Patent ID: 6578922
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
A fixing device for a removable armrest, the device comprising a rigid cylindrical support shaft and a rigid housing, are for fixing to an armrest and the other to a seat, at least one locking member projecting laterally from said support shaft, the housing extending for a certain distance along a central axis and comprising:a plastics material ring having a cylindrical tubular duct extending along the central axis between a rear end and a front end which is open and adapted to receive the support shaft, enabling said support shaft to turn about the central axis while said support shaft is being mounted, the plastics material ring also comprising a rearwardly-open locking recess adapted to receive the locking member of the support shaft and to co-operate by abutment with said locking member to prevent relative pivoting between the support shaft and the housing once said support shaft is mounted in said housing; a metal reinforcing strength member surrounding the plastics material ring in contact with the tubular duct of said plastics material ring; and a return spring adapted to urge the support shaft forwards when said support shaft is received in the tubular duct; wherein the tubular duct of the plastics material ring is adapted to co-operate by receiving the support shaft without clearance over a major portion of the length of the housing, said tubular duct having at least one axial slot which extends between an open front end opening out in the front end of said tubular duct and a closed rear end, and the tubular duct of the plastics material ring further having at least one circumferential slot which extends between a first end communicating with the rear end of the axial slot and a second end communicating with the locking recess, said axial and circumferential slots being adapted to receive the locking member of the support shaft when the support shaft is mounted in the housing; and wherein the metal strength member is adapted to co-operate with said locking member of the support shaft by coming into abutment therewith when said locking member is to be found in the locking recess of the housing so as to prevent relative pivoting between the support shaft and the housing about the central axis.