JP2009173135A - Headrest device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique preventing a malfunction of a headrest device. <P>SOLUTION: In the headrest device 1 of a vehicle seat 2 moving a headrest 24 to the direction of the head part of a seat sitting person, a detecting portion of the rear end collision 16 detects the rear end collision of a vehicle. A headrest driving part 18 moves the headrest 24 closely to the head part of the sitting person. A stopper member 30 restricts the drive of the headrest driving part 18. A control portion 14 receives a state signal showing the existence/absence of the seat belt wearing. In case the state signal shows the absence of the seat belt wearing, the control portion 14 restricts the drive of the headrest driving part 18 by the stopper member 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a headrest device.

  When a strong impact is applied to the vehicle from behind, the head of the occupant moves rapidly to the position of the headrest, and a heavy burden is placed on the neck of the occupant. Thus, conventionally, a headrest device has been proposed that includes a mechanism for moving the headrest to the position of the head of the occupant when the rear impact sensor detects an impact from the rear. With this mechanism, when an impact is applied from the rear, the head of the occupant does not move greatly rearward, and the burden on the occupant's neck is reduced.

However, since the rear impact sensor detects that the vehicle has been rear impacted when a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied, the headrest device operates even when the impact load exceeds a predetermined value due to a cause other than the rear impact. As a technique for solving such a malfunction, Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism for prohibiting the operation of the headrest device when the seat back is tilted backward by a predetermined angle or more. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which when the acceleration of a predetermined value or more is input from the rear, the restraining member of the headrest device is released by inertial force and the headrest device is activated.
JP 2006-123784 A JP 2007-112204 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the headrest device operates when a large impact is applied, such as striking an elbow against the seat back before starting the operation without tilting the seat back. Further, in Patent Document 2, if an acceleration of a predetermined value or more is input due to a cause other than a rear collision, the headrest device may operate even when the passenger is not seated.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, The objective is to provide the technique which prevents malfunction of a headrest apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, a headrest device according to an aspect of the present invention is a headrest device for a vehicle seat that moves the headrest in the direction of the head of the seat occupant when a rear collision of the vehicle is detected. A rear collision detection unit that detects a rear collision of the vehicle, a drive unit that moves the headrest closer to the head of the seated person, a drive restriction unit that restricts driving of the drive unit, and whether or not a seat belt is attached And a control unit that receives the status signal shown. When the state signal indicates that the seat belt is not worn, the control unit restricts driving of the driving unit by the driving limiting unit. According to this aspect, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the headrest device operates when the seat belt is not worn.

  The control unit may release the drive restriction of the drive unit by the drive restriction unit when the state signal indicates wearing of the seat belt. Accordingly, when a rear collision is detected when the seat belt is worn, the headrest device can be appropriately operated.

  The headrest device may further include a damper that absorbs a load from the back of the seated person. Thereby, even when the seat belt is worn, the malfunction of the headrest device can be prevented.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which prevents the malfunctioning of a headrest apparatus can be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headrest device 1 according to the present embodiment. The headrest device 1 is provided on the vehicle seat 2 and moves the headrest 24 in the direction of the head of the seat occupant when a rear collision of the vehicle is detected. The headrest device 1 includes a rear collision detection unit 16 that detects a rear collision of the vehicle, a headrest driving unit 18 that moves the headrest 24 closer to the head of the seated person, and a stopper mechanism that restricts driving of the headrest driving unit 18. 42. The vehicle seat 2 includes a seat back frame 20, a seat cushion frame 36, a seat back 26, and a seat cushion 40. Lower ends of the left and right seat back frames 20 are connected to the seat cushion frame 36 by pins 54, respectively. In FIG. 1, in order to show the internal structure of the seat back 26 and the seat cushion 40, a state in which a part of the seat back 26 and the seat cushion 40 is cut out is shown.

  The rear collision detection unit 16 is formed as an H-shaped plate-like member, and has a plate-like load detection member 17 extending in the lateral direction and a pair of base portions 56 that support both ends of the load detection member 17. Both ends of the base portion 56 are pivotally supported by the lower link 22 and the upper link 34 of the headrest drive unit 18. The load detection member 17 receives a backrest load that causes the back of the seated person to be pressed against the seat back 26 due to the occurrence of a rear collision of the vehicle. The load detection member 17 receives the load of the seated person and moves backward, and transmits the displacement of the movement to the headrest driving unit 18 via the base 56.

  In this embodiment, the load detection member 17 is used as an element of the rear collision detection unit 16, but a torsion bar may be used instead. The torsion bar is positioned inside the seat back 26 as with the load detection member 17. For example, the torsion bar is a rod-like member whose center is bent in a U-shape, and both ends thereof are supported by the headrest driving unit 18 in a state where the center protrudes obliquely forward and lower. When the seated person moves backward, the torsion bar rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the right side of the seat, and the rotated displacement is transmitted to the headrest drive unit 18.

  The headrest driving unit 18 includes a lower link 22, an upper link 34, and an interlocking link 32. The rear portion of the lower link 22 (hereinafter, “rear” means the rear direction of the vehicle) is pivotally supported by the pin 50 at the lower portion of the seat back frame 20. A front portion of the lower link 22 (hereinafter, “front” means the front direction of the vehicle) is pivotally supported by a lower end portion of the base portion 56 so as to be rotatable by a pin 52.

  A substantially central portion of the upper link 34 is pivotally supported on the upper portion of the seat back frame 20 by a pin 44 so as to be rotatable. The front portion of the upper link 34 is pivotally supported by a pin 48 at the upper end portion of the base portion 56.

  A rear end portion of the interlock link 32 is pivotally supported by a pin 46 at the rear portion of the upper link 34. A long hole 58 is formed between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the interlocking link 32, and a pin 60 erected on the side portion of the seat back frame 20 slides in the long hole 58. It is inserted movably. A headrest support member 25 is fixed to the front end portions of the left and right interlocking links 32. The headrest 24 is supported by the headrest support member 25.

  Accordingly, when the load detection member 17 moves rearward, the lower link 22 and the upper link 34 rotate in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right side of the seat around the pin 50 and the pin 44, respectively. Sliding between the long hole 58 and the pin 60 in the link 32 occurs. Thereby, the interlocking link 32 moves toward the diagonally upward direction 66 in front of the vehicle, and the contact surface of the headrest 24 moves in the direction of the back of the seated person.

  Between the lower link 22 and the side portion of the seat back frame 20, a damper 38 is installed as an impact absorbing means, and the damper 38 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the right side of the seat around the pin 50. This lowers the movement of the lower link 22 to absorb the load from the back of the seated person. Further, for example, a rotary damper may be attached instead of the pin 48 or the pin 52, and the rotary damper may absorb the load applied to the rear collision detection unit 16. The damper 38 may also be provided for the upper link 34. The damper 38 absorbs the load toward the rear of the seated person, and prevents the headrest device 1 from operating due to an impact other than the rear collision.

  Locking mechanisms 70 are formed on the opposing surfaces of the lower link 22 and the side portion of the seat back frame 20 so that either one is a hemispherical convex portion and the other is a hemispherical concave portion. Yes. When the protrusions and recesses of the lock mechanism 70 engage with each other, the rotation of the lower link 22 is restricted, and the engagement is released when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the load detection member 17. ing. Note that the lock mechanism 70 may also be provided for the upper link 34.

  In the headrest device 1 of the present embodiment, the stopper mechanism 42 includes a rod-shaped stopper member 30 that can perform a piston operation, and a control unit 14 that controls the piston operation of the stopper member 30. The stopper member 30 limits the drive of the headrest drive unit 18 and functions as a drive limit unit. The control unit 14 restricts the driving of the headrest driving unit 18 by the stopper member 30. The stopper mechanism 42 is provided on the seat back frame 20. The stopper mechanism 42 may be provided for the upper link 34.

  The seat belt buckle 10 detects a seat belt wearing state, and supplies a state signal indicating whether or not the seat belt is worn to the control unit 14 via the wire harness 12 that transmits an electric signal. The seat belt buckle 10 includes a switch. When the seat belt is attached, the switch is turned on, and a state signal indicating the attachment of the seat belt is supplied to the control unit 14.

  For example, the seat belt buckle 10 may include a piezoelectric element, and an electric signal obtained by converting the pressure generated when the seat belt is worn by the piezoelectric element may be supplied to the control unit 14 as a state signal. Further, the seat belt buckle 10 may wirelessly supply a status signal indicating whether or not the seat belt is worn to the control unit 14.

  The control unit 14 controls the piston operation of the stopper member 30 according to the supplied state signal. Specifically, when the state signal indicates that the seat belt is not attached, the control unit 14 protrudes the stopper member 30 to contact the lower link 22, and when the state signal indicates that the seat belt is attached, the controller 14 retracts the stopper member 30. . When the stopper member 30 protrudes, the rotation of the lower link 22 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right side surface of the seat is prohibited.

  FIG. 1 shows a state of the headrest device 1 in which the seat belt is not mounted, and the stopper mechanism 42 restricts driving of the headrest driving unit 18. Specifically, the stopper member 30 is brought into contact with the lower link 22 by the control unit 14 and restricts the movement of the lower link 22 in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the right side surface of the seat.

  Here, the operation of the headrest device 1 will be described. When another vehicle collides with the rear of the vehicle and an impact from the rear of the vehicle acts on the occupant, the occupant moves toward the rear of the vehicle. Due to the movement of the seated person, the load detecting member 17 provided in the seat back 26 that contacts the back part of the seated person receives a backward load.

  When the load detection member 17 moves rearward in a state where the stopper member 30 is retracted, and the engagement of the convex portion and the concave portion in the lock mechanism 70 is released, the lower link 22 and the upper link 34 are respectively connected to the pin 50 and the pin 44. , And counterclockwise against the depressing force of the damper 38, it rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the right side of the seat.

  When the interlock link 32 swings due to the rotation of the upper link 34 and the long hole 58 and the pin 60 slide, the interlock link 32 and the headrest support member 25 move in an oblique upward direction 66 in front of the vehicle. To do. This movement causes the headrest 24 to move toward the back of the seated person. As a result, the headrest 24 can support the head at a position close to the center of gravity of the seated person's head.

  On the other hand, when the seat belt is not attached, the stopper member 30 is protruded and brought into contact with the lower link 22. Thereby, even if the load detection member 17 moves rearward, the rotation of the lower link 22 is limited, and the headrest drive unit 18 does not operate. As described above, the headrest device 1 prohibits the operation of the headrest driving unit 18 in a state where the seat belt is not worn, so that the rear collision detection unit 16 detects an impact load when the vehicle is not driven. Even if it exists, it becomes possible to restrict | limit the movement of the headrest 24. FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of the headrest device 1 according to the present embodiment. First, since the seated person does not wear the seat belt, the control unit 14 restricts the driving of the headrest driving unit 18 by the stopper member 30 (S10). The seat belt buckle 10 monitors a seated person's wearing state of the seat belt (S12), and supplies a state signal indicating whether or not the seat belt is worn to the control unit 14. When the state signal indicates that the seat belt is not attached (N in S12), the drive restriction of the headrest drive unit 18 by the stopper member 30 is maintained.

  When the driver sits on the seat cushion 40 and wears the seat belt, the seat belt buckle 10 supplies a state signal indicating the wearing of the seat belt to the control unit 14 (Y in S12). The control unit 14 releases the restriction of the movement of the headrest 24 by the stopper member 30 (S14), and the lower link 22 of the headrest driving unit 18 can be rotated. In this state, when the load detection member 17 detects a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value (Y in S16), the headrest drive unit 18 is driven and the headrest 24 moves (S18). If a rear collision is not detected (N in S16), monitoring of the seat belt wearing state is continued.

  According to the present embodiment, even when a large impact is applied to the load detection member 17 such as striking the elbow against the seat back 26 before the start of driving, the headrest device 1 when the seat belt is not worn. Can be prevented from malfunctioning. In addition, since the function of detecting the presence or absence of the seat belt is provided in the vehicle as a standard function, the malfunction of the headrest device 1 can be prevented with a simple system using the function to reduce the cost. .

  FIG. 3 shows a state of the stopper mechanism 42 before the seat belt is attached. In the state before the seat belt shown in the figure, the control unit 14 projects the stopper member 30 and engages it with the lower link 22. The stopper member 30 is protruded in the direction of the lower link 22 by a solenoid, for example, and is maintained at a position where it comes into contact with the lower link 22.

  Further, as a modification of the stopper member 30 which is an example of the drive restricting portion, one of the opposing surfaces of the lower link 22 and the side portion of the seat back frame 20 has a convex portion and the other has a concave portion. An engaging drive limiting portion may be formed. The convex part moves up and down according to the presence or absence of the seat belt under the control of the control part 14, and restricts the movement of the lower link 22 like the stopper member 30. As described above, the drive restriction unit is not particularly limited as long as the drive restriction unit can restrict the drive of the headrest drive unit 18 by the control of the control unit 14.

  FIG. 4 shows a state of the stopper mechanism 42 after the seat belt is mounted. In the state after the seat belt shown in the figure, the control unit 14 retracts the stopper member 30. The control unit 14 receives a state signal indicating that the seat belt is mounted from the seat belt buckle 10 via the wire harness 12, and draws the protruding stopper member 30 into an insertion hole provided in the control unit 14.

  FIG. 5 shows a state after the operation of the headrest device. In the figure, the rear collision detection unit 16 detects a rear collision after the seat belt is mounted, and the headrest driving unit 18 is driven. When the rear collision detection unit 16 moves rearward, the lower link 22 rotates 68 against the depressing force of the damper 38 around the pin 50. Thus, after the seat belt is mounted, the headrest device 1 can be suitably operated by releasing the stopper function by the stopper mechanism 42.

  The present invention has been described based on some embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications such as arbitrary combinations of the embodiments and combinations of the components of the embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention. By the way.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications such as design changes can be added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The configuration shown in each drawing is for explaining an example, and can be appropriately changed as long as the configuration can achieve the same function.

  As a modification, the stopper member 30 is used in the present embodiment, but a clutch may be used instead of the stopper member 30. The control unit 14 may control the coupling of the clutch to the headrest driving unit 18 according to whether or not the seat belt is attached. In a state where the clutch is not connected, the rearward displacement in the rear collision detection unit 16 is prevented from being transmitted to the headrest driving unit 18, thereby preventing malfunction of the headrest device 1 when the seat belt is not worn.

It is a perspective view of the headrest device in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure of the action | operation of the headrest apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state of the stopper mechanism before mounting | wearing of a seatbelt. It is a figure which shows the state of the stopper mechanism after mounting | wearing of a seatbelt. It is a figure which shows the state after the action | operation of a headrest apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Headrest apparatus, 10 Seat belt buckle, 12 Wire harness, 14 Control part, 16 Rear collision detection part, 17 Load detection member, 18 Headrest drive part, 20 Seat back frame, 22 Lower link, 24 Headrest, 26 Seat back, 30 Stopper member, 32 interlock link, 34 upper link, 36 seat cushion frame, 38 damper, 40 seat cushion, 42 stopper mechanism, 70 lock mechanism.

Claims (3)

A vehicle seat headrest device that moves the headrest in the direction of the head of the seat occupant when a rear collision of the vehicle is detected,
A rear collision detection unit for detecting a rear collision of the vehicle;
A drive unit that moves the headrest closer to the head of the seated person;
A drive limiting unit for limiting the driving of the driving unit;
A control unit for receiving a status signal indicating whether or not the seat belt is worn;
With
When the state signal indicates that the seat belt is not worn, the control unit restricts driving of the driving unit by the driving limiting unit.   2. The headrest device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit releases the drive restriction of the drive unit by the drive restriction unit when the state signal indicates wearing of a seat belt.   The headrest device according to claim 1, further comprising a damper that absorbs a load from the back of the seated person.

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