DE20306910U1 - Car armrest bracket with top section lid for speakerphone installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The car armrest (6) contains a top lid (7) and at least one recess (9) with a compartment (8), accessible from outside, containing directly used components of speakerphone installation, such as telephone holder (5) and plug connector (3). Into the compartment fits a mobile telephone coupled to speakerphone installation. The installation incorporates supply lines (11) and respective connection facilities. Preferably there is a compartment cover (10) for its opening and closing, e.g. of sliding type.

Description

Arm console (for motor vehicles)

with integrated hands-free telephone system

Introduction:

The widespread use of mobile telephones, i.e. those that operate without a fixed line network, has led to a situation where a hands-free system is recommended or even required for use in vehicles. This is intended to enable the driver to make calls using his mobile phone without having to hold the phone with one hand or press it to his ear.

Such a hands-free system therefore has at least [i] an output for connection to a loudspeaker system, e.g. that of a car radio, or to its own loudspeaker (1), [ii] a possibility of using the microphone contained in the mobile phone, or its own microphone (2), [iii.] a plug connection (3) connecting the mobile phone to the peripheral devices mentioned above with any required electronic components (4), for example a so-called radio mute function, and [iv] a telephone holder (5) connected to it, which can also fix the mobile phone in a fixed position if necessary.
An arm console (6) is generally referred to here as a device located on one side of a car seat which, if installed at a suitable height, enables the person sitting on the car seat to support their arm on this console or to rest it in a resting position. This can be a console which is attached to other parts of the vehicle or in particular next to the car seat, or it can be a fixed or pivoting armrest which is connected directly to a car seat.

The device described here uses a suitably designed arm console or the suitably designed cover (7) of such an arm console in such a way that the telephone hands-free system is integrated into it, preferably providing a compartment (8) which can be covered if necessary, in which the telephone holder (5), plug connection (3) and electronic components (4) of the hands-free system are located and which can accommodate the mobile phone. If necessary, the microphone (2) and loudspeaker (1) can also be integrated into the arm console or its cover.

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Task:

The aim is to create a multi-functional arm console that continues to perform its original function as an armrest, and is designed in such a way that the required components of the hands-free system are integrated in a suitable manner and, above all, that a mobile phone can be added or removed at any time and with minimal effort.

Solution approach:

In the upper side of the arm console (6) or a part thereof, hereinafter referred to as the cover (7), a deep recess (9) is provided which accommodates at least one preferably coverable compartment (8) and with it the components of the hands-free system required for fastening and connecting a mobile telephone.

The cover (10) of the compartment (8) must be able to be opened and closed by the driver so that he can quickly insert a mobile phone into the compartment (8) and the phone holder (5) contained therein and connect it to the plug connection (3). If necessary, the cover (10) can also be omitted.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lid (7) is designed such that it directly contains the compartment (8) accessible from the outside or is connected to it.

Additional electronic components (4) required for the hands-free system can be integrated into the holder (5) or in an area of the compartment (8) designed as a "double floor", for example.

If required, the lid (7) is designed in such a way that a loudspeaker system (1) or a microphone (2) or both can be inserted into its surface, for example in the cover (10) or in areas adjacent to it.

In particular, if the cover (10) can be kept open in an advantageous manner or if this cover is dispensed with, the holding device

(5) Suitable positioning of the mobile phone should also be provided, allowing direct use of its microphone.

Supply lines, for example to an existing loudspeaker system or to other pre-installed components, are led out in a suitable form that is as invisible as possible from the outside, for example in the lower area of the arm console.

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The three figures serve to clarify:

Fig. 1 schematically shows an arm console (6) with its upper area referred to as cover (7).

Fig. 2 shows, again schematically, an arm console (6) with a recess (9), which here accommodates electronic components (4) of the hands-free system and the compartment (8). The compartment (8) contains the holder (5) and the plug connection (3) of the hands-free system, so that a mobile phone can be accommodated ready for connection. The cover (10) of the compartment (8) forms a device that can be opened and closed. The supply lines (11) of the hands-free system are led out in the lower area of the arm console (6).

Fig. 3 schematically shows a design similar to Fig. 2 , but in which the holding device (5) and the plug connection (3) of the hands-free system are attached to the cover (10) of the compartment (8), which can now be opened and adjusted in position. With the mobile phone plugged in, the hands-free system can use the microphone of the mobile phone if necessary, but the cover can also be closed.

This is followed by a page with 5 protection claims.

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Claims (5)

1. Arm console or armrest ( 6 ) of a motor vehicle seat or the upper area thereof referred to as a cover ( 7 ), characterized by at least one recess ( 9 ) which preferably has a compartment ( 8 ) accessible from the outside, which contains or can accommodate the immediately required components of a hands-free telephone system, in particular the telephone holder ( 5 ) and the plug connection ( 3 ), and
characterized in that a mobile phone can be accommodated therein and connected to a hands-free system, and
characterized by the supply lines ( 11 ) required for this purpose or the connection possibilities to the same. 2. Arm console according to claim 1, characterized by a cover ( 10 ) which serves to open and close the compartment ( 8 ) and which can be designed, for example, to be slidable. 3. Arm console according to claim 2, characterized in that the telephone holder ( 5 ) and the plug connection ( 3 ) are attached to the cover ( 10 ) which can now be erected or optionally adjusted and can be opened, which can receive the mobile telephone ready for connection and can optionally hold it attached even when the cover ( 10 ) is closed. 4. Arm console according to one of the above claims, characterized in that it also contains further electronic components ( 4 ) of the hands-free system, preferably in the compartment ( 8 ) or an adjacent area. 5. Arm console according to one of the above claims, characterized in that it also contains loudspeaker ( 1 ) or microphone ( 2 ) of the hands-free system or both, preferably in the lid ( 7 ) or in the cover ( 10 ).