ARM REST

• US 20120187726A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Uwague-Igharo, Okunzuwa
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/793 for use as storage compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/002 of trays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/101 fixed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones

Abstract

An arm rest for a vehicle comprising a housing having a base portion mounted to the vehicle and a lid. The lid is pivotable about an axis with respect to the base portion from a closed position to a deployed position. The base portion defines a compartment. The lid forms an armrest surface in a closed position and a storage tray in an exposed position. The storage tray includes a foldable wall at the edge adjacent the axis. The wall is extended when the lid is in a deployed position and folded when the lid is in a closed position. The remaining edges of the storage tray further includes a wall such that a tray is provided in a deployed position.

Claims

1. An arm rest for an associated vehicle, the arm rest comprising a housing having a base portion configured for mounting to the associated vehicle and a lid, the lid being pivotable about an axis with respect to the base portion from a closed position to a deployed position, said base portion defining a compartment, said lid forming an armrest surface in a closed position, an opposed surface of said lid being exposed in a deployed position, said opposed surface including a first edge adjacent said axis, a foldable wall extending from said first edge, said wall being extended when said lid is in a deployed position and folded when said lid is in a closed position, said opposed surface including edges remote from said axis, each edge including a wall such that said opposed surface forms a tray in a deployed position.

2. The arm rest of claim 1 including a cup holder apparatus disposed within said compartment.

3. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein said compartment includes an internal surface adapted to function as a cup holder.

4. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein said armrest surface comprises a resilient and textured material.

5. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein said lid includes a finger hold facilitating opening thereof.

6. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein said lid is pivotable approximately 180°

between a closed and a deployed position.

7. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein a hinge forms a connection between said lid and said base portion.

8. The arm rest of claim 1 wherein multiple extendible straps form a connection between said lid and said base portion.

9. The lid of claim 1 wherein a hinge forms a connection between said foldable wall and said lid.

10. An arm rest for a vehicle comprising a housing having a base portion mounted to the vehicle and a lid, the lid being pivotably connected to said base portion for movement between an adjacent position and an extended position, said lid including a first arm rest surface exposed in the adjacent position and a second storage surface exposed in the extended position, said storage surface having walls extending from its edges, an upper region of said base portion includes cup holder portion and a lip extending outward and above said cup holder portion forming at least one groove there between, said groove receiving at least one wall of said lid when said lid is in an adjacent position.

11. The arm rest of claim 10 wherein said storage surface includes four edges and four walls extending from said edges.

12. The arm rest of claim 11 wherein a first of said walls is proximate said base portion, said first wall including a means for rotation.

13. The arm rest of claim 12 wherein said first wall resides substantially parallel to said storage surface when the lid is in an adjacent position and resides substantially perpendicular to said storage surface when said lid is in an extended position.

14. The arm rest of claim 13 wherein three of said walls are in a permanently substantially perpendicular relative to said storage surface.

15. An automotive vehicle including a passenger space, at least two occupant seats disposed within said passenger space, a storage compartment being disposed between said seats, the storage compartment comprised of a base, a cup holder unit, a lip extending outwardly and above said cup holder, a groove being formed between said lip and said cup holder unit, a lid pivotally secured to said lip, said lid having a closed position wherein said cup holder unit is covered and a deployed position wherein said cup holder unit is exposed in a deployed position, said lid including four walls extending at least substantially perpendicular to a storage surface, the wall located adjacent said lip being rotatable between an extended condition when said lid is in a deployed position and a folded condition when said lid is in a closed position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said lip includes a rim which receives an upper edge of said base.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said wall adjacent said lip is secured to said lid via a hinge.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein three of said four walls are permanently substantially perpendicular to said storage surface.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein said three walls are received within the groove when said lid is in a closed position.

20. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said wall adjacent said lip engages said cup holder in a said lid closed position resulting in rotation thereof into a substantially parallel orientation with said storage surface.

21. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said occupant seats comprise rear passenger seats.