Vehicle armrest with cup holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850849-B2
Application number	US-201815864432-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2018
Priority date	Jan 8, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

An armrest with cup holder for a vehicle seat that includes an elongate armrest can of the armrest adapted to be carried by the seat. An elongate storage area is formed in the armrest can, and the cup holder is mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis of the armrest between a stowed position within the storage area of the armrest can and a deployed position forward of and to the exterior of the armrest. When stowed, the cup holder is positioned fully within the armrest can. The tray table of the seat can therefore be used for purposes other than supporting a beverage container, and can be used when the tray table is stowed.

First claim

We claim:

1. An armrest assembly, comprising:
an elongate armrest can adapted to mount to a seat, the elongate armrest can having an open top and an elongate slot formed in a forward end;
an elongate storage area formed within the elongate armrest can accessible through the open top;
a padded cover removably attached to the elongate armrest can closing the open top,
a cup holder assembly disposed within the elongate storage area, the cup holder assembly comprising a deployable cup holder mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis of the elongate armrest can between a stowed position within the elongate storage area and a deployed position through the elongate slot and forward of the forward end, the cup holder assembly including a bracket carrying a rail disposed within the elongate storage area and the rail slidably receiving a carriage mounted to a first arm of the deployable cup holder, and
a latch assembly mounted to the bracket at one end of the rail opposite the elongate slot, the latch assembly including a spring engaging the carriage to bias the deployable cup holder toward the deployed position and a magnet magnetically attracted to the carriage to retain the cup holder against the opposite bias of the spring.

2. The armrest assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the deployable cup holder includes the first arm fixed in orientation to the longitudinal axis of the elongate armrest can and a second arm mounted for pivoting lateral movement relative to the first arm to form a space between the first and second arms within which a cup is adapted to be held when the cup holder is in the deployed position.

3. The armrest assembly according to claim 2 , wherein portions of each of the first and second arms include an arcuate segment.

4. The armrest assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the second arm is mounted on the first arm for pivoting movement relative to the first arm, and includes a spring connecting the first arm and the second arm for pivoting the second arm laterally away from the first arm to define the space between the first and second arms.

5. The armrest assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the latch assembly includes a push-to-release switch for releasing the deployable cup holder from the stowed position when the push-to-release switch is actuated.

6. The armrest according to claim 5 , wherein the push-to-release switch is actuated by pushing a forward edge of the first arm inwardly from a position flush with the forward end of the elongate armrest can.

7. An armrest assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising
an elongate armrest can having sidewalls, a bottom, an open top, a forward end, and an elongate horizontal slot formed in the forward end;
a padded cover removably attached to a top of the elongate armrest can;
an elongate storage area formed within the elongate armrest can and open to the open top and the elongate horizontal slot;
a cup holder assembly including a cup holder mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis of the elongate armrest can between a stowed position within the elongate storage area and a deployed position through the elongate horizontal slot and forward of the forward end, the cup holder including a stationary arm fixed in orientation to the longitudinal axis of the elongate armrest can and a pivot arm mounted for lateral movement relative to the stationary arm;
a bracket disposed in the elongate storage are mounted to one of the sidewalls;
a rail attached to the bracket;
a carriage slidable along the rail to move the cup holder assembly between the stowed position and the deployed position; and
a latch assembly attached to bracket at one end of the rail opposite the elongate slot, the latch assembly including a spring engaging the carriage to bias the cup holder toward the deployed position and a magnet magnetically attracted to the carriage to retain the cup holder against the opposite bias of the spring.

8. The armrest assembly according to claim 7 , wherein each of the stationary arm and the pivot arm include an arcuate portion.

9. The armrest assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the latch assembly includes a push-to-release switch actuated by pushing a forward edge of the stationary arm inwardly from a position flush with a forward surface of the elongate armrest can.

10. The armrest assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the pivot arm is mounted on the stationary arm for pivoting movement relative to the stationary arm, and includes a spring biasing the pivot arm in a direction away from the stationary arm.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Green John E
• Crumpler Thomas C
• Greninger Matthew T

Classifications

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60N2/79

  Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests · CPC title

• B64D11/0644

  Adjustable arm rests · CPC title

• A47C7/624

  located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest · CPC title

• B60N3/102

  storable or foldable in a non-use position · CPC title