Vehicle component, in particular an armrest with beverage holding mechanism which can be lowered

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle component, in particular an armrest (10), comprising a reversibly extendable support and receiving table with a beverage holding mechanism. According to the invention, the beverage holding mechanism has a lowering device, by means of which the speed of a reversible pivoting movement of a holding element (22) from a starting position (22; PA) to a use position (22; PN), which has at least one beverage holding base (24), relative to the support and receiving table is reduced.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Vehicle component, in particular armrest with lowerable cup holder mechanism

[0003] The invention relates to a vehicle component, in particular an armrest, with a reversibly extendable storage and receiving table with a cup holder mechanism.

[0004] Various types of cup holder mechanisms are known from the publications KR 10 1 673 877 B1, DE 11 2011 100 763 T5, DE 10 2021 109 771 A1 and DE 202019 102 897 U1.

[0005] For example, the document DE 202019 102 897 U1 describes at least one drawer having a cup holder. A handle is molded into a front face of the drawer, and the handle is defined by a recessed portion in the front face. The drawer may be provided with a locking feature operable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking feature may prevent inadvertent opening of the drawer. Additionally or alternatively, the drawer may be held in place by a detent feature that can only be overcome with a predetermined force, thus preventing inadvertent opening of the drawer. The drawer may be held in the stowed position by a push-push mechanism. A damping element may hold the drawer in a substantially constant position when the drawer is extended.The damping element may be mounted on a guide rail or on the drawer. The damping element may be, for example, a fluid damper. The damping element may include a gear that may be connected to a disc contained within a housing containing a viscous fluid. Rotation of the gear may rotate the disc in the viscous fluid, allowing the damping element to decelerate the movement of the drawer to provide a smooth and / or consistent opening and closing movement of the bearing feature. It is disclosed that, instead of the viscous damper described above, the damping element may include a different damper arrangement, including pneumatic, hydraulic, and mechanical damping elements. In operation, a user may grasp the handle to move the drawer back and forth between the open and closed positions.The damping element can allow smooth movement of the bearing feature between positions without harsh opening or closing.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of creating a vehicle component, in particular an armrest, which has a reversibly extendable storage and receiving table with a cup holder mechanism comprising a lowering device, which is designed to be comfortable.

[0007] The starting point of the invention is a vehicle component, in particular an armrest, with a reversibly extendable storage and receiving table with a cup holder mechanism.

[0008] According to the invention, the cup holder mechanism comprises a lowering device, wherein the cup holder mechanism has a holding element which can be pivoted about a pivot axis from an initial position, in which the holding element is arranged integrated in a plane of the storage and receiving table, into a use position, in which the holding element is arranged outside the plane of the storage and receiving table after pivoting about the pivot axis.It is further provided that the holding element has at least one bearing element which is inserted into at least one bearing bush formed in the storage and receiving table, so that the at least one bearing element and the bearing bush form the lowering device, wherein a joint between the at least one bearing element and the at least one bearing bush is designed as an interference fit, so that a speed of the reversible pivoting movement between the starting position of the holding element and the use position of the holding element can be adjusted depending on the friction force formed in the joint, in particular is reduced compared to conventional lowering processes of corresponding holding elements.

[0009] Preferably, in a first embodiment variant, the at least one bearing element of the lowering device is a cylindrical bearing pin which is arranged in the at least one cylindrically shaped bearing bush of the lowering device.

[0010] In this first embodiment variant, it is advantageously achieved that the speed of the reversible pivoting movement is set via the pivoting angle that can be specified or is specified during the pivoting movement in such a way that the speed is essentially consistently reduced compared to conventional lowering processes as a function of the frictional force in the joint, which is set by the oversize of the outer contour of the cylindrical bearing pin relative to the bearing bush.

[0011] Preferably, in a second embodiment, it is provided that the at least one bearing element of the lowering device is an oval bearing pin which is arranged in the at least one cylindrically shaped bearing bush of the lowering device.

[0012] In this second embodiment, it is advantageously achieved that the speed of the reversible pivoting movement is set via the pivoting angle that can be specified or is specified during the pivoting movement in such a way that the speed is reduced compared to conventional lowering processes as a function of the predeterminable friction force in the joint, which is set by the oversize of the outer contour of the oval bearing pin relative to the bearing bush.

[0013] In particular, the second embodiment provides that the speed, depending on the predetermined frictional force in the joint, decreases when the holding element is pivoted by the predetermined pivot angle from the starting position to the use position and increases when the holding element is pivoted from the use position to the starting position, i.e., is not constant when pivoting over the predetermined pivot angle compared to the first embodiment.

[0014] Preferably, the at least one bearing bush of the lowering device is formed by a bearing shell, wherein the bearing shell is formed in a lower part of the storage and receiving table, which, in an assembled state of the two-part storage and receiving table, forms the bearing bush of the lowering device. In the assembled state, the bearing shell is closed by the upper part of the storage and receiving table, so that the upper part of the storage and receiving table closes the bearing shell with its underside as a cover, so that the respective cylindrical or oval bearing pin located in the bearing shell is secured by the upper part.

[0015] It is further preferably provided that the holding element has supporting webs and at least one tilting element arranged orthogonally to the supporting webs, on which the at least one cup holder base is pivotably arranged on a tilting axis, wherein the at least one cup holder base oscillates about the tilting axis in its use position as soon as the holding element and the cup holder bases are in the use position. It is preferably provided that the at least one cup holder base is pivotably arranged between the supporting webs of the holding element on the pivot axis, wherein the at least one cup holder base, together with the holding element, is arranged in their initial positions in the plane of the storage and receiving table and is releasably locked relative to the storage and receiving table by a locking mechanism.By unlocking the locking mechanism, at least one cup holder base, together with the holding element, moves from its initial position into the use position.

[0016] It is thus provided that the holding element and the at least one cup holder base come together from their starting positions into their use positions by reversibly unlocking the locking mechanism and the holding element and the at least one cup holder base then pivot out of the plane of the storage and receiving table about the pivot axis, so that the holding element in its use position is finally arranged lowered relative to an underside of the storage and receiving table after the locking mechanism has been unlocked from the plane of the storage and receiving table by the predeterminable pivot angle.

[0017] Furthermore, it is provided that at least one stop is arranged between the support webs, which stop is arranged orthogonally to the support webs, wherein the at least one cup holder base in its use position strikes the stop during its pendulum movement about the tilt axis, wherein at least one recess is formed on an underside of the at least one cup holder base directed towards the stop, in which recess a soft component is arranged, wherein the soft component strikes the stop in the recess of the at least one cup holder base.

[0018] The invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view (top view) of the inventive

[0020] Vehicle component with a storage and receiving table as a receiving device in a - non-pivoted - extended position in a supporting and guiding frame;

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view (top view) of the inventive

[0022] Vehicle component with the storage and receiving table as a receiving device in a - pivoted - extended position in the supporting and guide frame;

[0023] Figure 3 is a view of a top side of a lower part of the storage and

[0024] Receiving table with a holding element in the starting position, in which cup holder bases are arranged, in a retracted position of the storage and receiving table in the supporting and guide frame;

[0025] Figure 4 a side view of the lower part of the storage and receiving table with the

[0026] Holding element in starting position according to a first embodiment variant;

[0027] Figure 5 is a side view of the lower part of the storage and receiving table with the

[0028] Holding element in initial position (upper figure) according to a second embodiment variant with a detail (lower figure in Figure 5) belonging to a holding element which is in a use position;

[0029] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the holding element with a

[0030] Cup holder base, which is provided with a soft component opposite a stop of the holding element.

[0031] In all figures, a coordinate system is shown to indicate the spatial directions, in which the x-direction points along a longitudinal direction, the y-direction points along the transverse direction to the left and the z-direction points upwards along the vertical direction.

[0032] One of several possible vehicle components in the following embodiment according to Figures 1 to 6 is an armrest 10.

[0033] If the vehicle component is an armrest 10, with reference to which the invention is explained below, and the armrest 10 is in a folded-down position so that its end face 20 (see Figures 1 and 2) points forward in a vehicle interior, the longitudinal direction corresponds to a vehicle longitudinal direction, in particular forward, the transverse direction to a vehicle transverse direction and the vertical direction to a vehicle vertical direction.

[0034] The following describes the vehicle component with a receiving device 16, wherein the receiving device 16 is a storage and receiving table which can be moved from a retracted position S e (see Figure 3), in which it is arranged within a cavity of the vehicle component, into an extended position S a, in which it protrudes at least partially from the cavity into the area outside the vehicle component, and can be moved or pivoted in a drawer-like manner. The storage and receiving table is referred to below as "table" for short.

[0035] A release of the table to transfer from a retracted position S e into the extended position S shown in Figures 1 and 2 ais carried out by a pulling element 18, in particular a manually operable pull loop. The operable pull loop is arranged on the end face 20 of the armrest 10. The table comprises an upper part 16A and a lower part 16B, which form the table in the assembled state. As is clear from Figures 1 and 2 as well as Figure 3, the pull loop is guided through a slot 30 in the upper part 16A. A fastening end of the pull loop is fastened before the shell-like lower part 16B is connected to the shell-like upper part 16A, wherein the fastening end of the pull loop is previously guided through the slot 30. The fastening end of the pull loop is connected to a locking and unlocking device (not shown in detail), which reversibly locks the table relative to a support and guide frame 14, so that the retracted position S e can only be left when the locking and unlocking device is unlocked.

[0036] By operating the pull loop, the table can be unlocked. This allows the storage and receiving table to move from the retracted position S in a guided linear movement as shown in Figure 1. e into the extended position S a is moved linearly, whereby the table is then moved in a guided swivel movement from the extended position S a into a pivoted, extended position S ga can be pivoted.

[0037] A frame structure of a support and guide frame 14 forms the framed cavity for the table, which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The table is in the retracted position S earranged in this cavity. As is clear from a combination of Figures 1 to 3, it is provided that support arms 12 (see Figures 4 and 5 in advance) engage into the support and guide frame 14 along a left and right longitudinal side of the armrest 10 when the armrest 10 is in the assembled state. The support arms 12 are firmly connected to the lateral regions of the support and guide frame 14 in the assembled state, i.e., they are connected, preferably screwed, to the support and guide frame 14 from the outer narrow sides of the frame. According to Figures 1 and 2, the table has at least one opening 28 near the end face 20, in which opening at least one cup holder base 24 is arranged.

[0038] The description below refers to a plurality of cup holder bases 24, since in the selected embodiment two cup holder bases 24 are arranged.

[0039] The invention relates to a cup holder mechanism with a lowering device with at least one cup holder base 24.

[0040] The cup holder bases 24 are in their initial position 24; PA, which is level with respect to the table plane, initially in the plane of the table.

[0041] In the plane of the table, in a flat starting position 22; PA, also relative to the plane of the table, there is also a holding element 22, which will be explained below.

[0042] In a use position 24; PN of the cup holder bases 24 pivoted by means of the holding element 22, the cup holder bases 24, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, lie below the table outside the plane of the table, so that the openings 28 are exposed and the opening edges of the openings 28 of the table form the peripheral holding structure for the respective beverage container.

[0043] In the pivoted usage position 24; PN, the cup holder bases 24 can swing around a tilting axis YK by means of the cup holder mechanism.

[0044] The beverage container is held in the pivoted use position 24; PN of the cup holder bases 24 on the base side and on the circumference, that is to say in contact surface pairs between the base surface of the cup holder bases 24 and the base surface of the beverage containers and the lateral surfaces of the beverage containers and the circumferential edges of the openings.

[0045] The cup holder bases 24 are arranged in the holding element 22, wherein the holding element 22 is reversibly pivotable relative to the plane of the table.

[0046] The holding element 22 can be pivoted via a pivot axis Ys from the flat starting position 22; PA of the holding element 22 into the use position 22; PN. In the flat starting position 22; PA, the holding element 22 with its cup holder bases 24, as shown in Figure 3, lies within the table, in particular in the plane of the lower part 16B of the table, which can be assembled from the upper part 16A and the lower part 16B.

[0047] In the pivoted use position 22; PN of the holding element 22, the holding element 22 pivoted about the pivot axis Ys lies, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, below the table outside the plane of the table.

[0048] In the pivoted usage position 22; PN of the holding element 22, the planes of the cup holder bases 24 are always in the plane of the table, since they can swing around the tilting axis YK by means of the cup holder mechanism.

[0049] The cup holder bases 24 swing relative to a plane spanned between the supporting webs 32 of the holding element 22.

[0050] If, for example, the armrest 10 is pivoted reversibly upwards or downwards and the position of the plane of the table changes in three-dimensional space, the cup holder bases 24 oscillate about the tilt axis YK in such a way that the cup holder bases 24 are advantageously always arranged in a horizontal plane parallel to the table plane.

[0051] The use position 22; PN of the holding element 22 and the use position 24; PN of the cup holder bases 24 can only be reached if the area of ​​the table in which the cup holder base(s) 24 is / are arranged, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is at least in the exclusively translationally extended position S a or in the translationally pivoted, extended position S gaoutside the cavity of the support and guide frame 14.

[0052] The cup holder mechanism comprises a reversible locking mechanism, which is not the subject of this invention, by means of which the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 are releasably locked, in particular in the plane of a lower part 16B in the respective starting position 22; AP and 24; AP, as shown in Figure 3, wherein the table in the retracted position S e of the storage and receiving table is arranged in the support and guide frame 14. In Figure 3, the table is in the retracted position S eshown from its underside. The table has the preferably bowl-like lower part 16B. The openings 28 are recessed in the preferably bowl-like table upper part 16A and the lower part 16B, so that the table, in the assembled state, has the openings 28 which have a depth determined depending on the height of the upper part 16A and the lower part 16B, which depth corresponds to the height of the table. In this opening 28 formed by the height of the table and the predeterminable diameter, the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 lie in the starting position 22; AP / 24; AP. They are prevented by the reversible locking mechanism from pivoting out of the plane of the table about the pivot axis Ys without being unlocked, and the cup holder bases 24 can swing accordingly about the tilt axis YK.

[0053] According to the invention, the table is first translated into the extended position S a or into the translationally pivoted, extended position S ga pushed out outside the cavity of the support and guide frame 14 (see Figures 1 and 2) or pushed out and pivoted.

[0054] The upper side of the table is advantageously available to the user as a storage surface and the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 are still located in the plane of the table in the starting position 22; AP and 24; AP.

[0055] The user can thus choose whether to use the cup holder shelves 24 additionally as a storage area or to reduce the storage area by placing beverage containers on the cup holder shelves 24.

[0056] If the user places beverage containers on the upper surfaces of the cup holder bases 24, pressure is exerted on the reversible locking latch, and the holding element 22 pivots about the pivot axis Ys out of the plane of the table, and the cup holder bases 24 can swing about the tilt axis YK. This means that the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 are released from the starting position 22; AP and 24; AP, and the cup holder bases 24 assume the usage position 22; PN / 24; PN shown in Figures 1 and 2 without the beverage containers.

[0057] The pivot axis Ys is shown in Figures 1 to 5, since the pivot axis Ys is important for the lowering device of the cup holder mechanism according to the invention. As will become clear from the description, the retaining element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 disengage, causing at least the retaining element 22 to suddenly pivot out of its initial position 22; AP.

[0058] The invention ensures that this pivoting of the holding element 22 from the starting position 22; AP into the use position 22; PN is carried out by means of a lowering device that reduces the speed of a pivoting movement from the starting position PA into the use position PN and back.

[0059] First version:

[0060] From Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 4, it is clear that bearing elements 36.1, preferably designed as bearing pins, are located in bearing bushes 38, which are designed as cylindrical bearing shells. The bearing shells are arranged on the upper side of the lower part 16B along the pivot axis Ys. The bearing elements 36.1 are part of the holding element 22.

[0061] In the assembled state of the table, the bearing shells are secured in a cover-like manner by a bottom side of the upper part 16A (not shown). In other words, the upper part 16A closes the bearing shell, which is open towards the upper part 16, with its bottom side in a cover-like manner, so that the bearing elements 36.1 lie in the bearing shells in the assembled state.

[0062] When assembled, the bearing pins are located in the cylindrical bearing shells. The retaining element 22 is pivotally mounted along the pivot axis Ys via the bearing pins in the bearing bushes 38.

[0063] In the first embodiment, the bearing bolts are cylindrical and the diameter of the bearing bolts is selected such that an interference fit, i.e. a press fit, occurs between the inner shape of the cylindrical bearing shells and the outer shape of the bearing bolts, whereby a high frictional force is formed between the contact surfaces.

[0064] When the reversible locking mechanism is released, the high frictional force ensures that the lowering speed of the holding element 22 and also the return pivoting speed are reduced compared to a conventional clearance fit of the holding element 22 from the starting position 22; PA to the use position 22; PN and vice versa, whereby the speed is reduced essentially consistently across the pivot angle of the pivoting movement, regardless of the pivoting direction of the holding element 22. By folding out the holding element 22 and thus the cup holder bases 24, operation is more valuable and comfortable for the user, since there is no unpleasant audible and sudden folding out of the cup holder bases 24.

[0065] Second version:

[0066] From Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 5, it is clear that bearing elements 36.2, preferably designed as bearing pins, are located in bearing bushes 38, which are designed as cylindrical bearing shells. The bearing shells are in turn arranged on the upper side of the lower part 16B along the pivot axis Ys. The bearing elements 36.2 are also part of the holding element 22 in the second embodiment.

[0067] When the table is assembled, the bearing shells are secured in a lid-like manner by the underside of the upper part 16A (not shown). In other words, the upper part 16A closes the bearing shell, which is open towards the upper part 16, with its underside like a lid, so that the bearing elements 36.2 are located in the bearing shells in the assembled state, analogous to the first embodiment. The bearing pins are located in the cylindrical bearing shells in the assembled state. The holding element 22 is pivotally mounted along the pivot axis Ys in the bearing bushes 38 via the bearing pins.

[0068] In the second embodiment, however, the bearing pins are oval and not cylindrical, and the greatest distance between the oval of the oval bearing pin is selected such that the interference fit, i.e., the press fit, between the inner shape of the cylindrical bearing shells and the outer shape of the bearing pins only occurs when the oval bearing pins or the holding element 22 moves, i.e., is pivoted, from its starting position 22; PA into the usage position 22; PN. In the starting position 22; PA of the holding element 22, only a slight frictional force acts between the contact surfaces of the oval bearing pins relative to the bearing shells. The oval bearing pins can therefore initially rotate in the bearing bushes 38 from the starting position 22; PN toward the usage position 22; PN with little friction.A high or higher frictional force between the contact surfaces of the oval bearing pins relative to the bearing shells only develops when the respective oval of the bearing pins is at its greatest distance from the inner shape of the essentially cylindrical bearing shells. The rotational movement of the oval bearing pins in the bearing bushes 38 slows down as the respective oval moves further toward the use position 22; PN, since the friction increases due to the interference fit of the oval relative to the bearing bushes 38, so that the oval bearing pins rotate more slowly in the bearing bushes 38 relative to the bearing shells due to friction, ultimately reducing the pivoting movement of the holding element 22. It is understood that this effect occurs in exactly the opposite way during the pivoting movement of the holding element 22 from the use position 22; PN toward the starting position 22; PN.

[0069] If the reversible locking mechanism is unlocked (arrangement of the oval bearing pin in the starting position 22; PA of the holding element 22 according to the upper illustration in Figure 5), an initially low frictional force and, as the pivoting movement progresses, a higher frictional force ensures that the lowering speed of the holding element 22 and also the return pivoting speed are continuously reduced or the return pivoting speed is continuously increased compared to a conventional clearance fit of the holding element 22 from the starting position 22; PA to the use position 22; PN and vice versa, so that the speed decreases or increases over the pivoting angle of the pivoting movement depending on the pivoting direction of the holding element 22.

[0070] When folding out the holding element 22 and thus the cup holder bases 24, the operating action is more valuable and comfortable for the user, as there is no unpleasant audible and sudden folding out of the cup holder bases 24. When folding out the holding element 22 around the pivot axis Y s In this second embodiment, there is an initial rapid lowering of the holding element 22 with the cup holder bases 24 in the direction of the use position 22; PN / 24; PN and then a braking of the cup holder bases 24 shortly before the use position 22; PN / 24; PN of the holding element 22 of the cup holder bases 24 is reached.

[0071] When the use position 22; PN / 24; PN of the holding element 22 of the cup holder bases 24 is reached, the oval bearing pin is pivoted according to the lower illustration in Figure 5 and the greatest distance between two imaginary distance points of the oval lying on the outer surface of the oval forms the strongest frictional force between the explained contact surfaces due to the press fit.

[0072] When folding around the swivel axis Y sIn this second embodiment, there is an initial slow folding of the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 towards the starting position 22; PA / 24; PA (starting from the lower illustration in Figure 5) and then an acceleration of the cup holder bases 24 shortly before the starting position 22; PA / 24; PA of the cup holder bases 24 is reached. When the starting position 22; PA / 24; PA of the holding element 22 of the cup holder bases 24 is reached again, the oval bearing pin is pivoted according to the upper illustration in Figure 5 and the smallest distance of the oval forms the lowest frictional force of the press fit between the explained contact surfaces.

[0073] After folding in the holding element 22 with the cup holder bases 24 and reaching the starting position 22; PA / 24; PA, the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 lock into the flat position provided in the table by means of the locking release. To do so, the user grasps the holding element 22 and / or the cup holder bases 24 from below and pushes the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 from the use position 22; PN / 24; PN back into the starting position 22; PA / 24; PA, in which the cup holder bases 24 and the holding element 22 are again in the plane of the table. The armrest 10 can then be moved from the extended position S a back to the retracted position S e be pushed back into the cavity of the frame structure.

[0074] At this point, it is clarified how the preset pivot angle of the holding element 22 is set relative to the plane of the table. As already explained, the holding element 22 pivots about the pivot axis Y. sAs is clear from Figure 3, the holding element 22 forms a short leg and a long leg, which is characterized by the supporting webs 32. In the starting position 22; PA of the holding element 22, the legs lie in the plane of the table. In a preferred embodiment, a rear upper edge of the short leg is used to form a stop on the underside of the upper part 16A of the two-part table. In other words, the length of the short leg and the distance between the underside of the upper part 16A of the table and the upper side of the lower part 16B, as well as the path that the upper edge of the short leg can travel between the upper side of the lower part 16B and the underside of the upper part 16A when the holding element 22 is folded out, forms the measure for the pivot angle by which the long leg reversibly folds out relative to the underside of the lower part 16B.This preferred solution for stop formation applies to both design variants regardless of whether the bearing element 36.1, 36.2 is cylindrical or oval.

[0075] For example, a pivot angle of 45° is preferred. This means with respect to the second

[0076] Design variant that, in contrast to the lower illustration shown in Figure 5, the usage position 22; PN of the holding element 22 is already reached when the oval bearing pin, unlike in Figure 5 (lower illustration), is only pivoted by 45° from its starting position 22; PN (upper illustration, Figure 5) into the usage position 22; PN (lower illustration, Figure 5 by 90°). The effect according to the invention, which consists in an initial rapid lowering of the holding element 22 with the cup holder bases 24 in the direction of the usage position 22; PN / 24; PN and then a braking of the cup holder bases 24 shortly before the usage position 22; PN / 24; PN of the holding element 22 and the cup holder bases 24 is reached, nevertheless occurs. In this respect, the lower illustration of Figure 5 shows the principle according to the invention for the case where the oval bearing pin, i.e. the bearing element 36.2, rotates by 90°.

[0077] Figure 6 further illustrates that the swinging of the cup holder bases 24 about the tilting axis YK in the use position 24; PN is limited by stops 34 arranged on the support webs 32, which are always arranged lying on the undersides of the cup holder bases 24.

[0078] If the undersides of the cup holder bases 24 hit the stops 34, a rattling noise may occur, which may disturb the user.

[0079] It is provided that the cup holder bases 24 have recesses 26 in the region of the stops 34 on their underside facing the stops, so that installation space is created for soft components 36, which are inserted into these recesses 26. Bio-based thermoplastic polyurethanes and elastomers are preferably used for the soft components 36, so that the soft components 36 advantageously ensure that the cup holder bases 24 are released from rattling at the stops 34 upon contact between the soft components 36 and the stops 34.

[0080] Regarding the use of the vehicle component, it is stated that the vehicle component can be arranged in more than just an armrest 10. A motor vehicle (not shown in detail) can comprise several vehicle components, which are also referred to as interior fittings. Specifically, the vehicle component which has the corresponding cavity in the frame structure can be an armrest 10 of a bench seat or it can be a center console arranged between the individual seats. The vehicle component can also be a dashboard or an interior door panel or any other drawer, even outside a vehicle. Each of these components or vehicle components has, depending on the version of the vehicle component, the correspondingly explained storage and receiving table with the described locking and unlocking device.It should also be noted that, in addition to or as an alternative to center armrests, further armrests can be provided on the sides of the bench seat and / or the individual seats. It goes without saying that it is preferred that armrests 10, in particular, be used to support the arms of persons sitting on the seats. The respective armrest 10 is preferably designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis running in the y-direction, such that the armrest 10 can be moved from the folded-down position to a folded-up position and vice versa. When the armrest 10 is in the folded-up position, it also forms, for example, a backrest of a center seat on the bench seat.

[0081] List of reference symbols

[0082] 10 Armrest

[0083] 12 support arms

[0084] 14 Support and guide frames

[0085] 16 Mounting device

[0086] 16A top

[0087] 16B lower part

[0088] 18 Tension element

[0089] 20 front side

[0090] 22 Holding element

[0091] 22; PA starting position holding element

[0092] 22; P N Usage position holding element

[0093] 24 floors

[0094] 26 recess

[0095] 24; PA starting position floor / floors

[0096] 24; P N Usage position floor / floors

[0097] 28 opening(s)

[0098] 30 slots

[0099] 32 support bridges

[0100] 34 stop

[0101] 36 Soft component

[0102] 36.1 Bearing element (first design variant - round)

[0103] 36.2 Bearing element (second design variant - oval)

[0104] 38 Bearing bush / nx x-direction along a longitudinal direction / vehicle longitudinal direction y y-direction along a transverse direction / vehicle transverse direction z z-direction along a vertical direction / vehicle vertical direction

[0105] Z swivel axis of 16

[0106] Y s Swivel axis of 22

[0107] Y K Tilting axis of 24

[0108] S e retracted position of 16

[0109] S a extended position of 16

[0110] Sga swiveled, extended position of 16

Claims

Patent claims 1. Vehicle component, in particular an armrest (10), with a reversibly extendable storage and receiving table with a cup holder mechanism, characterized in that the cup holder mechanism comprises a lowering device, wherein the cup holder mechanism has a holding element (22) which can be pivoted about a pivot axis (Ys) from a starting position (22; PA), in which the holding element (22) is arranged integrated in a plane of the storage and receiving table, into a use position (22; PN ), in which the holding element (22) is arranged outside the plane of the storage and receiving table after pivoting about the pivot axis (Ys), wherein the holding element (22) has at least one bearing element (36.1, 36.2) which is inserted into at least one bearing bush (38) formed in the storage and receiving table, so that the at least one bearing element (36.1, 36.2) and the bearing bush (38) form the lowering device, wherein a joint between the at least one bearing element (36.1, 36.2) and the at least one bearing bush (38) is designed as an interference fit, so that a speed of the reversible pivoting movement between the starting position (22; PA) of the holding element (22) and the use position (22; PN) of the holding element (22) can be adjusted depending on the frictional force formed in the joint.

2. Vehicle component according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one bearing element (36.1) of the lowering device is a cylindrical bearing pin which is arranged in the at least one cylindrically shaped bearing bush (38) of the lowering device.

3. Vehicle component according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one bearing element (36.2) of the lowering device is an oval bearing pin which is arranged in the at least one cylindrically shaped bearing bush (38) of the lowering device.

4. Vehicle component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cylindrical bearing bush (38) of the lowering device is formed by a bearing shell which is open to an upper part (16A) and which is formed in a lower part (16B) of the storage and receiving table, wherein the open bearing shell is closed like a lid by the upper part (16A) in the assembled state of the storage and receiving table, in which the upper part (16A) and lower part (16B) are connected to one another to form the storage and receiving table, and thus forms the bearing bush (38).

5. Vehicle component according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the speed of the reversible pivoting movement is set via the pivoting angle that can be predetermined during the pivoting movement in such a way that the speed is reduced in a substantially constant manner as a function of the predetermined frictional force in the joint between the contact surfaces of the cylindrical bearing pin and the bearing bush (38).

6. Vehicle component according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the speed of the reversible pivoting movement is set via the pivot angle that can be predetermined during the pivoting movement when pivoting the holding element (22) from the starting position (22; PA) into the use position (22; PN) in such a way that the speed decreases as a function of the predeterminable frictional force in the joint between the contact surfaces of the oval bearing pin and the bearing bush (38) and increases when pivoting the holding element (22) from the use position (22; PN) into the starting position (22; AP).

7. Vehicle component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding element (22) has support webs (32) and at least one tilting element arranged orthogonally to the support webs (32), on which the at least one cup holder base (24) is arranged pivotably on a tilting axis (YK), wherein the at least one cup holder base (24) oscillates about the tilting axis (YK) in its use position (24; PN).

8. Vehicle component according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one cup holder base (24) is arranged pivotably between the supporting webs (32) of the holding element (22) on the pivot axis (Ys), wherein the at least one cup holder base (24) is pivotable together with the holding element (22) in its Starting positions (22; PA / 24; PA) are arranged in the plane of the storage and receiving table and are releasably locked relative to the storage and receiving table by a locking device.

9. Vehicle component according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the holding element (22) and the at least one cup holder base (24) come together from their starting positions (22; PA / 24; PA) into their use positions (22; PN / 24; PN) by reversibly unlocking the locking mechanism and pivoting the holding element (22) and the at least one cup holder base (24) out of the plane of the storage and receiving table about the pivot axis (Ys), so that the holding element (22) in its use position (22; PN) is arranged lowered by the predeterminable pivot angle relative to an underside of the storage and receiving table after the locking mechanism has been unlocked from the plane of the storage and receiving table.

10. Vehicle component according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that at least one stop (34) is arranged between the support webs (32), which stop is arranged orthogonally to the support webs (32), wherein the at least one cup holder base (24) in its use position (24; PN) abuts the stop (34) during its pendulum movement about the tilt axis (YK), wherein on an underside of the at least one cup holder base (24) directed towards the stop (34) at least one recess (26) is formed, in which a soft component (36) is arranged, wherein the soft component (36) abuts the stop (34) in the recess (26) of the at least one cup holder base (24).

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