JP2001145540A - Retractable armrest structure for reclining seat - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Despite its simple configuration, an armrest can be maintained at a substantially horizontal position. [Constitution] The other end of a reclining hinge 24 and a support arm 30 having a different fulcrum are rotatably connected to a free end of a link plate 28 that rotates around an armrest hinge 16, whereby a seat back 14 is provided. The relative rotation of the link plate following the inclination of the link plate is achieved.
Then, the armrest body 12 at the use position set by engaging the lock arm 36 fixed to the armrest hinge 16 with the lock pin 34 protruding from the free end of the link plate 28 is rotated. Under the movement, the seat back 14 can be set and maintained in a substantially horizontal state regardless of the tilt angle of the seat back 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retractable armrest structure for a reclining seat, in which an armrest body is provided so as to be retractable in a seat back which can be tilted in the front-rear direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a retractable armrest mounted on a seat or the like of an automobile or the like, an armrest main body is rotated relative to a seatback in a flip-up direction at a predetermined storage position, such as a seat. It is provided so as to be able to be stored in a side position along the back or in a storage recess of the seat back, and is used under a drawer (rotation) forward from this storage position.

[0003] As such a retractable armrest, there is generally known a structure in which the armrest can be held at a use position thereof under the restriction of rotation with respect to a seat back by a stopper or the like. I have.

[0004]

In an armrest for supporting a seated person's arm, it is desired to use the armrest substantially horizontally, from the viewpoints of feeling of use and comfort. However, in a known general retractable armrest, since the angle with respect to the seatback in the use position, that is, the support angle is constant, the retractable armrest is provided in a so-called reclining seat that enables the seatback to be tilted in the front-rear direction. When equipped, it cannot be denied that the armrest body tilts in the corresponding direction due to the tilting of the seat back.

Therefore, for example, configurations in which the armrest body can be maintained at a substantially horizontal supporting position without tilting with the seat back are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 06-048446 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-166919. I have. However, each of these known configurations has a plurality of link arms, and a relatively wide moving range is secured. Therefore, the configuration is complicated due to an increase in the number of parts, and a space for a mechanism is increased. Is inevitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a reclining seat retractable armrest structure capable of maintaining an armrest at a substantially horizontal position despite a simple configuration.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an armrest hinge is a hinge shaft having one end fixed to an armrest body.
The other end of the reclining hinge and a supporting arm having a different fulcrum are rotatably connected to a free end of a link plate that rotates around the armrest hinge, thereby allowing the link plate to follow the tilt of the seat back. Are relatively rotated. Then, the armrest main body at the use position set by engaging the lock arm fixed to the hinge shaft with the lock pin protruding from the free end of the link plate is rotated under the rotation of the link plate. , Irrespective of the tilt angle of the seat back, it can be set and maintained in its almost horizontal state,
The armrest main body can be moved forward together with the seat back under the disengagement between the lock pin and the lock arm accompanying the storage of the armrest main body.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in a retractable armrest structure 10 for a reclining seat according to the present invention, an armrest body 12 is rotated via an armrest hinge 16 with respect to a seatback 14 which can be tilted in the front-rear direction. It is arranged as possible. Then, the armrest main body 12 is moved to a predetermined storage position of the seatback 14 under the rotation of the armrest hinge 16 in the flipping direction around the armrest hinge 16,
For example, the retractable armrest structure 10 is configured to be able to be stored in the storage recess 18 (see FIG. 2).

As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the reclining seat 20, the seat back 14 is, for example, a reclining base fixed to the floor of an automobile or the like.
It is supported so as to be able to tilt in the front-rear direction via a hinge shaft 24 of 22, that is, a fixed reclining hinge.
And this reclining hinge (hinge shaft)
The seat back 14 can be arbitrarily adjusted and set under the forward and backward tilting centered on the seat 24, and the seat back can be adjusted to the front space created by the flip up of the seat cushion 26. It can be moved forward (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

The basic structure of this type of reclining seat 20 is known, and the structure itself is not the purpose of the present invention.

The armrest hinge 16 is formed as an extended hinge shaft protruding to the side with one end fixed to the armrest body 12, and the extended end of the hinge shaft is connected to a bracket on the seatback 14 side. By pivotally supporting at 27, the armrest body is rotatably arranged and supported on the seat back. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, the link plate 28 is rotatably disposed around the armrest hinge under the pivotal support of the base end by the armrest hinge 16, and the reclining hinge is provided. Support arm 30 with a different fulcrum from 24
Is rotatably pivotally connected to the free end of the link plate.

For example, a bracket 32 protrudes from a reclining hinge 24 serving as a seat-side fixing member, and one end of a support arm 30 is pivotally attached to this bracket.

In the embodiment of the present invention,
The pivot hole of the bracket 32 is formed as, for example, an elongated guide hole 33 extending in the direction of the reclining hinge 24,
By pivotally connecting one end of the support arm 30 to the guide hole, the pivot point of the support arm can be slid in the reclining hinge direction.

In this configuration, the link arm 28 rotates according to the angle of the support arm 30, and is held at that angle. Since the support arm 30 has a fulcrum different from that of the reclining hinge 24, the support arm 30 has its own rotation interlocked with the tilt of the seat back 14, that is, the relative rotation of the link plate 28 following the tilt of the seat back. However, this configuration is ensured.

Further, in the present invention, the lock pin 34
Is protruded from a free end of the link plate 28, and a lock arm 36 engageable with the lock pin is rotatable integrally with the armrest body 12 while being fixed to the armrest hinge 16. It is provided in.

In this configuration, the rotation of the armrest main body 12 with respect to the seat back 14 is regulated by the engagement of the lock arm 36 with the lock pin 34 shown in FIG. It is defined as the use position.

The use position of the armrest body 12 is set and defined as a position where the upper surface 12a serving as a support surface is substantially horizontal.

As described above, the retractable armrest structure 10 of the present invention moves the armrest body 12 to its use position under the engagement of the lock arm 36 with the lock pin 34 protruding from the link plate 28. Since the setting and holding are performed, the supporting angle of the armrest main body 12 with respect to the seat back 14 corresponds to and depends on the supporting angle of the link plate by the supporting arm 30.

That is, even if the seat back 14 is tilted backward from the assumed initial position shown in FIG. 1, the link plate 28 is relatively moved following the tilt of the seat back. As shown, the armrest body 12
Is maintained substantially horizontal regardless of the backward inclination of the seat back under the rotation of the link plate with respect to the seat back.

As described above, according to the retractable armrest structure 10 of the present invention, the armrest body 12 at the use position is used.
However, since the seat back 14 is maintained substantially horizontal irrespective of the tilt angle, the occupant's feeling of use, comfort, and the like can be reliably improved.

In the present invention, the link plate 28 pivotally attached to the armrest hinge 16 is supported by the support arm 30, and a lock arm 36 engageable with a lock pin of the link plate is attached to the armrest hinge. Since it is sufficient to fix them, not only the configuration is simplified, but also the size of the device can be sufficiently reduced. In other words, according to the present invention, the mechanism can be sufficiently reduced in size, so that the seat back 14 can easily be made thinner without being covered by a cover member or the like. Diversification becomes possible.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the retractable armrest structure 10 of the present invention, the armrest body 12 is also provided.
Can be stored in the storage recess 18 of the seat back under the upward movement of the armrest hinge 16. In the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 2, the lock pin 34 and the lock arm 36 are in a sufficiently separated position. Does not occur, whereby the seat back can be moved forward as shown in FIG.

In the embodiment of the present invention, one end of the support arm 30 is pivotally attached to the elongated hole-shaped guide hole 33 of the bracket. Due to the sliding of one end of the support arm 30 in the guide hole, the displacement of the movement locus at that time is absorbed and guaranteed. That is, even if the displacement of the movement trajectory becomes large, the displacement is absorbed by providing the guide hole 33. Therefore, when the support arm 30 is lengthened, the guide hole can be used particularly effectively. .

As described above, if one end of the support arm 30 is pivotally connected to the elongated guide hole 33 of the bracket, the length of the support arm can be set in a wide range, so that the layout can be diversified. Therefore, a retractable armrest with excellent versatility can be provided without complicating the configuration.

Here, in the embodiment of the present invention, the retractable armrest in which the storage recess 18 of the seat back is in the storage position of the armrest body 12 is exemplified.
The present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to, for example, a retractable armrest having a configuration in which the side position of the seat back 14 is a storage position of the armrest body.

In this embodiment, a reclining hinge bracket 32 is embodied as a seat-side fixing member to which one end of the support arm 30 is pivotally mounted.
It is sufficient to pivotally connect one end of the support arm so as to be rotatable about a point different from the reclining hinge, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a fixing bracket directly fixed to the floor or the like may be used. One end of the support arm may be pivotally utilized.

Although the reclining seat retractable armrest structure of the present invention is suitable for a retractable armrest mounted on a seat of an automobile or the like, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to seats of various vehicles such as high-speed trains, passenger ships, and passenger aircraft, and long-distance passenger buses, and various seats of homes and movie theaters.

The embodiments described above are intended to explain the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way, and all modifications and alterations within the technical scope of the present invention are also included in this embodiment. It goes without saying that it is included in the invention.

[0030]

As described above, according to the retractable armrest structure of the reclining seat according to the present invention, the armrest body at the use position is maintained substantially horizontal irrespective of the tilt angle of the seatback. The use feeling and comfort of the tire can be reliably improved.

The link plate pivotally attached to the armrest hinge is supported by the support arm, and a lock arm engageable with the lock pin of the link plate only needs to be fixed to the armrest hinge. Not only the size reduction but also the size reduction can be sufficiently achieved. In other words, in this configuration, the mechanism can be sufficiently reduced in size, so that the seat back can be easily made thin without being covered by a cover member or the like. Is fully possible.

In the retracted state of the armrest body,
Since the lock pin and the lock arm are at the sufficiently separated positions, it is possible to secure the forward movement of the seat back in this stored state.

If one end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the elongated guide hole, the displacement of the movement trajectory accompanying the forward tilt of the seat back is absorbed and guaranteed under the slide of one end in the guide hole. Therefore, the length of the support arm can be set in a wide range. Therefore, the layout can be diversified, and a retractable armrest having excellent versatility can be provided without complicating the configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a retractable armrest structure of a reclining seat according to the present invention in a position where an armrest body is used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a retractable armrest structure of a reclining seat in a storage position of an armrest body.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a retractable armrest structure for a reclining seat in a state in which a seatback is tilted rearward at a storage position of an armrest body.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the retractable armrest structure of the reclining seat according to the present invention when the seatback is moved forward.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Retractable armrest structure for reclining seat 12 Armrest body 14 Seatback 16 Armrest hinge 28 Link plate 30 Support arm 33 Guide hole 34 Lock pin 36 Lock arm

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Tanaka 5-33-8 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (72) Inventor Kenji Kanda 3-2-112 Matsubaracho, Akishima-shi, Tokyo Stock Company Tachi-S F term (reference) 3B087 BD03 DC02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reclining seat in which an armrest main body provided on a seat back that can be tilted in the front-rear direction can be stored in a predetermined storage position from a use position by being flipped up around an armrest hinge. In the retractable armrest structure, the armrest hinge is a hinge shaft fixed at one end to the armrest main body, and the other end of the support arm having a different fulcrum from the reclining hinge is connected to a link plate rotating around the armrest hinge. By pivotally connecting to the free end, the relative rotation of the link plate following the tilt of the seat back is measured, and a lock arm fixed to the armrest hinge is projected from the free end of the link plate. Armrest in use position set by engaging lock pin The body can be set and maintained in a substantially horizontal state under the rotation of the link plate regardless of the tilt angle of the seat back, and the engagement between the lock pin and the lock arm accompanying the storage of the armrest body. The retractable armrest structure of the reclining seat, wherein the armrest body can be moved forward with the seatback under release. 2. A reclining seat in which an armrest main body provided on a seat back which can be tilted in the front-rear direction can be stored in a predetermined storage position from a use position by being flipped up around an armrest hinge. The armrest hinge is a hinge shaft having one end fixed to the armrest body, and one end of the support arm is formed in the seat-side fixing member at a position shifted from the reclining hinge. The other end of this support arm is pivotally connected to the hole, and the other end of the support arm is pivotally connected to the free end of the link plate that pivots around the armrest hinge. Link play with lock arm fixed to armrest hinge by measuring relative rotation The armrest main body at the use position set by engaging with the lock pin protruding from the free end of the armrest is substantially horizontal regardless of the tilt angle of the seat back under the rotation of the link plate. In accordance with the lock pin, the disengagement between the lock arms, and the tilt of the seat back following the storage of the armrest main body, the support arm terminal slides on the seat-side fixing member. The retractable armrest structure of the reclining seat, characterized in that the armrest body can be moved forward with the seatback.