Rotably lockable armrest

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906441-B2
Application number	US-201716088264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

An armrest is fixed to a shaft ( 20 ) of a one-way clutch ( 1 ) that is provided on a seat frame, and is rotatable together with the shaft ( 20 ) relative to the seat frame. The armrest is configured to be switchable by the one-way clutch ( 1 ) between a locked state in which rotation of the armrest in a downward direction is restricted and an unlocked state in which rotation of the armrest in upward and downward directions is allowed. The armrest includes a main frame ( 100 ) constituting a framework of the armrest, and a reinforcement frame ( 200 ) having a thickness larger than that of the main frame ( 100 ), the reinforcement frame ( 200 ) and the main frame ( 100 ) lying one over another. The reinforcement frame ( 200 ) is fixed to the shaft ( 20 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An armrest fixed to a shaft of a one-way clutch that is provided on a seat frame, the armrest being rotatable together with the shaft relative to the seat frame and switchable by the one-way clutch between a locked state in which rotation of the armrest in one direction is restricted and an unlocked state in which rotation of the armrest in two directions is allowed, the armrest comprising:
a main frame constituting a framework of the armrest; and
a reinforcement frame having a thickness larger than that of the main frame, the reinforcement frame and the main frame lying one over another,
wherein the reinforcement frame is fixed to the shaft,
wherein the main frame comprises:
a first base portion;
a first side wall portion provided at one end of the first base portion in a width direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first base portion and extending from the one end of the first base portion in a direction away from the seat frame; and
a first folded-back portion extending from an end of the first side wall portion and folded back such that an end of the first folded-back portion points to the first base portion,

wherein the reinforcement frame comprises:
a second base portion overlying the first base portion and fixed to the shaft,
a second side wall portion provided at one end of the second base portion in the width direction and extending from the one end of the second base portion in a direction away from the seat frame such that the second side wall portion and the first side wall portion lie one over another, and
a second folded-back portion extending from an end of the second side wall portion and folded back such that an end of the second folded-back portion points to the second base portion, the second folded-back portion and the first folded-back portion lying one over another,

wherein the reinforcement frame and the main frame are joined together at a first joint portion at which the first folded-back portion and the second folded-back portion lie one over another, and
wherein the first joint portion has a clearance formed between an end of the first joint portion and one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, which is closer to the end of the first joint portion than the first side wall portion.

2. The armrest according to claim 1 ,
wherein the reinforcement frame has an engagement hole with which a protruding portion provided on an end portion of the shaft is engaged, and
wherein the main frame has a through-hole through which the protruding portion extends.

3. The armrest according to claim 2 , wherein the through-hole and the engagement hole are provided at plural positions corresponding to a plurality of protruding portions provided on the end portion of the shaft, and are arranged on a circle whose center coincides with a rotation center of the armrest.

4. The armrest according to claim 1 , wherein the main frame comprises:
a third side wall portion provided at another end of the first base portion in the width direction and extending from the another end of the first base portion in a direction away from the seat frame, and
a third folded-back portion extending from an end of the third side wall portion and folded back such that an end of the third folded-back portion points to the first base portion,
wherein the reinforcement frame comprises:
a fourth side wall portion provided at another end of the second base portion in the width direction and extending from the another end of the second base portion in a direction away from the seat frame such that the fourth side wall portion and the third side wall portion lie one over another, and
a fourth folded-back portion extending from an end of the fourth side wall portion and folded back such that an end of the fourth folded-back portion points to the second base portion, the fourth folded-back portion and the third folded-back portion lying one over another,
wherein the reinforcement frame and the main frame are joined together at the first joint portion and at a second joint portion at which the third folded-back portion and the fourth folded-back portion lie one over another, and
wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion are provided at positions opposite to each other in the width direction.

5. The armrest according to claim 4 , wherein the second joint portion protrudes to an inner side of the third side wall portion.

6. The armrest according to claim 4 , further comprising a stopper portion configured to contact a portion of the seat frame to restrict rotation of the armrest within a limited range,
wherein as viewed from a direction of an axis of rotation of the armrest, the stopper portion is disposed between the first joint portion and the second joint portion.

7. The armrest according to claim 4 ,
wherein the main frame comprises a side wall portion provided continuously around an entire circumferential edge of the first base portion, the side wall portion extending in a direction away from the seat frame, and
wherein the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion are formed as integral portions of the side wall portion.

8. The armrest according to claim 4 , wherein a rotation center of the armrest is disposed between the third folded-back portion and the fourth folded-back portion of the reinforcement frame.

9. The armrest according to claim 1 , wherein the first joint portion protrudes to an inner side of the first side wall portion.

10. A vehicle seat comprising:
a seat frame;
an armrest according to claim 1 ; and
a one-way clutch provided on the seat frame and including a shaft to which the armrest is fixed, such that the armrest is rotatable together with the shaft relative to the seat frame and switchable by the one-way clutch between the locked state and the unlocked state,
wherein the reinforcement frame is located farther than the main frame away from the seat frame.

11. An armrest fixed to a shaft of a one-way clutch that is provided on a seat frame, the armrest being rotatable together with the shaft relative to the seat frame and switchable by the one-way clutch between a locked state in which rotation of the armrest in one direction is restricted and an unlocked state in which rotation of the armrest in two directions is allowed, the armrest comprising:
a main frame constituting a framework of the armrest;
a reinforcement frame having a thickness larger than that of the main frame, the reinforcement frame and the main frame lying one over another, the reinforcement frame being fixed to the shaft; and
a stopper portion configured to contact a portion of the seat frame to restrict rotation of the armrest within a limited range,
wherein the main frame comprises a hole,
wherein the reinforcement frame comprises a protrusion, and
wherein the stopper portion comprises the protrusion of the reinforcement frame fitted in the hole of the main frame.

12. The armrest according to claim 11 ,
wherein the main frame comprises a proximal end portion located closer to a rotation center of the armrest relative to a distal end portion located farther from the rotation center, and
wherein the stopper portion is disposed between the rotation center and the distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of the main frame.

13. The armrest according to claim 11 , wherein the hole of the main frame has a bottom.

14. The armrest according to claim 11 ,
wherein the reinforcement frame has an engagement hole with which a protruding portion provided on an end portion of the shaft is engaged, and
wherein the main frame h

Assignees

• Ts Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nonaka Hidetsune

Classifications

• A47C7/54

  Supports for the arms · CPC title

• B60N2/767 Primary

  Angle adjustment · CPC title

• B60N2/753 Primary

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title