Patent Abstract:
An armrest hinge unit for a vehicle includes a lower bracket fixed to one side of an armrest container near an opening thereof and including a pivoting-allowable space in the lower bracket, a frictional member disposed in the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket and fixed to the lower bracket, and an upper bracket having a hinge portion hingedly coupled to the lower bracket and a receiving groove to elastically receive the frictional member therein, the upper bracket being connected to an armrest cover, wherein at least an inner surface of the receiving groove of the upper bracket is in elastic contact with the frictional member so that a position of the arm rest cover is maintained by frictional force therebetween.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Number 10-2008-0101144, filed on Oct. 15, 2008, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an armrest hinge unit which couples an armrest container which is provided between a driver&#39;s seat and a passenger&#39;s seat to receive things and to an armrest cover which covers the armrest container and on which a driver&#39;s arm can be rested. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, an armrest is provided between a driver&#39;s seat and a passenger&#39;s seat of a vehicle. The armrest has a box shape so that it can contain things therein and it allows a user&#39;s arm to be rested thereon. Additional functions, durability, and design of the armrest are important factors determining the interior of a vehicle. 
     The armrest is generally composed of a container, a cover, and a hinge unit. The container stores things therein, and the cover is installed at the top end of the container by the hinge unit so that the armrest can be open and closed. 
     As for the hinge unit of the armrest, it must be considered that the operational mechanism of the hinge unit is stable, duration of the hinge unit is ensured, it is lightweight, and smooth opening and closing of the cover is ensured. Further, it is preferable that the hinge unit exhibits good properties while being made of a low cost material to keep manufacturing cost of a vehicle low. 
     However, the conventional hinge units are weak in a structural aspect so they are likely to easily break when a shock is given to them. So the conventional hinge units must be made of a steel material. In the case in which the hinge units are made of a steel material, there are many problems in that the hinge units are expensive, attributable to increased cost, and heavy, and have poor durability because the hinge units are likely to twist and become permanently deformed when a downward load is applied to the cover of the armrest. 
     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 conventional to a person skilled in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention are directed to provide an armrest hinge unit for a vehicle which is lightweight because it is made of plastic resin, which has high strength because of an improved structure, and which has an enhanced opening and closing property by virtue of maintaining proper frictional force. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an armrest hinge unit for a vehicle including a lower bracket fixed to one side of an armrest container near an opening thereof and including a pivoting-allowable space in the lower bracket, a frictional member disposed in the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket and fixed to the lower bracket, and an upper bracket having a hinge portion hingedly coupled to the lower bracket and a receiving groove to elastically receive the frictional member therein, the upper bracket being connected to an armrest cover, wherein at least an inner surface of the receiving groove of the upper bracket is in elastic contact with the frictional member so that a position of the arm rest cover is maintained by frictional force therebetween, wherein the lower bracket is made of plastic resin through a molding method and wherein the upper bracket is made of plastic resin through a molding method. 
     The upper bracket may include a receiving portion received in the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket and a fixing portion to which the armrest cover is fixed, at least an outer lateral side surface of the receiving portion is slidably in contact with at least an inner surface of the pivoting-allowable portion. 
     The frictional member may include a housing and an elastic member installed in the housing and configured to protrude toward the inner surface of the receiving groove of the upper bracket so as to have a contact with the upper bracket, wherein the frictional member has a semicircular sectional shape. 
     The elastic member may include at least a groove on at least a lateral surface thereof so that the elastic member can be deformed in being pressed by the upper bracket, wherein the groove is recessed in a lengthwise direction of the armrest hinge unit and wherein the groove is formed of a semicircular shape. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the upper bracket may have a curved surface having a predetermined curvature around the hinged portion of the upper bracket, and an inner surface of the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket is provided with a curved surface for guiding the curved surface of the upper bracket. 
     In further another aspect of the present invention, a lower end portion of the frictional member may be provided with a clip portion which is coupled to the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket, wherein a shock absorbing member is provided between the clip portion and the lower bracket. 
     The upper and lower brackets may be formed by at least a rib arranged and extended in a lattice form so as to maintain inner forms of the upper and lower brackets. 
     The frictional member may include a center portion having a bar shape extending up to the hinge portions of the upper bracket, the hinge portion of the upper bracket being disposed between the lower bracket and the center portion of the frictional member and a hinge pin penetrating through the lower bracket, the center portion, and the hinge portion. 
     In further another aspect of the present invention, the armrest hinge unit for a vehicle may include a rotation prevention member configured to limit an angular range of the upper bracket with a predetermined angle with respect to the lower bracket, wherein at least a side of a lower end portion of the upper bracket is provided with a guide protrusion, corresponding side of the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket is provided with a guide groove which guides a sliding motion of the guide protrusion of the upper bracket, and the guide groove is provided with a stopper protrusion which stops upward sliding motion of the guide protrusions beyond the predetermined angle and wherein the lower end portion of the upper bracket is provided with a shock absorbing member. 
     With a structure such as described above, since the armrest hinge unit is made of plastic resin rather than steel materials, the armrest hinge unit is lightweight. Furthermore, since the armrest hinge unit has an improved structure, the armrest hinge unit is not likely to be deformed or twist. Still further, since the armrest hinge unit is made of rubber and therefore maintains proper frictional force, the opening of the cover can be maintained at various angles when the cover of the armrest is open. That is, the openability improves. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary armrest hinge unit for a vehicle according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the exemplary armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the combined structure of the exemplary armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a fractional portion of the exemplary armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view illustrating a first operational method of the exemplary armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view illustrating a second operation method of the exemplary armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     Hereinafter, an armrest hinge unit for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  shows an armrest hinge unit for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the armrest hinge unit for the vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
     The armrest hinge unit for a vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention includes a lower bracket  100  fixed to one side of an armrest container  10  near an opening  12  of the container  10  and made of resin through a molding method so as to provide a pivoting-allowable space  150  which is an inwardly curved space. The armrest hinge unit further includes a frictional member  300  fixed in the lower portion of the pivoting-allowable space  150  and having rubber members  320  protruding from both lateral sides of a main body of the frictional member. The armrest hinge unit still further includes an upper bracket  500  installed and secured in the pivoting-allowable space  150  by a hinge pin  700 . An armrest cover  30  is fixed to an upper end of the upper bracket  500 . The upper bracket  500  has a groove  522  for receiving the frictional member  300  therein to maintain the open state of the armrest cover  30 , and an inner surface of the groove  522  is in contact with the rubber members  320  so that frictional force is imparted to the inner surface. The upper bracket  500  is made of molded plastic resin. 
     The armrest hinge unit for a vehicle is composed of the upper bracket  500 , the lower bracket  100 , and the fractional portion  300 . The frictional member  300  is provided inside the lower bracket  100  so that it is not visible from the outside. However, the upper bracket  500  is exposed to the outside unlike the conventional armrest hinge unit and the both lateral sides thereof are in contact with the inner surface of the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100 . That is, the upper bracket  500  is in plane contact with the inner surface of the pivoting-allowable space  150  so that a hinge unit is not visible from the outside and therefore ensuring the strength of the hinge unit. 
       FIG. 1  shows the armrest hinge unit from which the armrest cover is opened. The lower bracket  100  is installed on one side of the armrest container  10  near the opening  12  of the armrest container  10 . The lower bracket  100  has a box shape. The upper bracket  500  is installed in the lower bracket  100  in a manner such that the upper bracket  500  is secured and can pivot on the hinge pin in the lower bracket  100 . According to the armrest hinge unit for a vehicle according to the present invention, the hinge unit is not exposed to the outside. The exposed portion is the lower bracket  100  and the upper bracket  500 . Each of the lower and upper brackets  100  and  500  has a box shape so that the armrest hinge unit for a vehicle has good design and a neat appearance. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , details of members will be described. The lower bracket  100  will be described in detail first. The lower bracket  100  is made of molded plastic resin and has a box shape. The lower bracket  100  is provided with a pivoting-allowable space  150  which is an inwardly curved space. The pivoting-allowable space  150  has a curved face  110  corresponding to the curved face  521  of the upper bracket  500  which will be described below. An upper and a rear portion of the lower bracket  100  are open so that the upper bracket  500  can be received in the lower bracket  100  from the upper opening. Both sides of the lower bracket  100  are provided with hinge holes  130  through which hinge pins  700  penetrate. 
     The lower bracket  100  is provided with the frictional member  300  which is made of plastic resin and has a semicircular shape. The frictional member  300  is composed of a housing  330  and a rubber member  320  engaging with the housing  330 . The housing  330  has a semicircular shape which is formed through a molding method and has a semicircular through-hole at the center thereof. Coupling protrusions  334  are formed on the inner surface of the through hole. A rubber member  320  having a shape corresponding to the shape of the semicircular through-hole is inserted into the through-hole of the housing  330 . The rubber member  320  is provided with holes  324  corresponding to the coupling protrusions  334  so that the coupling protrusions  334  are inserted into the holes  324  and the rubber member  320  is received in the through-hole of the housing  330 . A lower end portion of the frictional member  300  is provided with a clip portion  332  coupled to the lower bracket  100 . The clip portion  332  is coupled to the lower bracket  100  in a tightly retained, inserting manner and a shock absorbing member  336  is provided between the clip portion  332  and the lower bracket  100 . The frictional member  300  has a semicircular shape and is provided with a center portion  350  at a center of the semicircular shape. The center portion  350  is provided with a through-hole into which a hinge pin  700  is inserted. The hinge pin has a bar shape extending from both side ends of the frictional member  300  toward the lower bracket  100 . 
     The upper bracket  500  is installed in the lower bracket  100 . The upper bracket  500  includes a received portion  520  which is received in the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100  and a fixing portion  540  to which the armrest cover  30  is fixed, and is made of plastic resin. The received portion  520  of the upper bracket  500  pivots on the hinge pin  700  in the pivoting-allowable space of the lower bracket  100  so that the armrest cover  30  fixed to the fixing portion  540  may be opened and closed. The upper bracket  500  also has a box shape like the lower bracket  100 . Since the upper bracket  500  must be received in the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100 , the size of the upper bracket  500  is the same as that of the pivoting-allowable space  150 . In greater detail, the width of the pivoting-allowable space  150  is almost the same as that of the upper bracket  500  so that both lateral side surfaces of the received portion  520  are in contact with the inner surfaces of the pivoting-allowable space  150  such that swaying of the upper bracket  500  is prevented. Accordingly, when the armrest cover is open, the upper bracket  500  and the lower bracket  100  endure the downward load together so that the armrest hinge unit does not deform since the lower bracket  100  supports the upper bracket  500 . Both sides of the upper bracket  500  are provided with hinge portions  523 . Each of the hinge portions  523  is disposed between the center portion  350  of the frictional member  300  and the lower bracket  100 , and the hinge pin  700  penetrates through the hinge portion  523 . The upper bracket  500  pivots inside the lower bracket  100  on the hinge pin  700 , is supported by the lower bracket, and is imparted with the frictional force by the frictional member  300 . 
     The upper bracket  500  is provided with a receiving groove  522  in which the frictional member  300  is received. There is no special limitation in the numbers of the receiving grooves  522  and the frictional members  300 , but it is preferable that there be a pair of receiving grooves  522  and frictional member  300  disposed at the center portion of the upper bracket  500 . The frictional member  300  is inserted into the receiving portion  522  and both lateral surfaces of the rubber member  320  of the frictional member  300  are in close contact with the inner surfaces of the receiving portion  522  to generate the frictional force. Since the rubber member  320  and the receiving portion  522  abut against each other when in a pressed state, the cover is fixed in an open state at any angle in the case in which the armrest cover is open. In the conventional armrest hinge unit, when the armrest is opening, the armrest is likely to close due to its own weight if a user releases the armrest cover because there is no frictional force. In such a case, an accident in which a user&#39;s fingers are jammed between the armrest cover and the armrest container is likely to occur. On the other hand, it is preferable that the frictional force attributable to the rubber member  320  is determined such that it shows smoothing of the opening. The frictional force can be determined in consideration of the material and width of the rubber member  320  and the width of the receiving portion  522 . As described above, since a section of the frictional member  300  is semicircular, it is preferable that the receiving groove  522  is also semicircular. The rubber member  320  of the frictional member  300  is also provided with a groove  322  formed along the side surface of the semicircular body. Since the rubber  320  is provided with the groove  322 , the rubber member  320  deforms when the rubber  320  and the receiving groove  322  are pressed against each other. Such a structure can prevent the rubber member  320  from being torn by excessively close contact and improves durability of the rubber member  320 . 
     The upper bracket  500  is provided with a curved surface  521  having a predetermined curvature around the hinge pin  700 , and the lower bracket  100  has a curved surface  110  for guiding a sliding motion of the curved surface  521  of the upper bracket  500 . Since the curved surfaces of the upper bracket  500  and the lower bracket  100  are matched with each other and have the same curvature, the upper bracket  500  can smoothly pivot without intervention with the lower bracket  100 . Both sides of a lower end portion of the upper bracket  500  are provided with guide protrusions  525  and both sides of the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100  are provided with guide grooves  140 . The guide grooves  140  are provided with stopper protrusions  142 , respectively which stop upward sliding motion of the respective guide protrusions  525 . When the armrest cover is open, the guide protrusions  525  slide upward along the guide grooves  140  and the sliding motion of the guide protrusions  525  are stopped by the stopper protrusions  142  when the armrest cover is in a fully opened state. Further, shock absorbing members  526  surround the guide protrusions  525  to suppress noise which is likely to be generated when the guide protrusions  525  are bumped against the stopper protrusions. 
     The empty inside space forms of the upper bracket  500  and the lower bracket  100  are maintained by ribs  524  and  120  arranged in a lattice form, which results in the decrease in the weight of the armrest hinge unit. That is, the inside spaces of the upper bracket  500  and the lower bracket  100  are empty, and the lattice-formed ribs  524  and  120  are provided to extend inside the upper and lower brackets  500  and  100 , so that the structure of the upper and lower brackets  500  and  100  is maintained and receives support. With this structure, it is possible to effectively decrease the weight and enhance the strength of the armrest hinge unit. For example, the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100  is provided with the rib  120  so as to match with the curved surface  521  of the upper bracket  500 . The ribs  120  make the lower bracket  100  assume the curved surface shape and supports the upper bracket  500 . The ribs  524  and  120  may be also molded when performing extrusion molding with plastic resin. 
       FIG. 3  shows the combined state of the armrest hinge unit. The frictional member  300  is inserted into the upper bracket  500 . At this time, since frictional force is generated between the surfaces of the receiving groove and the rubber member  320 , the frictional member  300  and the upper bracket  500  are combined by pressing force. The upper bracket  500  to which the frictional member  300  is combined is inserted into the pivoting-allowable space  150  of the lower bracket  100 . The hinge pin  700  penetrates through the hinge portions of the lower bracket  100  and the upper bracket, and the center portion  350  of the frictional member  300  and protrudes from the outer surface of the lower bracket  100  on the other side. Both ends of the hinge pin  700  are combined with fixing clips  720  so that the hinge pin  700  is not pivoted. After the combination is completed, the lower bracket  100  is installed on one side of the armrest container and the armrest cover is installed in the fixing portion  540  of the upper bracket  500 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the frictional member. The frictional member  300  is composed of a housing  330  and a rubber member  320 . Each of the housing  330  and the rubber member  320  is of a semicircular shape, and the rubber member  320  is provided with grooves  322  on both lateral surfaces thereof.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line VI-IV of  FIG. 3  which shows the armrest hinge unit. As shown in  FIG. 5 , both side surfaces of the rubber member  320  are in close contact with the grooves  522  of the upper bracket  500  to generate the frictional force. The front end and the side ends of the upper bracket  500  are supported and guided by the lower bracket  100  and therefore the upper bracket  500  is not deformed by the leftward or rightward load. 
       FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  show operation of the armrest hinge unit for a vehicle.  FIG. 6A  shows the closed state of the armrest cover.  FIG. 6B  shows the open state of the armrest cover. The armrest cover is fixed to the fixing portion of the upper bracket  500 . When the armrest cover is flung open, the upper bracket  500  pivots on the hinge pin  700  inside the lower bracket  100 . At this time, the upper bracket  500  pivots while surfaces of the upper bracket  500  and the lower bracket  100  are in plane contact with each other and the inner surfaces of the receiving groove of the upper bracket  500  are in close contact with the rubber members. Accordingly, the upper bracket  500  pivots, generating frictional force. Accordingly, a user must pull up the armrest cover to open the armrest cover. Further, in the case in which the armrest cover is released while it is opening, the armrest cover is not closed by its own weight. Further, when the upper bracket  500  slides upward, since the frictional member  300  is fixed to the lower bracket  100  by the clip portion, the frictional member  300  imparts the frictional force to the upper bracket  500 . 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, and “inner” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8