JP6899241B2 - Armrest - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an armrest, in particular, an armrest capable of suppressing an increase in the injury value of the upper body caused by the forward movement of the occupant at the time of a collision by forcibly moving a part of the occupant's body.

Various airbags have been developed to protect vehicle occupants, such as drivers. For example, the driver's seat airbag device for a vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a main chamber that expands in front of the driver and a subchamber that expands to the side of the main chamber, and the main chamber and the subchamber collide with each other in the event of a collision. It can also protect the driver when he / she moves diagonally forward.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-199123

For example, the front airbag deployed from the steering wheel receives and protects the occupant at the point where the occupant moves forward due to the impact at the time of a collision. However, it is difficult to reduce or suppress the forward movement of the occupant by making it difficult for the occupant to move even if an impact acts, and it is difficult to realize with a front airbag or the like, and it has been dealt with by abrupt winding of the seat belt or the like. .. At present, armrests are not used as protective members for occupants, or there are very few examples of their use.

In view of this, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to forcibly move a part of the occupant's body to increase the injury value of the upper body due to the forward movement of the occupant at the time of a collision. It is to provide an armrest that can be suppressed.

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the armrests according to the present invention are armrests provided on the side of the seat on which the occupant of the vehicle sits, and are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the occupant on which the forearm portion of the occupant is mounted. It includes a side portion that extends in the front-rear direction so that it can be placed, and a drive portion that can move the side portion by driving. The front portion of the side portion is moved outward in the seat width direction relative to the rear portion.

In the armrest according to the present invention, it is preferable that the drive unit moves the front portion outward in the seat width direction and the rear portion inward in the seat width direction.

In the armrest according to the present invention, it is preferable that the drive unit moves its side portion upward.

In the armrest according to the present invention, it is preferable that the drive unit faces the front portion toward the facing surface portion facing the occupant in the vehicle.

In the armrest according to the present invention, it is preferable that the side portion has at least a restraining member that restrains the forearm portion of the occupant when moving by the driving portion.

According to the present invention, since the occupant has the forearm extended forward due to the movement of the side portion, when the occupant moves forward due to the impact at the time of a collision, the occupant's hand is placed in front of the occupant, such as an instrument panel. It can be brought into contact with the interior material. Since the occupant's hand comes into contact with the interior material, etc., the forward movement speed of the occupant is reduced, so the increase in the injury value of the upper body that can occur due to various factors due to the occupant's forward movement in the event of a collision is increased. An armrest that holds down can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a seat provided with an armrest according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a side schematic view showing the seat in a side view, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view. It is a plane schematic view which shows a sheet in a plan view. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a seat driven by a drive unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a side schematic view showing the seat in a side view, and FIG. 2B is a side view. Is a schematic plan view showing the sheet in a plan view. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a seat when the occupant moves forward from the state shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3A is a lateral schematic view showing the seat in a side view, and FIG. b) is a schematic plan view showing the sheet in a plan view. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a seat provided with an armrest according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a side schematic view showing the seat in a side view, and FIG. 4B is a side view. Is a side schematic view showing the seat in a side view.

(Basic embodiment)
An embodiment of the armrest according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
Note that FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a seat 100 provided with an armrest 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a side schematic view showing the seat 100 in a side view. 1 (b) is a plan schematic view which shows the sheet 100 in a plan view. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a seat 100 driven by a drive unit 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2A is a side schematic view showing the seat 100 in a side view. FIG. (B) is a plan schematic view which shows the sheet 100 in a plan view. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the seat 100 when the occupant P moves forward from the state shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3A is a side schematic view showing the seat 100 in a side view. FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view showing the sheet 100 in a plan view.

As shown in FIG. 1, the armrest 1 is mounted on the seat 100 and includes a side portion 2 and a drive portion 3.

The side portions 2 are long members provided on both the left and right sides of the occupant P and extending substantially parallel to the front-rear direction. The extending direction of the side portion 2 may be substantially along the anteroposterior direction, and may be inclined up and down or left and right to some extent with respect to the anteroposterior direction.

Further, the side portion 2 is connected to the seat 100 via the rear portion 4. The rear portion 4 is a shaft member that penetrates the seat back 101 in the left-right direction, and is connected to a substantially central portion of the seat back 101 in the vertical direction and is connected to the rear end side of the side portion 2. The rear portion 4 in the present embodiment is fixedly attached to the seat frame 102 arranged in the seat back 101 so as to be immovable in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the vehicle.

The side portion 2 has a slide portion 21 and a rotating portion 22.

The slide portion 21 is a portion forming the rear side of the side portion 2. On the rear side of the slide portion 21, a slide groove 23 that penetrates in the left-right direction along the extending direction of the slide portion 21 is provided. The slide portion 21 is fixed to the seat 100 by inserting the rear portion 4 into the front end portion of the slide groove 23. The front side of the slide portion 21 is connected to the rear side of the rotating portion 22. The slide portion 21 is formed in a flat plate shape having a front side extending in a substantially horizontal direction. The slide unit 21 can be slid forward by the drive unit 3, which will be described later, while maintaining the inclination with respect to the horizontal direction.

The rotating portion 22 is a portion forming the front side of the side portion 2. The rear side of the rotating portion 22 is configured to sandwich the front side of the slide portion 21, and the slide portion 21 and the rotating portion 22 are connected by being pivotally supported in the vertical direction by the rotating shaft 24. The rotating shaft 24 is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface on which the forearm portion is placed, that is, substantially in the vertical direction in the initial state, and the rotating portion 22 rotates substantially in the left-right direction around the rotating shaft 24. It is movable. The rotating shaft 24 is fixed in the initial state before the collision shown in FIG.
The rotating portion 22 is a portion on which the forearm portion from the elbow to the hand of the occupant P is placed, and in particular, the length on the rear side extends to a position where the elbow can be easily placed in a relaxed state of the occupant P. It is good to be there.

In the rotating portion 22, the portion on the front side of the rotating shaft 24 formed as the front portion 221 is an example of the front portion in the present invention, and the portion on the rear side of the rotating shaft 24 formed as the rear portion 222. The site is an example of the posterior portion in the present invention.

The drive unit 3 is a member capable of moving the slide portion 21 and the rotating portion 22 of the side portion 2 by driving. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit 3 has a first drive unit 31 and a second drive unit 32.
When a drive signal is input, the first drive unit 31 exerts power on the connecting portion between the rear portion 4 and the slide portion 21 to move the slide portion 21 forward.
When a drive signal is input, the second drive unit 32 exerts power on the rotation shaft 24 to rotate the rotation unit 22 with respect to the slide unit 21.
The drive mode of the first drive unit 31 and the second drive unit 32 is not particularly limited as long as it can be driven before the occupant P starts to move forward or diagonally forward due to a collision, and is, for example, a drive mode using gas pressure. It may be a drive form using an actuator that drives at high speed.

The drive unit 3 drives when a collision occurs or when a collision is predicted. In the present embodiment, the detection unit 5 detects a collision or a collision prediction. The detection unit 5 is input with information regarding, for example, the presence or absence of a collision detected by an in-vehicle acceleration sensor, a camera that monitors the outside of the vehicle, a sensor, a radar, or the like, and the presence or absence of a collision prediction determined via a driving control system or the like. To.
Although the drive unit 3 and the detection unit 5 in the present embodiment are described as independent control members, they may be included in an existing in-vehicle control system such as an operation control system.

Here, the protection form of the occupant P by the armrest 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, the detection unit 5 detects a collision or a collision prediction. The detection unit 5 detects the occupant P, particularly before the upper body starts to move forward or diagonally forward, or immediately after the occupant P starts to move. When the detection unit 5 detects a collision or a collision prediction, a drive signal is input to the drive unit 3.
The detection unit 5 may be able to mechanically output the drive signal of the drive unit 3, and a control unit for performing operation control may be provided separately, and the drive signal from this control unit to the drive unit 3 may be provided. May be output.

In the drive unit 3 to which the drive signal is input, the first drive unit 31 moves the slide unit 21, and the second drive unit 32 rotates the rotating unit 22.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the first drive unit 31 moves the rear portion 4 to the front side so as to feed the slide portion 21 forward while maintaining the fixed state to the seat back 101.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the second drive unit 32 rotates the rotation unit 22 around the rotation shaft 24. The rotating portion 22 moves the front portion 221 to the outside in the width direction of the seat 100 relative to the rear portion 222. In the present embodiment, the rotating portion 22 rotates so that the front portion 221 moves outward in the width direction of the seat 100 and the rear portion 222 moves inward in the width direction of the seat 100.

The forearm portion of the occupant P is forcibly moved by the drive of the drive unit 3.
Specifically, the elbow of the occupant P moves to the front side by the movement of the slide part 21 to the front side by the first drive unit 31. Further, due to the rotation of the rotating portion 22 by the second driving unit 32, the elbow of the occupant P moves inward in the width direction of the seat 100, and the hand moves outward in the width direction of the seat 100. As a result, the occupant P is forced to extend forward while opening the forearm as compared with before the collision.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the forearm portion of the occupant P is extended from the initial state, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the collision is further advanced. When the collision progresses, as shown in FIG. 3, the occupant P is basically restrained by the seat belt, but moves while falling forward, for example. At this time, the forearm portion of the occupant P is pushed forward while sliding on the upper surface portion of the side portion 2. The forearm portion of the occupant P pushed forward, particularly the hand, can come into contact with the facing surface portion W having the surface facing the occupant P in the vehicle, for example, an interior material or the like. When the hand of the occupant P comes into contact with the facing surface portion W, shock absorption occurs, so that the forward movement speed and acceleration of the occupant P are reduced. This suppresses an increase in the injury value of the occupant's upper body that may occur when the occupant P moves forward at the time of a collision due to, for example, chest compression by the seat belt, contact with the front airbag at high speed, and the like. be able to. Thereby, the protection of the occupant P by the armrest 1 is achieved.
The drive order of the first drive unit 31 and the second drive unit 32 in the drive unit 3 is not particularly limited as long as the occupant P can open and extend the forearm portion outward in the width direction of the seat 100. , Whichever comes first, or at the same time.

The facing surface portion W is not particularly limited as long as it can play a part in shock absorption when the hands of the occupant P come into contact with each other, and examples thereof include vehicle skeleton members such as instrument panels and pillars, and interior materials such as door components. be able to. In the present invention, when the facing surface portion having high shock absorbing ability is in front of the occupant, it is preferable to move the driving portion so that the front portion of the side portion faces the facing surface portion.

Here, a modified example of the armrest according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a seat 100 provided with an armrest 11 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4A is a side schematic view showing the seat 100 in a side view. FIG. (B) is a plan schematic view which shows the sheet 100 in a plan view. The same members as those in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the armrest 11 shown in FIG. 4A, the difference from the armrest 1 is the driving form of the side portion using the driving portion.

In the armrest 11, the structure of the side portion 2 is the same as that of the armrest 1, but a rear portion 41 is provided in place of the rear portion 4 as a member for connecting the side portion 2 to the seat back 101.
The rear portion 41 is a shaft member that penetrates the seat back 101, and is movable in a substantially vertical direction along the seat frame 102. A groove 103 through which the rear portion 41 is inserted is formed in the seat back 101 along the seat frame 102.

Further, in the present embodiment, the restraint member 6 is provided on the side portion 2. The restraint member 6 restrains the forearm portion of the occupant P at least when the side portion 2 is moved by the drive portion 300. The specific configuration of the restraint member 6 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4 (b).

The drive unit 300 includes a first drive unit 301 and a third drive unit 303 that drive the rear portion 41, and a second drive unit 302 that drives the rotation shaft 24.
The first drive unit 301 and the second drive unit 302 are the same members as the first drive unit 31 and the second drive unit 32.
When a drive signal is input, the third drive unit 303 exerts power on the connecting portion between the rear portion 41 and the slide portion 21 to move the slide portion 21 upward along the groove portion 103.

In the drive unit 300 in which the detection unit 5 detects a collision or collision prediction and the drive signal is input, the first drive unit 301 and the third drive unit 303 move the slide unit 21, and the second drive unit 302 rotates. The moving part 22 is rotated.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the first drive unit 301 moves the slide unit 21 forward so as to feed the slide unit 21 forward.
The second drive unit 302 rotates the rotation unit 22 around the rotation shaft 24. The rotating portion 22 moves the front portion 221 to the outside in the width direction of the seat 100 relative to the rear portion 222.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the third drive unit 303 moves the rear portion 41 along the groove portion 103 to move the slide portion 21 connected to the rear portion 41 upward.

In the present embodiment, the restraint member 6 is also driven together with the drive of the drive unit 300.
As shown in FIG. 4B, the restraint member 6 has an airbag bag body 61 and an inflator 62.
The airbag bag body 61 is a bag body housed in the front portion 221 of the side portion 2, and when unfolded, forms an annular shape around the side portion 2. The inflator 62 is housed in the front portion 221 and, when driven, press-fits gas into the airbag bag body 61.
When the restraint member 6 is driven, gas is press-fitted into the airbag bag body 61 from the inflator 62, for example, the outer portion of the side portion 2 in the width direction of the seat 100 is broken, and the airbag bag body 61 swells. Further, the airbag bag body 61 is wound around the side portion 2 and the forearm portion of the occupant P placed on the side portion 2. As a result, when the side portion 2 moves, the forearm portion of the occupant P is restrained with respect to the side portion 2. Therefore, since the followability of the forearm portion of the occupant P to the movement of the side portion 2 is improved, it becomes easy to make the direction of the forearm portion of the occupant P intended by the movement of the side portion 2.

The forearm portion of the occupant P is forcibly moved by the drive of the drive unit 300.
Specifically, the elbow of the occupant P moves to substantially the same height as the shoulder by moving the slide unit 21 upward in addition to the drive form of the drive unit 3 by the third drive unit 303. As a result, the occupant P is in a state where the forearm portion is extended as compared with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 as compared with before the collision.

By extending the forearm portion of the occupant P forward in a state of being lifted upward, when the occupant P moves forward, the direction of the forearm portion of the occupant P is likely to be pushed forward without shaking. As a result, the hand of the occupant P can be easily brought into contact with the facing surface portion W or the like by aiming at the hand of the occupant P, so that a part of the shock absorption can be performed more reliably by the forearm portion of the occupant P. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress an increase in the injury value of the occupant's upper body that may occur when the occupant P moves forward at the time of a collision, and suitable protection of the occupant P by the armrest 11 is achieved.

In the present invention, if the position of the shoulder of the occupant can be detected or set to a predetermined position, the rotation angle of the side portion is set so that the front portion, the rear portion and the shoulder of the side portion are in a straight line. preferable. As a result, the forearm portion of the occupant becomes substantially a straight line from the shoulder to the hand after the drive portion is driven, so that when the occupant moves forward, the forearm portion of the occupant can easily move to a fully extended state. Therefore, since it is possible to quickly realize a posture in which the occupant can bring his / her hand into contact with the facing surface portion or the like, it is possible to absorb the impact using the occupant's forearm portion from the initial stage of the collision, and at the same time, a high-speed collision or the like. Can also be supported.

Although the embodiment to which the invention made by the present inventor is applied has been described above, the present invention is not limited by the essay and the drawings which form a part of the disclosure of the present invention according to this embodiment. That is, it should be added that all other embodiments, examples, operational techniques, and the like made by those skilled in the art based on this embodiment are of course included in the scope of the present invention.

1 and 11: Armrest, 2: Side part, 21: Slide part, 22: Rotating part, 23: Slide groove, 24: Rotating shaft, 221: Front part, 222: Rear part, 3 and 300: Drive part, 31 and 301: 1st drive unit, 32 and 302: 2nd drive unit, 303: 3rd drive unit, 4 and 41: rear part, 5: detection unit, 6: restraint member, 61: airbag bag body, 62: Inflator, 100: seat, 101: seat back, 102: seat frame, 103: groove, P: occupant, W: facing surface.

Claims (5)

An armrest provided on the side of the seat on which the occupants of the vehicle sit.
A pair of long members provided on both the left and right sides of the occupant and provided in the front-rear direction of the seat, a rotating portion located on the front side of the seat, and a rear portion of the rotating portion and the seat. And the side part having the slide part to connect
A drive unit that can move the side portion by driving is provided.
At the time of a collision or a collision prediction, the drive unit moves the side portion to the front side by sliding the slide portion, and the front portion of the rotating portion is located outside in the seat width direction relative to the rear portion. Move to
Armrest. The drive unit moves the front portion of the rotating portion outward in the seat width direction and moves the rear portion of the rotating portion inward in the seat width direction.
The armrest according to claim 1. The drive unit moves the side unit upward.
The armrest according to claim 1 or 2. The drive unit directs the front portion of the rotating portion toward the facing surface portion facing the occupant in the vehicle.
The armrest according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The side portion has a restraining member that restrains the forearm portion of the occupant at least when it is moved by the driving portion.
The armrest according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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