JPH0824077A - Supporting structure for arm rest - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold an arm rest at a housing position without performing a complicated operation by providing an elastic stopper for the rearward inclination regulation of the arm rest on either a seat back or the arm rest and holding the arm rest at the housing position or releasing its engagement by connecting a lock releasing means to engaging members provided on both the seat back and the arm rest. CONSTITUTION:A movable plate 30 deforms the elastic stopper 21 elastically by pressing the arm rest 3 located at the housing position rearward powerfully, and also, a connecting claw 20 comes off a connecting gear 40 by turning the connecting claw 20 in a clockwise direction by a pressing part 41 for lock release, and an arm part 18a is displaced to the right terminal part of a guide groove 14, therefore, the connecting claw 20 is located at a lock releasing position by pressing a torsion spring 18. Then, the arm rest 3 is used by pushing forward. At this time, a pressing part 39 for lock operation displaces a lock positron by pressing the connecting claw 20 located at the lock releasing position in a counterclockwise direction, and the displacement of the arm rest 3 in a forward inclined direction can be blocked by the engagement of the connecting claw 20 with a reachet gar 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support structure for an armrest provided on a side surface of a seat back of a vehicle seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An armrest provided on an independent seat such as a driver's seat or a passenger seat of an automobile is rotatably attached to a side surface of a seatback, and when used, it is tilted forward of the seatback and projects substantially horizontally. Is set to
When not in use, it stands up and is stored along the side of the seat back.

Therefore, the armrest can be tilted within an angle range of approximately 90 °, but the range that is likely to be used as an armrest is an angle range in which the armrest stands up to approximately 45 ° from a substantially horizontal position. . Therefore, it is desired that the angle can be finely adjusted in accordance with the user's preference within this angle range. Therefore, conventionally, a ratchet mechanism having this range as a locking range has been incorporated to enable multi-step adjustment. On the contrary, since it can be said that fine angle adjustment is unnecessary in other angle ranges, free rotation operation is allowed. However, an appropriate stopper means is provided at the storage position so that the storage device will not tilt backward beyond the storage position.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned one, although the backward tilting is restricted when the armrest is in the retracted position, the forward tilting is not restricted and the operation can be performed as it is. There is. Although such a setting enables a quick response when an armrest is used, on the other hand, if a passenger in the rear seat inadvertently puts his / her hand on the armrest, there is a problem that the passenger suddenly falls.

As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to provide a lock means for locking the armrest in the retracted position. However, if you simply provide locking means,
The operation for locking or the operation for releasing it becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been devised and devised in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a support structure which is easy to handle and which can hold the armrest in the retracted position. Is.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a support structure that is displaceable between a retracted position in which an armrest is located along a side surface of a seat back and a forwardly tilted position where the armrest can be tilted forward and used as an armrest. Then, on either side of the seat back and the armrest, an elastic stopper for restricting the rearward displacement of the armrest in the retracted position by the elastic restoring force is attached, while engaging with the seatback and the armrest, respectively. A member is provided, and a lock releasing means, a part of which extends so as to be able to contact the elastic stopper, is linked to the engaging member, and the lock releasing means engages with both the engaging members when the armrest is in the retracted position. The members are engaged to hold the armrest in the retracted position, and the elastic stopper is elastic when the armrest is forcibly tilted backward from the retracted position. It was releasable and to Aru constituting an engagement state of the engaging member with the displacement movement of the while shape.

[0008]

The armrest can be tilted between the forward tilted position and the stowed position. When the armrest reaches the stowed position, the armrest side and seatback side engaging members engage with each other, whereby the armrest moves forward. Is maintained in a state in which tilting is restricted. Further, at this time, since a part of the lock releasing means is in contact with the elastic stopper, the rearward tilt of the armrest is restricted. When operating the armrest from the retracted position to the forward leaning position, the armrest is forced to perform the backward leaning operation against the elastic force of the elastic stopper. Then, along with this, the lock releasing means is displaced from the position corresponding to the storage position to the position associated with the above-mentioned forced operation, and the locked state of both engaging members is released in conjunction with this displacement. Therefore, if the armrest is tilted forward from this state, the armrest is displaced to the forward tilted position where it can be used as an armrest.

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the armrest can be held in a state where it cannot be tilted forward in the storage position, for example, even if a passenger in the rear seat accidentally pushes the armrest forward, the armrest is in the storage position. It is possible to prevent the armrest from leaning forward and hitting the body of the passenger in the front seat while being held. Also,
When tilting the armrest forward to use it from the retracted position, the armrest can be tilted forward just by tilting the armrest once, and the troublesome operation of pulling the lever or pushing the button is required. It is unnecessary. Therefore, it is easy to handle despite the provision of the mechanism for locking the armrest in the retracted position.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The members for supporting the armrest 3 are arranged on the seat 1 side and the armrest 3 side, respectively. First, the member on the side of the seat 1 will be described. A fixing plate 10 is vertically fixed by welding or the like to a side surface of the frame of the seat back 2 on which the armrest 3 is attached. A bearing hole 11 for axially supporting the armrest 3 is formed through the fixed plate 10. The rocking plate 12 is provided at a side position of the bearing hole 11.
Is supported by a support shaft 13 parallel to the penetrating direction of the bearing hole 11 so as to be swingable with the plate surface parallel to the fixed plate 10. A small-diameter spring receiving hole 15 is formed in the oscillating plate 12, and can be aligned with a guide groove 14 formed in the fixed plate 10 in an arc shape concentric with the support shaft 13. On the other hand, a spring receiving plate 16 having a spring receiving hole 17 is arranged on the surface of the fixed plate 10 opposite to the side where the swing plate 12 is attached. The spring receiving plate 16 is attached to the plate surface of the fixed plate 10 with a space therebetween by fixing a mounting portion 16a formed in a cantilever shape with a step by welding or the like. . A torsion coil spring 18 is housed in the gap between the spring receiving plate 16 and the fixed plate 10. The bent end of one arm portion 18a of the torsion coil spring 18 penetrates through the guide groove 14 and the swing plate 1
2 is engaged with the spring receiving hole 15 and the bent end of the other arm portion 18b is the spring receiving hole 1 of the spring receiving plate 16.
7 is engaged. The torsion coil spring 18 thus mounted is for swinging the swinging plate 12 toward or away from the side of the bending plate 36, which will be described later, and always causes both arms 18a and 18b to approach each other. It is assembled in the elastically deformed state. Further, the positional relationship between the spring receiving hole 17 and the arc-shaped guide groove 14 is such that the center position of the guide groove 14 is closest to the spring receiving hole 17 and both ends of the guide groove 14 are connected to the spring receiving hole 17. The distances are longer than this, but they are set to the same distance. Therefore, the torsion coil spring 18
Means that the arm portion 18a is biased in a direction in which the arm portion 18a is locked to either end portion of the guide groove 14. As a result, the swing plate 12 swings as the arm portion 18a rotates between the position where the arm portion 18a is locked at the left end portion of the guide groove 14 in FIG. Moving plate 12
Locking claw formed on (the locking member that is a constituent feature of the present invention)
20 is displaced between a lock position where it approaches the bending plate 36 and a lock release position where it retracts to the contrary.

Further, an elastic stopper 21 made of a rubber material and having a thick circular shape is fixed by a screw 22 to the surface of the fixed plate 10 on which the swing plate 12 is attached. The elastic stopper 21 is positioned so that a side edge of a movable plate 30 described later contacts when the armrest 3 is in the retracted state. Although it has a certain degree of rigidity, it can be elastically deformed so as to be crushed when a predetermined pressing force is applied from the movable plate 30.

Next, members on the armrest 3 side will be described. A movable plate 30 is fixed to a surface of the armrest 3 facing the seat back 2 so as to be integrally rotatable with the armrest 3 with its plate surface parallel to the fixed plate 10. The movable plate 30 is formed with a support hole 31 that is aligned with the bearing hole 11 of the fixed plate 10. The tubular portion 32a of the bush 32 is fitted into the support hole 31, the tip end surface of which is in contact with the hole edge portion of the bearing hole 11 of the fixed plate 10, and the flange portion 32b of the bush 32 is the hole of the support hole 31. It is locked to the edge. In this state, a bolt 33 penetrates the bush 32 and the bearing hole 11 and is tightened by a nut 34. This allows the armrest 3
Further, the movable plate 30 is supported so as to be rotatable relative to the seat back 2 and the fixed plate 10 about the rotation shaft 35 constituted by the bolt 33 without causing rattling in the axial direction.

On the surface of the movable plate 30 which faces the fixed plate 10, a curved plate 36 having a shape substantially along an arc concentric with the rotary shaft 35 is integrally rotated with the movable plate 30 by a rivet 37. It is movably fixed. The locking claw 20 of the rocking plate 12 is selectively engaged with one end of the curved plate 36 in a state where the armrest 3 is tilted forward and protrudes forward from the seatback 2 to be usable. A ratchet tooth row 38 is formed. The ratchet tooth row 38 is arranged along an arc concentric with the rotating shaft 35, and when the locking claw 20 is displaced to the lock position, as shown in FIGS. Ratchet teeth 38
Is adapted to engage with. In this state, since the arm portion 18a of the torsion coil spring 18 is locked to the end portion of the guide groove 14, the swinging plate 12 is prevented from rotating in the counterclockwise direction, so that the armrest 3 is fixed. It is designed to be held in the forward tilted position. In this state, it is possible for the ratchet tooth row 38 to rotate clockwise with respect to the locking claw 20 while the elastic deformation of the torsion coil spring 18 and the swing displacement of the swing plate 12 are accompanied. Therefore, the armrest 3 can be displaced in the upright direction to raise its position, and the armrest 3 can be held inclinable forward by the engagement of the ratchet tooth row 38 and the locking claw 20 at an arbitrary height thereof. Is able to. Further, a lock operation pressing portion 39 is formed at an end position of the ratchet tooth row 38 of the curved plate 36. In this locking operation pressing portion 39, the locking claw 20 has a ratchet tooth row 38.
While being displaced to the unlocked position, the locking claw 20 is pressed to rotate in the counterclockwise direction (the forward tilt direction of the armrest 3) to return to the locked position,
Therefore, the locking claw 20 is adapted to be engaged with the ratchet tooth row 38.

At the end of the curved plate 36 opposite to the ratchet tooth row 38, the armrest 3 is provided with the seat back 2.
Locking claw 20 in a state of being stored along the side surface of
Locking teeth (engaging member which is a constituent feature of the present invention) 40 with which is engaged are formed. When the locking claw 20 is displaced to the lock position, the locking claw 20 engages with the locking tooth 40 as shown in FIG. In this state, since the arm portion 18a of the torsion coil spring 18 is locked to the counterclockwise end portion of the guide groove 14, the swing plate 12 rotates counterclockwise, that is, the armrest 3 tilts forward. It is designed to prevent the displacement to.

An unlocking pressing portion 41 is formed at a position adjacent to the locking teeth 40 of the curved plate 36. The unlocking pressing portion 41 is configured to press the locking claw 20 which is displaced to the locking position where the locking tooth 40 is engaged, in the clockwise direction (the direction in which the armrest 3 tilts backward from the storage position). There is. When the armrest 3 is displaced rearward from the retracted position, the lock release pressing portion 41 rotates the locking claw 20 in the clockwise direction to displace the locking claw 20 to the lock release position, so that the locking claw 20 is locked. It is designed to come off the teeth 40.

While the armrest 3 is in the retracted position, the edge of the movable plate 30 is in contact with the elastic stopper 21 from the front, but the armrest 3 is almost in the upright position and rotates about the pivot shaft 35 due to its own weight. Since the torque is small, the pressing force applied from the armrest 3 to the elastic stopper 21 is small. Therefore, the elastic stopper 21
Supports the armrest 3 with almost no elastic deformation due to its rigidity, and the armrest 3 does not rotate backward due to its own weight.
It is always held in the storage position.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the armrest 3 is stored along the side surface of the seat back 2, the locking claw 20
Is engaged with the locking teeth 40 at the lock position to prevent the armrest 3 from tilting forward, and the movable plate 30 contacts the elastic stopper 21 to restrict the armrest 3 from tilting backward. Therefore, the armrest 3 is held in the storage position.

When the armrest 3 is strongly pushed rearward from this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the movable plate 30 elastically deforms so as to crush the elastic stopper 21, and the lock release pressing portion 41 causes the locking claw 20. Is pressed to rotate in the clockwise direction, so that the locking claw 20 is disengaged from the locking tooth 40 and the arm portion 18a is displaced to the right end portion of the guide groove 14, so that the locking claw 20 of the torsion coil spring 18 is released. It is held in the unlocked position by urging.

In this way, since the state where the locking claw 20 is disengaged from the locking teeth 40 is maintained, the relative rotation of the movable plate 30 with respect to the fixed plate 10 becomes free, so that the armrest 3 is moved forward. It can be displaced to a usable state by pushing. When the armrest 3 is tilted forward, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking operation pressing portion 39 presses the locking claw 20 in the unlocked position in the counterclockwise direction in the figure to displace it to the locked position. Thereby, the locking claw 20
5 engages with the tooth closest to the lock operation pressing portion 39 of the ratchet tooth row 38 as shown in FIG. 5, and the engagement of the locking claw 20 with the ratchet tooth 38 causes the armrest 3 to tilt forward. The displacement is blocked and the arm can be placed on the armrest 3.

At this time, the armrest 3 is at the lowest position, and if the armrest 3 is lifted upward from this state, the locking claw 20 is moved toward the lock release side by a small angle against the bias of the torsion coil spring 18. While swinging, the engagement position of the locking claw 20 in the ratchet tooth row 38 moves,
The locking claw 20 engages with any tooth of the ratchet tooth row 38, whereby the armrest 3 is held in a state where it cannot be tilted forward.

When the armrest 3 is moved upward, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, after the state where the locking claw 20 is engaged with the tooth farthest from the locking operation pressing portion 39 of the ratchet tooth row 38, there is a member that engages with the locking claw 20. Since this is not done, the locking claws 20 will subsequently slide along the inner peripheral edge of the curved plate 36, and the armrest 3 will be in a state where it can freely rotate. Then, when the armrest 3 reaches the storage position,
The locking claw 20 swings toward the lock release side by a small angle against the urging force of the torsion coil spring 18 to engage with the locking tooth 40 as shown in FIG. As a result, the armrest 3 is automatically held in a state where it cannot be tilted forward.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the armrest 3 can be locked in the storage position so that it cannot be tilted forward. Therefore, for example, even if an occupant in the rear seat accidentally pushes the armrest 3 forward, the armrest 3 cannot be tilted forward. There is no risk that the 3 will lean forward and hit the body of the passenger in the front seat. Further, when the armrest 3 is lifted to the storage position, the armrest 3 is automatically locked in a state in which it cannot be tilted forward. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately perform an operation for locking the armrest 3 after the armrest 3 is displaced to the storage position. It is easy to handle. Moreover, when the armrest 3 in the retracted position is tilted forward to use it, the lock is released by tilting the armrest 3 slightly backward to enable the forward tilting. Therefore, the lever is pulled for unlocking. There is no need to perform a troublesome operation such as pressing a button or pressing a button. Therefore, the provision of the mechanism for locking the armrest 3 in the storage position does not make the handling complicated.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the elastic stopper 21 is used.
I explained the case of using a rubber one as
According to the present invention, a metal leaf spring, a torsion coil spring, or the like can be used as the elastic stopper.

(2) In the above embodiment, the elastic stopper 21 is used.
Attach the armrest 3 to the fixing plate 10 on the seat 1 side.
Although the movable plate 30 on the side is brought into contact with the movable plate 30, according to the present invention, an elastic stopper may be attached to the movable plate and the fixed plate may be brought into contact with the elastic stopper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat with an armrest held in a retracted state.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the armrest is held in a retracted state.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the armrest in a retracted state with the lock released.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a state immediately before the armrest is tilted forward to be usable.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a state immediately after the armrest is ready for use.

6 is a side view of the armrest displaced from the state of FIG. 5 to the uppermost position.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the seat in the state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of components of the support structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Seat 2 ... Seat back 3 ... Armrest 20 ... Locking claw (seat back engaging member) 21 ... Elastic stopper 40 ... Locking tooth (armrest engaging member)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A support structure that is displaceable between a retracted position in which an armrest is located along a side surface of a seat back and a forwardly tilted position where the armrest can be tilted forward and can be used as an armrest. An elastic stopper that restricts the rearward displacement of the armrest in the retracted position by an elastic restoring force is attached to either side of the armrest, while the seatback and the armrest each have an engaging member. At the same time, the engaging member is linked with a lock releasing means, a part of which extends so as to be able to abut the elastic stopper, and the lock releasing means is engaged with both engaging members when the armrest is in the retracted position. To hold the armrest in the retracted position, and when the armrest is forcibly tilted backward from the retracted position, the elastic stop There support structure of the armrest, characterized in that are made possible release the engagement between the two engaging members with the displacement movement while being elastically deformed.