DE102012222983A1 - Swiveling armrest, in particular center armrest for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pivotable armrest, in particular a center armrest for a motor vehicle, the armrest being mounted on a center console of the motor vehicle via a pivot bearing. In order to create a swiveling armrest that, when a certain angle of inclination is reached, enables an inclination adjustment by means of a movement-immanent locking mechanism and does not require a sequential feedback to the starting position or basic position of the armrest, but rather the armrest can be brought back directly into the starting position, and this can also be swiveled back into the starting position immediately in the course of the inclination angle adjustment after a structurally defined angular position, it is provided according to the invention that a pivotable pawl is arranged in the area of the pivot bearing, which cooperates with a rack, and that the pawl when the armrest is pivoted remains in engagement with the rack up to a limit angle and disengages from the rack above the limit angle.

Description

The present invention relates to a pivotable armrest, in particular center armrest for a motor vehicle.

Basically, pivotable center armrests are known for a motor vehicle, which allow only a sequential adjustment of the center armrest for the driver, for example in a range of 0 ° -90 °. If the driver has swiveled the armrest to about 60 °, he must first turn it to 90 ° in order to be able to return to the starting position (here 0 °).

Furthermore, embodiments are known which allow a direct stepless clearance of the armrest with the aid of a button operation at the front end of the armrest. Here, however, there is the problem that the originally set starting position is difficult to reach again, since during the clearance no latching takes place. In this case, therefore, the armrest would have to be pivoted in connection with a button operation to the stop. The problem is that the stop does not necessarily reflect the desired starting position.

The known armrests thus complicate the handling of the driver, including the driving or operating comfort suffers.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivoting armrest, which allows a stepless tilt adjustment upon reaching a certain angle of inclination by a movement-locking mechanism and does not require sequential feedback to the initial position or basic position of the armrest, but the armrest can be returned directly to the starting position.

This object is achieved with a pivotable armrest, in particular center armrest for a motor vehicle, wherein the armrest is mounted on a pivot bearing on a center console of the motor vehicle according to the invention, that in the region of the pivot bearing a pivotable pawl is arranged, which cooperates with a rack, and that the pawl is engaged in a pivoting of the armrest to a critical angle with the rack and passes above the critical angle out of engagement with the rack.

This embodiment has the particular advantage that during the pivoting of the armrest no prescribed angular position must be locked before it can be pivoted back to the starting position, d. H. It must not be reached before the top rest of the armrest.

So if the vehicle driver, for example, while driving briefly in a storage compartment below the armrest would like to z. For example, to remove or remove an object, it is sufficient to pivot the armrest to about 60 °. The driver can now return the armrest directly to the starting position in order to operate, for example, the driver information system controller (FIS), and does not stop at the highest detent level but instead at a constructively defined comfort position. However, the vehicle driver can also freely select the angle setting by pressing a button and does not necessarily have to swivel back into the starting position.

The dependent claims contain advantageous developments and refinements of the invention.

According to an advantageous development, the rotation axis is arranged in a rear region of the armrest, and in a front region of the armrest, a button is arranged, which is connected via a coupling rod with the pawl. The button integrated into the front area of the armrest allows the armrest to be tilted according to a snap-in or snap-in principle.

Preferably, the pawl performs a pivoting movement away from the rack upon actuation of the button.

In order to achieve the movement of the latch according to the invention, a bolt element is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of the pawl, which runs along a fixed guide during pivoting of the armrest. This guide is designed so that it leaves the pawl with a pivoting of the armrest to a critical angle with the rack engaged and above the limit angle disengages the rack.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 a side view of an armrest according to the invention,

2 a longitudinal section through the armrest according to the invention 1 .

3 a further longitudinal section through the armrest according to the invention in the region of the pivot bearing, and

4 to 7 various perspective views of the armrest according to the invention.

In the figures, only the parts of interest here pivotable armrest are shown, all other elements are omitted for clarity.

1 shows a center console 1 a vehicle, in its rear area a pivoting armrest 2 wearing. For this purpose stands from the center console a support leg 3 upwards, which is a pivot bearing 4 wearing. This pivot bearing 4 provides a hinged connection between the center console 1 and the armrest 2 ago.

The entire arrangement is chosen so that when storing the right hand of the driver on the armrest in its initial position 2 one in the front area of the center console 1 arranged controller 5 can be optimally achieved for a driver information system. The operation of the controller 5 is thus appropriate ergonomically to the initial position of the armrest 2 Voted.

To the armrest 2 Adjusting the position and tilting back to the starting position immediately after turning by approx. 60 ° in the course of the tilt angle adjustment is the pivot bearing 4 or the armrest 2 formed in the manner described below.

As can be seen in particular 2 is in the front area of the armrest 2 a button 6 arranged, with a coupling rod 7 connected is. The coupling rod 7 runs in the lower part of the armrest 2 and ends in the area of the pivot bearing 4 where she with a bolt 8th connected is. The bolt 8th is part of a latch 9 that are inside the pivot bearing 4 is arranged (see. 4 ).

The handle 9 Can only on one side or - as shown in the figures - on both sides of the pivot bearing 4 be arranged in the region of its end faces.

The handle 9 has in the illustrated embodiment, two arcuate portions, which in the region of the end faces of the pivot bearing 4 are arranged and in an end region with a radially outward toothing 10 are provided. This gearing 10 Can with a curved curved rack 11 engage, which on the outer circumference of the pivot bearing 4 is arranged in the region of its end faces and has radially inwardly directed teeth.

At the other end, the pawl has 9 an axis 12 on which in the end faces of the pivot bearing 4 is stored in such a way that the pawl 9 is pivotable. In the area of one end face of the pivot bearing 4 is the latch 9 over the axis 12 extended beyond. At the end of this extended part of the latch 9 is the bolt 8th stored, which is parallel to the axis 12 extends and with the coupling rod 7 connected is.

In the field of gearing 10 has the latch 9 a bolt element 13 on, with a fixed leadership 14 , resulting in a pivoting of the armrest 2 not moved, so cooperates, that the pawl 9 at a pivoting of the armrest 2 in the in 2 indicated by a circular arrow direction to a critical angle with the rack 11 remains engaged and above the limit angle out of engagement with the rack 11 arrives.

If the driver presses the button 6 on the armrest 2 when the right arm is applied, a tensile force on the coupling rod 7 applied. Because the end of the connecting rod 7 with the bolt 8th the latch 9 is connected via the lever principle, the latch 9 raised (see also 4 ).

If then the driver in addition to the button operation, the armrest 2 pulls up, is another torque on the pivot bearing 4 generated, so that the armrest 2 can be pivoted in any angular position. This is the latch 9 moved up in a circular motion.

As a result of the interaction of bolt element 13 and leadership 14 the gearing remains 10 the latch 9 first with the rack 11 engaged so that the armrest 2 can be pivoted in a step movement. Once the latch 9 but is moved over a certain Winkelschwellwert (for example. Over 15 °), a transition from the step movement to a stepless movement, since the teeth 10 the latch 9 conditioned by the at the leadership 14 along sliding bolt element 13 out of the rack 11 is lifted.

Because the bolt element 13 the latch 9 at the lead 14 is guided on a precisely predetermined path, the driver can the armrest 2 after an opening operation (eg to reach storage objects under the armrest 2 ) immediately swing back to the original starting position, this is no button operation necessary. The bolt element 13 is about the leadership 14 towards the teeth of the rack 11 emotional. Upon reaching the previously defined threshold angle, the blade snaps 9 again automatically in the planned step (for example, 2 teeth engaged, which corresponds to a fictitious assumed absolute starting position of 10 °). Thus, the armrest 2 pivoted from their initial position and then returned directly to their original position.

The foregoing description of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and its equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

center console

2

armrest

3

Support foot

4

pivot bearing

5

controller

6

button

7

coupling rod

8th

bolt

9

pawl

10

gearing

11

rack

12

axis

13

Bolt element with spring

14

guide

Claims (5)

Pivoting armrest, in particular center armrest for a motor vehicle, wherein the armrest is mounted on a pivot bearing on a center console of the motor vehicle, characterized in that in the region of the pivot bearing ( 4 ) a pivotable pawl ( 9 ) arranged with a rack ( 11 ) and that the pawl ( 9 ) when pivoting the armrest ( 2 ) up to a critical angle with the rack ( 11 ) remains engaged and above the limit angle out of engagement with the rack ( 11 ). Pivoting armrest according to claim 1, characterized in that on the pawl ( 9 ) a bolt element ( 13 ) is arranged, which during pivoting of the armrest ( 2 ) on a fixed leadership ( 14 ) along. Pivoting armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring-loaded bolt ( 13 ) according to a defined angle of rotation of the armrest ( 2 ) is engaged and moved in an explicitly predetermined path whereby the track is designed such that the pin ( 13 ) disengages at a structurally determinable place and thereby the pawl ( 9 ) engages in the toothing. Pivoting armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation ( 4 ) in a rear area of the armrest ( 2 ) is arranged and that in a front region of the armrest ( 2 ) a button ( 6 ) is arranged, which via a coupling rod ( 7 ) with the pawl ( 9 ) connected is. Pivoting armrest according to claim 4, characterized in that the pawl ( 9 ) when the button is pressed ( 6 ) a pivoting movement away from the rack ( 11 ).

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