Console with moveable armrest

A vehicle having a center console, the center console, comprising:

• a console defining a storage compartment and having an opening allowing access to the storage compartment;
• and
• an armrest assembly moveably supported, by an articulating support structure, on the center console, the articulating support structure adapted to selectively move the armrest assembly between a fully raised position, wherein the armrest assembly is supported above the center console and the opening to the storage compartment is accessible and a fully lowered position, wherein the armrest assembly is positioned against the center console and covers the opening to the storage compartment;
• wherein, the articulating support structure includes:
• a connecting rod having a lower distal end and an upper distal end, the lower distal end of the connecting rod pivotally supported on a fixed base within the storage compartment of the console;
• a support plate pivotally mounted to the upper distal end of the connecting rod and adapted to support the armrest assembly thereon, the connecting rod being pivotally moveable relative to the fixed base and the center console about a first axis and within a first horizontal plane, and the support plate being pivotally moveable relative to the connecting rod about a second axis and within the first horizontal plane;
• and
• a geared linkage interconnecting the fixed base to the support plate, wherein when the connecting rod pivots relative to the fixed base, the geared linkage is adapted to pivot the support plate relative to the connecting rod in a direction opposite the pivotal movement of the connecting rod and maintain a horizontal orientation of the armrest assembly at the fully raised position, the fully lowered position and throughout movement between the fully raised position and the fully lowered position.

A center console for a vehicle, comprising:

• a console defining a storage compartment and having an opening allowing access to the storage compartment;
• an armrest assembly moveably supported, by an articulating support structure, on the console, the articulating support structure adapted to selectively move the armrest assembly between a fully raised position, wherein the armrest assembly is supported above the console and the opening to the storage compartment is accessible and a fully lowered position, wherein the armrest assembly is positioned against the console, covers the opening to the storage compartment, and the articulating support structure is positioned entirely within the storage compartment of the console;
• the articulating support structure including:
• a connecting rod having a lower distal end and an upper distal end, the lower distal end of the connecting rod pivotally supported on a fixed base within the storage compartment of the console;
• a support plate pivotally mounted to the upper distal end of the connecting rod and adapted to support the armrest assembly thereon, the connecting rod being pivotally moveable relative to the fixed base and the center console about a first axis and within a first horizontal plane, and the support plate being pivotally moveable relative to the connecting rod about a second axis and within the first horizontal plane;
• a geared linkage interconnecting the fixed base to the support plate, wherein when the connecting rod pivots relative to the fixed base, the geared linkage is adapted to pivot the support plate relative to the connecting rod in a direction opposite the pivotal movement of the connecting rod;
• the geared linkage including:
• a fixed base gear fixedly mounted to the fixed base and centered on the first axis;
• a lower connecting rod gear rotatably supported on a lower connecting rod shaft extending from the connecting rod for rotation about a third axis, the lower connecting rod gear including a spur gear portion in engagement with the fixed base gear and a bevel gear portion;
• an upper connecting rod bevel gear fixedly mounted onto an upper connecting rod shaft that is rotatably supported at the upper distal end of the connecting rod for rotation about the second axis, the support plate being fixedly mounted onto the upper connecting rod shaft;
• and
• a bevel gear shaft extending between the bevel gear portion of the lower connecting rod gear and the upper connecting rod bevel gear, the bevel gear shaft having a first bevel gear fixedly attached to a first distal end of the bevel gear shaft and engaged with the bevel gear portion of the lower connecting rod gear and a second bevel gear fixedly attached to a second distal end of the bevel gear shaft and engaged with the upper connecting rod bevel gear;
• and
• wherein:
• pivotal motion of the connecting rod relative to the fixed base in a first rotational direction about the first axis within the first horizontal plane causes rotation of the lower connecting rod gear in the first rotational direction within a second horizontal plane that is parallel to the first horizontal plane as the lower connecting rod gear rotates about the third axis and walks around the fixed base gear;
• rotation of the lower connecting rod gear in the first direction within the second horizontal plane is transferred, through the bevel gear shaft, via geared engagement between the bevel gear portion of the lower connecting rod gear and the first bevel gear and geared engagement between the second bevel gear and the upper connecting rod bevel gear, wherein the upper connecting rod bevel gear rotates in a second direction, opposite the first direction, within the second horizontal plane about the second axis;
• and
• rotation of the upper connecting rod bevel gear in the second direction causes rotation of the upper connecting rod shaft, the support plate, and the armrest assembly supported on the support plate, in the second direction within the first horizontal plane;
• a single powered drive unit that is selectively actuatable to move the armrest assembly back and forth between the fully raised position and the fully lowered position, and to support the armrest assembly at any position between and including the fully raised position and the fully lowered position;
• the powered drive unit including:
• a worm gear assembly including:
• a worm gear fixedly mounted to the lower distal end of the connecting rod;
• and
• a worm engaged with the worm gear, the worm connected to a motor adapted to selectively rotate the worm;
• and
• wherein, rotation of the worm, by the motor, causes corresponding rotation of the worm gear and the connecting rod, and attempted rotation of the worm gear, via load upward or downward on the armrest assembly, causes the worm gear assembly to lock up, preventing rotation of the connecting rod and movement of the armrest assembly due to upward or downward load on the armrest assembly;
• and
• wherein, the articulating support structure is adapted to maintain a horizontal orientation of the armrest assembly at the fully raised position, the fully lowered position and throughout movement between the fully raised position and the fully lowered position.