Automobile auxiliary instrument panel elbow-rest hinge mechanism, elbow-rest and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model belongs to vehicle inner spare part technical field discloses a kind of automobile auxiliary instrument board elbow pillow hinge mechanism, elbow pillow and vehicle, wherein hinge mechanism includes rocker, rotary damper, damping cooperation part, tension spring, hinge, rocker has movable end and fixed end, fixed end is coaxially hinged in elbow pillow framework with hinge, one end of tension spring is connected with elbow pillow framework, the other end of tension spring is connected with movable end;Damping cooperation part is connected with hinge and with damping cooperation part follow-up, rotary damper is set in elbow pillow framework and contacts with damping cooperation part cooperation.The above scheme cancels the damping form of traditional damping sheet and torsion spring, can realize multiple damping effects by replacing rotary damper, avoid the damping effect reduction caused by damping sheet aging, also can realize the position adjustment of hinge in the length direction of vehicle body, vertical direction by replacing damping cooperation part, increase design freedom, avoid the problem that other rotating structure cannot be arranged due to limited space in the width direction of vehicle body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the technical field of vehicle interior components, specifically relating to an automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge mechanism, an elbow rest, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In modern automotive interior systems, the passenger-side dashboard elbow rest is a crucial component for enhancing driving and riding comfort, and the performance of its hinge mechanism directly impacts the user experience. Currently, the hinge structure used in automotive elbow rests typically employs damping plates and torsion springs to achieve the damping function for opening the elbow rest. Due to the high frequency of use of the elbow rest, the damping plate and the riveted structure have a clearance fit, and the damping plate is usually made of nitrile rubber or polyurethane. Its coefficient of friction decreases due to wear of the surface microstructure. Over time, the damping plate wears and ages, reducing its damping performance and thus decreasing the overall damping effect of the elbow rest.

[0003] Meanwhile, for single-hinge elbow rests, torsion springs need to be arranged on both sides of the hinge axis to achieve a damping effect through the interaction of the torsion springs and dampers. Therefore, a large space is required in the width direction of the vehicle. For single-hinge elbow rests with limited space in the width direction of the vehicle, the design freedom for installing the damping plate is low and the installation is difficult. In addition, for vehicles with refrigerators designed at the elbow rest, due to the limited installation space inside the vehicle, the refrigerator door hinge is usually placed adjacent to the elbow rest hinge. In this case, the increase in the structure of the refrigerator door hinge, refrigerator door frame, etc., makes the installation space of the elbow rest hinge and refrigerator door hinge in the width direction of the vehicle even more crowded. This can easily lead to the gap between the refrigerator door hinge and the elbow rest hinge being too small, and there is a risk of interference in the actual opening movement, which seriously affects the realization of the function.

[0004] This shows that existing technologies still have certain shortcomings. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose an elbow rest hinge mechanism for an automotive sub-dashboard, an elbow rest, and a vehicle. Through structural innovation and layout optimization of the hinge mechanism, it achieves improved damping performance, enhanced space utilization, and improved maintenance convenience. It solves the problems of reduced damping function of traditional elbow rest hinge structures after long-term use and low design freedom in the width direction of single-hinge elbow rests. The hinge structure in this application effectively utilizes vertical space arrangement, reduces the space occupied in the width direction of the vehicle body, and achieves optimal elbow rest damping effect. At the same time, it facilitates the installation and use of devices such as car refrigerators, cup holders, and car tea tables.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows:

[0007] This application provides a hinge mechanism for an automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest, including a rocker arm, a rotary damper, a tension spring, and a hinge. The rocker arm has a movable end and a fixed end. The fixed end is coaxially hinged to the elbow rest frame with the hinge. One end of the tension spring is connected to the elbow rest frame, and the other end of the tension spring is connected to the movable end. The rotary damper is disposed on the elbow rest frame. The hinge or the rocker arm has a damping engagement portion, which contacts and engages with the rotary damper.

[0008] In the above solution, the traditional arrangement of the elbow rest single-hinge structure along the width of the vehicle body is effectively transformed into a spatial layout in the length and vertical directions of the vehicle body by the linkage between the rocker arm, tension spring, rotational damping, and damping mating parts. This solves the problem of limited design space and low design freedom of single-hinge elbow rests in the width direction of the vehicle body. At the same time, the above solution replaces the traditional damping structure of damping plate and torsion spring. The tension spring replaces the traditional torsion spring and provides restoring force through the elastic connection at both ends. It also avoids the radial space occupation of the traditional torsion spring and avoids the problem of reduced damping performance during the opening / closing of the elbow rest due to the aging and failure of the damping plate and torsion spring during long-term use.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of this application, along the width direction of the vehicle body, the elbow rest frame includes two mounting portions arranged opposite each other, the hinge has two connecting portions corresponding to the mounting portions, the hinge is disposed between the two mounting portions and the two connecting portions are rotatably connected to the mounting portions on their corresponding sides, the rocker arm and the tension spring are disposed one-to-one with the connecting portions and are disposed on the other side of the mounting portions opposite to the connecting portions.

[0010] In the above solution, setting the rocker arm on the outside of the elbow rest frame can reduce the space occupied between it and the mounting part, thereby leaving more installation space in the width direction of the vehicle body between the connecting parts. By setting the connecting part, the connection distance between the main structure of the hinge and the mounting part in the length and vertical directions of the vehicle body can be extended, thereby leaving more installation space in the length and vertical directions of the vehicle body between the connecting parts. This facilitates the installation of other component structures such as the refrigerator door hinge of the vehicle refrigerator and reduces the movement interference between the elbow rest hinge and the refrigerator door hinge of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the damping mating part is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the connecting part, and the damping mating part is connected to the connecting part and disposed opposite to the rocker arm on both sides of the mounting part; or, the damping mating part is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the rocker arm, and the damping mating part is disposed on the side of the rocker arm facing the mounting part or on the side of the rocker arm away from the mounting part.

[0012] In the above scheme, the arrangement of the damping mating part is flexible. The installation position of the damping mating part can be flexibly adjusted to meet the spatial design / use requirements between the two mounting parts, thereby adapting to the installation requirements of elbow hinges of different specifications. At the same time, it is also convenient for the design and installation of the refrigerator door hinge of the vehicle refrigerator, avoiding interference between the elbow hinge and the refrigerator door hinge.

[0013] The damping engagement part is integrally formed with the connecting part or the rocker arm; or, the damping engagement part is detachably connected to the connecting part or the rocker arm.

[0014] In the above scheme, the damping mating part is integrally formed with the connecting part or rocker arm. If the integral forming process is injection molding or die casting, the connection strength between the damping mating part and the connecting part or rocker arm can be guaranteed, avoiding the problem of reduced damping effect due to loose connection of the damping mating part. The damping mating part and the connecting part or rocker arm can be detachably connected, such as by threaded connection, snap-fit, bolt fixing or other methods, which makes it more convenient to replace the damping mating part during long-term use and reduces the impact of wear and aging of the damping mating part on the damping effect.

[0015] The mounting part is provided with a mounting position, and the rotational damper is detachably connected to the mounting position; one or more mounting positions are provided, or the rotational damper can move relative to the mounting position, or the mounting position can move relative to the mounting part.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the mounting position can be multiple mounting slots adapted to the rotational damping structure on the mounting part; or the mounting position can be a long slot on the mounting part, in which the rotational damping is disposed and can move along the long slot, with corresponding fixing holes on the side of the long slot and the edge of the outer shell of the rotational damping; or, the mounting part can have a long slot, and the mounting position can be a mounting seat that slides into the long slot and is adapted to the rotational damping. In the above embodiments, the mounting position of the rotational damping on the mounting part is flexible and adjustable, which facilitates adjusting the installation position of the rotational damping according to changes in the structure / specifications of the elbow hinge, and also facilitates adjusting the installation position of the rotational damping to avoid interference with other vehicle body components such as refrigerator door hinges.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the surfaces of the rotary damper and the damping mating part are provided with meshing gear teeth, and the rotary damper and the damping mating part achieve damping engagement through the meshing of the gear teeth. Preferably, the rotary damper is a gear damper, and the damping mating part is a sector-shaped mating part connected to the connecting part. The surfaces of the gear damper and the sector-shaped mating part are provided with meshing gear teeth, and the two achieve damping engagement through the meshing of the gear teeth.

[0018] In the above solution, the rotary damper and the damping mating part mainly cooperate along the length and vertical direction of the vehicle body, greatly reducing the installation space occupied in the width direction of the vehicle body. At the same time, the meshing cooperation between the rotary damper and the damping mating part provides users with a better feel during the opening or closing of the elbow rest compared to the damping structure of traditional damping plates and torsion springs, which is conducive to improving the user's practical experience.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of this application, a hinged fastener is further included. The fixed end, the mounting part and the connecting part are respectively provided with connecting holes. The hinged fastener passes through the connecting holes on the fixed end and the mounting part and enters the connecting hole on the connecting part to rotatably connect the rocker arm and the connecting part to the mounting part.

[0020] In the above scheme, the hinge fastener is preferably a fixing pin. With this setting, the structure of the hinge fastener and its cooperation structure with the fixing end, mounting part and connecting part are simple and reliable. It can reduce the workload in the vehicle assembly process, which is conducive to shortening the vehicle production cycle and delivery cycle. It is also easy to maintain and reduces the subsequent maintenance cost of the vehicle.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the movable end is provided with a pulley, and one end of the tension spring connected to the movable end is connected to the pulley, and the pulley is detachably connected to the movable end.

[0022] In the above solution, the pulley makes the cooperation between the tension spring and the movable end of the rocker arm more flexible, converting the sliding friction between the tension spring and the movable end of the rocker arm into rotational friction between the pulley and the movable end of the rocker arm. This reduces wear on the tension spring and the movable end of the rocker arm, ensures the stability of the connection structure between the tension spring and the movable end of the rocker arm, and also reduces noise generation, providing users with a better practical experience. Preferably, the elbow rest frame is also equipped with pulleys to cooperate with the tension spring, thereby further improving the flexibility of the tension spring as the rocker arm deflects and reducing noise generation.

[0023] Preferably, the rocker arm can be made of high-strength engineering plastics (such as PA66+30%GF), which is about 40% lighter than a metal rocker arm, making it suitable for vehicles with high lightweight requirements. Alternatively, it can be made of aluminum alloy (such as 6061-T6) or low-carbon steel (such as Q235), reducing production difficulty and cost, making it suitable for economy vehicles. The shape of the rocker arm can be flexibly designed according to installation space and lever arm requirements, such as using an L-shaped, U-shaped, or arc-shaped structure. Alternatively, an arc-shaped rocker arm design can be used as shown in the figure, which increases the elbow rest opening torque by a percentage point under the same spring force, making operation more effortless.

[0024] Another object of this application is to provide an elbow rest, which includes an elbow rest body, an elbow rest frame, and an elbow rest hinge mechanism for an automotive sub-dashboard as described above, wherein the elbow rest body is connected to the hinge and the elbow rest body is capable of rotating relative to the elbow rest frame with the hinge.

[0025] Preferably, the elbow rest can be installed on the front passenger dashboard or in the center of the rear seats as a center armrest. Furthermore, because the elbow rest utilizes the aforementioned hinge mechanism, it effectively adapts to installation limitations with structures such as the refrigerator door hinges and cup holder hinges in the front passenger dashboard and rear seats, improving space utilization. Simultaneously, the elbow rest is suitable for various vehicle types, including sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and trucks, demonstrating good versatility.

[0026] Furthermore, the elbow rest described in this utility model has the same beneficial effects as the aforementioned automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge mechanism, and will not be repeated here.

[0027] Another objective of this application is to provide a vehicle equipped with the aforementioned elbow rest. This elbow rest can be used in the front passenger dashboard area, the middle of the rear seats, or between seats in the same row, offering flexible installation. By adopting this elbow rest, it is easier to install in-vehicle refrigerators, cup holders, tea tables, and other functional structures, providing a better driving and riding experience for passengers.

[0028] Furthermore, the vehicle described in this utility model has the same beneficial effects as the aforementioned elbow pillow, and will not be repeated here.

[0029] In summary, compared with the traditional structure of "damping plate and torsion spring", the elbow hinge mechanism of this application can effectively reduce the space occupied in the width direction of the vehicle body, making the design of the elbow hinge more flexible and avoiding interference between the elbow hinge and structures such as refrigerator door hinge, which facilitates the installation of other vehicle configurations. At the same time, the elbow hinge mechanism of this application can effectively avoid the problem of damping structure aging and failure, ensuring accurate and controllable damping effect while reducing maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the elbow rest hinge mechanism and elbow rest of a car's sub-dashboard in an example.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a top-angle view of a portion of the elbow rest hinge mechanism and elbow rest structure in a sample automotive sub-dashboard.

[0033] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the AA direction;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a top view of the elbow rest hinge mechanism and elbow rest in a sample automotive sub-dashboard.

[0035] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along the BB direction;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a car's passenger dashboard elbow hinge mechanism and a refrigerator door hinge in an example.

[0037] List of components and reference numerals:

[0038] 11 Elbow pillow body, 12 Elbow pillow frame, 121 Mounting part, 13 Hinge, 131 Connecting part;

[0039] 2. Rotational damping;

[0040] 3. Damping mating parts;

[0041] 4 rocker arm, 41 fixed end, 42 movable end, 421 pulley;

[0042] 5. Tension springs;

[0043] 6. Hinged fasteners;

[0044] 7. Refrigerator door hinges. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0047] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0048] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0050] In modern automotive interior systems, the passenger-side dashboard elbow rest is a crucial component for enhancing driving and riding comfort, and the performance of its hinge mechanism directly impacts the user experience. For single-hinge elbow rests in vehicles, a traditional damping structure using damping plates and torsion springs is typically employed. This structure achieves the damping effect during opening and closing by the combined action of the frictional resistance of the damping plate and the elastic force of the torsion spring. However, because the elbow rest is a high-frequency contact component during daily vehicle use, the damping plate and torsion spring inevitably experience wear and aging under long-term high-frequency reciprocating motion. Damping plates are usually made of nitrile rubber or polyurethane, and their coefficient of friction decreases due to wear of the surface microstructure—after 100,000 cycles, the coefficient of friction of rubber damping plates can decrease by 30%-40%. Torsion springs are mostly made of 65Mn spring steel, which undergoes elastic fatigue under repeated torsional stress; after 200,000 cycles, its restoring torque decreases by approximately 20%-25%. The combined effect of these two factors causes the damping performance to gradually decrease, eventually resulting in phenomena such as wobbling, jamming, or even freefalling when the elbow rest is opened or closed.

[0051] Meanwhile, the single-hinge elbow rest with damping plates requires torsion springs on both sides of the pivot, which makes this traditional damping structure require a large amount of space in the vehicle width direction. This results in low design freedom for the single-hinge elbow rest structure and makes it prone to interference with other components. In particular, with the continuous development of the automotive industry and the increasing demands of consumers, some models are now equipped with car refrigerators. In the current technology, in order to optimize the interior space and improve the aesthetics of the interior, the refrigerator door hinge 7 is usually installed close to the elbow rest hinge 13. Due to the size limitations of the refrigerator door hinge 7, the elbow rest torsion spring, and the refrigerator door frame, the size design of the elbow rest hinge 13 in the vehicle width direction is further restricted, making the space competition between the two in the vehicle width direction even more intense. In the existing technology, the position of the refrigerator door hinge 7 is often close to the middle of the sub-dashboard, while the torsion spring arrangement of the traditional elbow hinge requires a lot of lateral space. This results in the gap between the two often being less than the safety threshold, causing the gap between the refrigerator door hinge 7 and the elbow hinge 13 to be too small. There is a risk of interference in the actual opening movement. This interference can not only cause the movement of the parts to be stuck, but may also cause the hinge shaft to wear due to long-term hard friction, and even cause a chain of problems such as refrigerator door sealing failure and elbow frame deformation, which seriously affect the normal use of the elbow and the refrigerator.

[0052] Furthermore, as consumers' demands for automotive interior quality increase, the user experience of elbow rests is no longer limited to simply being "usable," but is evolving towards "comfort and intelligence." Traditional hinge mechanisms offer only a single damping effect, unable to adjust the damping force according to user needs, and also struggle to achieve precise hovering and soft-descent functions for the elbow rest. In actual use, passengers of different body types have varying needs for elbow rest support, and traditional structures cannot meet these personalized requirements.

[0053] Meanwhile, with the increasing number of in-vehicle electronic devices, the secondary dashboard area needs to integrate more functional modules (such as wireless charging, cup holders, and storage compartments). The space occupied by traditional elbow hinges makes the layout planning of these functional modules more difficult. In addition, the space limitations of the traditional structure also prevent the secondary dashboard from achieving a slimmer design, making it difficult to meet the current design trend of "lightweight and simplified" automotive interiors.

[0054] To address the aforementioned problems, this application proposes an elbow rest hinge mechanism for an automotive sub-dashboard, an elbow rest, and a vehicle. Through structural innovation and layout optimization of the hinge mechanism, improved damping performance, enhanced space utilization, and improved maintenance convenience are achieved.

[0055] Firstly, referring to Figure 1-6As shown, this application proposes a mechanism for an elbow rest hinge 13 in an automotive sub-dashboard, including a rocker arm 4, a rotary damper 2, a tension spring 5, and a hinge 13. The rocker arm 4 has a movable end 42 and a fixed end 41. The fixed end 41 is coaxially hinged to the elbow rest frame 12 with the hinge 13. One end of the tension spring 5 is connected to the elbow rest frame 12, and the other end of the tension spring 5 is connected to the movable end 42. The rotary damper 2 is disposed on the elbow rest frame 12. The hinge 13 or the rocker arm 4 has a damping engagement part 3, which is in contact with the rotary damper 2. In the above solution, the traditional arrangement of the elbow rest single hinge structure along the width of the vehicle body is effectively transformed into an arrangement along the length and vertical directions of the vehicle body by the linkage between the rocker arm 4, tension spring 5, rotational damper 2, and damping mating part 3. This solves the problem of limited design space and low design freedom of the single hinge elbow rest in the width direction of the vehicle body. At the same time, the above solution realizes the replacement of the traditional damping structure of damping plate and torsion spring. The tension spring 5 replaces the traditional torsion spring and provides restoring force through the elastic connection at both ends. At the same time, it avoids the radial space occupation of the traditional torsion spring and also avoids the problem of reduced damping performance during the opening / closing of the elbow rest due to the aging and failure of the damping plate and torsion spring during long-term use.

[0056] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, along the width direction of the vehicle body, the elbow rest frame 12 includes two mounting portions 121 arranged opposite each other. The hinge 13 has two connecting portions 131 corresponding to the mounting portions 121. The hinge 13 is located between the two mounting portions 121, and the two connecting portions 131 are rotatably connected to their corresponding mounting portions 121. The rocker arm 4 and tension spring 5 are arranged one-to-one with the connecting portions 131, and the opposite connecting portions 131 are located on the other side of the mounting portions 121. Using the above mounting structure, placing the rocker arm 4 on the outside of the elbow rest frame 12 reduces the space occupied between it and the mounting portions 121, thus allowing more mounting space in the width direction of the vehicle body between the connecting portions 131. Meanwhile, continuing to refer to… Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, by setting the connecting part 131, the connection distance between the main structure of the hinge 13 and the mounting part 121 in the length direction and vertical direction of the vehicle body is actually extended, thereby leaving more installation space in the length direction and vertical direction of the vehicle body between the connecting parts 131, which facilitates the installation of other component structures such as the refrigerator door hinge 7 of the vehicle refrigerator and reduces the motion interference between the elbow hinge 13 and the refrigerator door hinge 7 of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0057] Continue to refer to Figures 1-4As shown, the automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge 13 mechanism in this application also includes a hinge fastener 6. The fixed end 41, mounting portion 121, and connecting portion 131 are respectively provided with connecting holes. The hinge fastener 6 passes through the connecting holes on the fixed end 41 and mounting portion 121 and also through the connecting hole on the connecting portion 131, rotatably connecting the rocker arm 4 and the connecting portion 131 to the mounting portion 121. In one example, the hinge fastener 6 is a fixing pin, which has a simple structure and a simple mating structure with the fixed end 41, mounting portion 121, and connecting portion 131, ensuring reliable connection. This reduces the workload during vehicle assembly, shortens the vehicle production and delivery cycle, facilitates maintenance, and reduces subsequent vehicle maintenance costs.

[0058] It should be noted that this application does not specifically limit the installation method of the damping mating part 3. In one example, the damping mating part 3 is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the connecting part 131. The damping mating part 3 is connected to the connecting part 131 and is arranged opposite to the rocker arm 4 on both sides of the mounting part 121. This arrangement can make full use of the installation space on the connecting part 131 and ensure the follow-up of the damping mating part 3 and the hinge 13, thereby ensuring the overall damping effect. In another example, the damping mating part 3 is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the rocker arm 4. The damping mating part 3 is arranged on the side of the rocker arm 4 facing the mounting part 121 or on the side of the rocker arm 4 away from the mounting part 121. This arrangement can reduce the occupation of the installation space between the two mounting parts 121, can adapt to the installation requirements of elbow hinges 13 of different specifications, and also facilitates the design and installation of the refrigerator door hinge 7 of the vehicle refrigerator. It also helps to avoid interference between the elbow hinge 13 and the refrigerator door hinge 7. Of course, many other different arrangements can also be used.

[0059] It should also be noted that this application does not specifically limit the connection method and structure between the damping mating part 3 and the connecting part 131 or the rocker arm 4. The damping mating part 3 can be integrally formed with the connecting part 131 or the rocker arm 4, such as by injection molding or die casting. This method can ensure the connection strength between the damping mating part 3 and the connecting part 131 or the rocker arm 4, and avoid the problem of reduced damping effect due to loose connection of the damping mating part 3. Alternatively, it can be connected to the connecting part 131 or the rocker arm 4 by a detachable connection method such as threaded connection, snap-fit, bolt fixing, etc. This connection method is more convenient for replacing the damping mating part 3 during long-term use, and reduces the impact of wear and aging of the damping mating part 3 on the damping effect.

[0060] It should also be noted that this application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the rotational damper 2 and the damping mating part 3, nor the mating method between them. In one example, refer to... Figures 2-6As shown, the rotary damper 2 is a gear damper, and the damping mating part 3 is a sector-shaped mating part connected to the connecting part 131. The surfaces of the gear damper and the sector-shaped mating part are provided with meshing teeth. Damping is achieved through the meshing of these teeth. Preferably, the damping mating part 3 can also adopt a complete gear structure to ensure the stability of its fit with the gear damper. In the above scheme, the rotary damper 2 and the damping mating part 3 mainly cooperate along the length and vertical directions of the vehicle body, greatly reducing the space occupied in the width direction of the vehicle body. Of course, other different structures and configurations can also be adopted.

[0061] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 As shown, the mounting part 121 is provided with a mounting position, and the rotation damper 2 is detachably connected to the mounting position. Preferably, referring to... Figure 1 As shown, the mounting part 121 can adopt a partially hollow structure, and the rotary damper 2 is installed in the mounting position in a semi-recessed manner, with only the part that is equipped with the damping mating part 3 protruding from the mounting part 121. This arrangement can further reduce the space occupied by the hinge 13 mechanism in the width direction of the vehicle body. Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment of this application, one or more mounting positions can be provided, or the rotary damper 2 can move relative to the mounting position, or the mounting position can move relative to the mounting part 121. Compared with the traditional single-position fixed installation, these three preferred embodiments facilitate adjusting the installation position of the rotary damper 2 according to changes in the structure / specifications of the elbow hinge 13. They also facilitate adjusting the installation position of the rotary damper 2 to avoid interference with other vehicle body components such as the refrigerator door hinge 7, and facilitate the replacement of rotary dampers 2 of different specifications / shapes according to actual needs.

[0062] Specifically, the mounting position can be multiple mounting slots adapted to the structure of the rotary damper 2, provided on the mounting part 121; or the mounting position can be a long slot provided on the mounting part 121, in which the rotary damper 2 is disposed and can move along the long slot, with corresponding fixing holes provided on the side of the long slot and the edge of the outer shell of the rotary damper 2, and the rotary damper 2 is positioned and limited by bolts or pins inserted into the fixing holes during use; or, the mounting part 121 is provided with a long slot, and the mounting position is a mounting seat that slides with the long slot and is adapted to the rotary damper 2, with corresponding fixing holes provided on the side of the mounting seat and the side of the long slot, and the mounting seat is limited by bolts or pins inserted into the fixing holes during use, thereby achieving the positioning and limitation of the rotary damper 2. It should be noted that this application does not specifically limit the specific structure of the mounting position and the connection method between it and the rotary damper 2, and it can adopt the above-example scheme or many other different schemes.

[0063] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of this application, the movable end 42 is provided with a pulley 421, and one end of the tension spring 5 connected to the movable end 42 is connected to the pulley 421. The pulley 421 and the movable end 42 are detachably connected. In the above solution, the pulley 421 makes the cooperation between the tension spring 5 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4 more flexible, converting the sliding friction between the tension spring 5 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4 into rotational friction between the pulley 421 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4, reducing wear on the tension spring 5 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4, ensuring the stability of the connection structure between the tension spring 5 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4, and reducing noise generation, thus providing users with a better practical experience. In a preferred example, the elbow pillow frame 12 is also provided with a pulley to cooperate with the tension spring 5, thereby further improving the flexibility of the tension spring 5 as it deflects with the rocker arm 4 and reducing noise generation.

[0064] It should be noted that the cooperation structure between the tension spring 5 and the elbow pillow frame 12 and the cooperation structure between the tension spring 5 and the movable end 42 of the rocker arm 4 are not specifically limited in this application. The above example is only a preferred example of this application. It can adopt the scheme in the above example, or it can adopt the method of setting tension spring connecting protrusion and coating the surface of tension spring connecting protrusion and the surface of tension spring 5 with wear-resistant coating to reduce noise generation and friction damage to tension spring 5.

[0065] Furthermore, the application itself does not specify any limitations on the material and shape of the rocker arm 4. In terms of material, it can be made of high-strength engineering plastics (such as PA66+30%GF), which is about 40% lighter than a metal rocker arm, suitable for vehicles with high lightweight requirements; it can also be made of aluminum alloy (such as 6061-T6) or low-carbon steel (such as Q235), reducing production difficulty and cost, suitable for economy vehicles; structurally, the shape of the rocker arm 4 can be flexibly designed according to the installation space and lever arm requirements, for example, using an L-shaped, U-shaped, or arc-shaped structure. Or, as... Figure 1 The method shown adopts an arc-shaped rocker arm design, which increases the opening torque of the elbow rest by 15% under the same spring force, making operation more effortless. Of course, the above example is only a few preferred examples of this application, and other different solutions can also be adopted.

[0066] As a preferred embodiment of this application, if there is sufficient installation space, damping plates can be arranged at the damping mating part 3, the rocker arm 4, or the hinge fixing part 6 to realize the function of elbow pillow suspension, further meeting user needs and improving user experience.

[0067] Secondly, this application also provides an elbow rest, which includes an elbow rest body 11, an elbow rest frame 12, and the aforementioned automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism. The elbow rest body 11 is connected to the hinge 13, and the elbow rest body 11 can rotate relative to the elbow rest frame 12 with the hinge 13. This elbow rest can be installed in the front sub-dashboard of the car or in the middle of the rear seat.

[0068] Since the vehicle includes the aforementioned automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism, it also possesses the beneficial effects of the aforementioned automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism. The elbow rest provided in this embodiment includes all the structures of the automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism in any of the above embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described again here.

[0069] In addition, this application also provides a vehicle that, because the vehicle includes the aforementioned elbow rest, also possesses the beneficial effects of the aforementioned elbow rest and the automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism. The vehicle provided by this utility model embodiment includes the automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge 13 mechanism and various structures of the elbow rest in any of the above embodiments; to avoid repetition, these will not be described again here.

[0070] In summary, the elbow hinge 13 structure in this application eliminates the damping form of the traditional elbow hinge 13, which uses a damping plate and torsion spring. Through the coordinated operation of components such as the tension spring 5, pulley 421, rocker arm 4, hinge fixing part 6, damping mating part 3, and rotary damping 2, the traditional clearance-fitting motion of the damping mechanism in the vehicle width direction is replaced by the meshing of gear teeth between the damping mating part 3 and the rotary damping 2, and the linkage between the tension spring and the rocker arm mechanism in three-dimensional space. This optimizes the elbow hinge installation structure, improves space utilization, and facilitates the design and installation of other vehicle interior components such as car refrigerators. Furthermore, by replacing different types... The damper of this type achieves multiple damping effects for the elbow rest, avoiding the reduction in damping effect caused by wear and aging of the damping plate over long-term use. At the same time, the damping structure of hinge 13 in this application can also adjust the different spatial positions of hinge 13 in the length direction and vertical direction of the vehicle body by changing the radius size of the damping mating part 3 / rotation damper 2, increasing the degree of design freedom and avoiding the problem of not being able to arrange the hinge 13 pivot due to space limitations in the width direction of the vehicle body. Moreover, the damping effect of the meshing structure significantly improves the feel of opening and closing the elbow rest, providing users with a better user experience.

[0071] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0072] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. Each embodiment focuses on its differences from other embodiments. The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A hinge mechanism for an automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest, characterized in that, The device includes a rocker arm (4), a rotational damper (2), a tension spring (5), and a hinge (13). The rocker arm (4) has a movable end (42) and a fixed end (41). The fixed end (41) is coaxially hinged to the elbow rest frame (12) with the hinge (13). One end of the tension spring (5) is connected to the elbow rest frame (12), and the other end of the tension spring (5) is connected to the movable end (42). The rotational damper (2) is disposed on the elbow rest frame (12). The hinge (13) or the rocker arm (4) has a damping engagement part (3), which contacts and engages with the rotational damper (2).

2. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The elbow pillow frame (12) includes two mounting parts (121) arranged opposite to each other. The hinge (13) has two connecting parts (131) corresponding to the mounting parts (121). The hinge (13) is arranged between the two mounting parts (121) and the two connecting parts (131) are rotatably connected to the mounting parts (121) on their corresponding sides. The rocker arm (4) and the tension spring (5) are arranged one-to-one with the connecting parts (131) and are arranged on the other side of the mounting parts (121) opposite to the connecting parts (131).

3. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The damping engagement part (3) is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the connecting part (131). The damping engagement part (3) is connected to the connecting part (131) and is disposed opposite to the rocker arm (4) on both sides of the mounting part (121); or, the damping engagement part (3) is provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the rocker arm (4). The damping engagement part (3) is disposed on the side of the rocker arm (4) facing the mounting part (121) or on the side of the rocker arm (4) away from the mounting part (121).

4. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The damping engagement part (3) is integrally formed with the connecting part (131) or the rocker arm (4); or, the damping engagement part (3) is detachably connected to the connecting part (131) or the rocker arm (4).

5. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting part (121) is provided with a mounting position, and the rotation damper (2) is detachably connected to the mounting position; one or more mounting positions are provided, or the rotation damper (2) can move relative to the mounting position, or the mounting position can move relative to the mounting part (121).

6. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The surfaces of the rotary damper (2) and the damping mating part (3) are provided with meshing gear teeth, and the rotary damper (2) and the damping mating part (3) achieve damping mating through the meshing of the gear teeth.

7. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a hinge fastener, wherein the fixed end (41), the mounting part (121) and the connecting part (131) are respectively provided with connecting holes. The hinge fastener passes through the connecting holes on the fixed end (41) and the mounting part (121) and enters the connecting hole on the connecting part (131) to rotatably connect the rocker arm (4) and the connecting part (131) to the mounting part (121).

8. The automotive sub-dashboard elbow hinge mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The movable end (42) is provided with a pulley (421), and one end of the tension spring (5) connected to the movable end (42) is connected to the pulley (421). The pulley (421) is detachably connected to the movable end (42).

9. An elbow pillow, characterized in that, The device includes an elbow rest body (11), an elbow rest frame (12), and an automotive sub-dashboard elbow rest hinge mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the elbow rest body (11) is connected to the hinge (13), and the elbow rest body (11) is capable of rotating relative to the elbow rest frame (12) with the hinge (13).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle is equipped with an elbow rest as described in claim 9.

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