Impact absorbing armrest for a motor vehicle
First Claim
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1. An armrest for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a support member attached to a fixed portion of the motor vehicle and configured to provide vertical support for the armrest under a vertical load applied by an arm of an occupant;
the support member includinga substantially flat support portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, anda rib having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of the rib projecting away from the second surface of the substantially flat support portion;
the rib extending in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a lateral direction, the lateral direction being a direction between an occupant and the fixed portion of the motor vehicle; and
wherein the rib is configured to substantially reinforce the support member in a vertical direction and wherein the rib is configured to provide lateral deformation when a lateral load is applied to the armrest,wherein the second end portion of the rib is disposed on a side of the second surface of the substantially flat support portion opposite to the first surface,wherein the rib includes a hollow cavity that extends through a substantial majority of the rib in the direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, andwherein the hollow cavity is open at the first end portion of the rib, is closed at the second end portion of the rib, and extends beyond the second surface of the substantially flat support portion into the second end portion of the rib.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collision absorption system including a collapsing armrest. The armrest is configured to provide support for vertical loading during use. During a side impact collision, the armrest is configured to deform or collapse in a lateral direction. The collapsing armrest may include multiple layers with at least one layer having grooves and channels, or containing cross-ribs, to allow greater deflection in a lateral direction during a side impact collision.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An armrest for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a support member attached to a fixed portion of the motor vehicle and configured to provide vertical support for the armrest under a vertical load applied by an arm of an occupant; the support member including a substantially flat support portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a rib having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of the rib projecting away from the second surface of the substantially flat support portion; the rib extending in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a lateral direction, the lateral direction being a direction between an occupant and the fixed portion of the motor vehicle; and wherein the rib is configured to substantially reinforce the support member in a vertical direction and wherein the rib is configured to provide lateral deformation when a lateral load is applied to the armrest, wherein the second end portion of the rib is disposed on a side of the second surface of the substantially flat support portion opposite to the first surface, wherein the rib includes a hollow cavity that extends through a substantial majority of the rib in the direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, and wherein the hollow cavity is open at the first end portion of the rib, is closed at the second end portion of the rib, and extends beyond the second surface of the substantially flat support portion into the second end portion of the rib. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An armrest for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a support member attached to a fixed portion of the motor vehicle and configured to provide vertical support for the armrest under a vertical load applied by an arm of an occupant; the support member including a plurality of grooves extending in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a lateral direction, the lateral direction being a direction between an occupant and the fixed portion of the motor vehicle; and the support member further including a plurality of channels extending in a direction different from the direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein at least two channels of the plurality of channels each intersect at least two grooves of the plurality of grooves, wherein the plurality of channels have an alternating configuration, wherein at least one of the plurality of grooves is closed on either an upper surface of the support member or a lower surface of the support member, and wherein the plurality of channels includes a first set of channels extending from a first side of the support member and wherein the plurality of channels includes a second set of channels extending from a second side of the support member, and wherein the first set of channels is interdigitated with the second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. An armrest for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a support member attached to a fixed portion of the motor vehicle and configured to provide vertical support for the armrest under a vertical load applied by an arm of an occupant; the support member including a plurality of grooves extending in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a lateral direction, the lateral direction being a direction between an occupant and the fixed portion of the motor vehicle; and the support member further including a plurality of channels extending in a direction different from the direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, wherein the plurality of channels are configured to intersect with the plurality of grooves wherein at least one of the channels intersects at least two grooves such that it extends out from both sides of the at least two grooves, and wherein the plurality of channels includes a first set of channels extending from a first side of the support member and wherein the plurality of channels includes a second set of channels extending from a second side of the support member, and wherein the first set of channels is interdigitated with the second set of channels. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification