JPH11206509A - Armrest structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with a stopper mechanism at a shaft fulcrum of an armrest by lifting a lift part up to a position where it comes into contact with the armrest in substantially horizontal state from below due to rotation force generated when the armrest is turned from a storage part to a front side thereof. SOLUTION: When an armrest 8 is turned to a front side thereof for use, turning force of the arm rest 8 is transmitted to a lower end part 14 of a rotary lever 13 through a flexible wire 22 to pull the lower end part 14 rearward. Then, a pin 19 formed in an upper end part 15 of the rotary lever 13 lifts a bracket 16 upward while moving to a front side in a long hole 17 of the bracket 16 so that a front end part of a lift part is lifted centered on a rear fulcrum 11a. When the pin 10 comes to a front end of the long hole 17, the pin 19 enters a recessed section 18 in the long hole 17 to regulate the travel in the opposite direction so that the lift part 9 is locked while it is lifted and the armrest 8 is supported from below.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vehicle armrest structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an armrest rotatable around a lower fulcrum is provided in a storage portion formed in a seat back of a vehicle, and the armrest is rotated to the front side only when used to provide a seat cushion. There is known an armrest structure that supports the armrest at a position higher than the upper surface of the armrest (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-48446 as a similar technique).

[0003]

However, according to such a conventional technique, the arm fulcrum is
Since it is necessary to provide a stopper mechanism for maintaining the horizontal state of the armrest, the seating feeling of the occupant is adversely affected by the stopper mechanism. In other words, this type of stopper mechanism has a solid structure that combines various plates and links in order to obtain the necessary support rigidity in a horizontal state, so when the occupant presses his back against the seat back. Has a foreign-body sensation, which worsens the occupant's seating sensation.

[0004] As another type, there is a type in which an armrest rotated forward is placed directly on the upper surface of a seat cushion without being supported at a position higher than the upper surface of the seat cushion. In this type, it is not necessary to provide a stopper mechanism at the pivot point of the armrest, but instead,
To obtain the required arm support height, the thickness of the armrest needs to be increased. Therefore, the frictional force with the side wall in the storage part of the seat back increases, which causes another problem that it is difficult to put the seat back in and out of the storage part.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional technique, and has a structure in which the armrest is supported in a substantially horizontal state at a position higher than the upper surface of the seat cushion, but is provided at a pivot point of the armrest. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle armrest structure that does not require a stopper mechanism.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An armrest which is stored in a storage portion formed in the seatback when not in use, and which is pivoted forward around a lower pivot point when used to be substantially horizontal at a position higher than the upper surface of the seat cushion general portion; and a seat. A lift portion, which is a portion corresponding to a lower side of the armrest in the cushion, and is provided below the lift portion, the lift portion being supported so that a front end thereof is lifted upward in a state separated from a general portion of the seat cushion; A lift means for lifting the lift portion to a position where the lift section comes into contact with the armrest in a substantially horizontal state from below, and a rotation force of the armrest is transmitted from the armrest to the lift means by a rotation force when the armrest is rotated forward from the storage section. Rotating power transmission means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is turned to the front side to be in a substantially horizontal state, the turning power of the armrest is transmitted to the lift means via the turning power transmission means. The lift section lifts the lift portion upward to support the substantially horizontal armrest from below, and the horizontal state of the armrest is maintained. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a stopper mechanism for maintaining a substantially horizontal state at the pivot point of the armrest, and the occupant's feeling of sitting is not hindered.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the lift means includes a bracket having an elongated hole in the front-rear direction attached to the lower surface near the front end of the lift portion, and pivots at a fulcrum between the upper end and the lower end. A pivoting lever that is freely supported and has a pin at the upper end movably engaged in the long hole of the bracket, and the lower end of the pivoting lever is pulled rearward by the turning power of the armrest. When the bracket is moved, the pin at the upper end lifts the bracket while moving in the elongated hole.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lower end portion of the rotating lever is pulled backward by the rotating power transmitting means,
Since the pivot lever rotates and the pin at the upper end moves upward in the elongated hole, the bracket is lifted upward, so that the lift portion is reliably lifted upward.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a notch is formed at the upper edge of the long hole of the bracket so that the pin at the upper end of the pivoting lever lifted upward is engaged, and the pin is engaged with the notch. The lifting state of the lift is locked.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the pin at the upper end of the rotating lever which is lifted upward is engaged with the notch formed at the upper edge of the long hole of the bracket, so that the lift portion is lifted. Is locked, and the horizontal state of the armrest is more reliably maintained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the turning power transmitting means is a flexible wire which extends from the lower surface of the armrest to the rear end of the seat cushion and reaches the lift means.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the rotating power transmission means is a flexible wire, it can be routed from the armrest to the lift means below the lift without changing the shape of the seat.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 1 denotes a rear seat capable of being seated by three people, a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3.
Consists of The seat back 3 includes a seat back panel 5 having a rear surface rising from the floor panel 4.
The storage portion 6 is recessed at the center position. An armrest 8 is provided inside the storage portion 6 so as to be rotatable frontward about a shaft fulcrum S of the lower portion 7. The pivot point S of the armrest 8 is located at a position higher than the upper surface of the seat cushion 2, and the armrest 8 can be in a horizontal state at a position higher than the upper surface of a general portion of the seat cushion 2.

A lift portion 9 separated from a general portion of the seat cushion 2 is provided at a lower portion of the armrest 8 at a center position of the seat cushion 2. A leg 10 whose lower end is also used as a pulley is provided on the lower surface of the rear end of the lift unit 9, and the lower end of the leg 10 is provided on the rear panel on the floor panel 4. 11 is attached to the upper end so as to be rotatable about a fulcrum 11a. Therefore, the lift portion 9 can lift the front end upward about the rear fulcrum 11a. The lift portion 9 is mounted on a frame (not shown) projecting inward from the general portion of the seat cushion 2 located on the left and right sides, and never goes down from a state where the upper surfaces are the same surface. It has become.

On the other hand, a fulcrum 12a set at an intermediate position of the rotation lever 13 is rotatably supported on the upper end of the support piece 12 erected on the front side. This rotating lever 1
3, the length from the fulcrum 12a to the lower end portion 14 is set shorter than the length from the fulcrum 12a to the upper end portion 15. The rotating lever 13 normally has a lower end portion 14.
Is directed forward and the upper end 15 is directed backward, and can be stored in the space below the lift unit 9.

A bracket 16 is provided on the lower surface near the front end of the lift section 9, and the bracket 16 has an elongated hole 17 extending in the front-rear direction. This long hole 17
A notch 18 is formed in a front end portion of the upper edge of the upper edge. A pin 19 formed on the upper end 15 of the rotating lever 13 is movably engaged in the notch 18.
The “lift means” of the present embodiment is formed by the bracket 16 and the rotating lever 13.

Further, a mounting piece 20 is provided slightly behind the bracket 16, and between the lower end of the mounting piece 20 and a portion near the upper end 15 of the turning lever 13, the turning lever 13 is provided. 21 for urging the upper end 15 of the rear
Is provided.

A flexible wire 2 as a "rotating power transmission means" is provided at a horizontal rearward point of the pivot point S on the surface of the lower portion 7 of the armrest 8 stored in the storage portion 6.
2 are connected at one end. This flexible wire 2
The other end of 2 is guided to the lower side of the lift unit 9 via a pulley 22 provided at the rear end of the seat cushion 2 and the lower end of the leg 10, and is connected to the lower end 14 of the rotating lever 13. Are linked.

Next, the operation will be described. When the armrest 8 is stored in the storage portion 6 of the seat back 3, the upper surface of the lift portion 9 and the upper surface of the general portion of the seat cushion 2 are on the same surface, so that the occupant sits on the lift portion 9. be able to. Therefore, the rear seat 1 can be seated by three people. At this time, at the pivot S of the armrest 8,
Since the conventional stopper mechanism is not provided, the occupant of the center does not feel a foreign body feeling on the back, and a good sitting feeling can be obtained.

When two occupants are seated on the left and right without using the occupant in the center, and the center armrest 8 is used by rotating the armrest 8 to the front side, the turning power of the armrest 8 is applied to the flexible wire 22. Via the rotating lever 1
3 is transmitted to the lower end portion 14, so that the lower end portion 14 is pulled backward. Then, the pin 19 formed at the upper end portion 15 of the rotating lever 13 moves the bracket 16 upward while moving forward in the long hole 17 of the bracket 16, so that the front end of the lift portion 9 is moved rearward. Is lifted around the fulcrum 11a. When the pin 19 reaches the front end of the long hole 17, the pin 19 enters the notch 18 of the long hole 17, and the movement of the pin 19 in the reverse direction is restricted.
Is locked in the raised state.

Since the lift portion 9 lifted upward supports the armrest 8 in a horizontal state from below, the horizontal state of the armrest 8 is maintained and the arm of the occupant placed on the armrest 8 is securely supported. be able to.

In order to return the lift portion 9 to its original state, the pin 19 of the rotating lever 13 is disengaged from the notch 18 by holding the front end of the lift portion 9 by hand and lifting it slightly upward.
Since the pin 19 moves to the rear end side of the long hole 17 by the urging force of the spring 21, the lift portion 9 can be lowered. When the lift portion 9 is lowered, the armrest 8 connected via the flexible wire 22 also moves to the seat back 3.
Is stored in the storage section 6.

In the above embodiment, the rotation lever 13
The pin 19 formed in the upper end portion 15 of the
8 to form a lock mechanism for restricting the lowering of the lift portion 9, but instead of the long hole 17.
Is formed slightly longer to the front side, and the rotating lever 13 is further rotated to the front side than the vertical state, so that the pin 19 of the upper end portion 15 abuts against the front end of the elongated hole 17, and the lift portion 9 is formed.
Lock mechanism for restricting the falling of the lock may be formed.

Further, in this embodiment, the rear seat 1 of an automobile is taken as an example, but the present invention is also applicable to a second seat of a wagon car or the like.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the armrest is turned to the front side to be in a substantially horizontal state, the turning force of the armrest is transmitted to the lift means via the turning power transmission means. Therefore, the lift portion is lifted upward by the lift means to support the substantially horizontal armrest from below, and the horizontal state of the armrest is maintained. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a stopper mechanism for maintaining a substantially horizontal state at the pivot point of the armrest, and the occupant's feeling of sitting is not hindered.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lower end of the rotating lever is pulled rearward by the rotating power transmitting means,
Since the pivot lever rotates and the pin at the upper end moves upward in the elongated hole, the bracket is lifted upward, so that the lift portion is reliably lifted upward.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the pin at the upper end of the pivoting lever lifted upward is engaged with the notch formed at the upper edge of the long hole of the bracket, so that the lift portion is lifted. Is locked, and the horizontal state of the armrest is more reliably maintained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the turning power transmitting means is a flexible wire, it can be routed from the armrest to the lifting means below the lifting part without changing the shape of the seat.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear seat showing a vehicle armrest structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rear seat showing a non-use state of the armrest.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rear seat showing a use state of the armrest.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Seat Cushion 3 Seat Back 6 Storage 7 Lower 8 Armrest 9 Lift 13 Rotating Lever (Lift) 16 Bracket (Lift) 18 Notch 19 Pin 22 Flexible Wire (Rotating Power Transmission) S Shaft Support

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A seat cushion which is stored in a storage portion formed in a seat back when not in use and is rotated forward about a lower pivot point when used to be in a substantially horizontal state at a position higher than an upper surface of a seat cushion general portion. An armrest, a portion corresponding to a lower side of the armrest in the seat cushion, the lift portion being supported so that a front end thereof is lifted upward in a state separated from a general portion of the seat cushion; Lift means provided below the armrest to lift the lift section to a position where the lift section comes into contact with the substantially horizontal armrest from below by a rotating force when the armrest is rotated forward from the storage section, and the armrest is moved from the armrest to the lift means. And a turning power transmitting means for transmitting the turning force of the vehicle. 2. A vehicle armrest structure according to claim 1, wherein the lifting means is mounted on a lower surface near a front end of the lifting portion and has a long hole in the front-rear direction, and an upper end and a lower end. And a pivot lever rotatably supported at a fulcrum between the pivot levers and having a pin at the upper end movably engaged in the elongated hole of the bracket, and the pivot lever is rotated by the turning force of the armrest. An armrest structure for a vehicle, wherein a pin at an upper end portion lifts a bracket while moving in a long hole when a lower end portion of the vehicle is pulled rearward. 3. An armrest structure for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a notch is formed at an upper edge of the long hole of the bracket so that a pin at an upper end of the rotating lever lifted upward is engaged with the notch. An armrest structure for a vehicle, wherein a lifted state of a lift portion is locked when a pin is engaged. 4. The vehicular armrest structure according to claim 1, wherein the turning power transmission means wraps around the rear end of the seat cushion from a lower surface of the armrest and transmits to the lift means. An armrest structure for a vehicle, wherein the armrest structure is a flexible wire.