Abstract:
A seat assembly includes an armrest attached to a seat, and an amrest coupling assembly for coupling the armrest to the seat comprising a linear adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest, and a rotational adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest. The linear adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to translate along an initial linear axis between a plurality of generally vertical positions. The rotational adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to pivot about the rotational axis between a plurality of angular positions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a seat assembly for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to seat assembly having an adjustable armrest.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Seat assemblies for motor vehicles typically include armrests which are pivotally adjustable between a first, stored position in which the armrest is substantially parallel to the seat back and a second, deployed position in which the armrest is substantially parallel to the floor of the vehicle and may be used to support the arms of the passenger. However, known armrest assemblies are fixed about a single pivot which is not adjustable to accommodate vehicle occupants of differing heights. Furthermore, such armrest assemblies are typically angularly adjustable between only a first, stored position and a second, deployed position.  
         [0003]     There exists a need for seat assembly having an armrest capable of both linear and angular adjustment through a plurality of selectable positions that is simple and inexpensive to assemble.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a cost-effective seat assembly having an armrest capable of both linear and angular adjustment through a plurality of selectable positions, wherein the seat assembly includes an armrest attached to a seat, and an armrest coupling assembly for coupling the armrest to the seat comprising a linear adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest and a rotational adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest. The linear adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to translate along an initial linear axis between a plurality of generally vertical positions. The rotational adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to pivot about the rotational axis between a plurality of angular positions.  
         [0005]     In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the rotational adjustment mechanism further comprises a first pivot formed between the armrest and the linear adjustment mechanism, and a second pivot formed between the linear adjustment mechanism and the seat, the second pivot arranged to enable the rotational adjustment mechanism to adjust angular orientation of the linear adjustment mechanism to define a plurality of subsequent linear axes.  
         [0006]     In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a seat assembly for a vehicle is disclosed, the seat assembly comprising a seat, an armrest pivotally attached to the seat, and a disc positioned between the armrest and the seat. The disc defines a rotational axis and includes a plurality of disc slots spaced within the disc. A housing is pivotally attached to the disc, and positioned between the armrest and the disc. The housing defines an initial linear axis and includes a plurality of housing slots spaced within the housing. A pin is connected to the housing and arranged to enable the housing to pivot the disc about a rotational axis and engage one of the plurality of disc slots. A pin release mechanism is connected to the pin and arranged to enable the pin to disengage from one of the plurality of disc slots. A slider is positioned within the housing at a housing end and pivotally attached to the armrest at a connecting end, and arranged to translate within the housing along the initial linear axis and engage one of the plurality of housing slots. A slider release mechanism is connected to the slider and arranged to enable the slider to disengage from one of the plurality of housing slots.  
         [0007]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the armrest and coupling arrangement of  FIG. 1  in isolation;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a planar and sectional view of a seat assembly looking in the direction  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 2  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a disc for a seat assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a planar and section view of a seat assembly looking in the direction  3 - 3  as shown in  FIG. 2  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a slider and housing assembly of  FIG. 1  in isolation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Turning now to the drawings, particularly  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vehicle seat  10  is shown having a seat back  12  and an armrest  14 . According to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the armrest  14  is movably engaged with a housing such as a bracket  30  through a slider assembly  32  connected to the armrest  14 . The bracket  30  may further comprise an anchoring portion  37  having a generally straight cross section, and a pair of housing portions  39  having one of a generally “U” or “C”-shaped cross section for housing the slider assembly  32 . The bracket  30  is pivotably mounted to a disc  20  by a fastener  31 , such as a screw or bolt assembly, which is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a pin assembly  22  is arranged to engage both the bracket  30  and disc  20 .  
         [0016]     Armrest  14  may be adjusted relative to the seat back  12  in the direction of arrow A by pivoting the armrest about the slider assembly  32 . For example, armrest  14  may be pivoted between a first, stored position in which the armrest is substantially parallel to the seat back, and a second, deployed position in which the armrest is substantially parallel to the floor.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , slider assembly  32  is further comprised of a slider  38  and a slider release mechanism  36 . Slider  38  is disposed within, and arranged to translate linearly within, the bracket  30 , being enclosed by the housing portions  39 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the armrest  14  may also be translated linearly relative to the bracket  30 , in the direction of arrow B by moving the armrest  14  and the slider assembly  32  within the bracket  30 . The slider  38  may be used to lock the armrest  14  in place relative to the bracket  30  by engaging one of a plurality of bracket slots  34  disposed along bracket  30 . As shown, the plurality of bracket slots  34  can be formed as a plurality of spaced holes arranged to receive the slider  38 . The slider  38  includes a curved end to facilitate engagement with bracket slots  34 . Slider  38  may then be disengaged from one of the plurality of bracket slots  34  by engaging slider release mechanism  36 , thereby enabling the slider  38  to translate within the bracket  30 .  
         [0018]     According to a first exemplary embodiment, as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , slider release mechanism  36  comprises a push button which may be biased, such as by a spring (not shown) toward the bracket  30  to disengage the slider  38  from one of the plurality of bracket slots  34  permitting the armrest  14  to be linearly translated within the bracket  30 . According to a second exemplary embodiment, as best illustrated in  FIG. 5 , slider release mechanism  36  comprises a pull tab which may be biased away from bracket  30  to disengage the slider  38  from one of the plurality of housing slots  34  permitting the armrest  14  to be linearly translated within the bracket  30 .  
         [0019]     In further accordance with the present invention, the angular orientation of the armrest  14  relative to the seatback  12  may be separately adjusted by pivoting the bracket  30  about the disc  20  relative to the seat back  12  in the direction of arrow C. The rotation of the bracket  30  in the direction of arrow C also angularly adjusts the vertical and horizontal components of the linear axis of translation defined by the bracket  30 .  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pin assembly  22  further comprises a pin  28  and a pin release mechanism  26 . The pin  28  is arranged to engage one of, as well as translate radially with respect to, a plurality of disc slots  24  disposed radially along the disc  20 . The pin  28  may be used to lock the bracket  30  in place relative to the disc  20  by engaging one of a plurality of disc slots  24  disposed radially along the disc  20 . The pin  28  includes a curved end to facilitate engagement with disc slots  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the plurality of disc slots  24  can be formed as a plurality of spaced holes disposed along the perimeter of the disc  20 . According to a second exemplary embodiment, disc slots  24  can be formed as a plurality of spaced indentations disposed along the perimeter of disc  20 . The pin  28  may then be disengaged from one of the plurality of disc slots  24  by engaging pin release mechanism  26 , thereby enabling the bracket  30  to be radially adjusted about a pivot  31  with respect to the disc  20 .  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pin release mechanism  26  further includes a push button end which may be biased to disengage pin  28  from one of the plurality of disc slots  24 , permitting the bracket  30  to rotate about pivot  31 . Pin  28  may then be translated within channel  21  until the pin  28  is re-engaged in a different disc slot. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second exemplary embodiment is shown, wherein the pin assembly  22 ′ comprises a pull tab  26 ′, a pin  28 ′, and a plurality of disc slots  24 ′. Biasing pull tab  26 ′ away from disc  20 ′ disengages pin  28  from disc slot  24 ′, thereby freeing bracket  30 ′ to rotate about disc  20 ′. Spring mechanism  23 ′ may bias pull tab  26 ′ in the direction of disc  20 ′ so as to assist in reengaging pin  28  with a disc slot  24 ′.  
         [0022]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.