Fully collapsing armrest insert with tunable tensioning elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220747-B2
Application number	US-201715407627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2017
Priority date	Apr 25, 2014
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate comprising:
a collapsible grid;
a tunable element extending perpendicularly through the collapsible grid for positioning and securing the collapsible grid to a perimetrical frame in a support position; and
a tension-adjusting mechanism that is threadably adjusted to set a predetermined tension limit of the tunable element, wherein the collapsible grid disengages from the support position when the tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined tension limit.

2. The armrest substrate of claim 1 , wherein the collapsible grid includes a plurality of load-bearing strips and a plurality of tying elements, wherein the plurality of load-bearing strips are substantially perpendicular to the plurality of tying elements, and wherein each tying element extends continuously across the load-bearing strips and engages each load-bearing strip, wherein the tying elements at least partially position the plurality of load-bearing strips relative to the perimetrical frame.

3. The armrest substrate of claim 2 , wherein the tunable element includes a first tunable portion disposed proximate an inboard member of the perimetrical frame and a second tunable portion disposed proximate an outboard member of the perimetrical frame.

4. The armrest substrate of claim 3 , wherein the tension-adjusting mechanism includes a first tension-adjusting mechanism coupled to the first tunable portion, the first tension-adjusting mechanism is adapted to set a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable portion, wherein the tension-adjusting mechanism includes a second tension-adjusting mechanism coupled to the second tunable portion, the second tension-adjusting mechanism is adapted to set a predetermined second tension limit of the second tunable portion, and wherein the collapsible grid disengages from the support position when at least one of the first and second tunable portions experience an actual tension that is greater than the respective predetermined first or second tension limit.

5. The armrest substrate of claim 4 , wherein the first tension-adjusting mechanism modifies the predetermined first tension limit between a first and second tension, the first tension being different than the second tension, and wherein the second tension-adjusting mechanism modifies the predetermined second tension limit between a third and fourth tension, the third tension being different than the fourth tension.

6. The armrest substrate of claim 5 , wherein the load-bearing strips are flexible strips coupled to and extending between the first and second tunable elements.

7. The armrest substrate of claim 6 , wherein the tying elements and the load-bearing strips are integrally formed from a single piece.

8. The armrest substrate of claim 1 , wherein the tension-adjusting mechanism is a threaded fastener that is rotationally adjusted to set the predetermined tension limit.

9. The armrest substrate of claim 6 , wherein the tying elements extend through at least a portion of the load-bearing strips.

10. The armrest substrate of claim 6 , wherein each tying element of the plurality of tying elements extends between two adjacent load-bearing strips.

11. A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate comprising:
collapsible load-bearing strips;
at least one tunable element positioning and securing the collapsible load-bearing strips to a perimetrical frame in a support position substantially perpendicular to the at least one tunable element; and
a tension-adjusting portion that sets a predetermined tension limit of the at least one tunable element, wherein the collapsible load-bearing strips move toward a collapsed position disengaged from the perimetrical frame when the at least one tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined tension limit, wherein the collapsed position is defined by at least a portion of the collapsible load-bearing strips being substantially parallel with the at least one tunable element.

12. The armrest substrate of claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of tying elements, wherein each of the plurality of tying elements extends between adjacent collapsible load-bearing strips.

13. The armrest substrate of claim 12 , wherein the at least one tunable element includes a first tunable element disposed proximate an inboard member of the perimetrical frame and a second tunable element disposed proximate an outboard member of the perimetrical frame, wherein the collapsible load-bearing strips are slidably engaged with at least one of the inboard and outboard members.

14. The armrest substrate of claim 13 , wherein the tension-adjusting portion includes a first tension-adjusting member coupled to the first tunable element, the first tension-adjusting member is adapted to set a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element, wherein the tension-adjusting portion includes a second tension-adjusting member coupled to the second tunable element, the second tension-adjusting member is adapted to set a predetermined second tension limit of the second tunable element, and wherein the collapsible load-bearing strips disengage from the support position and move toward the collapsed position when at least one of the first and second tunable elements experience an actual tension that is greater than the respective predetermined first and second tension limits.

15. The armrest substrate of claim 13 , wherein the collapsible load-bearing strips are flexible strips coupled to and extending between the first and second tunable elements.

16. The armrest substrate of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of tying elements and the collapsible load-bearing strips are integrally formed from a single piece.

17. The armrest substrate of claim 11 , wherein the tension-adjusting portion includes a threaded screw that is rotationally adjusted to set the predetermined tension limit.

18. The armrest substrate of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of tying elements extend through at least a portion of the collapsible load-bearing strips.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jayasuriya Mangala A
• Mccoy Robert William
• Laird Kenneth S
• Doan Linh

Classifications

• A47C7/54

  Supports for the arms · CPC title

• B60N2/753

  movable to an inoperative position · CPC title

• A47C7/68

  Arm-rest tables {; or back-rest tables} · CPC title

• B60N2/42709

  involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure · CPC title

• B60N2/78 Primary

  post or panel mounted · CPC title