Vehicle Armrest Bridge for Vertical Support and Impact Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle door armrest assemblies require additional components like molded carriers and fabric layers for vertical support, increasing material, tooling, and labor costs, while also needing to collapse horizontally upon side impact.
Innovation Solution
An armrest substrate with a displaceable support bridge member that spans the gap between the vehicle-inward and vehicle-outward members, providing vertical support without a separate molded carrier, using snap elements, hinged connections, or tabs and slots for attachment, allowing the bridge to release during side impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional components like molded carrier and fabric layer are included for vertical support, then vertical support function is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the substrate and support bridge into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate molded carriers and fabric layers. The support bridge is formed as an integral part of the substrate structure, providing vertical support functionality without requiring additional discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides the base structure for the armrest, incorporates the support bridge for vertical load bearing, and includes attachment features for securing to the door. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized components.
2Strength
If additional components like molded carrier and fabric layer are included for vertical support, then vertical support function is improved, but material and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support bridge and substrate are manufactured as a single integrated component, reducing material costs by eliminating redundant materials and reducing labor costs by decreasing the number of assembly steps required for attaching separate support components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If gap is defined between vehicle-inward member and vehicle-outward member for horizontal collapse, then side impact safety is improved, but vertical support capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support bridge is divided into multiple segments or struts that can independently deflect during side impact while collectively providing vertical support. This segmentation allows the structure to accommodate horizontal collapse requirements while maintaining vertical load-bearing capability through the distributed support elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support bridge extends in multiple dimensions, spanning the gap between vehicle-inward and vehicle-outward members while providing vertical support. The bridge structure utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement to simultaneously satisfy horizontal collapse requirements and vertical support needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional components and simplifies the attachment process, while maintaining the ability to provide vertical support and collapse horizontally during impacts.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one support bridge member includes a first end having a snap element. A one of the first substrate member and the second substrate member includes a snap fit feature for capturing the snap element.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest assembly for a vehicle includes an armrest substrate having a vehicle-outboard substrate member, a vehicle-inboard substrate member, and at least one end member holding the vehicle-outboard substrate member and the vehicle-inboard substrate member at a spaced distance from one another. At least one support bridge member is disposed laterally across the spaced distance. The vehicle-outboard substrate member holds an end of the at least one support bridge member without imposing an outboard restriction on the at least one support bridge member. The armrest assembly may further include a fabric member attached to the armrest substrate, a cushion member extending over the fabric member, and a cover member extending over the cushion member, the fabric member, and the armrest substrate.