Patent ID: 8480177
Filing Date: 2013-07-09
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. An armrest device comprising: (a) an armrest body to be installed with respect to a seat rotatably upward/downward at the base end; (b) a ratchet mechanism comprising stationary-side first ratchet teeth being disposed around a axial line of the rotation of the armrest body, and movable-side second ratchet teeth being disposed in a state of facing the first ratchet teeth and in a state of rotating integrally with said armrest body, meshing with the first ratchet teeth to be kept from moving in the downward rotary direction of the armrest body, and being capable of moving to get over the first ratchet teeth in the upward rotary direction of the armrest body; (c) an urging member for urging said first ratchet teeth and second ratchet teeth in such a direction that they press one another; (d) a releasing mechanism for separating the first ratchet teeth and second ratchet teeth away from each other, thereby releasing the meshing therebetween; (e) a retaining mechanism for retaining the first ratchet teeth and second ratchet teeth, which have been separated away from each other, in the separated state, thereby allowing said armrest body to rotate downward; and (f) a returning mechanism for undoing the retainment by means of the retaining mechanism, thereby moving the first ratchet teeth relatively in such a direction that they approach the second ratchet teeth and then returning the first ratchet teeth and second ratchet teeth to the meshing; whereby an angular position of the armrest body is adjustable at the use position by means of said ratchet mechanism; and wherein said first ratchet teeth are formed on a ratchet member that is made separately from and independently of said armrest body, and the armrest body is made of resin and said second ratchet teeth are molded integrally with the armrest body at the time of molding the armrest body; the releasing mechanism rotates integrally with said arm rest body, and then pushes up said ratchet member axially against an urging force of said urging member when the armrest body has arrived at a use-range upper limit, thereby separating said first ratchet teeth away from said second ratchet teeth; said retaining mechanism comprises: a flanged portion that is disposed on said ratchet member in such a form as extending around said axial line; and a claw member being put in place on an axially opposite side with respect to said second ratchet teeth by way of said ratchet member; and the claw member is provided with an elastic claw that protrudes axially toward the ratchet member to serve as a retaining unit, thereby making the retaining mechanism into one in which said flanged portion is hook locked and then retained by a leading-end side clawed portion after the elastic claw deforms elastically to let the flanged portion pass axially with respect to the clawed portion at the time of pushing up the ratchet member.