JP5118935B2 - Retractable armrest device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a retractable armrest device, and more particularly to a retractable armrest device that movably supports an armrest provided on a seat of an automobile, a railway vehicle, an airplane or the like so as to be flipped up and stored.

  As a retractable armrest device (conventional example 1) that movably supports an armrest provided on a seat such as a vehicle so that it can be flipped up and stored, the armrest is lifted upward from a use position extending in a substantially horizontal direction by a return spring. Spring biased toward the position, the armrest is held in the use position by the locking means against the spring force, and the armrest is automatically retracted to the storage position by the spring force by releasing the locking means (For example, Patent Document 1).

  As another retractable armrest device (conventional example 2), a turnover spring (reversing spring) extends the armrest in a substantially horizontal direction, with the armrest being flipped upward from the neutral rotation position. The armrest is positioned at either the storage position or the use position by simply urging the armrest to the use position and manually moving the armrest to the neutral rotation position. There is one that incorporates a buffer means that slows down sudden movement (for example, Patent Document 2).

Further, as Conventional Example 3, in the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position between the use position and the storage position of the armrest and the use position, after the armrest is once positioned at the use position, the armrest is The armrest is prohibited from rotating in the rotation direction from the intermediate rotation position to the use position until it is returned to the storage position side beyond the intermediate rotation position, and from the use position of the armrest to the intermediate position. It has a one-way lock means that freely allows rotation in the rotation direction to the rotation position, so that the armrest can be set to any rotation posture in the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position and the use position There is an armrest device (for example, Patent Document 3).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-114443 No. 7-36515 JP 2004-147791 A

  In the retractable armrest device as in Conventional Example 1, the spring load of the return spring increases due to the stroke between the use position of the armrest and the storage position, and accordingly, the operation load for moving the armrest to the use position becomes heavy. It is necessary to manually operate the locking means for locking the to the use position, and the operability is poor.

  In the retractable armrest device as in the conventional example 2, the armrest can take only two positions of the use position and the storage position, and the armrest cannot be set in an arbitrary rotation posture according to the user's preference.

  In the retractable armrest device as in Conventional Example 3, the armrest can be set in an arbitrary rotation posture according to the user's preference, but the armrest after use is not manually stored (stored) until the end. It must not be troublesome.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that it eliminates the hassle of manually storing the armrest to the end after use, increases the operating load to move the armrest to the use position, or moves the armrest to the use position. There is no need for manual operation of the locking means for locking, and it is also possible to set the armrest in an arbitrary rotation posture according to the user's preference.

  The retractable armrest device according to the present invention is configured such that the armrest provided on the side portion of the seat is swung up around one central axis line between the retracted position and the use position extending in a substantially horizontal direction. A retractable armrest device that is rotatably supported, a spring means for urging the armrest toward the storage position, and an intermediate rotation position between the use position and the storage position. In the state of being in the rotation position on the use position side, the spring means and the armrest are separated and the spring force of the spring means is not applied to the armrest, and the armrest is located at the storage position from the intermediate rotation position. In the state of being in the pivot position on the side, the switching means for connecting the spring means and the armrest and causing the spring force of the spring means to act on the armrest With the door.

  The retractable armrest device according to the present invention preferably has a seat side frame fixed to the side portion of the seat and an armrest side frame fixed to the armrest, and the switching means is a central axis of the armrest. A rotating body that can rotate around, and a lock means, wherein the spring means is provided between the seat-side frame and the rotating body, and the rotating body is located between the storage position of the armrest and the intermediate rotation. In the rotation section between the armrest side frame and the armrest side frame, the armrest side frame is connected in a rotational force transmission relationship, and in the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position of the armrest and the use position, the armrest side frame and Is disconnected, and the locking means moves the rotating body to a position where the rotating body is separated from the armrest side frame. Serial releasably held against the seat side frame in a form accumulated spring force of the spring means.

  The retractable armrest device according to the present invention is preferably further arranged in a rotation section between the intermediate rotation position and the use position of the armrest after the armrest is positioned at the use position from the storage position. Until the armrest is returned to the storage position side beyond the intermediate rotation position, the rotation of the armrest from the intermediate rotation position to the use position is prohibited and the use of the armrest is prohibited. One-way lock means for freely allowing rotation in the rotation direction from the position to the intermediate rotation position.

  Further, the retractable armrest device according to the present invention has an armrest provided on the side portion of the seat between a retracted position where the armrest is flipped upward around one central axis and a use position extending in a substantially horizontal direction. A retractable armrest device that is pivotally supported, and a spring means for urging the armrest toward the use position; and an intermediate rotation between the use position and the storage position. The spring means and the armrest are separated and the spring force of the spring means does not act on the armrest when the armrest is in the use position from the intermediate rotation position. In the state of the rotation position on the position side, the spring means and the armrest are connected to cause the spring force of the spring means to act on the armrest. And a replacement means.

  According to the retractable armrest device of the present invention, when the armrest is in the rotation position on the use position side with respect to the intermediate rotation position between the use position and the storage position by the action of the switching means, the spring means and the above-mentioned In a state where the armrest is disconnected, the spring force of the spring means does not act on the armrest, and the armrest is in the rotation position closer to the storage position than the intermediate rotation position, the spring means and the armrest are connected, and the spring means Therefore, when retracting the armrest, the armrest is simply returned to a position slightly beyond the intermediate rotation position, and thereafter, the armrest is returned to the storage position by the spring force of the spring means. In this case, the spring load of the spring means when the armrest is extended from the storage position to the use position acts only between the storage position of the armrest and the intermediate rotation position. It is performed with a light operating force without a spring load.

  This eliminates the hassle of manually storing the armrest to the end after use, increasing the operating load to move the armrest to the use position, and locking the armrest to the use position. There is no need for troublesome manual operation of the locking means.

  Furthermore, a one-way lock means can be incorporated, and the armrest can be set in any rotation posture according to the user's preference in the section between the use position and the intermediate rotation position from the intermediate rotation position. Become.

  One embodiment of a retractable armrest device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows an automobile seat (seat) equipped with the retractable armrest device of the present embodiment. The seat includes a seat cushion portion (seat portion) 11 and a seat back portion (backrest portion) 12. The armrest 21 includes the retractable armrest device 20 of the present embodiment at the center of rotation indicated by the reference symbol X on the side of the seat back portion 12, and the upper side around the center of rotation X. It is possible to turn between a storage position A along the side portion of the seat back portion 12 and a use position B extending in a substantially horizontal direction. Reference symbol C indicates an intermediate rotation position between the storage position A and the use position B of the armrest 21. The intermediate rotation position C does not have to be exactly in the middle between the storage position A and the use position B. The storage position A and the use position such as a position deviated toward the storage position A side or the use position B side. It may be an arbitrary position between B.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 10, the retractable armrest device 20 includes a seat side frame 22 fixed to the side portion of the seat back portion 12 and an armrest side frame 23 fixed to the armrest 21. .

The seat side frame 22 has a stepped portion 24, and a spindle mounting screw hole 25 is formed in the stepped portion 24. On the stepped portion 24, a double cylindrical core member 26 is mounted on the step shaft 24 concentrically with the spindle mounting screw hole 25. A threaded portion 27 a of the support shaft 27 that forms the rotation center axis Xa of the armrest 21 is screw-engaged with the support shaft mounting screw hole 25. Spindle 27 is fixed at one end by the threaded engagement in the seat side frame 22, through the inner tube portion 25a of the core member 26 in the axial direction and protrudes upwardly as viewed in FIG.

On the outer periphery of the outer cylindrical portion 26b of the core member 26, a drum-like rotating body 51, which forms the core of a switching mechanism (means) 50 described later, is fitted so as to be rotatable around the rotation center axis Xa. Between the inner cylinder part 26a and the outer cylinder part 26b of the core member 26 , a return torsion coil spring 29, which is a spring means for urging the armrest 21 toward the storage position A, is incorporated. The return torsion coil spring 29 has one end 29 a locked to the core member 26 , the other end 29 b locked to the rotating body 51, and the rotating body 51 with respect to the seat side frame 22 as viewed in FIGS. 6 to 11. The spring is biased counterclockwise (armrest retracting direction).

  A mounting substrate 30 is fixedly attached to the armrest side frame 23 by welding or the like. A shaft hole 31 is passed through the mounting substrate 30. The support shaft 27 fits through the shaft hole 31 and supports the armrest side frame 23 via the mounting substrate 30 so as to be rotatable around the rotation center axis Xa.

  A cam member 41 of a one-way lock mechanism (means) 40 and a fixed drum member 42 are integrally connected to the support shaft 27. That is, the cam member 41 and the fixed drum member 42 are fixed to the support shaft 27 and are non-rotating / fixing members on the seat side frame 22 side.

  The one-way lock mechanism 40 will be described. The one-way lock mechanism 40 includes a cam member 41 and a fixed drum member 42 on the seat side frame 22 side, a lock operation release block 43 provided on the mounting substrate 30 so as to be able to rotate and displace by a pivot 43a, and a torsion coil spring for locking. 44.

The cam member 41 is a plate cam having a large-diameter unlocking cam portion 41a, a small-diameter locking operation cam portion 41b, and a protruding claw-shaped lock return cam-shaped portion 41c. The lock operation release block 43 is integrally provided with a cam follower pin 45 slidably contacting the cam surface (outer peripheral surface) of the cam member 41. The lock operation release block 43 is urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction in which the cam follower pin 45 is pressed against the cam surface of the cam member 41 (counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 6 to 11).

  In the present embodiment, the arm rest rotation angle position where the cam follower pin 45 is located at the boundary between the unlocking cam portion 41a and the locking operation cam portion 41b of the cam member 41 is the intermediate rotation position C.

  The locking torsion coil spring 44 surrounds the outer periphery of the fixed drum member 42, one end 44 a is locked to the mounting substrate 30, and the other end is in contact with and engaged with the lock operation release block 43. The torsion coil spring 44 for locking is an armrest rotation angle range in which the cam follower pin 45 abuts on the lock operation cam portion 41b to the lock return cam shape portion 41c of the cam member 41, that is, the intermediate rotation position C and the use position of the armrest 21. In the rotation section with B, when the armrest 21 is rotated from the intermediate rotation position C to the use position B, the diameter of the armrest 21 is reduced and wound around the outer periphery of the fixed drum member 42 and tightened. The rotation to the use position B in the rotation direction is prohibited (locked). On the other hand, the torsion coil spring 44 for locking is loosened and enlarged from the outer periphery of the fixed drum member 42 when the armrest 21 is rotated from the use position B to the intermediate rotation position C in the same section. Rotation in the rotation direction from the use position B to the intermediate rotation position C is allowed freely.

  In the armrest rotation angle range in which the cam follower pin 45 contacts the unlocking cam portion 41a to the lock operation cam portion 41b of the cam member 41, that is, in the rotation section between the storage position of the armrest 21 and the A intermediate rotation position C. The torsion coil spring 44 for locking loosens and expands due to the rotational displacement of the locking operation release block 43 and is always separated from the outer periphery of the fixed drum member 42.

  Under the above-described operation, the one-way lock mechanism 40 is configured so that after the armrest 21 is positioned from the storage position A to the use position B in the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position C and the use position B of the armrest 21. The cam follower pin 45 comes into contact with the lock return cam shape portion 41c, and then the use position B from the intermediate rotation position C of the armrest 21 until the armrest 21 is returned to the storage position A side beyond the intermediate rotation position B. The rotation of the armrest 21 in the rotation direction is prohibited, and the rotation of the armrest 21 from the use position B to the intermediate rotation position C is freely allowed.

  When the armrest 21 is rotated from the storage position A to the use position B, the locking torsion coil spring 44 is always separated from the outer periphery of the fixed drum member 42 until the cam follower pin 45 contacts the lock return cam shape portion 41c. Therefore, the rotation of the armrest 21 from the storage position A to the use position B is not hindered.

  As a result, the armrest 21 can be set in an arbitrary rotation angle posture according to the user's preference in the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position C and the use position B.

  Next, the switching mechanism 50 will be described. The switching mechanism 50 is attached and locked to the above-described cylindrical rotating body 51, the driven pin 52 formed integrally with the rotating body 51, the lock pin 53 protruding from the stepped portion 24, and the rotating body 51. It has a lock means by the clip member 54 engaged with the pin 53 so that engagement / disengagement is possible.

  The lock operation release block 43 is integrally provided with a connecting pin 55 that passes through the long hole 32 formed in the armrest side frame 23 and protrudes to the inside of the rotating body 51. The connecting pin 55 moves in the same manner as the cam follower pin 45, and engages with the driven pin 52 in the rotation section between the storage position A and the intermediate rotation position C of the armrest 21, and the armrest side frame 23. In the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position C and the use position B of the armrest 21, and the rotation body 51 and the armrest are separated from the engagement with the driven pin 52. The connection with the side frame 23 is disconnected.

Thus, the rotating body 51 is connected to the armrest-side frame 23 in a rotational force transmission relationship in the rotation section between the storage position A and the intermediate rotation position C of the armrest 21 , and the intermediate rotation position C of the armrest 21. And the use position B, the connection with the armrest side frame 23 is disconnected.

  The clip member 54 engages with the lock pin 53 when the armrest 21 is positioned at the intermediate rotational position C from the storage position A, that is, at the separation start position of the rotating body 51 with respect to the armrest side frame 23, thereby When the armrest 21 is held at the intermediate rotation position C from the use position B, it is disengaged from the engagement with the lock pin 53. Thus, the rotating body 51 is held detachably with respect to the seat side frame 22 in a form in which the spring force of the return torsion coil spring 29 is accumulated at the separation start position with respect to the armrest side frame 23.

  The main body side of the viscous damping rotary damper 33 is attached to the tip portion of the support shaft 27. The rotor side of the rotary damper 33 is connected to the armrest side frame 23 by a column 34 or the like. The rotary damper 33 provides resistance to the rotation of the armrest 21 from the use position B to the storage position A, and prevents the rotation from being performed abruptly.

  Next, the operation of the retractable armrest device having the above-described configuration will be described.

  When the armrest 21 is moved slightly toward the use position B from the state of the storage position A shown in FIG. 6 (rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6), as shown in FIG. The connecting pin 55 contacts the driven pin 52.

  Further, when the armrest 21 is moved to the use position B side, the connecting pin 55 pushes the driven pin 52, and the rotating body 51 rotates in the same direction as the rotation of the armrest 21 as the armrest 21 rotates. Dynamic displacement. Due to this rotational displacement, the return torsion coil spring 29 is wound and a return spring force is generated.

  When the armrest 21 is rotated until it is positioned at the intermediate rotation position C, as shown in FIG. 8, the clip member 54 engages with the lock pin 53, and the rotating body 51 further rotates in the same direction. This is prevented and the rotating body 51 is held in the rotational position. When the armrest 21 is moved from the intermediate rotation position C to the use position B side, the link pin 55 is disengaged from the engagement with the driven pin 52 due to the rotation displacement of the lock operation release block 43 by the cam member 41, and the armrest side frame. In the state where the rotating body 51 is cut off, the 23 side is left to leave the rotating body 51 and continuously rotates to the use position B side.

  FIG. 9 shows a state where the armrest 21 is moved to the use position B. In this state, the cam follower pin 45 engages with the lock return cam shape portion 41c of the cam member 41, and thereafter, the one-way lock mechanism 40 operates until the armrest 21 is moved to the intermediate rotation position C. It can be set to an arbitrary rotation posture according to the user's preference.

  When the armrest 21 is moved to the intermediate rotation position C, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 10, the engagement relationship between the connecting pin 55 and the driven pin 52 is restored, and the armrest 21 exceeds the intermediate rotation position C. When the clip member 54 is moved to the storage position A side even a little, the clip member 54 is disengaged from the engagement with the lock pin 53, and the force applied by the return torsion coil spring 29 is linked to the driven pin 52 from the driven pin 52, The armrest 21 returns to the original storage position A as shown in FIG. 11 by this spring force.

  Thereby, the manual operation which returns the armrest 21 to the original storage position A completely becomes unnecessary. The spring load of the return torsion coil spring 29 when the armrest 21 is extended from the storage position A to the use position B acts only between the storage position A of the armrest 21 and the intermediate rotation position C. Further, the feeding operation to the use position B is performed with a light operating force without accompanying a spring load.

  As a result, the trouble that the armrest 21 must be manually stored to the end after use is eliminated, the operation load to move the armrest 21 to the use position B becomes heavy, and the armrest 21 is related to the use position. It is also freed from requiring manual operation of the troublesome locking means for stopping.

  In the retractable armrest device according to the present invention, contrary to the above-described embodiment, the armrest 21 is urged toward the use position B by the spring means, and the armrest 21 is closer to the retracted position A side than the intermediate rotation position C. In the state of the rotation position, the switching means separates the spring means and the armrest 21 so that the spring force of the spring means does not act on the armrest 21, and the armrest 21 is rotated from the intermediate rotation position C to the use position B side. In the state of being in the moving position, the spring means and the armrest 21 may be connected so that the spring force of the spring means acts on the armrest 21, and the armrest 21 is moved to the use position B by the spring force. .

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with a retractable armrest device according to the present invention. It is a side view which shows one embodiment of the retractable armrest apparatus by this invention. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the one-way lock mechanism part of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the switching mechanism part of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part in the armrest accommodation position state of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part when the armrest of the storage type armrest apparatus by this embodiment is moved to the use position side a little from the storage position. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part when moving the armrest of the storage type armrest apparatus by this embodiment from the storage position to the intermediate | middle rotation position. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part when moving the armrest of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment to a use position. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part when moving the armrest of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment from the use position to the intermediate | middle rotation position. (A), (b), (c) is a figure which shows the state of each part when the armrest of the retractable armrest apparatus by this embodiment is returned to the accommodation position.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Seat cushion part 12 Seat back part 20 Retractable armrest apparatus 21 Armrest 22 Seat side frame 23 Armrest side frame 24 Stepped part 25 Support shaft attaching screw hole 26 Core member 27 Support shaft 29 Returning torsion coil spring 30 Mounting substrate 31 Axis Hole 32 Long hole 33 Rotary damper 34 Post 40 One-way lock mechanism 41 Cam member 42 Fixed drum member 43 Lock operation release block 44 Torsion coil spring for locking 45 Cam follower pin 50 Switching means 51 Rotating body 52 Driven pin 53 Lock pin 54 Clip member 55 connecting pins

Claims (3)

A retractable armrest that rotatably supports an armrest provided on the side portion of the seat between a retracted position that is flipped upward and a use position that extends substantially horizontally around one central axis. A device,
A seat side frame fixed to a side portion of the seat;
An armrest side frame fixed to the armrest;
The armrest side frame is provided so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the armrest, and in a rotation section between the storage position of the armrest and an intermediate rotation position between the use position and the storage position. And a rotating body that is connected to the rotational force transmission relationship, and is disconnected from the armrest side frame in a rotation section between the intermediate rotation position and the use position of the armrest ,
Spring means provided between the seat-side frame and the rotating body and biasing the rotating body in the same direction as the direction in which the armrest moves toward the storage position ;
Lock means for releasably holding the rotating body with respect to the seat side frame in a form in which the spring force of the spring means is accumulated at a separation start position of the rotating body with respect to the armrest side frame ;
A retractable armrest device. In the rotation section between the intermediate rotation position and the use position of the armrest, after the armrest is positioned at the use position from the storage position, the storage after the armrest exceeds the intermediate rotation position Until the armrest is returned to the position side, the rotation of the armrest in the rotation direction from the intermediate rotation position to the use position is prohibited, and the rotation of the armrest in the rotation direction from the use position to the intermediate rotation position is prohibited. The retractable armrest device according to claim 1, further comprising a one-way lock means that allows movement freely.
A retractable armrest that rotatably supports an armrest provided on the side portion of the seat between a retracted position that is flipped upward and a use position that extends substantially horizontally around one central axis. A device,
A seat side frame fixed to a side portion of the seat;
An armrest side frame fixed to the armrest;
The armrest side frame is provided so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the armrest and in a rotation section between the use position of the armrest and an intermediate rotation position between the use position and the storage position. And a rotating body that is connected in a rotational force transmission relationship and is disconnected from the armrest side frame in a rotation section between the intermediate rotation position and the storage position of the armrest ,
Spring means provided between the seat-side frame and the rotating body, and biasing the rotating body in the same direction as the direction in which the armrest faces the use position ;
Lock means for releasably holding the rotating body with respect to the seat side frame in a form in which the spring force of the spring means is accumulated at a separation start position of the rotating body with respect to the armrest side frame ;
A retractable armrest device.

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