CN111806319A

CN111806319A - Armrest for vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: CN111806319A
Application number: CN202010280758.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J.弗洛特曼; G.莱奥波尔德
Original assignee: Fischer Automotive Systems GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Fischer Automotive Systems GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-04-10
Filing date: 2020-04-10
Publication date: 2020-10-23
Also published as: DE102019109507A1

Abstract

In order to be able to lock an armrest (4) of a vehicle seat (1) in different support positions with a small angular offset, the invention proposes two latching devices (6, 7) which have a small angular offset of their latching positions.

Description

Armrest for vehicle seat

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an armrest for a vehicle seat having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Background

In motor vehicles, there are armrests for vehicle seats which in a supporting position project approximately horizontally forward as a cantilever from the side of the backrest of the vehicle seat, so that in the supporting position they lie laterally alongside the backrest and elevationally above the seat surface of the vehicle seat, so that a person who is intended to be seated in the vehicle seat can comfortably support or rest his elbows and/or forearms on the armrests. In many cases, such armrests can be swung up alongside the backrest of the vehicle seat into a non-use position.

Patent application JP2018-47869A discloses an armrest that can be locked with a latch in a supporting position and a non-use position against swinging. The latching device has a pawl which is mounted so as to be pivotable in the armrest and which moves together with the armrest or pivots together with the armrest, said pawl interacting with a catch wheel which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a side face of the backrest of the vehicle seat. The detent wheel has two latching recesses in its circumferential direction, in one of which the detent pawl can be latched into the supporting position and in the other latching recess the detent pawl can be latched into the non-use position of the armrest, and in this way the armrest is locked against pivoting.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an armrest for a vehicle seat, which has a latching position with a small angular offset of the armrest.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The armrest according to the invention is provided for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle and is preferably mounted at the side of a backrest of the vehicle seat in such a way that it projects approximately horizontally forward from the backrest in the supporting position and is located laterally alongside the backrest and elevationally above a seat surface of the vehicle seat. Spatial directions such as "front" and "horizontal" refer to the defined assembly position and use position of the vehicle seat, wherein "front" indicates such directions: in which direction the seat surface projects from the backrest. The armrest is arranged at the side of the backrest of the vehicle seat at a distance from the seat surface, such that it is located above the seat surface in height in the supporting position, when the backrest protrudes obliquely or not obliquely upward from the seat surface.

The armrest according to the invention can be swiveled into a non-use position, which can preferably be swiveled about a substantially horizontal axis upwards and/or downwards at the side of the backrest of the vehicle seat, so that the armrest in the non-use position extends in the same direction as the backrest.

According to the invention, the armrest has at least two latching devices, each of which has at least one latching position in which they hold the armrest in the supporting position against pivoting. The support positions are angularly offset relative to one another in the latching positions of the different latching devices, which hold the armrest in the support positions. The angular offset of the support position of the armrest is thus smaller than the angular offset of the latching position of the latching device. The armrest according to the invention can be snapped into a plurality of support positions, which are angularly offset with respect to one another, in order to prevent wobbling. Each latching position can be implemented securely, so that latching positions with small angular offset and stable construction can be combined.

Each latching device preferably has a plurality of latching positions which are angularly offset relative to one another, so that a corresponding number of support positions of the armrest which are angularly offset relative to one another result. At least one latching device preferably has a latching position in which it locks the armrest in the non-use position against pivoting.

The support position in which the latching position of the latching device holds the armrest is offset in particular angularly between the support positions in which the latching position of the at least one further latching device holds the armrest.

The latching device can be unlocked manually, for example, in order to be able to pivot the armrest.

One aspect of the invention provides a ratchet device as a catch device, which, like a flywheel, allows pivoting of the armrest in a first direction without unlocking, and which locks pivoting of the armrest in a second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the armrest can only be pivoted in the second direction after unlocking. Preferably, the ratchet arrangement locks the downward swing of the armrest so that the armrest can be used for support in the support position and is allowed to swing upward into a higher support position and into a non-use position without unlocking.

In particular, the armrest is arranged above the seat surface with a pivot bearing at the side of the backrest of the vehicle seat so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, in particular approximately horizontal. The latching device has latching recesses, with which one or more latching pawls cooperate, which preferably automatically engage in one or more of the latching recesses and thereby lock the armrest against pivoting, in an angularly offset manner about the pivot axis of the armrest. The detent recess is arranged in or at the armrest or in a stationary manner, and conversely the detent pawl or detents is/are arranged in or at the armrest or in a stationary manner. The latching device can have, for example, a detent wheel which is non-rotatable with the armrest or, for example, with the backrest of the vehicle seat. The detent recesses are arranged, for example, on the outer circumference or in the end face of the detent wheel, so that the detent pawl or detents enter the detent recesses radially or from the outside or from the inside or axially and at an angle to the pivot axis. The catch pawl can, for example, be pivotable or movable.

The latching recess of the at least one latching device can face the pivot axis of the armrest. In this case, the latching pawl of the associated latching device is guided out in the direction of the pivot axis, i.e. from the inside into the latching recess.

The latching recesses of the different latching devices can be arranged in the circumferential section angularly offset relative to one another with reference to the pivot axis. For example, the latching recesses of one latching device are opposite the latching recesses of the other latching device, or the latching recesses are offset relative to one another by an angle of, for example, 90 °.

All latching devices preferably have a common unlocking element.

One solution provides an unlocking element which can be pivoted about a pivot axis of the armrest. The unlocking element has an unlocking section extending in the circumferential direction, which has a slope. This means that the unlocking portion is at a greater or lesser distance from the pivot axis in the circumferential direction and/or the unlocking portion extends at an angle in the circumferential direction with respect to a radial plane of the pivot axis. The unlocking section is, for example, snail-shaped and/or spiral-shaped. The associated locking pawl rests against the unlocking portion or comes into contact with the unlocking portion when the unlocking element is pivoted in the unlocking direction, and is moved out of engagement from the locking recess, which is in engagement with the locking recess, by pivoting the unlocking element in the unlocking direction.

The unlocking section can be located externally on the circumference, at the end face or, like the internal teeth of the ring gear, internally on the circumference of the unlocking element.

The features and feature combinations, embodiments and configurations of the invention mentioned above in the description and/or shown in the drawings and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the drawings and/or shown in the drawings can be used not only in the respectively described or shown combination but also in any other combination in principle or alone. Implementations of the invention without all the features of one of the dependent claims are also possible. The individual features of one claim can also be replaced by other features or combinations of features disclosed.

Drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. The figures show:

fig. 1 shows a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle with an armrest according to the invention in a side view;

FIG. 2 shows a latch mechanism for the armrest; and

FIG. 3 shows an unlocking element of the latch mechanism of FIG. 2.

The drawings are simplified schematic diagrams for understanding and explaining the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle seat 1 with a seat surface 2 and a backrest 3 which, behind the seat surface 2, is inclined slightly to the rear and projects obliquely upward from the seat surface 2. Spatial directions such as "above", "rear" and "horizontal" refer to the illustrated assembly position and use position of the vehicle seat 1. On the side of the backrest 3, an armrest 4 is mounted on the backrest 3 above the seat surface 2, spaced apart from the seat surface 2. The armrest 4 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 5 extending horizontally and transversely to the vehicle seat 1 by means of pivot bearings (not visible in the figures). The armrest 4 has a plurality of supporting positions, one of which is depicted in solid lines and two of which are depicted in dashed lines, which are angularly offset relative to each other about the swivel axis 5, and a non-use position, which is depicted in dashed lines, which is swung upwards from the supporting position, in which the armrest 4 stands upright at the side of the backrest 3, and which is also depicted in dashed lines in fig. 1. In the supporting position, the armrest 4 projects forward from the backrest 3 approximately horizontally or approximately parallel to the seat surface 2, i.e. in the same direction as the seat surface 3.

In order to hold the armrest 4 in the supporting position, the armrest 4 or the backrest 3 or the driver's seat 1 has two releasable latching devices 6, 7, which can be seen in fig. 2. Each latching device 6, 7 has a

catch

8, 9, which interacts with a common catch wheel 10.

The detent wheel 10 is arranged in the armrest 4 coaxially to the pivot axis 5, in a fixed position and in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the backrest 3 and thus relative to the vehicle seat 1. The detent wheel 10 has first latching recesses 11 in its outer circumferential section of its circumference, which are angularly offset with respect to one another. The angular offset of the first detent recess 11 is less than and preferably not more than twice the width of the first detent recess 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the detent wheel 10 has three first detent recesses 11 in its outer circumference. An embodiment with more or fewer latch recesses 11 is also possible (not shown).

The detent wheel 10 has an arcuate window 12 which extends arcuately around the pivot axis 5 in the circumferential direction of the detent wheel 10. In the outer edge of the detent wheel 10 and thus at the inner circumference of the detent wheel 10, the window 12 has a second detent recess 13, which also has a small angular offset in the circumferential direction, which is preferably not more than twice the width of the detent recess 13. In this exemplary embodiment, the detent wheel 10 has four second detent recesses 13, but here also more or fewer detent recesses 13 (not shown) can be present. In this embodiment, the second detent recess 13 is arranged opposite the first detent recess 11, i.e. offset by an angle of 180 °. The detent recesses 11, 13 can however also be arranged at other locations, for example offset by 90 ° relative to one another, or arranged without an angular offset at a circumferential section of the detent wheel 10 (not shown).

The two latching

pawls

8, 9 are guided in the armrest 4 by means of schematically depicted sliding

guides

14, 15 in a radially displaceable manner relative to the pivot axis 5 and are loaded into the latching recesses 11, 13 by

respective spring elements

16, 17. The first catch pawl 8 is loaded from the outside into a first latching recess 11 which is open at the outside, and the second catch pawl 9 is loaded from the inside into a second latching recess 13 which is open at the inside. As can be seen in fig. 2, the

catch pawls

8, 9 are arranged such that one of the two

catch pawls

8, 9 bears on the catch wheel 10 between the latching recesses 11, 13, either externally or internally, when the

other catch pawl

8, 9 engages in one of the latching recesses 13, 11.

The latching devices 6, 7 hold the armrest 4 in its respective pivoted position by the engagement of the locking

claws

8, 9 into the latching recesses 11, 13. The engagement of the locking

pawls

8, 9 into the locking recesses 11, 13 is also referred to herein as the locking position. In this exemplary embodiment, the latching devices 6, 7 together have seven latching positions, in which they hold the armrest 4 in the supporting position. With reference to the pivoted position of the armrest 4, the latching position of the first latching means 6 is between the latching positions of the second latching means 7, so that the angular offset of the support position of the armrest 4 is smaller than in the case of only one latching means. With two latching devices 6, 7, the supporting position of the armrest 4 has half the angular offset in the case of one latching device. With more than two latching devices 6, 7, the spacing of the support positions of the armrest 4 can be further reduced.

The first latching device 6 additionally has a third latching recess 18 for the non-use position of the armrest 4.

In this exemplary embodiment, the latch wheel 10 is fixed in position and does not rotate relative to the backrest 3 or the vehicle seat 1, and the sliding guides 14, 15 of the

latch pawls

8, 9 are fixed in position in the armrest 4. It is also possible, on the other hand, for the locking

pawls

8, 9 to be arranged in a fixed position with respect to the backrest 3 or the vehicle seat 1 and for the locking wheels 10 to be arranged so as to be non-rotatable with respect to the armrest 4.

For unlocking the latching devices 6, 7, the armrest 4 in this embodiment has a disk-shaped unlocking element 19 which is arranged coaxially with respect to the pivot axis 5 next to the catch wheel 10 and can be rotated or pivoted about the pivot axis 5. In fig. 2, the unlocking element 19 is located behind the detent wheel 10 in the viewing direction and is drawn in dashed lines. In fig. 3, the unlocking element 19 is drawn as a single part. The unlocking element 19 has a first unlocking section 20, which is assigned to the first catch 8, and a second unlocking section 21, which is assigned to the second catch 9. In the first unlocking section 21, the circumferential wall of the unlocking element 19 extends snails linearly inward, i.e. it reduces the distance to the pivot axis 5, which can also be understood as the inclination of the unlocking section 20. Due to its snail-shaped course, the first unlocking section 20 pushes the first locking pawl 8 out of the first locking recess 11 when the unlocking element 19 is pivoted in the unlocking direction 22 shown by the arrow. When the armrest 4 is in the non-use position, the first unlocking section 20 pushes the first pawl 8 out of the additional latching recess 18.

On the opposite side, the unlocking element 19 has a window 23 which extends in an arc-shaped manner about the pivot axis 5. The arcuate outer edge of the window 23 in the unlocking element 19 also extends in a snail-shaped manner and forms a second unlocking section 21 which pushes the second catch pawl 9 out of the second detent recess 13 when the unlocking element 19 is pivoted in the unlocking direction 22. The second unlocking section 21 thus also has a slope.

By pivoting in the unlocking direction 22, the unlocking element 19 unlocks the two latching devices 6, 7, so that the armrest 4 can be pivoted.

In order to pivot the unlocking element 19 in the unlocking direction 22 in order to unlock the armrest 4, the armrest 4 has an unlocking lever 24, which is connected to the unlocking element 19 in an articulated manner via a lever 25. In this embodiment, the unlocking lever 24 is arranged in the front, i.e. near the end of the armrest 4 remote from the backrest 3.

The latching devices 6, 7 can also be embodied as ratchet devices (not shown). For this purpose, the ends of the locking

claws

8, 9 facing the latching

depressions

11, 13 are provided with bevels, as is known from the case of door locks. When the armrest 4 is pivoted in the first direction 26, the ramps push the

locking pawls

8, 9 out of the latching recesses 11, 13, so that the armrest 4 can be pivoted in the first direction 26 without unlocking it. In order to pivot the armrest 4 in the opposite direction, the latching devices 6, 7 must be unlocked. Preferably, the armrest 4 can be swung up without unlocking and must be unlocked in order to be swung down.

List of reference numerals

Armrest for vehicle seat

1 vehicle seat

2 seat surface

3 back support

4 arm

5 axis of oscillation

6 first latch device

7 second latch device

8 first dog

9 second latch claw

10 stop wheel

11 first latch recess

12 window stop wheel

13 second latch recess

14 first sliding guide

15 second sliding guide

16 first spring element

17 second spring element

18 third snap lock recess

19 unlocking element

20 first unlocking section

21 second unlocking section

22 unlocking direction

23 unlocking the window of the element

24 unlocking lever

25 draw bar

26 a first direction.

Claims

1. Armrest for a vehicle seat, which armrest can be pivoted from a supporting position into a non-use position, characterized in that the armrest (4) has at least two releasable latching devices (6, 7) having a plurality of latching positions, and in that the latching devices (6, 7) in each latching position hold the armrest (4) in one supporting position against pivoting, wherein the supporting position of the armrest (4) in different latching positions of one latching device (6, 7) and the supporting position of the armrest (4) in latching positions of different latching devices (6, 7) are angularly offset relative to one another.

2. An armrest according to claim 1, characterized in that the support position of the armrest (4) in one latching position of the first latching means (6, 7) is located between two support positions of the armrest (4) in two latching positions of the second latching means (7, 6).

3. An armrest according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the latch device (6, 7) is a ratchet device which allows the armrest (4) to swing in a first direction without unlocking and which locks the armrest (4) to swing in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

4. The armrest as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching device (6, 7) has a latching recess (11, 13) which is arranged at the armrest (4) or is arranged in a positionally offset manner about the pivot axis (5) of the armrest (4) and a catch (8, 9) which is arranged at the armrest (4) or is arranged in a positionally fixed manner and which automatically engages into the latching recess (11, 13) and thereby locks the armrest (4) against pivoting.

5. The armrest as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that one catch (8, 9) is guided movably.

6. An armrest according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the latching recess (13) of one latching device (7) faces the pivot axis (5) of the armrest (4), and in that the pawl (9) of this latching device (7) comes out in the direction of the pivot axis (5) of the armrest (4) into the latching recess (13).

7. The armrest as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the latching recesses (11, 13) of both latching devices (6, 7) are arranged in circumferential sections which are angularly offset with respect to one another with reference to the pivot axis (5) of the armrest (4).

8. The armrest as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching devices (6, 7) have a common unlocking member.

9. The armrest as claimed in one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that one latching device (6, 7) has an unlocking element (19) which can be pivoted about the pivot axis (5) of the armrest (4) and which comprises an unlocking section (20, 21) having a slope which, when the unlocking element (19) is pivoted in an unlocking direction (22), moves the associated detent (8, 9) out of one latching recess (11, 13).

10. The armrest as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the unlocking section (21) of the unlocking element (19) of one latching device (7) is located at the inner periphery of the unlocking element (19).