Armrest arrangement for a vehicle with a passenger compartment

Abstract

Presented are pivoting bridge tables for connecting rear seat armrests to front center consoles, methods for making / using such armrest tables, and vehicles equipped with such armrest tables. An armrest assembly includes an armrest base mounted in the passenger compartment of a vehicle adjacent a vehicle seat and longitudinally aligned with an armrest console. An armrest cover is pivotally attached to one end of the armrest base for rotation between a first position in which the armrest cover covers the base cavity and a second position in which the armrest cover exposes the base cavity.A bridge table is pivotally mounted at one end of the armrest base to another end of the armrest base for rotation between a first position in which the bridge table is sandwiched between the armrest base and the lid and a second position in which the bridge table projects substantially horizontally from the armrest base and abuts the armrest console.

Description

[0001] This description relates generally to armrests for motor vehicles. More specifically, this description relates to armrest assemblies for the passenger compartment with stowable tables for the occupants of motor vehicles.

[0002] Today's production vehicles, such as the modern automobile, are originally equipped with front seat assemblies on the driver and passenger sides and—depending on the vehicle size and equipment package—with one or more rows of rear seat assemblies to comfortably seat the occupants in the vehicle's passenger compartment. To provide arm support for the driver and passengers, a door-side armrest may extend inward from the inside surface of each vehicle door and be integrated with a door lock lever and handle for opening and closing the door.Interior arm support can be provided by pivoting armrests mounted on the seat back (for example, in bucket seats), a stowable rear armrest in the backrest of the center seat (for example, in bench seats), an armrest in the center console supported on the floor panel of the center tunnel (for example, in front row seats), or an armrest in the floor console that replaces the rear center seat (for example, in split rear seats).

[0003] Some luxury cars, minivans, and high-end sport utility vehicles (SUVs) feature tray tables located on the top surface of the rear floor console or the back of the stowable rear armrest. These tray tables provide vehicle occupants with a work surface for placing a laptop, smartphone, food, drinks, or other personal items. In addition to providing a convenient work surface, the rear armrests can also provide other functions, such as storage compartments, cup holders, electrical charging connectors, data interfaces, climate control buttons, and so on. However, many existing table designs provide insufficient overall work surface space due to the limited space and surface topology of the rear armrest. Fixed tray tables can also be undesirable, as many occupants find them uncomfortable to rest their hands and forearms on.Likewise, cantilevered tray tables that extend over a vehicle occupant's lap may provide insufficient stability and hinder the occupant's entry and exit.

[0004] US 2007 / 0 205 642 A1 describes a storage console for a motor vehicle comprising a rear panel hinged to the base unit of the console for rotation about an axis generally transverse to the vehicle. An armrest is mounted on the rear panel, preferably hinged to the rear panel to provide double articulation sufficient to rotate the armrest to a horizontal position, allowing passengers sitting in the rear seats of the vehicle to utilize functions built into the interior surface of the armrest.

[0005] US 2023 / 0 125 485 A1 describes a table device comprising a first table extendable forward from a center console and a second table extendable rearward from a dashboard. The first table and the second table are configured such that their end portions removably engage with each other to form a continuous table surface extending in a front-to-rear direction.

[0006] JP H07- 12 180 Y2 describes a center armrest used in the center of a rear seat of a passenger car, and in particular a center armrest for the rear seat with a console that is also used as a rear console.

[0007] JP H02-208 139 A describes a safety device for a motor vehicle in which a center armrest is attached to supports that are pivotally mounted on a floor at the rear of a center console housing so that they can be rotated forwards and backwards, and that are arranged so that a space between the backrests of an operator's seat and an assistant seat can be filled when they are deployed. Brackets are fixedly attached to a floor at the rear of a center console housing, and L-shaped supports are pivotally mounted so that they can be rotated forwards and backwards, and a center armrest is provided at the upper end of the supports. In addition, a space between the backrests or an operator's seat and an assistant seat is filled with the center armrest when the supports are erected, and a locking device for this erected position is provided.

[0008] The invention is defined by the subject matter of the claims.

[0009] The following describes articulating bridge tables for connecting rear seat armrests to front center consoles, exemplary methods of manufacture and use cases for the use of such armrest assemblies, and motor vehicles equipped with such armrest assemblies in one application. By way of illustration, and not limitation, a floor console armrest assembly is disposed between adjacent vehicle seats and is longitudinally aligned along a center plane of the vehicle body with a front center console assembly. The armrest assembly includes a main armrest body attached to and projecting vertically from the floor pan of the center tunnel. An armrest cover is pivotally mounted at its rear end, for example, via a leaf hinge, a piano hinge, a knuckle hinge, etc., at a rear end of the top of the main armrest body.Sandwiched between the armrest lid and the armrest body is a bridge table pivotally mounted at its forward end, for example, via a leaf hinge, a piano hinge, a knuckle hinge, etc., at a forward end of the top surface of the main armrest body. If desired, an occupant can manually rotate the armrest lift from a generally horizontal position with the lid covering the bridge table to a generally vertical position with the lid generally at right angles to the bridge table. At this point, the occupant can manually rotate the bridge table approximately 180 degrees from a stowed position with the lid sitting on the armrest base to an extended position with the table extending between and structurally connecting the rear armrest assembly and the front center console.

[0010] The description relates to pivoting bridge tables that extend between the armrests of the rear seats and connect them to the front center consoles. An armrest assembly is presented for a vehicle having a passenger compartment including a first (front or rear) vehicle seat, a second (rear or front) vehicle seat in tandem with the first vehicle seat, and a (front or rear) armrest console adjacent to the first vehicle seat. The armrest assembly includes an armrest base rigidly or pivotally mounted within the passenger compartment adjacent to the second vehicle seat and longitudinally aligned with the armrest console.An armrest cover is pivotally mounted at its first (rear or front) end to a first (rear or front) end of the armrest base for rotation between a first (closed) position in which the armrest cover covers a cavity in the top of the base and a second (open) position in which the armrest cover is moved away from and exposes the base cavity. A bridge table is pivotally mounted at its first (front or rear) end to a second (front or rear) end of the armrest base for rotation between a first (stowed) position in which the bridge table is sandwiched between the armrest base and the cover and a second (extended) position in which the bridge table projects substantially horizontally from the armrest base and rests against the armrest console.

[0011] The description refers to motor vehicles that include pivoting bridge tables that extend between the rear seat armrests and connect them to the front center consoles. As used herein, the terms "vehicle" and "motor vehicle" may be used interchangeably and synonymously to include any relevant vehicle platform, such as passenger cars (ICE, HEV, FEV, fuel cell, fully and partially autonomous vehicles, etc.), commercial vehicles, industrial vehicles, off-road and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), agricultural equipment, aircraft, watercraft, spacecraft, etc. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body with a passenger compartment, a plurality of wheels attached to the vehicle body (for example, via corner modules coupled to a unibody or body-on-frame chassis), and other standard original equipment.A drive unit, such as an electric traction motor and / or an internal combustion engine, drives one or more of the wheels, thus providing propulsion for the vehicle. The passenger compartment contains several vehicle seats, including at least one pair of front vehicle seats in front of a pair of rear vehicle seats. A center console is located between the two front vehicle seats.

[0012] The motor vehicle also includes a rear armrest unit, generally consisting of an armrest base, a hinged lid, and an articulated table. The armrest base is mounted in the passenger compartment between the rear vehicle seats and is longitudinally aligned with the center console. A rear end of the hinged lid is pivotally attached to the rear end of the armrest base for selective rotation between a closed position, in which the lid covers an interior cavity of the armrest base, and an open position, in which the lid exposes the base cavity.A front end of the articulated bridge table is pivotally mounted to the front base end of the armrest base for selectively rotating between a stowed position in which the bridge table is sandwiched between the armrest base and the lid, and a deployed position in which the bridge table projects forwardly and substantially horizontally from the armrest base and rests against the armrest console.

[0013] The description relates to manufacturing systems, workflows, and control logic for manufacturing or using the articulating bridge tables, vehicle armrests, and motor vehicles described herein. In one example, a method is presented for assembling an armrest assembly for a vehicle having a passenger compartment including a first vehicle seat, a second vehicle seat in tandem with the first vehicle seat, and an armrest console adjacent to the first vehicle seat. This representative method comprises, in any order and in any combination with any of the options and features described above and below: forming an armrest base configured to be mounted within the passenger compartment adjacent to the second vehicle seat and longitudinally aligned with the armrest console,wherein the armrest base has a base top with a base cavity and longitudinally opposite first and second base ends; attaching a first lid end of an armrest lid proximate the first base end of the armrest base such that the armrest lid is movable between a first lid position in which the armrest lid covers the base cavity and a second lid position in which the armrest lid exposes the base cavity; and attaching a first table end of a bridge table proximate the second base end of the armrest base such that the bridge table is movable between a first table position in which the bridge table is sandwiched between the armrest base and the armrest lid and a second table position in which the bridge table projects substantially horizontally from the armrest base and abuts the armrest console.

[0014] In all of the described vehicles, methods, and armrest assemblies, the base cavity may be recessed downwardly into the top surface of the armrest base and optionally extend the longitudinal length and lateral width of the base. In this case, the bridge table, when in the first (stowed) position, may sit inside the base cavity such that the table is surrounded by the armrest base. In the first (stowed) position, the bridge table may extend across and cover the base cavity such that a first (front) work surface of the bridge table is substantially flush with a top surface of the armrest base. As a further option, the armrest cover may rest on and cover the entire front work surface of the bridge table in the first (closed) position.Conversely, in the second (open) position, the cover can be rotated away from the bridge table by at least 80 degrees (e.g., 90°-100°) to expose the entire front work surface. In the second (extended) position, the bridge table can be positioned at an angle of at least approximately 170 degrees (e.g., 180°-185°) to the armrest cover and is thus essentially parallel to it when the cover is returned to the first (closed) position.

[0015] In all of the described vehicles, methods, and armrest assemblies, the armrest console may include a console bar that projects toward the armrest assembly. In this case, a free end of the bridge table may abut the console bar when the bridge table is in the second (extended) position. Alternatively, a flange may extend outwardly from the free end of the bridge table and abut the armrest console. As a further option, a table locking mechanism may releasably lock the free end of the bridge table to the armrest console. For the purposes of this description, the bridge table may also be cantilevered from the armrest base, with the free end of the table floating immediately adjacent to the armrest console. As a further option, the bridge table may include an elongated (e.g., rectangular) table body having a first (front) and a second (rear) work surface.When the bridge table is in the first (stowed) position, the first (front) work surface faces upward, while the second (rear) work surface faces upward when the bridge table is in the second (extended) position. A "work surface" can be described as a substantially flat and substantially rigid surface with limited or no padding. In comparison, the armrest lid may have a padded top surface that faces upward when the armrest lid is in the closed position.

[0016] In all of the described vehicles, methods, and armrest assemblies, the elongated table body and the work surface of the bridge table may be substantially coplanar with an upper console surface of the armrest console and an upper lid surface of the armrest lid when the bridge table is in the second (extended) position and the bridge table is in the first (closed) position. As a further option, a lid locking mechanism may releasably lock the armrest lid in the first (closed) position. If desired, the armrest assembly may be immovably mounted in the passenger compartment between adjacent rear (or front) vehicle seats, and the armrest console may be immovably mounted between adjacent front (or rear) vehicle seats.

[0017] The above features and advantages, as well as other features and associated advantages of this description, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of illustrated examples and representative modes for carrying out the description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a representative motor vehicle with portions of the vehicle roof and passenger doors removed to show the interior of the passenger compartment with a rear armrest assembly having a pivoting bridge table. Fig. 2A-2C are perspective side views of a representative vehicle armrest assembly shown in a lid-closed, table-retracted state ( Fig. 2A), in a state with the lid open and the table retracted ( Fig. 2B) and in a state with the lid open and the table extended ( Fig. 2C).

[0018] The present description is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and some representative embodiments of the description are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail.

[0019] This description may be embodied in many different forms. Representative embodiments of the description are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail herein, with the understanding that these embodiments serve as examples of the principles described and are not limitations on the general aspects of the description. As such, elements and limitations described in, for example, the "Summary," "Introduction," "Summary," "Description of the Drawings," and "Detailed Description" sections, but not expressly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, individually or in the aggregate, by implication, inference, or otherwise. Furthermore, the mention of "first," "second," "third," etc.in the description or claims do not, per se, imply any serial or numerical limitation; unless expressly stated otherwise, these designations may be used for convenience in referring to similar features in the description and drawings and to distinguish between similar elements in the claims.

[0020] For the purposes of this description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (for example), the indefinite articles "a" and "an" are to be understood as meaning "one or more" unless expressly excluded; the words "and" and "or" are to be understood as both conjunctive and disjunctive; the words "each" and "all" mean "each and all"; and the words "including," "including," "comprising," "having," and the like each mean "including without limitation." In addition, words of approximation such as "approximately," "almost," "substantially," "generally," "about," and the like may be used herein to mean, for example, "at, near, or almost at," or "within 0-5% of," or "within acceptable manufacturing tolerances," or any logical combination thereof.Finally, directional adjectives and adverbials such as "front", "rear", "inside", "outside", "starboard", "port", "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "forward", "backward", "left", "right", etc., may refer to a motor vehicle, for example, the forward direction of travel of a motor vehicle when the vehicle is operated on a horizontal driving surface.

[0021] In Fig. 1, a representative motor vehicle is illustrated, generally designated 10, and is shown for purposes of discussion as a four-door sedan-type passenger vehicle, with like reference numerals referring to like features throughout the several views. The illustrated motor vehicle 10—also referred to herein as a "motor vehicle" or "vehicle" for short—is merely an exemplary application with which aspects of this description may be practiced. Likewise, incorporation of the present concepts into a floor-mounted rear console armrest of a second-row split passenger seat should be understood as a non-limiting implementation of the described features.It is understood that aspects and features of this description may be incorporated into both front and rear armrests of various designs, that they may be implemented for one-, two-, and three-box vehicle layouts with two or more rows of seats, and that they may be incorporated into any logically relevant vehicle type. Furthermore, only selected components of the motor vehicle and armrest assembly are shown and described in detail herein. Nevertheless, the vehicles and armrests described below may incorporate numerous additional and alternative features, as well as other available peripherals, to perform the various methods and functions of this description.

[0022] The Automobile 10 of Fig. 1 may be described as a three-car, sedan-type passenger vehicle having two sets of vehicle doors, namely a pair of front vehicle doors 12a and 12b forward of a pair of rear vehicle doors 14a and 14b, which are pivotally mounted with respect to a vehicle body 32 of the automobile 10 for securely closing and, when desired, selectively opening to provide access to a passenger compartment 22. Within the passenger compartment 22 are two rows of passenger seats, namely a pair of front vehicle seats 16a and 16b forward of a pair of rear vehicle seats 18a and 18b.As illustrated, the front driver and passenger vehicle seats 16a, 16b are bucket-shaped seat assemblies that are slidably mounted on seat tracks 20, while the rear driver and passenger vehicle seats 18a, 18b are split bench seats that are rigidly mounted in the rear of the vehicle passenger compartment 22. Each vehicle seat may include a padded seat bottom 24 that is either pivotally or rigidly connected to a padded backrest 26 via a seat frame (not visible). It should be understood that the motor vehicle 10 of FIG. Fig. 1 may use additional rows of vehicle seats and / or other seating configurations than those shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of this description.

[0023] Depending on the vehicle make, model, and equipment, the front driver and passenger seats 16a, 16b can each be equipped with a set of inboard and outboard pivoting armrests 28 for supporting the lower areas of the left and right arms of the vehicle occupants. As can be seen, the pivoting armrests 28 in the motor vehicle 10 can also be omitted entirely and replaced or supplemented by door-integrated armrests. A center console assembly 30 is arranged between the front vehicle seats 16a, 16b. The center console assembly 30 is arranged centrally on the center tunnel floor panel of the vehicle body 32 and extends rearward from a front instrument panel along the inner flanks of the front seats 16a, 16b.The center console assembly 30 may be manufactured with a console base 32 that mounts to the floor pan and includes one or more internal storage compartments (not visible), one or more cup holders 34, and a console work surface 36 extending along the length of the top surface of the base 32. Although described below as being incorporated into rear armrest consoles, the disclosed pivoting bridge tables may instead be integrated into the front center console 30 to interface with a rear armrest.

[0024] With further reference to Fig. 1, a rear armrest assembly 40 is located at the rear of the passenger compartment 22 within the second vehicle seat row 18a, 18b. The rear armrest assembly 40 may assume a variety of available armrest configurations, including pivot-mounted stowable designs, cushion-mounted universal designs, and floor-mounted console designs (as shown). According to the Fig. 2A-2C, the rear armrest assembly 40 generally, or in some applications, consists essentially of a supporting armrest base 42, a hinged armrest lid 44 (or "first lid"), and an articulated armrest bridge table 46 (or "second lid"). A lower end of the armrest base 42 is secured, for example, via threaded bolts and mating acorn nuts within the passenger compartment 22 between the rear vehicle seats 18a and 18b on the driver and passenger sides and is longitudinally aligned with the front center console 30. At the uppermost end of the armrest base 42 is a base top 41 (or "top") that defines an interior cavity 43 within the base 42. Although any logically suitable shape may be used, the armrest base 42 of the Fig. 2A-2C as a rectangular polyhedron having a rearwardly directed (first) base end 45 spaced longitudinally from a forwardly directed (second) base end 47. As in Fig. As best seen in Figure 2C, the base's inner cavity 43 is recessed downwardly into the base's upper surface 41, with an open upper end of the cavity 43 facing upwardly. It may be desirable for the longitudinal length of the armrest base 42 to substantially coincide with the longitudinal length of the seat bottoms of the rear vehicle seats 18a, 18b.

[0025] In order to provide the occupants of the rear vehicle seats 18a, 18b with a padded and comfortable platform for resting their forearms, the armrest cover 44 may be padded on the top side 41 of the base 42 to form the uppermost surface of the armrest assembly 40. Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B show a rear (first) end of the armrest cover 44, which is rotatably mounted, for example, via a leaf hinge, a piano hinge, a knurled hinge, etc. (collectively referred to as "first device 48") near the rearward end 45 of the armrest base 42. The armrest cover 44 can be selectively rotated, for example, in the Fig. 2A-2C clockwise, from a closed (first) position ( Fig. 2A) into an open (second) position ( Fig. 2B) and, if desired, can be turned back to the closed position (in Fig. 2C, hidden at 44). In the closed state, the armrest cover 44 may rest flush with the top surface 41 of the base 42 and extend over and cover the base cavity 43. When the cover 44 is rotated about a first transverse axis A1 to the open position, it is displaced from and exposed by the underlying bridge table 46 and the base cavity 43. It may be desirable for the armrest cover 44 to be rotated at least 80° (for example, 90°-100°) away from the bridge table 46 when placed in a fully open position.

[0026] In Fig. 2A, the armrest lid 44 is shown with a padded top surface 52 that faces upwardly when the lid 44 is in the closed position. It is also contemplated that the top surface 52 of the lid may include a substantially flat and substantially rigid work surface that fully or partially covers the lid 44. An optional lid locking mechanism 54, which may be a push-button lock, releasably locks a front (second) end of the armrest lid 44 to the base 42, thereby securing the lid 44 in the closed position. Although not required, it may be desirable for the outer perimeter of the lid 44 to substantially coincide with the outer perimeter of the top surface of the base 41 and for the lid 44 to be directly attached to the rear end 45 of the armrest base 42.As a further option, the cover 44 can be pivotally mounted on one of its sides to the base 42, so that the cover 44 pivots about a longitudinal axis rather than a transverse axis of the vehicle 10. The opening and closing of the armrest cover 44 and the table 46 can be manual or automatic and can be assisted by air springs, torsion springs, linear or rotary actuators, or bidirectional electric motors.

[0027] In order to provide a stable and safe work surface for the occupants of the rear vehicle seats 18a, 18b while traveling in the motor vehicle 10, the pivoting bridge table 46 is stowable in the armrest base 42 and selectively foldable to thereby connect the rear armrest assembly 40 to the center console 30. Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C show a front (first) end of the bridge table 46, which is rotatably mounted, for example, via a leaf hinge, a piano hinge, a hinged joint, etc. (collectively, "second attachment device 50"), near the forward-facing end 47 of the armrest base 42. The bridge table 46 can be selectively rotated, for example, in the Fig. 2A-2C counterclockwise, from a stowed (first) position ( Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B) into an extended (second) position ( Fig. 2C) and, if desired, back to the stowed position ( Fig. 2A). In the stowed position, the bridge table 46 is sandwiched between the armrest base 42 and the lid 44 and extends over and closes the open upper end of the base cavity 43. Fig. Figure 2B shows the stowed bridge table 46 located within the base cavity 43 and surrounded by the armrest base 42. With the bridge table 46 folded and the armrest lid closed, the lid 44 rests on, covers, and conceals the bridge table 46. When rotated about a second transverse axis A2 to the extended position, the bridge table 46 projects substantially horizontally from the armrest base 42 and abuts a rear end of the center console assembly 30. Fig. Figure 2C shows the bridge table 46 displaced from the base cavity 43 and at least partially cantilevered from the armrest base 42. As shown in Fig. As can best be seen in Figure 2A, the axis of rotation A2 of the bridge table runs essentially parallel to the axis of rotation A1 of the armrest cover and is spaced longitudinally from it.

[0028] The bridge table 46 for the armrest can have a variety of shapes, sizes, and additional features. For example, the bridge table 46 in the Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C, having an elongated and substantially flat rectangular body 60 with rounded corners, a front (first) work surface 56 at a front side of the body 60, and a rear (second) work surface 58 at the opposite rear side of the body 60. As used herein, the term "work surface" may be defined to include a substantially flat and substantially rigid surface with limited or no padding. It is contemplated that the table body 60 may be manufactured with recessed and raised surfaces, non-slip surface coatings and textures, non-slip ribs and depressions, etc., and still be considered substantially flat. As a further option, the bridge table 46 may have only a single work surface 58; the front work surface 56 may be replaced with cup holders, storage compartments, interfaces for wired and wireless charging, etc. Fig. 2B, the bridge table 46 is shown stowed within the armrest base 42 with the front work surface 56 facing upward and substantially flush with a top surface of the base top 41 of the armrest base 42.

[0029] When the bridge table 46 is brought into the extended position and then the armrest cover 44 is closed, it may be desirable for the bridge table 46 to be positioned at an angle of at least about 170° (for example, 180°-185°) to the armrest cover 44, so that the table 46 is substantially parallel to the cover 44 (in Fig. 2C shown hidden). In Fig. 2C, the extended bridge table 46 is shown with the rear work surface 58 facing upward and substantially coplanar (e.g., within 3 to 5 mm) with both a top surface of the center console 30 and a top surface of the armrest cover 44. To support the unhinged "free" end of the bridge table 46, an optional console bar 62 projects rearward from the center console 30 toward the armrest assembly 40. When the bridge table 46 is rotated to the deployed position ( Fig. 2C), this free end of the table 46 rests on the console bar 62. An optional table locking mechanism, which may be in the form of a spring-loaded roller or a ball lock, releasably locks the unhooked "free" end of the bridge table 46 to the center console 30.

Claims

[1] An armrest assembly (40) for a vehicle (10) having a passenger compartment (22) comprising a first vehicle seat (16a, 16b), a second vehicle seat (18a, 18b) in tandem with the first vehicle seat (16a, 16b), and an armrest console (30) adjacent to the first vehicle seat (16a, 16b), the armrest assembly (40) comprising: an armrest base (42) configured to be mounted within the passenger compartment (22) adjacent the second vehicle seat (18a, 18b) and longitudinally aligned with the armrest console (30), the armrest base (42) having a base top (41) with a base cavity (43) and longitudinally opposite first and second base ends (45, 47); an armrest cover (44) rotatably mounted on a first cover end proximate the first base end (45) and movable between a first cover position in which the armrest cover (44) covers the base cavity (43) and a second cover position in which the armrest cover (44) is displaced away from the base cavity (43); and a bridge table (46) rotatably mounted at a first table end near the second base end (47) and movable between a first table position in which the bridge table (46) is sandwiched between the armrest base (42) and the armrest cover (44), and a second table position in which the bridge table (46) projects horizontally from the armrest base (42) and rests against the armrest console (30). [2] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 1, wherein the base cavity (43) is recessed into the base top (41) of the armrest base (42), and wherein the bridge table (46), when in the first table position, sits within the base cavity (43) surrounded by the armrest base (42). [3] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 2, wherein the bridge table (46) extends over and covers the base cavity (43) in the first table position, a first work surface (56) of the bridge table (46) being flush with a top base surface of the base top (41). [4] Armrest assembly (40) according to claim 1, wherein the armrest cover (44) rests on and covers the bridge table (46) in the first cover position and is rotated by at least about 80 degrees relative to the bridge table (46) in the second cover position. [5] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 1, wherein the bridge table (46) is positioned at an angle of at least about 170 degrees to the armrest cover (44) in the second table position and is parallel thereto when in the first cover position. [6] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 1, wherein the armrest console (30) includes a console bar (62) projecting toward the armrest assembly (40), and wherein a second table end of the bridge table (46) is supported on the console bar (62) when the bridge table (46) is in the second table position. [7] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 6, further comprising a table locking mechanism that releasably locks the second table end of the bridge table (46) to the armrest console (30). [8] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 1, wherein the bridge table (46) includes an elongated table body (60) having opposing first and second work surfaces (56, 58), the first work surface (56) facing upward when the bridge table (46) is in the first table position, and the second work surface (58) facing upward when the bridge table (46) is in the second table position. [9] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 8, wherein the first and second work surfaces (56, 58) are flat and rigid surfaces without padding. [10] The armrest assembly (40) of claim 8, wherein the armrest cover (44) has a padded top surface (52) that faces upward when the armrest cover (44) is in the first cover position.

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