1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a deployable center armrest for a bench-type seat assembly of an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a deployable center armrest that utilizes a pivot-lift mechanism for moving the armrest between a stowed position and a deployed position.
2. Description of Related Art
A bench-type seat assembly for an automotive vehicle having a seatback and seat cushion will often include a center armrest for seat occupant comfort. Typically, the armrest is deployable from a stowed or non-use position to a deployed or use position by rotating the armrest about a fixed pivot in the seatback at a base or proximal end of the armrest. The stowed position is a generally vertical position with the armrest fitted into the seatback to form a flush seatback surface and the deployed position is a generally horizontal position at approximately elbow height for the seat occupant. In operation, the armrest will be rotated by the occupant between the stowed position and the deployed position.
One disadvantage of the fixed pivot design is that a large radius is required at the base end of the armrest to allow for rotation of the armrest without the base end interfering with the seatback. This large radius, however, results in a gap between the base end of the armrest and the seatback when the armrest is in the stowed position. This gap is undesirable in modern vehicles.
To minimize the gap, it is common to provide a four-bar linkage for connecting the armrest to the seatback. The four-bar linkage allows the armrest to follow a path of movement between the stowed and deployed positions such that the base end does not interfere with the seatback.
Several disadvantages of using the four-bar linkage design include that it is complicated, costly, requires multiple parts, and is susceptible to buzz, squeak, and rattle issues. Consequently, it is desirable to provide a simplified mechanism for moving an armrest coupled to a seatback between a stowed position and a deployed position such that a base end of the armrest does not interfere with the seatback. It is also desirable to provide the armrest having a radius at the base end sufficiently small such that when the armrest is in the stowed position only a small gap is created between the base end and the seatback.
According to one aspect of the invention, a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a seatback having a recess formed therein. A bracket is fixedly secured to the seatback and includes a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot. An armrest includes a first pin that is pivotally and slidably disposed in the first slot and a second pin that is pivotally and slidably disposed in the second slot. Pivotal movement of the armrest between a generally vertical stowed position disposed within the recess and a generally horizontal deployed position extending from the recess urges the first pin along the first slot and the second pin along the second slot thereby lifting the armrest to prevent interference between the armrest and the seatback.
Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to
In
In
Referring to
Although the small gap 28 improves the appearance when the armrest 16 is in the stowed position, if the armrest 16 is coupled to the seatback 14 by the fixed pivot 136 of the prior art, the front lower corner 30 of the armrest 16 will bind against or interfere with the front upper corner 32 of the seatback 14 as the armrest 16 pivots between the stowed and deployed positions. Therefore, the present invention provides a movement of the armrest 16 to avoid such interference as the armrest 16 pivots between the stowed and deployed positions without the necessity of the large gap 138.
Referring to
Each side of the bracket 42 includes a first elongated slot 52 disposed approximately at a forty-five degree (45°) angle and a shorter second elongated slot 54 spaced apart from and disposed perpendicular to the first slot 52. The second slot 54 is aligned with a midpoint 55 of the first slot 52. The second end 50 of the support bar 44 is pivotally and slidably coupled to the first slot 52 by a first pin 56 protruding laterally therefrom. An intermediate point 57 along the support bar 44 between the first and second ends 46, 50 is pivotally and slidably coupled to the second slot 54 by a second pin 58 protruding laterally therefrom.
In operation, when the armrest 16 is in the generally vertical stowed position, the pair of support bars 44 is also in a generally vertical position. The first pin 56 is disposed at a first end 60 of the first slot 52 and the second pin 58 is disposed at a first end 62 of the second slot 54. As the armrest 16 pivots from the stowed position to the deployed position, the first pin 56 moves along the first slot 52 toward a second end 64 and urges the second pin 58 along the second slot 54 toward a second end 66, thereby lifting the proximal end 18 of the armrest 16 to prevent contact between the front lower corner 30 of the armrest 16 and the front upper corner 32 of the seatback 14. At the same time, the front lower corner 30 of the armrest 16 moves along a linear path into the recess 22. When the second pin 58 reaches the second end 66 of the second slot 54, the first pin 56 is disposed at the midpoint 55 of the first slot 52, and the armrest 16 is midway between the stowed and deployed positions, as shown in
It is contemplated that the first slot 52 could include a detent (not shown) at each of the first and second ends 60, 64 for positively engaging the first pin 56 when the armrest 16 is in the stowed and deployed positions, respectively. It is also contemplated that the first slot 52 could include a plurality of detents (not shown) disposed therealong for positively engaging the first pin 56 to define any number of intermediate positions of the armrest 16 between the stowed and deployed positions.
It is further contemplated that any number of changes could be made to the bracket 42 depending on the desired positioning of the stowed and deployed positions of the armrest 16 and the desired movement of the armrest 16 as it moves between the stowed and deployed positions. For example, the shape, length, position, and orientation of the first and second slots 52, 54 could be changed without varying the scope of the invention. It is also contemplated that the pivot-lift mechanism 40 can be practiced in other applications wherein the armrest 16 is replaced with a member that is pivotally moveable between a first position and a second position. For example, the pivot-lift mechanism 40 can be practiced in applications where the member is a deck lid or trunk lid, a vehicle door, a head restraint, or a furniture component.
Referring to
In operation, when the armrest 16′ is in the stowed position, the first pin 56′ is disposed at the first end 74 of the first slot 70 and the second pin 58′ is disposed at the first end 82 of the second slot 72. As the armrest 16′ pivots from the stowed position to the deployed position, the first pin 56′ moves along the linear portion 78 of the first slot 70 and urges the second pin 58′ along the first linear portion 86 of the second slot 72, thereby lifting the proximal end 18′ of the armrest 16′ to prevent contact between the front lower corner 30′ of the armrest 16′ and the front upper corner 32′ of the seatback 14′. When the second pin 58′ reaches the intermediate point 87 of the second slot 72, the first pin 56′ is disposed at the intermediate point 79 of the first slot 70. The first pin 56′ continues along the arcuate portion 80 of the first slot 70, thereby continuing to lift the proximal end 18′ of the armrest 16′, which urges the second pin 58′ along the second linear portion 88 of the second slot 72, thereby moving the armrest 16′ forward. The armrest 16′ is in the deployed position when the first pin 56′ is disposed at the second end 76 of the first slot 70 and the second pin 58′ is disposed at the second end 84 of the second slot 72.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CA08/00944 | 5/15/2008 | WO | 00 | 11/17/2009 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60938814 | May 2007 | US |