Patent Publication Number: US-2022219584-A1

Title: Armrest

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to armrests in a vehicle, and particularly to armrests that are removable from the vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an armrest that is removable from the vehicle and includes sanitization features. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present disclosure, a removable armrest module is configured to be coupled to an occupant support in a vehicle. The occupant support includes a seat bottom and a seat back arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. The seat bottom and the seat back cooperate to define a seat bite region between the seat bottom and the seat back. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the removable armrest module includes an armrest base adapted to rest on an upper surface of the occupant support, an occupant utility unit coupled to the armrest base, and a built-in sanitization system. The armrest base includes an armrest body that provides a rest area for an occupant&#39;s arm and an armrest mount that is configured to be wedged into the seat bite region of the occupant support. The occupant utility unit includes a tray that provides a work surface for the occupant and a privacy wall that separates various compartments in the vehicle for occupant privacy. The sanitization system is configured to disinfect the armrest base, the occupant utility unit, and areas surrounding the armrest module so that the occupant support, the armrest module, and the air in the cabin is sanitized for each occupant using the vehicle. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the sanitization system may include a surface sanitizer, an air-cleaning system, and a sanitizer dispenser. The surface sanitizer is configured to emit a disinfecting light source to disinfect surfaces of the armrest module, the occupant support, parts of the vehicle, and parts of the occupant. The air-cleaning system is configured to purify and/or sanitize the air in vehicle. The sanitizer dispenser is configured to provide doses of a sanitizing fluid so that the occupant can disinfect their hands and other objects. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective and diagrammatic view of a plurality of occupant supports within a cabin of a vehicle and showing a removable armrest module, in accordance with the present disclosure, attached to one of the plurality of occupant supports in a rear row of the vehicle and showing that the removable armrest module includes an armrest base, an occupant utility unit including a tray and a privacy wall, and a sanitization system coupled to at least one of the armrest base and the occupant utility unit; 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the removable armrest module resting on an upper surface of the rear row occupant supports with a portion of the rear row occupant support cut away to show an armrest mount of the armrest base wedged into a bite line of the rear row occupant supports to retain the removable armrest module to the rear row occupant supports; 
         FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the armrest module showing that the armrest base is configured to provide a rest area for occupants arms and the privacy wall is configured to divide the rest area into a first sub-region and a second sub-region; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the armrest module with a side panel of the armrest base removed and diagrammatically showing various elements of the sanitization system located within an interior space formed in the armrest base; 
         FIG. 4  is side view of another embodiment of a surface sanitizer including a plurality of illumination lights and a plurality of disinfecting lights in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is side view of another embodiment of a surface sanitizer including a plurality of illumination lights and a plurality of disinfecting lights arranged in separate rows in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A plurality of occupant supports  10  are arranged within a cabin  12  of a vehicle  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . Each occupant support  10  in accordance with the present disclosure includes a seat bottom  16  and a seat back  18  arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom  16 . A seat bite region  20  is defined between the seat bottom  16  and the seat back  18  where the seat bottom  16  and the seat back  18  meet. An armrest module  22  may be coupled removably to the occupant support  10  to increase comfort for an occupant seated on occupant support  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     The armrest module  22  includes an armrest base  24 , an occupant utility unit  26 , and a sanitization system  28  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The armrest base  24  provides a rest area  30  for one or more arms of occupants seated on the occupant support  10  next to the armrest module  22 . The occupant utility unit  26  is coupled to the armrest base  24  and is configured to be used by an occupant to hold items for activities such as eating, drinking, or work related activities. The sanitization system  28  is configured to disinfect the armrest base  24 , the occupant utility unit  26 , and areas surrounding the armrest module  22  so that the occupant support  10 , the armrest module  22 , and the air in the cabin  12  is sanitized for each occupant using the vehicle  14 . 
     The armrest base  24  includes an armrest mount  32  and an armrest body  34  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The armrest mount  32  is configured to mount the armrest module  22  to the occupant support  10  and block the armrest module  22  from undesired movement relative to the occupant support  10 . The armrest body  34  positions the rest area  30  in a location that is comfortable for a user of the rest area  30 . 
     The armrest mount  32  may cooperate with portions of the occupant support  10  to mount the armrest module  22  to the occupant support  10  such as by forming wedge that extends into the seat bite region  20 . In other embodiments, the armrest mount  32  may use a component of the occupant support  10  such as anchor points located in the seat back  18  or a built-in armrest. In other embodiments the armrest mount  32  may be mounted to one or more components of the vehicle  14  other than occupant support  10 , such as a door or a center console between two occupant supports  10 . 
     The armrest body  34  is configured to support the occupant utility unit  26  and the sanitization system  28  above an upper surface of the occupant supports  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The occupant utility unit  26  includes a tray  36  and a privacy wall  38  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The tray  36  extends horizontally relative to the occupant support  10  and is generally coplanar with the rest area  30  provided by the armrest base  24 . The privacy wall  38  extends upwardly from the tray  36  and from the armrest base  24  to provide a barrier between occupants. 
     The tray  36  provides a work surface  40  that an occupant may use for activities such as eating, writing, reading, or for holding a device as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The tray  36  may include one or more accessories to hold devices and items such as a mobile-device docking station  41  and/or a cup holder  42 . The tray  36  includes a forward edge  44 , a pair of parallel side edges  46 ,  48 , and a pair of rearward edges  50 ,  52  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The forward edge  44  is arranged forward of a leading end  110  of the privacy wall  38  and is arranged perpendicularly to each side edge  46 ,  48 . The side edges  46 ,  48  extend rearwardly from the forward edge  44  and are spaced apart from one another on opposite lateral sides of the privacy wall  38 . The rearward edges  50 ,  52  extend rearwardly at an angle relative to each corresponding side edge  46 ,  48 . The rearward edges  50 ,  52  converge at the privacy wall  38  as they extend rearwardly from each corresponding side edge  46 ,  48 . 
     The privacy wall  38  divides the rest area  30  and the work surface  40  in half to provide separate sub-regions of the rest area  30  and the work surface  40  on both sides of the privacy wall  38  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The rest area  30  is divided by the privacy wall  38  into a first rest area  30 A and a second rest area  30 B. Similarly, the work surface  40  is divided by the privacy wall  38  into a first work surface  40 A and a second work surface  40 B. The first rest area  30 A and the first work surface  40 A are located in a first passenger region  54  for use by a first passenger seated in the first passenger region  54 . The second rest area  30 B and the second work surface  40 B are located in a second passenger region  56  for use by a second passenger seated in the second passenger region  56 . 
     The privacy wall  38  includes a low-elevation, rest-area section  58  and a high-elevation work-surface section  60  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The rest-area section  58  is located rearward of the work-surface section  60 . The rest-area section  58  has a height from the armrest base  24  that is lower than a height of the work-surface section  60  relative to the armrest base  24 . Passengers seated in both the first passenger region  54  and the second passenger region  56  may be in view of one another over the rest-area section  58  so that they can communicate with one another. At the same time, if one or both of the passengers is using the work surface  40 , the work-surface section  60  obscures visibility of any item or device on the tray  36  from the other side of the privacy wall  38  to increase privacy for each passenger. For example, the work surface  40  may include a mobile-device docking station  41  and the work-surface section  60  has a height sufficient to obscure a mobile device (not shown) coupled to the docking station  41 . In some embodiments, the privacy wall  38  may have a height sufficient to completely block each passenger&#39;s view of the opposite passenger region  54 ,  56  from the one another. 
     The sanitization system  28  is configured to reduce or remove contaminants, such as germs, from the rest area  30 , the work surface  40 , the occupant support  10 , components of the vehicle  14  near the armrest module  22 , the passengers themselves, and air in the cabin  12 . The sanitization system  28  includes a surface sanitizer  62 , an air-cleaning system  64 , and a sanitizer dispenser system  66  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The surface sanitizer  62  is coupled to at least one of the armrest base  24  and the privacy wall  38  to disinfect the rest area  30  and the work surface  40 . The air-cleaning system  64  is configured to filter and sanitize air through the armrest base  24  to remove contaminants from the air in the cabin  12 . The sanitizer dispenser system  66  is configured to dispense a sanitizing fluid  86  from the armrest module  22  so that the passengers can disinfect their hands or items with the sanitizing fluid  86 . 
     The surface sanitizer  62  is illustratively embodied as a sanitizing light strip that is configured to emit a sanitizing light source, such as Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light, to disinfect surfaces of the armrest module  22  that are frequently contacted by passengers, such as the rest area  30  and the work surface  40 . The surface sanitizer  62  is coupled to a lower end of the privacy wall  38  and extends around a perimeter of the lower end of the privacy wall  38  to direct the UV-C light onto an entire upper surface  30 U,  40 U of the rest area  30  and the work surface  40 . The surface sanitizer  62  extends along the lower end of the privacy wall  38  on both sides of the privacy wall  38  so that each of the first and second rest area  30 A,  30 B and the first and second work surface  40 A,  40 B is exposed to the sanitizing light source. The sanitizing light source may also disinfect portions of the occupant support  10 , other components of the vehicle  14 , the passengers, and the air in the cabin  12 . 
     The surface sanitizer  62  may include a plurality of illumination lights  68  that emit an illumination light source and a plurality of disinfecting lights  70  that emit the sanitizing light source as shown in  FIG. 3 . The illumination lights  68  are configured to illuminate the work surface  40  and portions of each passenger region  54 ,  56  so that the each passenger can view items and surroundings in dark situations. The disinfecting lights  70  may provide some illumination, but are primarily used to provide the sanitizing light source for the disinfecting purposes previously described. The surface sanitizer  62  may alternate between one illumination light  68  and one disinfecting light  70  as the surface sanitizer  62  extends around the privacy wall  38 . It should be noted that all of the lights included in the surface sanitizer  62  may be disinfecting lights  70 . 
     In another embodiment, the armrest module  22  may include a surface sanitizer  262  that is similar to sanitizer  62 , but that includes groups of illumination lights  268  that separate each disinfecting light  270  or a group of disinfecting lights  270  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In yet another embodiment, the armrest module  22  may include a surface sanitizer  362  that is similar to surface sanitizer  62 , but that includes a first row of lights  369  including the illumination lights  368  and a second row of lights  371  positioned above or below the first row of lights  369  and including the disinfecting lights  370  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The air-cleaning system  64  is configured to discharge sanitized air through an outlet port  72  formed in the armrest base  24  toward a passenger as shown in  FIG. 3 . The air-cleaning system  64  includes a duct  74 , a blower  76  coupled to the duct  74 , and an air purifier  78  coupled to the duct  74 . The duct  74  extends between the outlet port  72  and an inlet port  80  to transfer air from the inlet port  80  to the outlet port  72 . The blower  76  is configured to displace air to flow through the inlet port  80  and the duct  74  to the air purifier  78 . The blower  76  provides a sufficient flow rate and pressure to discharge the air through the outlet port  72  so that the passengers are provided with cleaned air when the air-cleaning system  64  is in operation. The air purifier  78  is coupled to the duct between the inlet port  80  and the outlet port  72  to purify and/or sanitize the air flowing through the duct  74  prior to the air being released into the cabin  12  of the vehicle  14  through the outlet port  72 . 
     The air purifier  78  is located in the armrest base  24  and includes a filter  82  and an optional air sanitizer  84  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The filter  82  is configured to remove or reduce contaminants from the air entering the inlet port  80  to clean the air before it is released back into the cabin  12  of the vehicle  14 . The filter  82  may be selected to have a particular minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) that is tailored to a particular type of contaminant desired to be removed from the air in the cabin  12 . High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters or activated carbon filters may also be used. The air sanitizer  84  is configured to sanitize the filter  82  to constantly eradicate any germs that are removed from the air and trapped in the filter  82 . The air sanitizer  84  may include a sanitizing light that emits a sanitizing light source, such as a UV-C light source, onto the filter  82 . 
     The sanitizer dispenser system  66  is located in the armrest module  22  and is configured to dispense a sanitizing fluid  86  from a dispenser port  88  so that the passengers can disinfect their hands, other body parts, and items as shown in  FIG. 4 . The sanitizer dispenser system  66  includes a sanitizer reservoir  90 , a pump  92 , and a fluid dispenser  94 . The sanitizer reservoir  90  is located in the armrest base  24  and stores a supply of the sanitizing fluid  86 . The pump  92  is configured to displace doses of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the sanitizer reservoir  90  for discharge through the dispenser port  88 . The fluid dispenser  94  discharges the sanitizing fluid  86  and includes a nozzle  96  defining the dispenser port  88 , a supply line  97 , and a check valve  98 . The nozzle  96  may be configured to foam the sanitizing fluid  86  as it exits the dispenser port  88 . The check valve  98  is configured to release a single dose of the sanitizing fluid through the dispenser port  88  at a time. 
     The sanitizer dispenser system  66  may further include a control system  100  that controls discharge of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the dispenser port  88  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The control system  100  may be coupled to or located in the armrest base  24  and includes a controller  102 , a memory storage device  104 , and a motion sensor  106 . The controller  102  is illustratively embodied as a microprocessor and is configured to receive sensor signals from the motion sensor  106  and output control signals to the pump  92  and the check valve  98  in response to the sensor signals. The memory storage device  104  stores instructions that, when executed by the controller  102 , causes the pump to displace a dose of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the sanitizer reservoir  90  and temporarily opens the check valve  98  to discharge a dose of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the dispenser port  88 . The motion sensor  106  is configured to sense the presence of a user&#39;s hand or an object directly below the nozzle  96  and sends a sensor signal to the controller  102  in response to the sensed presence. Upon receipt of the sensor signal, the controller  102  outputs a command signal to cause the pump to displace a dose of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the sanitizer reservoir  90  and temporarily open the check valve  98  to discharge a dose of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the dispenser port  88 . In other embodiments, the pump  92  may be activated manually by a handle or lever to move a dose of the sanitizing fluid  86  from the sanitizer reservoir  90  and out of the dispenser port  88 . 
     The privacy wall  38  has a shape that cooperates with the dispenser system  66  and the tray  36  to improve functionality of the dispenser system  66 . When viewed from the side, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the high-elevation work-surface section  60  of the privacy wall  38  includes a forward end  110 , a rear end  112  spaced apart from the forward end  110 , and a top end  114  that interconnects upper portions of the forward end  110  and the rear end  112 . The forward end  110  and the rear end  112  are generally parallel with one another and extend upwardly and forwardly relative to the tray  36 . The dispenser port  88  is coupled to an upper end  116  of the forward end  110  of the privacy wall  38  and is spaced apart from the tray  36 . The tray  36  extends forward from a lower edge  118  of the forward end  110  of the privacy wall  38  to locate a portion of the tray directly beneath the dispenser port  88 . The tray  36  may be formed to include a depression  120  located directly beneath the dispenser port  88  to collect any excess sanitizing fluid  86  that may drip from the fluid dispenser  94 . 
     The sanitization system  28  further includes a power system  122  that provides an electrical power supply for the surface sanitizer  62 , the air-cleaning system  64 , and the sanitizer dispenser system  66  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The power system  122  is an on-board, rechargeable battery in the illustrative embodiment, however, in other embodiments, the power system  122  may be included in the vehicle  14  and coupled to the sanitization system  28  via a suitable electrical connection. Some examples of a suitable electrical connections that can be used include a DC power outlet, an AC power outlet, or another port in the vehicle with electrical charging capabilities such as a USB port, for example. The on-board battery may be connected to one of the electrical connections described above for on-the-go power and/or charging while the sanitization system is in use. 
     The following numbered clauses include embodiments that are contemplated and non-limiting: 
     Clause 1. An occupant support comprising a seat bottom, a seat back coupled to the seat bottom, and an armrest module. 
     Clause 2. The occupant support of clause 1, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the armrest module includes an armrest base coupled to at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back to mount the armrest module in a fixed position relative to the seat bottom and the seat back and to provide a rest area for a passenger&#39;s arm. 
     Clause 3. The occupant support of clause 2, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the armrest module further includes a passenger utility unit coupled to the armrest base. 
     Clause 4. The occupant support of clause 3, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the passenger utility unit includes a tray coupled to the armrest base to provide a work surface for the passenger. 
     Clause 5. The occupant support of clause 4, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the passenger utility unit further includes a privacy wall coupled to the armrest base to divide the rest area into a first half configured to be used by a first occupant on a first side of the removable armrest module and a second half configured to be used by a second occupant on an opposite second side of the removable armrest module. 
     Clause 6. The occupant support of clause 5, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the armrest module further includes a sanitization system coupled to at least one of the armrest base and the passenger utility unit and configured to sanitize at least a portion of the passenger utility unit. 
     Clause 7. The occupant support of clause 6, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system includes a sanitizing light strip that is coupled to a lower end of the privacy wall and extends around a perimeter of the lower end of the privacy wall to expose the rest area and the work surface to a sanitizing light source emitted by the sanitizing light strip. 
     Clause 8. The occupant support of clause 6, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system further includes an air-cleaning system configured to discharge sanitized air through an outlet port formed in the armrest base toward the passenger. 
     Clause 9. The occupant support of clause 8, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the air-cleaning system includes a duct that extends through an interior space formed by the armrest base from an inlet port to the outlet port, an air purifier, and a blower configured to displace air through the duct and the air purifier. 
     Clause 10. The occupant support of clause 9, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the air purifier includes an air filter configured to filter particulates from the air and a sanitizer configured to sanitize the air. 
     Clause 11. The occupant support of clause 10, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the tray includes a forward edge, a pair of parallel side edges, and a pair of rearward edges, wherein the forward edge is arranged to lie forward of a leading end of the privacy wall and arranged perpendicularly to each side edge, wherein the side edges are arranged to extend rearwardly from the forward edge and being spaced apart from one another on opposite lateral sides of the privacy wall, and wherein the rearward edges extend rearwardly at an angle relative to each corresponding side edge and converge at the privacy wall. 
     Clause 12. The occupant support of clause 8, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system further includes a sanitizer dispenser system configured to dispense a sanitizing fluid from a dispenser port. 
     Clause 13. The occupant support of clause 12, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the dispenser port is coupled to a forward end of the privacy wall, and the tray extends forward from a lower edge of the privacy wall to locate a portion of the tray directly beneath the dispenser port. 
     Clause 14. The occupant support of clause 5, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the armrest base includes an armrest housing arranged to lie above the seat bottom to provide the rest area and an armrest mount that extends into a seat bite region of the occupant support defined by a junction between the seat back and the seat bottom where the seat bottom is coupled to the seat back. 
     Clause 15. An armrest module comprising an armrest base adapted to be coupled to a vehicle and configured to provide a rest area for a passenger&#39;s arm. 
     Clause 16. The armrest of clause 15, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, further comprising a passenger utility unit coupled to the armrest base and including a tray coupled to the armrest base to provide a work surface for the passenger. 
     Clause 17. The armrest of clause 16, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the passenger utility unit further includes a privacy wall coupled to the armrest base to divide the rest area into a first half configured to be used by a first passenger on a first side of the removable armrest module and a second half configured to be used by a second occupant on an opposite second side of the removable armrest module. 
     Clause 18. The occupant support of clause 17, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, further comprising a sanitization system coupled to at least one of the armrest base and the passenger utility unit and configured to sanitize at least a portion of the passenger utility unit and the rest area. 
     Clause 19. The occupant support of clause 18, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system includes a sanitizing light strip that is coupled to a lower end of the privacy wall and extends around a perimeter of the lower end of the privacy wall to expose the rest area and the work surface to a sanitizing light source emitted by the sanitizing light strip. 
     Clause 20. The occupant support of clause 19, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system further includes an air-cleaning system configured to discharge sanitized air through an outlet port formed in the armrest base toward at least one of the first passenger and the second passenger. 
     Clause 21. The occupant support of clause 20, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the air-cleaning system includes a duct that extends through an interior space formed by the armrest base from an inlet port to the outlet port, an air purifier, and a blower configured to displace air through the duct and the air purifier. 
     Clause 22. The armrest module of clause 21, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the inlet port is located on a front wall of the armrest base and the armrest base is formed to include a first outlet port on a first lateral side of the armrest base and a second outlet port on an opposite second side of the armrest base. 
     Clause 23. The occupant support of clause 21, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the air purifier includes an air filter configured to filter particulates from the air and a sanitizer configured to sanitize the air. 
     Clause 24. The occupant support of clause 20, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the sanitization system further includes sanitizer-dispenser system including a sanitizer dispenser system coupled to one of the privacy wall and the armrest module and configured to dispense a sanitizing fluid from a dispenser port, a sanitizer reservoir located in the armrest module and configured to store the sanitizing fluid, and a pump configured to displace the sanitizing fluid from the sanitizing reservoir to the dispenser port. 
     Clause 25. The occupant support of clause 24, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the dispenser port is coupled to a forward end of the privacy wall, and the tray extends forward from a lower edge of the privacy wall to locate a portion of the tray directly beneath the dispenser port. 
     Clause 26. The occupant support of clause 17, any other suitable clause, or suitable combination of clauses, wherein the privacy wall includes a low-elevation, rest-area section and a high-elevation work-surface section, wherein the rest-area section is located rearward of the work-surface section and the rest-area section has a height from the armrest base that is lower than a height of the work-surface section relative to the armrest base.