Patent ID: 9505325
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: B60N

Claim Text:
1. An armrest assembly for a vehicle comprising: a laterally collapsible substrate having a gap defined between inner and outer substrate portions; a tunable stiffening feature disposed on a top of the collapsible substrate and having an aperture positioned over the gap, and engagement tabs that vertically engage the inner and outer substrate portions at respective tab receptacles, wherein the stiffening feature provides tunable lateral support to the collapsible substrate to selectively allow the inner and outer substrate portions to deflect toward each other after a predetermined lateral load is placed on the collapsible substrate; and a planar elastic bed disposed on the tunable stiffening feature and covering the aperture, the planar elastic bed vertically supporting a cover member at the aperture, wherein the tunable lateral support provided to the collapsible substrate is provided by the stiffening feature.