Cup holder and pivoting armrest
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorElizabeth T. Laake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims20
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;
- and
- an 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.
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.
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;
- and
- an 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.