Glove box assembly and vehicle

Abstract

This application relates to the field of vehicle interior technology and provides a sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly and a vehicle. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly of this application includes an elbow rest body, an air bag disposed within the elbow rest body, and an inflation unit capable of inflating the air bag with gas at a set pressure. The elbow rest body includes a support body and a covering body covering the support body; the air bag is laid between the support body and the covering body, and the surface hardness of the covering body changes with the set pressure. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly of this application, by laying an air bag within the elbow rest body, allows the air bag to expand and provide strong support to the covering body when the inflation unit inflates the air bag with gas at a set pressure; as the set pressure changes, the support strength of the air bag to the covering body also changes accordingly, thereby flexibly changing the support hardness of the covering body, which is beneficial for improving the comfort of the elbow support provided by the elbow rest in the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle interior technology, and in particular to a sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In vehicles with a secondary dashboard in the driver's cabin, a storage compartment is typically installed inside. This compartment can be used as a regular storage space or as a refrigerator. Additionally, a flip-up elbow rest is usually installed at the top opening of this storage compartment. This elbow rest serves as both a cover for the storage compartment and a support for the elbows, providing support for the user's elbows.

[0003] However, in traditional designs, elbow pillows serve only as a cover for storage compartments on the dashboard and provide support for the elbows, with limited functionality. Moreover, elbow pillows have a simple structure, typically consisting of a sponge or leather covering the surface, with a fixed level of softness or hardness that cannot meet the diverse needs for different levels of support firmness, resulting in low comfort for the elbows. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, this application aims to propose a sub-dashboard elbow rest assembly to improve the support comfort of the human elbow in a vehicle.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is implemented as follows: A secondary instrument panel elbow rest assembly includes an elbow rest body, an air bag disposed within the elbow rest body, and an inflation unit capable of filling the air bag with gas at a set pressure; the elbow rest body includes a support body and a covering body covering the support body; the air bag is laid between the support body and the covering body, and the surface hardness of the covering body changes with the set pressure.

[0006] Furthermore, the inflation unit includes an air pump located outside the elbow pillow body, and an air pipe connecting the air pump and the air bag.

[0007] Furthermore, the elbow rest body also includes a hinge bracket with the rear end of the support body, and the elbow rest body is rotatably connected to the vehicle body through the hinge bracket; the air tube extends from the bottom of the air bag toward the rear of the elbow rest body and is arranged on the hinge bracket.

[0008] Furthermore, the hinge bracket includes a connecting plate for connecting the support body, and a hinge plate disposed at the rear end of the connecting plate; the hinge plate is constructed as a downwardly arched arc surface, and the end of the hinge plate away from the connecting plate is provided with a hinge leg for connecting the vehicle body.

[0009] Furthermore, the hinge bracket also includes a protective plate conformally disposed inside the hinge plate, and a storage space is formed between the hinge plate and the protective plate, wherein the portion of the air tube arranged on the hinge bracket is stored in the storage space.

[0010] Furthermore, the support body is provided with a locking tongue for locking the elbow rest body onto the sub-dashboard, and the front end of the support body is provided with an unlocking button; pressing the unlocking button can cause the locking tongue to release the locking of the elbow rest body.

[0011] Furthermore, the support body includes a lower cover plate and an upper cover plate that are fastened together, and a cavity is formed between the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate; the unlock button is movable back and forth in the cavity, and the pressing part of the unlock button is exposed in a button window opened at the front end of the support body; the latch is fixed to the unlock button and protrudes through a latch through hole on the lower cover plate to the bottom of the lower cover plate; a return spring is provided between the unlock button and the support body, and the return spring is used to drive the unlock button to drive the latch back to the locked position.

[0012] Furthermore, the covering body includes a surface layer and a first cushion layer disposed between the surface layer and the air bag; the elbow pillow body also includes a second cushion layer disposed between the support body and the air bag.

[0013] Furthermore, the first cushioning layer is made of sponge, the second cushioning layer is made of soft foamed plastic, and the thickness of the second cushioning layer is greater than the thickness of the first cushioning layer.

[0014] Compared with related technologies, this application has the following advantages: (1) The sub-instrument armrest assembly of this application lays an air bag in the body of the armrest and supports the air bag from below with a support body. At the same time, the cover covering the upper surface of the armrest body forms a shield and protection for the air bag. The inflation unit controls the air bag to be filled with gas at a set pressure. The air bag expands due to inflation and can form a strong support for the cover. As the set pressure changes, the support strength of the air bag for the cover will also change, thereby flexibly changing the support hardness of the cover, which is beneficial to improving the support comfort of the human elbow on the vehicle armrest.

[0015] (2) The inflation unit adopts an air pump and air pipe configuration, which is simple and efficient. At the same time, by setting a throttle valve and an exhaust valve with throttling adjustment function on the air pipe, the air bag's exhaust speed can be flexibly controlled when the air bag needs to be vented. Setting the air pump outside the elbow rest body can avoid occupying the small space inside the elbow rest body. By setting an air pipe of a reasonable length and arranging the air pipe reasonably, the air pump can be installed in a suitable position, such as on the body frame inside the sub-dashboard.

[0016] (3) A hinge bracket is installed at the rear end of the elbow rest body. The elbow rest body is installed on the vehicle frame inside the sub-dashboard through the hinge bracket, so that the elbow rest body can be flipped open and closed smoothly. When the elbow rest body is set at the opening of the storage box in the sub-dashboard, the storage box can be opened and closed flexibly by opening and closing the elbow rest body, so that the elbow rest body can play the role of both an elbow rest and a cover.

[0017] (4) A connecting plate is provided on the hinge bracket, which can facilitate the installation and fixation of the elbow rest body on the connecting plate. The hinge plate adopts a downward arched arc shape, and the recessed space formed on the inner side of the hinge plate can well avoid the relevant structures on the sub-dashboard, making the flipping action of the elbow rest body smoother.

[0018] (5) A protective plate is set on the inner side of the hinge plate. The air tube is arranged in the storage space between the hinge plate and the protective plate. This not only protects the air tube from scratches and damage from surrounding parts, but also allows a certain length of redundant air tube to be stored in the storage space so that the air tube can move with the air bag when the air bag is pulled out to the outside of the elbow pillow body.

[0019] (6) Based on the hinge bracket set at the rear end of the support body, the elbow rest body can be flipped up to open or close to open or close the storage box set in the sub-dashboard. By setting an unlock button and a locking tongue at the front end of the support body, when the elbow rest body is in the closed position, the locking tongue can be used to firmly lock the elbow rest body on the sub-dashboard. The locking tongue can be easily unlocked by pressing the unlock button to open the storage box, which improves the use effect and experience of the elbow rest body as the cover of the storage box.

[0020] (7) The support body is set as a structure of a lower cover plate and an upper cover plate that are assembled by interlocking, which facilitates the processing and construction of the support body; at the same time, the cavity formed between the lower cover plate and the upper cover plate can be used to easily install the unlocking button, the return spring and other related structures of the lock tongue; by setting a lock tongue through hole on the lower cover plate, the hook at the bottom of the lock tongue can pass through the lock tongue through hole and extend to the bottom of the lower cover plate, so as to realize the hook engagement between the lock tongue and the sub-instrument panel, thereby smoothly realizing the locking function of the lock tongue.

[0021] (8) The covering is set as two layers: a surface layer and a first cushioning layer. By selecting a suitable material for the surface layer, the surface feel of the elbow pillow can be improved. The first cushioning layer can form a good isolation and cushioning effect between the surface layer and the air bag. A second cushioning layer is set between the air bag and the support body. The second cushioning layer can also form a good isolation and cushioning effect, preventing the relatively rough and hard support body from abrading the air bag, thereby improving the durability and reliability of the air bag.

[0022] (9) The first cushioning layer is made of materials such as sponge and is relatively thin, which can give full play to the softness of sponge and form a good buffer between the surface and the air bag, while allowing the supporting force of the air bag to be well transferred to the surface through the first cushioning layer. The second cushioning layer is made of relatively hard soft foam plastic and is made thicker, which can form a strong support for the air bag and ensure the isolation and protection of the bottom of the air bag.

[0023] Another object of this application is to provide a vehicle equipped with the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly described in this application. The vehicle of this application possesses the technical advantages of the aforementioned sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of this application. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of this application are used to explain this application. The directional terms such as front / back, up / down, etc., used therein are only used to indicate relative positional relationships and do not constitute an improper limitation of this application. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly described in an embodiment of this application from another perspective; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly described in this application embodiment with the cover removed; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the support body and hinged bracket described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded view of the area shown; Figure 6 This is a front view of the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly described in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at position AA in the middle; Figure 8 for Figure 7The cross-sectional structure shown is a schematic diagram of the outlet end being pushed out of the bag opening by the drive mechanism. Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of the part shown in B; Figure 10 for Figure 8 A magnified view of the part shown in C.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Elbow pillow body; 10. Bag outlet; 100. Chamber; 101. Button window; 102. Button through hole; 103. Air bag through hole; 11. Support body; 111. Lower cover plate; 112. Upper cover plate; 113. Buffer; 114. Reel bracket; 115. Guide frame; 12. Covering body; 120. Surface layer; 121. First cushioning layer; 13. Second cushion layer; 130. Clearance groove; 14. Unlock button; 140. Button cover; 141. Button body; 142. Decorative cover; 143. Locking tongue; 144. Return spring; 145. Locking tongue through hole; 2. Hinged bracket; 20. Connecting plate; 21. Hinged plate; 210. Hinged leg; 22. Protective plate; 3. Air bag; 30. Air bag body; 31. Outlet end; 310. Anti-slip groove; 32. Drive mechanism; 320. Mounting groove; 321. Drive component; 322. Push rod; 323. Push plate; 4. Inflation unit; 40. Air pump; 41. Air hose; 410. Air hose through hole; 5. Reel; 50. Winding spring. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the technical solution and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0028] Furthermore, it should be stated in the description of this application that if terms indicating orientation or positional relationship, such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "inner," and "outer," appear, they are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this application and for clarity and conciseness of expression, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Taking the vehicle described in this application as an example, the directional terms such as "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" used in the embodiments are defined based on the vehicle's vertical direction (also known as the height direction), horizontal direction (also known as the width direction), and front-back direction (also known as the length direction). Specifically, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the X direction is the vehicle's front-back direction, where the side pointed by the arrow is "front," and the opposite is "rear." The Y direction is the vehicle's horizontal direction, where the side pointed by the arrow is "left," and the opposite is "right." The Z direction is the vehicle's vertical direction, where the side pointed by the arrow is "up," and the opposite is "down." "," "Inner" and "outer" are defined based on the outline of the corresponding component. For example, "inner" and "outer" are defined based on the outline of the vehicle. The side of the vehicle outline closer to the middle of the vehicle is "inner", and the other side is "outer".

[0029] Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "joint," and "connector" should be interpreted broadly. For example, a connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in light of the specific circumstances. The qualifying terms such as "first," "second," "A," "B," "C," and "D" appearing in the description of this application are merely for distinguishing similar features in different locations, attributions, or uses, in order to avoid ambiguity and confusion, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which 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. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0031] Traditional elbow rests are simple in design, typically just covered with sponge or leather. This results in a fixed level of firmness, failing to meet diverse needs for varying support firmness and offering limited comfort for the elbows. Furthermore, besides serving as a cover for storage compartments on the dashboard and providing elbow support, elbow rests offer little other functionality, making their purpose rather limited.

[0032] In view of the above-mentioned problems in the relevant technologies, this application innovatively proposes a brand-new sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly, which can improve the support comfort of the elbow of the human body in the vehicle.

[0033] The present application will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0034] An embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides a sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly, applied to the sub-instrument panel of a vehicle; an exemplary structure is as follows: Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown.

[0035] Overall, the sub-dashboard armrest assembly includes an armrest body 1, an air bag 3 disposed within the armrest body 1, and an inflation unit 4 capable of inflating the air bag 3 with gas at a set pressure. The armrest body 1 includes a support 11 and a covering 12 covering the support 11; the air bag 3 is positioned between the support 11 and the covering 12. Therefore, when gas at a set pressure is inflated into the air bag 3 via the inflation unit 4, the surface hardness of the covering 12 can change with the change in the set pressure.

[0036] Based on the above overall design concept, by laying an air bag 3 inside the elbow rest body 1, the support body 11 can support the air bag 3 from below, while the covering body 12 covering the upper surface of the elbow rest body 1 forms a shield and protection for the air bag 3; the inflation unit 4 controls the inflation unit 4 to fill the air bag 3 with gas at a set pressure, and the air bag 3, which expands due to inflation, can form a strong support for the covering body 12; as the set pressure changes, the support strength of the air bag 3 for the covering body 12 will also change accordingly, thereby flexibly changing the support stiffness of the covering body 12, which is beneficial to improving the support comfort of the elbow rest on the human elbow in the vehicle.

[0037] It should be noted that, based on the above-mentioned overall design concept, the technical solution of this application can adopt a variety of different specific implementation structures, forms, or configuration sequences. For example, the support body 11 can adopt a split structure with the lower cover plate 111 and the upper cover plate 112 fastened together, or it can adopt a single frame structure; the covering body 12 can be made of materials such as leather or non-woven fabric, and can only wrap the top surface area of ​​the support body 11, or it can wrap both the top and sides of the support body 11. The specific arrangement sequence and assembly method of the support body 11, covering body 12, air bag 3, and inflation unit 4 can also be flexibly adjusted. For the parts required for the implementation of the overall solution but not involved in the above overall setup, reasonable and flexible design can be made by referring to mature setup methods in the field and the actual situation during implementation, which will not be elaborated here. The specific implementation scheme described below in this embodiment is only one of the many solutions that can be formed by the above-mentioned combinations and variations. In actual implementation, those skilled in the art can make flexible adjustments and improvements based on the actual situation. Obviously, the many solutions that can be formed by the above-mentioned combinations and variations, as well as the specific implementation scheme of this embodiment, are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0038] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and combined Figure 4 As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the inflation unit 4 of this embodiment includes an air pump 40 disposed outside the elbow rest body 1, and an air pipe 41 connecting the air pump 40 and the air bag 3. The inflation unit 4 adopts the configuration of air pump 40 and air pipe 41, which is simple and efficient in structure; at the same time, by setting a throttle valve and an exhaust valve with throttling adjustment function on the air pipe 41, the exhaust speed of the air bag 3 can be flexibly controlled when the air bag 3 needs to be vented. By placing the air pump 40 outside the elbow rest body 1, the occupation of the small space inside the elbow rest body 1 can be avoided; by setting an air pipe 41 of a reasonable length and by arranging the air pipe 41 reasonably, the air pump 40 can be installed in a suitable position, such as on the body frame inside the sub-dashboard.

[0039] Continue as Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, the elbow rest body 1 in this embodiment also includes a hinge bracket 2 with a support body 11 at its rear end. The elbow rest body 1 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body via the hinge bracket 2. In this case, the air pipe 41 extends from the bottom of the air bag 3 toward the rear of the elbow rest body 1 and is arranged on the hinge bracket 2. By setting the hinge bracket 2 at the rear end of the elbow rest body 1, the elbow rest body 1 can be installed on the vehicle body frame inside the sub-dashboard via the hinge bracket 2, and the rotatable opening and closing action of the elbow rest body 1 can be smoothly realized. When the elbow rest body 1 is set at the opening of the storage box in the sub-dashboard, the storage box can be flexibly opened and closed by opening and closing the elbow rest body 1, so that the elbow rest body 1 can function as both an elbow rest and a cover.

[0040] Regarding the specific configuration of the hinged bracket 2, there are, of course, various structural options available; for example, a conventional flat plate or right-angled plate structure can be directly adopted. However, in this embodiment, combined with... Figure 6 , Figure 7 As shown, the hinge bracket 2 includes a connecting plate 20 for connecting the support body 11, and a hinge plate 21 located at the rear end of the connecting plate 20. The hinge plate 21 is constructed with a downwardly arched arc shape, and a hinge leg 210 for connecting to the vehicle body is provided at the end of the hinge plate 21 away from the connecting plate 20. The connecting plate 20 on the hinge bracket 2 facilitates the installation and fixation of the elbow rest body 1 onto the connecting plate 20. The downwardly arched arc shape of the hinge plate 21 and the recessed space formed on the inner side of the hinge plate 21 effectively avoids related structures on the sub-dashboard, making the flipping action of the elbow rest body 1 smoother.

[0041] Based on the above configuration, preferably, the hinge bracket 2 of this embodiment further includes a protective plate 22 that is conformally disposed inside the hinge plate 21, and a storage space is formed between the hinge plate 21 and the protective plate 22. When arranging the air pipe 41, the portion of the air pipe 41 arranged on the hinge bracket 2 can be stored in the aforementioned storage space. By providing the protective plate 22 inside the hinge plate 21 and utilizing the storage space between the hinge plate 21 and the protective plate 22 to arrange the air pipe 41, the air pipe 41 can be effectively protected from scratches and damage from surrounding components.

[0042] Based on the hinged bracket 2 at the rear end of the support body 11, the elbow rest body 1 can be flipped upwards to open or close, thereby opening or closing the storage box located inside the sub-dashboard. Figure 2 and combined Figure 5 , Figure 7As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the support body 11 of this embodiment is provided with a locking tongue 143 for locking the elbow rest body 1 to the sub-dashboard, and an unlocking button 14 is provided at the front end of the support body 11. Pressing the unlocking button 14 can cause the locking tongue 143 to release the locking of the elbow rest body 1. By providing the unlocking button 14 and the locking tongue 143 at the front end of the support body 11, when the elbow rest body 1 is in the closed position, the locking tongue 143 can be used to firmly lock the elbow rest body 1 to the sub-dashboard, and the locking tongue 143 can be easily unlocked by pressing the unlocking button 14 to open the storage box, thus improving the usability and experience of the elbow rest body 1 as a storage box cover.

[0043] Of course, there are various options for the specific structural forms of the unlock button 14 and the locking tongue 143. For example, the locking tongue 143 can be directly mounted on the support body 11, and its own deformation properties can be used to move the hook at its end between the locked and unlocked positions. At the same time, the unlock button 14 is placed against the middle of the locking tongue 143. By pressing the unlock button 14, the locking tongue 143 can be pushed to swing, causing the hook at its bottom to temporarily leave the locked position, thereby unlocking the device.

[0044] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 , Figures 7 to 9 As shown, in some preferred exemplary embodiments, the support body 11 includes a lower cover plate 111 and an upper cover plate 112 that are fastened together, and a cavity 100 is formed between the lower cover plate 111 and the upper cover plate 112. An unlock button 14 is movably disposed within the cavity 100, and the pressing portion of the unlock button 14 is exposed in a button window 101 at the front end of the support body 11. Simultaneously, a latch 143 is fixed to the unlock button 14 and protrudes below the lower cover plate 111 through a latch through hole 145 on the lower cover plate 111. A return spring 144 is also provided between the unlock button 14 and the support body 11, and the return spring 144 is used to drive the unlock button 14 to return the latch 143 to the locked position.

[0045] The support body 11 is configured as a structure consisting of a lower cover plate 111 and an upper cover plate 112 that are assembled by interlocking, which facilitates the processing and construction of the support body 11. At the same time, the cavity 100 formed between the lower cover plate 111 and the upper cover plate 112 can be used to easily install the unlocking button 14, the return spring 144, and other related structures of the locking tongue 143. By providing a locking tongue through hole 145 on the lower cover plate 111, the hook at the bottom of the locking tongue 143 can pass through the locking tongue through hole 145 and extend to the bottom of the lower cover plate 111, so as to realize the hook engagement between the locking tongue 143 and the sub-instrument panel, thereby smoothly realizing the locking function of the locking tongue 143.

[0046] Furthermore, a button cover 140 can be provided at the button window 101, and a guide frame 115 can be fixed on the upper cover plate 112, thereby providing conditions for the back-and-forth guiding movement of the unlock button 14, guiding the unlock button 14 to be placed on the guide frame 115, and limiting the pressing part at the end of the unlock button 14 to the button cover 140. In order to improve the tactile and visual feel of the pressing part at the end of the unlock button 14, the unlock button 14 in this embodiment includes a button body 141 and a decorative cover 142 sleeved on the front end of the button body 141. The decorative cover 142 constitutes the pressing part of the unlock button 14, and the button body 141 is guided to move on the guide frame 115. The locking tongue 143 is integrally connected to the button body 141, extends downward from the bottom of the button body 141, and passes through the locking tongue through hole 145 on the lower cover plate 111. Meanwhile, a limiting post is provided on the guide frame 115, and a return spring 144 is fitted on the limiting post and acts elastically between the guide frame 115 and the button body 141. The limiting post can prevent the return spring 144 from shifting or disengaging. The elastic force of the return spring 144 can drive the entire unlock button 14 to move forward and return to the initial position after the unlock button 14 is pressed and released, and at the same time bring the locking tongue 143 back to the locked position.

[0047] Furthermore, to improve the user experience of the elbow rest body 1 when used as a cover for the storage compartment on the sub-dashboard, multiple buffer members 113 can be provided on the lower cover 111. These buffer members 113 can be made of materials such as rubber and formed into insert pillars, inserted from below into the lower cover 111 with their bottoms protruding beyond the cover 111. In this way, when the entire elbow rest body 1 is flipped down to close the storage compartment, the buffer members 113 can first abut against the sub-dashboard below, thus creating a buffer between the elbow rest body 1 and the sub-dashboard and preventing loud noise when closing the elbow rest body 1.

[0048] There are, of course, many different structural options available for the specific configuration of the covering 12. In this embodiment, such as... Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the covering body 12 of this embodiment includes a surface layer 120 and a first soft padding layer 121 disposed between the surface layer 120 and the air bag 3; at the same time, the elbow pillow body 1 also includes a second soft padding layer 13 disposed between the support body 11 and the air bag 3.

[0049] The covering 12 consists of two layers: a surface layer 120 and a first cushioning layer 121. By selecting a suitable material for the surface layer 120, the surface feel of the elbow pillow can be improved. The first cushioning layer 121 provides good isolation, protection, and cushioning between the surface layer 120 and the air bag 3. A second cushioning layer 13 is provided between the air bag 3 and the support 11. The second cushioning layer 13 also provides good isolation and cushioning, preventing the relatively rough and hard support 11 from abrading the air bag 3, thereby improving the durability and reliability of the air bag 3.

[0050] There are, of course, various options for the specific settings of the materials and thicknesses of the surface layer 120, the first cushioning layer 121, and the second cushioning layer 13. In some preferred exemplary embodiments, the surface layer 120 can be made of materials such as leather to enhance the surface feel and quality of the elbow pillow. The first cushioning layer 121 is preferably made of sponge, and the second cushioning layer 13 is preferably made of soft foam plastic, with the thickness of the second cushioning layer 13 being greater than that of the first cushioning layer 121. The first cushioning layer 121, made of materials such as sponge and relatively thin, can fully utilize the softness of sponge to form a good cushioning and isolation between the surface layer 120 and the air bag 3, while allowing the support force of the air bag 3 to be effectively transferred to the surface layer 120 through the first cushioning layer 121. The second cushioning layer 13, made of a relatively harder soft foam plastic and thicker, can provide strong support for the air bag 3 and ensure the isolation and protection of the bottom of the air bag 3.

[0051] Meanwhile, for cases where the front end of the elbow pillow body 1 is provided with a bag outlet 10 and a button window 101, when the elbow pillow body 1 is wrapped with a covering body 12, an air bag through hole 103 and a button through hole 102 need to be provided at corresponding positions on the covering body 12. The air bag through hole 103 corresponds to the bag outlet 10 so that the air bag 3 can be pulled out to the outside of the elbow pillow body 1 through the bag outlet 10 and the air bag through hole 103; the button through hole 102 corresponds to the button window 101 so as to facilitate the pressing operation of the unlock button 14.

[0052] In addition, given the relatively simple function of the elbow rest, with the air bag 3 installed in the sub-instrument elbow rest assembly of this application, a blood pressure measurement function can also be integrated into the sub-instrument elbow rest assembly through reasonable matching design.

[0053] Specifically, the sub-instrument armrest assembly of this embodiment also includes a roller 5 disposed within the armrest body 1, an inflation unit 4 capable of filling the air bag 3 with gas at a set pressure, and a sensor capable of detecting the pressure inside the air bag 3; moreover, the inflation unit 4 can control the degassing speed of the air bag 3. The armrest body 1 is provided with an outlet 10, the air bag 3 is wound onto the roller 5, and the outlet end 31 of the air bag 3 is positioned at the outlet 10. The armrest body 1 is provided with a drive mechanism 32 capable of pushing the outlet end 31 out of the outlet 10. Pulling the outlet end 31 allows the air bag 3 to be partially pulled out of the armrest body 1, and the pulled-out air bag 3 can be wrapped and tied around the upper arm of the human body. The roller 5 can rewind the pulled-out air bag 3 back into the armrest body 1.

[0054] By incorporating an air bag 3 and a scroll 5 within the elbow pillow body 1, and by installing a drive mechanism 32 within the elbow pillow body 1 to extend the outlet end 31 of the air bag 3, the entire air bag 3 is concealed within the elbow pillow body 1 under normal conditions, allowing the elbow pillow body 1 to function as a normal elbow pillow. When blood pressure measurement is required inside the vehicle, the drive mechanism 32 can be controlled to extend the outlet end 31, thereby partially pulling the air bag 3 outside the elbow pillow body 1 and wrapping it around the upper arm. The inflation unit 4 then inflates and pressurizes the air bag 3. During the deflation process, the pressure changes within the air bag 3 monitored by sensors can accurately estimate the measured blood pressure value, thus providing a feasible hardware configuration solution for extending blood pressure measurement functionality to the elbow pillow.

[0055] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and combined Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, the airbag 3 in this embodiment includes an airbag body 30 and a winding end and an exit end 31 located at both ends of the airbag body 30. The winding end is attached to a roller 5, the airbag body 30 is partially wound on the roller 5, and the exit end 31 is led out from the roller 5 and stretched to the position of the outlet 10. In some preferred exemplary embodiments, refer to... Figures 6 to 10 As shown, the lead-out end 31 in this embodiment is constructed as a locking plate that can be unidirectionally locked into the outlet 10 in the retraction direction of the air bag 3, and the locking plate is provided with an anti-slip groove 310. Constructing the lead-out end 31 as a locking plate not only allows for the locking effect of the locking plate in the outlet 10 by setting an appropriate size, preventing the lead-out end 31 from being completely pulled into the elbow pillow body 1 due to the winding force of the roller 5; but also makes it easy for a person to grasp and pull when it is necessary to pull out the air bag 3, avoiding damage to the air bag 3 that may be caused by directly grasping the air bag 3.

[0056] Meanwhile, based on the aforementioned lower cover plate 111 and upper cover plate 112, a roll bracket 114 can be installed on the upper cover plate 112 for mounting the roll 5. To achieve the automatic winding function of the roll 5, a winding spring 50 can be installed between the roll 5 and the roll bracket 114. The elastic driving force of the winding spring 50 is used to drive the roll 5 to rotate and retract the pulled-out air bag 3.

[0057] As mentioned above, the drive mechanism 32 can employ various drive methods such as electric, pneumatic, or electromagnetic. In this embodiment, for example... Figure 5 and Figure 9 As shown, the drive mechanism 32 includes a drive member 321 mounted on the elbow rest body 1, and a push rod 322 that can move back and forth under the drive member 321. The push rod 322 abuts against the card plate and can push the card plate out of the bag opening 10. In a specific configuration, a push plate 323 can be provided at the end of the push rod 322 to push the lead-out end 31.

[0058] The drive mechanism 32 uses a drive element 321 to drive the push rod 322 to move back and forth, which can effectively push the lead-out end 31, thus smoothly pushing the lead-out end 31 out of the bag outlet 10. There are several options for the drive element 321; it can be a linear motor or a spring combined with an electromagnetic coil. When the drive element 321 uses an electromagnetic coil, a magnet can be installed on the push rod 322. The change in the magnetic field generated by the energized electromagnetic coil will exert a force on the magnet, thereby driving the push rod 322 to move back and forth. To facilitate the installation of 321 in 32, a 320 can be provided at the front end of 112 for fixing 321 in 32.

[0059] Continue as Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the inflation unit 4 in this embodiment includes an air pump 40 located outside the elbow rest body 1, and an air pipe 41 connecting the air pump 40 and the air bag 3. The inflation unit 4 uses an air pump 40 and an air pipe 41 configuration, resulting in a simple and efficient structure. Furthermore, by installing a throttle valve and an exhaust valve with throttling adjustment functions on the air pipe 41, the exhaust speed of the air bag 3 can be flexibly controlled when it needs to be vented. Placing the air pump 40 outside the elbow rest body 1 avoids occupying the limited space inside the elbow rest body 1. By setting a reasonable length for the air pipe 41 and arranging it appropriately, the air pump 40 can be installed in a suitable location, such as on the vehicle frame inside the sub-dashboard.

[0060] Furthermore, based on the aforementioned arrangement of the upper guard plate 22 and hinge plate 21 of the hinge bracket 2, a certain redundant length of air tube 41 can be accommodated within the storage space formed between the hinge plate 21 and the guard plate 22, so that when the air bag 3 is partially pulled out to the outside of the elbow pillow body 1, the air tube 41 can extend and move with the air bag 3. To avoid the second soft padding layer 13 compressing the air tube 41, a relief groove 130 can be provided on the second soft padding layer 13, and the air tube 41 located between the support body 11 and the air bag 3 can be arranged in the relief groove 130, so that the air tube 41 can move more smoothly when it extends and moves with the air bag 3. When the support body 11 has a lower cover plate 111 and an upper cover plate 112, an air tube through hole 410 can be opened on the upper cover plate 112 for the air tube 41 to pass through.

[0061] In summary, the sub-instrument armrest assembly of this embodiment, by laying an air bag 3 inside the armrest body 1, uses a support body 11 to support the air bag 3 from below, while the covering body 12 covering the upper surface of the armrest body 1 forms a shield and protection for the air bag 3; the inflation unit 4 controls the inflation unit 4 to fill the air bag 3 with gas at a set pressure, and the air bag 3, which expands due to inflation, can form a strong support for the covering body 12; as the set pressure changes, the support strength of the air bag 3 for the covering body 12 will also change accordingly, thereby flexibly changing the support stiffness of the covering body 12, which is beneficial to improving the support comfort of the elbow of the human body in the vehicle.

[0062] An embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides a vehicle equipped with the sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly provided in Embodiment 1. This assembly possesses the technical advantages of the aforementioned sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly.

[0063] By adopting the sub-dashboard elbow rest assembly and vehicle of this application, the support comfort of the elbow rest on the vehicle's sub-dashboard can be greatly improved, and the functionality of the elbow rest can be effectively enriched. By designing an adjustable pressure air bag 3 inside the elbow rest body 1, the user can change the softness and hardness of the elbow rest surface by adjusting the inflation pressure to adapt to the support comfort needs of the human elbow. At the same time, a roller 5 and a drive mechanism 32 are set in the elbow rest body 1 for winding up and extending the air bag 3. With the cooperation of the inflation unit 4 and its sensor detection and control unit calculation, after the user pulls out the air bag 3 and wraps it around the upper arm, blood pressure can be automatically detected for self-health management.

[0064] When using the elbow support function of the airbag 3 in the sub-dashboard elbow assembly, the airbag 3 can be controlled to enter elbow rest mode via the vehicle display screen. Users can adjust the surface hardness of the elbow rest during rest or driving to meet their own comfort needs and improve user satisfaction.

[0065] When using the blood pressure measurement function of the airbag 3 in the sub-dashboard elbow rest assembly, the airbag 3 can be controlled to enter blood pressure measurement mode via the vehicle display screen. Users can utilize the blood pressure detection function of the airbag 3 to monitor their own blood pressure, achieving the goal of self-monitoring and managing health without going to the hospital. In certain extreme situations, users can use the airbag 3 and related components in the sub-dashboard elbow rest assembly to measure the blood pressure of vehicle occupants or other personnel, enabling timely medical assistance and enhancing social value.

[0066] Overall, the use of the sub-instrument armrest assembly of this application in vehicles can fully utilize the function of the air bag 3 inside the armrest body 1, not only meeting various user needs but also effectively improving the user experience and greatly enhancing the technological feel and intelligence of the entire vehicle.

[0067] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application. Detailed explanations of configurations, examples of specific structural arrangements, and descriptions of assembly and connection methods are provided to ensure sufficient disclosure so that those skilled in the art can better implement this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly, characterized in that: It includes an elbow pillow body (1), an air bag (3) disposed in the elbow pillow body (1), and an inflation unit (4) capable of filling the air bag (3) with gas at a set pressure. The elbow pillow body (1) includes a support (11) and a covering (12) covering the support (11); the air bag (3) is laid between the support (11) and the covering (12), and the surface hardness of the covering (12) changes with the change of the set pressure.

2. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inflation unit (4) includes an inflation pump (40) located outside the elbow pillow body (1) and an air pipe (41) connecting the inflation pump (40) and the air bag (3).

3. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elbow pillow body (1) also includes a hinge bracket (2) with the rear end of the support body (11), and the elbow pillow body (1) is rotatably connected to the vehicle body through the hinge bracket (2). The air tube (41) extends from the bottom of the air bag (3) toward the rear of the elbow pillow body (1) and is arranged on the hinge bracket (2).

4. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The hinge bracket (2) includes a connecting plate (20) for connecting the support body (11) and a hinge plate (21) disposed at the rear end of the connecting plate (20). The hinge plate (21) is constructed as a downwardly arched arc surface, and the end of the hinge plate (21) away from the connecting plate (20) is provided with a hinge leg (210) for connecting the vehicle body.

5. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The hinge bracket (2) also includes a protective plate (22) disposed in a conformal manner on the inner side of the hinge plate (21), and a storage space is formed between the hinge plate (21) and the protective plate (22), and the portion of the air tube (41) arranged on the hinge bracket (2) is stored in the storage space.

6. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support (11) is provided with a locking tongue (143) for locking the elbow pillow body (1) on the sub-dashboard, and the front end of the support (11) is provided with an unlocking button (14); pressing the unlocking button (14) can cause the locking tongue (143) to release the locking of the elbow pillow body (1).

7. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The support (11) includes a lower cover plate (111) and an upper cover plate (112) that are fastened together, and a cavity (100) is formed between the lower cover plate (111) and the upper cover plate (112). The unlock button (14) is movable back and forth within the chamber (100), and the pressing part of the unlock button (14) is exposed in the button window (101) opened at the front end of the support (11); the latch (143) is fixed on the unlock button (14) and protrudes through the latch through hole (145) on the lower cover plate (111) to the bottom of the lower cover plate (111); A return spring (144) is provided between the unlock button (14) and the support body (11). The return spring (144) is used to drive the unlock button (14) to drive the latch (143) back to the locked position.

8. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The covering (12) includes a surface layer (120) and a first cushion layer (121) disposed between the surface layer (120) and the air bag (3). The elbow pillow body (1) also includes a second soft padding layer (13) placed between the support body (11) and the air bag (3).

9. The sub-instrument panel elbow rest assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first cushion layer (121) is made of sponge, the second cushion layer (13) is made of soft foam plastic, and the thickness of the second cushion layer (13) is greater than the thickness of the first cushion layer (121).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle is provided with a sub-instrument armrest assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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