Armrest structure for vehicle seat

Abstract

In an armrest structure for a vehicle seat, an armrest is mounted at a mounting portion on the outboard side of a seat back and is arranged close to a door trim panel. The armrest is capable of moving inboard upon receipt of an inboard load.

1 . An armrest structure, comprising:
 a mounting portion provided on an outboard side in a car width direction of a seat back;   an armrest mounted at the mounting portion; and   a door trim panel provided outboard of the seat back,   wherein the armrest is arranged close to the door trim panel and is movable inboard upon receipt of an inboard load.   
   
   
       2 . The armrest structure of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the door trim panel is provided at a sliding door and is located close to an outboard surface of the armrest when the sliding door is closed.   
   
   
       3 . The armrest structure of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the armrest includes a swing mechanism capable of swinging inboard about the mounting portion as a center upon receipt of the inboard load, and   the swing mechanism includes a biasing member for always pushing back the armrest outboard.   
   
   
       4 . The armrest structure of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the swing mechanism is mounted at the seat back, and the armrest is provided at the swing mechanism.   
   
   
       5 . The armrest structure of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the armrest is mounted at the swing mechanism so as to be capable of turning vertically relative to the swing mechanism.   
   
   
       6 . The armrest structure of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the swing mechanism includes:
 a base plate mounted at a seat back frame; and 
 a swing plate pivotally supported by the base plate so as to be capable of swinging inboard relative to the base plate, and 
   the armrest is mounted at the swing plate so as to be capable of turning vertically relative to the swing plate.   
   
   
       7 . The armrest structure of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the armrest includes a cushion,   the seat back includes another cushion,   the armrest is mounted at the mounting potion so as to be in contact at an inboard surface thereof with an outboard surface of the seat back, and   the cushion of the armrest and the cushion of the seat back are in contact with each other before the mounting portion.