Armrest for a vehicle seat and methods of use thereof

An armrest for a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a first portion configured to be coupled to the vehicle seat;
• and
• a second portion having a first member secured to the first portion and in a fixed position relative to the first portion, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, and a third member pivotally coupled to the second member, wherein the second portion is configured to selectively transition between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member are stacked and in combination configured to support an arm of an occupant of the vehicle seat while the armrest is in the folded configuration, wherein the second member and the third member are cantilevered from the first member, extend across at least a portion of the vehicle seat, and configurated to support a load from an object resting thereon while the armrest is in the unfolded configuration,
• wherein, while the armrest is in the folded configuration, the second member is disposed between the first member and the third member such that a first face of the first member is directed toward a second face of the second member and a third face of the second member oppositely disposed the second face of the second member is directed toward a fourth face of the third member.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle seat;
• an armrest including:
• a first portion coupled to the vehicle seat;
• and
• a second portion having a first member secured to the first portion and fixed in position relative to the first portion, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, and a third member pivotally coupled to the second member, wherein the second portion is configured to selectively transition between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein the first member, the second member, and the third member are stacked and in combination configured to support an arm of an occupant of the vehicle seat while the armrest is in the folded configuration, wherein the second member and the third member are cantilevered from the first member, extend across at least a portion of the vehicle seat, and configurated to support a load from an object resting thereon while the armrest is in the unfolded configuration,
• wherein, while the second portion is in the folded configuration, the second member is disposed between the first member and the third member such that a first face of the first member is directed toward a second face of the second member and a third face of the second member oppositely disposed the second face of the second member is directed toward a fourth face of the third member,
• wherein adjacent exterior surfaces of the first portion and the second portion are aligned such that the adjacent exterior surfaces are flush and contoured to appear as an integral body while the second portion is in the folded configuration.