ARMREST

Abstract

The invention relates to an arm rest, in particular for a vehicle seat, comprising a support arm (12), which can be pivoted about a pivot axis (al) between at least one use position and at least one non-use position, and which by means of a locking device (19) that can be moved between a locking position and a release position can be locked in at least one position. First retaining means (21) are assigned to the support arm (12), which can releasably be brought into engagement with second retaining means (22) that are connected to the vehicle structure, in order to lock the movement of the support arm (12) in at least one direction (u2) and in at least one locking position. The invention is characterized in that the locking device (19) comprises at least one lever (13) that interacts with the support arm (12), which relative to the support arm (12) is movably mounted, wherein the lever (13) is provided with the first retaining means.

Claims

1. An armrest for a vehicle seat, the armrest comprising: a support arm pivotal about a pivot axis between at least one use position and at least one non-use position; latch operatively engaging the support arm for latching same in at least one position in which the arm is movable between a locking position and a release position; a first latch assembly on the support arm; a second latch assembly engageable with the first latch assembly and connected to the vehicle structure in order to block pivoting of the support arm in at least one direction and lock same in at least one locked position; and at least one lever in the latch that cooperates with the support arm and is mounted in a manner allowing movement relative to the support arm, the lever carrying the first latch assembly.

2. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein a pivot pivotally supports the lever (13).

3. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein pivoting of the support arm and pivoting of the lever are coupled in at least one rotary angular range of the support arm.

4. The armrest according to claim 1, further comprising: a stop limiting pivoting of the lever.

5. The armrest according to claim 1, further comprising: a stop limiting pivoting of the support arm.

6. The armrest according to claim 1, further comprising: a stop limiting pivoting of the support arm relative to the lever in at least one pivot direction of the support arm.

7. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein the first latch assembly or the second latch assembly is formed by a tooth structure having retaining surfaces.

8. The armrest according to claim 1, wherein the second latch assembly has a locking element mounted in a manner allowing movement.

9. The armrest according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller for moving the first latch assembly or the second latch assembly out of engagement or into engagement according to their relative position.

10. The armrest according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory device movable between a holding position and a freeing position, the lever being blocked in the holding position in the selected locking position, the lever not being blocked in the freeing position.

11. The armrest according to claim 10, wherein the memory device comprises a controller that holds the memory device in the locking position after actuation until the support arm has executed a predetermined movement process.

Description

[0026] Further advantages of the invention will be apparent from an embodiment shown in the schematic figures in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a side view of the armrest according to the invention in which a support arm is in an approximately horizontal use position and a memory device is in the freeing position,

[0028] FIG. 2, like FIG. 1, is a side view of the armrest in which a lever of the latch and a retaining arm of the memory device are not illustrated for clarity of view,

[0029] FIG. 3 is a detail view taken of the structure shown at III in FIG. 2,

[0030] FIG. 4 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm in the uppermost use position,

[0031] FIG. 5 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm in a position pivoted relative to that of FIG. 4 in a direction u1 and the latch in the release position,

[0032] FIG. 6 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm in a position pivoted in the direction u1 relative to that of FIG. 5, and the lever resting on a first stop,

[0033] FIG. 7 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm in a position pivoted relative to that of FIG. 6 in the direction u1,

[0034] FIG. 8 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm pivoted relative to that of FIG. 7 in the direction u1 into an upper end position,

[0035] FIG. 9 is a side view of the armrest with the support arm in the position of FIG. 1 and the memory device in the holding position,

[0036] FIG. 10 is a side view of the armrest in which the support arm is in the upper end position and the memory device is in the holding position, and

[0037] FIG. 11 is a section taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 1.

[0038] The armrest as a whole is indicated in the figures at 10. Like reference numbers in the different figures refer to the same parts, even if lower-case letters are added or omitted.

[0039] The armrest 10 is part of a vehicle and comprises a base 11 fixed to the vehicle, a support arm 12, and a lever arm 13. An arm support is fixed to the support arm 12 in a manner not shown, such that the arm of a vehicle occupant can be supported on an upper surface SO of the support arm 12. The support arm 12 is pivotal on the base 11 about a pivot axis a.sub.1 in directions u.sub.1 and u.sub.2, and forms with the base 11 a pivot joint G.sub.1. The lever arm 13 is pivotal on the support arm 12 about a pivot axis a.sub.2 in directions v.sub.1 and v.sub.2, and forms with the support arm 12 a pivot joint G2. The pivot axes a.sub.1 and a.sub.2 are spaced from each other.

[0040] Pivoting of the lever 13 is limited relative to the base 11 by a first stop 14 fixed to the base 11. If an outer edge 16 of the lever arm 13 engages the first stop 14, the lever arm 13 has reached one end position. Pivoting of the support arm 12 in the upward direction u.sub.1 relative to the base 11 is limited by a second stop 15. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, a stop formation 17 of the support arm 12 lies against the second stop 15. Pivoting of the support arm 12 could also be limited in the downward direction u.sub.2 relative to the base 11 by a stop in an alternative unillustrated embodiment.

[0041] In the upper end position, a radially projecting region 46 of the support arm 12 engages a spring 42, thereby stably holding the support arm 12 in the upper end position. By overcoming the force of the lock spring 42, the support arm 12 can be pivoted in the direction u.sub.2.

[0042] Moreover, pivoting of the lever arm 13 is restricted relative to the support arm 12 by a limiting structure 18 formed here by third stops 27a and 27b on or attached to the lever arm 13. The third stops 27a and get 27b cooperate with counter-stop formations 29a and 29b of the support arm 12. In this way, the lever arm 13 can only move relative to the support arm 12 in a limited range of an angle a formed between a centerline m.sub.1 of the support arm 12 and a centerline m.sub.2 of the lever 13. The minimum angle α.sub.min—e.g. approximately a right angle—is shown in FIG. 1. In it, the support arm 12 is braced against the lever arm 13 in the downward direction u.sub.2. The lever arm 13 is biased in the outward direction v.sub.1 by a tension spring 28 secured between the lever arm 13 and to the base 11.

[0043] A latch 19 can move between a locking position and a release position to lock the support arm 12 in different positions. The latch 19 forms a one-way coupling that, when in the locked position (see, for example FIGS. 1 and 4), allows pivoting of the support arm 12 out of the respective position in the upward direction u.sub.1, but prohibits pivoting in the direction u.sub.2. The latch comprises a lock arm 20, the lever arm 13, first latch assembly 21 (see FIG. 11), which here are a pin 23, and second latch assembly 22, which here are formed by sawtooth notches 24a, 24b 24c and 24d of the lock arm 20. The pin 23 is fixed on the lever arm 13. It projects from an inner face 35 of the lever arm 13.

[0044] The lock arm 20 pivots on the base 11 about a pivot axis a.sub.3 in directions w.sub.1 and w.sub.2. The lock arm 20 is biased in the pivot direction w.sub.2 by an unillustrated spring. The notches 24a to 24d each have a steep flank 33 and a shallow flank 34. The steep flank 33 blocks, in the locking position of the latch, movement of the lever 13 in the inward direction v.sub.2, while the shallow flank allows 34 movement of the lever 13 in the outward direction v.sub.1. In this manner, the latch acts as a one-way coupling as long as the pin 23 is engaged with the second latch assembly 22. The pin 23 can be disengaged from the second latch assembly 22 by pivoting the locking arm 20 in the upward direction w.sub.1 into the position shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the second latch assembly is in the release position.

[0045] A control pin 25 carried on the lever arm 13 (see FIG. 11) projects from the inner face 35 of the lever arm 13 and engages a control structure 26 of the lock arm 20 (see FIG. 2). The control pin 25 is movable in directions y.sub.1 and y.sub.2, and is spring-loaded in the direction y.sub.1 into contact with the control structure 26. If the support arm 12 is in the lowest lower end position, the pin 23 is engaged in the recess 24a and the control pin 25, in position P.sub.1 (see FIG. 2), is in contact with an outer face 38 of the locking arm 20. If the support arm 12 is pivoted upward in the direction u.sub.1, the lever arm 13 also moves in the upward direction u.sub.1 because the spring 28 biases the lever arm 13 in this direction u.sub.1. The pin 23 is moved in this case with ratcheting via the second latch assembly 22. The control pin 25 moves over a ramp 37 onto an outer face 44 above the outer surface 38. When the pin 23 is in the recess 24d, the control pin is in the position P.sub.2. Further movement of the support arm 12 in the direction u.sub.1 (see FIG. 5), moves the lever arm 13 in the direction v.sub.1 until it comes to rest against the first stop 14 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0046] The control pin 25 in this case engages a guide edge 39. Movement of the control pin 25 in the outward direction v.sub.1 pivots the lock arm 20 in the upward direction w.sub.1 until the control pin 25 comes to rest on an outer face 40. When the lever arm 13 is in contact with the first stop 14, the control pin 15 is in position P.sub.3 in contact with the outer face 40 and with a guide edge 41 extending transversely of the outer face 40. Due to contact of the control pin 25 with the guide edge 41, the lock arm 20 cannot pivot back in the downward direction w.sub.2, and the pin 23 is kept out of engagement with the second latch assembly 22. The latch 19 is then in the release position.

[0047] On downward movement of the support arm 12 in the direction u.sub.2, the lever arm 13 is entrained via the third stops 27a and 27b and pivoted against the force of the spring 28 in the inward direction v.sub.2. The control pin 25 in this case moves along the guide edge 41. The control pin 25 again engages the outer surface 38 at point P.sub.4 via a ramp 43. Shortly before reaching the lower end position of the support arm 12, the control pin 25 moves out of contact with the guide edge 41 so that the lock arm 20 can pivot in the direction w.sub.2 and the pin 23 engages the recess 24a of the second latch assembly 22 and the control pin 25 moves into the position P.sub.1. The latch 19 is then in the locked position.

[0048] The support arm 12 and the lever arm 13 have, when the support arm 12 is pivoted in the direction u.sub.1, the same relative position to each other until the lever arm 13 engages against the first stop 14. On further upward movement of the support arm 12 in the direction u.sub.1, the relative position between the support arm 12 and lever arm 13 changes such that the angle a increases. The support arm 12 can, as mentioned above, be moved in the direction u.sub.1 into the upper end position in which the stop formation 17 lies against the second stop 15 (see FIG. 8). The support arm 12 can be moved out of the upper end position in the direction u.sub.2 directly into the lowermost end position when the memory function is not activated as explained below.

[0049] The armrest includes a memory device 30 movable between a holding position and a freeing position. The memory device can be actuated by an unillustrated handle. The unillustrated handle is connected in a manner not shown to a slider 31 that can move in the directions r.sub.1 and r.sub.2 between an upper position shown in FIG. 1 and a lower position shown in FIG. 9. In the freeing position, the slider is in the upper position, and in the holding position the slider is in the lower position. The slider 31 extends along the central axis m.sub.2 of the lever arm 13 and comprises a first region 45a that moves on the inner arm face 35 and a second region 45b that is on an outer arm face 36. The regions 45a and 45b are connected to each other and therefore move jointly in the same direction r.sub.1 or r.sub.2.

[0050] In the non-actuated position of the memory device 30, the slider 31 assumes the upper position in FIG. 1. In the lower actuated position of the memory device 30, the slider 31 is in the position in FIG. 9. Actuation of the memory device 30 moves the slider 31 upward in the direction r.sub.1. A retaining arm 47 pivotal in the directions w.sub.1 and w.sub.2 about the pivot axis a.sub.3 is spring-loaded in the upward direction w.sub.1. If the slider 31 is moved from the upper position to the lower position, the second region 45b of the slider 31 pivots the retaining arm 47 downward against the spring force in the direction w.sub.2.

[0051] In this case, the retaining arm 47 is moved into engagement with a pin 48 fixed to the lower arm end 49 on the outer face 36 of the lever arm 13 and holds the lever arm 13 in its set lower end position. The retaining arm 31 has a plurality of notches 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d each forming a retaining surface 51. If one of the notches 50a to 50d is in engagement with the pin 48, the retaining surface 51 limits the degree of pivotal freedom of the lever arm 13, such that a relative movement between the lever arm 13 and the support arm 12 can occur. When the memory device 30 is actuated, the support arm 12 can therefore move relative to the lever arm 13, for example such that the pivot angle a increases.

[0052] A controller 52 of the memory device 30 holds the retaining arm 47 by the slider 31 in the actuated position. The support arm 12 can then be moved into the upper position without the pin 23 being moved out of the respective recess 24a, 24b, 24c or 24d. The memory device 30 remains in the locked lower position until the support arm 12 is pivoted by a predetermined angle a in the direction u.sub.1, and back in the direction u.sub.2 toward the starting position. Thereafter, the memory device 30 can automatically move into the unactuated position such that the slider 31 moves in the direction r.sub.2 and releases the retaining arm 47, and it can pivot in the direction w.sub.1 out of engagement with the pin 23 under the force of its spring.

[0053] The controller 52 includes an actuating pin 53—for example fixed to an upper end 55 of the first region 45 and urged by a spring in the direction y in contact with a cam formation 54 fixed to the support arm 12. The cam formation 54 is shown in FIG. 2. If the memory device 30 is not actuated, the actuating pin 53 stays in the upper position shown in FIG. 2. If the support element 12 is approximately in the horizontal position as in FIG. 1, then the pin 23 is in the second recess 24b and the actuating pin 53 is in position P.sub.5 relative to the cam formation 54.

[0054] The actuation of the memory device 30 has the result that the slider 31 moves radially in the direction r.sub.1. The actuating pin 53 is moved in this case from a first surface 56 of the cam formation 54 onto a second surface 57 and into position P.sub.6 that has a lower level than the first surface 56 and is separated by a guide surface 58 from the first surface 56. The guide surface 58 is arranged transverse to the second surface 57. The guide surface 58 forms a contact surface that can no longer be passed by the actuating pin 53 in the direction r.sub.2. The slider 31 is thus held in the lower position.

[0055] Only when the support arm 12 is pivoted with the cam formation 54 by a predetermined angular spacing in the direction u.sub.1 does a ramp 59 of the cam formation 54 move in front of the actuating pin 53 in such a manner that it can move back in the direction r.sub.2 onto the first surface 56 until it collides with a guide surface 60 in the shape of a circular arc.

[0056] The guide surface 60 prevents movement of the memory device into the unactuated position until the support arm 12 has reached its starting position relative to the lever arm 13, in which the memory device 30 has been actuated. Then, the lock pin 53 can move left past the guide surface 60 in the direction r.sub.2 such that the slider 31 connected to the actuating pin 53 also moves back in the direction r.sub.2 into the unactuated position. The retaining arm 20 is now moved out of engagement with the control pin by the spring, not shown, in the direction u.sub.1. This has the consequence that the lever arm 13 once more moves in the direction v.sub.1 until coming to lie against the first stop 14, if the support arm 12 is pivoted in the direction u.sub.1.