JPH0569771A - Locking device of arm rest and locking method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a method for locking properly an arm rest installed on a seat back even if any operation by an occupant is not carried out. CONSTITUTION:Acceleration generated by deceleration of a running automobile is detected by a pressure sensor in an acceleration detection means 5, and based on the detection results, a command is transmitted to a locking mechanism 4 from a control mechanism 6 to operate the locking mechanism 4 so that an arm rest 3 accommodated in a seat back 1 may not run out for a locking condition. Moreover, when acceleration is gone, the locking mechanism 4 is returned to a non-locked condition.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking device and a locking method for a folding armrest provided on a vehicle seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a vehicle seat is usually provided with a foldable armrest. In the case of a bench seat, this armrest is rotatably provided at the center of the seat, and in the case of a separate seat, at the side of the seat.
Normally, it is folded and flush with the seat back. Then, it is taken out and used whenever necessary.

When the armrest is rotatably supported by the seat back as described above, inertial force may act to cause the folded armrest to pop out when the vehicle suddenly stops. Therefore, in order to avoid such an inconvenience, conventionally, the folded armrest has been locked. Many of the conventional lock systems are only mechanically configured with manual operation.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional locking method, when the seat back is folded, the locking metal fittings are automatically actuated to automatically lock, and when releasing the seat back, the release button or the release lever is used. Since it has to be operated, the passengers are forced to perform troublesome operations. In addition, it is a so-called power rest that combines the various gears, chains, cams, etc. to make the armrest entry / exit mechanism, and automatically receives and moves the armrest with the power from the electric motor. Although it may be possible to include a mechanism, it is not very welcome because the structure is complicated as a whole, the material cost is not low, and the number of assembling steps is large.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention appropriately locks the armrests without any operation by the passenger, and prevents the armrests from popping out with a relatively simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking method that can be performed.

[0006]

An armrest locking device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an acceleration detecting means for detecting an acceleration generated in a traveling direction of an automobile and inputting the detection signal to a next control mechanism. Based on the result of the determination, a control mechanism that transmits an operation command to the next armrest lock mechanism based on the result of the determination, and the rotation of the armrest housed in the seat back in response to the operation command from the control mechanism An armrest lock mechanism for locking or unlocking the vehicle, the lock being performed when acceleration occurs in the traveling direction, and the lock being released when the acceleration disappears. is there.

A lock device for an armrest according to a second aspect is the lock device for an armrest according to the first aspect, in which the acceleration detecting means has an orifice portion at a central portion thereof, gas is sealed inside, and a traveling direction of an automobile. And a pressure sensor provided at both ends inside the tube.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an armrest locking device according to the first aspect, wherein the armrest locking mechanism holds a fixed position by an actuator provided in the seat back and a biasing means. A first locking means provided in the seat back which is rotated by the operation of the actuator, and a first locking means provided in the armrest so as to rotate integrally with the armrest and separate from the first locking means. The first locking means and the second locking means are engaged with each other by the operation of the actuator, and the engagement is released by the biasing means when the actuator is not operated. It is composed of.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an armrest locking method for detecting an acceleration caused by deceleration of a running vehicle, and based on the detection result, an armrest provided on a seat back is provided with a locking mechanism so that the armrest does not pop out. When the acceleration is eliminated by operating the lock mechanism, the lock mechanism is returned to the unlocked state.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an armrest locking method according to the fourth aspect, wherein the pressure distribution in the advancing direction of the sealed gas in a tube arranged parallel to the advancing direction of the automobile is changed. By detecting, the acceleration is detected.

[0011]

According to the armrest locking device of the first aspect, when acceleration occurs in the traveling direction in the automobile, the acceleration detecting means detects it and transmits a detection signal to the control mechanism. The mechanism analyzes and judges the detection signal according to a program input in advance, and sends a predetermined operation command to the armrest locking mechanism. Therefore, the lock mechanism that receives the lock performs a predetermined operation to lock the rotation of the armrest housed in the seat back, and releases the lock when the lock is already performed. That is, when the acceleration is generated in the traveling direction, the lock is performed, and when the acceleration disappears, the lock is released. Therefore, when the vehicle is braked, the armrest is locked, and the vehicle after braking is locked. The lock is released when the vehicle reaches a certain speed or stops.

According to the armrest locking device of the second aspect, when acceleration is generated inside the automobile, the gas in the tube is biased in the direction of acceleration, so that the pressure in that direction in the tube rises. The directional pressure drops. Since the pressure sensors are provided at both inner ends of the tube, the pressure sensors detect the pressure and the direction in which the acceleration is generated can be known based on the detection result.

According to the armrest lock device of the third aspect, when an operation command is transmitted from the control mechanism to the solenoid valve, the solenoid valve opens based on the command. And
The compressed air is supplied to the actuator from the compressed air pipe to operate the actuator, and accordingly, the first locking means operates and engages with the second locking means.

When the solenoid valve is closed based on the command from the control mechanism, the supply of the compressed air from the compressed air pipe is stopped, so that the first locking means is pulled back by the biasing means to rotate. The engagement between the first locking means and the second locking means is released, and the armrest can be freely rotated.

According to the armrest locking method of the fourth aspect, when the vehicle running is decelerated, acceleration is generated, and a force commensurate with the acceleration is generated. The armrest that is folded and stored in the seat back locks the rotation, so the armrest does not pop out. When the acceleration disappears, the lock is released, but at that time, since the force due to the acceleration does not exist anymore, the armrest does not pop out.

According to the armrest locking method of the fifth aspect, when the vehicle decelerates, acceleration is generated in the vehicle in the traveling direction, and as a result, the gas molecules in the tube exert a force in the traveling direction. As a result, the pressure distribution in the tube changes to high pressure in the front and low pressure in the rear. This change can be detected by the pressure sensor to know the occurrence of acceleration.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram showing a lock device and a lock method for an armrest according to the present invention. In this figure, a seat S is composed of a seat back 1 and a seat bottom 2, and an armrest 3 is rotatably and pivotally supported on the seat back 1. Normally, the armrest 3 is housed in the central portion (in the case of a bench seat) or the side portion (in the case of a separate seat) of the seat back 1, and when used, it is rotated in the traveling direction of the automobile and pulled out.

Reference numeral 5 is an acceleration detecting means for detecting the acceleration generated in the traveling direction in the automobile and inputting the detection signal to the next control mechanism. Specifically, a tube 51 having a gas sealed inside is used. ing. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the acceleration detecting means 5 includes a laterally long tube 5 having an orifice portion 54 provided at the center of the inside thereof, a pair of lids 52a and 52b for closing both ends thereof by screwing, and a pair thereof. A pair of pressure sensors 5 provided inside
It is composed of 3a and 53b. A gas is sealed inside the tube 5. Although the type of gas to be sealed is not specified, it serves to detect the pressure distribution in the tube 5 due to the generation of acceleration as described later, and since it is necessary to avoid internal corrosion,
An inert gas having a large molecular weight, such as nitrogen, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon, is preferably used.
The acceleration detecting means 5 is arranged parallel to the traveling direction of the automobile.

The reason why the orifice portion 54 is provided at the center of the tube 51 is to control the speed of change of the pressure distribution to an appropriate value, and the orifice diameter of the orifice portion 54 is properly selected. As a result, excessively sensitive movement of gas molecules in the tube 5 is suppressed,
The inconvenience of pressure detection due to hunting can be avoided.

As the pressure sensor 53, a commercially available silicon diaphragm type semiconductor pressure sensor can be used. This sensor uses a silicon substrate on which a Wheatstone bridge circuit is formed
It is a microminiature pressure detecting member that can detect the pressure of the gas sealed inside.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a control mechanism for making a predetermined judgment based on the above detection signal and transmitting an operation command to the next armrest lock mechanism based on the judgment result. A program for issuing an operation command is input to the control mechanism 6 in advance.

The pressure value detected by the front sensor 53a and the rear sensor 53b is always transmitted to the control mechanism 6 as a signal (current value) of an analog amount, and the control mechanism 6 receiving the signal transmits the signal to the front. Part sensor 53
Only when the pressure value input from a is larger than the pressure value input from the rear sensor 53b, the program for transmitting a signal for locking the rotation of the armrest 3 to the armrest lock mechanism 4 of the seat S described later is transmitted. Is being built.

An armrest lock mechanism 4 locks or unlocks the rotation of the armrest housed in the seat back in response to a predetermined operation command from the control mechanism. The lock mechanism 4 is installed in the seat back 1 and the armrest 3 over them. A signal for locking or unlocking the armrest 3 according to the generation or disappearance of acceleration is transmitted from the acceleration detection means 5 to the lock mechanism 4 via the control mechanism 6.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of the structure of the armrest lock mechanism 4. The mechanism 4 is provided over the seat back 1 and the armrest 3 of the seat S.

That is, the seat back 1 of the lock mechanism 4
On the side, an actuator 42 for raising the rod 43,
A compressed air pipe 41a for supplying compressed air to the actuator and a hook 44 (first locking means) that engages with a cam 31 in the armrest 3 described later are internally provided. And
The compressed air pipe 41a has one end connected to a compressed air supply source (not shown) and the other end connected to the rod side of the actuator 42 via the electromagnetic valve 41. The hook 44 has a base end coupled to the free end of the rod 43, a hook surface 44a formed at the tip, and is rotatably supported by a shaft 44c provided in the seat back at the center. Hook surface 4 of this hook 44
The reference numeral 4 a projects from the seat back 1 and is located in the armrest 3. A coil spring 44 is provided on the base end side of the hook 44.
b (biasing means) is provided so as to bias downward. The solenoid valve 41 opens and closes based on a command from the control mechanism 6.

The armrest 3 of the lock mechanism 4
A cam 31 (second locking means) is internally provided on the side.
The armrest 3 is fixed to the shaft 32 and rotates about it. A cam 31 is integrally attached to the shaft 32, and a hook surface 44a of a hook 44 is detachably locked to a cam surface 31a of the cam 31.

The tip of the compressed air pipe 41a is connected to the rod side of the piston 42b in the actuator 42, and small holes 42a are bored on both the rod side and the head side of the actuator 42. Therefore, in a normal state in which the solenoid valve 41 is closed and compressed air is not supplied to the actuator 42, the hook 44 is set to the position shown in FIG.
As indicated by the solid line, the coil spring 44b (biasing means) holds the position rotated clockwise by the urging force,
The engagement with the cam 31 is released. In this case, the air existing in advance on the rod side of the actuator 42 is discharged from the small hole 42a, so that the rod 43 is lowered by the urging force of the coil spring 44b without any problem.

Since the lock mechanism 4 is configured as described above, when the acceleration in the traveling direction is applied to the gas in the tube 51 and the command for opening the electromagnetic valve 41 is transmitted from the control mechanism 6, it is received. Solenoid valve 41 is opened and compressed air pipe 41
Compressed air is supplied to the actuator 42 from a. Then, the piston 42b ascends to pull up the rod 43, and the hook 44 fitted thereto is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 44c. Therefore, the hook surface 44a provided at the free end of the piston 42b is the cam surface of the cam 31. 31a to lock the rotation of the cam 31 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Therefore, the armrest 3 does not protrude from the seat back 1.

Then, when the acceleration disappears, a command to close the solenoid valve 41 is transmitted from the control mechanism 6,
Since the solenoid valve 41 is closed to stop the supply of compressed air, the air inside the actuator 42 is discharged from the small hole 42a by the urging force of the coil spring 44b, and the piston 42b is released.
Moves downward, the hook 44 pivots clockwise in conjunction with this, and the hook surface 44a at the free end of the hook 44 is disengaged from the cam surface 31a of the cam 31 to release the lock. Therefore, in this state, a passenger of the vehicle can arbitrarily rotate the armrest 3 and pull it out from the seatback 1.

In the present embodiment, the actuator 42 as described above is used to operate the hook 44, but there is also a method of using an eccentric cam rotated by a motor. In this case, the cam surface of the eccentric cam is kept in contact with the base end side of the hook 44, and the 180
If you rotate it by °, the hook 4
4 rotation operation can be performed.

FIG. 4 is an example of a flow chart showing a program for transmitting an operation command incorporated in the control mechanism 6 and a flow of operation of each mechanism before and after the program.
The operation will be described below with reference to this drawing.

When the vehicle is stationary or traveling at a constant speed, there is no acceleration, so the pressure distribution in the acceleration detecting means 5 is uniform, and therefore the front sensor 53a of the pressure sensor 53 is used. Both the rear sensor 53b and the rear sensor 53b detect the same pressure value. However, when the vehicle is started or braked, or when the speed is changed during traveling, acceleration occurs, so that it extends to the gas molecules in the acceleration detecting means 5 and the pressure distribution in the tube 5 is uniform. Not be. In particular,
When starting or accelerating, a large amount of gas molecules are collected in the rear part of the tube 5 because a force is applied to the rear, so that the pressure at the rear cover 52b of the rearmost part (hereinafter, the pressure at this part is referred to as the pressure B) is the tube. 5 is the highest, and when decelerating, the pressure of the front lid 52a at the forefront (hereinafter, the pressure of this portion is referred to as the pressure A) is the highest.

Therefore, the pressure B becomes larger than the pressure A when starting or accelerating during traveling, and conversely, the pressure A becomes larger than the pressure B when decelerating with a brake or stopping. These pressure values are measured by the rear sensor 53.
b and the front sensor 53a, respectively.

By the way, the armrest 3 housed in the seat back 1 pops out when a force acts in the traveling direction of the vehicle in the vehicle body, that is, when the vehicle body is considered as a space of one constant velocity system. This is when the acceleration in the traveling direction is applied to the gas in 5. This situation is
Appears when the vehicle running at a constant speed is braked and decelerated. On the other hand, at this time, the pressure A in the acceleration detecting means 5 is higher than the pressure B.

Therefore, when this program is started, the pressure sensor 53 detects the pressure at both ends in the acceleration detecting means 5 and inputs the value to the control mechanism 6. The control mechanism 6 to which this value is input immediately detects the front sensor 53.
The pressure value (pressure A) from a and the pressure value (pressure B) from the rear sensor 53b are compared and calculated. And A> B
At that time, that is, when the brake is applied to decelerate, the lock command is transmitted to the solenoid valve 41 of the lock mechanism 4.
Upon receipt of this command, the solenoid valve 41 is opened, the lock mechanism 4 operates as described above, and the hook surface 44a of the hook 44 and the cam surface 31a of the cam 31 are locked and locked so that the armrest 3 does not pop out. I do.

As a result of the above comparison calculation, when A≤B, that is, when the vehicle is stopped, when starting or traveling at a constant speed, a lock release command is transmitted to the lock mechanism 4, and the solenoid valve of the lock mechanism 4 that receives the lock release command is transmitted. Since 41 is closed, the actuator 42 returns to the original state in which it is biased by the coil spring 44b. Therefore, the lock of the armrest 3 is released, and the occupant can arbitrarily rotate the armrest 3 from the seatback 1 and pull it out.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the acceleration caused by the deceleration of the running vehicle is detected, and the rotation of the armrest housed in the seat back is stopped based on the detection result. The lock mechanism is activated to bring it into the locked state, and when the acceleration disappears, the lock mechanism is released to restore the original state.
When the vehicle is stopped without acceleration due to deceleration, running at a constant speed, or starting, the lock is released and the armrest can be freely taken out from the seatback.

On the other hand, when acceleration is caused by deceleration, such as when a sudden braking is applied during traveling, the acceleration of the armrest is detected and the rotation of the housed armrest is locked. It does not jump out of the seat back, so there is no inconvenience that the driver interferes with the jumped out armrest and makes a mistake in driving.
It is also convenient for safe driving.

Further, if the acceleration is detected based on the change in the pressure distribution of the gas sealed in the tube, the gas state is properly managed (normally, the pressure management is the same as that of the tire). Since it is easy to eliminate the disturbance and the detection force is stable as a result, there is less mistake action, and the armrest can be locked before it rotates against the frictional force caused by contact with the seat back. , The armrest rarely pops out before it is locked.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of a method for locking an armrest according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of acceleration detecting means.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an armrest lock mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of contents of a program of the control mechanism 6.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Seat Back 2 Seat Bottom 3 Arm Rest 31 Cam 4 Arm Rest Lock Mechanism 41 Solenoid Valve 42 Actuator 43 Rod 44 Hook 44b Coil Spring (Biasing Means) 5 Gas Seal Tube 53a Front Sensor 53b Rear Sensor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An acceleration detecting means for detecting an acceleration generated in a traveling direction of an automobile and inputting the detection signal to a next control mechanism, and a predetermined judgment is made based on the detection signal, and the operation is performed based on the judgment result. The armrest includes a control mechanism for transmitting a command to the next armrest lock mechanism, and an armrest lock mechanism for locking or unlocking the rotation of the armrest housed in the seat back in response to the operation command from the control mechanism. The lock mechanism for an armrest, wherein the lock mechanism is configured to perform the lock when acceleration occurs in the traveling direction and to release the lock when the acceleration disappears. 2. A tube in which the acceleration detecting means has an orifice portion in a central portion, gas is hermetically sealed inside, and is arranged parallel to a traveling direction of an automobile, and pressure sensors provided at both ends of the inside of the tube. The armrest locking device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The armrest lock mechanism includes an actuator provided in the seatback, and a first locking means provided in the seatback which is held in a fixed position by a biasing means and is rotated by the operation of the actuator. When,
The second locking means is provided in the armrest so as to rotate integrally with the armrest and separate from the first locking means, and the first locking means and the second locking means are actuated by the operation of the actuator. 2. The armrest locking device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is engaged with each other, and the engagement is released by the biasing means when the actuator is not operated. 4. An acceleration generated by deceleration of a moving vehicle is detected, and based on the detection result, a lock mechanism is operated to lock the armrest provided on the seat back so that the armrest does not pop out. A method for locking an armrest, wherein the lock mechanism is returned to an unlocked state when disappears. 5. The armrest according to claim 4, wherein acceleration is detected by detecting a change in a pressure distribution in a traveling direction of a sealed gas in a tube arranged parallel to a traveling direction of the automobile. Lock method.