JP6858097B2 - Vehicle armrests - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to vehicle armrests.

Conventionally, an armrest for a vehicle provided with a heater is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Jikkenhei 4-7937 Gazette

However, in the conventional vehicle armrest, the heating wires of the heater are arranged at equal intervals. Therefore, the upper surface temperature of the armrest becomes a uniform temperature. Then, when the occupant places the forearm on the upper surface of the armrest, there is a problem that the occupant feels a temperature difference between the front side and the rear side of the armrest.

The present disclosure has focused on the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle armrest capable of reducing a temperature difference felt by an occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle armrests of the present disclosure include a cushion layer and an armrest heater which is arranged on the back surface side of the cushion layer and heats an upper surface area supporting the forearm of the seated occupant via the cushion layer. Be prepared. In this vehicle armrest, the armrest heater has a second region of the upper surface region when the region supporting the wrist side of the forearm is the first region and the region supporting the elbow side of the forearm is the second region. The calorific value is set smaller than the calorific value in the first region.

As described above, the armrest heater can reduce the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest by setting the heat generation amount in the second region to be smaller than the heat generation amount in the first region. it can.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the door trim of Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the door trim of Example 1. FIG. It is schematic cross-sectional view which shows the cross section of the armrest of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the armrest heater of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the armrest heater of the comparative example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the operation of the comparative example. It is explanatory drawing explaining the operation of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the armrest heater of Example 2. FIG.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment for realizing the vehicle armrest according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the first embodiment shown in the drawings.

First, the configuration will be described.
The vehicle armrests of Example 1 are applied, for example, to door trims attached to the front doors of automobiles. Hereinafter, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described separately by dividing it into a “door trim configuration”, a “detailed configuration of the armrest upper”, and a “detailed configuration of the armrest heater”.

[Door trim configuration]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the door trim of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the door trim of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the door trim will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door trim 1 is attached to the passenger compartment side (right side in FIG. 2) of the door body 4 including the door outer panel 2 and the door inner panel 3. A seat 60 on which an occupant sits is provided on the passenger compartment side of the door trim 1. The door trim 1 includes an armrest 10 and a door trim main body 20.

The armrest 10 projects from the door trim main body 20 toward the passenger compartment and is formed to have a predetermined length in the front-rear direction of the seat 60. The armrest 10 supports the forearm of the occupant seated in the seat 60. The armrest 10 includes an armrest upper 11, an armrest lower 42, and a switch operation unit 19.

The armrest upper 11 is arranged at a position where the seated occupant can easily place his forearm. The upper surface of the armrest upper 11 forms an upper surface region S on which the seated occupant rests his forearm. Of the upper surface region S, the region supporting the wrist side of the forearm is referred to as the first region S1, and the region supporting the elbow side of the forearm is referred to as the second region S2 (see FIG. 7).

The switch operation unit 19 is arranged on the front side of the seat 60 in the front-rear direction from the armrest upper 11 and includes a power window switch and the like.

The armrest lower 42 is arranged below the switch operation unit 19 and the armrest upper 11. The armrest lower 42 is formed integrally with the door trim main body 20.

[Detailed configuration of armrest upper]
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the armrest of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the armrest upper will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the armrest stopper 11 includes a skin 12, a first cushion layer 13 (cushion layer), an armrest heater 14, a second cushion layer 17, and a core material 18.

The core material 18 is made of an injection-molded synthetic resin, and is formed so as to have a substantially uniform wall thickness as a whole.

The second cushion layer 17 is arranged on the surface of the core material 18. For the second cushion layer 17, for example, a cushion material such as molded urethane is used.

The armrest heater 14 is arranged on the surface of the second cushion layer 17 at a position corresponding to the upper surface region S of the armrest upper 11. The armrest heater 14 is formed by weaving a nichrome wire as a heating wire 16 into a non-woven fabric 15.

For the first cushion layer 13 as the cushion layer, for example, a cushion material such as polyurethane is used. For the skin 12, for example, genuine leather or synthetic leather is used. The skin 12 and the first cushion layer 13 are laminated to cover the core material 18 with the armrest heater 14 and the second cushion layer 17 interposed therebetween.

[Detailed configuration of armrest heater]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a detailed configuration of the armrest heater of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the armrest heater will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the shape of the armrest heater 14 is simplified and described. Further, in FIG. 4, the left-right direction is the front-rear direction of the seat 60, the right side is the rear side of the armrest upper 11, and the left side is the front side of the armrest upper 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the armrest heater 14 is provided below the upper surface region S of the armrest upper 11. The armrest heater 14 is provided over the entire upper surface region S of the armrest upper 11. The armrest heater 14 warms the upper surface region S of the armrest upper 11 from below via the first cushion layer 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 14 is formed of a nichrome wire or the like, and is arranged meandering in the front-rear direction of the seat 60. The heating wire 16 is arranged over the entire area of the non-woven fabric 15.

The heating wire 16 at a position corresponding to the first region S1 of the armrest stopper 11 is arranged at the wiring pitch H1. The heating wire 16 at a position corresponding to the second region S2 of the armrest stopper 11 is arranged at a wiring pitch H2 larger than the wiring pitch H1. That is, the armrest heater 14 sets the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the second region S2 lower than the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the first region S1. The wiring density of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 14 is set stepwise lower from the wiring pitch H1 to the wiring pitch H2 from the position corresponding to the first region S1 to the position corresponding to the second region S2. In other words, the armrest heater 14 sets the calorific value of the second region S2 to be smaller than the calorific value of the first region S1.

Next, the action will be described.
The operation of the vehicle armrest of the first embodiment will be described by dividing it into "technical background and comparative action" and "other characteristic actions of the vehicle armrest".

[Technical background and comparative action]
The conventional vehicle air-conditioning system adjusts the temperature inside the vehicle to a temperature that the occupants feel comfortable by warming or cooling the air inside the vehicle. In addition to this, by warming or cooling parts such as the steering wheel and armrests that the occupant directly touches, the occupant can quickly feel a comfortable temperature, and the occupant's comfort is increased.

Further, in the field of automobiles and the like where autonomous driving is advancing, the chances of mounting the forearm on the armrest for vehicles are expected to increase, and there is a demand for armrests for vehicles that improve the comfort of occupants.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the armrest heaters 514 in which the heating wires 16 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the seat 60 from the front side to the rear side of the armrest stopper at equal-spaced wiring pitches H1 are compared. Take as an example.

By the way, when the occupant puts only the elbow on the armrest upper, the occupant does not feel the temperature difference regardless of whether the elbow is placed on the front side or the rear side of the armrest upper. However, as shown in FIG. 6, when the occupant puts the entire forearm on the upper surface of the arm restorer 511, the elbow side strongly presses the arm restorer 511 from the wrist side. Then, the region of the first cushion layer 13 on the armrest heater 514 is crushed in the region supporting the elbow side rather than the region supporting the wrist side. Therefore, the thermal conductivity is higher in the region supporting the elbow side than in the region supporting the wrist side. As a result, when the occupant places the forearm on the upper surface of the armrest stopper 511, there is a problem that the occupant feels a temperature difference between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 511.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the armrest upper 11 that supports the forearm of the seated occupant is arranged on the back surface side of the first cushion layer 13 and the first cushion layer 13, and is seated via the first cushion layer 13. An armrest heater 14 for heating the upper surface region S that supports the forearm of the occupant is provided. In the armrest stopper 11, the armrest heater 14 has a top surface region S in which the region supporting the wrist side of the forearm is the first region S1 and the region supporting the elbow side of the forearm is the second region S2. The calorific value of the second region S2 is set to be smaller than the calorific value of the first region S1 (FIG. 4).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the heating wire 16 is arranged at the wiring pitch H1 at the position corresponding to the first region S1 of the armrest upper 11. At the position corresponding to the second region S2 of the armrest stopper 11, the heating wire 16 is arranged at a wiring pitch H2 larger than the wiring pitch H1.

That is, the calorific value of the second region S2 is smaller than the calorific value of the first region S1. Therefore, when the occupant puts the forearm on the upper surface of the armrest upper 11, the amount of heat transferred to the elbow side can be approximated to the amount of heat transferred to the wrist side. As a result, the temperature difference felt by the occupant is reduced between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 11.

[Other characteristic effects of vehicle armrests]
For example, suppose that the armrest heater is composed of two heaters in the front-rear direction of the seat. In this case, in order to make the heat generation amount of the rear armrest heater smaller than the heat generation amount of the front armrest heater, it is necessary to control each of the two armrest heaters. Therefore, there is a problem that the control becomes complicated.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the armrest heater 14 sets the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the second region S2 lower than the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the first region S1. (Fig. 4).

That is, by controlling one armrest heater 14, the amount of heat generated on the rear side of the armrest heater 14 can be made smaller than the amount of heat generated on the front side of the armrest heater 14. Therefore, with a simple configuration, the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest upper 11 is reduced.

In the first embodiment, the wiring density of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 14 is set stepwise lower from the position corresponding to the first region S1 to the position corresponding to the second region S2 (FIG. 4).

That is, the calorific value of the armrest heater 114 can be gradually reduced from the first region S1 to the second region S2. Therefore, the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 11 is further reduced.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the vehicle armrest according to the first embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.

(1) A vehicle armrest (armrest upper 11) that supports the forearm of a seated occupant is arranged on the back side of the cushion layer (first cushion layer 13) and the cushion layer (first cushion layer 13), and the cushion layer (1st cushion layer 13) is arranged. An armrest heater 14 for heating the upper surface region S that supports the forearm of the seated occupant is provided via the first cushion layer 13). In this vehicle armrest (armrest upper 11), the armrest heater 14 has a first region S1 that supports the wrist side of the forearm and a second region S2 that supports the elbow side of the forearm in the upper surface region S. , The calorific value of the second region S2 is set to be smaller than the calorific value of the first region S1 (FIG. 4).
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the vehicle armrest (armrest upper 11).

(2) The armrest heater 14 sets the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the second region S2 lower than the wiring density of the heating wire 16 at the position corresponding to the first region S1 (FIG. 4).
Therefore, with a simple configuration, it is possible to reduce the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the vehicle armrest.

(3) The wiring density of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 14 is set stepwise lower from the position corresponding to the first region S1 to the position corresponding to the second region S2 (FIG. 4).
Therefore, the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 11 can be further reduced.

The second embodiment is an example in which the wiring density of the heating wire of the armrest heater is set steplessly low from the position corresponding to the first region to the position corresponding to the second region.

First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the armrest heater of the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the armrest heater of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the armrest heater 114 of the second embodiment, the wiring of the heating wire 16 is different from that of the armrest heater 14 of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the wiring pitch of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 114 is a wiring pitch H1, a wiring pitch H2 larger than the wiring pitch H1, a wiring pitch H3 larger than the wiring pitch H2, and a wiring larger than the wiring pitch H3. It has a pitch H4 and a wiring pitch H5 larger than the wiring pitch H4. The wiring pitch of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 114 is set steplessly lower from the position corresponding to the first region S1 toward the position corresponding to the second region S2.

Next, the action will be described.
In the second embodiment, the wiring density of the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 114 is set steplessly lower from the position corresponding to the first region S1 to the position corresponding to the second region S2 (FIG. 8).

That is, the amount of heat generated by the armrest heater 114 is smoothly reduced from the first region S1 to the second region S2. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 11.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the vehicle armrest of the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(4) The wiring density of the heating wire of the armrest heater is set steplessly low from the position corresponding to the first region to the position corresponding to the second region (FIG. 8).
Therefore, the temperature difference felt by the occupant between the front side and the rear side of the armrest stopper 11 can be further reduced.

The vehicle armrests of the present disclosure have been described above based on the first and second embodiments. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these examples, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as the gist of the invention according to each claim is not deviated from the claims.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the heating wires 16 are arranged at two wiring pitches, a wiring pitch H1 and a wiring pitch H2, is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 8, there may be an example in which the heating wire 16 is arranged by gradually changing the wiring pitch according to three or more wiring pitches.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the wiring density of the heating wire 16 is changed according to the wiring pitch of the heating wire 16 is shown. However, the arrangement density of the heating wires may be changed depending on the number of heating wires.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which a cushion material such as polyurethane is used for the cushion layer is shown. However, the cushion layer may be one that collapses when the occupant puts the forearm on the upper surface of the armrest upper.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the armrest 10 is composed of the armrest upper 11 and the armrest lower 42 is shown. However, the armrest may be an example in which the armrest upper and the armrest lower are integrally formed.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the heating wire 16 of the armrest heater 14 meanders in the front-rear direction of the seat 60 is shown. However, the heating wire of the armrest heater may be an example of meandering in the width direction of the seat.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example of applying a vehicle armrest to a door trim attached to a front door of an automobile is shown. However, as a vehicle armrest, it may be applied to a door trim attached to a rear door of an automobile, or it may be applied to a center console. Further, it may be applied to an armrest provided separately from the door trim.

In Examples 1 and 2, an example in which the vehicle armrest is applied to an automobile is shown. However, the armrest for a vehicle may be applied to a train, an aircraft, a ship, or the like.

10 Armrests (an example of vehicle armrests)
11 Armrest upper (an example of an armrest for a vehicle)
13 First cushion layer (an example of cushion layer)
14 Armrest heater 16 Heating wire 20 Door trim body S Top surface area S1 1st area S2 2nd area

Claims (4)

The vehicle armrests that support the forearms of the seated occupants
Cushion layer and
An armrest heater arranged on the back surface side of the cushion layer and warming the upper surface area supporting the forearm of the seated occupant via the cushion layer.
With
The armrest heater generates heat in the second region when the region supporting the wrist side of the forearm is the first region and the region supporting the elbow side of the forearm is the second region in the upper surface region. , A vehicle armrest characterized in that it is set smaller than the calorific value of the first region. In the vehicle armrest according to claim 1.
The armrest heater is an armrest for a vehicle, characterized in that the wiring density of the heating wire at a position corresponding to the second region is set lower than the wiring density of the heating wire at a position corresponding to the first region. In the vehicle armrest according to claim 1 or 2.
A vehicle armrest characterized in that the wiring density of the heating wire of the armrest heater is set stepwise lower from a position corresponding to the first region to a position corresponding to the second region. In the vehicle armrest according to claim 1 or 2.
A vehicle armrest characterized in that the wiring density of the heating wire of the armrest heater is set steplessly low from a position corresponding to the first region to a position corresponding to the second region.

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