DOOR ARMREST SYSTEM WITH PULL CUP
An armrest system provided for a door trim panel assembly in a vehicle. The armrest system has an inner skin that containing an energy-absorbing material that cushions forces associated with side impact. A substrate is situated at least partially around the energy-absorbing material so that the energy-absorbing material is contained between the inner skin and the substrate. A cup is detachably attached to the substrate. Forming the cup is a base with a pair of lateral edges and a pair of longitudinal edges. A longitudinal wall extends from one of the longitudinal edges. A pair of lateral walls extends from the pair of lateral edges. A tether girds the pair of lateral walls and the longitudinal wall.
1 . An armrest system in a door trim panel assembly for a vehicle, the armrest system comprising:
an inner skin that faces a vehicle occupant;
an energy-absorbing material positioned within the inner skin to cushion forces associated with side impact;
a substrate situated at least partially around the energy-absorbing material so that the latter is contained between the inner skin and the substrate;
a cup having a base with a pair of lateral edges and a pair of longitudinal edges, a longitudinal wall extending from one of the longitudinal edges, and a pair of lateral walls, each lateral wall having an open edge, the cup being detachably attached to the substrate; and
a tether that girds the pair of lateral walls and the longitudinal wall to provide support to the cup when grasped by a vehicle occupant while closing the vehicle door and thereby subjecting the armrest system to inwardly directed pulling forces, the tether offering minimal resistance to collapse during a side impact.
2 . The armrest system of claim 1 , further including a longitudinally extending bracket that spans the lateral walls, the tether having end regions that are secured to the bracket.
3 . The armrest system of claim 2 , further including an outer energy-absorbing material that is provided between the open edges of the pair of lateral walls.
4 . The armrest system of claim 3 , further including means for securing the tether to the bracket.
5 . The armrest system of claim 4 , wherein the means for securing is selected from a group consisting of a nut-bolt combination, a rivet, a glue, an adhesive, a weld stud, and combinations thereof.
6 . The armrest of claim 5 , wherein the bracket includes means for attaching the bracket to sheet metal associated with the vehicle door.
7 . The armrest system of claim 6 , wherein the means for attaching is selected from the group consisting of a J-shaped member, a nut-bolt combination, a rivet, a weld stud, a screw, a glue, an adhesive, and combinations thereof.
8 . The armrest system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lateral and longitudinal walls define a channel that accommodates the tether.
9 . The armrest system of claim 8 , wherein the channel is defined at least in part by a lip that extends inwardly from the cup and a rib that also extends therefrom.
10 . The armrest system of claim 9 , further including an applique that lies outside the outer energy absorbing material so that the outer energy absorbing material lies between the applique and the cup.
11 . The armrest system of claim 1 , further including one or more stiffening ribs that extend toward the longitudinal wall from the substrate, the stiffening ribs extending laterally in relation to the cup.