Arm support for vehicle door

• US 6,840,566 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dalton H. Bruton
• Original Assignee: Dalton H. Bruton
• Inventors: Bruton, Dalton H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/622,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20040017094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 296/153, 296/1.08, 297/227, 297/411.2, 297/411.21, 297/411.22, 297/411.23, 297/411.35, 297/411.38, 297/411.45, 297/411.46, 108/46, 248/118, 248/118.1, 248/118.5
• US Class Current: 296/153
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/783 sill suspended, e.g. window sill

Abstract

An arm support for a vehicle door is an elongated, stiff platform with a lip on one long edge and a support panel on the opposite long edge. The arm support is attached to the vehicle by inserting the lip between the window and the inside edge of the window channel. The platform spans the inner portion of the door. The support panel extends vertically downward from the platform and rests against the door interior. The upper surfaces of the arm support are cushioned. An adjustable stand-off block may be attached to the lower edge of the support panel between the support panel and the vehicle door to adjust the angle of the platform.

Claims

1. An arm support for a vehicle door, comprising:

a frame, the frame comprising a platform, a lip, and a support panel;

the platform having an outer platform edge, an inner platform edge, an upper platform surface, and a lower platform surface;

the lip having an upper lip edge and a lower lip portion, the upper lip edge being contiguous with at least a portion of the outer platform edge and operable to transmit a mechanical load to the outer platform edge, the lower lip portion operable to be inserted between an inner surface of a vehicle door window and an inner channel edge of a vehicle door window channel;

the support panel having an upper panel edge, an inner panel surface, and an outer panel surface, the upper panel edge being contiguous with at least a portion of the inner platform edge and operable to transmit a mechanical load to the inner platform edge, and at least a portion of the inner panel surface operable to exert pressure against an interior panel of the vehicle door; and

a shell, the shell comprising a cover material laminated to a cushioning material, the shell covering at least portions of the lip, the upper platform surface, and the outer panel surface.

2. An arm support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shell is attached to at least a portion of the frame.

3. An arm support as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insert, the insert shaped to conform to the lower platform surface and the inner panel surface, the insert attached to the frame so as to secure at least an edge of the shell.

4. An arm support as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a stand-off block, the stand-off block attached to the insert to rest against the interior panel of the vehicle door, thereby positioning the inner panel surface away from the interior panel of the vehicle door and changing the horizontal orientation of the platform.

5. An arm support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stand-off block has several layers that may be individually separated and removed to change the horizontal orientation of the platform.

6. An arm support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the stand-off block is optimally between 70 mm and 83 mm long, 19 mm to 32 mm wide, and 13 mm to 19 mm thick.

7. An arm support for a vehicle door, comprising:

a frame, the frame comprising a platform, a lip, and a support panel;

the platform, the lip, and the support panel formed as an integral unit;

the platform having an outer platform edge, an inner platform edge, an upper platform surface, and a lower platform surface;

the lip having an upper lip edge and a lower lip portion, the upper lip edge being contiguous with at least a portion of the outer platform edge, the lower lip portion operable to be inserted between an inner surface of a vehicle door window and an inner channel edge of a vehicle door window channel;

the support panel having an upper panel edge, an inner panel surface, and an outer panel surface, the upper panel edge being contiguous with at least a portion of the inner platform edge, and at least a portion of the inner panel surface operable to exert pressure against an interior panel of the vehicle door;

a shell, the shell comprising a cover material laminated to a cushioning material, the shell attached to at least the lip, and the outer panel surface, and to at least a portion of the lower platform surface and at least a portion of the inner panel surface; and

an insert, the insert shaped to conform to the lower platform surface and the inner panel surface, the insert attached to the frame so as to secure at least an edge of the shell.