JP2010042209A - Headrest structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A headrest structure capable of independently expanding and contracting a head support surface that supports an occupant's head from behind in a headrest.
A headrest structure 10 includes a headrest body 16 that supports a head of a passenger in a headrest 14 from behind, a shortened state in which the headrest body portion 16 is shortened in a seat width direction, and a contracted state by expanding and contracting an outer skin portion 36. On the other hand, a drive mechanism 40 that can be switched to an extended state extended in the sheet width direction is provided. The drive mechanism 40 expands and contracts the stretchable skin portion 36 provided between the top skin 25 and the side skin 30 by moving the left and right side support portions 18 in and out of the headrest body portion 16 in the seat width direction.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a headrest structure for supporting the head of a seat occupant.

The right side of the headrest and the left side of the headrest are displaceable with respect to the center in the width direction that supports the occupant's head from behind. 2. Description of the Related Art An automatic headrest device for a vehicle that can switch between a curved state that can be supported from one side is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-66092 A

  However, in the conventional technology as described above, if the flat portion of the headrest that supports the occupant's head from behind is to be enlarged, the side support effect is lost.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a headrest structure that can expand and contract independently a head support surface that supports an occupant's head from behind in the headrest in consideration of the above facts.

  The headrest structure according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a variable support width mechanism that can expand and contract in the seat width direction a head support surface that supports the occupant's head from behind in the headrest.

  In the headrest structure according to the first aspect, the head support surface that supports the occupant's head in the headrest from the rear can be expanded and contracted (at least contracted or expanded with respect to the standard width) by the support width variable mechanism. That is, in this headrest structure, the head support surface itself can be expanded and contracted in the seat width direction alone (for example, without depending on the posture change of the side support) by the support width variable mechanism.

  Thus, in the headrest structure according to the first aspect, the head support surface for supporting the head of the passenger in the headrest from the rear can be enlarged or reduced independently.

  The headrest structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the headrest structure according to the first aspect, wherein side support portions for supporting the head from the side are provided on both sides of the head support surface in the seat width direction. The skin material constituting the head support surface is configured such that both end portions in the seat width direction can be expanded and contracted in the seat width direction and connected to the side support portion. The side support portion is configured to be movable in the seat width direction with respect to the center portion in the seat width direction of the head support surface.

  In the headrest structure according to claim 2, by displacing the side support portion in the seat width direction, both ends of the skin material constituting the head support surface expand and contract, and the head support surface extends in the seat width direction. It expands and contracts. Thereby, the head support surface can be expanded and contracted in the seat width direction using the side support part without impairing the support function from the side of the head by the side support part.

  A headrest structure according to a third aspect of the present invention is the headrest structure according to the second aspect, wherein the side support portions respectively adjust a support interval for supporting the head from the side by rotating around the hinge shaft. The support width varying mechanism is configured to be movable in the seat width direction with respect to the central portion of the head support surface in the seat width direction.

  In the headrest structure according to the third aspect, the head support surface is expanded and contracted in the seat width direction by moving the left and right hinge shafts for adjusting the support interval between the pair of left and right side support portions in the seat width direction. Thereby, a head support surface can be expanded / contracted in a sheet width direction, maintaining the adjustment function of a side support part.

  As described above, the headrest structure according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the head support surface that supports the head of the passenger in the headrest from the rear can be enlarged or reduced independently.

  A headrest structure 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that arrow FR, arrow UP, arrow LH, and arrow RH, which are appropriately described in each figure, are respectively the seat width direction substantially corresponding to the front direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, and the vehicle width direction of the vehicle to which the headrest structure 10 is applied. The left side and the right side, which are the other side, are shown.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an upper portion of the vehicle seat 11 to which the headrest structure 10 is applied. As shown in this figure, a headrest 14 is provided at the upper end of the seat back 12 constituting the vehicle seat 11, and the headrest structure 10 is applied to the headrest 14. The headrest 14 projects forward from the headrest main body 16 on both sides in the seat width direction with respect to the headrest main body 16 and a headrest main body (top plate) 16 that supports the head of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat 11 from behind. And a pair of left and right side support portions 18 provided.

  The headrest structure 10 according to this embodiment is a structure in which the head support interval between the pair of left and right side support portions 18 is variable and the width of the headrest main body portion 16 in the seat width direction is variable. That is, the headrest structure 10 is configured such that the left and right side support portions 18 can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 6 and the headrest main body portion 16 can be expanded and contracted in the arrow B direction. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the headrest 14 in a state in which the headrest main body portion 16 is most contracted (shortened in the width direction), and FIG. 2 shows the headrest main body portion 16 having the largest width (width). The headrest 14 in a state of being stretched in the direction is shown in a plan sectional view. FIG. 3 shows a back cross-sectional view of the headrest 14 with a part cut away. As shown in these drawings, the headrest 14 includes a headrest stay 20 connected to the seat back 12.

  The headrest stay 20 has a substantially “U” shape opening downward in a front view, and the left and right leg portions 20A are inserted and held in a stay holder (not shown) provided on the seat back 12 so as to be relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Has been. Thereby, the headrest 14 is comprised so that adjustment of the position of the up-down direction with respect to the seat back 12 is possible. The upper ends of the left and right leg portions 20A of the headrest stay 20 are bridged by the upper frame portion 20B.

  The headrest stay 20 fixedly supports the top plate 22 from the back side, and the top plate 22 holds a top plate pad 24 as a cushioning material made of polyurethane foam or the like from the back side. And the top plate pad 24 is covered with a top plate skin 25 from the front side, and the basic structure of the headrest body 16 is configured.

  Further, the left and right side support portions 18 each hold a side pad 28 as a cushioning material made of polyurethane foam or the like on the side plate 26 from the back side, and the side pad 28 is covered with a side skin 30 from the front side. The basic structure is configured. Each side plate 26 is bent so as to protrude forward in plan view, thereby causing the left and right side support portions 18 to protrude forward with respect to the headrest body portion 16.

The side plates 26 constituting the left and right side support portions 18 are supported on the outer side in the width direction of the top plate 22 via a hinge 32 having a hinge shaft 32A whose inner end in the width direction extends in the vehicle vertical direction. . The left and right side support portions 18 are configured to rotate in the direction of the arrow A as a whole when the side plate 26 is rotated around the hinge shaft 32A. The hinge 32 is provided with a moderation mechanism, a locking mechanism, etc. (not shown), and the side plate 26, that is, the side support portion 18 is moved to an arbitrary rotational position or a plurality of rotational positions set by the moderation mechanism, the locking mechanism, or the like. It is set as the structure which can be hold | maintained to one.
In the headrest structure 10 applied to the headrest 14, a slider 34 supported by the top plate 22 so as to be relatively displaceable in the sheet width direction is interposed between the top plate 22 and the left and right 32. . In addition, between the top skin 25 and the side skin 30, an extendable skin portion 36 made of a skin material similar to these is provided. As shown in FIG. 5A, both ends of the return rubber 38 are joined to the inner surface side of the stretchable skin portion 36 so as to straddle the stretchable skin portion 36. When the return rubber 38 is extended as shown in FIG. 5 (B), an elastic force is applied in a direction to restore the state shown in FIG. 5 (A). Accordingly, the stretchable skin portion 36 is configured to be in a folded (shortened) state as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5A when there is no load.

  The headrest body portion 16 described above displaces the left and right side support portions 18 in the seat width direction, so that the headrest body portion 16 can move between the reduced width state shown in FIG. 1 and the widened state shown in FIG. It is possible to expand and contract in the direction of arrow B). That is, the headrest main body 16 has the stretchable skin portion 36 extended by displacing the left and right side support portions 18 outward in the seat width direction with respect to the top plate 22 from the reduced width state shown in FIG. It is set as the structure which transfers to the wide state which can be. On the other hand, the headrest main body 16 returns from the widened state shown in FIG. 2 to the reduced-width state shown in FIG. 1 by the reverse operation.

  Further, in the headrest structure 10, the slider 34 is slid with respect to the top plate 22 in conjunction with expansion / contraction of the headrest body 16 (displacement of the hinge 32 that supports the left and right side support portions 18). That is, it can be understood that the top plate 22 has a configuration that expands and contracts in the sheet width direction.

  1 to 3, the headrest structure 10 includes a driving mechanism 40 that generates a driving force for sliding the left and right sliders 34 in the seat width direction with respect to the top plate 22. The drive mechanism 40 includes a motor actuator 42 fixed to the headrest stay 20 (upper frame portion 20B). The motor actuator 42 is configured to be able to rotate the rotating shaft 42A forward and backward.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a right side pinion 44 and a left side pinion 45 are provided on the rotation shaft 42A of the motor actuator 42 so as to rotate coaxially and integrally. The right side portion pinion 44 and the left side portion pinion 45 are each configured as a helical gear, and the tooth trace directions are opposite to each other.

  The right side portion pinion 44 is engaged with a right side portion rack 46 that is elongated in the seat width direction, and the left side portion pinion 45 is engaged with a left side portion rack that is elongated in the seat width direction. 48 is engaged. The right side rack 46 and the left side rack 48 are guided in the seat width direction with respect to the headrest stay 20 (top plate 22) by a rack guide (not shown). Thereby, in the drive mechanism 40 of the headrest structure 10, when the motor actuator 42 is operated and the rotating shaft 42A rotates, as shown in FIG. 4B, the right side rack 46 and the left side rack 48 are illustrated. Are configured to move in the opposite direction of the sheet width direction.

  1 to 3, the right side rack 46 is fixedly connected to the right hinge 32 at the right end, and the left side rack 48 is connected to the left hinge 32 at the left end. It is fixedly connected. Therefore, the headrest structure 10 is configured such that the headrest body 16 can be automatically expanded and contracted by operating the motor actuator 42. In this embodiment, the headrest body 16 is widened by rotating the rotating shaft 42A of the motor actuator 42 in the forward direction, and the headrest body 16 is contracted by rotating the rotating shaft 42A in the reverse direction.

  In the headrest structure 10 described above, the front surface (the top plate skin 25, the stretchable skin portion 36) of the headrest body 16 corresponds to the head support surface in the present invention, and the topplate skin 25 including the stretchable skin portion 36 is the present invention. The drive mechanism 40 corresponds to the support width variable mechanism in the present invention.

  The drive mechanism 40 includes a control circuit 50 electrically connected to the motor actuator 42 and an operation switch 52 electrically connected to the control circuit 50. The operation switch 52 is disposed at a position where it can be easily operated by a seated occupant of the vehicle seat 11. The control circuit 50 supplies power to the motor actuator 42 so as to rotate the motor actuator 42 in the forward direction by the widening operation of the operation switch 52 (controls the power supply from a power source (not shown)). Electric power is supplied to the motor actuator 42 so as to reversely rotate the actuator 42 (power supply from a power source (not shown) is controlled).

  For example, the control circuit 50 may be configured to supply power to the motor actuator 42 only while the operation switch 52 is being operated (a configuration in which the width of the headrest body 16 can be adjusted arbitrarily or in multiple stages). It is good also as a structure (structure which switches the width | variety of the headrest main-body part 16 in two steps) to move to the headrest main-body part 16 widening limit or a contraction width limit by one-touch operation of the switch 52. Moreover, it is good also as a structure using ECU as a control apparatus which replaces with the control circuit 50 and has CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.

  The control circuit 50 is disposed in the vehicle seat 11 or at an appropriate position on the vehicle body, and is electrically connected to the motor actuator 42 via the wire harness 54 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the wire harness 54 is guided to the seat back 12 through the one leg portion 20A of the headrest stay 20, and is controlled in the seat back 12 via a connector 56 provided at one end thereof. The circuit 50 or a counterpart connector connected to the control circuit 50 is connected.

  Further, the headrest 14 is covered with a back side skin material 58 from the back side thereof. The back side skin material 58 is made of, for example, a stretchable material such as a mesh material or a knitted fabric, and is configured to allow the headrest body portion 16 to be expanded or contracted.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the vehicle seat 11 to which the headrest structure 10 having the above configuration is applied, the seated occupant adjusts the width of the headrest body 16 by operating the operation switch 52 as necessary. Further, the occupant rotates the left and right side support portions 18 in the direction of arrow A as necessary to adjust the holdability of the head H by the left and right side support portions 18.

  Here, in the headrest structure 10, a slider 34 as a support width variable mechanism is provided between the top plate 22 constituting the headrest main body portion 16 and the side plates 26 constituting the left and right side support portions 18. Since the stretchable skin portion 36 is provided between the plate skin 25 and the side skin 30, the head support width of the headrest body portion 16 itself can be stretched (adjusted) as described above. In addition, since the drive mechanism 40 is provided in the headrest structure 10, the width of the headrest body 16 can be adjusted automatically (electrically).

  Moreover, in the headrest structure 10, since the width of the headrest main body 16 is adjusted by moving the left and right side support portions 18 along the seat width direction, the side support portion 18 (by the function of holding the head H) is left. The width of the headrest main body 16 can be adjusted as it is. In particular, in the headrest structure 10, the hinges 32 are interposed between the left and right racks 46, 48 and the side plate 26. It is possible to adjust the rotation position of the side support portion 18, that is, the holdability.

  Thus, in the headrest 14 to which the headrest structure 10 according to the first embodiment is applied, the head support surface that supports the head of the occupant in the headrest from behind can be expanded or contracted alone. That is, for example, in the configuration in which the angle of the left and right side support portions 18 can be simply adjusted, when the head H of the occupant is large, the adjustment allowance of the left and right side support portions 18 is small. In the structure 10, the headrest main body 16 can be adjusted according to the size of the head H. Therefore, a support mechanism for supporting the head H from the rear by the headrest main body 16 and a hold by the left and right side support 18. The sex adjustment function can be improved together. Further, for example, in a configuration in which the width of the head support surface is widened by switching from a position where the side portion projects forward with respect to the central portion to a position where the side portion is substantially flush with the central portion, the head support surface However, in the headrest structure 10 according to this embodiment, the headrest body 16 can be expanded and contracted while maintaining the hold function of the left and right side support portions 18 as described above. it can.

  In the headrest structure 10, the width of the headrest body 16 is variable as described above. Therefore, in the headrest structure 10, not only the width of the headrest body 16 is adjusted in accordance with the dimensions of the head of the occupant. The width of the headrest body 16 can be adjusted according to the purpose of use of the headrest. That is, in the headrest structure 10, the width of the headrest main body 16 can be adjusted while maintaining the angle adjustment function of the left and right side support portions 18. The left and right side support portions 18 can receive the head H while securing a margin for moving the head H by widening.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that parts / parts basically configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment or the previous configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration, and the description thereof is omitted. To do.

(Second Embodiment)
FIGS. 7A and 7B show a headrest structure 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention in a partial plan sectional view and a schematic rear view. As shown in these drawings, the headrest structure 60 is different from the headrest structure 10 according to the first embodiment in that a slide lock mechanism 62 is provided instead of the drive mechanism 40. That is, the headrest structure 60 is configured to manually adjust the width of the headrest body 16. This will be specifically described below.

  In the headrest structure 60, instead of the right side rack 46 and the left side rack 48, a right slide rail 64 having a right end fixedly connected to the right hinge 32 and a left end fixed to the left hinge 32 are fixed. The left slide rail 66 connected is provided. The right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 are supported by a lower rail 68 fixed to the headrest stay 20 so as to be slidable in the seat width direction with respect to the headrest stay 20.

  The right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 are configured to be displaced in the opposite direction of the seat width direction in conjunction with one operation. For example, a configuration in which the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 are opposed to each other in the up-down or front-rear direction, and rack teeth formed on the opposed wall surfaces are engaged with a common pinion so that they are interlocked as described above. Can be taken.

  The slide lock mechanism 62 prohibits relative displacement in the seat width direction with respect to at least one of the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 with respect to the lower rail 68. In this embodiment, the respective lock holes 70 of the lower rail 68, the right slide rail 64, and the left slide rail 66 are formed, and the positions of the lock holes of these three rails 64 to 68 are made coincident with each other. The displacement of the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 with respect to the lower rail 68 is locked by inserting the lock pin 72 into the lower rail 68.

  A single lock hole 70 is formed in the lower rail 68, and a plurality of lock holes 70 are formed in the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 along the seat width direction, thereby increasing the width of the headrest body 16. It can be held in multiple types of width. On the other hand, in the slide lock mechanism 62, the lower rail 68 is pulled out of the lock hole 70 so that the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 are unlocked with respect to the lower rail 68.

  The slide lock mechanism 62 includes a spring 74 that biases the lock pin 72 to the lock position, and an operation knob 76 that is fixed to the lower end of the lock pin 72 and protrudes below the headrest 14. In this embodiment, the lock pin 72 moves to the lock release position against the urging force of the spring 74 by pulling the operation knob 76 downward. The operation knob 76 is configured to function as a stopper that supports the urging force of the spring 74 by engaging with the lower surface of the headrest 14.

  A different part from the effect | action of the headrest structure 10 in the effect | action of the headrest structure 60 demonstrated above is demonstrated. In the headrest structure 60 having the above-described configuration, when adjusting the width of the headrest body 16, the operation knob 76 is pulled to unlock the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66, that is, the left and right side support portions 18. Next, while maintaining this unlocked state, at least one of the left and right side support portions 18 is moved in the seat width direction. Then, this moving force is input to at least one of the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 via the hinge 32, and the right slide rail 64 and the left slide rail 66 are mutually opposite along the seat width direction while interlocking. Displaced in the direction.

  Then, after the width of the headrest body 16 is adjusted to a desired width, when the hand is released from the operation knob 76, the lock pin 72 enters the lock hole 70 by the biasing force of the spring 74, and the width of the headrest body 16 is , Locked in the desired width. When the lock hole 70 is displaced, the left and right side support portions 18 may be slightly moved in the seat width direction while releasing the hand from the operation knob 76.

  The headrest structure 60 operates in the same manner as the headrest structure 10 except that the width of the headrest body 16 is manually adjusted, and the same effect can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, the example in which the displacement of the left and right side support portions 18 in the vehicle width direction is interlocked is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both the left and right side support portions 18 are manually operated. It may be configured to move, or may be configured to independently adjust the position in the seat width direction of the left and right side support portions 18 (including two slide lock mechanisms 62).

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows a partial cross-sectional plan view of a headrest structure 80 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the headrest structure 80 includes an actuator 82 that generates a driving force for rotating the left and right side support portions 18 around the hinge shaft 32A, and thus the headrest structure 10 according to the first and second embodiments. , 60.

  The actuator 82 is fixed to the hinge 32 (any one of the left and right racks 46 and 48 or any one of the left and right slide rails 64 and 66) via a bracket (not shown), and the actuator body 84. The actuator rod 86 can be moved back and forth in a substantially front-rear direction. The actuator rod 86 is connected to the side plate 26 at its front end, which is a free end. Therefore, in the headrest structure 80, when the actuator rod 86 advances and retreats with respect to the actuator main body 84, the angle (the amount of angular displacement around the hinge shaft 32A) of the side plate 26, that is, the side support portion 18 with respect to the headrest main body portion 16 changes. Has been.

  Although not shown, the actuator 82 is electrically connected to the operation switch via the control circuit, and is actuated by operation of the operation switch. Thereby, the seated occupant of the vehicle seat 11 is configured to be able to adjust the posture (holdability) of the left and right side support portions 18 only by a switch operation. The actuator 82 (control circuit) may be configured such that the left and right side support portions 18 can be adjusted steplessly or in multiple steps, or may be adjusted in two steps.

  The headrest structure 80 can obtain the same effect by the same operation as the headrest structure 10 (headrest structure 60), except that a function capable of electrically adjusting the left and right side support portions 18 is added.

It is a plane sectional view showing the contraction state of the headrest structure concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a plane sectional view showing the widened state of the headrest structure concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is the partially cutaway rear view which shows the headrest to which the headrest structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention was applied. It is a figure which shows typically the drive mechanism which comprises the headrest structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a front view, (B) shows the upper and lower racks and pinions by offsetting back and forth. It is a top view. It is a figure which shows typically the elastic skin part 36 which comprises the headrest structure which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a top view of an expansion-contraction state, (B) is a top view of an expansion | extension state. . 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat to which a headrest structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the headrest structure which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a partial plane sectional view, (B) is the partially cutaway rear view. It is a plane sectional view showing partially the headrest structure concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Headrest structure 14 Headrest 16 Headrest body (head support surface)
18 Side support part 25 Top plate skin (skin material)
32A Hinge shaft 36 Extendable skin part (skin material)
40 Drive mechanism (support width variable mechanism)
60/80 Headrest structure 62 Slide lock mechanism (support width variable mechanism)

Claims (3)

  A headrest structure including a support width variable mechanism that can expand and contract in a seat width direction a head support surface that supports an occupant's head from behind in a headrest. Side support portions for supporting the head from the side are provided on both sides of the head support surface in the seat width direction, respectively.
The skin material constituting the head support surface is configured such that both end portions in the sheet width direction can be expanded and contracted in the sheet width direction and connected to the side support portion,
The headrest structure according to claim 1, wherein the support width variable mechanism is configured to be able to move the side support portion in a seat width direction with respect to a center portion in the seat width direction of the head support surface. Each of the side support portions is configured to be able to adjust a support interval for supporting the head from the side by rotating around the hinge axis.
The headrest structure according to claim 2, wherein the support width variable mechanism is configured to be able to move the hinge shaft in the seat width direction with respect to a center portion in the seat width direction of the head support surface.

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