EP1907236A1

EP1907236A1 - Adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1907236A1
Application number: EP06722847A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fritz Wegener; Peter Biecker; Ulf Plettrichs
Original assignee: HS Genion GmbH
Current assignee: Paragon Movasys GmbH
Priority date: 2005-05-09
Filing date: 2006-05-08
Publication date: 2008-04-09
Also published as: WO2006119741A1; DE102005021310A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle, with an armrest device (2), the armrest device (2) having an elongate spatial shape, extending in a longitudinal direction (3) laterally next to the occupant and, in a first end region (4), being mounted such that it can pivot upwards and downwards relative to the occupant about a pivot axis (10) transverse to the longitudinal extent of the armrest device (2), and being operatively connected to at least one driving device (14) for pivoting the armrest device (2) about the pivot axis (10), the pivot axis (10) being arranged at an inclination with respect to a horizontal direction (9), so that, when pivoting about the pivot axis (10), the armrest device (2) can also be moved in a transverse direction (9) towards the occupant or away from him.

Description

Adjustable Amαauflage for an occupant of a vehicle

The invention relates to an adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic armrest is known from DE 100 60 857 Al. Herein an armrest of a motor vehicle door is disclosed, which extends around a vehicle transverse direction

Swivel axis driven, is pivotally mounted. The pivot axis is arranged with respect to the armrest at one of its end portions. This results in the pivoting of the armrest about the pivot axis an adjustment of the armrest in a vertical direction. It is disadvantageous that the armrest is adjustable only in the vertical direction. An adjustment or adjustability of the armrest in a vehicle transverse direction is not possible here.

Furthermore, from this document, an adjusting mechanism for an armrest is known, in which the armrest is pivotable about an armrest in the longitudinal direction, which corresponds approximately to the vehicle longitudinal direction. By pivoting the armrest about the pivot axis which is eccentric with respect to the armrest, a height adjustment of the armrest is possible. Due to the small extent of an armrest in the vehicle transverse direction, a rotation about its longitudinal axis over a large angular range is required for a height adjustment of such an armrest. This adversely affects the visual appearance of a door inside because of the greatly different arrangement possibilities of the armrest. From DE 41 35 279 Al an adjustable armrest for the door of a motor vehicle is known, which is adjustable both in their height and in their width. The adjustability in height and in width via displacements of the armrest or portions of the armrest in linear guides in the vertical and horizontal directions, wherein the drive armrest in the horizontal and vertical direction, a complicated gear / rack drive is provided. In this adjustable armrest is a disadvantage that a large number of guide elements and drive elements is necessary, which greatly increases the construction cost and complicates the structure. In unfavorable space conditions, it is often not possible to accommodate such a complex armrest in the area of a vehicle door.

From DE 40 02 242 Al a height-adjustable armrest is known, which is linearly displaceable via vertical guides with respect to a vertical axis. The linear guides may be inclined upward toward the vehicle interior, so that when adjusting the height of the armrest, an adjustment of the armrest position in the vehicle transverse direction takes place. The armrest is hinged at its front end with a door handle. In this height-adjustable armrest is disadvantageous that the structure is complicated and expensive. In addition, the vertical guides must be made very stable, so that chattering is avoided when adjusting the armrest. Furthermore, it is costly, the linear guides in the areas where the armrest is currently not, z. B. visually hide over sliding panels. This additionally increases the construction and construction costs.

From DE 40 04 484 a vehicle door is known, which has an armrest, which for a downward in the door Covering filing box forms a cover. The armrest is adjustable by means of vertical guides in height and designed to be foldable about a longitudinal axis of the armrest, so that the armrest releases a filling opening of the storage box. The armrest can be slid along horizontally extending guide rails to the occupant of a vehicle. By folding the armrest about its longitudinal axis, a displacement of a contact surface of the armrest with the arm of the occupant in the vertical and lateral direction is possible. In this embodiment, it is disadvantageous that in the unfolded state another side surface of the armrest comes into contact with the arm of the occupant than in the closed state, so that the upholstery and thus production costs for such an armrest are high.

From DE 201 07 992 Ul a vehicle door with an armrest is known, wherein the armrest is designed to be adjustable only in its vertical direction.

The object of the invention is to provide an adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle, which is designed to be adjustable both in its altitude and in terms of their lateral distance relative to an occupant and is also simple, with few parts and thus formed low cost.

In addition, the adjustable armrest despite their adjustability, a high rigidity and a high load capacity in each operating position, in particular a high holding force in a rest position, have. Another object of the invention is to form the armrest modular for use in a vehicle door or vehicle side wall, wherein Tolerances are minimized. Furthermore, a high adjustment force in the adjustment of the armrest under load (supporting an occupant on the armrest) should be achieved.

This object is achieved with an adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

By providing an inclination of the pivot axis of an arm support device of the arm rest according to the invention relative to a horizontal is achieved with little effort that the Armauflageeinrichtung is adjustable relative to the occupant both in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction. The Armauflageeinrichtung is thus movable in a tilted plane to the vertical plane, wherein the pivot plane is formed along the vertical from bottom to top of the occupant tilted. The pivoting plane is perpendicular to the pivot axis.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the pivot axis is arranged stationary with respect to a vehicle or a vehicle door. This has the advantage that the overall rigidity of the armrest with respect to the vehicle or the vehicle door is increased.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the armrest according to the invention as a drive means on a lifting device. Thus, it is possible in a simple manner to adjust by means of only one drive means an adjustability of the Armauflageeinrichtung in a vertical and a lateral direction relative to the occupant. According to a further preferred embodiment, the lifting device is designed as a motor driven by an intermediate gear spindle. This has the advantage that the lifting device is self-locking in any operating position and thus additional locking elements for maintaining the Armauflageeinrichtung in a rest position are not necessary. Furthermore, such a lifting device has high actuating forces at a low engine torque, so that the Armauflageeinrichtung is reliably adjustable even under load.

Further advantageous embodiments are specified in further subclaims. In the following the invention will be explained by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Figure 1: a perspective view of an armrest according to the invention in an overall view;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the armrest according to the invention. 1 in the region of a drive device in a first position (I) and a relative to the first position (I) raised and moved towards the occupant second position (II) (dashed);

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the armrest according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in the region of a pivot axis;

Figure 4 is a perspective detail view of the drive means of the armrest according to the invention according to Figure 1;

Figure 5: another perspective view of the drive means of the armrest according to the invention according to Figure 1 with an exposed spindle. An armrest 1 according to the invention (FIGS. 1 to 5) for an occupant of a vehicle has an armrest device 2, which has an elongated spatial form in a longitudinal direction 3 (X-direction). The Armauflägeeinrichtung 2 has a first end portion 4 and a second end portion 5 and has a in a vertical direction 6 (Z-direction) facing top 7 and a, z. B. to an occupant (not shown) facing side surface 8. The side surface 8 has in a transverse direction 9 (Y-direction). In the installed state of the armrest 1, the longitudinal direction 3 is usually the vehicle longitudinal direction, the transverse direction 9, the vehicle transverse direction and the vertical direction 6, the vehicle vertical direction. Depending on the installation position of the armrest or depending on the definition of the vehicle coordinate system in a vehicle, these directions may also differ or be interchanged.

At the first end portion 4, the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 10, wherein the pivot axis 10 by means of a connecting device 11 fixed relative to a vehicle door (not shown) or stationary with respect to a vehicle (not shown) z. B. is set in the range of a side wall.

The armrest device 2 has a support carrier 12, which extends from the first end region 4 to the second end region 5. At least partially, preferably in the second end region 5, the support support 12 has a cushioning element 13. The second end region 5 is assigned a drive device 14, which is connected to the support support 12 and to a drive console 16 on the one hand. The drive console 16 has fasteners 17 which the drive console 16 fixed z. B. with a driving door or a body side wall of a vehicle is connected.

The pivot axis 10 is arranged in the first end region 4 of the Armauflage- device 2 in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal extension of the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 and is inclined relative to the horizontal direction 9 and closes with the horizontal direction an angle α. The pivot axis 10 is the longitudinal axis of a hinge pin 18 which is fixedly connected to the connecting device 11. On the hinge pin 18 of the bearing support 12 is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis 10 by means of a joint sleeve 19 and plain bearing bushing 191. The Armauflageeinrichtung 2 is thus movable in a pivot plane S. The pivoting plane S is arranged inclined in its course from bottom to top towards the occupant. When pivoting the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 this has both a movement component in the vertical direction 6 and a movement component in the horizontal direction 9. When pivoting the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 upwards thus follows also a movement of the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 in the transverse direction 9 towards the occupant and vice versa.

The drive console 16 has a console plate 20, which is arranged inclined in the vehicle longitudinal direction 3 approximately parallel to this and in the vehicle transverse direction 9 relative to the horizontal by an angle ß. The angles α and β of the axis of rotation 10 or of the console plate 20 are preferably chosen to be the same. If this is not possible for reasons of space, the angle α and ß can also be chosen differently large. For this case sits on the console plate 20 a Wippkonsole 21st The rocker bracket 21 has a first console half 22 and a second console half 23, which are pivotally connected to each other about a Wippachse 24, articulated. The first console half 22 communicates with the console plate 20 in connection. The second console half 23 is connected to the drive device 14 in connection. The drive device 14 is designed as a lifting drive device with a motor 25 which is connected via an intermediate gear 26 with a lifting spindle 27 in operative connection. At the free end of the lifting spindle 27, this is articulated with the support bracket 12 in connection. The articulated connection via a bearing bracket 28, which is attached to the bottom of the support beam 12. The lifting spindle 27 has for this purpose at the free end a bearing fork 29, which is connected by means of a bearing pin 30 with the bearing bracket 28.

The rocker bracket 21 and the bearing of the lifting spindle 27 with respect to the bearing bracket 28 is formed in the illustrated embodiment according to Figures 1 to 5 by only one axis hinged. However, according to a further embodiment, the articulated connections can also be gimbaled, ie. H. be connected by means of a joint device with two joint axes. It is essential that both the mounting of the lifting spindle 27 with respect to the bearing bracket 28 and the mounting of the rocker bracket 21 are formed such that a reaction torque about a longitudinal axis of the lifting spindle 27 can be supported.

The lifting spindle 27 can be driven in a displaceable manner along its longitudinal axis by means of the electric motor 25 via the intermediate gear 26. If the lifting spindle 27 is extended along its stroke direction 301, this causes a movement of the arm support device 2 in the direction of an adjustment direction 31 inclined to the vertical direction 6. The adjustment direction 31 therefore has a component in the direction of the vertical direction 6 (Z direction). Direction) and a component in the transverse direction 9 (Y-direction), so that the armrest device 2 is adjustable with respect to an occupant both in terms of height and in terms of the lateral distance to the occupant. This is achieved because the arm rest device 2 is inclined about the pivot axis 10 inclined to the horizontal direction 9, whereby the arm rest device 2 executes an inclined movement in the adjustment direction 31 (compare FIGS.

The armrest 1 is arranged in particular in the region of a vehicle interior trim 32, which is located adjacent to the vehicle occupant. The inner lining 32 has suitable openings 33 or cutouts 34, so that a free mobility of the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 relative to Innenverklei- düng 32 is possible. The Armauflageeinrichtung 2 is formed such that the openings 33 and free cuts 34 are covered or covered by the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 in the assembled state.

Appropriately, the rocker bracket 21 with the console plate 20 and the bearing bracket 28 with the support beam 12 via elastic elements, for. B. rubber buffer 35 acoustically decoupled connected. The rubber buffer 35 allow in addition to the acoustic decoupling an angle compensation, which may be necessary because of the pivotal movement of the armrest 2 about the pivot axis 10 both between the bearing bracket 28 and the support bracket 12 and between the Wippkonsole 21 and the console plate 20. This measure avoids tension in the adjustment of the Armauflageeinrichtung. 2

Adjacent to Wippkonsole 21 is seated on the console panel 20, a Haltedom 40, with a guide rod 41 is held, with the guide rod 41 from the stop edom ^'40 upwardly ER- stretches. The guide rod 41 cooperates with a guide sleeve (not shown), which is pivotally mounted in a guide dome 42 of the Armauflageträgers 12 by means of bearing pins 43, together. The bearing pin 43 and the guide sleeve are preferably formed in one piece. The guide rod 41 serves to relieve the spindle drive of forces in the transverse direction 9, the z. B. may occur when a vehicle door is tightened or opened with a arranged on the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 door handle. This additional guidance of the armrest device 2 via the guide rod 41 is optional, ie not absolutely necessary for the function of the armrest 1 according to the invention, and is particularly suitable for high door opening and closing forces as well as for high requirements with regard to the transverse rigidity of the arm supports 1 at. In addition, the spindle drive is kept free of transverse forces by this measure.

In the case of the armrest according to the invention, it is of particular advantage that an adjustment of the armrest device 2 both in the height and in the lateral direction relative to the occupant is achieved by the inclined pivot axis 10. The arrangement of the pivot axis 10 at one end in conjunction with a connection of the drive means 14 at the other end of the armrest 12 allows a simple and rigid construction on. The spindle drive described generates high lifting forces at low engine torques and self-locking of the spindle drive and the intermediate gear 26, a sufficient holding force with the drive off. If the drive device allows only a linear movement in the direction of movement 301, it is connected at both ends to the drive console 16 or the vehicle and the armrest device 2 by means of elastic elements 35, so that an angle compensation is provided. Furthermore, the connection between the lifting spindle 27 and the bearing fork 29 is preferably designed as a fixed connection, so that a support of the reaction torque about the longitudinal axis of the lifting spindle 27 with respect to the armrest 2 can be supported.

The connection of the drive by means of elastic elements, for. B. rubber buffers also provides a decoupling of Antriebsgeräu- see the armrest and the vehicle.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the connection device 11 and the drive console 16 are integrally formed. As a result, in particular tolerances are reduced and adjustment work is reduced. Such a one-piece design of the drive console 16 with the connection device 11 may also be designed as a so-called subframe, with additional subassemblies of a vehicle door, for example, a subframe, possibly being attached to this subframe. B. a window can be arranged. In this case, it is of particular advantage that the overall system is combined to form a functional unit such that, apart from the attachment points and the electrical connection, no further interfaces to the vehicle or to a vehicle door are required. Thus, a functional module is available in a simple manner.

The elastic elements bring about the angle compensation an approximation of the rear end of the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 to the circular movement of this end about the pivot axis 10. Ferner ner allow the articulated connections of the drive means 14 both to the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 and with respect to the vehicle, ie the bearing bracket 16, the lifting drive device 14 at a different angle than the normal to arrange the pivot axis 10 of the Armauflageeinrichtung 2 in the room. This means that depending on space availability, the stroke direction 301 of the lifting spindle 27 does not necessarily have to run parallel to the adjustment direction 31 of the armrest device 2. This stroke direction 301 can thus also include an angle with the adjustment direction 31. This allows a greater freedom in design of the motor 25 together with the intermediate gear 26 relative to the Armauflageeinrichtung second

It has been found that the ergonomic requirements relating to the positioning of the armrest device 2 in the vehicle can be met particularly well when the first end region 4 is the front end region in the vehicle longitudinal direction (X direction) and the second, opposite end region 4 of the arm rest device 2 in FIG Vehicle longitudinal direction points to the rear. Depending on space requirements, however, the end regions can also be arranged reversed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 armrest 2 armrest device

3 longitudinal direction

4 first end area

5 second end region

6 vertical direction 7 top side

8 side surface

9 transverse direction

10 pivot axis

11 Connecting device 12 support carrier

13 upholstery element

14 drive device

16 drive console

17 Fastening device 18 hinge pin

19 joint sleeve

191 spherical bearing bushing

20 console plate 21 rocker console 22 first console half

23 second half of the console

24 rocking axis

25 electric motor

26 intermediate gear 27 lifting spindle

28 warehouse console

29 storage fork

30 bearing bolts 301 stroke direction

31 adjustment direction

32 interior trim

35 elastic elements 40 Haltedom

41 guide rod

42 guide pin 43 bearing pin

5 swivel plane I first position

II second position

Claims

claims

An adjustable armrest for an occupant of a vehicle having an armrest (2), the armrest (2) having an elongated spatial shape extending laterally adjacent to the occupant in a longitudinal direction (3) and a first end portion (4) about a pivot axis (10) is mounted transversely to the longitudinal extent of the Armauflagereinrichtung (2) relative to the occupant up and down pivotally and with at least one drive means (14) for pivoting the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) about the pivot axis (10) in operative connection, characterized in that the Pivot axis (10) inclined to a horizontal direction (9) is arranged, so that the support means (2) when pivoting about the pivot axis (10) in a transverse direction (9) to the occupant or away from it.

2. Armrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (10) is arranged stationary with respect to the vehicle or a vehicle door.

3. Armrest according to claim 1 and / or 2, that the drive means (14) is a lifting device (14), which is in the region of a second end region (5) of the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) coupled thereto.

4. Armrest according to Annspruch 3, characterized in that the lifting device (14) is a with a motor (25) driven spindle drive, which has a lifting spindle (27) and an intermediate gear (26).

5. Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end region (4) of the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) in a vehicle longitudinal direction

(3) (X direction) points forward.

6. Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (14) by means of elastic compensating elements (35) with a vehicle-fixed or vehicle door fixed drive console (16) is connected.

7. Arm support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (14) via elastic compensation elements (35) with the ArmaufIa- ge device (2) is in communication.

8. Arm support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (14) at least about an axis articulated by means of a Wippkonsole (21) or a universal joint with the drive bracket (16) is coupled.

9. Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (14) is articulated at least about an axis articulated or with a universal joint with the Armauflageeinrichtung (2).

10. Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (14) is designed to be self-locking for supporting the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) in a rest position.

11. Armrest according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) has a support support (12) which carries a cushion member (13).

12. Arm rest after. one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Armauflageeinrichtung (2) recesses (33, 34) of a vehicle interior trim (32) covered or covered visible gap.