ARMREST DEVICE

Abstract

Armrest device, in particular for commercial vehicle seats, having a guide rail system for guiding a displacement movement of a first rail relative to a second rail which can be connected to the armrest device, in a displacement direction, wherein the displacement movement of the first rail can be arrested by the engagement of a locking element of a locking device in at least one recess in the first rail, wherein the locking device is rigidly connected to the armrest device by a first end and can be deflected in a height direction by a second end, the locking element engaging in the recess in a non-deflected position of the locking device.

Claims

1. An armrest device, in particular for commercial vehicle seats, having a guide rail system for guiding a displacement movement of a first rail relative to a second rail which can be connected to the armrest device, in a displacement direction, wherein the displacement movement of the first rail can be arrested by the engagement of a locking element of a locking device in at least one recess in the first rail, characterised in that the locking device is rigidly connected to the armrest device by a first end and can be deflected in a height direction by a second end, the locking element engaging in the recess in a non-deflected position of the locking device.

2. The armrest device according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking device is of an elongate configuration and extends in the adjustment direction.

3. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is configured to be elastically deformable at least in part.

4. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is arranged at least in part below the second rail, seen in the height direction, and at least the second rail has at least one first opening, through which the locking element projects.

5. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein a Bowden cable can be connected to the second end of the locking device to deflect the locking device by an actuation of the Bowden cable.

6. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element extends substantially in the height direction.

7. The armrest device according to claim 3, wherein the locking device consists at least in part of a spring steel sheet and/or of spring steel.

8. The armrest device according to claim 4, wherein arranged on an edge of the first opening is at least one lower stop element of the second rail, which stop element interacts with at least one upper stop element of the first rail.

9. The armrest device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element has on a first end at least one surface which slopes outwards in the height direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further objectives, advantages and functionalities of the present invention can be inferred from the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an armrest device, mounted on a vehicle seat;

[0033] FIG. 1B is a side view of the armrest device according to FIG. 1A;

[0034] FIG. 1C is a front view of the armrest device according to FIG. 1A;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a locking device with a locking element;

[0036] FIG. 3A shows the armrest device with a locking device in a non-deflected position;

[0037] FIG. 3B shows the armrest device with a locking device in a deflected position;

[0038] FIG. 4A shows the armrest device according to FIG. 3A with a first rail moved in the adjustment direction;

[0039] FIG. 4B shows the armrest device according to FIG. 3B with a first rail moved in the adjustment direction;

[0040] FIG. 5A is a perspective plan view of the armrest device;

[0041] FIG. 5B shows the armrest device according to FIG. 5A with a first rail moved in the adjustment direction;

[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the armrest device according to FIG. 5B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1A to 1C show an armrest device 1 which is arranged on a vehicle seat 2, in particular on a commercial vehicle seat 2. The vehicle seat 2 comprises a backrest 21, a seat part 22 and a seat substructure 23 which is suitable for suspension and for the displacement of the seat part 22.

[0044] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the arrangement. As is usual in the commercial vehicle sector, the armrest 1 is arranged on the side of the seat part 22 and on the side of the backrest 21.

[0045] FIG. 1B is a side view of the vehicle seat of FIG. 1A. As can be seen, the armrest device 1 can be connected to the vehicle seat 2 by an armrest attachment 24. In this respect, the armrest device 1 comprises a first rocker 25, a second rocker and an armrest support 27 which is connected to the first rocker 25 and to the second rocker 26 and forms a parallelogram, so that with a height adjustment of the armrest device 1, the upper surface 13 of the armrest support 27 is still oriented parallel to a body floor (not shown here).

[0046] It can also be seen from FIG. 1B that the locking device 6 extends further in the adjustment direction V by its second end 10 than the upper surface 13. As a result, the second end 10 can be deflected more easily and the locking device 6 can thus also be deflected more easily to move the locking device out of a non-deflected position 11 into a deflected position 12. Here, it is conceivable, for example, to deflect the second end 10 manually. Furthermore, a Bowden cable 15 (not shown here) can thus also be connected more easily to the second end 10. If a Bowden cable 15 is provided, it is advantageous to provide a Bowden cable guide 28 to restrict the freedom of movement of the Bowden cable 15 and to thereby prevent the Bowden cable 15 from being damaged by other construction components. The following figures provide a detailed view of the Bowden cable guide 28.

[0047] It can also be seen that the guide rail system 3 is arranged on the upper surface 13 of the armrest support 27. During a height adjustment of the armrest support, the guide rail system 3 is also moved in parallel and is still oriented in parallel.

[0048] FIG. 1C is a front view of the vehicle seat of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the locking device 6. As can be seen, the locking device 6 is of an elongate configuration and extends in the adjustment direction V. Arranged at the first end 9 is a hole 29 or a passage 29 by which the locking device 6 can be rigidly connected to the upper surface 13 and/or to the second rail 5 by a rivet connection or a screw connection. Arranged at the first end is a Bowden cable recess 30 into which the Bowden cable 15 (not shown here) can be hooked and can thus be connected to the second end 10.

[0050] Here, the locking device 6 is configured at least in part as a spring steel sheet and/or as a spring steel 31, subject to the dimensioning of the locking device 6. The following figures show a preferred embodiment of the locking device 6.

[0051] The locking device 6 also comprises a locking element 7 which substantially extends in the height direction and is arranged such that it runs vertically to the adjustment direction V. Here, the locking element 7 is connected to the locking device 6 by a locking element support 32. The support 32 is configured in a cuboid shape, the spring steel sheets 31 being connected to the support 32. However, the support 32 can also be considered as part of the locking element 7 if the support 32 and the locking element 7 are produced from one piece of material.

[0052] It can also be seen that at a first end 19, the locking element 6 has two surfaces 20 which slope outwards, seen in the adjustment direction. Here, the first end 19 is the upper end 19 of the locking element 7, seen in the height direction H. The surfaces 20 can have resulted as bevels 35 of the locking element 7. The surfaces 20 are advantageously rounded along their peripheral lines or peripheral surfaces to minimise the risk of injury. The sloping surfaces 20 make it easier for the locking element 7 to engage in the recess 8 (not shown here), because the locking element 7 can slide into the recess 8 by the surfaces 20 in the recess 8.

[0053] The locking element 7 also has widening portions 33, 34 which increase the cross section downwards, seen in the height direction H, which cross section is located in a plane spanned by the adjustment direction V and by a width direction B. Therefore, the locking element 7 slides into the recess 8 until the cross-sectional surface of the locking element 7 substantially corresponds to the surface of the recess 8, thereby making it possible to ensure a secure locking of the displacement movement.

[0054] FIGS. 3A and 3B are enlarged side views of the armrest device 1, FIG. 3A showing the locking device 6 in a non-deflected position 11 and FIG. 3B showing the locking device 6 in a deflected position 12.

[0055] Here, the locking device 6 is arranged below the upper surface 13 and the second rail 5, seen in the height direction H. Therefore, the second rail must have a first opening 14 and the upper surface 13 must have a second opening 37 through which the locking element 7 can project in order to be able to engage in one of the recesses 8. In this respect, the locking device 6 is connected to the upper surface 13 at a first end 9 by means of a rivet connection 36. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the rivet connection 36 to also be provided to connect the second rail 5 to the upper surface 13 and also to the locking device 6.

[0056] In addition, the guide rail system 3 has a first rail 4 which is displaceable along the adjustment direction V relative to the second rail 5, the first rail having upper stop elements 18 and the second rail having lower stop elements 17 which can interact with one another and thus secure the first rail 4 with respect to the second rail 5 and thus prevent the first rail 4 from fully detaching from the second rail 5.

[0057] The lower stop elements 17 are arranged on an edge 16 of the first opening 14, so that the displacement movement cannot be influenced in any way by the locking element 7, particularly when the locking device 6 is deflected. In this respect, the first opening is advantageously arranged such that is it situated in the centre of the second rail 5, seen in the adjustment direction V. This measure ensures the same adjustment length of the first rail backwards and forwards in the adjustment direction V.

[0058] Furthermore, a Bowden cable 15 can be seen which is connected to the second end 10 of the locking device 6 and to a Bowden cable guide 28. The size of the Bowden cable guide 28 is advantageously the same size as the sheathing of the Bowden cable 15, so that the Bowden cable 15 is held effectively by the Bowden cable guide 28. Therefore, the Bowden cable guide 28 is synonymous with a Bowden cable holder 28. Here, the Bowden cable 15 is constructed in the manner known from the prior art. In the present case, for example the Bowden cable 15 comprises a barrel nipple 39 on at least the end which can be connected to the second end 10 of the locking device 6.

[0059] As can also be seen, the locking element 7 projects through the first opening 14 in the second rail 5 and also through the second opening 37 in the upper surface 13, to thus be able to engage in the recess 8.

[0060] FIG. 3B shows the armrest device 1 in a deflected position 12. By actuating the Bowden cable 15, this actuation being indicated by arrow 15′, the second end 10 of the locking device is deflected in the height direction H, the locking element 7 no longer engaging in the recess 8. Therefore, in the deflected position 12 of the locking device 6, it is possible to move the first rail 4 backwards or forwards in the adjustment direction V with respect to the second rail 5.

[0061] As can be inferred in particular from FIG. 3B, the locking device 6 is configured to be elastically deformable at least in part, particularly in the region of the first end 9. In this respect, the locking device 6 can be configured in several parts, as in the present case, and can have a first element 40 and a second element 41, in which case at least the first element 40 consists of a spring steel sheet and/or of spring steel.

[0062] At least the first element 40 is elastically deformed by the deflection of the second end 10 in the height direction H. If the Bowden cable 15 is no longer actuated, the first element 40 re-assumes its original shape and thereby returns the locking device 6 into the non-deflected position 11. It is possible to provide an end stop 42 which restricts the deflection of the second end 10 of the locking device 6 to prevent the locking device 6 from being damaged.

[0063] A sheet element 43 is advantageously provided which comprises the end stop 42 and the Bowden cable holder 28, the sheet element 43 preferably being located in a plane formed by the height direction H and by the width direction B. Furthermore, the sheet element 43 is advantageously arranged in a front region 44 of the armrest device 1, seen in the adjustment direction V.

[0064] FIGS. 4A and 4B show the guide rail system 3 in a different position compared to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in that a lower stop element 17 interacts with an upper stop element 18 and the first rail 4 is moved forwards in the adjustment direction V. The Bowden cable 15 is not shown here.

[0065] FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively show the armrest device 1 in an unswivelled position 11 and in a perspective plan view. The first rail 4 in FIG. 5B has been moved forwards in the adjustment direction V relative to the second rail 5. As can be seen from both figures, the locking element 7 engages into a recess 8 in the first rail 4, thereby arresting the displacement movement of the first rail 4 relative to the second rail 5.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the armrest device 1 of FIG. 5B and of the locking device 6 in the non-deflected position. As can be clearly seen, the sheet element 43 has a third opening 45, so that the second end 10 of the locking device 6 can be deflected. The end of the third opening serves as the end stop 42.

[0067] All the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as being essential to the invention provided that, individually or combined, they are novel over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0068] 1 armrest device

[0069] 2 vehicle seat

[0070] 3 guide rail system

[0071] 4 first rail

[0072] 5 second rail

[0073] 6 locking device

[0074] 7 locking element

[0075] 8 recess

[0076] 9 first end of locking device

[0077] 10 second end of locking device

[0078] 11 non-deflected position

[0079] 12 deflected position

[0080] 13 upper surface

[0081] 14 opening

[0082] 15 Bowden cable

[0083] 15′ actuation of Bowden cable

[0084] 16 edge of opening

[0085] 17 lower stop element

[0086] 18 upper stop element

[0087] 19 first end of locking element

[0088] 20 sloping surface

[0089] 21 backrest

[0090] 22 seat part

[0091] 23 seat substructure

[0092] 24 armrest attachment

[0093] 25 first rocker

[0094] 26 second rocker

[0095] 27 armrest support

[0096] 28 Bowden cable guide

[0097] 29 hole

[0098] 30 Bowden cable recess

[0099] 31 spring steel sheet/spring steel

[0100] 32 locking element support

[0101] 33 widening portion

[0102] 34 widening surface

[0103] 35 bevel

[0104] 36 rivet connection

[0105] 37 second opening

[0106] 38 armrest part connection

[0107] 39 barrel nipple

[0108] 40 first element

[0109] 41 second element

[0110] 42 end stop

[0111] 43 sheet element

[0112] 44 front region of armrest device

[0113] 45 third opening

[0114] V adjustment direction

[0115] H height direction

[0116] B width direction