Convenience apparatus for automotive rear seats

• US 8,262,158 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Young
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/024,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 297/115, 297/117, 297/188.15, 297/188.16, 297/188.17
• US Class Current: 297/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization

Abstract

A convenience apparatus for automotive rear seats includes: a base gear fixed to at least one of the rear seats, a space between which an arm rest is movably mounted; a driver, which has a driving gear engaged with the base gear and a motor for rotating the driving gear, for folding or unfolding the arm rest into or from the space using a driving force of the motor; an integrated audio/video (AV) monitor which is rotatably coupled to a front end of the arm rest and is connected to the driving gear through a gear train so as to be able to be folded or unfolded with respect to the arm rest while the arm rest is folded or unfolded; and a cup holder which is mounted so as to be able to slide into or out of a hole defined in the front end of the arm rest and is connected to the driving gear through the gear train so as to be able to move into or out of the arm rest while the arm rest is folded or unfolded.

Claims

1. A convenience apparatus for automotive rear seats, the apparatus comprising:

a base gear non-rotatably fixed to at least one of the rear seats, a space between which an arm rest is movably mounted;

a driver, which has a driving gear engaged with the base gear and a motor for rotating the driving gear, for folding or unfolding the arm rest into or from the space using a driving force of the motor;

an integrated audio/video (AV) monitor which is rotatably coupled to a front end of the arm rest and is connected to the driving gear through a gear train so as to be able to be folded or unfolded with respect to the arm rest while the arm rest is folded or unfolded; and

a cup holder which is mounted so as to be able to slide into or out of a hole defined in the front end of the arm rest and is connected to the driving gear through the gear train so as to be able to move into or out of the arm rest while the arm rest is folded or unfolded.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor is mounted in the arm rest, and the driving gear is rotated in engagement with the base gear by the motor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gear train includes a dual gear connected with the driving gear so as to be able to transmit driving power of the motor and a rotary gear coupled to a rotating shaft of the integrated AV monitor so as to pivot the integrated AV monitor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gear train includes a plurality of intermediate gears between the driving gear and the dual gear, and at least one pair of the intermediate gears is disposed apart and connected by a belt.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the dual gear includes a rubber roller and a plane gear coaxially and integrally formed with the rubber roller.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rubber roller is in surface contact with an upper surface of the cup holder so as to be able to move the cup holder in forward and backward directions, and the plane gear integrated with the rubber roller is engaged with the rotary gear of the integrated AV monitor.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cup holder includes a flat body including a plurality of cup holes, into which a cup can be inserted and fixed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the flat body is provided with at least one roller rotatably supported thereunder for smoothly sliding the cup holder into or out of the hole defined in the arm rest.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated AV monitor has a touch screen operation mode, and displays an option menu including a radio, audio, video, and rear seat selection controller such that a passenger of the vehicle controls at least one of the rear seats through the integrated AV monitor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm rest includes a stopper for supporting the integrated AV monitor at the front end thereof.