Adjustable armrest for a vehicle and vehicle with at least one such armrest

Abstract

Arrangement of an adjustable armrest (2) for a vehicle (1), comprising: an armrest (2) and a base plate (8) for the armrest (2), which comprises a first plate part (8a) and a second plate part (8b), which in turn are each pivotably mounted on a fitting, accessory or vehicle part of the vehicle (1) about a common axis of rotation (9), wherein the two plate parts (8a, 8b) are detachably connected to one another in such a way that the second plate part (8b) can be detached from the first plate part (8a) and reconnected to it depending on the situation, wherein the armrest (2) is supported on the second plate part (8b) of the base plate (8), and wherein the first plate part (8a) is assigned means for fixing the same in various pivoting positions, which allow, starting from a first pivoting position of the base plate (8), the base plate (8), i.e. the mutually coupled plate parts (8a, 8b), to be pivoted and fixed in stages or continuously in a desired pivoting position, so that a specific set pivoting position of the pivotable, adjustable armrest (2) can be automatically found again even after adjusting the armrest (2) in the sense of pivoting up and then pivoting back again the second plate part (8b) with the armrest (2).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable armrest for a vehicle and to a vehicle having at least one such armrest.

[0002] For the purposes of this description, the usual direction of travel of a motor vehicle shall be designated by “+x” (“plus x”), the direction opposite to its usual direction of travel shall be designated by “-x” (“minus x”), the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the right viewed from the usual direction of travel (+x) shall be designated by “+y”, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the left viewed from the usual direction of travel (+x) shall be designated by “-y”, the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction upwards viewed from the x-direction shall be designated by “+z”, and the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction downwards viewed from the x-direction shall be designated by “-z”.

[0003] Adjustable armrests on vehicles, especially passenger cars, have been around for some time in a wide variety of designs. Essentially, this adjustability is required to access a storage compartment covered by the armrest and / or to adjust the armrest to suit any vehicle occupant and / or to achieve an ergonomically favorable position.

[0004] For example, DE 44 43 521 C1 discloses a coverable container for seat-side allocation in a vehicle, comprising a box-shaped housing open at the top and a flap pivotable on the housing, which in turn is designed as an armrest for a seat occupant. In order to create an angle- and height-adjustable armrest, a support lever is pivoted to the underside of the flap at a distance from the flap pivot axis. The support lever, with a locking lug, can be engaged by a tension spring in vertically arranged locking grooves. The support lever is guided by a guide pin in a guide track. For the purpose of returning the support lever when the flap is closed, bypassing the locking mechanisms, the guide track has two separate, spaced-apart track sections which, together with an upper and lower junction, form a closed guide track.

[0005] WO 2003 / 082 626 A1 describes an armrest for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest support member, by means of which the armrest can be pivoted about a pivot axis from a non-use position into at least one use position. At least one retaining device is provided, with which the armrest is held or locked in the non-use position or in the at least one use position by means of locking hooks and corresponding locking recesses. This also enables an angular and height adjustment of the armrest.

[0006] From DE 103 56 293 A1, a device for adjusting the angle and height of an armrest provided for rotation about a rotation axis is also known, wherein a freewheel is arranged around the rotation axis for locking the armrest in dependence on the direction of rotation.

[0007] DE 196 43 051 C1 describes a coverable container for seat-side allocation in a vehicle, comprising a box-shaped housing open at the top, with an armrest covering the housing opening and pivotably mounted on the housing about a transverse pivot axis, and with an angle-height adjustment device for implementing various pivot positions of the armrest, which has a locking device that releasably locks the support lever supporting the armrest. To implement a stable angle-height adjustment device, a locking plate is arranged between the housing and the armrest, covering the housing opening and designed to pivot about the pivot axis. The support lever is supported at a longitudinal distance from the pivot axis between the armrest and the locking plate, with one of its support points being designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the armrest and lockable by the locking device.

[0008] DE 196 21 554 A1 discloses an armrest, in particular a center armrest for motor vehicle seats, which is rotatable about a pivot connected to the seat structure. It comprises means for adjusting and storing the desired angle and height setting of the armrest, which, after rotation of the armrest about the pivot, allow the armrest to return to the adjusted and stored position. Said means for adjusting and storing the desired angle and height setting comprises a telescopic element with a spring attached to a frame of the armrest, which can be extended or shortened and locked at the desired length by known means actuated by a lever.

[0009] Finally, DE 10 2011 017 225 A1 discloses an armrest for a motor vehicle that is adjustable in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction) and in a substantially vertical direction (z-direction). In this respect, an actuating device with an actuating element is provided on the armrest, which allows adjustment of the armrest in the z-direction, regardless of its current position in the x-direction.

[0010] DE 44 15 732 A1 discloses an armrest between adjacent seats of a motor vehicle, behind which at least one further seat is located. The armrest comprises an upper part that can be folded back about a horizontal axis running parallel to the plane of the backrests, and a holder for at least one beverage can, a cup, or the like arranged in the upper part and accessible from the rear seat after folding. The armrest further comprises a drawer-like insert that can be pulled out forwards and is accessible from the front seats, and a holder for at least one beverage can, a cup, or the like arranged on the insert and pivotable upwards on parallelogram links.

[0011] Furthermore, FR 2 879 530 A1 discloses a console for a motor vehicle with an articulated armrest. This console comprises a housing and a pivoting armrest having a support surface pivoted on the side of its rear end and a releasable locking mechanism designed to lock the support surface in a stable angular position. The locking mechanism comprises a connecting rod rotatable with respect to the support surface about an axis forward of the axis of the support surface, and a plurality of notches that can selectively accommodate the releasable connecting rod.

[0012] The object of the invention is to create an adjustable armrest which is an alternative to the prior art and which, based on DE 196 21 554 A1, offers improved operating comfort for the user by means of simple and cost-effective measures.

[0013] A base plate for the armrest is proposed, which is formed from a first and a second plate part, which in turn are each pivotably mounted on an equipment, accessory or vehicle part, for example on a center console of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, about a common axis of rotation. The two plate parts are detachably connected to one another in such a way that the second plate part can be detached from the first plate part depending on the situation, so to speak decoupled. The first plate part is assigned means for fixing it in various pivot positions, which allow, starting from a specific starting position or pivot position of the armrest, which corresponds for example to a horizontal arrangement of the same, the base plate, i.e.to pivot the interconnected plate sections in steps or continuously and to fix them at a desired angular height or in a desired pivoting position. This pivoting position can, for example, indicate an ergonomically favorable position of the armrest for a specific vehicle occupant. The measures described create a memory function such that a specific set angular height of a pivoting armrest is automatically found or set even after adjusting the armrest by pivoting it up and back again.

[0014] Means for securing the armrest, in this case the first plate part of the base plate of the armrest, are widely known and are acknowledged as examples in the present introduction to the description. For example, the means known per se and disclosed in WO 2003 / 082 626 A1 by the applicant are suitable as securing means for the present invention. However, the invention is not limited to these means, but encompasses any known means for releasably securing the armrest at a selected angular height or pivoting position.

[0015] For example, if there is a storage compartment underneath the armrest, as is often the case with a center armrest in the center console of a vehicle, it may be necessary to pivot the armrest upward to allow access to the storage compartment. When the armrest is pivoted back, it is desirable for the armrest to return to its original pivot position.

[0016] To meet this requirement, the armrest is supported on the second plate section of the base plate, which can be decoupled from the first plate section depending on the situation. For this purpose, the armrest supported on the second plate section is assigned an operating handle for a locking and unlocking device. This locking and unlocking device allows the connection between the first and second plate sections to be released and the second plate section, separated from the first plate section, to be pivoted upwards, thus allowing access to the storage compartment. The first plate section remains in its pre-set pivot position. If the second plate section is pivoted back, the connection between the first and second plate sections is restored, so that the armrest once again assumes its pre-set ergonomically favorable pivot position.

[0017] Preferably, said locking and unlocking device is a mechanically operated device. However, the invention is not limited to this, but also encompasses any other suitable actuating mechanism known per se, which may, for example, also be electrical or electromechanical.

[0018] The preferably mechanically operated locking and unlocking device essentially consists of the aforementioned handle supported on the armrest and a locking member supported on the second plate part and connected to the handle via one or more coupling members. The locking member supported on the second plate part is at least positively connected to the first plate part in the locked state or in the coupled state of the two plate parts. The locking member is spring-loaded in the locking direction. Upon actuation of the handle, which is preferably formed by a button pivotably mounted on the armrest, the locking member is released from its locking connection with the first plate part of the base plate against the aforementioned spring force. The second plate part, including the armrest, can then be pivoted upwards, separately from the first plate part, which remains in its pivoted position, as already explained above.When the armrest is swung back, the locking element automatically snaps into its locking position on the first plate part or into a locking receptacle on the first plate part.

[0019] In solving the problem, a memory function of the armrest is created which is simple and cost-effective to create and requires minimal installation space. This memory function allows the armrest to be automatically found and adopted again and again in a reproducible manner when pivoting it upwards, for example to allow access to a storage compartment, when pivoting it back.

[0020] Based on DE 10 2011 017 225 A, the armrest can additionally be designed to be displaceable relative to the base plate, in particular to its second plate part, in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction), in order to create a longitudinal adjustment of the armrest in the x-direction. For this purpose, the armrest is displaceably mounted on the second plate part of the base plate by means of linear guides. In order to enable actuation of the locking and unlocking device for decoupling the second plate part from the first in any displaced position of the armrest, the locking and unlocking device has a coupling rod extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction) and connected at one end to the actuating handle or the button pivotally mounted on the armrest. The coupling rod is also pivotally mounted on the armrest about a pivot axis pointing in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction).Said coupling rod is guided in a sliding manner on a bell crank located below it and pivotally mounted on the second plate part, and is operatively connected to the locking element via said bell crank. Said sliding guide is preferably replaced by a roller element connected to the bell crank. Regardless of the armrest's position relative to the second plate part, the activation of the locking and unlocking mechanism is always guaranteed.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this embodiment, but encompasses all embodiments defined by the patent claims. They show: Fig. 1 a vehicle in a side view, which has an armrest designed according to the invention, Fig. 2 a representation of a center console of the vehicle according to Fig. 1 in longitudinal section, with a pivoting central armrest, with a base plate for the armrest and with a locking and unlocking device for the base plate, Fig. 3 the representation of the center console of the vehicle according to Fig. 1 in one to Fig. 2 parallel longitudinal sections, with the pivoting central armrest and an axial guide for the armrest, Fig. 4 the base plate of the armrest in isolation with a first and a second plate element in a perspective view as well as with the unlocking and locking device for decoupling the plate elements, Fig. 5 the section “II” according to Fig. 4, Fig. 6 a perspective view of a linear guide of the armrest, and Fig. 7 the bottom view of a housing upper part of an armrest housing of the armrest separated from the base plate in assembly with the linear guide according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 6.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 1, in this case a passenger car, which has an adjustable armrest 2, which according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is pivotally mounted on a center console 3 of the vehicle 1. The armrest 2 has an armrest housing 4, preferably made of plastic, which is formed by an upper housing part 4a and a lower housing part 4b. The upper and lower housing parts 4a, 4b are firmly connected or can be connected to one another, preferably in a form-fitting manner by means of clip elements 5. The upper housing part 4a in the present case has a cushion-like outer lining or soft component 6 made of plastic or another suitable material, on which the arm of a vehicle occupant can be or is placed during use (armrest). According to this preferred exemplary embodiment, the armrest 2 forms a cover element covering a storage compartment 7 of the center console 3.

[0023] The armrest housing 4 is assigned a base plate 8, which is pivotally mounted at one end on the center console 3 along a rotation axis 9 extending in the vehicle's transverse direction (y-direction). The center console 3 has an air vent 10 directed toward the rear of the vehicle. The said rotation axis 9 is arranged adjacent to the air vent.

[0024] The base plate 8 is according to the Fig. 2 to 5 are formed from a first and a second plate part 8a, 8b, which in turn are pivotally mounted independently of each other on the center console 3 about the common axis of rotation 9. According to Fig. 4, hinge arms 11 of the first plate part 8a are axially enclosed by hinge arms 12 of the second plate part 8b.

[0025] On the second plate part 8b of the base plate 8, the armrest 2 or its armrest housing 4 is mounted displaceably in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x-direction) by means of a linear guide 13 (cf. in particular Fig. 3, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). The linear guide 13 is formed by guide tubes 13a extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction), which are each fixed at both ends to the upper housing part 4a and are guided for longitudinal displacement in a sliding block 13b that is firmly connected or connectable to the second plate part 8b.

[0026] The plate parts 8a, 8b of the base plate 8 are connected to one another in a first operating position in a rotationally fixed manner. The first plate part 8a is provided with means (not shown in the drawing) for fixing the same in various pivoting positions, which allow, starting from the position shown in the Fig. 2 to 5, which corresponds, for example, to a horizontal arrangement of the armrest 2, the base plate 8, i.e., the interconnected plate parts 8a, 8b as a whole, can be pivoted in steps or continuously in the direction of arrow 14 and fixed at a desired angular height or in a desired pivot position. Said pivot position can, for example, indicate an ergonomically favorable position of the armrest 2 for a specific vehicle occupant (not shown in the drawing).

[0027] Such means for securing the armrest 2, in this case the first plate part 8a of the base plate 8 of the armrest 2, are widely known. A graphic representation has been omitted for the sake of clarity in view of the features essential to the invention. Suitable securing means include, for example, the means disclosed in WO 03 / 082626 A1 by the applicant. However, the invention is not limited to these means but encompasses any known means for releasably securing the armrest 2 at the selected angular height or pivot position.

[0028] The plate parts 8a, 8b are detachably connected to one another in such a way that the second plate part 8b can be detached from the first plate part 8a, so to speak, decoupled, depending on the situation (second operating position of the plate parts 8a, 8b of the base plate 8).

[0029] If access to the storage compartment 7 located below the armrest 2 is desired, it is necessary, starting from the position shown in the Fig. 2 to 5, or starting from the ergonomically favorable pivoting position of the armrest 2 (not shown in the drawing), the armrest 2 is pivoted upward in the direction of arrow 14, thus enabling access to the storage compartment 7. If the armrest 2 is subsequently pivoted back, it is desirable for the armrest 2 to return to its originally set pivoting position.

[0030] To meet this requirement, the armrest 2 with its armrest housing 4 is supported directly and exclusively on the second plate part 8b of the base plate 8, which can be decoupled from the first plate part 8a depending on the situation. For this purpose, an actuating handle 15 for a locking and unlocking device 16 is assigned to the armrest 2 supported on the second plate part 8b. This locking and unlocking device 16 allows the connection between the first and second plate parts 8a, 8b to be released and the second plate part 8b, separated from the first plate part 8a, to be pivoted upwards in the direction of arrow 14 or further in the direction of arrow 14, thereby enabling access to the storage compartment 7. The first plate part 8a remains in its preset pivot position.If the second plate part 8b together with the armrest 2 is subsequently pivoted back, the connection between the first and second plate parts 8a, 8b is restored, so that the armrest 2 again assumes its previously set ergonomically favorable pivoting position.

[0031] According to this embodiment, the locking and unlocking device 16 is a mechanically operated device. However, the invention is not limited to this, but also encompasses any other suitable actuating mechanism known per se, which may, for example, be electrical or electromechanical in nature (not shown in the drawing).

[0032] The mechanically operated unlocking and locking device 16 essentially consists of the following components: - The handle 15 supported at the free end of the armrest 2 in the form of a button pivotably mounted on the armrest housing 4, - a first coupling member in the form of a first coupling rod 18 supported on the second plate part 8b and pivotably mounted on the upper housing part 4a of the armrest housing 4 about a pivot axis 17 pointing in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x-direction), - a second coupling member in the form of a deflection lever 20 pivotably mounted on the second plate part 8b about a pivot axis 19 pointing in the transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle, with a first and a second lever arm 20a, 20b, wherein the first coupling rod 18 is supported on the first lever arm 20a in a sliding manner downwards and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (x-direction), and - a locking member 22 which is operatively connected directly or, as in the present case, indirectly via a third coupling member in the form of a second coupling rod 21 to the second lever arm 20b of the reversing lever 20.

[0033] The locking member 22 is elongated in this case, extends essentially in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction), and is mounted on the second plate part 8b for longitudinal displacement. Furthermore, the locking member 22 has a locking projection 23 with a ramp 24 at its rear end, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0034] In order to improve the sliding support of the first coupling rod 18 on the first lever arm 20a of the reversing lever 20, the latter has a roller element 25 on which the first coupling rod 18 is mounted or placed in a longitudinally displaceable manner.

[0035] The locking member 22 supported on the second plate part 8b is positively connected to the first plate part 8a in the locked state or in the coupled state of the two plate parts 8a, 8b, in that it extends below the first plate part 8a and thus prevents the second plate part 8b from pivoting relative to the first plate part 8a. The locking member 22 is indirectly connected to the first plate part 8a via a spring element 26 acting on the deflection lever 20 (cf. Fig. 2) spring-loaded in the locking direction (directional arrow 27).

[0036] When the handle 15, which is designed as a pivoting button, is actuated, with reference to Fig. 5 the first coupling rod 18 is pressed downwards against the first lever arm 20a of the reversing lever 20. The lever arm 20 pivots clockwise and the locking member 22 is moved against the said spring force, ie according to Fig.5 is released or pulled in the direction of arrow 28 (unlocking direction) from its locking connection with the first plate part 8a of the base plate 8. The released operating state is not shown in the drawing. The second plate part 8b, including the armrest 2, can then be pivoted upward in the direction of arrow 14, separately from the first plate part 8a, which remains in its pivoted position.

[0037] If the handle 15 is no longer actuated, the locking element 22 automatically snaps into its locking position with the first plate part 8a when the armrest 2 is pivoted back. The locking element 22 moves over the adjacent front edge of the first plate part 8a with its beveled edge 24, thereby retreating against the said spring force in the direction of travel (+x-direction) of the vehicle 1, and after moving over the said front edge, it advances again in the direction of action of the spring force of the spring element 26 (-x-direction) (not shown in the drawing). To further improve the positive connection between the first and second plate parts 8a, 8b of the base plate 8, a locking receptacle can also be provided on the first plate part 8a, into which the locking element 22 penetrates in an axially positive manner (not shown in the drawing).

[0038] As already explained above, the armrest 2 is designed to be displaceable relative to the base plate 8, in particular to its second plate part 8b, in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction). To enable the actuation of the locking and unlocking device 16 for decoupling the second plate part 8b from the first plate part 8a in any displacement position of the armrest 2, the second coupling member in the form of the first coupling rod 18 of the locking and unlocking device 16 is designed to be correspondingly long.

[0039] The exemplary embodiment described above is based on a center armrest 2 of a vehicle 1, which, as a cover element, covers a storage compartment 7 arranged below it in a center console 3 of the vehicle 1. However, the invention is not limited to said center armrest 2, but rather encompasses any armrest 2 in a vehicle 1 that, within the meaning of the invention, is intended to have said memory function and, if appropriate, is also intended to be displaceable in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction). Thus, it is not necessary for said armrest 2 to cover a storage compartment 7 or a container. It is sufficient if, depending on the situation, said armrest 2 is to be pivoted fully upwards, for example, from its set pivot position, and then pivoted back into its originally set pivot position.This may, for example, prove necessary or useful in the case of a central armrest 2 in the area of ​​a rear seat bench of the vehicle 1 so that a third person can sit on the same. List of reference symbols 1 vehicle 2 armrests 3 Center console 4 armrest housings 4a Upper housing part 4b Lower housing part 5 clip elements 6 Soft component 7 storage compartment 8 Base plate 8a first plate part 8b second plate part 9 axis of rotation 10 air vents 11 hinge arms (first plate part 8a) 12 hinge arms (second flap part 8b) 13 Linear guide 13a Guide tubes 13b Transfer stand 14 Direction arrow (swivel movement of armrest 2 upwards) 15 Handle 16 Unlocking and locking device 17 Swivel axis (first coupling rod 18) 18 first coupling rod 19 Swivel axis (reverse lever 20) 20 bell cranks 20a first lever arm 20b second lever arm 21 second coupling rod 22 locking link 23 locking projection 24 run-on slope 25 roller element 26 spring element 27 Locking direction 28 Unlocking direction

Claims

[1] Arrangement of an adjustable armrest (2) for a vehicle (1), comprising: an armrest (2) and a base plate (8) for the armrest (2), which comprises a first plate part (8a) and a second plate part (8b), which in turn are each pivotably mounted on a fitting, accessory or vehicle part of the vehicle (1) about a common axis of rotation (9), wherein the two plate parts (8a, 8b) are detachably connected to one another in such a way that the second plate part (8b) can be detached from the first plate part (8a) and reconnected to it depending on the situation, wherein the armrest (2) is supported on the second plate part (8b) of the base plate (8), and wherein the first plate part (8a) is assigned means for fixing the same in various pivoting positions, which allow, starting from a first pivoting position of the base plate (8), the base plate (8), i.e. the mutually coupled plate parts (8a, 8b), to be pivoted and fixed in stages or continuously in a desired pivoting position, so that a specific set pivoting position of the pivotable, adjustable armrest (2) can be automatically found again even after adjusting the armrest (2) in the sense of pivoting up and then pivoting back again the second plate part (8b) with the armrest (2). [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the arrangement comprises an actuating handle (15) for an unlocking and locking device (16) which allows the connection between the first plate part (8a) and the second plate part (8b) to be released and the second plate part (8b) separated from the first plate part (8a) to be pivoted together with the armrest (2), wherein the first plate part (8a) remains in its preset pivoting position, [3] Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by that the unlocking and locking device (16) is a mechanically operated device. [4] Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized bythat the unlocking and locking device (16) comprises a handle (15) supported on the armrest (2) and a locking member (22) supported on the second plate part (8b) and connected to the handle (15) via one or more coupling members (18, 20, 21), wherein the locking member (22) is at least positively connected to the first plate part (8a) in the locked state or in the coupled state of the two plate parts (8a, 8b). [5] Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by that the locking member (22) is spring-loaded in the locking direction (27) and is released from its locking with the first plate part (8a) of the base plate (8) when the handle (15) is actuated against the said spring force, so that the second plate part (8b) together with the armrest (2) can then be pivoted separately from the first plate part (8a), which remains in its pivoting position. [6] Arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized bythat when the armrest (2) is pivoted back, the locking member (22) automatically snaps into its locking position relative to the first plate part (8a). [7] Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by that the locking and unlocking device is an electrically or electromechanically operated device. [8] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a storage compartment (7) covered by the armrest (2) is arranged below the armrest (2). [9] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the armrest (2) is additionally designed to be displaceable relative to the base plate (8), in particular to its second plate part (8b), in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x-direction). [10] Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized by that the armrest (2) is displaceably mounted on the second plate part (8b) of the base plate (8) by means of a linear guide (13). [11] Vehicle (1), in particular motor vehicle, characterized by that the vehicle (1) comprises at least one arrangement of an adjustable armrest (2) according to one of the preceding claims.

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