Patent ID: 6382726
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A motor-vehicle armrest comprising:a pivot part defining a fixed axis; a body part pivotal about the axis on the pivot part; means including upper and lower stops on the parts for pivoting of the body part on the pivot part about the axis only between an upper end position and a lower end position; an arcuate array of angularly spaced teeth on one of the parts; a latch member angularly fixed to and displaceable on the other of the parts and having an end engage able radially with the teeth; an entrainment pin projecting axially from and fixed to the latch member; a flexible guide strip having an inner end fixed on the one toothed part and an outer end bearing elastically radially on the one toothed part at an intermediate position passed by the pin before the body part reaches the upper end position and outwardly elastically deflectable flectable by the pin as the intermediate position is passed, formed between its ends with a notch through which the pin can pass radially when the body part is generally in the lower position, having between its ends a front surface engage able by the pin for outward deflection of the outer end as the intermediate position is passed, having between its ends a back surface engage able by the pin to deflect the member out of radial engagement with the teeth on movement of the body part from the upper position back past the intermediate position toward the lower position; and spring means braced between the other latch-carrying part and the latch member and urging the member end into ratcheting engagement between the teeth on movement of the pivot part from the lower position toward the intermediate position and into engagement with the back guide-strip surface on movement of the body part from the intermediate position back to the lower position.