Device for locking an armrest in the rear area of ​​a vehicle

Abstract

Device for locking an armrest in the rear area of ​​a vehicle, wherein the armrest (1) is designed to be pivotable between a stowed position and a use position and is secured in the stowed position by a locking device (18) which comprises a locking bolt (19) pre-tensioned into the stowed position, characterized in that the locking device (18) is decoupled in its actuation from an unlocking device (41), wherein the pre-tensioned locking bolt (19) is designed to be self-locking in that the locking device (18) is locked in a mechanical gear via a lever element (33).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for locking an armrest in the rear area of ​​a vehicle, wherein the armrest is designed to be pivotable between a stowed position and a use position and is secured in the stowed position by a locking device comprising a locking bolt pre-tensioned into the stowed position.

[0002] DE 10 2019 007 055 A1 discloses a vehicle seat assembly comprising an armrest movable from a stowed position to a use position. The armrest is positively locked in the stowed position by means of a locking device. The locking device has at least one locking bolt movable from the locked position to the unlocked position and comprises at least one retaining tab into which the at least one locking bolt engages in the locked state. This secures the armrest against folding out into the use position.

[0003] DE 10 2016 012 322 A1 discloses a center armrest of a vehicle seating system that can be moved about a pivot axis between a use position and a stowed position and locked in the stowed position by means of a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a manually operable unlocking element, a lever arrangement operatively connected to the unlocking element, and at least one locking pin operatively connected to the lever arrangement for axial displacement from the stowed position to a release position enabling pivoting of the center armrest. A spring element biases the locking pin toward its locking position.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a device for locking an armrest in the rear area of ​​a vehicle, which remains in its locked state even when the armrest is manipulated from the outside.

[0005] The invention arises from the features of the independent claim. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. Further features, possible applications, and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the figures.

[0006] The problem is solved by the subject matter of patent claim 1.

[0007] In the device explained above for locking an armrest in the rear of a vehicle, wherein the armrest is pivotable between a stowed position and a use position and is secured in the stowed position with a locking device comprising a locking bolt pre-tensioned into the stowed position, the locking device is decoupled in its operation from an unlocking device, wherein the pre-tensioned locking bolt is self-locking in that the locking device is locked via a lever element in a mechanical gear. Due to the decoupling of the unlocking and locking devices and the self-locking nature of the device, it can only be actuated in the pulling direction during unlocking, thereby reliably preventing manipulation of the locking bolt by external pressure.Even in the event of a vehicle crash, the locking device remains in its position, preventing the risk of injury to the vehicle occupants due to the rear armrest being accidentally folded out.

[0008] In one embodiment, the locking function of the locking device is achieved by means of a positive fit of at least one locking bolt in an armrest holder. This allows for a structurally simple yet stable mounting of the armrest in the stowed position.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the locking device comprises a rotatable control disc, which is engaged by a movable transmission element for coupling the locking device to the unlocking device, in order to convert a pulling movement of the transmission element into a rotating movement of the control disc for moving the locking bolt into the unlocked state. The locking device can thus only be deactivated by actuating the unlocking device by triggering the pulling movement.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the movable transmission element is designed as a Bowden cable. Such components reduce the manufacturing costs of the device.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the locking bolt is preloaded into the locked position by a compression spring. This further reduces manufacturing costs.

[0012] In a further embodiment, a tension spring element is arranged between a rotational axis of the armrest and the rotatable control disc to return the locking bolt to the locked state. The tension spring element simultaneously allows the elements of the locking device to be freed from play.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the locking device is located in a non-visible area of ​​an armrest support. Thus, it is not visible to vehicle occupants, which contributes to improving the appearance of the vehicle interior.

[0014] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which describes at least one exemplary embodiment in detail. Described features may form the subject matter of the invention alone or in any meaningful combination, possibly even independently of the claims, and may, in particular, also be the subject matter of one or more separate applications.

[0015] They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a rear seat in a passenger car, Fig. 2 an embodiment of the rear armrest, Fig. 3 an embodiment of the arrangement of the device according to the invention in the armrest, Fig. 4 a section through the embodiment according to Fig. 3, Fig. 5 different views of the embodiment according to Fig. 3, Fig. 6 an embodiment of the rear armrest with locking and unlocking device.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a rear seat 7, as provided in a five-seat passenger car. A folded-back rear armrest 1 is stowed between two backrests 3, 5. If three people are seated on the rear seat 7 of the vehicle, the folded-back rear armrest 1 serves as a backrest for the third person in this stowed state. If only two people are sitting on the rear seat 7, the rear armrest 1 can be moved from the stowed state into an armrest state by folding it down.

[0017] Fig. 2 shows the rear armrest 1 in the stowed position ( Fig. 2a) and in the armrest position ( Fig. 2b). When stowed, the rear armrest 1 is locked to prevent accidental lowering into the armrest position. As can be seen from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2a, a gripping recess 11 is formed on the underside of the rear armrest 1 in the area of ​​the free end 9, into which the vehicle occupant engages to unlock the rear armrest 1. The rear armrest 1 is held between two armrest holders 13 and mounted for rotation.

[0018] A pivot axis 15 is held in the armrest holders 13, which is guided on both sides through a frame 17 of the rear armrest 1 and is mounted in this frame ( Fig. 3). Below the pivot axis 15, a locking device 18 is fixed to the frame 17 of the rear armrest 1. This locking device has two locking bolts 19 that extend axially in a housing 21 and engage in a respective recess 23 of each armrest holder 13. The two locking bolts 19 are preloaded by a compression spring 25 against the recesses 23 of the armrest holders 13, whereby they permanently assume the closed position ( Fig. 4). Each locking pin 19 is held in a bearing 27 fixed in the frame 17. In each armrest holder 13, a circular guide groove 29 for the locking pin 19 extends above the recess 23, in which the locking pin is guided from the stowed position to the use position during a pivoting movement of the rear armrest 1.

[0019] The locking device 18 further comprises a rotary control disc 31, below which a toggle lever 33 is arranged, which projects beyond the rotary control disc 31 on both sides parallel to the housing 21 of the locking bolts 19. The toggle lever 33, which engages in the housing 21, locks the locking device 18, so that external pressure on the locking bolts 19 has no effect on the locking mechanism. A tension spring 35 connects the rotary control disc 31 to the rotation axis 15 of the rear armrest 1.

[0020] A section of the locking device in Fig. Figure 5a illustrates the locking by the compression spring 25, which is mounted centrally below the rotary control disc 31 in the housing 21 and preloads both locking bolts 19 against the armrest holder 13. The housing 21 has a longitudinally extending groove 37 ( Fig. 5b), into which the toggle lever 33 engages with a pin 39 in the locked state and thus prevents unlocking by external pressure.

[0021] In Fig.Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the rear armrest 1 with a locking and unlocking device. A Bowden cable 40, which is connected to an unlocking device 41, engages the rotary control disc 31. The unlocking device 41 comprises a fork-shaped transmission element 43, which is fixed to the rear side of a handle shell housing 45. A pushbutton element 47 is arranged in the handle shell 11, which is pressed down by the vehicle occupant to unlock the rear armrest 1. The transmission element 43 extends downward in the longitudinal extent of the rear armrest 1 in the locked state and is connected to a rack 49. The rack 49 is movably mounted in a vertically extending guide 51 below the rack 49, with which a pivot bearing 52 engages.The pivot bearing 52 is disc-shaped and has a circular projection 53 on its circumference, on the side of which facing the rack 49, several teeth 55 are formed for engagement with the rack 49. On the side of the pivot bearing 52 facing away from the projection 53, the Bowden cable 40 is fixed, which extends in the direction opposite to the rack 49.

[0022] When the push button element 47 is actuated, the transmission element 43 and thus also the rack 49 are pressed downward, whereby the rack 49 is pushed into the guide 51. During this movement, the rack 49 engages the teeth 55 of the pivot bearing 52, causing the pivot bearing 52 to rotate clockwise. This rotation exerts a pull on the Bowden cable 40, which is pulled upwards, thereby releasing the locking device 18. The pulling movement of the Bowden cable 40 is translated into a rotary movement of the rotary control disc 31. By rotating the rotary control disc 31, the locking bolts 19 are pulled inwards into the housing 21 via the toggle lever 33, whereby the locking force of the compression spring 25 is overcome and the locking device 18 is unlocked. Pulling the Bowden cable 40 to release the locking device 18 is therefore always a subsequent movement of the unlocking release by the push button element 47.

[0023] If the tensile force of the Bowden cable 40 decreases, the tension spring 35 automatically resets the rotary control disc 31 and the toggle lever 33 tensions the compression spring 25, which presses the locking bolts 19 back into the recesses 23 of the armrest holders 13 and thus restores the locking state.

Claims

[1] Device for locking an armrest in the rear area of ​​a vehicle, wherein the armrest (1) is designed to pivot between a stow position and a use position and is secured in the stow position with a locking device (18) which includes a locking bolt (19) pre-tensioned into the stow position, characterized by , that the locking device (18) is decoupled in its actuation from a release device (41), wherein the pre-tensioned locking bolt (19) is designed to be self-locking by locking the locking device (18) via a lever element (33) in a mechanical transmission. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the locking function of the locking device (18) is given by means of a positive locking of the at least one locking bolt (19) and an armrest holder (13). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the locking device (18) comprises a rotatable control disc (31) on which a movable transmission element (40) engages to couple the locking device (18) with the unlocking device (41) in order to convert a pulling movement of the transmission element (40) into a rotary movement of the control disc (31) to bring the locking bolt (19) into the unlocked state. [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by , that the movable transmission element is designed as a Bowden cable (40). [5] Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking bolt (19) is pre-tensioned in the stowed position by means of a compression spring (25). [6] Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a tension spring element (35) for returning the locking bolt (19) to the locked state is arranged between a pivot axis (15) of the rear armrest (1) and the rotatable control disc (31). [7] Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking device (18) is located in a non-visible area of ​​an armrest bearing.

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