Armrest device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Armrest device (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest (4) which can be converted from an open functional position, in which the armrest (4) is arranged substantially transversely or obliquely to a seat surface of the seat device, into a closed functional position, in which the armrest (4) is arranged substantially parallel to the seat surface, comprising at least one bearing means (6) by which the armrest (4) is rotatably fixed about a rotational or pivoting axis (8) to a structural part of the motor vehicle, and comprising at least one brake unit (10) comprising a first brake means (12) which is fixed to the armrest (4), and a second brake means (14) which is fixed to a bracket (16) which is fixed relative to the seat device and spaced apart from the bearing means (6),wherein the first braking means (12) and the second braking means (14) are arranged in contact with each other at least when the armrest (4) is moved from the closed functional position to the open functional position, wherein the first braking means (12) comprises a rib (18) extending away from the armrest (4), which can be detachably or permanently fixed or fixed on the side of the armrest (4) facing the support (16), characterized in that the first braking means (12) designed as a rib (18) comprises an outer contour which, with respect to the axis of rotation or pivoting (8), is at least partially linear and / or arc-shaped and which, in its course, has a distance to the axis of rotation or pivoting (8) that is increasing or decreasing.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an armrest device for a motor vehicle with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Armrest devices for motor vehicles serve, for example, to allow a vehicle occupant to rest their arm. To improve accessibility to the seat for getting in and out, known armrest devices can be moved from an open functional position, in which the armrest is arranged essentially perpendicular to the seat surface, to a closed functional position, in which the armrest runs essentially parallel to the seat surface.

[0003] Due to the weight forces of the armrest devices, it can never be completely avoided that the armrest quickly falls shut when moving from an open functional position to the closed functional position, which causes increased wear and tear on the armrest device and can unintentionally trap items such as clothing or objects belonging to the vehicle occupants.

[0004] To prevent rapid slamming, so-called rotary brakes are known from the prior art; these consist of a large number of individual components and are often complex in their construction.

[0005] From EP 1 348 593 A2 an armrest with movable arm support is known, in which spring-loaded locking elements and spring-loaded braking elements constantly press against the underside of the arm support and thereby enable locking in different positions of the armrest.

[0006] A generic armrest device is known from DE 10 2012 211 447 A1.

[0007] The object of the invention is to propose an armrest device of the aforementioned type, which is simple and compact in design and by which the transfer of the armrest from the open functional position to the closed functional position can be delayed.

[0008] This task is solved in an armrest device mentioned at the outset, in which the first braking element, designed as a rib, comprises an outer contour which, with respect to the axis of rotation or pivoting, is at least partially linear and / or arc-shaped and which, in its course, includes a distance to the axis of rotation or pivoting that is increasing or decreasing.

[0009] Because the armrest device comprises a first braking means fixed to the armrest and at least a second braking means fixed to a bracket, wherein the first braking means and the second braking means touch each other when the armrest is moved from the closed functional position to the open functional position, a frictional torque is caused between the first braking means and the second braking means, which acts as a brake and enables controlled opening and closing of the armrest.

[0010] This also makes the armrest assembly more component-reduced and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0011] Because the first braking means comprises a rib extending away from the armrest, which can be detachably or permanently fixed or secured on the side of the armrest facing the bracket, the first braking means can be provided in a simple manner.

[0012] If the first braking device can be detachably attached to the armrest, existing systems can be easily and cost-effectively retrofitted using the proposed armrest device. In such a case, the first braking device can, for example, be screwed to the armrest.

[0013] If the first braking agent, designed as a rib, is permanently fixed to the armrest, the braking agent designed as a rib can, for example, be injection-molded or glued onto the armrest.

[0014] Because the bracket is fixed to the seat, the second braking device is also fixed in place.

[0015] By having the first braking element, designed as a rib, comprising an outer contour that is at least partially linear and / or arc-shaped with respect to the axis of rotation or pivoting, and which in its course includes a distance to the axis of rotation or pivoting that is increasing or decreasing, the frictional forces prevailing between the first braking element and the second braking element can be easily increased or reduced.

[0016] In such a case, for example, the rib-shaped braking element can be positioned at maximum distance from the axis of rotation and / or pivot in an area where the armrest is at least nearly in its open functional position. In this case, the first rib-shaped braking element also penetrates the second braking element to its maximum extent, thus maximizing the prevailing frictional and braking forces. This allows the weight of the armrest to be counteracted in different positions by defining the outer contour of the rib-shaped braking element at different angles.

[0017] The frictional torque acting between the first braking medium and the second braking medium can be further improved if one of the braking mediums is elastically deformable and if the other braking medium is essentially dimensionally stable, whereby the elastically deformable braking medium is compressed by the dimensionally stable braking medium at least when the armrest is moved from the closed functional position to the open functional position.

[0018] Because at least one braking medium is elastically deformable and at least one braking medium is essentially dimensionally stable, the braking forces prevailing between the elastically deformable braking medium and the dimensionally stable braking medium can be further increased by compressing the elastic braking medium with the dimensionally stable braking medium, resulting in higher contact forces and thus an increased friction and braking effect.

[0019] The structural part of the motor vehicle may include an element of the seating device, an element of a center console, or the like.

[0020] In embodiments of the armrest device, it may be provided that the elastically deformable braking agent comprises an elastically deformable material, in particular a plastic such as polyurethane or synthetic resin, and / or that the dimensionally stable braking agent comprises a dimensionally stable material such as ceramic, metal, wood, or plastic.

[0021] If the elastically deformable material of the elastic brake fluid comprises polyurethane (PUR), a temperature-insensitive and already proven elastically deformable material in the automotive sector can be used.

[0022] In principle, it is conceivable that the first braking medium is elastically deformable and the second braking medium is essentially dimensionally stable. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the first braking medium is dimensionally stable and the second braking medium is elastically deformable.

[0023] Furthermore, it can prove advantageous if the first braking element, designed as a rib, comprises at least one detent element formed by a region projecting with respect to the outer contour of the rib and which can be applied in contact with a surface of the second braking element extending transversely to the transfer direction, wherein the second braking element forms a rear grip with respect to the transfer direction from the open functional position to the closed functional position for the detent element.

[0024] The locking element allows a discrete holding position to be formed, in which the armrest is fixed against further movement into the open or closed functional position.

[0025] For example, it is conceivable that the braking forces prevailing between the first and second braking means merely slow down the movement of the armrest from the open to the closed functional position. The locking elements define at least one holding position.

[0026] The first braking element, designed as a rib, can include several locking elements. In this case, the armrest can be fixed in a multiple holding positions.

[0027] The locking element can, for example, be designed as a cam.

[0028] In one embodiment of the armrest device, the locking element is formed at one end of the rib. In this case, the armrest can, for example, be fixed in the open functional position by the locking element.

[0029] The armrest assembly can be designed to be compact and optimized for installation space if the bracket includes a recess in which the first braking element can be arranged to move without contact with the bracket, at least when moving from the closed functional position to the open functional position and back.

[0030] In such cases, the braking fluid can be designed to overlap the mounting, at least in sections.

[0031] The width of the recess is preferably larger than the cross-section of the braking element designed as a rib, viewed transversely to the transfer direction.

[0032] In principle, it is conceivable that the second braking element can be attached to the bracket in any way. For example, the second braking element can be attached to an outer surface of the bracket in a removable or permanent manner.

[0033] The armrest device can be designed to be compact and space-saving if the bracket on the side facing the armrest includes a recess in which the second braking means can be detachably or permanently fixed and / or if the recess is formed at least partially by the recess.

[0034] In such a case, the recess also forms a holding means for the second braking means, which allows higher frictional forces to be built up between the first braking means and the second braking means, without the second braking means being movable from a fixed position.

[0035] The fact that the recess is formed at least partially by the cutout allows for an efficient design of the armrest mechanism.

[0036] To prevent the second braking element from slipping or being pushed along the recess when the armrest is moved from the open functional position to the closed functional position or vice versa, it is advantageous if the recess – viewed transversely to the direction of movement of the armrest – is wider than the recess and if the second braking element – ​​viewed transversely to the direction of movement of the armrest – has a wider cross-section than the first braking element.

[0037] In such a case, the second braking element is wider than the recess, which at least reduces the risk of the second braking element shifting in or along the recess.

[0038] Finally, it proves advantageous if the recess comprises a cross-section that corresponds to, in particular complements to, the cross-section of the second braking means, and / or if the recess comprises a round or n-sided, in particular square or rectangular, cross-section.

[0039] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached patent claims, the graphic representation and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the armrest device.

[0040] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A schematic side view of an embodiment of the armrest device with an armrest in a closed functional position; Fig. 2 A schematic side view of the embodiment of the armrest device according to Fig. 1 with the armrest in an open functional position; Fig. 3 A perspective top view of a bracket with a second braking agent; Fig. 4 A perspective detail view of the armrest assembly in the closed functional position; Fig. 5 A schematic side view of an armrest with first braking medium according to Fig. 1.

[0041] The figures show an embodiment of an armrest assembly for a motor vehicle, designated overall by reference numeral 2 (not explicitly shown in the figures). The armrest assembly 2 comprises an armrest 4, which, from an open functional position, is arranged substantially transversely or obliquely to a seat surface of the seat assembly ( Fig. 2) can be converted into a closed functional position in which the armrest 4 is arranged essentially parallel to the seat surface ( Fig. 1) For this purpose, the armrest device 2 comprises a bearing means 6 by which the armrest 4 is rotatably fixed to a structural part of the motor vehicle about a rotational and / or pivoting axis 8.

[0042] Furthermore, the armrest assembly 2 comprises a braking unit 10, which includes a first braking element 12 fixed to the armrest 4 and a second braking element 14 fixed to a bracket 16 that is stationary relative to the seat assembly and spaced apart from the bearing element 6. The first braking element 12 and the second braking element 14 are arranged in contact with each other. This allows the first braking element 12 and the second braking element 14 to brake the armrest 4 from the open functional position to the closed functional position and vice versa.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the second braking element 14 comprises an elastically deformable material, in particular polyurethane. The first braking element 12 is essentially dimensionally stable and is compressed into the second braking element 14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first braking element 12 comprises a rib 18 extending away from the armrest 4, which is fixed on the side of the armrest 4 facing the bracket 16. The rib 18 comprises an outer contour which, with respect to the axis of rotation and / or pivot 8, includes a linear and / or arc-shaped section whose distance from the axis of rotation and / or pivot 8 decreases.

[0044] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the first braking element 12, designed as a rib 18, includes a locking element 20 at one end of the rib 18, which is cam-shaped. This allows the armrest 4 to bear against a surface of the second braking element 14 that extends transversely to the direction of travel. In this case, the second braking element 14 forms a rear grip with respect to the direction of travel for the locking element 20, thereby securing the armrest in this position.

[0045] To ensure the first brake element 12 can be moved from the open to the closed position and vice versa, the holder 16 includes a recess 22 in which the first brake element 12 is arranged to move without contact. Furthermore, the holder 16 includes a recess 24 in which the second brake element 14 is arranged. The recess 24 is wider than the recess 22 in the direction of movement and thereby positively secures the second brake element 14 in the holder 16. The recess 24 forms a section of the recess 22 within its area.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the recess 24 is rectangular, in which the second braking means 14, which is complementary to the recess 24, is also rectangular.

[0047] Fig. Figure 1 shows the armrest assembly 2 in a closed functional position of the armrest 4.

[0048] Fig. Figure 2 shows the armrest assembly 2 in an open functional position of the armrest 4. In this position, the locking element 20 of the rib 18 is arranged on a second braking element 14 such that the second braking element 14 forms a rear grip in the transfer direction.

[0049] Fig. Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the bracket 16 and the brake fluid 14 arranged in the bracket 16. From Fig. Figure 3 shows that the recess 22, in which the first braking element 12, designed as a rib 18, can be arranged without contact when moving from the closed to the open functional position and vice versa, runs essentially along a tangent to the axis of rotation and / or pivoting 8. The recess 22 opens into the opening 24, which is wider than the recess 22 in the direction transverse to the extent of the recess 22. The second braking element 14 is arranged in the opening 24. The recess 22 then continues outside the opening 24.

[0050] Fig. Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the armrest assembly 2, in which the armrest 4 is arranged in the closed functional position. In this position, the first braking element 12 is arranged in the recess 24 such that the second braking element 14 is compressed.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows one of the Fig.Figure 1 shows a similar representation. A reference circle 26 is drawn with respect to the axis of rotation and / or pivoting 8. The reference circle 26 clearly shows that the outer contour of the first braking element 12, designed as a rib 18, can be changed with respect to its distance from the axis of rotation and / or pivoting 8. With increasing distance from the axis of rotation and / or pivoting 8, the contact pressure prevailing between the first braking element 12 and the second braking element 14 also increases in the form of higher frictional forces. Reference symbol list 2 Armrest setup 4 Armrest 6 Storage equipment 8 Rotary and / or swivel axis 10 Brake unit 12 first braking agent 14 second braking agent 16 bracket 18th rib 20 locking elements 22 In-depth study 24 Exclusion 26 Reference circle

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