Chairs and seats – Armrest – Detachably interfitted to a particular chair or seat at a...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-21
2001-12-11
Barfield, Anthony D. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
Detachably interfitted to a particular chair or seat at a...
C297S411320, C297S411380
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328384
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coupling structure between a seatback and an armrest for a vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In a conventional structure where a seatback and an armrest are detachably coupled with each other, the seatback is formed at its one side portion with an axial hole and the armrest has an axial pin inserted into the axial hole. Inside the axial hole, a locking mechanism releasably engaged with the axial pin is provided. The armrest is rotatably supported in the axial hole in a state where the axial pin is prevented from coming out of the axial hole by the locking mechanism. The armrest is used in a state where it is maintained in a using position
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the above conventional structure, however, the armrest maintained at the using position tends to generate play.
Also, in a case that the armrest can not be attached to one side portion of the seatback for spatial reasons, a space is required for accommodating the armrest which has been detached.
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a coupling structure capable of suppressing play of the armrest maintained at the using position. Also, another object of the invention is to provide a coupling structure where it is unnecessary to provide a space for accommodating the armrest.
In order to achieve the above objects, a first aspect of the invention relates to a coupling structure between a seatback and an armrest for a vehicle. The armrest is detachably attached to the seatback. The structure comprises an axial pin, a moving pin, a supporting bracket, and a slope. The axial pin and the moving pin project from a side face positioned at one end of the armrest. The moving pin has a head at its distal end. The supporting bracket is fixed on a side portion of the seatback and is provided with an axial hole for receiving the axial pin and a guide groove for receiving the moving pin. The axial pin is inserted into the axial hole to be rotatably supported by the supporting bracket. The moving pin is inserted into the guide groove to be moved within the guide groove according to rotation of the axial pin. When the armrest is put at the using position, the moving pin is maintained at a using point within the guide groove. The slope is disposed on an edge of the guide groove in the vicinity of the using point. When the armrest reaches the using position, the head rides on the slop according to movement of the moving pin, so that the moving pin approaches to the seatback. Thereby, the slope brings the armrest at the using position and the side portion of the seatback into contact with each other.
According to the above structure, at the using position of the armrest, the head of the moving pin rides on the slope, the moving pin approaches to the seatback, and the armrest comes into contact with the side portion of the seatback. Therefore, the armrest is supported by the side portion of the seatback, and the play is prevented from occurring in the armrest at the using position.
The moving pin may be structured with the head and a moving shaft, and the guide groove may have a head receiving hole through which the head is allowed to pass. The head projects from a distal end of the moving shaft in a radial direction thereof. The portion of the guide groove except for the head receiving hole allows movement of the moving shaft and prevents passing-through of the head. When the axial pin is inserted into the axial hole and the head passes through the head receiving hole, the armrest reaches a detaching position thereof. The movement of the moving shaft from the head receiving hole to the using point causes rotational movement of the armrest from the detaching position to the using position around the axial hole.
The guide groove may have an accommodating point between the head receiving hole and the using point, and a neck portion adjacent to the receiving point between the head receiving hole and the accommodating point. The moving shaft may include a base portion and an intermediate portion between the head and the base portion. The coupling structure may be provided with a biasing member. The intermediate portion has a diameter larger than that of the base portion. The portion of the guide groove positioned between the using point and the accommodating point allows movement of the intermediate portion. The neck portion allows movement of the base portion and prevents movement of the intermediate portion. The biasing member presses the moving pin positioned at the accommodating point in a direction opposed to the seatback.
According to the above structure, in an ordinary using state, the intermediate portion is positioned between the using point and the accommodating point, so that the moving pin is allowed to move between both the points. Also, in the accommodating point, since the moving pin is pressed in a direction opposed to the seatback by the biasing member, the intermediate portion is maintained within the guide groove so that the base portion is prevented from moving into the guide groove. Therefore, the intermediate portion and the neck portion prevent the moving pin from moving from the accommodating point to the head receiving hole. Accordingly, in the using state, the moving pin is prevented from going out of the guide groove, so that the armrest is prevented from coming out of the seatback unnecessarily.
When the armrest is detached from the seatback, the armrest is pushed towards the seatback in a state where the moving pin is put in the accommodating point. Thereby, the moving pin is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member and the base portion reaches the guide groove. In such a state, when the moving pin is pushed towards the head receiving hole, the base portion passes through the neck portion to arrive at the head receiving hole. The armrest is easily detached from the seatback by pulling the moving pin out of the head receiving hole.
When the armrest is put in its accommodating position, the moving pin is pressed by the biasing member in the direction opposed to the seatback. In such a state, as the head is supported on an edge of the guide groove, the play is prevented from occurring in the armrest in the accommodating position.
The other end of the armrest in the using position may be directed to the frontal face of the seatback. When the intermediate portion is positioned at the accommodating point, the armrest may be positioned in the accommodating position with its other end facing upwardly. The armrest positioned at the detaching position may be inclined towards the back face of the seatback rather than the accommodating position.
The biasing member may comprise a spring plate disposed between the guide groove and the seatback.
According to the above structure, the biasing member can easily be disposed in a small clearance.
The spring plate may cover the whole area of the guide groove.
According to the above structure, in the supporting bracket from which the armrest is detached, the guide groove is put in a state where it is covered with the spring plate, so that the inside of the guide groove is not exposed outwardly. Accordingly, the appearance of the seatback is improved and dust or the like is hard to accumulate in the guide groove.
The spring plate may press the head towards the guide groove in contact with the head.
The spring plate may press the moving pin positioned between the accommodating point and the using point in the direction opposed to the seatback.
A coupling structure according to a second aspect of the invention comprises first and second supporting mechanisms and a coupling mechanism. The supporting mechanisms are respectively provided at both side portions of a seatback. The coupling mechanism is provided at a side face of one end of an armrest. The coupling mechanism is selectively and detachably coupled to the supporting mechanisms.
According to the above structure, as the armrest is selectively attachable to both the side portions of the seatback, when the armrest can not be attac
Sato Nobuya
Yamauchi Yoshihiko
Barfield Anthony D.
Berkowitz Marvin C.
Ikeda Bussan Co. Ltd.
Nath Gary M.
Nath & Associates PLLC
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