JP5394038B2 - Active headrest device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an active headrest device, and more specifically, an active headrest having a structure in which when a rear collision occurs in a vehicle, an inflator is actuated so that a portion supporting the passenger's rear head protrudes toward the passenger's rear head side. Relates to the device.

  As this type of active headrest device, for example, the techniques shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 are already known. In this technique, when a rear collision occurs in a vehicle (not shown), the active headrest device 103 unlocks the lock mechanism r by operating the inflator 150, and supports the occupant's rear head by releasing the lock. The plate 124 has a structure that protrudes toward the back of the occupant (see FIG. 7). As a result, even when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, it is possible to instantly receive the occupant's back head. Therefore, even if a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the passenger's head can be protected.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
German patent invention No. 102005051109

  However, in the above-described active headrest device 103, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle (not shown), the tip of the piston-like transmission member 156 disposed inside the inflator 150 assembled to the lower end of the stay 122 is The lock mechanism r is unlocked by pushing up the lower end of the rod 136 disposed inside the stay 122. Therefore, for example, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle in a state where the stay 122 is displaced, the tip of the transmission member 156 may interfere with the lower end of the stay 122 (partially enlarged view of FIG. 8). reference). If the interference occurs in this way, the tip of the transmission member 156 cannot push up the lower end of the rod 136, resulting in a problem that the support plate 124 does not pop out.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and its purpose is that when the inflator is activated, the part supporting the occupant's rear head protrudes toward the rear of the occupant. Even if it exists, let it be a subject to provide the active headrest apparatus by which the popping-out operation | movement is performed reliably.

The present invention is for achieving the above object, and is configured as follows. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the transmission member disposed inside the inflator assembled to the lower end of the stay locks by pushing up the rod disposed inside the stay. The mechanism is unlocked, and the part that supports the passenger's rear head by this unlocking is an active headrest device that is structured to protrude toward the passenger's rear head side, before the rear collision occurs in the vehicle Normally, the transmission member is arranged inside the inflator so that the tip of the transmission member enters the inside of the stay, and the inflator is assembled to the lower end of the stay via a substantially cylindrical bracket that is open at both ends. A protruding portion that protrudes toward the inside is formed on the inner wall surface of the bracket. The end of the inflator is assembled so that the end on the transmission member side is inserted, and the transmission member is disposed inside the inflator so that the tip protrudes upward from the protrusion. The other end side of the bracket is assembled in such a manner that the lower end of the stay is inserted, and the other end side of the bracket protrudes upward from the front end of the transmission member .
According to this configuration, for example, even when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle in a state where the stay is displaced, the front end of the transmission member can reliably push up the lower end of the rod. That is, the transmission performance can be improved in the transmission path of the pushing force from the transmission member to the rod. Therefore, the support plate can be reliably ejected. According to this configuration, the stay and the inflator are assembled via the bracket. At this time, the lower end of the stay and the upper end of the inflator are assembled while being inserted into both ends of the bracket. Thus, since the stay and the inflator are in an assembled state via one member called a bracket, the assembly accuracy can be improved. Therefore, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the transmission member of the inflator can reliably push up the stay rod.

The invention according to claim 2 is the active headrest device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission member of the inflator and the rod of the stay are respectively set so as to be arranged through a predetermined gap. and said that you are.
According to this configuration, for example, when the left stay is inserted into the bracket and assembled while the inflator is already assembled to the bracket, even if the rod is arranged at a low position inside the stay, Alternatively, even when the transmission member is disposed at a high position inside the inflator, the tip of the transmission member and the lower end of the rod do not contact each other due to the predetermined gap. It can prevent malfunction (incorrect jump out).

The invention according to claim 3 is the active headrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the operating stroke of the transmission member is a sum of the release stroke of the rod and a predetermined gap. It characterized that you have been set to be higher.
According to this configuration, when the tip of the transmission member pushes up the lower end of the rod, the stroke of the transmission member is not short and the push-up of the rod does not reach. Therefore, the lock mechanism can be reliably unlocked.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat provided with an active headrest device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the inflator shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state where the support plate is jumping out in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the support plate has been popped out in FIG.

  In each of the above-described drawings, in order to show the internal structure of the seat back 2 and the active headrest device 3 in an easy-to-understand manner, these cushion structure and skin structure are omitted and only the internal frame structure is shown. In the following description, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” refer to the directions of “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right” described in the above-described drawings. The direction of up, down, front, back, left and right is shown.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the vehicle seat which concerns on the Example of this invention is demonstrated. The vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a passenger seat provided in an automobile, and includes a seat cushion (not shown), a seat back 2, and an active headrest device 3. Below, the detailed structure of the seat back 2 and the active headrest apparatus 3 is demonstrated separately among these structural members.

  First, the seat back 2 will be described. The seat back 2 is attached to the pair of left and right side frames 10 and 10 forming an outline thereof, an upper frame 12 assembled so as to bridge the upper ends of the side frames 10, and the side frames 10. It is mainly comprised from the pad member (not shown) assembled | attached in the shape and the cover member (not shown) which covers this pad member.

  Among the constituent members of the seat back 2, the upper frame 12 will be described in detail. A pair of left and right holders 14 and 14 are fixed to the upper frame 12, respectively. Further, a pair of left and right supports 16 and 16 capable of inserting and locking a pair of left and right stays 22 and 22 of an active headrest device 3 to be described later are inserted into both the holders 14, respectively. In addition, the upper frame 12 is assembled with a vertical movement mechanism M that raises and lowers the active headrest device 3 together with a pair of left and right stays 22 and 22.

  Next, the active headrest device 3 will be described. The active headrest device 3 includes a base 20 that forms an outline thereof, a pair of left and right stays 22 and 22 that assemble the base 20 to the seat back 2, and a rear head of an occupant who covers the front of the base 20 and sits on a seat cushion. A plate-like support plate 24 to be supported, an inflator 50 that is a starting point (an opportunity) for causing the support plate 24 to jump out toward the back of the occupant, and the base 20 and the support plate 24 are attached. It is mainly comprised from the pad member (not shown) assembled | attached in the shape and the cover member (not shown) which covers this pad member.

  Of the constituent members of the active headrest device 3, the pair of left and right stays 22 and 22 will be described in detail. The pair of left and right stays 22 and 22 are each configured in a pipe shape. Then, the base 20 can be assembled to the seat back 2 by inserting both the stays 22 into the both supports 16 of the seat back 2 already described. Also, a rod 36 is inserted into the left stay 22 among these stays 22. At this time, the rod 36 has an upper end hooked on a support member 34 of a lock mechanism R described later, and a lower end of the rod 36 faces a tip of a transmission member 56 of an inflator 50 described later. (See FIG. 3).

  Of the constituent members of the active headrest device 3, the support plate 24 will be described in detail. The support plate 24 is assembled to the base portion 20 via the link mechanism L. The link mechanism L includes a pair of left and right link bars 28 pivoted at both ends to the base 20 and the support plate 24, respectively, and a pair of left and right support portions 26, 26 formed on the back surface (rear surface) of the support plate 24. It is configured. A connecting stay 26a is fixed to both the support portions 26 so as to bridge the ends of the supporting portions 26, and the connecting stay 26a can move in a long hole 20a formed in the base portion 20. At this time, the connecting stay 26a is fixed to the both support portions 26 in a state of being biased by the tension spring 30 toward the upper end side of the long hole 20a.

  When the connecting stay 26 a is at the lower end of the long hole 20 a against the urging force of the tension spring 30, the connecting stay 26 a is locked by the lock mechanism R so that the support plate 24 is integrated with the base portion 20. (Hereinafter, this state is referred to as “normal state of the support plate 24”). When the lock is released, the connecting stay 26a is moved from the lower end of the elongated hole 20a toward the upper end by the urging force of the tension spring 30. By operating the link mechanism L in this manner, the support plate 24 is in a state of protruding from the base portion 20 toward the occupant's rear head side.

  The lock mechanism R will be described in detail. The lock mechanism R includes a hook 32 that is pivotally attached to the base portion 20 and a support member 34 that is engageable with the hook 32 and pivotally attached to the base portion 20. When the connecting stay 26 a is at the lower end of the long hole 20 a, the connecting stay 26 a is sandwiched between the hooks 32, and the hook 32 sandwiched is engaged with the support member 34, so that the connecting stay 26 a is attached to the tension spring 30. It is held at the lower end of the long hole 20a against the force (see FIG. 4).

  As described above, the upper end of the rod 36 disposed inside the left stay 22 is hooked on the support member 34. When the lower end of the rod 36 is pushed up by the operation of an inflator 50 described later, the support member 34 rotates to release the engagement state between the hook 32 and the support member 34 and release the holding of the connecting stay 26a. (The lock mechanism R is unlocked). Thus, the lock mechanism R is configured.

  Of the constituent members of the active headrest device 3, the inflator 50 will be described in detail. The inflator 50 is disposed on a cylindrical main body 52 that is bent in a substantially L shape and on one end side inside the main body 52. The gunpowder 54 and a piston-shaped transmission member 56 disposed on the other end side. The inflator 50 is assembled to the lower end of the left stay 22 via a substantially cylindrical bracket 42 having both ends opened.

  The inflator 50 will be described in detail. The inflator 50 is assembled to the bracket 42 by screwing so that the upper end (the end portion on the transmission member 56 side) is inserted into the opening on the lower end side of the bracket 42. . By screwing in this way, the inflator 50 can be prevented from falling off the bracket 42. The bracket 42 is assembled to the vertical movement mechanism M via a bolt B.

  On the other hand, the left stay 22 is assembled to the bracket 42 via a pin (not shown) so that the lower end thereof is inserted into the opening on the upper end side of the bracket 42. By assembling through the pins in this way, the bracket 42 can be prevented from falling off the left stay 22.

  Note that the transmission member 56 of the inflator 50 is arranged inside the inflator 50 so that the tip of the transmission member 56 enters the inside of the left stay 22 at all times before a rear collision occurs in the vehicle. At this time, the transmission member 56 of the inflator 50 and the rod 36 of the left stay 22 are set in advance so as to be arranged via a predetermined gap L3 (see a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3).

  The right stay 22 is also assembled to the vertical movement mechanism M so that the lower end of the right stay 22 is inserted into the opening of the vertical movement mechanism M. Therefore, when the vertical movement mechanism M is moved up and down, the active headrest device 3 can be moved up and down with respect to the seat back 2 together with both the stays 22 and the inflator 50. Therefore, the support plate 24 can be set at a height position desired by the occupant.

  The inflator 50 is electrically connected to an ECU (not shown) and has a structure that can detect a rear collision occurrence signal sent from the ECU when the ECU detects that a rear collision has occurred in the vehicle. ing. The inflator 50 is configured to explode the gunpowder 54 when detecting a rear collision occurrence signal and actuate the transmission member 56 by the explosive force to push up the rod 36.

  The operating stroke of the transmission member 56 of the inflator 50 (the distance that the transmission member 56 moves due to the explosive force of the explosive 54) L1 is the release stroke of the rod 36 (the rod 36 moves to unlock the lock mechanism R). The distance L2 is set to be equal to or greater than the sum of the predetermined gap L3 described above.

  Next, the operation of the active headrest device 3 having the above-described configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle in the normal state of the support plate 24, the rod 36 is pushed up by the explosive force of the explosive 54 of the inflator 50. Then, since the lock mechanism R is unlocked, the connecting stay 26a moves from the lower end to the upper end of the long hole 20a of the base portion 20 (see FIG. 5). As the link mechanism L is activated along with this movement, the support plate 24 shifts to a state where the support plate 24 protrudes toward the back of the occupant from the base 20 (see FIG. 6). In this manner, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the occupant's rear head can be instantaneously received by the support plate 24.

  The active headrest device 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above. According to this configuration, the transmission member 56 is disposed inside the inflator 50 so that the tip of the transmission member 56 enters the inside of the left stay 22 at all times before a rear collision occurs in the vehicle. Therefore, for example, even if a rear collision occurs in the vehicle in a state where the stay 22 is displaced, the front end of the transmission member 56 can reliably push up the lower end of the rod 36. In other words, the transmission performance of the push-up force transmission path from the transmission member 56 to the rod 36 can be improved. Therefore, the support plate 24 can be reliably popped out.

  Further, according to this configuration, the left stay 22 and the inflator 50 are assembled via the bracket 42. At this time, the lower end of the left stay 22 and the upper end of the inflator 50 are assembled while being inserted into both ends of the bracket 42. Thus, since the left stay 22 and the inflator 50 are in the assembled state via one member called the bracket 42, the assembling accuracy can be improved. Therefore, when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the transmission member 56 of the inflator 50 can reliably push up the rod 36 of the left stay 22.

  Further, according to this configuration, the transmission member 56 of the inflator 50 and the rod 36 of the left stay 22 are respectively set so as to be disposed via the predetermined gap L3. Therefore, for example, when the left stay 22 is inserted and assembled into the bracket 42 with the inflator 50 already assembled into the bracket 42, the rod 36 is disposed at a low position inside the stay 22. Alternatively, even when the transmission member 56 is disposed at a high position inside the inflator 50, the tip of the transmission member 56 and the lower end of the rod 36 are not in contact with each other by the predetermined gap L3. It is possible to prevent malfunction (incorrect jumping out) of the plate 24.

  Further, according to this configuration, the operation stroke L1 of the transmission member 56 is set to be equal to or greater than the sum of the release stroke L2 of the rod 36 and the predetermined gap L3 described above. Therefore, when the distal end of the transmission member 56 pushes up the lower end of the rod 36, the operation stroke of the transmission member 56 is not short and the push-up of the rod 36 is not reached. Therefore, the lock mechanism R can be unlocked with certainty.

The contents described above are only related to one embodiment of the present invention, and do not mean that the present invention is limited to the above contents.
In the embodiment, the case where the vehicle seat is a passenger seat has been described as an example. However, the seat is not limited to this, and the seat for the vehicle may be any seat (for example, a driver seat, a rear seat, etc.) as long as the seat is disposed in the vehicle.

  Moreover, in the Example, the case where the support plate 24 had a structure which protruded toward the passenger | crew's back head side with respect to the base 20 among the structural members of the headrest 3 was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the support plate 24 and the base 20 are integrally formed, and the base 20 protrudes toward the back of the occupant from the pair of left and right stays 22 and 22. It may be a structure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle seat provided with an active headrest device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly structure of the inflator shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a state where the support plate is jumping out in FIG. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the support plate has been popped out in FIG. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an active headrest device according to the prior art, and corresponds to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a problem in the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

3 Active headrest device 22 Stay 24 Support plate 36 Rod 42 Bracket 50 Inflator 56 Transmission member R Lock mechanism

Claims (3)

When a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the transmission member arranged inside the inflator assembled to the lower end of the stay pushes up the rod arranged inside the stay, and the lock mechanism is unlocked. An active headrest device in which the part that supports the occupant's rear head by unlocking has a structure that protrudes toward the occupant's rear head,
At all times before a rear collision occurs in the vehicle, the transmission member is arranged inside the inflator so that the tip of the transmission member enters the inside of the stay ,
The inflator is assembled to the lower end of the stay via a substantially cylindrical bracket that is open at both ends.
On the inner wall surface of the bracket, a protrusion that protrudes toward the inside is formed,
The opening on the one end side of the bracket is assembled in such a manner that the end portion on the transmission member side of the inflator is inserted,
The transmission member is arranged inside the inflator so that the tip protrudes upward from the protrusion,
In the opening on the other end side of the bracket, it is assembled in such a way that the lower end of the stay is inserted,
An active headrest device , wherein the other end side of the bracket has a tip protruding upward from a tip of the transmission member . The active headrest device according to claim 1,
An active headrest device, wherein an inflator transmission member and a stay rod are respectively set so as to be disposed through a predetermined gap . The active headrest device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
Operating stroke of the transmission member, an active headrest apparatus according to claim that you have been set to be equal to or greater than sum of the release stroke and a predetermined gap of the rod.

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