The invention relates to an armrest for a seat, in particular for a vehicle seat. An armrest of this kind comprises a base part and an arm that is pivotably mounted on the base part. The arm is movable relative to the base about the pivot axis between a non-use and a use position.

EP 1 311 177 [U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,978] discloses an armrest comprising a guide means that has two coaxial sleeves, wherein one sleeve is retained on the seat structure and a second sleeve is retained on the arm. A link is formed in the first sleeve, in which link a pin that is rigidly connected to the second sleeve engages. The link extends helically in the peripheral direction and in the longitudinal direction of the first sleeve. In this manner, when moved from the non-use position into the use position, the arm is also moved in the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis, in addition to the pivot movement.

DE 20 2015 103 426 describes an armrest comprising an arm that is displaceable relative to a base part, in the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis, and pivotable about the pivot axis in order to move the armrest between a non-use position and a use position, and to store it, in the non-use position, in a manner requiring less space.

The armrest according to DE 10 2007 014 232 [U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,402] is displaceable relative to a base, in the longitudinal direction of a pivot axis, and pivotable about the pivot axis between a vertical and a horizontal position. In this way, the arm can be stowed in a recess of the seat, when in the non-use position, and does not occupy any space to the side of the seat.

The armrest according to FR 2 885 329 comprises a base, an arm, and an intermediate element. Together with the base, the intermediate element forms a first swivel joint having a vertical pivot axis. Together with the intermediate element, the arm forms a second swivel joint having a horizontal pivot axis. When moving from a stowage position into a use position, the arm is pivoted about the vertical pivot axis and subsequently in addition about the horizontal pivot axis.

The object of the invention was that of providing an armrest that is movable in the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis and is pivotable about the pivot axis, wherein movement between a stowage position and the use position, and the return movement, can be performed more easily.

The object was achieved by an armrest having the features of claim 1.

The armrest according to the invention comprises a base and an arm that can be moved by a mount between at least one use position and a non-use position. The base is formed for example by a vehicle structure or the structure of a seat. The base can for example also be formed by a part that is rigidly connected to a seat.

The mount guides the arm upon movement between the non-use position and the at least one use position. During movement between the non-use position and the use position, the arm performs both a movement axially of the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis, and a rotational movement about the pivot axis. The arm is movable, for example by an axial guide, in a first direction between a proximal and a distal position relative to the base, and is pivotable by a rotational guide between a primary and a secondary position. Movement axially of the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis, and the rotational movement about the pivot axis, can be performed successively or at the same time. The guide can for example be formed by a link in which a sliding block is guided.

The armrest has an actuator comprising a motor drive. The motor drive is provided with a drive part that is movable in a first direction between a first and a second position in order to displace the arm between the non-use position and the use position, at least in part. For example, the drive part displaces the arm merely axially between the proximal and the distal position. Within the meaning of the invention, the terms “first direction” and “second direction” are not to be understood merely as simple spatial directions, but can also be understood as an orientation on a motion path that is covered for example in opposing directions.

The motor drive is formed for example by a linear drive. Other drives are alternatively also possible, however. The linear drive is formed for example by a spindle that interacts with a spindle nut, wherein the spindle or the spindle nut is driven by a motor in order to move the drive part between the first and the second position.

The actuator has for example a spring that can be tensioned upon movement of the drive part or of a separate second drive part between the first position and the second position. The spring also allows for the arm to be moved axially in a second direction that is directed opposite the first direction. If a separate drive part is provided for tensioning the spring, the actuator has for example a separate motor therefor, for the purpose of driving the drive part. The spring can be tensioned for example upon a movement of the drive part form the first position into the second position. Alternatively, the spring can be tensioned upon movement of the drive part from the second position into the first position.

The invention is advantageous inter alia in that moving the arm by the spring, in part, makes it possible to prevent the risk of jamming, without complex sensors or overload protection means being required therefor. If for example the critical movement of the arm from the use position into the non-use position, in which there is a risk of a seat occupant's extremities becoming trapped between the arm and the seat, is performed by spring force, injuries are prevented.

One embodiment is characterized in that the base is provided with first guide element that interact with second guide element that are associated with the arm. The first guide element and the second guide element form for example an axial guide and/or a rotational guide for the arm. The first and second guide element guide the arm, for example upon movement between the proximal and distal position and/or upon movement between the primary position and the secondary position.

The first guide element and/or the second guide element are formed for example by a tube, and the guide elements are movable telescopically with respect to one another. This embodiment is space-saving, since, in the non-use position, the first and the second guide element are nested, and in the use position are arranged having only a slight overlap. Furthermore, if the first and the second guide element are formed by a tube there is space available in the interior of the inner tube for further components of the armrest.

One embodiment is characterized in that, upon a movement of the drive part between the first position and the second position, the second guide element are displaceable relative to the first guide element between the proximal position and the distal position. The second guide element are for example linearly displaceable between the proximal position and the distal position. The second guide element are therefore displaced from the proximal position into the distal position, or from the distal position into the proximal position by the motor drive of the drive part. In the proximal position and/or in the distal position, the two guide elements can for example be latched such that a return movement is possible only in a specified position of the arm.

Armrest according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second guide element comprise a stop face that interacts with a driving surface of the drive part such that the second guide element are entrained when the drive part moves in a first direction, and are detachable from one another in the case of a movement in a second direction. Since the drive part is only loosely connected to the second guide element, it is possible for the second guide element to be entrained only upon one of the movements, from the first position into the second position, of the drive part, or from the second position into the first position, of the drive part, and is able to detach from the second guide element in the case of the opposing movement.

One embodiment is characterized in that a tension rod is rigidly connected to the drive part or to a separate drive part of the actuator, and in that a first spring end of a spring is supported on the tension rod. The drive part can move the tension rod such that the spring is tensioned and loads the second guide element into the proximal position or into the distal position. The same drive part can be used for movement of the tension rod as moves the second positive connection means, or a separate drive part of the actuator that is provided with a separate drive. In order to move the second guide element, for example a second spring end is supported on a contact surface of the second guide element. A first spring end is supported for example on a contact surface of the tension rod.

In particular, for example in the case of a movement of the drive means from the first position into the second position, the second guide mans can be moved out of the proximal position and into the distal position. Alternatively, in the case of a movement of the drive part from the second position into the first position, the second guide element can be moved out of the distal position and into the proximal position.

In the case of a return movement of the drive part from the second position into the first position, the spring can be tensioned by the tension rod. Alternatively, the tension rod is moved by the drive part, upon the return movement from the first position into the second position, such that the spring is tensioned.

In addition, the arm can be moved into contact with a separate spring, approximately 20° before reaching the secondary position, which spring brakes the arm at this swivel angle, wherein the spring is tensioned.

One embodiment is characterized in that a damper is provided for damping the pivot movement of the arm from the non-use position into the use position. In this way, the arm is pivoted into the use position in a damped manner.

According to a further embodiment, the pivot movement of the arm is assisted by a spring. For example, movement of the arm from an approximately vertical position into an approximately horizontal position may be spring-loaded. Alternatively, movement of the arm from the horizontal position into the vertical position may be spring-loaded.

Further advantages of the invention can be seen with reference to an embodiment that is shown schematically in the figures. In said figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backrest of a vehicle seat comprising an armrest according to the invention, wherein the armrest is in a non-use position,

FIG. 2 is a view of the backrest based on FIG. 1, wherein the arm is moved in the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis, from a proximal position into a distal position,

FIG. 3 shows the backrest based on FIG. 2, wherein the armrest is pivoted into a use position,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the backrest according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the backrest according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the backrest according to FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view according to the cutting line A-A in FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the armrest according to the cutting line B-B in FIG. 5,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view according to the cutting line C-C in FIG. 6,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view according to the cutting line D-D in FIG. 4,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view according to the cutting line E-E in FIG. 5,

FIG. 12 is a sectional view according to the cutting line F-F in FIG. 6.

The armrest is denoted overall in the figures by reference sign 10. The same reference signs in different figures denote corresponding parts, even if lower-case letters follow or are omitted.

According to FIG. 1, the armrest 10 is fastened to the backrest 11 of a vehicle seat 12. A contact surface 49 of the backrest 11 is oriented in direction x1. The direction x1 corresponds for example to the straight travel direction of the vehicle, while the rear face 15 of the backrest is oriented in the opposing direction x2.

The seating surface of the vehicle seat is not shown. The armrest 10 is located in a non-use position, wherein a lower face 14 of an arm 13 opposes a rear race 15 (not visible in FIG. 1) of the backrest 11 at least in part. According to the invention, in the non-use position the arm protrudes laterally only slightly, or not at all, beyond a side face 16 of the backrest 11.

The arm 13 is movable axially of the longitudinal direction of a pivot axis a, in the directions y₁and y₂, and pivotable about the pivot axis a in the directions u₁and u₂(see FIGS. 2 and 3). In order to move the arm 13 out of the non-use position shown in FIG. 1 and into a use position, the arm 13 is first moved axially, in the direction y₁, out of a proximal position according to FIGS. 1 and 4 and into a distal position according to FIGS. 2 and 5, until the lower face 14 is located entirely to the side of the side face 16 (see FIG. 2). Subsequently, the arm 13 is pivoted about the pivot axis in direction u₁, into the use position that is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

The arm 10 has a mount 17 (see FIG. 7) that guides the arm 13 in the longitudinal direction of the pivot axis a between a proximal position according to FIG. 7 and a distal position according to FIG. 8, upon movement in direction y₁and y₂, and that guides the arm 13 between a primary position according to FIG. 8 and a secondary position according to FIG. 9, upon movement in the pivot directions u₁and u₂.

The mount 17 has second guide element in the form of a sleeve 18 that is rigidly connected, via an end piece of the sleeve 18, to the arm 13 by a fastening 26, and first guide element in the form of a sleeve 20 that is rigidly connected to a base 19. In this embodiment, the base 19 has a housing 37 that is rigidly connected to the structure of the backrest 11. The sleeves 18 and 20 are arranged so as to be coaxial to the pivot axis a and so as to be telescopically movable, i.e. the sleeve 18 is movable in direction y₁and y₂relative to the sleeve 20.

In FIG. 7, a spring 21 comprising an actuator 30 can be seen, which spring is arranged so as to be coaxial to the pivot axis a. One spring end 22 of the spring 21 is supported on a contact surface 41 of a profile element 43 of a tension rod 23 that is also part of the actuator 30. The tension rod 23 is rigidly connected to the drive part 29. By another spring end 24, the spring 21 is supported on a stop face 25 that is rigidly connected to the sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 has a stop face 27 that, according to FIG. 7, interacts with a driving surface 28 of a drive part 29 of the actuator 30.

The profile element 43 is rotationally connected to the sleeve 18, for example by a spline shaft profile. In this way, the pivot movement of the arm 13 in direction u₁is damped by a damper 39. A driver 45 of the damper is rotationally connected to the profile element 43.

In FIG. 7 a spring 31 can furthermore be seen, which spring loads the arm 13 in the pivot direction u₁. The spring 31 is designed as a torsion spring and one spring end thereof is supported on the base 19, e.g. on the housing 37, and another spring end is supported on the sleeve 18.

The actuator 30 is designed as a linear drive and has a motor 32 and a spindle 33. The spindle 33 is provided with an external thread 34 that is engaged in an internal thread 35 of a spindle nut 40 that is driven by the motor 32 and mounted on the motor 32. The motor 32 is rigidly connected to the drive part 29. The spindle 33 is mounted in bearings 36a and 36b that are retained on the housing 37 of the armrest 10. A guide rod 42 that is merely indicated by dashed lines is used as an anti-turn device for the drive part 29.

A controller (not shown) can be activated for example by a switch or a sensor. This causes the motor 32 to move the spindle nut 40 in a first direction of rotation, such that the drive part 29 that is rigidly connected to the motor 32 moves along the spindle 33 in direction y₁. In this case, the drive part 29 carries along the assembly consisting of the sleeve 18, tension rod 23 and springs 21 and 31, and moves the assembly relative to the sleeve 20, in direction y₁, out of the proximal position according to FIG. 7 and into the distal position according to FIG. 8.

In this case, the sleeve 18 is guided by an axial guide of the mount 17. This has a projection 44 that is formed on the sleeve 18 and engages in a guideway 46 that extends in direction y₁and is formed in the housing 37. The guideway 46 is designed such that the projection 44 has degrees of freedom in direction y₁and y₂, and a rotational movement of the sleeve 18 in direction u₁and u₂is prevented.

The guideway 46 ends in the distal position. Owing to the loading of the arm 13 by the spring 31 in direction u₁, the projection 44 is moved into a guide slot 47 of the mount 17 that forms a rotational guide that prevents movement of the projection 44 in the directions y₁and y₂but allows a movement in the directions u₁and u₂. The guide slot 47 thus locks the return movement of the sleeve 18 in direction y₂.

The arm 13 is moved by the spring 31, into the secondary position according to FIG. 9, wherein the projection 44 moves, in the guideway 47, into the position, shown in FIG. 12, at an end of the guideway 47. In the process, the damper 39 brakes movement of the arm 13 in direction u₁. In addition, the arm 13 could be braked by a separate spring approximately 20 degrees before reaching the secondary position, which separate spring is tensioned in this pivoting range until the secondary position is reached.

The motor 32 is now driven such that the pinion 40 moves the drive part 29 in direction y₂, wherein the tension rod 23 that is rigidly connected to the drive part 29 is entrained, together with the profile element 43, in direction y₂, and in the process tensions the spring 21 (see FIG. 9).

If the arm 13 is now intended to be moved into the non-use position, said support is pivoted manually about the pivot axis a in direction u₂, opposite the restoring force of the spring 31, until the primary position according to FIG. 8 is reached. In the process, the spring 31 is tensioned again. When the primary position is reached that corresponds to the distal position, the arm 13 is moved by the spring 21 in direction y₂, into the proximal position, wherein the projection 44 runs along the guideway 46.

Alternatively to the embodiment described here, the arm of the arm rest could be guided by a helical guideway, wherein movement between the proximal position and the distal position, and movement between the primary position and the secondary position takes place simultaneously.