Vehicle component and method for producing a vehicle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654387-B2
Application number	US-201515533213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle component, in particular an arm rest, includes a structural part and a cladding element that at least partially surrounds the structural part. The structural part is at least partially covered by a protective device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An armrest for a vehicle seat, the armrest comprising:
an armrest structural part comprising a pivot end and an extended end located opposite the pivot end at a spaced location from the pivot end, wherein the pivot end being configured to be pivotably connected to a vehicle seat, wherein the pivot end defines a rotation axis, wherein the armrest is rotatable about the rotation axis; and wherein the extended end of the armrest structural part comprises an edge profile interposed between two adjacent side faces of the armrest structural part;
an armrest protective apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the armrest protective apparatus extends over the two adjacent side faces of the armrest structural part so that the edge profile of the armrest structural part is flattened to reduce a risk of injury to a user of the armrest; and
a trim element which surrounds the armrest structural part at least partially, wherein the armrest structural part is covered at least partially by the protective apparatus.

2. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest structural part is arranged completely within the trim element, wherein the armrest structural part comprising a first tubular armrest component and a second tubular armrest component, and wherein the first tubular armrest component and the second tubular armrest component extending directly adjacent to one another from the pivot end to the extended end.

3. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest protective apparatus is arranged directly on the armrest structural part, wherein the pivot end is in contact with a pivotable shank, and wherein the extended end faces in a direction away from the pivotable shank.

4. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest protective apparatus has at least one of an at least partially bent outer contour and a curved outer contour.

5. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest protective apparatus covers at least one of an edge, a burr, and a punching burr of the armrest structural part.

6. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest protective apparatus is of a sleeve-shaped configuration.

7. The armrest as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the sleeve-shaped armrest protective apparatus has a receptacle, within which a part of the armrest structural part is arranged in a mounted state.

8. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an outer side of the armrest protective apparatus has a contour profile in a shape of a partial circle with a radius which is greater than 3.2 mm or corresponds to 3.2 mm.

9. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest structural part comprises at least one armrest tubular part component; and
wherein at least one of the armrest protective apparatus is arranged on an end side on the armrest tubular part component and the armrest protective apparatus is placed onto the armrest tubular part component as a termination element.

10. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a filling element, wherein the armrest structural part is spaced apart from the trim element, and wherein the filling element being arranged between the trim element and the armrest structural part.

11. The armrest as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the filling element comprises a polyurethane foam.

12. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest structural part is produced from at least one of a metal and a plastic.

13. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pivot end engages a pivotable shank, and wherein the extended end faces in a direction away from the pivotable shank.

14. The armrest as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the armrest structural part comprises a first tubular component and a second tubular component, wherein a portion of the first tubular component and a portion of the second tubular component extend continuously from a position adjacent to the pivot end to the extended end, wherein the portion of the first tubular component is in continuous contact with the portion of the second tubular component from the position adjacent to the pivot end to the extended end, wherein the armrest protective apparatus comprising a planar protective apparatus surface, wherein the planar protective apparatus surface bridging an intermediate space between the first tubular component and the second tubular component, wherein the armrest structural part engaging a pivotable shank, and wherein the pivot end being adjacent to the pivotable shank, the extended end facing in a direction away from the pivotable shank.

15. A method for producing an armrest for a vehicle seat, wherein the armrest comprises an armrest structural part, an armrest protective apparatus, and a trim element which surrounds the armrest structural part at least partially, wherein the armrest structural part is covered at least partially by the armrest protective apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the armrest structural part, wherein the armrest structural part comprising a pivot end and an extended end located opposite the pivot end at a spaced location from the pivot end, wherein the pivot end being configured to be pivotably connected to the vehicle seat, wherein the pivot end defines a rotation axis, wherein the armrest is rotatable about the rotation axis, and wherein the extended end of the armrest structural part comprises an edge profile interposed between two adjacent side faces of the armrest structural part;
covering at least a portion of the extended end of the armrest structural part by with the armrest protective apparatus; and
encasing the armrest structural part by the trim element, wherein the armrest protective apparatus is provided such that at least a portion of the armrest protective apparatus extends over the two adjacent side faces of the armrest structural part so that the edge profile of the armrest structural part is flattened to reduce a risk of injury to a user of the armrest.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein a foam filling is embedded between the trim element and the armrest structural part in a fourth method step, and wherein the foam filling element comprises polyurethane.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 ,
wherein the armrest structural part comprises a metallic structural part; and
wherein the armrest protective apparatus is formed of plastic.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the armrest structural part comprises a first tubular component and a second tubular component, wherein a portion of the first tubular component and a portion of the second tubular component extend continuously from a position adjacent to the pivot end to the extended end, wherein the portion of the first tubular component is in continuous contact with the portion of the second tubular component from the position adjacent to the pivot end to the extended end, wherein the armrest protective apparatus comprising a planar protective apparatus surface, wherein the planar protective apparatus surface bridging an intermediate space between the first tubular component and the second tubular component, wherein the armrest structural part engaging a pivotable shank, wherein the pivot end being adjacent to the pivotable shank, and wherein the extended end facing in a direction away from the pivotable shank.

19. An armrest for a vehicle seat, the armrest comprising:
an armrest structure comprising an armrest pivot end, an armrest extended end and an armrest structural part, wherein the armrest structural part being connected to the armrest

Assignees

• Adient Luxembourg Holding Sarl
• Adient Luxembourg Holding S Ar L

Inventors

• Volanek Peter

Classifications

• B60N2/75 Primary

  Arm-rests · CPC title

• B60N2/753

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title

• B60N2/7017

  characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing upholstery or upholstery springs not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R21/02

  Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)} · CPC title