Vehicle headrest

Abstract

To provide a headrest for a vehicle capable of adjusting a blow direction in accordance with a position in a front-back direction of the headrest.SOLUTION: A headrest for a vehicle includes: a headrest body; a movable part displaceable in a front-back direction of a seat with respect to the headrest body; a louver constituted to discharge air from the inside of the headrest body toward the front side of the seat; and an adjustment mechanism constituted to change an attitude of the louver while interlocking with the displacement of the movable part so as to make a discharge angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the louver smaller as the movable part is displaced to the front side of the seat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle headrest.

Background Art

[0002] In vehicle seats, air blowers that send air to the vicinity of the occupant's neck are known (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In these air blowers, the direction of the air outlet is variable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described air blower, when the position of the occupant's neck (that is, the position in front of the headrest) moves back and forth, the blowing direction cannot be adjusted accordingly. Therefore, there is a risk that the air may not hit the vicinity of the occupant's neck. [[ID=~]]

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a vehicle headrest that can adjust the blowing direction according to the position of the headrest in the front-rear direction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle headrest (1) comprising: a headrest body (2); a movable part (3) that can be displaced relative to the headrest body (2) in the seat front-rear direction; a louver (6) configured to discharge air from inside the headrest body (2) toward the front of the seat; and an adjustment mechanism (7) configured to change the posture of the louver (6) in conjunction with the displacement of the movable part (3) such that the discharge angle of the louver (6) with respect to the horizontal direction decreases as the movable part (3) is displaced toward the front of the seat.

[0007] With this configuration, the exhaust angle of the louvers (6) can be changed in conjunction with the displacement of the movable part (3). Therefore, the direction of airflow can be adjusted to match the front-to-back position of the headrest.

[0008] In one aspect of this disclosure, the adjustment mechanism (7) may have an elastic body (71) attached to the movable part (3) and the rotation axis (62) of the louver (6). The elastic body (71) may be configured to rotate the rotation axis (62) in a first direction by stretching in response to the displacement of the movable part (3) toward the front of the sheet, and to rotate the rotation axis (62) in a second direction opposite to the first direction by contracting due to elastic force when the movable part (3) is displaced toward the rear of the sheet. With such a configuration, the discharge angle of the louver (6) can be linked to the displacement of the movable part (3) with a relatively simple configuration.

[0009] In one aspect of this disclosure, the adjustment mechanism (7) may have a rack and pinion mechanism (72) including a rack (72A) provided on the movable part (3) and a pinion (72B) connected to the rotation axis (62) of the louver (6). Even with such a configuration, the discharge angle of the louver (6) can be linked to the displacement of the movable part (3) with a relatively simple configuration.

[0010] In one aspect of this disclosure, the adjustment mechanism (7) may have a crank mechanism (73) connected to the movable part (3) and the rotation axis (62) of the louver (6). This configuration also allows the discharge angle of the louver (6) to be linked to the displacement of the movable part (3) with a relatively simple configuration.

[0011] The symbols in the parentheses above are merely examples indicating the correspondence with the specific configurations described in the embodiments described later, and this disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations indicated by the symbols in the parentheses above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a vehicle headrest in an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figures 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the adjustment mechanism in the vehicle headrest shown in Figure 1A. [Figure 3] Figures 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of the adjustment mechanism in an embodiment different from that shown in Figure 2A. [Figure 4] Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of the adjustment mechanism in an embodiment different from that shown in Figure 2A. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments to which this disclosure applies will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1. First Embodiment] [1-1. Structure] The vehicle headrest 1 shown in Figures 1A and 1B constitutes a part of the vehicle seat. The vehicle headrest 1 comprises a headrest body 2, a movable part 3, a drive source 4, a fan 5, a louver 6, and an adjustment mechanism 7.

[0014] <Headrest body> The headrest body 2 is attached to the back of a vehicle seat. The headrest body 2 houses a drive source 4, a fan 5, a louver 6, and an adjustment mechanism 7. In addition, a ventilation passage communicating with the louver 6 is provided inside the headrest body 2.

[0015] <Movable part> The movable part 3 is attached to the headrest main body 2 so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction of the seat. The movable part 3 has a support part 31 that supports the head of the seated person, and a shaft 32 that extends rearward from the support part 31 and is held by the headrest main body 2.

[0016] <Drive source> The drive source 4 displaces the movable part 3. The drive source 4 has, for example, a transmission element such as a gear that moves the shaft 32 in the front-rear direction of the seat, and a motor.

[0017] <Fan> The fan 5 discharges the air sucked from the outside of the headrest main body 2 to the outside of the headrest main body 2 through the louver 6. The vehicle headrest 1 may be provided with a device that cools or heats the air blown by the fan 5.

[0018] <Louver> The louver 6 is configured to discharge air from the inside of the headrest main body 2 toward the front and downward of the seat. Specifically, the louver 6 discharges air toward the neck of the seated person.

[0019] The louver 6 has a plurality of blades arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The discharge angle θ of the louver 6 with respect to the horizontal direction is defined by the inclination angles of the plurality of blades (that is, the angles formed by the blade surfaces and the horizontal direction).

[0020] The discharge angle θ of the louver 6 is changeable. That is, the plurality of blades of the louver 6 are swingable in the vertical direction. The discharge direction of the air sent by the fan 5 is adjusted by the louver 6.

[0021] <Adjustment mechanism> As shown in FIG. 1B, the adjustment mechanism 7 is configured to change the posture of the louver 6 in conjunction with the displacement of the movable part 3 so that the discharge angle θ of the louver 6 with respect to the horizontal direction becomes smaller as the movable part 3 is displaced forward of the seat.

[0022] Figures 2A and 2B show an example of the adjustment mechanism 7. This adjustment mechanism 7 has an elastic body 71. The elastic body 71 is attached to the movable part 3 and the rotation shaft 62 of the louver 6. The rotation shaft 62 is the shaft that rotates the multiple slats 61.

[0023] One end of the elastic body 71 is wound around the rotating shaft 62. The multiple vanes 61 may be directly fixed to the rotating shaft 62, or they may be indirectly connected to the rotating shaft 62 by elements such as cams and gears.

[0024] The elastic body 71 is configured to stretch as the movable part 3 is displaced forward from the seat, thereby rotating the rotation axis 62 in the first direction D1, and to contract by elastic force when the movable part 3 is displaced backward from the seat, thereby rotating the rotation axis 62 in the second direction D2, which is opposite to the first direction D1.

[0025] Therefore, as shown in Figure 2B, when the movable part 3 is displaced forward of the sheet, the vane 61 rotates upward due to the rotation of the rotation axis 62 in the first direction D1 accompanying the tension of the elastic body 71, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 decreases.

[0026] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2A, when the movable part 3 is displaced to the rear of the seat, the vane 61 rotates downward due to the rotation of the rotation axis 62 in the second direction D2 accompanying the contraction of the elastic body 71, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 increases.

[0027] Figures 3A and 3B show another example of the adjustment mechanism 7. This adjustment mechanism 7 has a rack and pinion mechanism 72. The rack and pinion mechanism 72 has a rack 72A, a pinion 72B, and an auxiliary gear 72C.

[0028] The rack 72A is formed by protrusions and indentations provided on the shaft 32 of the movable part 3. The pinion 72B meshes with the rack 72A and is connected to the rotating shaft 62 of the louver 6 via the auxiliary gear 72C.

[0029] Therefore, as shown in Figure 3B, when the movable part 3 is displaced forward of the seat, the rotation of the auxiliary gear 72C in the first direction D1 causes the vane 61 to rotate upward, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 decreases. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3A, when the movable part 3 is displaced backward of the seat, the rotation of the auxiliary gear 72C in the second direction D2 causes the vane 61 to rotate downward, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 increases.

[0030] Figures 4A and 4B show yet another example of the adjustment mechanism 7. This adjustment mechanism 7 has a crank mechanism 73 connected to the shaft 32 of the movable part 3 and the rotating shaft 62 of the louver 6. The crank mechanism 73 has a first link 73A, a second link 73B, and a frame 73C.

[0031] The first link 73A is rotatably connected to the shaft 32 and the second link 73B, respectively. The second link 73B is rotatably connected to the first link 73A and is fixed to the rotation axis 62 of the louver 6.

[0032] The connection point between the first link 73A and the shaft 32 moves linearly in the seat-forward direction within the frame 73C as the shaft 32 is displaced. The connection point between the first link 73A and the second link 73B moves circularly around the rotation axis 62 as the shaft 32 is displaced. As a result, the rotation axis 62 rotates axially as the shaft 32 is displaced.

[0033] Therefore, as shown in Figure 4B, when the movable part 3 is displaced forward of the seat, the second link 73B and the rotating shaft 62 rotate in the first direction D1, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 decreases. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4B, when the movable part 3 is displaced backward of the seat, the second link 73B and the rotating shaft 62 rotate in the second direction D2, and the discharge angle of the louver 6 decreases.

[0034] [1-2. Effects] According to the embodiments described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The exhaust angle of the louvers 6 can be changed in conjunction with the displacement of the movable part 3. Therefore, the direction of airflow can be adjusted to match the front-to-back position of the headrest.

[0035] (1b) The adjustment mechanism 7 has an elastic body 71, a rack and pinion mechanism 72, or a crank mechanism 73, which allows the discharge angle of the louver 6 to be linked to the displacement of the movable part 3 with a relatively simple configuration.

[0036] [2. Other Embodiments] While embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and can take various forms.

[0037] (2a) In the vehicle headrest of the above embodiment, the adjustment mechanism may change the posture of the louvers by power transmitted from a drive source that displaces the movable part.

[0038] (2b) The vehicle headrest of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in automobiles other than passenger cars, and to seats used in vehicles other than automobiles, such as railway cars, ships, and aircraft.

[0039] (2c) The functions of one component in the above embodiment may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Also, at least some parts of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to, substituted for, or otherwise replaced with the configuration of other above embodiments. Any aspect of the technical concept specified by the wording of the claims is an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1...Vehicle headrest, 2...Headrest body, 3...Movable part, 4...Power source 5...Fan, 6...Louver, 7...Adjustment mechanism, 31...Support part, 32...Shaft 61... vane, 62... rotating shaft, 71... elastic body, 72... rack and pinion mechanism 72A...Rack, 72B...Pinion, 72C...Auxiliary gear, 73...Crank mechanism 73A...1st link, 73B...2nd link, 73C...frame.

Claims

1. The headrest body and A movable part that can be displaced in the seat front-rear direction relative to the headrest body, A louver configured to expel air from inside the headrest body toward the front of the seat, An adjustment mechanism is configured to change the posture of the louvers in conjunction with the displacement of the movable part, such that the exhaust angle of the louvers with respect to the horizontal direction decreases as the movable part is displaced forward of the seat. A vehicle headrest equipped with [feature / feature].

2. A vehicle headrest according to claim 1, The adjustment mechanism has an elastic body attached to the movable part and the rotation axis of the louver, A vehicle headrest, wherein the elastic body is configured to stretch in response to the displacement of the movable part forward of the seat, thereby rotating the rotation axis in a first direction, and to contract by elastic force when the movable part is displaced backward of the seat, thereby rotating the rotation axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. A vehicle headrest according to claim 1, The adjustment mechanism is a rack and pinion mechanism including a rack provided on the movable part and a pinion connected to the rotation axis of the louver, and is a headrest for a vehicle.

4. A vehicle headrest according to claim 1, The adjustment mechanism is a vehicle headrest having a crank mechanism connected to the movable part and the rotation axis of the louver.

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