Vehicle armrest with enhanced load support

Claim 1

In combination with an automotive vehicle seat, an elongated armrest mounted on the seat proximate one end of the armrest for pivotal movement with respect to the seat between a generally vertical stowed position and a generally horizontal operative position for supporting substantially downwardly vertically imposed loads, the armrest comprising: an armature defining an elongated housing having one end corresponding to the armrest one end and a free end remote therefrom; means defining an upper load supporting wall on the armature, the upper load supporting wall having a plurality of elongated depressions formed therein, symmetrically arrayed about the longitudinal center of the armature, each extending from a position proximate the one end of the armature to a position proximate the free end of the armature opposite the one end, a plurality of slots being formed through the load supporting wall in the elongated depressions; and means defining a peripherally continuous sidewall depending downwardly from the load supporting wall to define a cup-like configuration for the armature.