Accessory for a motor-vehicle interior, in particular an armrest for a motor-vehicle seat

An armrest for a motor-vehicle interior, the armrest comprising:

• a base element fixed on the vehicle and defining an axis;
• an armrest part pivotal on the base element about the axis, the armrest part having a first counter surface turned radially toward a second counter surface of the base element, one of the counter surfaces being radially inwardly concave and the other of the counter surfaces being radially outwardly convex;
• at least one wedge-shaped sprag slidable between the to counter surfaces generally angularly of the axis between a locking position in which the armrest part is arrested relative to the base element and a release position in which pivoting of the armrest part with respect to the base element is possible, the sprag being provided with
• a first contact face cooperating with the first counter surface of the armrest part and
• a second contact face cooperating with the second counter surface of the base element, the first counter surface and the second counter surface extending nonparallel to each other and forming a wedge-shaped clamping gap receiving the sprag and clamping the sprag in the locking position;
• biasing means for urging the sprag into the locking position to lock the armrest against rotation;
• release means for moving the sprag into the release position to allow rotation of the armrest;
• and
• an actuator that can manually actuate the release means.