Patent ID: 7503621
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An armrest assembly in combination with a motor vehicle door having an door inner panel and an exterior panel separated to form a space therebetween, said armrest projecting inwardly into a vehicle interior from said door inner panel; a crush cell structure including an open ended closed figure shape having a thin metal wall; a trim panel segment sloping upwardly and inwardly from said door inner panel and an armrest ledge formed at least in part by said trim panel segment; said crush cell structure mounted behind said trim panel segment and beneath said armrest ledge, said crush cell structure having walls oriented vertically to provide vertical stiffness to support said armrest ledge while being crushable in a sideways direction; and said crush cell structure collapsed when said trim panel is collapsed towards said door inner panel; said trim panel segment spaced in from the door inner panel at a top portion thereof with a horizontal plate mounted extending from said top portion to said door inner panel, said plate releasably mounted to move a side of said plate adjacent to said trim panel segment upwardly to bring said plate to a substantially vertical position upon collapse of said trim panel segment towards said door inner panel.