The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 07, 2002
A. Mangala M. Jayasuriya, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);
Nripen Kumar Saha, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A motor vehicle occupant protection system features an upper panel of an armrest is maintained in an arm supporting position during normal vehicle operation, and is moved to a safety position by an actuation device upon sensing of an actual or impending impact on the side of the vehicle. In the arm supporting position, the arm support panel contributes to the structural strength of the armrest so that it is able to withstand rugged use. In the safety position, the arm support panel is positioned so that it does not present a rigid edge oriented directly toward the occupant, but rather is in a partially or completely folded position. Both mechanical and electronic actuation systems are disclosed.