Some embodiments relate to armrests equipped with cup holders, wherein the armrest is in pivotal communication with a seat frame member so that the armrest can be stowed and deployed. Some embodiments are also equipped with a locking mechanism that can maintain the armrest in a deployed and/or stowe
Some embodiments relate to armrests equipped with cup holders, wherein the armrest is in pivotal communication with a seat frame member so that the armrest can be stowed and deployed. Some embodiments are also equipped with a locking mechanism that can maintain the armrest in a deployed and/or stowed configuration. Still further, some embodiments include structure for detecting whether the cup holder is occupied and either engaging or disengaging the locking mechanism accordingly. Thus, some embodiments are adapted to lock the armrest in a deployed configuration when a cup or other object is detected within the cup holder.
대표청구항▼
1. An armrest assembly, comprising: a pivotable armrest member including a recess suitable for receiving a drinking cup in a seated relation;a frame member receiving the pivotable armrest member in a pivotal relation;a lockable pivoting anchor member linking an end of the pivotable armrest member to
1. An armrest assembly, comprising: a pivotable armrest member including a recess suitable for receiving a drinking cup in a seated relation;a frame member receiving the pivotable armrest member in a pivotal relation;a lockable pivoting anchor member linking an end of the pivotable armrest member to the frame member in a pivotal relation, wherein the pivoting anchor member can be locked in at least a deployed configuration;a locking mechanism operatively communicating with the pivoting anchor member and adapted to reversibly lock the pivoting anchor member in at least a deployed configuration; andan actuator operatively communicating with the locking mechanism and adapted to trigger the locking mechanism to engage the pivoting anchor member when the actuator detects an object in the recess;wherein the lockable pivoting anchor member comprises a pivot rod joining the armrest member to the frame member in a pivotal relation;wherein the pivot rod includes an arcuate surface defining a seat for receiving a locking pin of the locking mechanism in a locked relation, the locked relation maintaining the armrest member in a deployed configuration; and,wherein the pivotable armrest member comprises a generally elongate structure having top surface suitable for supporting a human arm, a bottom surface generally opposing the top surface, a proximal end joined in pivoting communication with the frame member, a distal end generally opposing the proximal end, and the recess comprising a cup holder being disposed near the distal end of the pivotable armrest, the cup holder defining a generally annular wall penetrating the top surface of the pivotable armrest member and further defining a recess bottom. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises a portion of a vehicle seat. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises one or more of an optical sensor disposed in the generally annular wall, or a depressible spring-loaded plunger member disposed near a bottom of the recess. 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator is an optical sensor that comprises an infrared LED source and an infrared detector arranged in either a reflectance mode or a transmittance mode. 5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising an electronic control unit in electrical powering communication with one or more of the infrared LED source or infrared detector, and wherein the electronic control unit is in electronic data monitoring communication with the infrared detector, the electronic control unit receiving data indicating that the cup holder is in either an occupied or unoccupied state. 6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising a solenoid in electronic controlling communication with the electronic control unit, the solenoid including a locking pin, wherein the electronic control unit instructs the solenoid to thrust the locking pin into the seat of the pivot rod in a locking relation when the electronic control unit receives a cup-holder-occupied signal. 7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator is a depressible spring-loaded plunger member that defines a generally annular disc member generally parallel to a bottom of the cup holder, the disc having a bottom face operatively communicating with a plunger shaft running in a generally vertical downward direction from the disc bottom face and penetrating a bottom of the cup holder recess via a through hole in the cup holder bottom, wherein the plunger further comprises a spring member disposed between the bottom face of the disc and a bottom of the cup holder recess, the spring biasing the disc in an upward direction. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the plunger shaft extends to a lateral lever member, the lever member extending over and contacting a fulcrum member, and the lever member extending toward the pivot rod, the lever member including the locking pin at one end, and the locking pin being operatively spaced apart from the locking pin seat of the pivot rod in a disengaged relation, wherein depressing the plunger disc causes the locking pin to engage the locking pin seat in a locked relation. 9. An armrest assembly, comprising: a frame member comprising a portion of a vehicle seat;an armrest member pivotably attached to the frame member, the armrest member comprising a cup holder;a locking mechanism for locking the armrest member with respect to the frame member;an actuator in communication with the cup holder and the locking mechanism, the actuator causing the locking mechanism to lock the armrest member with respect to the frame member when a cup is in the cup holder and the actuator allowing the armrest member to pivot with respect to the frame member when a cup is not present in the cup holder; and,wherein the actuator comprises an electric conductor extending from the cup holder to the locking mechanism. 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises at least one light source and at least one light detector adapted to detect light produced by the light source, wherein the light source and detector are arranged in one or more of a transmittance or reflectance mode. 11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising an electronic control unit in electronic communication with the at least one light detector, wherein the light detector is adapted to transmit a signal to the electronic control unit indicating at least a cup holder occupied or cup holder unoccupied state. 12. An armrest assembly, comprising: a pivotable armrest member including a cup holder defining a generally annular sidewall extending downward from a top surface of the armrest, and the cup holder including a bottom wall generally perpendicular to the sidewall;a frame member receiving the pivotable armrest member in a pivotal relation, the frame member comprising a portion of a vehicle seat frame;a locking mechanism in locking communication with the armrest member; andan actuator communicating with the cup holder and adapted to cause the locking mechanism to engage the armrest member in a locked relation when a cup is present in the cup holder, and wherein the actuator is adapted to cause the locking mechanism to disengage the armrest member when a cup is not present in the cup holder. 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises at least one light source and at least one light detector adapted to detect light produced by the light source, wherein the light source and detector are arranged in one or more of a transmittance or reflectance mode. 14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising an electronic control unit in electronic communication with the at least one light detector, wherein the light detector is adapted to transmit a signal to the electronic control unit indicating at least a cup holder occupied or cup holder unoccupied state. 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a solenoid including an armature having a locking pin defined on the armature, wherein the electronic control unit is adapted to energize the solenoid when a occupied state signal is received from the detector, the energized solenoid causing the locking pin to engage a locking pin seat in a locking relation, wherein the locking pin seat is defined on a portion of the frame member. 16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises at least two light sources and at least two light detectors adapted to detect light produced by the at least two light sources. 17. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises a depressible spring-loaded plunger member disposed at a bottom of the cup holder, and mechanically communicating with the locking mechanism, and causing the locking mechanism to engage or disengage according to the compression state of the plunger. 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking pin in mechanical communication with the plunger member, the locking pin being caused to engage a locking pin seat in a locking relation when the plunger member is sufficiently depressed, and wherein the locking pin seat is defined on a portion of the frame member. 19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein: the plunger member comprises: a generally annular disc that is positioned within the generally annular sidewall of the cup holder and positioned generally parallel to the bottom of the cup holder; and,a gasket forms a seal between the generally annular disc and the generally annular sidewall. 20. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a lever having a first end operatively connected to the plunger member and a second end operatively connected to the locking mechanism, wherein the lever is in pivotal communication with a fulcrum positioned between the first and second ends of the lever.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Christiansen Ned (Three Rivers MI) Kellogg David (Kalamazoo MI), Armrest compartment with cupholder.
Wieczorek Joseph P. (Madison Heights MI) Brunckhorst Collin C. (Lake Orion MI) Davenport Mark H. (Macomb MI) Halajian Eugene M. (Harrison Township MI), Automotive cup holder.
Carlsen Patrick J. ; Hawkins Daniel E., Console assembly for an automotive vehicle combining armrest, article receiving tray and auxiliary seat features.
Herd Harold H. (Holmes NY) Jacobowitz Lawrence (Poughkeepsie NY) Shaw Jane M. (Ridgefield CT), Method of fabricating photopolymer isolation trenches in the surface of a semiconductor wafer.
Thomas, Louis; Vander Sluis, Daniel, Interior trim apparatuses for motor vehicles including one or more infrared emitting diodes and one or more infrared sensors.
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