Vehicle armrest assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10112544-B2
Application number	US-201715616317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle armrest assembly is disclosed. A component for a vehicle interior is also disclosed. The component may comprise a base comprising (1) a first divider configured to form a main compartment and a first side compartment and (2) a second divider configured to form the main compartment and a second side compartment; a cover configured to enclose the main compartment; a first door configured to enclose the first side compartment; and a second door configured to enclose the second side compartment. The cover may be configured to extend between the first divider and the second divider and move along the first divider and the second divider to uncover the main compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A component for a vehicle interior comprising:
(a) a base comprising (1) a first divider configured to form a main compartment and a first side compartment and (2) a second divider configured to form the main compartment and a second side compartment;
(b) a cover configured to enclose the main compartment;
(c) a first door configured to enclose the first side compartment; and
(d) a second door configured to enclose the second side compartment;
wherein the cover is configured to extend between the first divider and the second divider and move along the first divider and the second divider to uncover the main compartment.

2. The component of claim 1 wherein the cover is configured to move along a path between a cover closed position that substantially covers the main compartment and a cover open position that substantially uncovers the main compartment; and wherein at least one of the first door and the second door is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the path of movement of the cover between (a) a door closed position that substantially covers at least one of the first side compartment and the second side compartment and (b) a door open position that substantially uncovers the at least one of the first side compartment and the second side compartment.

3. The component of claim 1 wherein the first divider comprises a first track and the second divider comprises a second track; and wherein the cover is configured to engage the first track and the second track.

4. The component of claim 1 wherein the first door is configured to move between (a) a door closed position to enclose the first side compartment and (b) a door open position to uncover the first side compartment; and wherein the cover is configured to move in order to enclose and uncover the main compartment when the first door is in the door closed position and the door open position.

5. The component of claim 4 wherein the base comprises a first wall and a second wall laterally opposed to the first wall; wherein the first door is coupled to the first wall by a hinge; and wherein the first door is configured to engage the first divider when the first door is in the door closed position to substantially cover the first side compartment.

6. The component of claim 5 wherein the first door is configured to (a) pivot relative to the first wall and (b) slide along the first wall as the first door moves from the door closed position to the door open position.

7. The component of claim 4 wherein the base comprises a first wall and a second wall laterally opposed to the first wall; wherein the first door is coupled to the first divider by a hinge; and wherein the first door is configured to engage the first wall when the first door is in the door closed position to substantially cover the first side compartment.

8. The component of claim 7 wherein the first door comprises a mechanism configured to secure the first door to the first wall.

9. A component for a vehicle interior comprising:
(a) a base comprising a main compartment and a side compartment;
(b) a divider of the base configured to form the main compartment and the side compartment;
(c) a cover configured to move along a path between a cover closed position that substantially covers the main compartment and a cover open position that substantially uncovers the main compartment; and
(d) a door configured to move between a door closed position that substantially covers the side compartment and a door open position that substantially uncovers the side compartment;
wherein the door is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the path of movement of the cover; and
wherein the cover and the door comprise an armrest assembly.

10. The component of claim 9 wherein the cover is configured to move between the cover closed position and the cover open position when the door is in the door closed position and when the door is in the door open position.

11. The component of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a wall; and
wherein the door is configured to extend between the wall and the divider in the door closed position.

12. The component of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a wall; wherein the door is coupled to the wall by a hinge; and wherein the door is configured to engage the divider when the door is in the door closed position to substantially cover the side compartment.

13. The component of claim 12 wherein the hinge comprises at least one of (a) an offset pivot, (b) a pivot assembly comprising a fixed pivot and at least one movable pivot.

14. The component of claim 9 wherein the base comprises a wall; wherein the door is coupled to the divider by a hinge; and wherein the door is configured to engage the wall when the door is in the door closed position to substantially cover the side compartment.

15. The component of claim 9 wherein the door comprises an armrest portion.

16. A vehicle armrest system comprising:
(a) a support structure comprising a first outer storage compartment, a second outer storage compartment, and a central storage compartment between the first outer storage compartment and the second outer storage compartment; and
(b) an armrest assembly coupled to the support structure;
wherein the armrest assembly comprises a first armrest portion configured to cover and to uncover the first outer storage compartment and a second armrest portion configured to cover and uncover the second outer storage compartment; and
wherein the armrest assembly comprises a cover configured to slide relative to the support structure to enable access to the central storage compartment.

17. The vehicle armrest system of claim 16 wherein the cover is configured to slide between a closed position and an open position relative to the support structure to enable access to the central storage compartment; wherein the armrest assembly is configured so that independent of position of the cover at least one of (a) the first outer storage compartment can be covered or uncovered by the first armrest portion or (b) the second outer storage compartment can be covered or uncovered by the second armrest portion.

18. The vehicle armrest system of claim 16 wherein the support structure comprises a first interior wall and a second interior wall laterally opposed to the first interior wall; wherein the first interior wall and the second interior wall are configured to separate the central storage compartment from the first outer storage compartment and the second outer storage compartment; and wherein the cover is supported by a first track extending along the first interior wall and a second track extending along the second interior wall.

19. The vehicle armrest system of claim 16 wherein the cover is configured to move along a direction relative to the support structure to enable access to the central storage compartment; and wherein the first armrest portion is configured to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the cover.

20. The vehicle armrest system of claim 16 wherein the first armrest portion and the second armrest portion are independently pivotally coupled to the support structure and configured to rotate relative to the support structure to enable access to the first outer storage compartment and the second outer storage compartment.

Assignees

• Shanghai yanfeng jinqiao automotive trim systems co ltd
• Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqlao Automotive Trim Systems Co Ltd

Inventors

• Catlin Michael Robert
• Newkirk Tyler James
• Flowerday Craig David
• Mccarthy David John

Classifications

• B60R7/04 Primary

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R2011/0007

  Mid-console · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• B60R11/0252

  for personal computers, e.g. laptops, notebooks · CPC title