Adjustable armrest

An armrest for a vehicle includes an armrest element and a floating support assembly configured for selectively pivoting the armrest element in a vehicle-fore and -aft motion. The floating support assembly includes at least one vertically translatable support arm pivotally attached to the armrest element. The at least one vertically translatable support arm may be operatively supported by a resilient member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to an adjustable armrest and to a motor vehicle including such an adjustable armrest.

BACKGROUND

Occupants in a motor vehicle are typically provided one or more armrests, providing a platform to rest a portion of the occupant's arm while operating or riding in the vehicle. Typically at least exterior armrests are provided, most often armrests disposed on or near a vehicle door. In left-hand drive vehicles the occupants of the driver's side of the vehicle have at least a left-hand armrest and the occupants of the passenger's side of the vehicle have at least a right-hand armrest. This configuration is reversed in right-hand drive vehicles.

It is also known to provide interior armrests, often associated with the vehicle seat or with a center console. Interior armrests are most typically associated with vehicles automatic transmissions. This is because for vehicles equipped with manual transmissions and especially for manual transmission drive vehicles equipped with gearshift levers, the driver requires a certain degree of mobility for the arm used to actuate the gearshift lever which is usually disposed centrally in the vehicle, such as on or near a center console, on the steering wheel column, etc. Conventional fixed armrest structures are too large and do not allow any degree of adjustment to allow use by the driver but also to provide the necessary flexibility and range of driver arm motion needed to operate the manual transmission gearshift lever.

In order to rectify this situation, a need is identified for an armrest for a motor vehicle that allows a range of adjustments to accommodate a drivers arm while actuating a manual transmission gearshift lever, as well as for a motor vehicle seat and motor vehicle including such an armrest.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, in one aspect, an armrest for a vehicle is described comprising an armrest element and a floating support assembly. The floating support assembly is configured for selectively pivoting the armrest element in a vehicle-fore and -aft motion by way of at least one vertically translatable support arm pivotally attached to the armrest element. In embodiments, the floating support includes a pair of independently vertically translatable support arms.

In embodiments, the at least one vertically translatable support arm is operatively supported by a resilient member and includes at least one retaining notch. In embodiments, the at least one vertically translatable support arm includes a plurality of vertically stacked retaining notches. The assembly further may include a retainer configured to releasably engage the plurality of vertically stacked notches to maintain a particular preferred support arm vertical position. The armrest assembly may be configured to be associated with one of a vehicle seat, a vehicle passenger cabin floor, or a vehicle center console.

In another aspect, a vehicle center console assembly is described, comprising a center console and an armrest assembly as described above.

In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the described adjustable armrest. As it should be realized, the armrest is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the armrest as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the described armrest, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preliminarily, the present disclosure primarily describes an adjustable armrest associated with a center console of a manual transmission-equipped vehicle including a manual transmission gearshift lever. However, the skilled artisan will appreciate from the disclosure that the described system is readily adaptable to other vehicle types such as automatic transmission-equipped vehicles, manual transmission-equipped vehicles including steering wheel-mounted shifting paddles, and others. Further, the described armrest could easily be mounted to a center console, to a vehicle seat structure, to a passenger cabin floor, or others. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings that follow will not be taken as limiting in regard to the above-described features.

Reference is now made toFIG. 1illustrating an armrest assembly100for a motor vehicle. The armrest assembly100includes a floating support assembly102comprising at least one vertically translatable (arrows A) support arm104pivotally connected to an armrest element106. In the depicted embodiment, the support arm104is pivotally connected to the armrest element106by way of a U-bracket108and cooperating pin110, although any suitable pivoting connection is contemplated. In the depicted embodiment the at least one vertically translatable support arm104is slidingly disposed in a recess, sheath, or slot111disposed in a vehicle center console assembly112.

By the term “floating” support assembly102, it is meant that the at least one vertically translatable support arm104is configured to selectively vertically translate the armrest element106to provide a fore-and-aft pivoting motion of the armrest element. As will be appreciated, this allows adjustment of an angle at which the armrest element106is held, to improve user comfort.

In one embodiment, this is accomplished by operatively supporting the at least one vertically translatable support arm104pivotally by a resilient member114. In the depicted embodiment the resilient member114is a coil spring disposed below the at least one vertically translatable support arm to allow a selective up-and-down motion of the support arm and thereby of a portion of the armrest element106. However, it will be appreciated that use of any suitable resilient member is contemplated.

In an embodiment as shown inFIG. 2, the floating support assembly102comprises a pair of vertically translatable support arms104a,104beach operatively supported by a resilient member114a,114b. As will be appreciated, this arrangement allows vertical translation of a fore portion116aand an aft portion116bof the armrest element106(see arrows A) independently of one another, allowing a pivoting or rocking motion of the armrest element. By this configuration, a fore- and aft-(relative to a longitudinal orientation of the armrest element106and of the vehicle) may be adjusted as desired. Indeed, by the described mechanism the armrest element106may be allowed to simply “float” to accommodate a changing fore-and-aft angle of a user's arm (not shown).

Advantageously, the floating support assembly102may also be provided with a retainer mechanism to allow a particular desired fore-and-aft angle of the armrest element106to be established according to user preference and then fixed in place. In an embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2this is provided by one or more retaining notches118defined in a vertically stacked configuration in the vertically translatable support arm104. A translatable (arrows B) retainer120is provided, configured to releasably engage the vertically stacked retaining notches118. Similar arrangements are known for controlling displacement and height of, for example, adjustable vehicle seat headrests.

As will be appreciated, once a fore and/or aft portion116a,116bof the armrest element106has been translated to a desired height to provide the desired angle for the armrest element, the retainer120may be translated to engage a retaining notch118. As will also be appreciated, the specific number of retaining notches118may be altered as needed to provide the desired range of motion of a support arm104.

It will be appreciated that use of any suitable retainer mechanism is contemplated, including without intending any limitation constant-force, ratcheting, and friction mechanisms. For example, use of tape spring mechanisms, ratcheting lock/latch mechanisms, and camming lock/latch mechanisms is contemplated.

The advantages of the described armrest assembly100are apparent, allowing a range of adjustability of the armrest element106as described above for user comfort. In one particular embodiment (seeFIG. 3A), the armrest assembly100is associated with by a center console112of a vehicle300. In the depicted embodiment, the vehicle300is a manual transmission drive vehicle including a manual transmission gearshift lever302also associated with the center console112, and near a vehicle instrument panel304. The center console112is disposed between the vehicle front seat assemblies306a,306b. Thus, by the floating and adjustable armrest assembly100as described, the vehicle300driver (not shown) is able to utilize the armrest element106not only for convenience and comfort, but also positioned at a suitable fore-and-aft angle to allow comfortable and safe operation of the gearshift lever302.

The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, alternative placements of the armrest assembly100are contemplated. For example, as shown inFIG. 3Bthe assembly100could be disposed adjacent to the center console112, for example associated with one of the driver's side seat assembly306aor with a floor308of the vehicle300passenger cabin. Still further, in a vehicle without a center console but with a center gearshift lever, the armrest assembly100could be associated with a portion of the passenger cabin floor normally occupied by a center console (embodiment not shown).

All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.