Armrest for a motor vehicle, armrest system

Abstract

An armrest (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest (2) and at least one holder (3) for pivotably supporting the armrest (2), wherein the holder (3) has at least one mounting element (8) for fastening to the motor vehicle, wherein the holder (3) has at least one pivot arm (7) pivotably mounted on the mounting element (8), wherein the pivot arm (7) and the armrest (2) have means for fastening the armrest (2) to the pivot arm (7), wherein the pivot arm (7) is designed as a fork arm and has two pivot arm parts (7', 7'') arranged parallel to one another, wherein the holder (3) has at least one locking device (15) between the pivot arm (7) and the mounting element (8), such that the pivot arm (7) can be locked to the mounting element (8) in at least one pivot position,and wherein the locking device (15) has at least one rigid catch (16) and at least one pivotable locking pawl (19) urged by spring force against the rigid catch (16), characterized in that the locking pawl (19) is arranged between the pivot arm parts (7', 7'') in such a way that it acts centrally with respect to the arrangement of the pivot arm parts (7', 7'').

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an armrest for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest and at least one mount for pivotably supporting the armrest, wherein the mount has at least one mounting element for attachment to the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to an armrest system comprising the aforementioned armrest.

[0002] Armrests of the type mentioned above are already known from the prior art. In particular, they are provided on individual seats or bench seats and offer the occupants the option of resting their arm in a comfortable position when needed. Typically, armrests provided between two adjacent seats in particular are designed such that the armrest is pivotably mounted, allowing it to be pivoted between a raised resting position and a lowered support position. In the resting position, for example, access to the seats or to a storage compartment below the armrest is facilitated. A corresponding armrest is already disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2009 053 537 A1. The armrest is connected to the mounting element by a bearing axis and is thus pivotably mounted on the latter.An armrest with a pivotable armrest is also known from DE 10 2007 056 929 A1, whereby here too the armrest can be pivoted by means of a bearing axis which is formed by hinge pins formed on the armrest.

[0003] For example, an armrest of this type is known from published patent application DE 20 2013 101 759 U1. Further armrests have also been disclosed in published patent applications DE 72 07 684 U and DE 102 34 715 A1.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating an armrest that ensures simplified assembly and variability.

[0005] The object underlying the invention is achieved by an armrest having the features of claim 1. This has, among other things, the advantage that the armrest can be easily mounted. For this purpose, the holder comprises a pivoting arm pivotably mounted on the mounting element, and the armrest is fastened to the pivoting arm, in particular detachably. The pivot bearing is thus not formed by the armrest itself, but by the pivoting arm mounted on the mounting element. This allows the armrest to be easily arranged and fastened to the pivoting arm, making assembly simple.Another advantage is that different armrests can be easily attached to the swivel arm, allowing the armrest to be easily adapted to different conditions, especially to different vehicle models, by attaching a specific armrest to the swivel arm. The mount can thus be used with many different vehicle models and can be supplemented by adding the appropriate armrest for each vehicle model.

[0006] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the armrest has a mounting recess as a fastening means for receiving the swivel arm with at least substantially no play. This allows the armrest to be plugged onto the swivel arm, ensuring a secure, positive connection between the swivel arm and the armrest. The play-free or substantially play-free mounting of the swivel arm ensures that the armrest does not wobble during operation or can be easily removed.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receiving recess is designed as a receiving groove on the underside of the armrest. This ensures particularly simple assembly because the armrest can be easily placed or plugged onto the swivel arm from above. The receiving groove has a length that corresponds at least to the length of the swivel arm, so that the latter can be securely received in the groove. The width of the groove expediently corresponds essentially to the width of the swivel arm to ensure at least essentially play-free reception.

[0008] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is preferably provided that the receiving recess is designed as a receiving channel for the pivot arm. In contrast to the receiving groove, the insertion channel has a narrow inlet opening into which the pivot arm can be inserted in the direction of its longitudinal extent. Although this means somewhat more time-consuming assembly, it offers the advantage that the armrest then also engages behind the pivot arm, so that when the armrest is lifted, the pivot arm is moved with it. In both described embodiments of the receiving recess, it is preferably provided that the pivot arm is longitudinally displaceable in the receiving recess, so that the armrest can be moved at least substantially vertically with respect to the pivot axis in order to offer the user the greatest possible comfort.

[0009] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is further provided that the receiving recess and the pivot arm form a press fit, at least in sections. The press fit ensures a frictional connection between the pivot arm and the armrest, which prevents accidental detachment of the armrest from the pivot arm. The press fit represents a particularly advantageous means for, in particular, detachable fastening of the armrest to the pivot arm, since it does not require any additional elements or devices that would increase assembly time and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the frictional connection between the armrest and the pivot arm formed by the press fit can be released again during disassembly by overcoming the frictional force.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that at least one screw connection, a clamping device and / or a locking device are provided as means. These means ensure a force-fitting or form-fitting locking of the armrest on or to the pivot arm, which reliably and permanently prevents accidental detachment of the armrest from the pivot arm. With the screw connection, for example, the armrest is screwed directly to the pivot arm. As a clamping device, for example, clamping means can be provided which subsequently brace or clamp the pivot arm, which has been inserted into the receiving recess, in the receiving recess. The locking device provides a releasable form-fitting connection, by means of which the pivot arm is held in the receiving recess, so that even relatively high forces can be safely absorbed.

[0011] According to the invention, the swivel arm is designed as a forked arm and, for this purpose, has two parallel swivel arm parts. The design as a forked arm increases the stability of the armrest and, in particular, of the armrest. In particular, the two swivel arm parts are arranged at a distance from one another. The swivel arm parts can be separate or firmly connected to one another. In particular, it is conceivable to design the forked arm in one piece. The armrest then expediently has a corresponding receiving recess for each of the swivel arm parts, in particular as described above.

[0012] Furthermore, the invention provides that the holder has at least one locking device between the pivot arm and the mounting element, so that the pivot arm can be locked or locked in at least one, preferably multiple, pivot positions. This provides the user with the advantage of being able to lock and use the armrest in one or more pivot positions, allowing them to easily adapt it to their needs.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention provides that the locking device has at least one rigid catch and at least one pivotable pawl that is urged against the catch by spring force. In this case, the number of pivot positions in which the armrest is to be lockable can be specified, in particular depending on the number of catches on the catch. The locking device designed in this way also has the advantage that the user can easily move the armrest out of the respective locked pivot position, wherein only the pawl must be released against the spring force. This provides an easy-to-use locking device that provides a multitude of different lockable pivot positions without great effort. In particular, it is provided that the rigid catch is arranged on the armrest or the pivot arm and the pawl is arranged on the mounting element.According to an alternative embodiment, the locking pawl is arranged on the pivot arm or the armrest, and the rigid catch is arranged on the mounting element. According to the invention, the locking pawl is arranged between the two pivot arm parts, so that it acts centrally relative to the width of the armrest or the arrangement of the pivot arm parts.

[0014] The armrest system according to the invention with the features of claim 7 is characterized in that a plurality of different armrests are provided, which have the same means for releasably attaching to the pivoting arm. Thus, the armrests have the same interface for the mount, so that the armrest can be easily adapted, for example, to a specific vehicle model. The mount can be used in many different vehicles; in particular, the armrest system therefore has a plurality of mounts, and by adding a suitable armrest, the appropriate armrest for the respective model is then completed. Further features and advantages emerge from the above description and from the claims.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 an armrest for a motor vehicle in a simplified side view, Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B different designs of the armrest in cross-sectional views, Fig. 3 a bracket of the armrest in a perspective view, Fig. 4 a part of the bracket in a perspective exploded view and Fig. 5 another part of the bracket in a perspective exploded view.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a simplified representation of an armrest 1 for a motor vehicle (not shown in detail). The armrest 1 has an armrest 2 and a holder 3, by means of which the armrest 2 can be fastened in the motor vehicle. The armrest 2 is shown unpadded in the present case, so that only a tray can be seen, which represents the basic structure of the armrest 2. The armrest 2 or tray has a receiving recess 5 on its underside 4. The receiving recess 5 is designed here as a receiving groove 6, which extends parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tray. The holder 3 has a pivot arm 7, which lies in the receiving groove 6. The pivot arm 7 is mounted on a mounting element 8 of the holder 3 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 9.

[0017] The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show different embodiments for the receiving recess 5 of the armrest 2. The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show the armrest 1 in a detailed sectional view. According to Fig. 2A, it is provided that the receiving recess 5, as in Fig. 1, is designed as a receiving groove 6. The width of the receiving groove 6 essentially corresponds to the width of the pivot arm 7, so that the latter is held in the receiving groove 6 essentially without play. In particular, it is provided that the receiving groove 6 and the pivot arm 7 form a press fit, so that the pivot arm 7 is held frictionally in the receiving groove 6 and thus the armrest 2 is held frictionally on the pivot arm 7.

[0018] Fig. 2B shows an alternative embodiment in which the receiving recess 5 is designed as a receiving channel 10. This differs from the receiving groove 6 in that it completely surrounds the pivot arm 7, so that the pivot arm 7 must be inserted into the receiving channel 10 in its longitudinal extension. This may require more effort during assembly, but offers a better hold of the armrest 2 on the pivot arm 7 because in this case the armrest 2 encompasses the pivot arm 7, in particular engages behind it.

[0019] In addition to or as an alternative to the frictional connection between the swivel arm 7 and the armrest 2, other fastening means may also be provided. For example, it is provided that the swivel arm 7 is screwed to the armrest 2. For this purpose, the swivel arm 7 has, for example, screw openings 11 as a means that can be brought into overlapping positions with corresponding openings in the armrest 2, so that a screw can be pushed through each of the overlapping openings and tightened, for example, in a threaded hole in the armrest 2, in order to thereby fasten the swivel arm 7 to the armrest 2.

[0020] The armrest 1 has the advantage over known armrests that the armrest 2 is provided interchangeably on the pivot arm 7 of the holder 3, so that the holder 3 can be arranged in the motor vehicle independently of the armrest 2. This offers the particular advantage that the pivot bearing of the armrest 1, which is formed solely by the holder 3, can be pre-assembled in the motor vehicle as a pre-assembly group or as a finished unit, wherein the armrest 2 can be subsequently arranged or fastened to the pivot arm 7 of the holder 3 without great effort. This makes assembly of the armrest 1 simple for the fitter. This also makes it possible to use the same holder 3 for many different vehicle models and to adapt it to the respective vehicle model by means of different armrests 2, which are each identical in terms of the interface of at least the pivot arm 7.In this respect, an advantageous armrest system 12 is provided which ensures simple assembly with a plurality of identical brackets 3 and a plurality of different, for example model-specific, armrests 2.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the holder 3 according to one exemplary embodiment. The pivot arm 7 of the holder 3 is designed as a fork arm and thus has two pivot arm parts 7' and 7'', which are aligned and arranged parallel to one another. The pivot arm parts 7' and 7'' can be formed integrally with one another or can be mounted independently of one another on the mounting element 8 so as to be pivotable about the axis 9. In the present exemplary embodiment, the mounting element 8 has two mounting arms 8' and 8'', which can be fastened, in particular latched, in the motor vehicle, in particular in a body element of the motor vehicle and / or in a trim element of the motor vehicle.

[0022] Between the swivel arm 7 and the mounting element 8, a locking device 15 is also provided, by means of which the swivel arm 7 can be locked in different swivel positions with respect to the mounting element 8, so that a user can optimally adjust the swivel position of the armrest 2 for himself.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows the pivot arm 7 and the mounting element 8 of the holder 3 in a perspective exploded view. It can be seen that the pivot arm 7 is formed in one piece or at least forms a pre-assembled assembly. The pivot arm parts 7', 7'' are connected to one another by a crosspiece 7'''. The crosspiece 7''' can be formed in one piece or separately from the pivot arm parts 7', 7''. According to the present embodiment, it is also provided that the mounting element parts 8' and 8'' are formed separately.

[0024] Fig.5 shows the locking device 15 in a perspective exploded view. The locking device 15 has a rigid catch 16, which is fixedly arranged on the mounting element 8. The catch 16 has two bearing legs 17, on which a carrier element 18 of the locking device 15 is also pivotably mounted about the pivot axis 9. The carrier element 18 carries a pivotable pawl 19. The pawl 19 has a bolt receptacle 20 at one end, through which a bearing pin 21 can be passed. In the assembled state, the bearing pin 21 also lies in bearing pin receptacles 22 of the carrier element 18, so that the pawl 19 is pivotally mounted on the carrier element 18 about the bearing pin 21, parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis 9. The pawl 19 has, at its end facing away from the bearing pin 21, several locking projections 23 on its underside, which form a kind of groove profile.On the opposite upper side, the locking pawl 19 further comprises a pin 24 onto which a helical spring 25 is mounted, which is mounted at the other end on a pin 26 arranged on the support element 18. Thus, the locking pawl 19 is pivotally mounted on the support element 18 and is urged by the spring element or by the helical spring 25 with the projections 23 in the direction of the rigid catch 16 in the assembled state.

[0025] The catch 16 has a plurality of projections 27 between the two bearing legs 17, which are also arranged or formed in a groove-like manner and interact with the projections 23 in a locking manner. In the assembled state, the locking pawl 19, with its projections 23, is pressed into the projections 27 of the catch 16 in order to hold the pivot arm 7 in a predetermined pivot position relative to the mounting element 8. By overcoming the spring force 25, the armrest 2 or the pivot arm 7 can be further adjusted.

[0026] This provides an advantageous armrest 1 or an armrest system 12, which offers a simple exchangeability of the armrest 2 or an advantageous assembly and at the same time provides a compact locking device 15, which further increases the comfort for the user of the armrest 1.

Claims

[1] Armrest (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest (2) and at least one holder (3) for pivotably supporting the armrest (2), wherein the holder (3) has at least one mounting element (8) for fastening to the motor vehicle, wherein the holder (3) has at least one pivot arm (7) which is pivotably mounted on the mounting element (8), wherein the pivot arm (7) and the armrest (2) have means for fastening the armrest (2) to the pivot arm (7), wherein the pivot arm (7) is designed as a fork arm and has two pivot arm parts (7', 7'') arranged parallel to one another, wherein the holder (3) has at least one locking device (15) between the pivot arm (7) and the mounting element (8), so that the pivot arm (7) can be locked to the mounting element (8) in at least one pivot position,and wherein the locking device (15) has at least one rigid catch (16) and at least one pivotable pawl (19) urged against the rigid catch (16) by spring force, , characterized by that the locking pawl (19) is arranged between the pivot arm parts (7', 7'') in such a way that it acts centrally with respect to the arrangement of the pivot arm parts (7', 7''). [2] Armrest according to the preceding claim, characterized by that the armrest (2) has a receiving recess (5) as a means for receiving the swivel arm (7) at least substantially free of play. [3] Armrest according to claim 2, characterized by that the receiving recess (5) is designed as a receiving groove (6) on an underside (4) of the armrest (2). [4] Armrest according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the receiving recess (5) is designed as a receiving channel (10) for the swivel arm (2). [5] Armrest according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, characterized bythat the receiving recess (5) and the pivot arm (7) form at least a press fit, at least in sections. [6] Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one screw connection (11), a clamping and / or a locking device are provided as means. [7] Armrest system for a motor vehicle, comprising an armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of different armrests (2) which have the same means for fastening to the swivel arm (7).

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