Generally, adjustable armrests on the door of a motor vehicle are known. It is also generally known for the door of a motor vehicle to include an adjustable armrest.
Nowadays, motor vehicles occasionally comprise height adjustable armrests which are arranged on the trim of the passenger doors. Such a height adjustable armrest is, for example, known from DE 40 02 242 A1. As the door trim nowadays are frequently curved in the Y-Z plane, the height adjustable armrests according to the prior art have the drawbacks that a gap between the door trim and the armrest is altered by the adjustment of the armrest which results in drawbacks such as potential risk of injury and a susceptibility to soiling.
It was, therefore, the object to provide an adjustable armrest which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.
In one exemplary embodiment, an armrest is carried out in at least one direction along a curved path, the adjustment being able to be a height adjustment, i.e. in the Z direction, transversely to the direction of travel (Y direction) and/or an adjustment in, and counter to, the direction of travel i.e. in the X direction of the vehicle, and a combination of the three, preferably however only two, adjustments.
It was extremely surprising for the person skilled in the art that the adjustable armrest has a considerably reduced risk of injury and a reduced susceptibility to soiling, than height adjustable armrests according to the prior art.
In one exemplary embodiment, the adjustment is preferably carried out in the Z direction and/or in the Y direction along a circular path. The armrest is further preferably arranged in front of a door trim, i.e. toward the passenger compartment and follows the contour of the door trim during its adjustment. This embodiment has the advantage, in particular, that the gap between the armrest and the door trim always remains the same, whereby potential risk of injury, for example crushing or squashing, is substantially avoided.
The adjustment of the armrest may be carried out both manually and automatically. In one exemplary embodiment an automatic adjustment is provided with either an electromechanical and/or electro-pneumatic drive.
In one exemplary embodiment, an mechanical adjustment device is preferably carried out by a toothed rack/gearwheel drive, a threaded spindle drive, a Bowden cable or in one exemplary electro-pneumatic embodiment, a blow pump drive.
In particular with a manual adjustment of the armrest, it is advantageous if the adjustment is assisted by a spring or biasing means which preferably acts counter to the force of gravity.
In one exemplary embodiment, the drive means and/or the biasing means are arranged between the structure of the door and the door trim.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the drive means and/or the biasing means are arranged in the adjustable armrest itself.
The adjustable armrest preferably comprises a guide which may comprise a latching mechanism. The guide is preferably curved and preferably substantially follows the contour of the inner trim, along which the armrest may be adjusted.
The guide and/or the armrest are further preferably designed such that they may be displaced and/or deformed during an impact to the vehicle, so that they at least partially absorb the impact energy occurring during such an incident.
In one embodiment, the armrest comprises a hollow space which may preferably be used as a storage compartment and as an energy absorption member. A heating element is further preferably arranged in the arm support region of the armrest.
In one embodiment, a door is disclosed which comprises an adjustable armrest of the exemplary embodiments. It was extremely surprising and unexpected for the person skilled in the art that the door has a reduced susceptibility to soiling and a reduced potential risk of injury. In one exemplary embodiment, the door may be manufactured easily and economically by means of a modular structure, the door may be equipped both with a manual adjustment and with an automatic adjustment of the armrest.
The door may have the armrest aligned in front of the trim i.e. toward the passenger compartment wherein the trim includes slots, preferably support and/or central slots through which the adjustable armrest is guided and/or the drive of the height adjustable armrest is carried out. The armrest particularly preferably masks these slots so that the door appears visually attractive.
In one exemplary embodiment, a method for the assembly of the door includes placing the armrest on the door structure and including appropriate support elements after the assembly of the trim.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2004 026 928.9 | Jun 2004 | DE | national |
This Application claims priority to, and incorporates herein by reference, PCT Patent Application PCT/EP2005/052452, filed May 30, 2005, and German Priority Application 102004026928.9, filed Jun. 1, 2004 including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP05/52452 | 5/30/2005 | WO | 11/30/2006 |