Abstract:
A rear monitor mounting structure may include an armrest having a recess formed in an upper portion and an armrest hinge portion provided on one end thereof, a rear monitor mount provided in the one end of the armrest and pivotally coupled to the armrest hinge portion of the armrest, a vertical rotary motor fixed to the armrest hinge portion and coupled to the rear monitor mount to selectively rotate the rear monitor mount, wherein the vertical rotary motor is co-axially aligned with an armrest hinge shaft pivotally coupling the armrest and a center console, and a rear monitor connected to the rear monitor mount, wherein the rear monitor rotates toward or away from the recess according to a rotation angle of the rear monitor mount with respect to the armrest hinge shaft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Number 10-2009-0081396 filed on Aug. 31, 2009, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest, and in particular, to one which includes an armrest having a recess formed in the upper portion and an armrest hinge provided on one end, a rear monitor mount provided in the recess and rotatable about a shaft extending parallel with an armrest hinge shaft, a vertical rotary motor coupled to the armrest hinge, for rotating the rear monitor mount, and a rear monitor connected to the rear monitor mount, wherein the rear monitor rotates toward or away from the recess according to rotation angles of the rear monitor mount. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    A car rear monitor is generally mounted on the rear side of a front seat or on a center console. 
         [0006]    The rear monitor located on the rear side of the front seat provides a good view to only the passenger seated behind the front seat, but the other rear seat passengers have difficulty in watching the rear monitor. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a conventional rear monitor mounting structure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a rear monitor  50  mounted on the rear part of the center console  10  can provide convenience to all rear seat passengers. However, this configuration still has several problems. 
         [0008]    First, it is difficult to utilize the space around the center console  10  since a separate bracket  20 , on which the rear monitor  50  is mounted, is provided on the rear part of the center console  10 . In addition, the load of torque for driving the rear monitor  50  has to be increased when the rear monitor  50  is in use since the rear monitor  50  is spaced at a predetermined distance “a” from the rotary shaft in order to not obstruct an outlet port  60  of an air conditioner duct for the rear seat passenger. Accordingly, the capacity of the motor is inevitably enhanced, and noise is increased. 
         [0009]    Second, aesthetic appearance is negatively affected and installation is cumbersome since the rear monitor is mounted separate from the armrest. 
         [0010]    The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Various aspects of the present invention provide a rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest, which can more efficiently utilize the space around a center console, minimize a drive motor of a rear monitor, and reduce noise. 
         [0012]    There is also provided a rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest, which has an excellent aesthetic appearance and can be easily provided in a module since a rear motor is provided integrally with the armrest. 
         [0013]    In an aspect of the invention, the rear monitor mounting structure, may include an armrest having a recess formed in an upper portion and an armrest hinge portion provided on one end thereof; a rear monitor mount provided in the one end of the armrest and pivotally coupled to the armrest hinge portion of the armrest; a vertical rotary motor fixed to the armrest hinge portion and coupled to the rear monitor mount to selectively rotate the rear monitor mount, wherein the vertical rotary motor is co-axially aligned with an armrest hinge shaft pivotally coupling the armrest and a center console; and a rear monitor connected to the rear monitor mount, wherein the rear monitor rotates toward or away from the recess according to a rotation angle of the rear monitor mount with respect to the armrest hinge shaft. 
         [0014]    The rear monitor mounting structure may further include a planetary gearing, a portion of which is fixed to the inner circumference of the rear monitor mount, wherein the planetary gearing is meshed with a drive shaft of the vertical rotary motor to rotate the rear monitor mount with respect to the armrest hinge shaft. 
         [0015]    The rear monitor mounting structure may further include a first rotary gear fixed to the rear monitor and a second rotary gear fixed to a horizontal rotary motor fixed to the rear monitor mount, wherein the first and second rotary gears are rotatably coupled to the rear monitor mount, and the first and second rotary gears and the horizontal rotary motor are provided inside the rear monitor mount, and wherein a rotary shaft of the first rotary gear is coupled to the rear monitor and extends perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft toward the rear monitor mount. 
         [0016]    The horizontal rotary motor may be aligned in parallel to the armrest hinge shaft and rotates the second rotary gear to actuate the first rotary gear. 
         [0017]    The first and second rotary gears may include a bevel gear with teeth formed on the outer circumference thereof to be meshed each other, and a rotary shaft of the second rotary gear is aligned to be perpendicular to a rotary shaft of the first rotary gear. 
         [0018]    According to various aspects of the present invention, the rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest has the following advantageous effects. 
         [0019]    First, the space around the center console can be utilized more efficiently, the drive motor of the rear monitor can be miniaturized, and noise can be reduced. 
         [0020]    Second, since the rear monitor is integrally provided with the armrest, the rear monitor mounting structure has an excellent aesthetic appearance and can be easily provided in a module. 
         [0021]    The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description of the Invention, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a conventional rear monitor mounting structure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the rear monitor mount of the rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest shown in  FIG. 2 , viewed from a rear seat, when the rear motor is in use. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
         [0027]    In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the rear monitor mount of the rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest shown in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest shown in  FIG. 2 , viewed from a rear seat, when the rear motor is in use. 
         [0030]    The rear monitor mounting structure integrated with an armrest in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an armrest  100 , a rear monitor mount  200 , a vertical rotary motor  300 , and a rear monitor  500 . The armrest  100  has a recess  110  in the top portion thereof and armrest hinge portions  130  on one end thereof. 
         [0031]    The rear monitor mount  200  is provided in the recess  110 , and is rotatable about a rotary shaft extending parallel with the armrest hinge  120 . The vertical rotary motor  300  is coupled with the armrest hinge portions  130  and serves to rotate the rear monitor mount  200 . The rear monitor  500  is connected to the rear monitor mount  200 . The rear monitor  500  rotates toward or away from the recess  110  according to the rotation angle of the rear monitor mount  200 . 
         [0032]    According to the conventional art, the center console is equipped with the separate bracket  20  such that the rear monitor  50  can be mounted on the center console. In contrast, the rear monitor mounting structure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention allows the rear monitor  500  to be directly installed in the armrest  100 , thereby efficiently using the space around the center console when compared to the conventional art. 
         [0033]    In addition, the recess  110  capable of receiving the rear monitor  500  therein is formed in the armrest  100 . Since the rear monitor  500  can rotate toward or away from the recess  110  according to the rotation angle of the rear monitor mount  200 , the use of the space around the center console can be advantageously maximized. 
         [0034]    In the conventional art, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the rear monitor  50  is spaced at a predetermined distance “a” from the rotary shaft. This, however, disadvantageously increases torque for driving the rear monitor  50  when the rear monitor  50  is in use. In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 4 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rear monitor  500  is spaced at a very small distance “b” from the rotary shaft. This configuration can reduce the amount of torque required for the rear monitor  500  when compared to the conventional art. As a result, the size of the motor can be reduced. 
         [0035]    Support brackets (not shown) are provided on both ends of the armrest  100 , protruding from the center console  152  inside the armrest hinge portions  130 . The armrest hinge shaft  120  is rotatably coupled with the support brackets. Accordingly, in the case where the armrest  100  is raised, it can be rotated about the armrest hinge shaft  120 . 
         [0036]    The body of the vertical rotary motor  300  is fixed to the armrest hinge  130 , and the drive shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  is coupled to the rear monitor mount  200 . Thus, even if the drive shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  is rotating, the armrest hinge portions  130 , to which the body of the vertical rotary motor  300  is coupled, can remain fixed without rotation. At the same time, the rear monitor mount  200  coupled with the drive shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  can rotate in parallel with the armrest hinge shaft  120 . 
         [0037]    A planetary gearing  310  is provided on the inner circumference of the rear monitor mount  200 . The planetary gearing  310  is meshed with the drive shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the planetary gearing  310  is used to rotate the rear monitor mount  200 . The planetary gearing  310  can provide stable rotation and reduce the amount of load applied to each gear due to its structure, in which all gears are meshed with each other. When compared to other gear systems, the planetary gearing  310  advantageously occupies a relatively smaller space in order to transfer the same amount of rotation force. 
         [0039]    As a result, since the distance “b” between the rear monitor  500  and the rotary shaft is reduced and the planetary gearing  310  is mounted inside the rear monitor mount  200 , the rear monitor mounting structure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention can produce at least the same power as or more power than the conventional structure does even if its motor generates a smaller amount of power. In addition, power consumption is reduced due to the miniaturization of the motor, space utilization is improved due to the use of the planetary gearing, and noise is reduced. 
         [0040]    In addition, a first rotary gear  410 , a second rotary gear  415 , and a horizontal rotary motor  400  are provided inside the rear monitor mount  200 . The first rotary gear  410  is fixedly coupled with the rear monitor  500 , with a rotary shaft extending perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120 , and the horizontal rotary motor  400  serves to rotate the first rotary gear  410 . 
         [0041]    The rear monitor  500  is retracted into the armrest recess  110  when it is not in use. If the horizontal rotary motor  400  is not provided in the rear monitor mount  200 , the rear monitor  500  can be rotated only in the protruding direction or the retracting direction by the vertical rotary motor  300 . Accordingly, the rear monitor  500  is retracted into the armrest recess  110  with a liquid crystal panel (not shown) facing a vehicle body roof (not shown) when it is not in use. 
         [0042]    In this case, however, the liquid crystal panel of the rear monitor  500  may be accidentally damaged by the passenger since the liquid crystal panel is exposed to the outside. 
         [0043]    In order to solve the foregoing problem, the first rotary gear  410  fixedly coupled to rear monitor  500 , with a rotary shaft of the first rotary gear  410  extending perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120 , and the horizontal rotary motor  400  fixed to the second rotary gear  410  rotating the first rotary gear  410  are provided inside the rear monitor mount  200 . 
         [0044]    Due to this configuration, the rear monitor  500  can rotate in the direction perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120  during retraction into the recess  110 , and the liquid crystal panel of the rear monitor  500  can face downwards after retraction into the recess  110 . This, as a result, can protect the liquid crystal display of the monitor  500  and improve aesthetic appearance. 
         [0045]    The first and second rotary gears  410  and  415  are a bevel gear having teeth formed on the outer circumference thereof. The horizontal rotary motor  400  has a rotary shaft extending perpendicular to that of the bevel gear and teeth formed on the outer circumference thereof, corresponding to those of the bevel gear. 
         [0046]    The first rotary gear  410  having the rotary shaft perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120  is attached to the underside of the rear monitor  500 , and the horizontal rotary motor  400  fixed to the second rotary gear  415  for rotating the first rotary gear  410  is provided in the rear monitor mount  200 . If the first and second rotary gear  410  and  415  were a spur gear, the rotating part of the horizontal rotary motor  400  will be in the shape of a spur gear, corresponding to the rotary gear. As a result, the rotary shaft of the horizontal rotary motor will be perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120 . 
         [0047]    However, the configuration of the rotary shaft of the rear monitor mount  200 , on which the horizontal rotary motor  400  is provided, arranged to be parallel to the armrest hinge shaft  120  leads to a structural problem: the monitor mount  200  and the horizontal rotary motor  400  may collide into each other if the shaft of the horizontal rotary motor  400  were perpendicular to the armrest hinge shaft  120  as described above. In addition, the space inside the rear monitor mount  200  is not efficiently used. 
         [0048]    Accordingly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first rotary gear  410  is constructed as a bevel gear with teeth formed on the outer circumference thereof, and the rotating part of the horizontal rotary motor  400  is also provided with the second rotary gear  415  having teeth corresponding to those of the first rotary gear  410  (i.e., the bevel gear). Then, the horizontal rotary motor  400  is provided such that the rotary shaft thereof extends perpendicular to the rotary shaft of the first rotary gear  410  (i.e., the bevel gear). 
         [0049]    Due to the above-described configuration, the rotary shaft of the horizontal rotary motor  400  is provided in parallel to the armrest hinge shaft  120 . This, as a result, makes it possible to prevent harmful contact between the rear monitor mount  200  and the horizontal rotary motor  400  as well as to enhance the utilization of the space inside the rear monitor mount  200 . 
         [0050]    The rotary shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  and the armrest hinge shaft  120  can be arranged on the same line. 
         [0051]    Since the rotary shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  is coaxial with the rotary shaft of the rear monitor mount  200 , the rotary shaft of the vertical rotary motor  300  can be arranged on the same line as the armrest hinge shaft  120 . 
         [0052]    Due to the above-described configuration, the armrest  100  and the rear monitor  500  can be easily provided in a module and the number of parts to be used is reduced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. 
         [0053]    For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the term “upper” is used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
         [0054]    The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.