Armrest assembly and seat

Abstract

The invention discloses an armrest assembly and a seat. The armrest assembly comprises a connecting handle, an armrest panel, a ratchet wheel part and a pawl part. And the handrail panel is rotationally connected with the connecting handle. The ratchet wheel part is fixedly installed on the connecting handle, a plurality of ratchets are formed on the ratchet wheel part, and the pawl part is rotationally installed on the handrail panel. The adjacent ratchets form a lowest groove and middle grooves, when the pawls are meshed with the lowest groove, the handrail panel is located at the lowest position, when the pawls are meshed with the middle grooves, the handrail panel is located at the middle position, and the arc distance between the lowest groove and the nearest middle groove is larger than the arc distance between every two adjacent middle grooves. And the arc distances between every two adjacent middle grooves are equal. The distribution of the ratchets is subjected to non-uniform treatment, if a user feels the pause feeling of delayed triggering when pulling the armrest panel, the user can know that the armrest panel is adjusted to the most common middle position from the lowest position at the moment, and the use experience feeling is better.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of seat components, and in particular to an armrest assembly and a seat. Background Art

[0002] Many chairs feature armrest panels on both sides to enhance the user experience. However, the most comfortable armrest angle often varies depending on the user scenario or user. Therefore, armrest assemblies often include a rotation mechanism, allowing users to adjust the armrest panel to a comfortable angle. To achieve multi-level adjustment, prior art incorporates a ratchet mechanism within the armrest panel, allowing it to rotate relative to the connecting handle to a variety of angles. However, this approach presents a problem of poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides an armrest assembly that can improve the user experience of the armrest panel.

[0004] The present invention also provides a chair with the armrest assembly.

[0005] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, an armrest assembly includes a connecting handle, an armrest panel, a ratchet member, and a pawl member. The armrest panel is rotatably connected to the connecting handle, and the armrest panel can rotate relative to the connecting handle to be in a lowest position and multiple intermediate positions. The ratchet member is fixedly mounted on the connecting handle, the ratchet member is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth, and the pawl member is rotatably mounted on the armrest panel, the pawl member has a pawl, and the pawl member can rotate backward about the central axis of the ratchet member. The ratchet teeth can abut against the pawl to prevent the pawl member from rotating forward about the central axis of the ratchet member. Adjacent ratchet teeth are formed with a lowest groove and an intermediate groove corresponding to the lowest position and the intermediate position. When the pawl is engaged with the lowest groove, the armrest panel is in the lowest position. When the pawl is engaged with the intermediate groove, the armrest panel is in the intermediate position. The arc distance between the lowest groove and the nearest intermediate groove is greater than the arc distance between two adjacent intermediate grooves, and the arc distance between each two adjacent intermediate grooves is equal.

[0006] The armrest assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: the ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth is consistent, while the armrest panel is not used at the same frequency at every angle in actual use, and usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. The ratchet with consistent pitch gives the user the same feedback when the pawl engages with the ratchet teeth at different positions during adjustment, and the user can only gradually adjust and visually determine whether the armrest panel is at the desired angle. The armrest assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention makes the distribution of the ratchet teeth non-uniform, increasing the pitch between the lowest groove corresponding to the lowest position of the armrest panel and the middle groove of the armrest panel in the middle position. When the user adjusts the armrest panel from the lowest position upward, there will be a noticeable delay in the triggering of the ratchet pawl when engaging the ratchet teeth. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerk when bending the armrest panel, it can be known that the armrest panel has been adjusted from the lowest position to the most commonly used intermediate position. The user can adjust to the commonly used intermediate position without visual inspection and fine-tuning, which provides a better user experience.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lowest groove includes a first blocking surface, an extension surface, and a first inclined surface connected in sequence, and the middle groove includes a second blocking surface and a second inclined surface connected to each other, the first blocking surface and the second blocking surface are used to abut against the pawl so that the pawl member engages with the ratchet teeth, and the pawl can slide over the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and rotate backward around the central axis of the ratchet member, and the inclination angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface relative to the central axis of the ratchet member are consistent.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest panel has a reference plane, and when the pawl is engaged with the middle groove closest to the lowest groove, the reference plane is parallel to a horizontal plane.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest panel can be rotated relative to the connecting handle to be in the highest position, the ratchet member includes a first part and a second part connected to each other, the ratchet is arranged on the first part, the second part includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion distributed at intervals along the circumference of the ratchet member, the first protrusion is located above the second protrusion, the pawl member includes a third part and a fourth part connected to each other, the pawl is arranged on the third part, and the fourth part is formed with a third protrusion, and the third protrusion is arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the armrest panel moves backward to the highest position, the third protrusion abuts against the first protrusion to rotate the pawl and disengage the ratchet. When the armrest panel moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion abuts against the second protrusion to rotate the pawl and engage the ratchet.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly further includes an abutment member, which is disposed on the armrest panel. When the armrest panel moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member abuts against the pawl member to disengage the pawl from the ratchet.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an abutment groove is formed on the side of the pawl, and the abutment groove faces the abutment member. When the armrest panel moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member slides in the abutment groove. When the armrest panel is at the lowest position, the abutment member disengages from the abutment groove, and the pawl engages in the lowest groove.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly further includes a first elastic member, one end of which is fixedly disposed on the armrest panel, and the other end of the first elastic member abuts against a side surface of the pawl facing away from the ratchet member, and the elastic force of the first elastic member is used to drive the pawl to engage with the ratchet tooth.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a limiting block is provided in the armrest panel, and the ratchet member is recessed along the circumference to form a limiting groove. The limiting block is located in the limiting groove, and the armrest panel can be rotated to the highest position relative to the connecting handle. When the armrest panel is rotated to the lowest position, the limiting block abuts against an inner wall on one side of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel is rotated to the highest position, the limiting block abuts against an inner wall on the other side of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel is rotated to the middle position, the limiting block and the inner walls on both sides of the limiting groove are spaced apart.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly further includes a second elastic member, one end of the second elastic member abuts against the connecting handle, and the other end of the second elastic member abuts against the armrest panel, and the elastic force of the second elastic member is used to drive the armrest panel to rotate downward relative to the connecting handle, so as to drive the pawl member to rotate forward around the central axis of the ratchet member.

[0015] The seat according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises the armrest assembly described in any one of the first embodiment.

[0016] The seat according to the embodiment of the present invention has at least the following advantages: the ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth is consistent, but the armrest panel is not used at the same frequency at every angle in actual use, and usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. The ratchet with a consistent pitch provides the user with consistent feedback when the pawl engages with the ratchet teeth at different positions during adjustment. The user can only adjust the armrest panel gradually and judge whether it is at the desired angle by visual inspection. The armrest assembly of the embodiment of the present invention makes the distribution of the ratchet teeth non-uniform, increasing the pitch between the lowest groove corresponding to the lowest position of the armrest panel and the middle groove of the middle position of the armrest panel. When the user adjusts the armrest panel from the lowest position upward, there is a noticeable delay in the triggering of the ratchet pawl when engaging the ratchet teeth. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerk when prying the armrest panel, it can be known that the armrest panel has been adjusted from the lowest position to the most commonly used intermediate position. The user can adjust to the commonly used intermediate position without visual inspection or fine-tuning, and the seat using the armrest assembly provides a better user experience.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which: Figure 1 A side view of an armrest panel in an embodiment of the present invention in a most commonly used middle position; Figure 2 is an exploded view of an armrest assembly in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of area A in the middle; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an armrest panel in an embodiment of the present invention when it is in the most commonly used middle position; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an armrest panel in an embodiment of the present invention when it is in the lowest position; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an armrest panel in an embodiment of the present invention when it is in the highest position; Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the armrest panel when it is rotated backward to the highest position in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an armrest panel in one embodiment of the present invention when it is rotated downward from the highest position to the middle position; Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the armrest panel when it is rotated downward to the lowest position in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure markings: armrest assembly 100, connecting handle 101, armrest panel 102, reference plane 103, ratchet member 201, pawl member 202, second elastic member 203, first elastic member 204, abutment member 205, ratchet 301, pawl 302, first part 303, second part 304, second protrusion 305, first protrusion 306, third part 307, fourth part 308, third protrusion 309, lowest groove 310, middle groove 311, abutment groove 312, limit block 401, limit groove 402, first blocking surface 701, extension surface 702, first inclined surface 703, second blocking surface 704, second inclined surface 705. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended only to explain the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0021] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0022] In the description of the present invention, "several" means more than one, "plurality" means more than two, "greater than," "less than," and "exceed" are understood to exclude the number itself, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the number itself. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is solely for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features, or implicitly specifying the order of the indicated technical features.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, and connecting should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "examples," "specific examples," or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the exemplary expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0025] Many chairs are equipped with armrest panels 102 on both sides of the seat to enhance the user experience. However, in different usage scenarios, or when different users use the chair, the most comfortable angle of the armrest panel 102 is often different. Therefore, a rotation mechanism is often installed in the armrest assembly 100, and the user can rotate the armrest panel 102 to adjust it to a comfortable angle. In the related art, in order to achieve multi-level adjustment, a ratchet structure is provided in the armrest panel 102 so that the armrest panel 102 can be rotated to multiple angles relative to the connecting handle 101, but there is a problem that the user experience is not good enough. The present invention proposes an armrest assembly 100 that can enhance the user experience of the armrest panel 102.

[0026] refer to Figures 1 to 7 The armrest assembly 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a connecting handle 101, an armrest panel 102, a ratchet member 201 and a pawl member 202. The armrest panel 102 is rotatably connected to the connecting handle 101, and the armrest panel 102 can rotate relative to the connecting handle 101 to be in the lowest position and multiple intermediate positions. The ratchet member 201 is fixedly mounted on the connecting handle 101, and the ratchet member 201 is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 301. The pawl member 202 is rotatably mounted on the armrest panel 102, and the pawl member 202 has a pawl 302. The pawl member 202 can rotate backward around the central axis of the ratchet member 201, and the ratchet teeth 301 can abut the pawl 302 to prevent the pawl member 202 from rotating forward around the central axis of the ratchet member 201. Adjacent ratchet teeth 301 are formed with a lowest groove 310 and an intermediate groove 311 corresponding to the lowest position and the intermediate position. When the pawl 302 is engaged with the lowest groove 310, the armrest panel 102 is located at the lowest position. When the pawl 302 is engaged with the intermediate groove 311, the armrest panel 102 is located at the intermediate position. The arc distance between the lowest groove 310 and the nearest intermediate groove 311 is greater than the arc distance between the two adjacent intermediate grooves 311, and the arc distance between every two adjacent intermediate grooves 311 is equal.

[0027] The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth 301 is consistent. However, in actual use, the armrest panel 102 is not used at the same frequency at every angle, and usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. The ratchet teeth 301 with consistent pitch give the user consistent feedback when the pawl 302 engages with the ratchet teeth 301 at different positions. The user can only adjust gradually and judge by visual inspection whether the armrest panel 102 is at the angle they want most at this time. The armrest assembly 100 of the embodiment of the present invention makes the distribution of the ratchet teeth 301 non-uniform, increases the tooth pitch between the lowest groove 310 corresponding to when the armrest panel 102 is in the lowest position and the middle groove 311 when the armrest panel 102 is in the middle position. When in use, when the user adjusts the armrest panel 102 upward from the lowest position, there will be an obvious delayed triggering of the ratchet 302 engaging the ratchet teeth 301. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerk when bending the armrest panel 102, he will know that the armrest panel 102 is adjusted from the lowest position to the most commonly used middle position. It can be adjusted to the commonly used middle position without visual inspection and fine-tuning, which provides a better user experience.

[0028] It should be noted that the reference Figure 7 The arc distance mentioned above can also be called the tooth pitch, which refers to the arc length formed by the angle between the groove walls of two adjacent grooves on the same side and the central axis of the ratchet member 201 on the same pitch circle, for example Figure 7 The arc distance between the lowest groove 310 and the nearest middle groove 311 is the arc length of the pitch circle corresponding to the angle α, and the arc distance between two adjacent middle grooves 311 is the arc length of the pitch circle corresponding to the angle β.

[0029] It should be noted that there are multiple intermediate positions. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The armrest assembly 100 is shown with the armrest panel 102 in the middle position, which is the most commonly used position.

[0030] It should be noted that the forward rotation in the text refers to Figures 4 to 9 The process shown in the figure is a forward rotation in a counterclockwise direction, and the backward rotation in the text refers to a backward rotation in a clockwise direction.

[0031] refer to Figure 7In some embodiments of the present invention, the lowest groove 310 includes a first blocking surface 701, an extension surface 702 and a first inclined surface 703 connected in sequence, and the middle groove 311 includes a second blocking surface 704 and a second inclined surface 705 connected to each other. The first blocking surface 701 and the second blocking surface 704 are used to abut against the pawl 302 so that the pawl member 202 engages with the ratchet tooth 301. The pawl 302 can slide over the first inclined surface 703 and the second inclined surface 705 and rotate backward around the central axis of the ratchet member 201. The inclination angles of the first inclined surface 703 and the second inclined surface 705 relative to the central axis of the ratchet member 201 are consistent. By designing an extension surface 702 in the lowest groove 310, the width of the lowest groove 310 is increased while maintaining the same inclination angle between the first inclined surface 703 and the second inclined surface 705, so that the force direction and angle of the pawl 302 are the same each time it is engaged and slid, effectively reducing shock and vibration, making the transmission process smoother, and the uniform force can also make the wear of the ratchet 301 and the pawl 302 more uniform, less prone to local excessive wear, and thus improve the service life. It should be noted that, referring to Figure 7 In some embodiments of the present invention, the extension surface 702 is a micro-curved surface, and the center of the micro-curved surface is the rotation axis of the ratchet member 201. This allows the pawl 302 to slide more smoothly on the extension surface 702, improving user perception and reducing interference caused by unnecessary vibration.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest panel 102 has a reference surface 103. When the pawl 302 is engaged with the intermediate groove 311 closest to the lowest groove 310, the reference surface 103 is parallel to the horizontal plane. The reference surface 103 is the reference plane used as a reference when the armrest panel 102 is processed and assembled on the connecting handle 101. The angle of the reference surface 103 determines the overall angle of the armrest panel 102. The pawl 302 will have a longer travel when rotating upward from the lowest groove 310, and the intermediate groove 311 closest to the lowest groove 310 needs to be designed to be the most commonly used angle of the armrest panel 102. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The middle position shown in the figure allows the user to have a different sense of frustration when adjusting to this position than in other positions. In this position, the reference plane 103 is parallel to the horizontal plane, so that the placement surface of the armrest panel 102 is basically parallel to the horizontal plane, which can improve the user's experience when placing their hands or arms on the armrest panel 102. On this basis, the placement surface of the armrest panel 102 can be designed to be Figure 1The curved surface shown in FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a surface 103, but these designs are all based on the reference surface 103. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, when the pawl 302 is engaged with the middle groove 311 closest to the lowest groove 310, the reference surface 103 can be slightly inclined relative to the horizontal plane. Specifically, it can be tilted 5° upward or downward relative to the horizontal plane, that is, the inclination angle is within ±5°. This angle range means that within this range, there will still be no significant perceptual impact on the user's experience, providing a certain degree of processing error.

[0033] refer to Figures 4 to 9 In some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest panel 102 can rotate relative to the connecting handle 101 to be in the highest position. The ratchet member 201 includes a first portion 303 and a second portion 304 connected to each other. The ratchet teeth 301 are provided on the first portion 303. The second portion 304 includes a first protrusion 306 and a second protrusion 305 spaced apart along the circumference of the ratchet member 201. The first protrusion 306 is located above the second protrusion 305. The pawl member 202 includes a third portion 307 and a fourth portion 308 connected to each other. The pawl 302 is provided on the third portion 307, and the fourth portion 308 is formed with a third protrusion 309, which is provided between the first protrusion 306 and the second protrusion 305. When the armrest panel 102 moves backward to the highest position, the third protrusion 309 abuts against the first protrusion 306 to rotate the pawl 302 and disengage the ratchet 301. When the armrest panel 102 moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion 309 abuts against the second protrusion 305 to rotate the pawl 302 and engage the ratchet 301. This design allows the armrest panel 102 to rotate to the lowest position. Figure 6 After the highest position shown, it is still possible to Figures 7 to 9 The armrest panel 102 rotates forward to the lowest position in the order of rotation. Specifically, when it rotates to the highest position, the third protrusion 309 of the pawl member 202 will abut against the first protrusion 306, causing the pawl member 202 to rotate clockwise as a whole, causing the pawl 302 to disengage from the ratchet teeth 301. As a result, when the armrest panel 102 rotates forward, the ratchet teeth 301 will not abut against the pawl 302, thereby preventing the armrest panel 102 from returning to its original position. When it rotates to the lowest position, the second protrusion 305 can prompt the pawl member 202 to rotate counterclockwise, causing the pawl 302 to re-engage the ratchet teeth 301, so that the armrest panel 102 can be gradually shifted from the lowest position to the highest position again. In addition, this design does not require additional parts, only the shapes of the ratchet member 201 and the pawl member 202 need to be changed. The structure is more simple and is conducive to the overall arrangement inside the armrest panel 102.

[0034] It should be noted that the reference Figure 9In some embodiments of the present invention, the third portion 307 is formed with two spaced pawls 302. When one pawl 302 is engaged with the ratchet tooth 301, the other pawl 302 is also engaged with the other ratchet tooth 301. This can improve the structural stability of the pawl 302 when it is engaged with the ratchet tooth 301, and prevent the pawl member 202 from being loosened from the ratchet wheel member 201. Furthermore, in order to ensure that the lower pawl 302 is engaged with the lowest groove 310 and the other pawl 302 can be engaged with any middle groove 311, the pawl 302 can be engaged with the lowest groove 310. Figure 7 The angle α corresponding to the arc distance between the lowest groove 310 and the middle groove 311 shown is an integer multiple of the angle β corresponding to the arc distance between adjacent middle grooves 311, for example α=2β, and the distance between the two spaced pawls 302 is reduced to the distance between the single pawl 302, thereby improving the fit between the double pawl 302 structure and the ratchet 301.

[0035] refer to Figures 1 to 3 ,as well as Figures 7 to 9 In some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 further includes an abutment 205, which is disposed on the armrest panel 102. When the armrest panel 102 moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment 205 abuts against the pawl 202 to disengage the pawl 302 from the ratchet 301. The abutment 205 allows the armrest panel 102 to move forward (e.g., Figure 8 In the state shown), the pawl member 202 is prevented from rotating counterclockwise due to its own gravity or other external forces and engaging with the ratchet 301, so that the process of resetting the armrest panel 102 is smoother.

[0036] It should be noted that, in some embodiments of the present invention, in addition to using the abutment member 205 to abut the pawl member 202 so that the pawl 302 disengages from the ratchet teeth 301, a block and a slot structure can also be provided inside the pawl member 202 and the armrest panel 102, respectively. When the pawl member 202 rotates to the highest position, the block and the slot engage to fix the position of the pawl member 202, so that the pawl 302 does not engage with the ratchet teeth 301 during the forward rotation of the armrest panel 102, until the armrest panel 102 rotates to the lowest position and the third protrusion 309 abuts against the second protrusion 305 ( Figure 9 The state shown in the figure) forces the pawl member 202 to rotate, the card block is disengaged from the card slot, and the pawl 302 is re-engaged with the ratchet tooth 301.

[0037] refer to Figure 3 、 Figures 7 to 9In some embodiments of the present invention, abutment groove 312 is formed on the side of the pawl 302, and the abutment groove 312 faces the abutment member 205. When the armrest panel 102 moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member 205 slides in the abutment groove 312. When the armrest panel 102 is at the lowest position, the abutment member 205 is disengaged from the abutment groove 312, and the pawl 302 is engaged in the lowest groove 310. The design of the abutment groove 312 also does not require additional parts. Only the shape of the pawl member 202 needs to be changed to achieve the abutment between the abutment member 205 and the pawl member 202. The structure is simple and effective, and Figure 7 The shape of the abutment groove 312 shown also facilitates the disengagement of the abutment member 205. Figure 3 and Figure 7 The bottom surface of the abutment groove 312 is an arc surface, and the contact surface between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312 is also designed to be an arc surface. This can make it easier for the abutment member 205 to disengage from the abutment groove 312 when the armrest panel 102 is at the lowest position, reducing the friction loss of the parts during this process. Furthermore, an elastic member such as a spring (not shown in the figure) can be designed between the abutment member 205 and the armrest panel 102. One end of the elastic member abuts the armrest panel 102, and the other end of the elastic member abuts the abutment member 205. The elastic force of the elastic member is used to drive the abutment member 205 closer to the abutment groove 312, thereby improving the fit between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312. In addition, when in the lowest position, the elastic member will be subjected to compression force, allowing the abutment member 205 to smoothly disengage from the abutment groove 312, reducing the friction between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312.

[0038] refer to Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 further includes a first elastic member 204. One end of the first elastic member 204 is fixedly mounted on the armrest panel 102, and the other end of the first elastic member 204 abuts against a surface of the pawl 302 facing away from the ratchet member 201. The elastic force of the first elastic member 204 is used to drive the pawl 302 to engage with the ratchet 301. The first elastic member 204 can enhance the meshing force between the pawl 302 and the ratchet 301, thereby enhancing the structural stability. Specifically, Figure 2 and Figure 4 The design shown is a spring, but it can also be designed as a spring or other structure, so that the spring presses the pawl 302.

[0039] refer to Figures 4 to 6In some embodiments of the present invention, a limit block 401 is provided in the armrest panel 102, and the ratchet member 201 is recessed along the circumference to form a limit groove 402. The limit block 401 is located in the limit groove 402, and the armrest panel 102 can be rotated to the highest position relative to the connecting handle 101. When the armrest panel 102 is rotated to the lowest position, the limit block 401 abuts against the inner wall of one side of the limit groove 402. When the armrest panel 102 is rotated to the highest position, the limit block 401 abuts against the inner wall of the other side of the limit groove 402. When the armrest panel 102 is rotated to the middle position, the limit block 401 and the inner walls on both sides of the limit groove 402 are spaced apart. The structure of the limit block 401 and the limit groove 402 can further prevent the armrest panel 102 from rotating too high or too low relative to the connecting handle 101, thereby improving the user experience of the armrest panel 102. Specifically, when the armrest panel 102 is in Figure 5 When the armrest panel 102 is in the lowest position shown, the limit block 401 abuts against the upper inner wall of the limit groove 402. Figure 6 When in the highest position shown, the limiting block 401 abuts against the lower inner wall of the limiting groove 402 .

[0040] refer to Figures 2 to 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest assembly 100 further includes a second elastic member 203, one end of the second elastic member 203 abuts against the connecting handle 101, and the other end of the second elastic member 203 abuts against the armrest panel 102. The elastic force of the second elastic member 203 is used to drive the armrest panel 102 to rotate downward relative to the connecting handle 101, thereby driving the pawl member 202 to rotate forward around the central axis of the ratchet member 201. With this design, when the armrest panel 102 rotates upward to adjust the gear position, the second elastic member 203 drives the connecting handle 101 to rotate downward so that the pawl 302 can engage with the ratchet 301, thereby improving the structural stability. Specifically, the second elastic member 203 can be as follows Figure 2 The design shown is a torsion spring, but it can also be a spring or elastic plastic part.

[0041] The seat according to the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention includes the armrest assembly 100 of any one of the embodiments of the first aspect. The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth 301 is consistent, but the armrest panel 102 is not used at the same frequency at every angle during actual use, and usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. The ratchet teeth 301 with consistent pitch give the user consistent feedback when the pawl 302 engages with the ratchet teeth 301 at different positions during adjustment. The user can only adjust gradually and judge by visual inspection whether the armrest panel 102 is at the angle they want most. The armrest assembly 100 of the embodiment of the present invention makes the distribution of the ratchet teeth 301 non-uniform, and increases the tooth pitch between the lowest groove 310 corresponding to when the armrest panel 102 is in the lowest position and the middle groove 311 when the armrest panel 102 is in the middle position. When in use, when the user adjusts the armrest panel 102 upward from the lowest position, there will be an obvious delayed triggering of the ratchet 302 engaging the ratchet teeth 301. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerk when bending the armrest panel 102, it can be known that the armrest panel 102 is adjusted from the lowest position to the most commonly used middle position. It can be adjusted to the commonly used middle position without visual inspection and fine-tuning. The seat using the armrest assembly 100 has a better user experience.

[0042] It should be noted that, in some embodiments of the present invention, the connecting handle 101 can be rotated forward or backward relative to the seat, thereby further raising the position of the armrest panel 102 relative to the horizontal plane and improving the user experience.

[0043] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications may be made within the scope of knowledge possessed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof may be combined with one another unless there is a conflict.

Claims

1. The armrest assembly is characterized in that: include: Connecting handle; an armrest panel, the armrest panel being rotatably connected to the connecting handle, the armrest panel being rotatable relative to the connecting handle to be positioned at a lowest position and a plurality of intermediate positions; a ratchet member, the ratchet member being fixedly mounted on the connecting handle and having a plurality of ratchet teeth; a pawl member, the pawl member being rotatably mounted on the armrest panel, the pawl member having a pawl, the pawl member being capable of rotating backward around the central axis of the ratchet member, the ratchet teeth being capable of abutting against the pawl to prevent the pawl member from rotating forward around the central axis of the ratchet member; The adjacent ratchet teeth are formed with a lowest groove and an intermediate groove corresponding to the lowest position and the intermediate position. When the pawl is engaged with the lowest groove, the armrest panel is located at the lowest position. When the pawl is engaged with the intermediate groove, the armrest panel is located at the intermediate position. The arc distance between the lowest groove and the nearest intermediate groove is greater than the arc distance between the two adjacent intermediate grooves, and the arc distance between every two adjacent intermediate grooves is equal.

2. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The lowest groove includes a first blocking surface, an extension surface and a first inclined surface connected in sequence, and the middle groove includes a second blocking surface and a second inclined surface connected to each other. The first blocking surface and the second blocking surface are used to abut against the pawl so that the pawl member engages with the ratchet teeth. The pawl can slide over the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and rotate backward around the central axis of the ratchet member. The inclination angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface relative to the central axis of the ratchet member are consistent.

3. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The armrest panel has a reference surface that is parallel to a horizontal plane when the pawl is engaged with the middle slot closest to the lowest slot.

4. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The armrest panel can be rotated relative to the connecting handle to be in the highest position, the ratchet member includes a first part and a second part connected to each other, the ratchet is arranged on the first part, the second part includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced apart along the circumference of the ratchet member, the first protrusion is located above the second protrusion, the pawl member includes a third part and a fourth part connected to each other, the pawl is arranged on the third part, the fourth part is formed with a third protrusion, and the third protrusion is arranged between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. When the armrest panel moves backward to the highest position, the third protrusion abuts against the first protrusion to rotate the pawl and disengage the ratchet. When the armrest panel moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion abuts against the second protrusion to rotate the pawl and engage the ratchet.

5. The armrest assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that The armrest assembly further includes an abutment member provided on the armrest panel. When the armrest panel moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member abuts against the pawl member to disengage the pawl from the ratchet teeth.

6. The armrest assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that An abutment groove is formed on the side of the pawl, and the abutment groove faces the abutment piece. When the armrest panel moves forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment piece slides in the abutment groove. When the armrest panel is at the lowest position, the abutment piece disengages from the abutment groove, and the pawl engages in the lowest groove.

7. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The armrest assembly also includes a first elastic member, one end of which is fixedly arranged on the armrest panel, and the other end of the first elastic member abuts against the side surface of the pawl away from the ratchet member, and the elastic force of the first elastic member is used to drive the pawl to engage with the ratchet teeth.

8. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: A limit block is provided in the armrest panel, and the ratchet member is recessed along the circumference to form a limit groove. The limit block is located in the limit groove, and the armrest panel can be rotated to the highest position relative to the connecting handle. When the armrest panel is rotated to the lowest position, the limit block abuts against an inner wall on one side of the limit groove. When the armrest panel is rotated to the highest position, the limit block abuts against an inner wall on the other side of the limit groove. When the armrest panel is rotated to the middle position, the limit block and the inner walls on both sides of the limit groove are spaced apart.

9. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The armrest assembly also includes a second elastic member, one end of the second elastic member abuts against the connecting handle, and the other end of the second elastic member abuts against the armrest panel, and the elastic force of the second elastic member is used to drive the armrest panel to rotate downward relative to the connecting handle, so as to drive the pawl member to rotate forward around the central axis of the ratchet member.

10. A seat, characterized in that The invention comprises the armrest assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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