Rotatable armrest and console assembly including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11904748-B2
Application number	US-202117541045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2021
Priority date	Apr 6, 2021
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A rotatable armrest includes: a housing; a button system; and a hinge system engaged to the button system, in which the button system and the hinge system are provided in the housing, in which the hinge system includes a hinge shaft, and the rotatable armrest is fixed at a first position, a second position, or a third position by being rotated about the hinge shaft, and in which the rotatable armrest is configured to be positioned to be folded downward at the first position, the rotatable armrest is configured to be positioned to be directed forward horizontally at the second position, and the rotatable armrest is configured to be positioned to be directed rearward horizontally at the third position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotatable armrest apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a button system; and
a hinge system engaged to the button system,
wherein the button system and the hinge system are provided in the housing, and
wherein the hinge system includes a hinge shaft, and the rotatable armrest apparatus is fixed at a first position, a second position, or a third position by being rotated about the hinge shaft, and
wherein the rotatable armrest apparatus is configured to be positioned to be folded downward at the first position, the rotatable armrest apparatus is configured to be positioned to be directed forward horizontally at the second position, and the rotatable armrest apparatus is configured to be positioned to be directed rearward horizontally at the third position.

2. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an upper cover and a lower cover, and an opening portion is provided at a front side of the housing.

3. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the button system includes a button and a wire, the button is positioned in the opening portion, and the wire is pulled when the button is pushed.

4. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 3 ,
wherein the button system further includes a button rod, a lever, and a button spring, and
wherein a first end portion of the button rod is provided at a rear side of the button, a second end portion of the button rod is connected to the button spring, the button spring applies a restoring force to the button rod forward, the button rod has a groove, the lever is provided rotatable about a pin shaft, a first end portion of the lever is provided in the groove of the button rod, and a second end portion of the lever is connected to an end portion of the wire.

5. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the button system further includes a button cover and a button plate,
wherein the button, the button rod, the lever, and the button spring are provided on the button plate, and
wherein the button cover covers the button, the button rod, the lever, and the button spring from above.

6. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the hinge shaft includes a cam having three stepped portions, each of the three stepped portions include an arc portion and a stepped part, the stepped part extends in a radial direction, and the arc portion extends from a high-level stepped portion to a low-level stepped portion thereof.

7. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 6 ,
wherein the three stepped portions include a first stepped portion, a second stepped portion, and a third stepped portion, and
wherein the first stepped portion includes a first arc portion and a first stepped part positioned on a bottom portion of the cam, the second stepped portion includes a second stepped part positioned at an upper side, and a second arc portion extending from a bottom portion of the first stepped part to an upper portion of the second stepped part, a diameter of the second arc portion increases as an arc becomes closer to the second stepped part, the third stepped portion includes a third stepped part positioned at a rear side of the cam, and a third arc portion extending between a bottom portion of the second stepped part and a bottom portion of the third stepped part, and a diameter of the third arc portion is not changed.

8. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the hinge system further includes a hinge plate, a support body assembly, a locking key assembly, and a brake wheel assembly, and
wherein the support body assembly, the locking key assembly, and the brake wheel assembly are provided on the hinge plate, and the hinge shaft is provided on the brake wheel assembly.

9. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 8 ,
wherein the support body assembly includes an upper brake wheel cover and a lower brake wheel cover, and
wherein a brake wheel cover opening portion is provided in a lateral surface of the upper brake wheel cover directed forward.

10. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 8 ,
wherein the brake wheel assembly includes a brake wheel and a brake wheel pad,
wherein the hinge shaft is provided to penetrate the brake wheel and is fixedly connected to the brake wheel, and
wherein the brake wheel pad is provided on the support body assembly and comes into friction contact with the brake wheel.

11. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the brake wheel and the brake wheel pad are manufactured as friction members.

12. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a brake wheel spring is provided at a side of the brake wheel pad and provides an elastic force to the brake wheel pad.

13. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 9 ,
wherein the hinge shaft includes a cam having three stepped portions,
wherein the locking key assembly includes a locking key, a locking key cover, and a locking key spring, and the locking key cover is provided on the upper brake wheel cover, and
wherein the locking key is provided on the locking key cover, a first end portion of the locking key is connected to a wire of the button system, a second end portion of the locking key is engaged with one of the three stepped portions of the cam, and the locking key spring applies a force to the locking key in a direction toward the one stepped portion.

14. The rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the locking key includes a main body and a guide rod, the main body is accommodated in the locking key cover, is provided to penetrate the brake wheel cover opening portion of the upper brake wheel cover, and is engaged with the one stepped portion of the cam, the guide rod protrudes from the locking key cover, and the locking key spring is provided on the guide rod.

15. A console assembly comprising:
a console;
the rotatable armrest apparatus of claim 1 , and
a connection device configured to install the rotatable armrest apparatus on the console.

16. The console assembly of claim 15 , wherein the connection device includes a hinge mounting bolt for installing an armrest assembly on the console.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Nifco Korea Inc
• Seoyon E Hwa Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li cheng kun
• Sang Chun Lei
• Bae Won Young
• Choi Bong Ju
• Kim Dae Kyo

Classifications

• B60N2/767 Primary

  Angle adjustment · CPC title

• B60N2/753

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• B60N2/943

  Stepwise movement mechanisms, e.g. ratchets · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

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