US5116099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanical latch locking a cover of pivoting armrest assembly
Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America Inc
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Filing: 1991-05-14
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2011-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle seat armrest assembly (10) includes a lower bin (18) defining a storage compartment (20) and an upper cover (22) hinged to the bin (18) for pivotal movement between a closed position covering the bin (18) and an open position opening the storage compartment (20). A bracket (26) supports the lower bin (18) and provides rotation of the bin (18) between a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position. A latch (40) latches the cover (22) to the bin (18) in a latched position and allows opening of the cover (22) in an unlatched position. A lock (42) interacts between the bracket (26) and the latch (40) to maintain the latch (40) in the latched position in response to pivotal movement of the bin (18) from the horizontal use position to the vertical storage position. The lock (42) includes a cam (60) which transfers the rotational movement of the bin (18) to linear movement of a controller (46). The controller (46) actuates a crank (54) to rotate a locking block (44) into engagement with the latch (40) to maintain the latch (40) in the latched position.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Kwasnik
- 👤 David J. Harrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:14
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/54; A47C7/543; B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/75; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0894; Y10T292/0907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A vehicle seat armrest assembly (10) comprising: a lower bin (18) defining a storage compartment (20); an upper cover (22) for covering said lower bin (18); a cover hinge means (24) hinging said cover (22) to said bin (18) for pivotal movement of said cover (22) relative to said bin (18) between a closed position covering said bin (18) and an open position opening said storage compartment (20); bracket means (26) supporting said lower bin (18) for providing rotation of said bin (18) between a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position; latch means (40) for latching said cover (22) to said lower bin (18) in a latched position and allowing opening of said cover (22) in an unlatched position; said assembly characterized by including locking means (42) interacting between said bracket means (26) and said latch means (40) for maintaining said latch means (40) in said latched position in response to pivotal movement of said bin (18) to a predetermined position above said horizontal use position toward said vertical storage position so that said cover (22) remains latched to said bin (18) in all positions above said predetermined position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A vehicle seat armrest assembly (10) comprising: a lower bin (18) defining a storage compartment (20); an upper cover (22) for covering said lower bin (18); a cover hinge means (24) hinging said cover (22) to said bin (18) for pivotal movement of said cover (22) relative to said bin (18) between a closed position covering said bin (18) and an open position opening said storage compartment (20); bracket means (26) supporting said lower bin (18) for providing rotation of said bin (18) between a horizontal use position and a vertical storage position; latch means (40) for latching said cover (22) to said lower bin (18) in a latched position and allowing opening of said cover (22) in an unlatched position; said assembly characterized by including locking means (42) interacting between said bracket means (26) and said latch means (40) for maintaining said latch means (40) in said latched position in response to pivotal movement of said bin (18) to a predetermined position above said horizontal use position toward said vertical storage position so that said cover (22) remains latched to said bin (18) in all positions above said predetermined position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said locking means (42) including a locking block (44) pivotally coupled to said bin (18) for interlocking engagement with said latch means (40) in response to said pivotal movement of said bin (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said locking means (42) including controller means (46) disposed between said locking block (44) and said bracket means (26) for controlling said pivotal movement of said locking block (44).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said locking means (42) including camming means (66) interacting between said bracket means (26) and said controller means (46) for transferring said rotational movement of said bin (18) to linear movement of said controller means (46).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said locking means (42) including crank means (54) interconnecting said controller means (46) and said locking block (44) for pivoting said locking block (44) into engagement with said latch means (40) upon actuation of said controller means (46).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said bracket means (26) including a frame (28) having support portions (29, 29') on opposite sides of said bin (18) and a guide member (30) seated against each of said portion (29, 29') and having an arcuate outer edge (68) forming a generally arcuate guide path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by said camming means (66) including a guide follower (72) pivotally connected about a pivot pin (P) and positioned adjacent said arcuate outer edge (68) of said guide member (30) and following said arcuate guide path upon said rotation of said bin (18).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said controller means (46) having a first end (78) connected to said crank means (54) and a second end (80) in abutment with said guide follower (72).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by said guide follower (72) including an outwardly projecting lobe (76) further following said arcuate guide path upon said rotation of said bin (18).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 8 further characterized by said bracket means (26) including an arcuate upper rail (74) contacting said lobe (76) and actuating said controller means (46) upon said rotation of said bin (18).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized by said controller means (46) including spring bias means (82) interconnected between said controlled means (46) and said bin (18) for urging said controller means (46) toward said guide follower (72).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said controller means (46) including controller track means (48) slidably connecting said controller means (46) to said bin (18) for providing linear movement of said controller means (46) relative to said bin (18).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by said crank means (54) including a crank shaft (58), a first connecting rod (60) interconnecting said crank shaft (58) with said controller means (46) and a second connecting rod (62) spaced from said first connecting rod (60) and interconnecting said crank shaft (58) with said locking block (44) for transferring said linear movement of said controller means (46) to said pivotal movement of said locking block (44).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by said locking means (42) including support means (64) for supporting said first (60) and second (62) connecting rods to said lower bin (18).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by said latch means (40) including a prong (84) extending radially outwardly from said cover (22) for latching said cover (22) to said lower bin (18).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 15 further characterized by said latch means (40) including an aperture (86) disposed in said bin (18) for receiving said prong (84) in said latched position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 16 further characterized by said prong (84) including outwardly extending resilient distal tips (88, 88') for flexing inwardly upon passing through said aperture (86) and expanding outwardly thereafter for latching said cover (22) to said bin (18) in said latched position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 17 further characterized by said locking block (44) pivotally received between said distal tips (88, 88') upon rotation of said bin (18) above said predetermined position to prevent said tips (88, 88') from flexing inwardly and passing through said aperture (86).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 18 further characterized by said controller track means (48) including at least one slot (50) and at least one rail (52) received in said slot (50) to slidably couple said controller means (46) to said bin (18) and provide said relative linear movement therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 19 further characterized by said guide member (30) including an arcuate slot (32) and said bin (18) including a guide pin (34) seated in said slot (32) to rotatably guide said bin (18) about said guide member (30).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 20 further characterized by said armrest (10) including a front wall (21), side walls (23, 23') and back wall (25) defining said compartment (20).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 21 further characterized by said front wall (21) defining a cavity (56) including said aperture (86) therein and said crank means (54) and said locking block (44) disposed in said cavity (56).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 22 further characterized by said controller means (46) disposed along one of said side wall (23, 23') and extending from said front wall (21) to said bracket means (26) adjacent said back wall (25).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |