An armrest assembly of a vehicle

Abstract

The disclosure herein generally relates to an armrest assembly for a vehicle, and more particularly, to the armrest assembly adapted to store a safety device. The armrest assembly (1000) includes an armrest body (100) and a glass breaker integrated with a cutter (120). The armrest body (100) includes a top surface portion (100T) and a bottom surface portion (100B). The glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is adapted to fit in a cavity (C) of said bottom surface portion (100B). The glass breaker (120G) is configured to break a glass of said vehicle and said cutter (120C) is configured to cut a seat belt of said vehicle. The armrest assembly allows both first row and second row occupants to easily access the glass breaker and cutter, thereby reducing the response time in an emergency, such as a crash, rollover, or vehicle submersion.

Description

AN ARMREST ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The embodiments herein generally relate to safety devices in vehicles, and more particularly, to an assembly for storing safety devices of a vehicle.BACKGROUND

[0002] Currently, most of the vehicles have automatic doors which may malfunction due to electrical or mechanical issues, making it more difficult for passengers to quickly open doors in an emergency. In accidents such as collisions, rollovers, or water submersion, passengers face significant risks, particularly when vehicle doors get jammed, or windows are blocked. While seat belts are essential for preventing injuries during crashes, they can sometimes malfunction or get jammed, trapping occupants, and hindering escape.

[0003] To tackle these challenges, various safety devices, such as glass breakers and seat belt cutters, have been developed. These devices are intended to assist individuals in breaking a vehicle's window or cutting through a stuck seat belt when standard exits, like doors, are obstructed. However, the effectiveness of these devices can be limited by their accessibility, as they are often stored in glove compartments or other areas like the sun visor, which may be difficult for both first row and second row occupants to reach in a high-pressure, urgent situation.

[0004] In an emergency, occupants may be injured, disoriented, or panicked, making it even harder for them to find and use these safety devices effectively. Such delays in response time can be particularly dangerous in critical situations, like when a vehicle is sinking in water or facing the threat of fire or explosion.

[0005] Therefore, there exists a need for an assembly to store a safety device in a vehicle which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.OBJECTS

[0006] The principal object of embodiments herein is to provide an armrest assembly for a vehicle which is adapted to store a safety device of the vehicle.

[0007] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the armrest assembly of the vehicle which accommodates the safety device in an armrest of the vehicle without compromising the vehicle's aesthetics or armrest’s functionality.

[0008] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the armrest assembly of the vehicle which allows both first row and second row occupants to easily access the safety device, thereby reducing the response time in an emergency, such as a crash, rollover, or vehicle submersion.

[0009] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the armrest assembly of the vehicle, which facilitates the easy assembly of dual-function safety device within the armrest.

[0010] Another object of embodiments herein is to provide the armrest assembly of the vehicle which is adapted to store a glass breaker and a cutter for breaking of glasses and cutting seat belts of the vehicle respectively to allow quick exit of the occupants from the vehicle during emergency.

[0011] These and other objects of embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with following description and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] The embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0013] Fig. 1A depicts a sectional view of a bottom surface portion of an armrest positioned in first row of a vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0014] Fig. IB depicts another sectional view of the bottom surface portion of the armrest with safety device in the first row of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0015] Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the safety device including the glass breaker integrated with cutter, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0016] Fig. 3 A depicts an isometric view of the armrest assembly in a center console of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0017] Fig. 3B depicts a closer isometric view of the armrest assembly in the center console of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0018] Fig. 4 depicts an isometric view of the armrest assembly in a first row and a second row of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and

[0019] Fig. 5 depicts a sectional view of the bottom surface portion of the armrest positioned in a second row of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0021] The embodiments herein achieve an armrest assembly of a vehicle which is adapted to store a safety device. Further, embodiments herein achieve the armrest assembly of the vehicle which allows both first row and second row occupants to easily access the safety device, thereby reducing the response time in an emergency, such as a crash, rollover, or vehicle submersion. Referring now to the drawings Figs. 1 A through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

[0022] Figs. 1A and IB depict a sectional view of a bottom surface portion (100B) of an armrest body (100) positioned in first row (F) of a vehicle without and with safety device (120) respectively, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The armrest assembly (1000) includes an armrest body (100) and a glass breaker integrated with a cutter (120). The armrest body (100) has a top surface portion (100T) and a bottom surface portion (100B). The glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is adapted to fit in a cavity (C) of said bottom surface portion (100B) of said armrest body (100). Fig. 2 depicts a side view of the glass breaker integrated with cutter (120), according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The glass breaker (120G) is configured to break a glass of said vehicle and the cutter (120C) is configured to cut a seat belt of said vehicle.

[0023] The armrest body (100) is pivotable between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal use position. Figs. 3A and 3B depict an isometric view of the armrest assembly (1000) in a center console (200) of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, said armrest body (100) of said armrest assembly (1000) is positioned in a center console (200) of said vehicle. The center console (200) comprises a console base (150) defining a first area (130A), and a second area (130B) disposed forwardly of said first area (BOA). The armrest body (100) is hingedly connected to said console base (150). The armrest body (100) is configured to selectively open or close said first area (BOA). In an embodiment, said first area (BOA) is a storage area and said second area (BOB) comprises a gear shift lever (S) and a cup holder base (H). The second area (BOB) is disposed in proximity to an instrument panel (not shown) of said vehicle.

[0024] Fig. 4 depicts an isometric view of the armrest assembly (1000) in a first row(F) and a second row(R) of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the armrest body (100) including said glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is disposed adjacent to a driver seat (140FD) and a front passenger seat(140FF) in said center console (200) in the first row of said vehicle. Fig. 5 depicts a sectional view of the bottom surface portion (100B) of the armrest body (100) positioned in a second row (R) of the vehicle, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In another embodiment, the armrest body (100) including said glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is disposed between a left-side passenger seat (MORL) and a right-side passenger seat (140RR) in the second row of the vehicle.

[0025] The technical advantages of the armrest assembly (1000) of the vehicle are as follows. The armrest assembly is adapted to store a safety device of the vehicle in an armrest of the vehicle without compromising the vehicle's aesthetics or armrest’s functionality. Further, the armrest assembly of the vehicle allows both first row and second row occupants to easily access the safety device, thereby reducing the response time in an emergency, such as a crash, rollover, or vehicle submersion. The armrest assembly of the vehicle facilitates the easy assembly of dual-function safety device within the armrest. The armrest assembly of the vehicle is adapted to store a glass breaker and a cutter for breaking of glasses and cutting of seat belts of the vehicle respectively to allow quick exit of the occupants from the vehicle during emergency.

[0026] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.List of Reference Numerals1000: Armrest assembly100: Armrest body100T: Top surface portion of armrest body100B: Bottom surface portion of armrest body120G: Glass breaker120C: Cutter120: Glass breaker integrated with a cutter130A: First area130B: Second area200: Center console140FD: Driver seat in first row of the vehicleMOFF: Front passenger seat in a first row of the vehicle MORL: Second row left passenger seat140RR: Second row right passenger seat150: Console baseC: Cavity of armrest bodyF: Front row of vehicleR: Second row of vehicleS: Gear shift leverH: Cup holder base

Claims

STATEMENT OF CLAIMSWe claim:

1. An armrest assembly (1000) of a vehicle, said armrest assembly (1000) comprising:an armrest body (100) having a top surface portion(lOOT) and a bottom surface portion(lOOB); anda glass breaker integrated with a cutter (120) adapted to fit in a cavity(C) of said bottom surface portion(lOOB).

2. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid glass breaker (120G) is configured to break a glass of said vehicle, and said cutter(120C) is configured to cut a seat belt of said vehicle.

3. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said armrest body (100) is pivotable between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal use position.

4. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid armrest body (100) is positioned in a center console (200) of said vehicle, and said center console (200) comprises a console base (150) defining a first area (130A).

5. The armrest assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said armrest body (100) is configured to selectively open or close said first area (130A).

6. The armrest assembly (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said armrest body (100) is hingedly connected to said console base (150).

7. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 4, whereinsaid console base (150) defines a second area(130B) disposed forwardly of said first area(130A),said first area(130A) is a storage area, andsaid second area(130B) comprises a gear shift lever(S) and a cup holder base(H).

8. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second area(130B) is disposed in proximity to an instrument panel of said vehicle.

9. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said armrest body (100) including said glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is disposed adjacent to a driver seat (MOD) and a front passenger seat(140F) in said center console (200) in a first row (F) of said vehicle.

10. The armrest assembly (1000) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said armrest body (100) including said glass breaker integrated with cutter (120) is disposed between a left-side passenger seat(MORL) and a right-side passenger seat(MORR) in a second row (R) of said vehicle.

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