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. 17, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2004
Mark Alan Dejongh, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Mark Alan DeJongh, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A door trim panel assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle. The panel assembly includes an armrest having an inner edge and an outer edge. The panel assembly also includes an upper panel and a lower panel. The upper panel has a support wall for supporting the inner edge of the armrest. The support wall has a distal end. The lower panel includes a support flange for supporting the outer edge of the armrest. The support flange has a distal end. A frangible connection extends between the distal ends of the support wall and the support flange. The armrest includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves. During a side vehicle impact, the grooves allow the armrest to deform transversely and the frangible connection breaks to absorb energy associated with the impact.