest stays to move, so they cannot adequately prevent foreign objects from getting in from the outside. Therefore, the present invention provides a headrest device that can adequately prevent the inside from being seen through the through-holes that allow the movement of the folding headrest and prevent foreign objects from getting in. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the headrest device of the present invention takes the following measures.

[0007] That is, the headrest device of the present invention is a headrest device equipped with a headrest that can be tilted forward, and includes a rotation mechanism, a covering portion, and a support portion. The rotation mechanism connects a headrest stay that supports the headrest to a seat back so that the headrest can be tilted forward. The covering portion covers a through-hole formed in the seat back that allows movement of the headrest stay. When the headrest is in use, the covering portion is pushed outward by the headrest stay, and is biased back to a state covering the through-hole when the headrest stay is tilted forward. The support portion is provided on the headrest stay, and moves to a position where it supports the covering portion when the headrest stay is tilted forward.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the covering portion supported by the supporting portion can appropriately prevent the inside from being seen through the through-hole and prevent foreign matter from getting inside. In other words, even if the covering portion has a flexible configuration that allows movement of the headrest stay, when the headrest stay is tilted forward to cover the through-hole, the support provided by the supporting portion can appropriately prevent foreign matter from getting inside from outside.

[0009] The headrest device of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The cover portion is switchable between a collapsed position in which it covers the through-hole and a pushed-up position in which it is pushed upward by the headrest stay, by rotation about an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the seat.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the cover can be biased back to the laid-down position from the lifted position with a simple configuration that utilizes the action of gravity.

[0011] The headrest device of the present invention may further be configured as follows: the covering portion is made of a resin plate that is integrally molded via an integral hinge with a resin panel provided inside the seat back, and the supporting portion is made of a resin cover that is placed over the base of the headrest stay.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the contact between the cover and the support part can be made of resin, which is less likely to generate abnormal noise. Also, the cover part can be configured to have surface rigidity that makes it easy for the entire cover part to be held in position even if a part of it is supported by the support part.

[0013] The headrest device of the present invention may be further configured as follows: The push-up position of the cover portion is set to a position lower than the top surface of the resin panel.

[0014] According to the above configuration, even when the cover portion is pushed to the pushed-up position by the headrest stay, it does not protrude from the top surface of the seat back, thereby preventing deterioration of the appearance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a headrest device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the headrest is tilted forward. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the seat back. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fin cover has been removed from the seat back. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the headrest is tilted forward. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a resin panel has been removed from the seat back. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 9. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 10. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 12, illustrating a state in which the locking device has been released. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 12, illustrating a state in which the headrest is tilted forward. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First Embodiment (General Configuration of Headrest Device 20) First, the configuration of a headrest device 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 14. In the following description, when directions such as front, rear, up, down, left, and right are indicated, they refer to the respective directions shown in each drawing. In each drawing, the forward direction represents the direction in which the automobile is traveling. In the following description, when no specific reference drawing is shown or when no reference drawing has a reference number, any of Figs. 1 to 14 will be referred to as appropriate.

[0018] 1, a headrest device 20 according to this embodiment is applied to a seat 1 that is a left rear seat of an automobile. The seat 1 has a seat back 10 that serves as a back rest for a seated occupant, a seat cushion (not shown) that serves as a seating portion, and a headrest device 20 that includes a headrest 21 that serves as a headrest portion.

[0019] The headrest device 20 includes the headrest 21 and a headrest stay 22 having a pair of left and right round bar-shaped legs that support the headrest 21 from below. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the headrest device 20 also includes a rotation mechanism 23 that can tilt the headrest 21 forward from the use position at the top of the seat back 10 for storage. The headrest 21 is configured to be tilted forward to a position lower than the top surface of the seat back 10.

[0020] The headrest device 20 also has a locking mechanism 24 that can lock the rotation of the headrest 21 in the use position shown in Fig. 2. The headrest device 20 also has box-shaped resin covers 25 attached to the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22, as shown in Figs.

[0021] 7 and 8, the headrest device 20 has a pair of left and right resin plates 26 that are deployed so as to cover from below the through-holes 12A of the back pad 12 formed in the upper part of the seat back 10 when the headrest 21 is tilted forward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the through-holes 12A of the back pad 12 serve as paths through which the legs of the headrest stays 22 pass when the headrest 21 is tilted forward from the use position at the top of the seat back 10.

[0022] Each through-hole 12A is formed as an elongated hole that continuously extends from the upper portion to the front portion of the seat back 10. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of left and right resin plates 26 that cover these through-holes 12A from below are integrally molded with a resin panel 14 provided inside the seat back 10.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 5, when the headrest 21 is in the use position at the top of the seat back 10, each resin plate 26 is held in a pushed-up position P1 in which it is pushed up like a double door upward by each box-shaped resin cover 25 attached to the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22. However, as shown in Fig. 6, when the headrest 21 is tilted forward, each resin plate 26 is released from the support provided by each resin cover 25 and is switched to a laid-down position P2 in which it is laid horizontally by the action of gravity.

[0024] 7, each resin plate 26 is again supported from below by each resin cover 25 that has rotated and fallen forward together with the leg portions of the headrest stay 22. As a result, each resin plate 26 is firmly supported from below at the fallen position P2 where it covers each through-hole 12A of the back pad 12 from below.

[0025] As a result, even if a foreign object enters each through-hole 12A of the back pad 12 from the outside, the entry of the foreign object into the interior of the seat back 10 can be appropriately prevented by the shielding provided by each resin plate 26. Here, each resin cover 25 corresponds to a "support portion" of the present invention. Also, each resin plate 26 corresponds to a "cover portion" of the present invention. Below, the specific configuration of each portion of the headrest device 20 will be described in detail together with the configuration of the seat back 10.

[0026] (Configuration of each part of the seat back 10) First, we will explain the specific configuration of the seat back 10. As shown in Figures 1, 4 to 5, 9, etc., the seat back 10 has a metal back frame 11 that forms its internal framework. The seat back 10 also has a back pad 12 made of urethane foam that is set in front of the back frame 11 and elastically supports the weight of a seated occupant.

[0027] The seat back 10 also has a fabric back cover 13 that covers the entire surface of the back pad 12 and forms the design surface of the seat back 10. The seat back 10 also has a resin panel 14 that is attached to the upper front part of the back frame 11 and supports the upper part of the back pad 12 from the back side in a planar manner.

[0028] 4 and 5, the seat back 10 has fin covers 15 made of rubber plates that extend from the left and right sides to cover a pair of left and right openings 14A formed from the top to the front of the resin panel 14. Similar to the through-holes 12A formed in the back pad 12, the openings 14A formed in the resin panel 14 serve as paths through which the legs of the headrest stays 22 pass when the headrest 21 is tilted forward from the use position at the top of the seat back 10.

[0029] The back frame 11 is configured to be assembled in an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front, extending along the outer periphery of the seat back 10. Although not shown, the base ends of the back frame 11 on both the left and right sides are connected to the floor panel of the vehicle via recliners, respectively. As a result, the back frame 11 is normally locked from rotating relative to the floor panel.

[0030] The back frame 11 is configured to be unlocked from the floor panel when the user operates a release lever S1 provided at the right shoulder of the seat back 10 shown in Fig. 1. This release switches the back frame 11 to a state in which the backrest angle can be changed in the front-to-rear direction around an axis extending in the seat width direction relative to the floor panel.

[0031] After the backrest angle of the back frame 11 is changed by operating the release lever S1, the back frame 11 is locked at the changed backrest angle by releasing the release lever S1. By operating the back frame 11 in this manner, the backrest angle relative to the floor panel can be freely adjusted in the front-rear direction.

[0032] In addition, by operating the release lever S1, the back frame 11 can be tilted forward to a large extent, thereby switching to a large-fold state in which the seat back 10 is folded onto the top of the seat cushion. The back pad 12 is formed in a cushion shape that can widely envelop and cover the entire back frame 11 from the front.

[0033] The back pad 12 is attached to the back frame 11 from the front, and is set in a state in which it widely covers the entire back frame 11 from the front. The back pad 12 is set in such a way that its outer periphery wraps around each frame portion of the back frame 11 from the outer periphery to the rear surface.

[0034] The back pad 12 has through-holes 12A formed at two locations on the left and right sides of the upper part thereof, which serve as passages for the legs of the headrest stays 22. Each through-hole 12A is formed in the shape of an elongated hole that penetrates the back pad 12 in the thickness direction and extends continuously from the upper part to the front part of the back pad 12.

[0035] The back cover 13 is formed into a surface shape that can widely envelop and cover the entire back pad 12 from the front. The back cover 13 is set in a form that covers the back pad 12 from the front, which is set in the front part of the back frame 11. The outer periphery of the back cover 13 is pulled into the rear side of the back frame 11 and fastened, so that the back cover 13 is stretched in a state that it is widely in close contact with the entire surface of the back pad 12.

[0036] The back cover 13 has stripe-shaped slits 13A cut along the direction in which the through holes 12A extend in the portions that cover the through holes 12A of the back pad 12. The slits 13A are formed with a width that is narrower than the diameter of each leg of the headrest stay 22.

[0037] These slits 13A prevent the movement of the legs of the headrest stay 22 passing through the through holes 12A of the back pad 12. Covering with the back cover 13 having these slits 13A widely covers the through holes 12A of the back pad 12 from the outside, making it difficult to see the inside of each through hole 12A from the outside.

[0038] 4 and 5, the plastic panel 14 is attached from the front to an upper region that straddles the upper frame portion and both left and right frame portions of the back frame 11. As a result, the plastic panel 14 is set in a state in which it covers, from the front, the rotation mechanism 23 and the locking mechanism 24 of the headrest device 20 that are attached to the upper region of the back frame 11.

[0039] The resin panel 14 is attached to the upper region of the back frame 11 from the front, and is set in a state in which it widely covers the upper region of the back frame 11 from the front. The upper edge and both left and right edges of the resin panel 14 are each formed to bend and extend rearward, and the resin panel 14 is set in a state in which it covers the upper region of the back frame 11 from the outer periphery as well.

[0040] The resin panel 14 is formed with openings 14A at two positions on the left and right of its upper portion, which serve as through-holes 12A for the back pad 12 and through-holes for the legs of the headrest stay 22. Each opening 14A is formed in the shape of an elongated hole that penetrates the resin panel 14 in the thickness direction and extends continuously from the upper portion to the front portion of the resin panel 14.

[0041] Each of the pair of left and right fin covers 15 is provided so as to extend along each opening 14A formed in the resin panel 14. More specifically, each fin cover 15 is joined to both left and right edges of each opening 14A formed in the resin panel 14, and is provided so as to protrude in a planar form from both left and right edges of each opening 14A into each opening 14A.

[0042] The pair of left and right fin covers 15 that protrude into each opening 14A are provided closely spaced in the seat width direction so that the space between them forms a long, narrow cut that is the same size as each slit 13A formed in the back cover 13. In this way, each fin cover 15 covers each opening 14A formed in the resin panel 14 so that it is difficult to see from the outside.

[0043] Furthermore, even if a foreign object enters each through-hole 12A of the back pad 12 from the outside, the resilience of each fin cover 15 appropriately prevents the foreign object from entering each opening 14A of the plastic panel 14. Each fin cover 15 is configured to have elasticity that allows it to flex flexibly when pressed from the inside as each leg of the headrest stay 22 moves through each opening 14A of the plastic panel 14. Therefore, even when each fin cover 15 is provided, the movement of each leg of the headrest stay 22 is not hindered.

[0044] (Configuration of each part of the headrest device 20) Next, we will explain the specific configuration of the headrest device 20. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the headrest 21 has a headrest pad made of urethane foam (not shown), and a fabric headrest cover that covers the surface of the headrest pad and forms the design surface of the headrest 21.

[0045] The headrest stay 22 is formed by bending a single metal round bar member into an inverted U-shape when viewed from the front. The headrest stay 22 is formed integrally with the headrest 21 by integrally molding an upper region spanning the upper frame portion and the frame portions on both the left and right sides of the headrest stay 22 within the headrest pad.

[0046] 9 to 11, the rotation mechanism 23 is configured to connect each leg portion of the headrest stay 22 so that the headrest stay 22 can be tilted forward relative to the upper frame portion of the back frame 11. Specifically, the rotation mechanism 23 has a base 23A, a fixed bracket 23B, a rotation shaft 23C, a pair of left and right rotation plates 23D, and a forward-tilting spring 23E.

[0047] The base 23A is made of a pressed metal plate that is pressed into a shape that extends along the front surface of the upper frame portion of the back frame 11. The base 23A is pressed against the front surface of the upper frame portion of the back frame 11 and is integrally joined thereto. Plate-shaped pivotal support portions that are bent forward so that their faces face in the seat width direction are formed at two locations on the left and right of the base 23A.

[0048] Fixed bracket 23B is made of a press-molded metal plate that is press-molded into a U-shaped bend in a plan view. The U-shaped connecting plate portion of fixed bracket 23B is abutted against the front surface of base 23A and integrally joined thereto.

[0049] The left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B are formed with elongated holes 23B1 extending in the height direction. A lock pin 24B of the lock mechanism 24 (described later) is inserted through these elongated holes 23B1 in the seat width direction. This allows the lock pin 24B to be movable in the height direction along the elongated holes 23B1 relative to the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B.

[0050] The rotating shaft 23C is made of a single metal round bar member that extends straight in the seat width direction. The rotating shaft 23C is set in a state where it is inserted into each of the pivot support portions of the base 23A and each of the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B so as to penetrate in the seat width direction.

[0051] The rotating shaft 23C is set in a state where it is pivotally supported relative to each pivotal support portion of the base 23A and each of the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B. The rotating shaft 23C is assembled to each pivotal support portion of the base 23A in a state where it is prevented from coming off in the seat width direction.

[0052] The pair of left and right rotating plates 23D are respectively attached to and integrally joined to the base ends of the legs of the headrest stay 22. Each rotating plate 23D is made of a press-molded metal plate that is press-molded into a U-shaped bend in a plan view.

[0053] Each of the rotation plates 23D is integrally connected to the rotation shaft 23C, which is inserted between each pivot support portion of the base 23A and the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B and penetrates both of them. With this connection, the headrest stay 22 is connected to the base 23A so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 23C.

[0054] The forward-tilting spring 23E is a torsion spring wound in a coil shape. The forward-tilting spring 23E is set between the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B, with the rotating shaft 23C inserted through these plate portions and passing through the coil-shaped winding portion.

[0055] One end of the forward-tilting spring 23E is hooked to the fixed bracket 23B, and the other end is hooked to a right-side rotating cam 24A of the locking mechanism 24, which is integrally connected to the rotating shaft 23C (described later). As a result, the forward-tilting spring 23E is constantly applying a rotational biasing force in the forward tilt direction to the rotating shaft 23C via the right-side rotating cam 24A. As a result, the headrest 21 is constantly applying a biasing force in the direction of forward rotation about the rotating shaft 23C relative to the base 23A.

[0056] The locking mechanism 24 is configured to lock the rotation of the headrest 21 by the rotation mechanism 23. Specifically, the locking mechanism 24 has a pair of left and right rotating cams 24A, a locking pin 24B, a pair of left and right locking springs 24C, and an operating bracket 24D.

[0057] The pair of left and right rotating cams 24A are made of press-molded metal plates arranged opposite each other in the seat width direction. Each rotating cam 24A is integrally connected to the rotating shaft 23C, which is inserted between the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B described above and penetrates them in the seat width direction. With this connection, each rotating cam 24A is connected to the base 23A so as to be rotatable around the rotating shaft 23C.

[0058] That is, each rotating cam 24A is integrally connected to the rotation shaft 23C and the headrest stay 22 and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 23C relative to the base 23A. Each rotating cam 24A has, on its outer periphery, locking pieces 24A1 that protrude radially outward and recesses 24A2 that are recessed inward, lined up in the rotational direction.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 12, when the headrest 21 is in the use position (see Fig. 2), the lock pin 24B is pressed against the counterclockwise side surface of each locking piece 24A1 from below. This pressing restricts the counterclockwise rotation of each rotating cam 24A about the rotation shaft 23C in the illustrated direction, i.e., the forward tilting rotation of the headrest 21.

[0060] 2, the back surfaces of the rotation plates 23D (see FIG. 11, etc.) connected to the base ends of the legs of the headrest stay 22 are abutted against the front surfaces of the bases 23A, restricting the headrest 21 from rotating backward. As shown in FIG. 14, the recesses 24A2 of the rotation cams 24A are regions into which the lock pins 24B are pushed from below when the headrest 21 is tilted forward to the storage position (see FIG. 3).

[0061] The pushing restricts the rotation of each rotating cam 24A in both directions around the rotation shaft 23C, thereby holding the headrest 21 in the storage position where it is tilted forward. The recesses 24A2 have a slope that is gentler than the rising gradient of the counterclockwise side surface of each locking piece 24A1 that locks the headrest 21 in the use position (see FIG. 2).

[0062] With the above-described configuration, each recess 24A2 holds the lock pin 24B pressed thereinto without rattling in the rotational direction, while allowing the user to pull out the lock pin 24B from within the recess 24A2 by manually pulling up the headrest 21. The lock pin 24B is made of a single metal round bar member that extends straight in the seat width direction.

[0063] The lock pin 24B is set in a state where it is inserted into each of the elongated holes 23B1 formed in the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B so as to penetrate in the seat width direction, thereby allowing the lock pin 24B to move in the height direction along each of the elongated holes 23B1 relative to the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B.

[0064] The operation bracket 24D is a press-molded product formed by pressing a metal plate that is U-shaped in front view and has both left and right sides bent backward. The lower left and right sides of the operation bracket 24D are set between the left and right side plate portions of the fixed bracket 23B so that the lock pins 24B that are inserted through the long holes 23B1 in the seat width direction are inserted through the operation bracket 24D.

[0065] As a result, the operating bracket 24D is integral with the lock pin 24B and is provided in a state in which it can move in the height direction along each of the elongated holes 23B1 relative to the fixed bracket 23B. The operating bracket 24D is always biased upward relative to the fixed bracket 23B by a pair of left and right lock springs 24C hooked between the operating bracket 24D and the fixed bracket 23B.

[0066] As a result, a biasing force is always applied to the lock spring 24C, which moves the lock spring 24C toward the upper end of each elongated hole 23B1 relative to the fixed bracket 23B, and the lock spring 24C is held in a state pressed against the outer circumferential surface of each rotating cam 24A. Each lock spring 24C is made of a torsion spring wound in a coil shape.

[0067] The lock springs 24C are set between the left and right side plates of the fixed bracket 23B with their coiled windings aligned side by side. The inner ends of the lock springs 24C in the seat width direction are hooked onto the fixed bracket 23B, and the outer ends are hooked onto bent portions 24D2 formed at the upper ends of the left and right sides of the operating bracket 24D.

[0068] When the headrest 21 is in the use position (see FIG. 2), the lock pin 24B is pressed from below against the counterclockwise side surface of the locking piece 24A1 of each rotating cam 24A described above in FIG. 12 due to the biasing force of each lock spring 24C. This causes the lock pin 24B to restrict the counterclockwise rotation of each rotating cam 24A, thereby holding the headrest 21 in the use position (see FIG. 2).

[0069] When a user operates a release strap S2 provided at the left shoulder of the seat back 10 shown in Fig. 1, the lock pin 24B is pulled down from the locked state shown in Fig. 12 to the state shown in Fig. 13 and released. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, an operation cable CA connected to the release strap S2 is connected to a hook portion 24D1 at the center of the lower side of an operation bracket 24D that is integral with the lock pin 24B.

[0070] As a result, when the release strap S2 is pulled, the lock pin 24B is pulled downward against the biasing force of each lock spring 24C via the operating bracket 24D, as shown in Figures 12 and 13. Furthermore, when the operation of the release strap S2 is released after the headrest 21 is tilted forward, the lock pin 24B is again biased and moves upward, as shown in Figure 14, and enters the recessed portions 24A2 of each rotating cam 24A.

[0071] 11, each resin cover 25 is made up of two pieces that are attached to the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22 from the front and rear in a sandwiched manner. Each resin cover 25 is configured to cover, in a box shape, the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22. More specifically, each resin cover 25 is configured to cover, from the outside, the connection portion between each rotation plate 23D joined to the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22 and the rotation shaft 23C that passes through these from the side.

[0072] Each resin cover 25 is configured to cover only the peripheral edge of the back surface of each rotating plate 23D, but not the back surface that abuts against the front surface of the base 23A of each rotating plate 23D, so that each resin cover 25 can cover the connecting portion between each leg of the headrest stay 22 and the rotation shaft 23C from the outside, leaving only the back surface that abuts against the front surface of the base 23A of each rotating plate 23D.

[0073] 5 and 6, each of the pair of left and right resin plates 26 is formed by being integrally molded with the left and right edge portions facing the respective openings 14A of the resin panel 14. More specifically, each of the resin plates 26 is formed by being integrally molded with the left and right edge portions facing the upper opening region of each opening 14A that extends in the front-rear direction along the upper edge of the resin panel 14.

[0074] More specifically, each resin plate 26 is integrally formed with the lower edge of each of the left and right edges facing the upper opening region of each opening 14A so as to be rotatable in the height direction via an integral hinge 26A. Each integral hinge 26A is formed to extend continuously in the front-to-rear direction along the left and right edges of the upper opening region of each opening 14A.

[0075] When the headrest 21 is in the use position at the top of the seat back 10, each resin plate 26 is held in a raised position P1, pushed up like a double door from below, by each box-shaped resin cover 25 attached to the base end of each leg of the headrest stay 22. At this time, each resin plate 26 is configured so that it can only be raised to a position lower than the top surface 14B of the resin panel 14, due to a configuration in which integral hinges 26A are set at the lower edges of the edges on both the left and right sides facing each opening 14A.

[0076] Therefore, even if the resin plates 26 are pushed up to the push-up position P1, they will not push up the back cover 13 from below and be exposed to the outside, thereby preventing deterioration in the appearance of the seat back 10. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, when the headrest 21 is tilted forward to the storage position, the resin plates 26 are released from the state in which they are supported by the resin covers 25 and are switched to a state in which they are tilted horizontally by the action of gravity to a collapsed position P2.

[0077] At the same time, each resin plate 26 is again supported from below by each resin cover 25 that has rotated and fallen forward together with the leg portions of the headrest stay 22. As a result, each resin plate 26 is firmly supported from below at the fallen position P2 where it covers each through-hole 12A of the back pad 12 from below.

[0078] 8, only a partial area of ​​each resin plate 26 in the front-to-rear direction is supported by each resin cover 25. However, each resin plate 26 is made of a hard material that has greater surface rigidity than a soft material such as rubber, and is configured so that the entire area in the front-to-rear direction is connected to the resin panel 14 by the integral hinge 26A. Therefore, even when each resin plate 26 is partially supported by each resin cover 25 at the horizontally laid down position P2, the resin plates 26 are maintained in a state where they form a flat horizontal plane with respect to each other without bending in the direction of gravity.

[0079] (summary) To summarize the above, the headrest device 20 according to this embodiment has the following configuration: Note that the reference numerals in parentheses below correspond to the respective components shown in the above embodiment.

[0080] That is, the headrest device (20) is provided with a headrest (21) that can be tilted forward, and includes a rotation mechanism (23), a cover portion (26), and a support portion (25). The rotation mechanism (23) connects a headrest stay (22) that supports the headrest (21) to the seat back (10) so that the headrest can be tilted forward. The cover portion (26) covers a through-hole (12A) that is formed in the seat back (10) and that allows the headrest stay (22) to move.

[0081] When the headrest (21) is in use, the covering portion (26) is pushed outward by the headrest stay (22) and is biased back to a state covering the through-hole (12A) when the headrest stay (22) is tilted forward. The support portion (25) is provided on the headrest stay (22) and moves to a position supporting the covering portion (26) when the headrest stay (22) is tilted forward.

[0082] According to the above configuration, the covering portion (26) supported from below by the support portion (25) can appropriately prevent the inside from being seen through the through-hole (12A) and prevent foreign matter from getting inside. That is, even if the covering portion (26) has a flexible configuration that allows movement of the headrest stay (22), when the headrest stay (22) is tilted forward to cover the through-hole (12A), the support provided by the support portion (25) can appropriately prevent foreign matter from getting inside from outside.

[0083] Furthermore, the cover portion (26) can be switched between a collapsed position (P2) in which it covers the through-hole (12A) and a pushed-up position (P1) in which it is pushed upward by the headrest stay (22) by rotating about an axis extending in the front-rear direction of the seat. According to the above configuration, the cover portion (26) can be biased back from the pushed-up position (P1) to the collapsed position (P2) with a simple configuration that utilizes the action of gravity.

[0084] The cover portion (26) is made of a resin plate (26) that is integrally molded via an integral hinge (26A) with the resin panel (14) provided inside the seat back (10). The support portion (25) is made of a resin cover (25) that is placed over the base of the headrest stay (22).

[0085] According to the above configuration, the contact between the cover portion 26 and the support portion 25 can be made of resin, which is less likely to generate abnormal noise. Also, the cover portion 26 can be configured to have sufficient surface rigidity so that the entire cover portion 26 can be easily held in position even if a portion of the cover portion 26 is supported by the support portion 25.

[0086] In addition, the pushed-up position (P1) of the cover portion (26) is set to a position lower than the top surface (14B) of the resin panel (14). According to the above configuration, even if the cover portion (26) is pushed to the pushed-up position (P1) by the headrest stay (22), it does not protrude from the top surface (14B) of the seat back (10), thereby preventing deterioration of the appearance.

[0087] Other Embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various forms as described below in addition to the above embodiment.

[0088] 1. The headrest device of the present invention can be applied to front seats in automobiles. The headrest device can also be applied to seats in vehicles other than automobiles, such as trains, and other vehicles other than vehicles, such as airplanes and ships. In addition to vehicle seats, the headrest device can also be applied to seats installed in various facilities, such as sports facilities, theaters, movie theaters, concert halls, and event venues, as well as non-vehicle seats, such as massage seats.

[0089] 2. The cover portion may be made of a resin plate, rubber, or metal plate. Furthermore, the cover portion may be pushed outward by the headrest stay when the headrest is in use, and may be biased back to a state covering the through-hole when the headrest stay is tilted forward, and may be moved by rotating vertically via a hinge or sliding horizontally via a spring.

[0090] The movement direction of the cover portion may be the seat width direction or the seat front-rear direction. The cover portion may be integrally molded with the resin panel via an integral hinge, or may be rotatably connected via a separate hinge to the seat back frame or a panel material attached to the frame. In this case, the cover portion may be biased back to the collapsed position by spring force, or may be biased back to the collapsed position by gravity. The cover portion does not necessarily have to be configured to cover the through-holes in pairs, but may be configured to cover one or three or more pieces.

[0091] 3. The support portion that moves to a position where it supports the cover portion when the headrest stay is tilted forward may consist of the headrest stay itself or a metal rotating bracket connected to the base end of the headrest stay. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 sheet 10 Seatback 11 Back Frame 12 Back Pad 12A through hole 13 Back cover 13A Slit 14 Resin Panel 14A opening 14B Top surface 15 Fin Cover 20 Headrest device 21 Headrest 22 Headrest stay 23 Rotation mechanism 23A base 23B Fixed bracket 23B1 long hole 23C Rotating Axis 23D Rotating Plate 23E forward spring 24 Locking mechanism 24A Rotating Cam 24A1 Locking piece 24A2 recess 24B Lock Pin 24C Lock Spring 24D Operation Bracket 24D1 Kakebe 24D2 Bending section 25 Resin cover (support part) 26 Resin plate (covering part) 26A Integral Hinge P1 push-up position P2 Lodging position S1 release lever S2 Release Strap CA operation cable

Claims

1. A headrest device having a headrest that can be folded forward, a rotation mechanism that connects a headrest stay that supports the headrest to a seat back so that the headrest can be tilted forward; a pair of cover portions that cover through-holes formed in the seat back, the through-holes allowing movement of the headrest stays, from both sides in the seat width direction, the pair of cover portions being pushed outward by the headrest stays in a state before the headrest stays are folded forward, and the pair of cover portions being biased back to a state where they cover an area of ​​the through-hole that was located before the headrest stays were folded forward, as the headrest stays are folded forward; a support portion that is made of a resin cover that is placed on a base portion of the headrest stay and that moves to a position where it supports the portions of the pair of cover portions that cover the region when the headrest stay is tilted forward, The pair of covering portions are made of resin plates that are integrally molded via integral hinges to a resin panel provided inside the seat back, and are switchable between a collapsed position that covers the through-hole and a pushed-up position that is pushed upward by the headrest stay by rotating about an axis that extends in the front-to-rear direction of the seat, and the headrest device has a front portion that is supported by the support portion in the collapsed position, and a rear portion that covers the gap between the support portion and a base of the seat back that is positioned behind the support portion.

2. The headrest device according to claim 1, The headrest device wherein the pushed-up position of the cover portion is lower than the top surface of the resin panel.

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