GB2288325A

GB2288325A - Improved armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car

Info

Publication number: GB2288325A
Application number: GB9406707A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juan Retolaza Ibarguengoitia
Original assignee: Aplicaciones Industriales de Cromoduro SA
Current assignee: Aplicaciones Industriales de Cromoduro SA
Priority date: 1994-04-05
Filing date: 1994-04-05
Publication date: 1995-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-05
Also published as: GB2288325B; FR2737688A3; FR2737688B3; GB9406707D0

Abstract

The armrest has a rigid core (1) and is provided with a single unit (4) incorporating means, such as screw (2), to fix the armrest to the panel of a door. The unit comprises a cylindrical cap, closed at one end (5) and covering the head (3) of the fixing screw, while the other end of the cap allows the passage of the screw and is clipped to the core (1) by introducing the end of the screw into it. On assembly of the armrest to a door, the closed end of the cap is broken by a screwdriver and the screw is then screwed into a hole in the door panel. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED ARMREST FOR THE DOOR OF A VEHICLE SUCH AS A CAR The invention relates to an improved armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car.

Prior armrests such as these, usually used in the car industry are padded and with a vinyl exterior coating imitating leather.

Conventionally, such an armrest is used in cars as an interior projecting element on the interior panel of the door so that the user can lean the elbow when the car is running.

The supporting elements are often formed by a rigid core, usually metallic injected, although it can also be made of rigid plastic following the present tendency of manufacturers to lighten the weight of the vehicles in order to reduce fuel consumption. This core of the armrest can have the shape of an irregular "U" with the wings in a horizontal position, in use.

The upper wing, which is longer than the other one, forms the element of direct support of the elbow, while the lower wing is placed onto the vertical structure of the panel of the door as a reinforcement element.

The "U" shaped part which joins both the wings is arranged obliquely and is perforated to introduce a screw that fixes the general profile of the armrest to the panel of the door.

Some prolongations of the wings of the "U", arranged frontally to the panel, form the means of fixation, spacing and adjustment previous to the introduction of the screw in the armrest.

The rest of the armrest consists of an exterior coating, made of flexible plastic, and an intermediate element formed by foam padding, formed "in-situ" by the injection of components, usually polyurethane, covering the rigid insert totally or partially.

Longitudinally, the conventional armrest has two or three relatively large holes, in line in the case of two and arranged any other way in the case of three, which will serve for the fixation of the armrest to the panel of the door by means of a screw.

The diameter of these holes, arranged perpendicularly or obliquely to the base for the armrest in the door, is wide enough to allow the passage of the head of the screw, which usually has a 13mm diameter, up to the rigid insert where the head will rest, and will be smaller up to the panel of the door, allowing the passage of the threaded screw.

The 13mm diameter of the hole cannot be reduced because this would imply the use of screws of smaller section and less strength, thus reducing the solidity of the fixation of the armrest to the door.

On the other hand, it would be convenient to reduce the diameter of the hole for aesthetic reasons.

The hole must have a big diameter because it must allow the passage of the head of the fixing screw.

There are also some practical reasons, like the need to provide the production line with armrests and fixing screws separately, with the resulting increase in the operation time, logistic difficulties and, in short, increase in production time and costs.

It is an object of the invention to seek to provide a satisfactory solution to all these aesthetic, practical and economic problems by simple means that do not affect the production line, rather making the operation easier.

According to the invention, there is provided an armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car, comprising a body having a substantially rigid core, and an integral device secured to the core and incorporating means to secure the armrest to a panel of a door on insertion of a suitable tool.

Using the invention, it is possible to reduce the size of the hole of the armrest considerably, and to eliminate the need to provide the screws and the armrests in parallel, since both elements (armrest and screw) are provided at the same time.

The space is thus reduced to the size of the screwdriver introduced in the head of the screw to fix it to the panel.

A piece may be provided for this purpose, in the form of a cap, cylindrical, opened at one end and closed at the other end that covers the head of the screw.

The open end of the cap may cover a length of the threaded end part of the screw.

The cap with the threaded end of the screw sticking out may be clipped to the insert of the core of the armrest, introducing the end of the screw into the hole placed orthogonally, according to the arrangement of both described above.

At the same time, the generatrix of the cylinder preferably rests on the short wing or support wing of the core of the armrest.

The closed end of the cap preferably prevents the contact of the head of the screw with the polyurethane which is injected subsequently to form the padding of the armrest.

Once the armrest has been provided to the production line, with the cap that covers the clipped screw, the closed end of the cap formed by a thin sheet is broken with the screwdriver to screw it through the insert and into the hole situated just in front on the panel of the door, thus fixing the armrest to the door.

An armrest embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a conventional armrest through one of the holes, showing the exterior coating, the rigid core or insert with the different arrangements described, and the screw in front of the big hole where it must be introduced, as well as a schematic view of the zone of the panel of the door just in front of the armrest, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of an armrest according to the invention, showing a smaller hole for the introduction of a tool such as a screwdriver, of a smaller diameter, and the cap resting on the support wing of the interior rigid body, with the screw clipped to the insert of this body and sticking out on the exterior side.

Referring to the drawings, an improved armrest embodying the invention consists of a cylindrical piece, in the form of a cap (4), open at one end and covering a head (3) of the screw (2) at the closed end (5) of the cap (4).

The open end of the cap (4), which allows passage therethrough of the screw, is clipped to the insert (1) of the armrest when introducing the end of the screw orthogonally into the hole which is in front, while the generatrix of the cylinder (4) rests on the short wing or the support wing of the armrest.

The closed end of the cap (4), formed by a thin sheet, is broken with the screwdriver and the screw is introduced through the insert (1) into the hole in the panel of the door.

Using an armrest as described herein with reference to the drawings the system of fixation of the armrest to the interior panel of the door of the car has been improved aesthetically, it is easier to install in the door and simplifies the operation in the production line, reducing the production costs considerably.

For this purpose, before injecting the conventional padding inside the coating, covering also the projecting pieces of the rigid body that forms the core of the armrest and the fixing support to the panel, a plastic cap with a screw inside is incorporated. This cylindrical cap is closed at one end so that the foam does not come into contact with the head of the screw, while it is opened at the other end so that the threaded end of the screw can stick out. This cap is clipped to the rigid insert in the adequate position.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the components of the invention can be changed, provided that the essence of the invention is not altered.

Claims

1. An armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car, comprising a body having a substantially rigid core, and an integral device secured to the core and incorporating means to secure the armrest to a panel of a door on insertion of a suitable tool.

2. An armrest according to Claim 1, comprising a padding inside a plastic coating which covers the core, made of metal or plastic, comprising a single body, which incorporates the means to fix the armrest to the panel of the door, in the form of a cap open at one end and closed at the other end, which covers the head of a screw, comprising the securing means.

3. An armrest according to Claim 2, the cap being substantially cylindrical, an open end thereof allowing the passage of the screw, by introducing the end of the screw in a hole placed in front orthogonally thereof, while the generatrix of the cylinder rests on a short wing or support wing of the core of the armrest.

4. An armrest according to Claim 3, the cap being clipped to the insert.

5. An armrest according to any preceding claim, the closed end of the cap being formed by a thin sheet which is broken by a screwdriver inserted through the insert up to the corresponding hole in the panel of the door.

6. An armrest according to any preceding claim, comprising exterior holes for the different means of fixation to the door, with a diameter reduced to the minimum for the introduction of the screws.

7. An armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A vehicle such as a car, including a door according to claim 7.

8. A door for a vehicle, including an armrest according to any preceding claim.

9. A vehicle such as a car, including a door according to Claim 8.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car, comprising an exterior plastic skin covering a rigid metallic or plastic insert incorporating the cylindrical caps to locatethe fixing bolts of the armrest to the door and all filled with a padding foam.

2. An armrest according to claim 1, the cap being substantially cylindrical, with an open end thereof allowing the passage of a metallic screw, by introducing the end of the screw at right angles into the hole which is in front, while the generatrix of the cylinder rests on a short wing or support wing of the core of the armrest.

3. An armrest according to any preceding claim, the closed end of the cap being formed by a thin plastic seal which may be broken by a screwdriver introduced through the hole.

4. An armrest according to claim 2 and 3, the cap being clipped to the rigid insert.

5. An armrest according to any preceding claim, comprising exterior holes for the fixation to the door, with a diameter reduced to a minimum to allow the use of a screwdriver.

6. An armrest for the door of a vehicle such as a car, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A door for a vehicle, including an armrest according to any preceding claim.