JP2009179298A - Headrest structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a headrest structure capable of inclining a headrest forward by a simple and light-weight structure. <P>SOLUTION: This headrest structure is constituted by attaching a bracket 32 to an upper part of a stay 34 in a headrest body 30 to rotate a bracket 44 and a headrest frame 46 around a rotary shaft 42. A spring 48 is arranged between the brackets 44, and a lower part 48B is stored in a clearance 40 between a front wall part 38A and the stay 34 while the headrest frame 46 stands substantially vertically. Since the lower part 48B slips out of the clearance 40 by pulling an operation wire 50, the bracket 32 can rotate in the direction of arrow mark R1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a headrest structure.

  In the seats (vehicle seats) provided in the vehicle, it may be necessary to lower the height of the headrest for seat arrangement etc., but even when the height of the headrest is lowered, ensure the predetermined height May be required. In order to satisfy these demands, one method is to tilt the headrest itself forward from the seating position to the forward tilt position.

  However, when the headrest is in the sitting position, for example, it is necessary to lock the headrest so that the headrest is not inadvertently displaced by a load applied to the headrest. Therefore, a fixing member for fixing the headrest at the seating position, a member for actually fixing or releasing the fixing member, and the like are necessary, and the structure may be complicated and the weight may be increased.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a headrest device in which the lifting / lowering rod is restored and rattle is prevented by a spring mounted on the lifting / lowering rod of the lifting / lowering device. However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the pressing plate is retracted by an impact acting on the seat back, and the headrest is tilted forward by the operation of the link mechanism. That is, since a link mechanism or the like is necessary, the structure is complicated and the weight is increased.
JP 2007-83937 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a headrest structure capable of tilting the headrest forward with a simple and lightweight structure.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the headrest disposed above the seat back, the support position at which the headrest can support a part of the load from the seated person, and the forward tilt position inclined forward from the support position. A rotation support member that is rotatably supported between the headrest, a spring member provided on the headrest, and allowing the spring member to be elastically stretched when the headrest is in the support position, It has a fixing means for fixing, and a release member for releasing the fixing of the spring member to the fixing member.

  In this headrest structure, when the headrest is in the support position, the spring means is allowed to extend by the fixing means and the spring is fixed. Since the spring member is provided on the headrest, the headrest is also fixed at the support position.

  When the fixing of the spring member to the fixing means is released by the releasing member, the headrest is supported by the rotation support member, and therefore can be rotated to the forward tilt position. Note that, by setting the headrest to the forward tilt position in this manner, the degree of freedom of seat arrangement of the seat device provided with the headrest structure is increased.

  Thus, in the present invention, the stretched spring is fixed by the fixing means using the elasticity of the spring member. When a member having no elasticity is used instead of the spring member, a structure for fixing with a fixing means (for example, a mechanism for moving the member to a fixing position) is required. Such a structure is unnecessary, and the structure can be simplified and reduced in weight.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the fixing means is a groove portion for accommodating the extended spring member.

  Therefore, when the extended spring member is accommodated in the groove portion, the spring member is fixed so as not to move carelessly, and the headrest is also fixed at the support position. It is possible to fix the elongated spring member by configuring the fixing means with a simple structure in which only the groove portion is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the headrest includes a receiving member that receives an elastic force of the spring member when the headrest is in the forward tilt position. To do.

  Since the spring member is provided on the headrest, the spring member exerts an elastic force between the headrest and the receiving member when the spring member is in the forward tilt position. That is, since the spring member is interposed so as to stretch on both the headrest and the receiving member, it is possible to suppress inadvertent rattling of the headrest.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the headrest can be tilted forward with a simple and lightweight structure.

  The vehicle seat apparatus 12 provided with the headrest structure 26 of one Embodiment of this invention is shown by FIGS. 1-3 in the side view. 4 to 6 are enlarged perspective views of the inside of the headrest structure 26. FIG. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the vehicle width direction is indicated by an arrow W, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP. Some vehicle seat devices can be rotated around the center of rotation in the vertical direction, and the front of the vehicle and the front of the vehicle seat device may not coincide with each other due to the rotation. The seat device 12 will be described assuming that it is installed facing the front of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle seat device 12 includes a seat cushion 14 that supports at least the lower body of the occupant SP, and a seat back 16 that supports at least the upper body of the occupant SP. A headrest 28 that can support the head of the occupant SP is disposed above 16.

  The headrest 28 has a headrest main body 30 capable of supporting a load from a seated person (mainly a load from the head), and a stay 34 extends downward from the headrest main body 30. The stay 34 is formed in a substantially inverted “U” shape as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, and the vicinity of the end protrudes downward from the headrest body 30 in parallel. Essentially, the two stays 34 are extended below the headrest body 30. On the other hand, a seat back frame (not shown) is provided in the seat back 16, and a stay 34 is fixed to the upper side of the seat back frame.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 4 to 6, a bracket 32 is attached in the headrest main body 30 so as to hang over the upper portion of the stay 34. The bracket 32 has a pair of parallel side walls 36 located above each of the stays 34, and a bottom wall 38 is provided between the side walls 36.

  The bottom wall 38 includes a front wall portion 38A that is formed substantially vertically (parallel to the stay 34) on the front side, a rear wall portion 38B that is formed substantially vertically on the rear side, and an upper end and a rear portion of the front wall portion 38A. It has a substantially horizontal horizontal plate portion 38C continuous with the lower end of the wall portion 38B. A groove-like gap 40 is formed between the front wall portion 38 </ b> A and the upper portion of the stay 34. In addition, a support plate portion 38D is formed substantially horizontally from the lower end of the front wall portion 38A toward the front.

  Each of the side walls 36 is provided with a rotation shaft 42 at a position above the gap 40. A bracket 44 that constitutes the headrest 28 is rotatably attached to each of the rotation shafts 42, and a lower end of a headrest frame 46 that also constitutes the headrest 28 is fixed between the brackets 44. The headrest frame 46 is formed in a substantially inverted “U” shape, and maintains the shape of the headrest body 30.

  Therefore, the headrest frame 46 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 42 in the direction of the arrow R1 and in the direction of the arrow R2 (see FIG. 2) which is the opposite direction. By this rotation, the headrest main body 30 also rotates in the directions of the arrows R1 and R2. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotation in the direction of the arrow R <b> 2 with the headrest frame 46 standing substantially vertically is prevented by the bracket 32 hitting the bracket 44.

  A spring 48 is disposed between the brackets 44. The springs 48 are formed in a substantially “W” shape when viewed from the front, and both ends are held by the brackets 44, respectively. For this reason, the spring 48 rotates integrally with the bracket 44 in the directions indicated by the arrows R1 and R2.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the headrest frame 46 is in a substantially vertical state, the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 extends downward due to elasticity, and the vicinity of the lower portion 48B is connected to the front wall portion 38A. It is accommodated in a gap 40 between the stays 34. That is, the front wall portion 38 </ b> A is parallel to the stay 34, thereby allowing extension due to the elasticity of the spring 48.

  Further, the stay 34 and the front wall portion 38A face each other so as to sandwich the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, in this state, the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 is fixed and the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted, and the rotation of the bracket 44 in the arrow R1 and R2 directions is also restricted. At this time, the lower portion 48B is supported by being in contact with the support plate portion 38D, and does not extend excessively downward.

  The lower end of the operation wire 50 is attached to the center of the spring 48. The operation wire 50 extends upward, and the upper portion projects upward from the headrest body 30. A grip portion 50H is formed at the tip of the protruding portion, and the center portion and the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 can be moved upward by gripping the grip portion 50H and pulling the operation wire 50 in the direction. In particular, when the lower portion 48B moves upward, the lower portion 48B comes out of the gap 40, so that the bracket 32 can rotate in the direction of the arrow R1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the force that pulls the operation wire 50 is released while the bracket 32 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R1 by a predetermined angle (approximately 90 degrees in the present embodiment), the spring 48 expands again, 48B hits the rear wall 38B. Thereby, the spring 48 exhibits an elastic force between the bracket 44 and the rear wall portion 38B. That is, the spring 48 is interposed so as to stretch on both the bracket 44 and the rear wall 38B.

  In the first embodiment, the spring 48 constitutes the “spring member” of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the upper portion of the stay 34, the brackets 32 and 44, the rotary shaft 42, the headrest frame 46, and the spring 48 are covered with urethane and a skin, and are not exposed to the outside of the headrest body 30. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the headrest structure 26 of this embodiment will be described.

  Normally, as shown in FIG. 2 (as also shown by a solid line in FIG. 1), the headrest 28 stands up substantially vertically so as to be able to support a load in a seated state, that is, a seated person. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 is accommodated in the gap 40, the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted, and the rotation of the bracket 44 is also restricted. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when loads F1 and F2 are applied to the headrest 28 by collision bodies C1 and C2 from a specific direction, the headrest 28 tries to rotate, but the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 is Since it hits the stay 34, the rotation is prevented and the headrest 28 does not rotate.

  In this state, the rotation of the headrest 28 in the direction of the arrow R <b> 1 is also prevented by the bracket 32 hitting the bracket 44.

  Here, when the operation wire 50 is pulled upward, the central portion and the lower portion 48B of the spring 48 are also displaced upward, and the lower portion 48B comes out of the gap 40 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the spring 48 can rotate in the directions of the arrows R1 and R2, and the headrest 28 can also rotate in the direction of the arrow R1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the tension of the operation wire 50 is released in a state where the headrest 28 is rotated by a predetermined angle (approximately 90 degrees in FIG. 2) in the direction of arrow R <b> 1 and tilted forward, as shown in FIG. 6. The spring 48 extends again, the lower part 48B hits the rear wall 38B, and the spring 48 exerts an elastic force between the bracket 44 and the rear wall 38B. Since the headrest 28 is tilted forward, the degree of freedom of seat arrangement is increased.

  In this state, the spring 48 is interposed so as to stretch on both the headrest 28 (bracket 44) and the rear wall 38B. For this reason, inadvertent rattling of the headrest 28 in the forward tilt state can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the headrest structure 26 of the present embodiment, the structure is simplified and reduced in weight by using the elasticity of the spring 48 to accommodate the spring 48 itself in the gap 40. It has been. That is, for example, in a structure in which a member having no elasticity is accommodated in the gap 40 instead of the spring 48, a member that moves this member to be accommodated in the gap 40 is also necessary. A member becomes unnecessary.

  7 and 8 show a headrest structure 52 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different in that an engagement plate 54 and an auxiliary spring 56 are used instead of the spring 48 of the first embodiment, but the other components are the same, so the same member is used. Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Two engagement plates 54 according to the second embodiment are provided corresponding to the brackets 44, and one ends of the engagement plates 54 are attached to the brackets 44 so as to be rotatable in the arrow R3 direction and the opposite arrow R4 direction. . The other end of the engagement plate 54 is displaced between a position accommodated in the gap 40 by the rotation in the direction of the arrow R3 and a position exiting from the gap 40 by the rotation in the direction of the arrow R4.

  Auxiliary springs 56 are disposed between the engagement plates 54, and both ends of the auxiliary springs 56 are fixed to intermediate portions of the engagement plates 54. Further, the operation wire 50 is attached to the center of the auxiliary spring 56 as in the first embodiment. The auxiliary spring 56 biases the engagement plate 54 in the direction of arrow R3. In the second embodiment, the engagement plate 54 and the auxiliary spring 56 constitute the “spring member” of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, a state in which a part (the other end 54 </ b> B) of the engagement plate 54 is accommodated in the gap 40 is an extended state as a spring member.

  Also in the second embodiment having such a configuration, the other end 54B of the engaging plate 54 and its vicinity are accommodated in the gap 40 when the headrest 28 (see FIGS. 1 to 3 of the first embodiment) is seated. Accordingly, the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted, and the rotation of the bracket 44 is also restricted. When the loads F1 and F2 are applied to the headrest 28 by the collision bodies C1 and C2 (see FIG. 2) or the like, the other end of the engagement plate 54 comes into contact with the stay 34, so that the rotation is prevented and the headrest 28 does not rotate.

  When the operation wire 50 is pulled upward, as shown in FIG. 8, the curvature of the auxiliary spring 56 increases and the engagement plate 54 rotates in the direction of the arrow R4, and the other end 54B and the vicinity thereof come out of the gap 40. The headrest 28 can rotate in the direction of the arrow R1.

  In a state where the headrest 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R1 and tilted forward, when the tension of the operation wire 50 is released, the engagement plate 54 rotates in the direction of the arrow R3 due to the elasticity of the auxiliary spring 56. It hits 38B. Since the headrest 28 is tilted forward, the degree of freedom of seat arrangement is increased. In this state, the engagement plate 54 is interposed so as to stretch on both the headrest 28 (bracket 44) and the rear wall portion 38B (the same state as in FIGS. 3 and 6 in the first embodiment). For this reason, inadvertent rattling of the headrest 28 in the forward tilt state can be suppressed.

  9 and 10 show a headrest structure 62 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the shape of the bracket 64 is different from that in the first embodiment, but the other parts have the same configuration, so the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. .

  The bottom wall 68 of the bracket 64 of the third embodiment is continuously connected between the upper end of the front wall portion 38A and the lower end of the rear wall portion 38B instead of the horizontal plate portion 38C according to the first embodiment. A curved surface portion 64W is formed. The curved surface portion 64W has a shape in which the distance D1 from the rotation shaft 42 is gradually increased from the front wall portion 38A toward the rear wall portion 38B.

  Therefore, the headrest structure 62 of the third embodiment also has the same operations and effects as the headrest structure 26 of the first embodiment. In addition, in the third embodiment, the operation wire 50 is pulled to lower the lower portion 48B of the spring 48. When the headrest 28 is slightly rotated in the direction of the arrow R1 while being removed from the gap 40 and the lower part 48B is brought into contact with the curved surface 64W as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10, the spring 48 acts on the curved surface 64W. A part of the reaction force of the elastic force acts as a force for rotating the headrest 28 in the direction of the arrow R1. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the operation of rotating the headrest 28 in the direction of the arrow R1 to be in the forward tilt state can be performed more easily than in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in any of the embodiments of the present invention, the headrest 28 can be maintained in the seated state by utilizing the elasticity of the spring member.

1 is a schematic side view showing an entire vehicle seat device to which a headrest structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a schematic side view which shows the upper part of the vehicle seat apparatus to which the headrest structure of 1st embodiment of this invention was applied in a seating state. It is a schematic side view which shows the upper part of the vehicle seat apparatus to which the headrest structure of 1st embodiment of this invention was applied in the forward-tilt state. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the headrest to which the headrest structure of 1st embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the headrest to which the headrest structure of 1st embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the headrest to which the headrest structure of 1st embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the headrest to which the headrest structure of 2nd embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the headrest to which the headrest structure of 2nd embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a schematic side view which shows the upper part of the vehicle seat apparatus with which the headrest structure of 3rd embodiment of this invention was applied in the seating state. It is a schematic side view which shows the upper part of the vehicle seat apparatus with which the headrest structure of 3rd embodiment of this invention was applied in the forward-tilt state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Vehicle seat apparatus 16 Seat back 26 Headrest structure 28 Headrest 30 Headrest main body 32 Bracket 34 Stay (fixing means)
38A front wall (fixing means)
38B Rear wall (receiving member)
40 Gap (groove)
42 Rotating shaft (Rotating support member)
44 Bracket (Rotating support member)
46 Headrest frame (rotating support member)
48 Spring (Spring member)
50 Operation wire (release member)
52 Headrest structure 54 Engagement plate (spring member)
56 Auxiliary spring (spring member)
62 Headrest structure 64 Bracket SP Seated person C1, C2 Colliding body

Claims (3)

A headrest disposed above the seat back;
A rotation support member that rotatably supports the headrest between a support position capable of supporting a part of a load from a seated person and a forward tilt position inclined forward from the support position;
A spring member provided on the headrest;
A fixing means for allowing the spring member to be elastically extended when the headrest is in the support position, and fixing the extended spring;
A release member for releasing the fixing of the spring member to the fixing member;
The headrest structure characterized by having.   The headrest structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means is a groove portion that accommodates the extended spring member. A receiving member that receives the elastic force of the spring member when the headrest is in the forward tilt position;
The headrest structure according to claim 1, wherein the headrest structure is provided.

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