Hidden type holder device, vehicle armrest including holder device, and transportation means including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11958396-B2
Application number	US-202117534278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2021
Priority date	Apr 25, 2021
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

A hidden type holder device includes: a stationary assembly, a movable assembly, and a first return spring, the movable assembly is accommodated in the stationary assembly and movable to the inside or outside of the stationary assembly, the movable assembly has a retractable holder assembly for accommodating an article, and two opposite end portions of the return spring are respectively mounted on the stationary assembly and the movable assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A holder apparatus comprising:
a stationary assembly, a movable assembly, and a first return spring,
wherein the movable assembly is accommodated in the stationary assembly and movable to the inside or outside of the stationary assembly,
wherein the movable assembly has a retractable holder assembly for accommodating an article, and
wherein first and second end portions of the first return spring are mounted on the stationary assembly and the movable assembly, respectively,
wherein the stationary assembly includes stationary covers, rails, and racks,
wherein the stationary covers include an upper cover and a lower cover, and the upper cover and the lower cover form a housing for accommodating the movable assembly,
wherein an opening is provided at a front end portion of the housing, and the movable assembly is movable to the inside or outside of the housing through the opening, and
wherein the rails guide movement of the movable assembly.

2. The holder apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the rails include a first rail and a second rail, and the first rail and the second rail are provided at lateral sides of the upper cover,
wherein the racks are provided on at least one side of the lower cover, and
wherein each of the rails includes a rail groove, the movable assembly has a guide block, and the guide block is disposed in the rail groove.

3. The holder apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion of the first return spring is provided at a rear side of the movable assembly, the second end portion of the first return spring is provided at a front side of the stationary assembly, and the first return spring is elastically biased to push the movable assembly forward to move the movable assembly to the outside of the stationary assembly.

4. The holder apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the movable assembly includes a movable housing, a power transmission device, and the retractable holder assembly, and
wherein when the movable assembly moves forward or rearward, the power transmission device transmits power to the retractable holder assembly.

5. The holder apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the movable housing includes an upper movable cover and a lower movable cover, and the power transmission device and the retractable holder assembly are accommodated in the movable housing.

6. The holder apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the power transmission device includes a movable gear, a rotation gear, and a ring gear, and
wherein the movable gear is engaged with a first rack positioned on the stationary assembly, the ring gear is provided on a holder body of the retractable holder assembly, and the rotation gear is located between and engaged to the movable gear and the ring gear.

7. The holder apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the movable assembly further includes a balance gear, the balance gear is engaged with a second rack positioned on the stationary assembly, and the second rack is positioned at a place on the stationary assembly opposite to the first rack.

8. The holder apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the movable assembly further includes an endplate, and the endplate is positioned at a front end portion of the movable assembly.

9. The holder apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the retractable holder assembly includes a holder body, a ring gear, and retractable portions,
wherein the holder body is a hollow body,
wherein the ring gear is disposed around an external periphery of the holder body and coupled to the power transmission device to rotate the holder body, and
wherein the retractable portions are movable upward or downward relative to the holder body, respectively, and
wherein when the movable assembly moves forward, the holder body moves the retractable portions upward or downward by being rotated by power transmitted from the power transmission device.

10. The holder apparatus of claim 9 ,
wherein the holder body has guide grooves,
wherein the retractable portions have guide pins, and
wherein the guide pins are engaged in the guide grooves, and
wherein when the holder body rotates, the guide pins and the guide grooves are engaged to move the retractable portions in an upward direction or a downward direction thereof.

11. The holder apparatus of claim 10 ,
wherein each of the guide grooves includes a horizontal portion and an inclined portion, and the inclined portion is positioned at an end portion of the horizontal portion and inclined from the end portion of the horizontal portion.

12. The holder apparatus of claim 11 ,
wherein the retractable portions include an upper retractable portion and a lower retractable portion, the upper retractable portion is positioned above the holder body and movable upward, and the lower retractable portion is positioned below the holder body and movable downward, and
wherein the guide grooves include an upper guide groove and a lower guide groove, an inclined portion of the upper guide groove is inclined upward, and an inclined portion of the lower guide groove is inclined downward.

13. The holder apparatus of claim 12 , wherein each of the retractable portions includes a folding flap.

14. The holder apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the folding flap has a stopper and a second return spring.

15. The holder apparatus of claim 14 ,
wherein the second spring includes an upper return spring and a lower return spring,
wherein the upper retractable portion includes an upper folding flap,
wherein the upper folding flap is bent downward and positioned at a horizontal position by upward elasticity of the upper return spring, and
wherein the lower retractable portion includes a lower folding flap, and the lower folding flap is bent upward and positioned at a horizontal position by downward elasticity of the lower return spring.

16. The holder apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the movable housing has a sliding groove, and the holder body is mounted in the sliding groove and rotatable relative to the sliding groove.

17. The holder apparatus of claim 1 , further including a locking device, wherein the locking device includes a locking pin and a locking groove, the locking pin is provided on one of the stationary assembly and the movable assembly, and the locking groove is provided on a remaining one of the stationary assembly and the movable assembly.

18. A vehicle armrest including the holder device of claim 1 .

19. A transportation means including the holder device of claim 1 .

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60N3/102 Primary

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

• B60N2/793

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title

• B60N2/773 Primary

  Longitudinal adjustment · CPC title

• B60N2/79

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

• B60N2/753

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title