Expandable Vehicle Door Sill Armrest with Gel Padding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door armrests are not comfortably integrated into the door sill, are prone to slippage, and lack expandability, making them uncomfortable and inconvenient for drivers and passengers, especially when trying to maintain hand contact with the steering wheel.

Innovation Solution

A gel-like material is integrated into the top of the vehicle door sill to create a comfortable armrest that can optionally expand inwardly, providing additional support and surface area through a hinged mechanism, ensuring secure and customizable padding for both left and right-hand drive vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If detachable non-integrated padded armrests are used, then armrest function is provided, but they are prone to slippage and can be dislodged by window movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest functionVSAvoidposition stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is merged with the door sill structure, creating an integrated assembly where the armrest cannot slip or be dislodged. The door sill and armrest form a unified structural unit, eliminating the reliability issues of detachable designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door sill is segmented into functional zones: a first portion for structural support and a second portion forming the armrest surface. This segmentation allows the armrest to be an inherent part of the door structure rather than a separate component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If fixed-size armrests are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but they cannot be expanded to provide additional support surface area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed size constructionVSAvoidarmrest surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest incorporates a fold-out portion that can be rotated between a stored position (flush with door panel) and an extended position (protruding inward). This dynamic mechanism allows the armrest surface area to be temporarily expanded when needed while maintaining a compact form when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If padding is integrated into the door sill, then comfort is improved, but the door sill construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoiddoor sill construction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door sill armrest combines a rigid structural portion with a padded cover layer. The padding is integrated as a composite structure where the cover portion is secured to the door sill, providing comfort while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10513209B2Padding and/or expandable armrest integrated into upper door of vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 SHAW JR VINCENT GABRIEL

AI summary

A vehicle door padding feature and optional expansion feature that creates an armrest integrated as part of a vehicle door sill at the upper part of the door near the junction of the door covering and the window, and/or an expandable armrest in the door sill/upper door area via extension toward the inside of the vehicle.