GB2222518A

GB2222518A - Variable-position armrest

Info

Publication number: GB2222518A
Application number: GB8919689A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oliviero Mazzoli
Original assignee: METALPLAST
Current assignee: METALPLAST
Priority date: 1988-09-09
Filing date: 1989-08-31
Publication date: 1990-03-14
Also published as: IT215916Z2; FR2636278A1; ES1011152U; IT8804915V0; DE3929704A1; DE8915585U1; GB8919689D0; ES1011152Y

Description

2222518 1 VARIABLE-POSITION ARMREST STRUCTURES The present invention

concerns a variable-position armrest structure, in particular for the driver's seat of a motor 5 vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a variable-position armrest structure which is essentially simple, easy to actuate, convenient to use and, above all, easy to install and of a relatively low cost.

According to the present invention there is provided a variable-position armrest structure pivotable about a bracket removably secured to a seat frame, the structure comprising a two part housing having co-operating hollow portions accommodating support means for the pivotal mounting of the structure about a head portion of the bracket, the bracket extending downwards from the articulated head portion and being folded back from the plane of the head portion for attachment to the seat, the support means and the articulated head portion being provided with respective locating elements co-operable with one another for locating the armrest in a selected one of a plurality of different positions.

In the accompanying drawings, by way of example only:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front interior of a motor vehicle, showing an armrest embodying the invention; Figure 2 shows, again in perspective view and on an enlarged scale, the armrest of Fig. 1, with some of its parts removed and others sectioned for the sake of greater clarity; 2 Figure 3 shows the same armrest in a transverse vertical section corresponding to the plane of articulation; and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing how the armrest is fitted to the seat of the motor vehicle.

Referring to these drawings, the variable-position armrest A is indicated as a whole by reference B (see in particular Figure 2) and is removably connectable, in a manner which will be more fully explained with referenc-e to Figure 4,,to a seat for the driver of the motor vehicle;.as positioned for use in Figure 1.

The structure of the armrest B is substantially constituted by a housing 1 comprising a base part la and a cover part Ib (see in particular Figures 2 and 3).

The rear portion of the housing 1 has a chamber 2 for accommodating the head 3a of a bracket 3 in a manner to be explained later (see Figures 2 and 3).

The housing parts la and 1b are each moulded from a thermosetting plastic material. The part la has rear slot 4 with parallel side walls 4a and 4b extending upwardly into the chamber 2 from the bottom of the housing and spaced from the corresponding rear wall as shown in Figure 2. The two walls 4a, 4b form support webs for the articulation of the aforesaid head 3a of the bracket 3.

The cover part 1b of the housing comprises a substantially flat, elongate plate lc, with a median longitudinal rib on one face, not visible in the Figure. The plate lc constitutes the core of the cover part 1b and has on its other face, opposite to the face with the median longitudinal rib, a plurality of elongate nuts 5 for 1 1 3 connection by means of screws 6 with the housing part la (see Figure 3). Such a plate or core lc is completed by a layer of plastic foam 7 on the face provided with the longitudinal median rib and the whole is covered on both sides with a flexible layer of plastic material 7a having a smooth external surface. The cover-part 1b thus constructed is in addition provided, on its terminal rear part, with a slot 4d which is co-planar with slot 4 of the housing part la (see figure 4).

The articulation of the head 3a of the bracket 3 between the webs 4a and 4b is effected by means of a small bolt 8 and associated nut 9. Elastic cup-shaped washers 10 and 10a are interposed respectively between the head of bolt 8 and the web 4b, and between the nut 9 and the web 4a (see in particular Figure 3). The web 4a is provided with an upper extension 4c (see Figure 2), to the extremity of which is fastened a pin 11 designed to co-operate with two bores 12 of the aforesaid head 3a for the desired positioning of the armrest B with respect to the bracket 3. The head 3a is also provided with an arcuate slot 13 in which is freely engaged a second small bolt 14 traversing the webs 4a and 4b and on which is screwed a corresponding retainer nut 15.

The bracket 3 thus articulated with its head portion 3a between the supporting webs 4a and 4b extends outside the housing 1 and is folded back from the plane of its head 3a for attachment to the driver's seat 16 (Figure 1) of the motor vehicle, by means of screws 17,. bushings 18 and associated nuts 19, as illustrated, for example, in Figure 4.

4

Claims

1. A variable-position armrest structure pivotable about a bracket removably secured to a seat frame, the structure comprising a two part housing having co-operating hollow portions accommodating support means for the pivotal mounting of the structure about a head portion of the bracket, the bracket extending downwards from the articulated head portion and being folded back from the plane of the head portion for attachment to the seat, the support means and the articulated head portion being provided with respective locating elements co-operable with one another for locating the armrest in a selected one of a plurality of different positions.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which each of the housing parts has a slot or recess perpendicular to the pivot axis for receiving the articulated head of the bracket, the slot in a lower of the two housing parts comprising two parallel side walls extending upwardly from the bottom of the housing and forming the said support means.

3. A structure according to claim 2 in which one of the said parallel side walls is provided with one of the said locating elements in the form of a protuberance, the locating elements in the articulated head comprising a plurality of apertures for selectively engaging the protuberance, the head being resiliently urged against the side wall.

4. A variable-position armrest structure orientable about the axis of articulation of its bracket support element removably attachable to the driver's seat of a motor vehicle, characterised in that the said armrest is constituted by a housing body comprising a housing part and a cover part; that said housing part and cover part are formed so as to accommodate within their respective hollow portions the articulation of said bracket support element so as to define in the interior of the constituent parts of said housing body a.lodging for support means for the head forming the extremity of articulation of said bracket support element which, outside the said lodging, extends downwards and is folded back outside the plane of said articulation head to be adapted for attachment to the driver's seat of the motor vehicle, that said support means are provided with coupling elements capable of co-operating with corresponding coupling elements comprised in said head for the positioning in the desired position of the said armrest.

5. A variable-position armrest structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

PubUlied 1290 atThe Patent OMcs.Stsle Houme.603.7 t krighHOburn. London WCIR4TP_ Purther copies maybe obtaluedillom MIA fttentOfncs. Siaos Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. X:mt 13FL5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques IUL St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1.87