Abstract: A seat having a movable armrest which is retractable to a lowermost position so that a user can obtain greater access to the seat. In a first embodiment, a horizontal shaft pivotably supports a rear portion of the armrest to allow the forward portion of the armrest to be pivoted downwardly. When the armrest is in the unretracted position, a locking device is provided for firmly locking the forward portion of the armrest to the seat frame. In the second embodiment of the invention, a pair of rails are secured to the frame of the seat and a pair of guides are respectively secured to the forward and rear portions of the armrest. The guides are respectively received in the rails to allow the rails to be translated downwardly to allow greater access to the seat. When the armrest is in the unretracted position, the guides are secured to the rails so that the armrest is retained firmly in place.

Abstract: A headrest for seats which is recessed in a central recess of the seat and is capable of tilting forward so as to be used as a headrest, and automatically returning this headrest to its original position by tilting it forward more than a predetermined angle with respect to the seat back. The headrest is formed on an upper portion of a seat back and is swingably supported by means of a hinge mechanism equipped with a ratchet mechanism. The hinge mechanism 8 includes a movable hinge portion fixed on a lower portion of a supporting frame of the headrest, and a hinge main body fixed on a seat back frame so as to be hingedly supported on a rotational shaft together with the movable hinge portion. Further, there is provided a return spring together with the supporting frame of the headrest that returns the headrest to its recessed position.