US Patent 7934771 Side impact responsive vehicle armrest

An armrest frame (5A) bends at a hinge groove (5A2), which serves as a weak portion, when an impact load is applied to the armrest frame (5A) in an armrest (5) following a side impact with another vehicle. As a result, the armrest (5) is allowed to move toward the inside, in the vehicle width direction, during a side impact with another vehicle, thus ensuring the movement of a seated individual toward the inside, in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle armrest (5) also provides the same sense of stability as an armrest as a conventional armrest during normal use at times other than when there is a side impact with another vehicle.