FOLDING ARMREST
A vehicle folding armrest assembly having a vehicle door movable within a door frame and having an armrest that is operable between a deployed position and a stowed position. A catch mechanism is movable between an interference position, wherein the catch mechanism supports the armrest in the deployed position against a spring force, and a non-interference position, wherein the catch mechanism is disengaged from the armrest, and the armrest is in the stowed position. An actuator includes a lever that protrudes from the vehicle door. The lever is in abutting contact against the door frame and moves the catch mechanism from the interference position to the non-interference position.
The present invention generally relates to a folding armrest, and more specifically to a folding armrest designed for use on a sliding occupant door of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONVehicle armrests provide comfort and load-bearing functionality inside vehicles. However, armrests can also take up space and limit an occupant's range of motion in the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle folding armrest assembly having a vehicle door movable within a door frame and having an armrest that is operable between a deployed position and a stowed position. A catch mechanism is movable between an interference position, wherein the catch mechanism supports the armrest in the deployed position against a spring force, and a non-interference position, wherein the catch mechanism is disengaged from the armrest, and the armrest is in the stowed position. An actuator includes a lever that protrudes from the vehicle door. The lever is in abutting contact against the door frame and moves the catch mechanism from the interference position to the non-interference position.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle armrest assembly having a spring-biased armrest movable between a deployed position and a stowed position and a spring-biased actuator. A spring-biased catch mechanism is operably coupled with the spring-biased actuator and adapted to engage and support the armrest when the spring-biased actuator has been depressed. The spring-biased catch mechanism is further adapted to disengage the armrest when the spring-biased actuator is released, such that the spring-biased armrest moves to the stowed position.
Another aspect of the present invention includes a folding armrest assembly having a spring-biased armrest movable between deployed and stowed positions. A catch mechanism is operably coupled with an actuator and movable between an interference position to support the armrest in the deployed position, and a non-interference position, wherein the catch mechanism does not support the armrest. A base moves the catch mechanism under the force of inertia to the non-interference position during a collision event.
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The lever 32 is rotatable about the pin 82 between an extended position 84 (
Referring again to
Referring now to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Upon reopening of the vehicle door 12, the exterior arm 78 of the lever 32 loses contact with the vehicle door frame 14, such that the spring bias of the first and second springs 72, 74 inside the actuator housing 70 once again forces the lever 32 to the extended position 84. At the same time, the cable 94 that operably connects the actuator 30 with the catch mechanism 22 retracts, thereby pulling the catch mechanism 22 against the force of the spring bias of the compression spring 130 to the non-interference position 26, such that the knob 103 of the catch mechanism 22 no longer engages the latch member 100 of the armrest 16. As a result, the armrest 16 rotates under the spring bias of the coil spring 110 back to the stowed position 20, as shown in
Referring now to
It is generally contemplated that the armrest 16 may include a grasping area on the armrest 16 to allow easy access to rotate the armrest 16 from the stowed position 20 to the deployed position 18. Further, although the mechanism shown is generally directed to a right side vehicle door 12, it will be understood that a left side vehicle door having similar features could also be constructed from this description by providing a substantially mirror-like construction from that disclosed above and illustrated in the figures. It is also contemplated that the various spring biases generally disclosed above may be developed by leaf springs, coil springs, tension springs, compression springs, etc., and that the springs illustrated herein are for illustration only and not meant to be limiting.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A vehicle folding armrest assembly comprising:
- a vehicle door movable within a door frame and having an armrest that is operable between a deployed position and a stowed position;
- a catch mechanism movable between an interference position, wherein the catch mechanism supports the armrest in the deployed position against a spring force, and a non-interference position, wherein the catch mechanism is disengaged from the armrest, and the armrest is in the stowed position; and
- an actuator having a lever that protrudes from the vehicle door, wherein abutting contact of the lever against the door frame moves the catch mechanism from the interference position to the non-interference position.
2. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the armrest is retracted into a cavity in the door when in the stowed position.
3. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- a cable operably connecting the actuator with the catch mechanism.
4. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever further includes an exterior arm and an interior arm.
5. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- a latch member disposed on a bottom surface of the armrest.
6. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever is operable between an extended position and a retracted position and wherein the lever is spring-biased to the extended position.
7. The vehicle folding armrest assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch mechanism is spring-biased to the interference position.
8. A vehicle armrest assembly comprising:
- a spring-biased armrest movable between a deployed position and a stowed position;
- a spring-biased actuator; and
- a spring-biased catch mechanism operably coupled with the spring-biased actuator and adapted to engage and support the armrest when the spring-biased actuator has been depressed and further adapted to disengage the armrest when the spring-biased actuator is released, such that the spring-biased armrest moves to the stowed position.
9. The vehicle armrest assembly of claim 8, wherein the armrest is retracted into a cavity in a door when in the stowed position.
10. The vehicle armrest assembly of claim 8, wherein a force of the spring bias of the actuator is greater than a force of the spring bias of the catch mechanism.
11. The vehicle armrest assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator further includes a lever having an exterior arm, an interior arm, and a lever housing.
12. The vehicle armrest assembly of claim 11, wherein the lever rotates between an extended position and a retracted position about a pin disposed inside the lever housing.
13. The vehicle armrest assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator is disposed on a front portion of the door and adapted for abutting engagement with a front portion of a door frame.
14. A folding armrest assembly comprising:
- a spring-biased armrest movable between deployed and stowed positions;
- a catch mechanism operably coupled with an actuator and movable between an interference position to support the armrest in the deployed position, and a non-interference position, wherein the catch mechanism does not support the armrest; and
- a base that moves the catch mechanism under the force of inertia to the non-interference position during a collision event.
15. The folding armrest assembly of claim 14, wherein the armrest is retracted into a cavity in a vehicle door when in the stowed position.
16. The folding armrest assembly of claim 14, further comprising:
- a cable operably connecting the actuator with the catch mechanism.
17. The folding armrest assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuator further includes a lever having an exterior arm, an interior arm, and a lever housing.
18. The folding armrest assembly of claim 17, wherein the lever rotates between an extended position and a retracted position about a pin disposed inside the lever housing.
19. The folding armrest assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuator is disposed on a front portion of a door and adapted for abutting engagement with a front portion of a door frame.
20. The folding armrest assembly of claim 14, wherein the armrest is spring-biased to the stowed position.
Type: Application
Filed: May 9, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2012
Inventors: Anne Flamard (Dearborn, MI), Susan Walowich (Wyandotte, MI), Mickey Jones (Westland, MI), Leonard Anthony Shaner (New Baltimore, MI), Edgar Edward Donabedian (Livonia, MI), Arthur C. Haman (Oakland Township, MI)
Application Number: 13/103,717