Console armrest assembly with dampening strut and integrated inertial lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9415710-B2
Application number	US-201414560618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A console armrest assembly includes a support, a displaceable cover and a hinge pivotally attaching that cover to the support. A dampening strut is connected between the hinge and the support. Further, a detent mechanism is carried on the strut and a support for holding the cover in a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A console armrest assembly comprising:
a support;
a cover displaceable between an open position and a closed position;
a hinge pivotally attaching said cover to said support;
a dampening strut connected between said hinge and said support;
a detent carried on said strut and a leaf spring retainer carried on said support for holding said cover in said closed position, said leaf spring retainer including a distal end having a first cam surface projecting toward said detent.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said detent has a second cooperating cam surface that wipes said first cam surface when said cover is displaced between said open and closed positions.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further including an inertial lock for securing said cover in said closed position in response to a high-G force condition.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said inertial lock includes a pivoting catch and a cooperating latching lug.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein said catch is displaceable between a home position and a deployed position and a biasing element is provided to bias said catch into the home position.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein (a) said leaf spring retainer is carried on a mounting plate attached to said support, (b) said catch is carried on said strut and (c) said cooperating inertial latching lug is a flange on said mounting plate.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said mounting plate includes a base section, a first arm, a second arm and a slot between said first and second arms.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein said first arm carries said leaf spring retainer and said second arm carries said inertial latching lug.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a fastener secures one end of said strut and said mounting plate to said support.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said assembly further includes an inertial lock for securing said cover in said closed position in response to a high-G force condition.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein said inertial lock comprises a catch pivotally connected to said strut and a latching lug carried on a mounting plate secured to said support.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein said catch is displaceable between a home position and a deployed position and a biasing element is provided to bias said catch into the home position.

13. A vehicle incorporating the console armrest assembly of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Simon Scott
• Fesenmyer Christopher Emery

Classifications

• B60N2/753 Primary

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title

• E05F5/06

  Buffers {or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stops}(E05F5/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R7/04 Primary

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

• E05B83/32

  for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats · CPC title

• B60N2/793 Primary

  for use as storage compartments · CPC title