Lear Seating Corporation

David J Harrell

Kenneth J Kwasnik

A vehicle seat armrest assembly includes an armrest (10) having a pair of opposing sides (24,26) and a metal armrest bracket (28) disposed adjacent each side (24,26) of the armrest (10) for pivotally supporting the armrest (10) and fixedly attaching the armrest (10) to a vehicle seat (12). A plastic shielding means or bracket cover member (46) is disposed between each side (24,26) of the armrest (10) and the adjacent bracket (28) for shielding the sides of the armrest (10) against direct contact with the metal bracket (28).

Vehicle seat armrest bracket and cover assembly

A tilt-adjustable head rest assembly (10) includes a hollowed headrest body (12) pivotally connected to a U-shaped mounting post (14). A ratcheting mechanism (104) is disposed within the headrest body (12) and includes a ratchet (108) interacting with a rack of ratchet teeth (106). The ratchet (108) has an elongate U-shaped support member (112) pivotally carrying a pawl member (110). An extension spring (116) extends between the pivot pin (114) and the support arm (112) for selectively biasing the pawl member (110) between an upstanding operable position and a knocked-down inoperable position.

Tilt-adjustable head rest having ratcheting mechanism

A tilt-adjustable headrest assembly has a headrest body (12) and a mounting post (14). The headrest body (12) has snap-together first and section sections (30, 32) formed with integral saddle portions (94, 96) which directly pivotally engage the mounting (14) for pivotally mounting the headrest body (12) to the mounting post (14).

Adjustable headrest having integral pivot connection

A tilt-adjustable headrest assembly (10) includes a headrest body (12) pivotally mounted to a U-shaped support post (14) having a horizontal portion (18) extending between a pair of leg portions (16) for attachment to a seat. A ratcheting adjustment device (92) is disposed within a cavity (28) of the headrest body (12) centrally between the leg portions.

Tilt-adjustable headrest having central ratcheting mechanism

A pivoting headreast assembly (10) has a headrest body (12) pivotally mounted to a mounting post (14). The headrest body (12) is hollow and houses a ratchet mechanism (104) for controlling the angular positioning of the headrest body (12). The headrest body (12) has an upper shell section (30) and a lower base section (32) provided with snap-lock couplings (50, 52) for enabling the sections (30, 32) to be snapped into engagement with one another.

Pivoting headrest having snap-together body sections

A beverage container holder for a vehicle including an armrest having a compartment for receiving the container holder in a stored position wherein the container holder is hingedly connected to the armrest for rotational movement between the stored position and an extended operational position, and support locking means for automatically locking the container holder in the extended operational position in response to rotation of the container holder from the stored position to the extended operational position.

Vehicle cupholder with locking mechanism

An armrest storage assembly (20) disposed for use with a vehicle seat assembly (22) includes a lower tray (28) and a top closure member (30) generally referred to as substrates (28,30). Each substrate (28,30) includes an upper periphery forming a U-shaped channel (46). A fabric material (20) is wrapped about the substrate (28,30) having an edge (52) disposed within the U-shaped channel (46). The armrest assembly (20) further includes a U-shaped retainer ring (54) for interlocking disposition in the channel (46). The retainer ring (54) includes gripping members (72) for gripping the material (20) as the retainer ring (54) is forcibly inserted in the channel (46) and for retaining the material (20) in the U-shaped channel (46). The retainer ring (54) further includes coacting members (82,90) spaced laterally from the gripping members (72) and further spaced from the edge (52) of the material (50) and including a pair of longitudinal recesses (90) for interlocking engagement with a plurality of hooks (82) extending from the U-shaped channel (46) to retain the ring (54) and material (50) in the channel (46).

Retainer ring

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.

Mechanical latch locking a cover of pivoting armrest assembly

An armrest assembly (10) disposed for use with a vehicle seat assembly (12) includes a lower bin (18) defining a storage compartment (20) and an upper cover (22) pivotally coupled about the bin (18) by a hinge (24) between a closed position covering the lower bin (18) and an open position opening the storage compartment (20). The armrest (10) includes a container support (40) hingedly connected by a support hinge (42) to the armrest (10) and pivotal between a stored position in the compartment (20) and an extended operational position outside the armrest (10). The container support (40) includes a pair of arms (120, 120') defining a pair of openings (132, 132') for receiving at least one beverage container. The arms (120, 120') are independently pivotal (126) to receive different sized containers in each of the openings (132, 132'). The openings (132, 132') further include a pair of slots ( 142, 142') for receiving a handle of the container. A floor support (150) is spaced below each container opening (132, 132') to support the bottom of the container and retracts into the container support (40) to provide compact storage in the armrest (10). Further, the assembly includes a pair of disconnects (62, 64) disposed between the container support (40) and the support hinge (42) to allow the container support (40) to disconnect from the armrest (10) in response to an excessive force, to prevent breakage of the hinge (42).

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

David J Harrell