ARMREST SUBSTRATE HAVING DETACHABLE ELONGATED SUPPORT BANDS

• US 20150283926A1
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elbkaily, Marwan Ahmad, Doan, Linh, Hamdoon, Muhsin M., Baig, Bakhtyar, Pamarthi, Bhaskara Rao
• Granted Patent: US 9,463,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42709 involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/78 post or panel mounted

Abstract

A collapsible vehicle armrest includes an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and a door trim and defining an opening therebetween. The opening has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the door frame. A plurality of support bands extends co-planar across the opening and parallel with the longitudinal axis. A plurality of stubs extends across each gap defined between adjacent support bands. Each stub is free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of support bands. A cover member extends over the armrest substrate and the plurality of support bands, wherein the cover member is vertically supported proximate the opening by the plurality of parallel support bands and the plurality of stubs.

Claims

1. A collapsible vehicle armrest comprising:

an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and a door trim and defining an opening therebetween, the opening having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the door frame;

a plurality of support bands extending substantially co-planar across the opening and parallel with the longitudinal axis;

a plurality of stubs extending across each gap defined between adjacent support bands, wherein each stub is free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plurality of support bands; and

a cover member extending over the armrest substrate and the plurality of support bands, wherein the cover member is vertically supported proximate the opening by the plurality of parallel support bands and the plurality of stubs.

2. The vehicle armrest of claim 1, further comprising:

a first side of the armrest substrate proximate the door trim;

a second side of the armrest substrate proximate the door frame, wherein when the door trim and the first side are moved toward the door frame and the second side, the stubs selectively disengage from at least one adjacent support band of the plurality of support bands to allow each of the plurality of support bands to slide laterally relative to the other of the plurality of support bands, wherein the armrest substrate is substantially free of lateral support between the first and second sides from the plurality of support bands and the stubs in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

3. The vehicle armrest of claim 2, further comprising:

a frame strap extending between the door frame and the door trim, wherein the frame strap includes at least one weakened portion, wherein the weakened portion is adapted to bend when the door trim is moved toward the door frame.

4. The vehicle armrest of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support bands include four support bands that define three gaps therebetween.

5. The vehicle armrest of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support bands are talc filled polypropylene.

6. The vehicle armrest of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support bands have a thickness greater than that of the stubs.

7. A collapsible vehicle armrest comprising:

a flexible substrate defining parallel longitudinal slots;

a plurality of stubs disposed across each of the slots, wherein each of the plurality of stubs is positioned free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction perpendicular to the slots;

an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and an interior door trim, the armrest substrate defining an opening, wherein the flexible substrate spans across the opening in a direction parallel with the slots; and

a cover member extending over the armrest substrate and the flexible substrate, wherein the cover member is vertically supported proximate the opening by the flexible substrate and the plurality of stubs.

8. The vehicle armrest of claim 7, wherein the opening includes a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel with the longitudinal slots, and wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with at least a portion of the door frame 14.

9. The vehicle armrest of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of support bands defined within the flexible substrate between the longitudinal slots;

a first side of the armrest substrate proximate the door trim;

a second side of the armrest substrate proximate the door frame, wherein when the door trim moves toward the door frame, the plurality of support bands slide laterally relative to one another, and wherein the armrest substrate is substantially free of lateral support between the first and second sides from the plurality of support bands and the plurality of stubs.

10. The vehicle armrest of claim 7, further comprising:

a frame strap extending between a sheet metal inner of the door frame and the door trim, wherein the frame strap includes at least one weakened portion, wherein the weakened portion is adapted to bend when the door trim is moved toward the sheet metal inner.

11. The vehicle armrest of claim 9, wherein the plurality of support bands includes four support bands that define three gaps therebetween.

12. The vehicle armrest of claim 9, wherein the plurality of support bands have a thickness greater than that of each of the plurality of stubs.

13. A vehicle armrest comprising:

an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and a door trim and defining an opening therebetween;

parallel support bands extending substantially co-planar across the opening; and

a plurality of stubs extending across each gap defined between adjacent parallel support bands, wherein each stub is free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the parallel support bands.

14. The vehicle armrest of claim 13, wherein the opening includes a primary axis, and wherein the parallel support bands extend parallel with the primary axis.

15. The vehicle armrest of claim 13, further comprising:

a cover member extending over the armrest substrate and the parallel support bands, wherein the cover member is vertically supported by the parallel support bands proximate the opening.

16. The vehicle armrest of claim 14, further comprising:

a first side of the armrest substrate proximate the door trim;

a second side of the armrest substrate proximate a sheet metal inner of the door frame, wherein when the door trim and the first side are moved toward the sheet metal inner and second side, the stubs selectively disengage from one of the adjacent parallel support bands to allow the parallel support bands to slide laterally relative to one another, wherein the armrest substrate is free of lateral support between the first and second sides from the parallel support bands and the stubs.

17. The vehicle armrest of claim 14, further comprising:

a deck extending between the sheet metal inner and the door trim, wherein the deck includes at least one weakened portion, wherein the weakened portion is adapted to bend when the door trim is moved toward the sheet metal inner.

18. The vehicle armrest of claim 13, wherein the parallel support bands include four support bands that define three gaps therebetween.

19. The vehicle armrest of claim 13, wherein the parallel support bands are talc filled polypropylene.

20. The vehicle armrest of claim 13, wherein the parallel support bands have a thickness greater than that of the stubs.