Patent Abstract:
An adjusting apparatus for a comfort element swingable in relation to a support structure, in particular for an armrest of a vehicle, includes a latching device actuatable by adjusting the comfort element and having a latching arm connected to the comfort element and a latching lever interacting with the latching arm. A swing position of the comfort element is locked by providing a locking lever which is swingably articulated to the latching arm and has an engagement portion which locks the swing position by a spring force, when the engagement portion assumes an engagement position with a locking portion of a locking element that is fixed to the support structure, and the swing position of the comfort element is unlocked by an actuator by which the locking lever is disengageable from the engagement position with the locking element.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/000117, filed Jan. 17, 2013, which designated the United States and has been published as International Publication No. WO 2013/149691 and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2012 006 773.9, filed Apr. 3, 2012, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an adjusting apparatus for a comfort element which is swingable in relation to a support structure, in particular for an armrest of a vehicle. 
     A generic adjusting apparatus for adjustment of a swingable armrest or arm support is known, for example, from DE 10 2006 048 107 A1. This apparatus includes a latching device which includes a first latching element connected to a swingable armrest and having a toothing, and a second latching element which also has a toothing. The second latching element is held swingably under the influence of a spring force in an engagement position with the toothing of the first latching element. The profiles of both toothings are hereby configured to permit the armrest to swing open in the manner of a ratchet, while a swinging back is, however, supported by the toothings. 
     Such armrests may also be configured for longitudinal adjustment, as known e.g. from DE 199 15 469 A1 and additionally equipped with a storage space underneath the pivotable armrest. 
     In order to meet the motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS 201) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in terms of height-adjustable and length-adjustable armrests, the latter must be additionally locked when cantilevered or in the presence of a subjacent storage option. 
     The afore-mentioned known adjusting apparatuses for armrests of a motor vehicle fail to meet this condition, i.e. the armrest may carry out an uncontrolled pivoting motion, when accelerated accordingly in the event of an accident, so that objects, stowed in a storage space underneath the armrest may fly around in the interior of the vehicle and therefore pose a significant risk of injury to vehicle occupants. 
     Object of the invention is therefore to refine an adjusting apparatus of the afore-mentioned type such that an uncontrolled upward swinging of a comfort element, in particular an armrest of a vehicle, is reliably prevented and the armrest has a simple structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is attained in accordance with the invention by an adjusting apparatus for a comfort element swingable in relation to a support structure, in particular for an armrest of a vehicle, including a latching device which is actuated by adjustment of the comfort element and interacts with a latching lever connected to the comfort element, and providing a locking lever which has an engagement portion and is swingably articulated to the latching arm for locking a swing position of the comfort element and which locks under the influence of a spring force the swing position in an engagement position of the engagement portion with a locking portion of a locking element fixed to the support structure, and by providing for unlocking the swing position of the comfort element an actuator by which the locking lever can be disengaged from the engagement position with the locking element. 
     According to the invention, there is only need for a locking lever and a locking element to lock each swing position of the comfort element, in particular of an armrest. Locking is realized by the locking lever which is held in an engagement position with the locking element under the influence of a spring force. When the comfort element swings open, in particular when an armrest swings open, the locking mechanism according to the invention is not visible, but only the actuator. 
     The comfort element, in particular of the armrest, can swing open only when the actuator is actuated so that the locking lever swings out or disengages from the engagement position with the locking element. After conclusion of an actuation of the actuator, the locking lever because it is spring-biased swings back into a locking position in correspondence with the actual swing position of the comfort element or the armrest. Thus, pivoting of the comfort element, in particular a height adjustment of the armrest, is rendered impossible, absent an actuation of the actuator, so that a storage compartment arranged underneath the armrest is not opened when the armrest swings open uncontrollably, for example due to high accelerations. 
     It is particularly advantageous according to a configuration of the invention, when the locking lever and the locking element are configured such that each engagement position of the locking lever with the locking element correlates with a latching position of the latching device. As a result, locking is only possible insofar as the comfort element is swingable or as an armrest can be swung open. Preferably, the locking lever and the locking element are configured for this purpose with a number of engagement positions corresponding to the number of latching positions. As a result, the structural configuration of the adjusting apparatus can be kept simple: 
     According to a further configuration of the invention, the engagement portion of the locking lever and the locking portion of the locking element are each formed with a segment toothing. Preferably, the segment toothing of the locking lever is formed with only one locking tooth and the segment toothing of the locking portion is formed with a number of segment teeth in correspondence with the number of latching positions of the latching device. Such segment toothings result in a high level of reliability, i.e. a reliable interlocking of the participating engagement and locking portions is ensured at any time. 
     It is particularly advantageous in accordance with a configuration of the invention, when the profile of the locking tooth of the locking lever and the profile of the segment teeth of the locking element are configured such that the comfort element is blocked from swinging open, but a return swing movement is possible. As a result, an armrest can be swung downwards into the lowermost swing position at any time. 
     According to a further configuration of the invention, the latching device is formed by providing the latching arm with a latching toothing, and by providing the latching lever, articulated to the support structure and configured as ratchet lever, with an engagement profile which engages in the latching toothing under the influence of a spring force. Preferably, the profile of the latching toothing and the engagement profile of the locking lever are formed such that the comfort lever can swing open in the presence of a latched engagement and disengaged locking lever, but a return swing movement of the comfort element is supported. 
     It is particularly advantageous according to a refinement of the invention, to provide the actuator with a Bowden cable for unlocking the swing position of the comfort element. Preferably, the actuator is formed with an actuation button such that the actuation path of the actuation button is converted by a deflection kinematics into a rotational movement of a telescopic rod of the comfort element, whose rotational movement is transformed by a further deflection kinematics into a pulling motion of the Bowden cable. Such a telescopic rod for transmitting the button actuation allows the comfort element, i.e. in particular an armrest, to be adjustable in length. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail by way of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. It is shown in: 
         FIG. 1  a side view of an adjusting apparatus for a swingable armrest of a motor vehicle, having incorporated therein a locking mechanism and an actuating mechanism and an actuation mechanism, 
         FIG. 2  an enlarged perspective detailed view of the actuation actuating mechanism and the locking mechanism of the adjusting apparatus according to  FIG. 1 , and 
         FIG. 3  a perspective view of the actuating mechanism of operably connected to the locking mechanism of the adjusting apparatus according to  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an armrest  2  as a comfort element has an arm support  2   a  which is formed as a center armrest for the front seats of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Located underneath the armrest  2  is a storage compartment (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which is closed by the armrest  2 . 
     The armrest  2  includes, according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a carrier plate  20  on which both the arm support  2   a  and a length adjusting kinematics  22  for longitudinal adjustment of the arm support  2   a  are arranged in accordance with the double arrow R1, with a further description of the length adjusting kinematics  22  being omitted hereinafter. 
     According to  FIG. 2 , the carrier plate  20  is swingably connected to a support structure  1  via two latching arms  4  which are attached in parallel and have each a rotary lever  4   a  and a circular portion  4   b  which connects this rotary lever  4   a  with the carrier plate  20 . The rotary levers  41  have pivot axes  21  which are received by the support structure  1  and about which both these latching arms  4  are swingably mounted, respectively, so that the armrest  2  can be pivoted in a pivoting direction D from an initial position in accordance with the illustrations in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , so that the storage compartment (not shown), located underneath the armrest  2 , is opened and accessible by a vehicle occupant. 
     A latching device  3  is provided for swinging the armrest  2  from the initial position and includes a latching toothing  4   c , arranged on an end face of the latching lever  4  in a radial direction of its rotary lever  4   a , and a latching lever  5  with an engagement profile  5   a  configured as latching tooth. The latching lever  5  engages via the latching tooth  5   a  into the latching toothing  4   c , with the number of the tooth gaps of the latching toothing  4   c  determining the number of swing positions of the armrest  2  and thereby also its angle of inclination. 
     The latching lever  5  is swingably articulated about a rotation axis  5   b  on the support structure  1  and is held by a spring element (not shown) in an engagement position with the latching toothing  4   c , so that the latching tooth  5   a  engages one of the tooth gaps of the latching toothing  4   c  of the latching arm  4 . 
     The profiles of the latching toothing  4   c  and the latching tooth  5   a  are configured such that the latching lever  5  swings with the latching tooth  5   a  in a ratchet-like manner out of the latching toothing  4   c , as the armrest  2  swings open, and engages again a tooth gap in accordance with the incremental adjustment determined by the tooth width of the latching toothing. 
     As each swing position assumed by the armrest  2  is locked by a locking mechanism  30  ( FIG. 3 ) having a locking lever  6  and a locking element  11 , the armrest  2  can be swung open only after unlocking the swing position, e.g. from the lowermost position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As shown in particular from  FIG. 3 , each locking lever  6  is swingably mounted about a rotation axis  10  on both latching arms  4 , that is on the circular portion  4   b  thereof, and conforms to the arch-shaped course of this portion  4   b . Each of these locking levers  6  engages via an engagement portion  7 , configured as segment toothing, in a locking portion  12  which is also configured as segment toothing and which is part of a locking element  11  connected to the support structure  1 , and is urged by a return spring  8 , attached to a retention arm  6   a  of the locking lever  6 , in this engagement position against the locking element  11 . 
     The two locking elements  11  with their locking portion  12 , configured as segment toothing, are connected to one another according to  FIG. 3  by a web-like connection plate  11   a  and mounted via this connection plate  11   a  to the support structure  1 . 
     The segment toothing  7  of the locking lever  6  is configured as a locking tooth  7   a  and engages one of the tooth gaps, formed by the segment teeth  12   a  of the segment toothing  12  of the locking element  11 , for locking a swing position of the armrest  2 , when the latching lever  5  of the latching device  4  also engages via its latching tooth  5   a  in one of the tooth gaps of the latching toothing  4   c  of the latching arm  4 . Thus, the two locking levers  6  and the associated locking elements  11  are configured such that the engagement positions of the locking levers  6 , when the respective locking tooth  5   a  engages the segment toothing  12  of the locking element  11 , correspond to the latching positions defined by the latching lever  5  and the latching toothing  4   c.    
     The profiles of the locking tooth  7   a  of the locking lever  6  and the segment toothing  12  of locking elements  11  are shaped such that in the engagement position of the locking lever  6 , the armrest  2  cannot swing open, however a downward movement is permitted. 
     This ensures that in the presence of high accelerations, the armrest  2  cannot swing open in an uncontrolled manner and objects in a storage compartment (not shown in the figures) arranged underneath the armrest  2  can therefore not fall out. 
     Unlocking of a swing position of the armrest  2  requires therefore a disengagement of both locking levers  6  from their respective engagement position, so that their locking tooth  7  is no longer in engagement with the segment toothing  12  of the locking elements  11 . For this purpose, the adjusting apparatus according to the invention includes an actuator  13  which effects a disengagement of the locking levers  6  from their respective engagement position by actuating an actuation button  15 . 
     The structure and mode of operation of this actuator  13  will be explained hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     The wing-like actuation button  15  has a rotary shaft  18  mounted at the forward end of the armrest  2  in transverse relation to the pivoting direction D and has ends which are each provided with a return spring  19  to urge the actuation button  15  in its idle position. 
     Actuation of the actuation button  15  translates its pivot movement D1 via a deflection kinematics  16   a  into a rotation movement D2 of the telescopic rod  17 . This deflection kinematics  16   a  includes tooth segments  23  arranged at the ends of the rotary shaft  18  for engagement in tooth segments  24  at the ends of a further rotary shaft  25 , with the further rotary shaft  25  extending in parallel relation to the rotary shaft  18 . A bevel gear mechanism of the deflection kinematics  16   a  includes a bevel gear  26  disposed on the rotary shaft  25 , and a bevel gear  27  mounted to an end of the telescopic rod  17 , so that the rotation movement transmitted from the tooth segments  23  via the tooth segments  24  to the rotary shaft  25  is transmitted to the telescopic rod  17 . The length adjustment of the arm support  2   a  is also accompanied by an extension or shortening of the length of the telescopic rod  17  in the direction of the double arrow R1 in the absence of any interference with the rotation movement. 
     The rotation movement D2 of the telescopic rod  17 , as initiated by actuating the actuation button  15 , is converted by a further deflection kinematics  16   b  into a pulling motion F of a Bowden cable  14   a  and  14   b  onto the two locking levers  6 , so that their disengagement from their engagement position with the respective locking element  11  is effected. 
     This deflection kinematics  16   b  includes a Bowden cable roller  28  which is arranged at an end of the telescopic rod  17  and from which a Bowden cable  14   a  is connected via a deflection roller  29   a  with the one locking lever  6  and a further Bowden cable  14   b  is connected via a further deflection roller  29   b  with the other locking lever  6 . The two Bowden cables  14   a  and  14   b  extend from the Bowden cable roller  28  perpendicular to the telescopic rod  17  and are then deflected by the deflection rollers  29   a  and  29   b  into the pivot plane of the two locking levers  6 . The end of a Bowden cable  14   a  and  14   b  is guided at the end of the locking lever  6  distal to the rotary shaft by a terminal groove, so that a pin  29  forming the end of the Bowden cable  14   a  and  14   b  is mounted in a provided receptacle of the locking lever  6 . 
     As mentioned above, the armrest  2  can swing open only when the actuation button  15  is actuated to disengage the two locking levers  6  from their engagement position with the locking element  11 . Once the actuation button  15  is no longer actuated, after the armrest  2  has swung open, the return spring  8  causes the two locking levers  6  to engage their engagement position with the locking element  11  in the respective swing position. A further height adjustment is not possible without actuating the actuation button  15 . Further, the swing position of the armrest  2  is locked only in the pivot range defined by the latching device  3 . 
     The profiles of the locking tooth  7   a  of the locking lever  7  and the segment toothing  12  of the locking element  11  are configured such that a downward pivoting from a swing position of the armrest  2  as predefined by the latching device  3  into the lowermost swing position is possible in the manner of a ratchet, when the latching device  3  is brought at the same time to a state in which the latching lever  5  has disengaged from the latching toothing  4   c . This kinematics is not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but known in the art. 
     Such a kinematics enables to swing the armrest  2  for backward pivoting first up to the greatest pivot angle to thereby disengage the latching lever  5  from the latching toothing  4   c  and thus to enable the armrest  2  to be swung back to its initial position. 
     An additional control kinematics (not shown in the figures) enables the locking lever  6  to move from its engagement position with the locking element  11  in order to avoid ratchet noises, when the armrest  2  is pivoted downwards. 
     The use of a telescopic rod  17  to transmit the unlocking motion of the actuation button  15  permits a length-adjustment of the armrest  2 . The entire adjusting apparatus according to the invention for locking the swing positions of the armrest  2  can be realized in a space-saving manner, without any corresponding components being visible from outside for an operator. 
     The adjusting apparatus according to the invention for an armrest, which at the same time also provides a cover for a subjacent storage compartment, meets the required motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS 201) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S., according to which height-adjustable and length-adjustable armrests must be locked. 
     A further advantage of the adjusting apparatus according to the invention is that the corresponding locking mechanism is invisible for a vehicle occupant so that therefore the visual appearance of the armrest is not impaired. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1  support structure 
           2  comfort element, armrest 
           2   a  arm support of armrest  2   
           3  latching device 
           4  latching arm of the latching device  3   
           4   a  rotary lever of the latching arm  4   
           4   b  circular portion of the latching arm  4   
           4   c  latching toothing of the latching arm  4   
           5  latching lever of the latching device 
           5   a  engagement profile, latching tooth of the latching lever  5   
           5   b  rotary shaft of the latching lever  5   
           6  locking lever 
           6   a  retention arm of the locking lever  6   
           7  engagement portion, segment toothing of the locking lever  6   
           7   a  locking tooth of the locking lever  6   
           8  return spring 
           9  axis of rotation of the locking lever  6   
           10  locking element 
           11   a  connection plate of the locking elements  11   
           11  locking portion, segment toothing of the locking element 
           12   a  segment tooth of the segment toothing 
           12  actuator 
           14   a  Bowden cable of the actuator 
           14   b  Bowden cable of the actuator 
           15  actuation button. 
           16   a  deflection kinematics 
           16   b  deflection kinematics 
           17  telescopic rod 
           18  rotary shaft 
           19  return spring 
           20  carrier plate of the armrest  2   
           21  pivot axis 
           22  length adjustment kinematics of the armrest  2   
           23  tooth segment 
           24  tooth segment 
           25  rotary shaft 
           26  bevel gear 
           27  bevel gear 
           28  Bowden cable roller 
           29  pin of the Bowden cable  14   a ,  14   b

Technology Classification (CPC): 1