Extendable compact arm rest
An armrest for a vehicle seat, comprising an armrest main portion, a pivotable attachment for coupling the armrest main portion to a seat backrest, such that the armrest is pivotable between a folded position and a rest position, an armrest extension movable between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the armrest extension extends the armrest main portion, and a foldable mechanism coupling the pivotable attachment to the armrest extension and configured to move the armrest extension from the retracted position to the deployed position when the armrest is moved from the folded position to the rest position.
1 . An armrest for a vehicle seat, comprising:
an armrest main portion;
a pivotable attachment for coupling the armrest main portion to a seat backrest, such that the armrest is pivotable between a folded position and a rest position;
an armrest extension movable between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the armrest extension extends the armrest main portion; and
a foldable mechanism coupling the pivotable attachment to the armrest extension and configured to move the armrest extension from the retracted position to the deployed position as the armrest is moved from the folded position to the rest position.
2 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the foldable mechanism is further configured to move the armrest extension from the deployed position to the retracted position when the armrest is moved from the rest position to the folded position.
3 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the foldable mechanism comprises a rack and a pinion to convert a rotational movement of the pivotable attachment into a translational movement of the armrest extension.
4 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the armrest extension is housed in the armrest main portion in the retracted position.
5 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the armrest main portion and the armrest extension has a hollow body.
6 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the armrest extension is slidingly guided in or along the armrest main portion between the retracted and deployed positions.
7 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the foldable mechanism comprises a transmission mechanism transmitting to a first pinion a rotation of the pivotable attachment with respect to the armrest main portion, the pinion being rotatable secured to the armrest main portion and meshing with a rack secured to the armrest extension.
8 . The armrest of claim 7 , wherein the transmission mechanism between the pivotable attachment and the first pinion comprises:
a transmission belt configured to transmit rotation movement of a first pulley of the pivotable attachment to a second pulley of the first pinion; or
a transmission chain configured to transmit rotation movement of the first pinion to a second pinion of the pivotable attachment.
9 . The armrest of claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the first pulley is adjusted based on a rotation angle of the armrest between the folded position and an in-use position.
10 . The armrest of claim 1 , further comprising a spring pre-loaded mechanism configured to bring the armrest to its folded position when activated.
11 . The armrest of claim 10 , wherein the spring pre-loaded mechanism is configured to be activated by a small push on the armrest.
12 . The armrest of claim 10 , wherein the spring pre-loaded mechanism comprises:
a torsional spring pre-loaded mechanism at the pivotable attachment.
13 . The armrest of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable attachment is configured to adjust an angle of the armrest in an in-use position with respect to the horizontal direction.
14 . A vehicle seat comprising the seat backrest and the armrest of claim 1 .
15 . A vehicle comprising the vehicle seat of claim 14 .