Vehicle armrests with extendable panel assemblies and methods therefor

A vehicle, comprising:

• a bench seat having a first seat cushion, a second seat cushion, a middle seat cushion between the first seat cushion and the second seat cushion, and a seatback for supporting an occupant’s back while seated in the first seat cushion, the second seat cushion, or the middle seat cushion;
• and
• an armrest comprising:
• a body having a rear end pivotally coupled to the seatback of the bench seat, a front end opposite the rear end, and sides therebetween, wherein the body is configured to be pivotable between at least a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the body is disposed within a recess of the seatback while in the stowed configuration and disposed outside of the recess when in the deployed configuration;
• and
• a panel assembly slidably coupled with the body by a rail assembly, wherein the panel assembly is configured to extend and retract from at least one of the sides of the body and to support a load thereon while extended from the at least one of the sides of the body, wherein the panel assembly is configured to extend from the at least one of the sides of the body in directions toward and away from sides of the vehicle and to be disposed over the first seat cushion of the second seat cushion.