Patent ID: 7731258

Claim:
A console sliding armrest assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a storage compartment having an opening for allowing ingress and egress of objects; a console lid pivotally connected to said storage compartment for substantially covering said storage compartment opening in a closed position and for otherwise allowing ingress and egress of objects in an open position, said console lid including a sliding armrest operatively engaged therewith and movable between extended and retracted positions; and a guide assembly disposed substantially within said console lid, said guide assembly securely guiding said sliding armrest between said extended and retracted positions, and including: a slider frame connected to said sliding armrest, said slider frame including a channel, wherein the slider frame comprises at least one portion having a substantially “C” shaped cross-section; a guide plate connected to said console lid for providing vertical support and lateral stability to said sliding armrest; at least one rail secured to said slider frame, said rail being slidably engaged with said guide plate for thereby allowing sliding movement of said armrest between said extended and retracted positions, wherein said rail is disposed substantially within said slider frame; and at least one biasing member disposed between said slider frame and said rail, said biasing member being engaged to either said slider frame or said rail for biasing said rail against said guide plate, said spring biasing member thereby regulating tension between said slider frame, said rail and said guide plate during movement of said sliding armrest.