Armrest device for a motor vehicle console

Abstract

Armrest device of a console (1) of a motor vehicle comprising an armrest surface and at least one support for said armrest surface, comprising at least one support element (2) to which the armrest surface (10) is attached and a sliding rail (4) receiving said support element, and said support element comprising a set of four bars (21, 22, 23, 24) articulated together, including an upper bar (21) to which the armrest surface (10) is attached, so that said support element is movable both longitudinally and vertically to be able to occupy several positions in the longitudinal and vertical directions, furthermore said support element (2) being movable in longitudinal translation along said rail to be able to occupy several longitudinal positions, the longitudinal bars remaining horizontal,and the device includes a locking / unlocking mechanism for positions along the longitudinal and vertical directions of said support element and for longitudinal positions of said support element along said sliding rail. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 2,

Description

Title of the invention: Armrest device for a motor vehicle console

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle console comprising an armrest. It relates more particularly to the armrest device of the console.

[0002] Motor vehicles are now commonly equipped with a console installed between two vehicle seats, comprising at least one armrest in its upper part. The console also most often includes various storage compartments. In addition, at least one armrest can usually serve as a lid for at least one compartment. The console is generally installed in the vehicle's passenger compartment, particularly between the front seats, so that at least the occupants of the seats adjacent to the console can benefit from both the armrest function and have items within easy reach.

[0003] The armrest can be fixed, or a movable surface element following a longitudinal translation, in particular in order to be able to adjust its position from front to back in the vehicle, and sometimes tiltable. However, there remains a great difficulty in defining an ergonomic position for an armrest, especially for drivers, because the seat is adjustable forward and backward (longitudinally) thanks to the support slides, and also in height (vertically) thanks to the riser mechanism, the position of the armrest cannot satisfy people of short or very tall stature.

[0004] There is therefore a need to provide a console with an armrest that is better adapted to the different sizes of people who use the armrest.

[0005] To this end, the invention provides an armrest device for a motor vehicle console comprising an armrest surface and at least one support for said armrest surface. The said support comprises at least one support element to which the armrest surface is attached and a sliding rail receiving said support element. The said support element comprises a set of four bars forming a quadrilateral composed of two longitudinal bars, one being the lower bar and the other being the upper bar to which the armrest surface is attached, and two front and rear lateral bars mounted parallel to each other between the two longitudinal bars, and articulated with the said longitudinal bars by rotating links, so that the said support element is mobile both longitudinally and vertically to be able to occupy several positions in the longitudinal and vertical directions. Said sliding rail is a receiver of one of the longitudinal bars, preferably the lower longitudinal bar, so that said support element is mobile in longitudinal translation along said rail to be able to occupy several longitudinal positions, the longitudinal bars remaining horizontal. In addition, the armrest device includes a locking / unlocking mechanism for positions along the longitudinal and vertical directions of said support element and for longitudinal positions of said support element along said sliding rail.

[0006] A user can thus move the armrest surface to occupy different positions vertically and longitudinally, and choose the position that is most comfortable for him.

[0007] According to a particular and preferred embodiment of the invention, said locking / unlocking mechanism comprises: - the first means for locking / unlocking said set of bars, comprising a dial, a portion of which is arc-shaped and has several locking notches, fixed to one of the bars, and a locking finger with return, said locking notches receiving said locking finger and defining several positions according to the longitudinal and vertical directions that a support element can occupy, and - second means of locking / unlocking said set of bars in the sliding rail, said rail having several locking notches spaced along said rail, a locking finger with return, said notches receiving the locking finger and defining several longitudinal positions that said support element can occupy.

[0008] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first and second locking / unlocking means of a support element are coupled by a connecting shaft between the respective locking fingers of said first and second locking / unlocking means, said shaft being integral with an operating member of the unlocking mechanism. Preferably, said operating member is integral with a return means that brings said member back to the locking position of the locking / unlocking mechanism.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the upper bar of the bar assembly comprises a part which is outside the quadrilateral and which extends the support element.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said support comprises two support elements for the armrest surface, said support elements being preferably arranged longitudinally and symmetrically laterally under the armrest surface.

[0011] Advantageously, said locking / unlocking mechanism comprises a single operating member for the first and second respective locking / unlocking means of the two support elements configured to be operated together.

[0012] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle console comprising at least one armrest device as described above.

[0013] Preferably, said console includes an armrest device comprising two support elements for the armrest surface, each support element for the support of said armrest device being arranged longitudinally and laterally in a casing of the console.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, said console includes at least one storage space at least partly under the armrest surface, and said armrest surface being movable in rotation along at least one of its external longitudinal edges between a closed position and an open position allowing access to said storage space.

[0015] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a console as described above, located between two seats, in particular between two front seats.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] illustrates, following a partial view, in three-quarter perspective and from the above, a console, in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising an armrest device according to an embodiment of the invention, the armrest surface of which is represented in three different positions;

[0018] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, according to a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the plane vertical, the console with the armrest device illustrated in [Fig.l] occupying the three different positions;

[0019] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, according to a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the plane vertical, part of the armrest device in operation.

[0020] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, according to a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the plane vertical, an armrest device of a console occupying different positions, according to a variant of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in figures 1 to 3.

[0021] In the following description, reference is made to an XYZ coordinate system, in which X is the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear, Y is the transverse direction oriented to the right of the vehicle, and Z is the vertical direction oriented upwards. The terms front and rear refer conventionally to the front and rear of the motor vehicle. Since the vehicle is the one in which the console can be installed, the directions of the console thus correspond to the directions of the vehicle. Unless otherwise specified, the same applies to the directions of the elements that make up said console, in particular the armrest device which will to be described.

[0022] The notions of front and rear, lower or upper, relating to the armrest device which will be described, are defined in relation to the armrest surface in the position of use substantially horizontal.

[0023] In the rest of the description, identical references may be used from one figure to another to designate identical or similar elements.

[0024] Figures 2 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a support element for the armrest surface support included in the armrest device of the console shown in [Fig.1]. Figure 4 represents a variant of this embodiment.

[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates, in perspective view, part of a console 1 of a motor vehicle, having various compartments including an open front compartment 12 and a rear drawer 13, and an armrest device comprising an armrest surface 10.

[0026] This armrest surface 10 has an elongated, substantially rectangular shape, which extends longitudinally along its main axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, and which is arranged to be able to form an armrest on which can rest in particular the elbow or forearm of the passengers sitting on the seats on either side of the console.

[0027] The armrest surface 10 is represented on this [Fig.1] in three positions PI, P2, P3 which it is able to occupy according to this first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] The armrest device comprises a support for said armrest surface, including a support element 2 to which said armrest surface 10 is attached, and a longitudinal sliding rail 4 receiving said support element, allowing said armrest surface to occupy the three positions shown in Figures 1 or 2: front position P1, intermediate position P2, rear position P3. These positions can be locked (reversibly, i.e., also unlocked) by a locking / unlocking mechanism included in said armrest device. According to this preferred embodiment, said support comprises two support elements combined respectively with two longitudinal sliding rails, arranged longitudinally and laterally, on either side of the console.

[0029] A support element 2 comprises at least one set of four bars 21, 22, 23, 24 arranged together to form a quadrilateral and articulated together by rotating links 210, 220, 230, 240 at the four corners of the quadrilateral. The bars are parallel to each other in pairs; in other words, the assembly comprises an upper bar 21 and a lower bar 23 parallel to each other, and a front bar 22 and a rear bar 24 parallel to each other, the assembly forming a right quadrilateral, square or rectangular in shape, when the front and rear side bars The rear ends are vertical. In other words, the set of four articulated bars forms a mechanical parallelogram.

[0030] According to this particular embodiment, the upper bar 21 is strictly longer than the lower bar 23, the additional length 211 of the upper bar 21 being outside the quadrilateral formed by the four bars. This additional length of the upper bar 21 allows for the support of a relatively long armrest surface, which can be advantageous for a console with open storage 12 in the front part of the console (as shown in Figures 1 and 2).

[0031] Each rotating link 210, 220, 230, 240 between two bars can be made by means of a rotation axis inserted transversely in a through hole made respectively at one end of the two joined bars, except in the case of the upper bar 21, which is longer than the lower bar, for which one of the through holes it has, in this case the front hole, is made at the same longitudinal dimension as the one at the front end of the lower bar 23 which is vertically aligned with it when the parallelogram is right.

[0032] Furthermore, the respective lower bar 23 of each support element is inserted along its length into a respective longitudinal sliding rail 4 of a support element. The respective longitudinal bars of each support element thus remain horizontal when their parallelogram is inclined in the XZ plane; only the front and rear bars are inclined.

[0033] Furthermore, the locking / unlocking mechanism of the armrest device includes first locking / unlocking means that allow the tilt positions of the parallelogram, and therefore of the support element, to be locked. These first locking means comprise a locking finger 30 in the direction transverse to the plane defined by the parallelogram (Y direction), with return, for example, a ball associated with a return spring 35. They also comprise a locking dial 3, for example, a sector in the shape of an arc of a circle, in which through holes are drilled forming locking notches 31, 32, 33 at different angles, three in number according to the example, cooperating with said locking finger 30 and defining combined locking positions P10, P20, P30 both vertically (Z direction) and longitudinally (X direction) of the support element 2 of the armrest surface.These locking positions P10, P20, P30 are mirrored for the second support element, so that the two support elements remain symmetrically positioned in the console and under the armrest surface.

[0034] The locking dial 3 is fixed to the parallelogram, under the upper bar 21, and located on the side of the rear face of the front vertical bar 22, face facing the upper bar 21. The locking finger 30 with the return spring 35 is located on the front face of the front vertical bar 22, opposite the rear face, as shown for example in [Fig.3].

[0035] This [Fig. 3] schematically represents only the movement of the parallelogram of a support element, without the displacement of the support element along the longitudinal sliding rail 4, to illustrate only the action of the parallelogram. The locking finger 30 with the return spring 35 are not shown for the intermediate position P20 and rear position P30 for greater clarity of [Fig. 3].

[0036] As schematically illustrated by this [Fig.3] in particular, when said set of four bars forms a right parallelogram, locked in the first locking notch 31, located at 90 degrees with respect to the upper horizontal bar 21 but corresponding to the "zero" angle of inclination of the parallelogram, (i.e. at 0 degrees with respect to the vertical), the forward position P10 is the highest (direction Z) and the most forward (direction X). When the parallelogram is locked in the intermediate locking notch 32, the forward position P20 is lower and less forward than the first position P10, the most forward. When the parallelogram is locked at the end of its travel in the last locking notch 33, the front position P30 is the lowest and furthest back. The angle of inclination* a of the parallelogram is defined with respect to the vertical (axis V), and also with respect to the position of one of the lateral bars which is vertical (axis V) when the parallelogram is in the right position (P10), " a = 0°". The vertical calibration (along the Z direction) of the armrest surface is achieved by dimensioning the vertical bars and the angle of inclination "a" of the parallelogram, an angle permitted according to the locking notches of the toothed sector. For example, with front and rear bars 21 centimeters high, and a parallelogram inclination angle permitted at 30 and 45 degrees (relative to the parallelogram's upright position (position P10)), the armrest surface 10 can reach the intermediate position (position P20) and the rear position (P30), respectively. The inclination of the parallelogram implies a vertical and also longitudinal displacement of the support element, but this is insufficient without the longitudinal displacement allowed by the sliding rail 4, which will be detailed below.

[0037] The longitudinal sliding rail 4 allows the lower bar 23, and therefore the entire assembly 2 of the four parallelogram-shaped bars, to be moved longitudinally, thus reversibly back and forth along the rail, in order to position the armrest surface in the desired location for the vehicle occupant who wishes to use it. For example, this rail may have a 20 cm stroke for this longitudinal sliding.

[0038] The locking / unlocking mechanism of the armrest device also includes secondary locking / unlocking means for locking the longitudinal position of the support element by locking the position of the lower bar 23 and thus of the parallelogram in said sliding rail. These secondary locking / unlocking means include longitudinally spaced locking notches, a locking finger, and an associated return spring, not shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0039] Furthermore, these second locking / unlocking means can be combined with the aforementioned first locking / unlocking means, so as to be actuated from a single operating member, as will be explained in the commentary of [Fig. 4]. The combination of these two locking / unlocking means forms the locking / unlocking mechanism of the armrest device. According to one configuration, the unlockings of the first respective locking / unlocking means of the vertical and longitudinal tilt of the parallelogram and of the second locking / unlocking means of the longitudinal position of the parallelogram in the sliding rail can be combined, which allows the armrest surface 10 to be able to occupy one of the three positions: front PI, intermediate P2, rear P3. In another configuration, these unlocking mechanisms can be differentiated, allowing the armrest surface to have nine support positions, combining or not the three vertical / longitudinal tilt positions of the front support P10, intermediate support P20, and rear support P30, depending on the parallelogram's inclination, and the three longitudinal support positions provided along the sliding rail.

[0040] Regardless of the parallelogram's position, the lower bar 23, held in the sliding rail 4, remains horizontal, and the upper bar 21, which remains parallel to it, is therefore also horizontal, so that the armrest surface remains in its horizontal plane during its movement.

[0041] The invention makes it possible to offer an armrest with variable vertical and longitudinal positions, so that a small person can benefit from the forward position PI, while a tall person can use the rear position P3, and a person of average height can use the intermediate position P2. In the case of a support where the unlocking mechanisms of the first and second locking / unlocking means can be differentiated, a user, particularly a driver, can benefit from a greater number of position adjustments and therefore positions even better suited to their body shape. Furthermore, for motor vehicles equipped with at least one 7-inch screen, which is With screens becoming increasingly large and touch-sensitive, often located at the end of the center console, for example, it is advantageous to have an armrest well-suited to the user's body shape to keep their arm in a comfortable position. The adjustable armrest device described in the invention, which adapts to the user's height and position, addresses this need for elbow support.

[0042] Figure 4 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, which is a variant of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 described above. The difference in embodiment arises from the upper bar of the support elements shown in Figures 2 to 3, which has a different length than the lower bar, whereas these two bars have the same length in the embodiment illustrated by Figure 4.

[0043] According to this embodiment, each support element 2' of the armrest surface support 10' comprises a set of four bars 21', 22', 23', 24' forming a quadrilateral (square or rectangle), and the bars are articulated to each other by rotating joints, made with transverse axes of rotation at their ends, to form a mechanical parallelogram. The lower bar 23' and the upper bar 21' have the same length. The front bar 22' and the rear bar 24' have the same length. Each support element 2' is installed in a respective longitudinal sliding rail 4, the respective lower bar 23' of a support element being guided in this rail in longitudinal translation.

[0044] The displacements of the parallelogram itself (inclinations) and within the rail will not be described in detail for this variant, as they are similar to those described for the embodiment described previously. They allow the armrest device to occupy variable positions vertically and longitudinally, so that a small person can use the forward position P1', a tall person can use the rear position P3', and a person of average height can use the intermediate position P2'.

[0045] The first locking / unlocking means relating to the proper positions of the parallelogram in the XZ plane (inclines) and the second locking / unlocking means relating to the longitudinal positions of the support element in the rail are similar to those implemented for the embodiment described above. Their combined operation will be described in more detail.

[0046] The rail 4 has four locking notches 41, 42, 43, 44 which cooperate with a locking finger with return, for example a ball 40 / return spring 45 system, allowing the position of the lower bar 23' of the support element 2' to be locked.

[0047] The first and second means of locking / unlocking an element The supports are coupled by a connecting shaft 5 between the respective locking fingers 30', 40 of the first and second locking / unlocking means, said shaft 5 being integral with an unlocking operating member 6 such as a lever or a lever that lifts to unlock the mechanism, associated with a return spring 60 to return it to the locked position. The operating member 6 is, for example, located under the armrest surface 10', easily accessible to the armrest user. The locking fingers 30', 40 with return are integral with the operating member 6, for example by a system of cables or rods. In addition, the respective first locking / unlocking means of each support element are coupled so as to be locked and unlocked simultaneously by the joystick 6. Similarly, the respective second locking / unlocking means of each support element (in particular of the two support elements) are coupled so as to be locked and unlocked simultaneously by the joystick 6. The coupling links between these various locking / unlocking means can be achieved, for example, by the cable or rod system of the locking / unlocking mechanism of the armrest device.

[0048] Another known function of an armrest is that it can be raised to provide access to the compartment below. In the armrest device according to the invention just described, for example in [Fig. 4], the armrest surface 10' can close the upper part of a compartment; therefore, an opening system with a longitudinal axis of the armrest surface can be provided.

[0049] For this purpose, according to an example not shown and not limiting, for a one-piece armrest surface, a system of opening with two lateral longitudinal axes can be provided, for an opening to the right or to the left allowing access to the storage by the driver or the passenger next door.

[0050] Another example, not shown and not limiting, is to provide for an armrest surface in two parts extending along their principal longitudinal axis and joined along their respective inner longitudinal edges in a folded position to form the armrest surface. Each part is supported by a lateral support element of the armrest device. Furthermore, depending on the associated opening system, each part is hinged with respect to its outer longitudinal edge to be able to unfold in a plane substantially perpendicular to the average (substantially horizontal) plane defined by its folded position, for example, by means of a pivot axis fixed to the upper bar of its support element, so as to be able to open and unfold in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the folded positions.

[0051] The invention has achieved its objectives. It makes it possible to provide an armrest allowing to achieve ergonomic positions for elbow or forearm support, adapted to the body shape, particularly the height, of a vehicle user, especially the driver. It also provides an elbow support position for arm support when using a touchscreen. Furthermore, it allows the arm to rest by resting the forearm on the armrest surface in certain driving positions. In addition, it allows easy access to the lower storage compartment without moving the armrest.

Claims

Demands

1. Armrest device for a console (1) of a motor vehicle comprising an armrest surface and at least one support for said armrest surface, characterized: in that said support comprises at least one support element (2, 2') to which the armrest surface (10, 10') is attached and a sliding rail (4) receiving said support element, and - said at least one support element comprises a set of four bars forming a quadrilateral composed of two longitudinal bars (21, 23, 21', 23'), one being the lower bar (23, 23') and the other being the upper bar (21, 21') to which the armrest surface (10) is attached, and two front (22, 22') and rear (24, 24') lateral bars mounted parallel to each other between the two longitudinal bars and articulated with said longitudinal bars by rotating links (210, 220, 230, 240), so that said support element is mobile both longitudinally and vertically to be able to occupy several positions (P10, P20, P30) in the longitudinal and vertical directions, and - said sliding rail (4) being a receiver for one of the longitudinal bars, preferably the lower longitudinal bar (23, 23'), so that said support element is movable in longitudinal translation along said rail to be able to occupy several longitudinal positions, the longitudinal bars remaining horizontal, and in that the device comprises a locking / unlocking mechanism for the positions along the longitudinal and vertical directions of said support element and for the longitudinal positions of said support element along said sliding rail, characterized in that said locking / unlocking mechanism comprises: - of the first locking / unlocking means of said bar assembly, comprising a dial (3, 3') a portion of which in the form of an arc has several locking notches (31, 32, 33, 31', 32', 33'), fixed to one of the bars, and a locking finger (30, 30') with return (35, 35'), said locking notches receiving said locking finger and defining several positions according to the longitudinal and vertical directions that a support element (2, 2') can occupy, and - secondary means of locking / unlocking said assembly bars in the sliding rail, said rail having several locking notches (41, 42, 43, 44) spaced along said rail, a locking finger (40) with return (45), said notches receiving the locking finger and defining several longitudinal positions that said support element can occupy, and said first and second locking / unlocking means of the bar assembly of said at least one support element are coupled by a connecting shaft (5) between the respective locking fingers (30', 40) of said first and second locking / unlocking means, said shaft being integral with an operating member (6) of the unlocking.

2. Armrest device according to claim 1, characterized in that said operating member (6) is integral with a return means (60) to the locking position of the locking / unlocking mechanism.

3. Armrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the upper bar (21) of the bar assembly comprises a part (211) which is outside the quadrilateral and which extends said at least one support element.

4. Armrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said support comprises two support elements (2, 2') of the armrest surface, said support elements being preferably arranged longitudinally and symmetrically laterally under the armrest surface (10, 10').

5. Armrest device according to claim 4, characterized in that said locking / unlocking mechanism comprises a single operating member (6) of the first and second respective locking / unlocking means of the two support elements configured to be operated together.

6. Console of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one armrest device, characterized in that it comprises an armrest device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Console (1) of a motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises an armrest device according to claims 4 or 5, each support element (2, 2') of the support of said armrest device being arranged longitudinally and laterally in a console housing.

8. Console of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one storage space at

9. less in part under the armrest surface, and said armrest surface being mobile in rotation along at least one of its external longitudinal edges between a closed position and an open position allowing access to said storage space. Motor vehicle comprising a console (1) located between two seats according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in particular between two front seats.

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