Handrail assembly and seat

Abstract

The utility model discloses a handrail assembly and seat. The utility model discloses handrail assembly, including connecting handle, handrail panel, ratchet wheel spare and pawl spare. Handrail panel is connected with the rotation of connecting handle. Ratchet wheel spare fixed mounting is in connecting handle, and ratchet wheel spare forms a plurality of ratchet teeth, and pawl spare rotation installs in handrail panel. Adjacent ratchet tooth forms lowest groove and intermediate groove, when pawl engages in lowest groove, handrail panel is located lowest position, when pawl engages in intermediate groove, handrail panel is located intermediate position, and the arc distance between lowest groove and nearest intermediate groove is greater than the arc distance between two adjacent intermediate grooves, and the arc distance between every two adjacent intermediate grooves is equal. The distribution of ratchet tooth has been treated with non-uniformity, and if the user feels the frustrated feeling of delayed trigger when playing handrail panel, can know that handrail panel is from lowest position to the most commonly used intermediate position, and it is better in the use experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of seat component technology, specifically to an armrest assembly and a seat. Background Technology

[0002] Many chairs feature armrests on both sides of the seat to enhance the user experience. However, the most comfortable armrest angle often varies depending on the usage scenario or the user. Therefore, armrest components often incorporate a rotating mechanism, allowing users to adjust the armrest to a comfortable angle. In some technologies, a ratchet structure is used within the armrest to achieve multi-level adjustment, enabling the armrest to rotate relative to the connecting handle to various angles. However, this approach suffers from a less than ideal user experience. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes an armrest assembly that improves the user experience of armrest panels.

[0004] This utility model also proposes a seat having the above-mentioned armrest assembly.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handrail assembly includes a connecting handle, a handrail panel, a ratchet member, and a pawl member. The handrail panel is rotatably connected to the connecting handle and is rotatable relative to the connecting handle to be in a lowest position and multiple intermediate positions. The ratchet member is fixedly mounted to the connecting handle and has multiple ratchet teeth. The pawl member is rotatably mounted to the handrail panel and has a pawl. The pawl member is rotatable about the central axis of the ratchet member and can rotate rearward. The ratchet teeth abut against the pawl to prevent the pawl member from rotating forward about the central axis of the ratchet member. Adjacent ratchet teeth form a lowest groove and an intermediate groove corresponding one-to-one with the lowest position and the intermediate positions. When the pawl engages in the lowest groove, the handrail panel is located in the lowest position; when the pawl engages in the intermediate groove, the handrail panel is located 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 any two adjacent intermediate grooves is equal.

[0006] The armrest assembly according to the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, meaning the tooth pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth is consistent. However, in actual use, the armrest panel is not used at the same frequency at every angle; it usually has a most frequently used intermediate angle. When adjusting ratchet teeth with consistent tooth pitch, the feedback to the user is consistent regardless of the position of the pawl engaging the ratchet teeth. The user can only adjust gradually and judge visually whether the armrest panel is at their desired angle. In contrast, the armrest assembly of the present invention uses a non-uniform distribution of ratchet teeth, increasing the tooth pitch between the lowest groove (when the armrest panel is at its lowest position) and the middle groove (when the armrest panel is in its middle position). When the user adjusts the armrest panel upwards from its lowest position, there is a noticeable delayed triggering of the pawl engaging the ratchet teeth, producing a slight jolt. If the user feels this delayed triggering jolt when turning the armrest panel, they know that the armrest panel has been adjusted from its lowest position to the most frequently used intermediate position. This allows for adjustment to the frequently used intermediate position without visual inspection or fine-tuning, resulting in a better user experience.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lowest groove includes a first blocking surface, an extending surface, and a first inclined surface connected in sequence, and the intermediate 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 engages with the ratchet tooth. The pawl can slide over the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and rotate backward about the central axis of the ratchet. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface have the same inclination angle relative to the central axis of the ratchet.

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

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the armrest panel can rotate relative to the connecting handle to reach the highest position. The ratchet member includes a first part and a second part connected to each other. The ratchet tooth is disposed in the first part. The second part includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion distributed circumferentially along 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 disposed in the third part. The fourth part forms a third protrusion. The third protrusion is disposed 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 make the pawl rotate and disengage from the ratchet tooth. When the armrest panel moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion abuts against the second protrusion to make the pawl rotate and engage the ratchet tooth.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the handrail assembly further includes an abutment member disposed on the handrail panel. During the process of the handrail panel moving forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member abuts against the pawl member to disengage the pawl from the ratchet tooth.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the side of the pawl is formed with an abutment groove facing the abutment member. During the process of the armrest panel moving 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 which abuts against the side surface of the pawl away from the ratchet member. 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 this utility model, a limiting block is provided in the armrest panel, and a limiting groove is formed by the circumferential recess of the ratchet component. The limiting block is located in the limiting groove. The armrest panel can rotate to the highest position relative to the connecting handle. When the armrest panel rotates to the lowest position, the limiting block abuts against one side of the inner wall of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel rotates to the highest position, the limiting block abuts against the other side of the inner wall of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel rotates to the middle position, the limiting block and the inner walls of 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 which abuts against the connecting handle, and the other end of which abuts against the armrest panel. 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 to rotate forward about the central axis of the ratchet.

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

[0016] The seat according to the present utility model embodiment has at least the following beneficial effects: The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the tooth pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth is consistent. However, in actual use, the armrest panel is not used at the same frequency at every angle. It usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. When the ratchet teeth with consistent tooth pitch are adjusted, the feedback given to the user when the pawl engages with the ratchet teeth at different positions is consistent. The user can only adjust gradually and judge by visual inspection whether the armrest panel is at the most desired angle. The armrest assembly of this utility model embodiment has a non-uniform ratchet distribution, which increases the tooth pitch between the lowest groove when the armrest panel is at its lowest position and the middle groove when the armrest panel is in its middle position. When the user adjusts the armrest panel from the lowest position upwards, there will be a noticeable delayed triggering of the ratchet engaging the ratchet, which will produce a jerking sensation. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerking sensation when turning the armrest panel, they can know that the armrest panel has been 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 this armrest assembly has a better user experience.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a side view of the armrest panel in the most commonly used middle position in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the handrail assembly in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of region A in the middle;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the armrest panel in the most commonly used middle position in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the armrest panel in its lowest position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the armrest panel in its highest position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the armrest panel when it is rotated to its highest position in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the armrest panel rotating from the highest position to the middle position in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the armrest panel when it is rotated downwards to the lowest position in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Reference numerals: Handrail assembly 100, connecting handle 101, handrail panel 102, reference surface 103, ratchet 201, pawl 202, second elastic element 203, first elastic element 204, abutment 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, limiting block 401, limiting groove 402, first blocking surface 701, extension surface 702, first inclined surface 703, second blocking surface 704, second inclined surface 705. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0031] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0032] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0034] Many chairs feature armrest panels 102 on both sides of the seat to enhance the user experience. However, the most comfortable angle for the armrest panel 102 varies depending on the usage scenario or the user. Therefore, the armrest assembly 100 often includes a rotating mechanism, allowing the user to adjust the armrest panel 102 to a comfortable angle. In related technologies, a ratchet structure is used within the armrest panel 102 to achieve multi-level adjustment, enabling it to rotate relative to the connecting handle 101 to various angles. However, this approach suffers from insufficient user experience. This invention proposes an armrest assembly 100 that improves the user experience of the armrest panel 102.

[0035] refer to Figures 1 to 7 According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handrail assembly 100 includes a connecting handle 101, a handrail panel 102, a ratchet member 201, and a pawl member 202. The handrail panel 102 is rotatably connected to the connecting handle 101 and is rotatable relative to the connecting handle 101 to be in a lowest position and multiple intermediate positions. The ratchet member 201 is fixedly mounted to the connecting handle 101 and has multiple ratchet teeth 301. The pawl member 202 is rotatably mounted to the handrail panel 102 and has a pawl 302. The pawl member 202 is rotatable about the central axis of the ratchet member 201 and can rotate rearward. The ratchet teeth 301 can abut against the pawl 302 to prevent the pawl member 202 from rotating forward about the central axis of the ratchet member 201. Adjacent ratchet teeth 301 form a lowest groove 310 and a middle groove 311 corresponding to the lowest position and the middle position respectively. When the pawl 302 is engaged in the lowest groove 310, the armrest panel 102 is located in the lowest position. When the pawl 302 is engaged in the middle groove 311, the armrest panel 102 is located in the middle position. The arc distance between the lowest groove 310 and the nearest middle groove 311 is greater than the arc distance between two adjacent middle grooves 311. The arc distance between any two adjacent middle grooves 311 is equal.

[0036] The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, that is, the tooth pitch between adjacent ratchet teeth 301 is the same. However, in actual use, the armrest panel 102 is not used at the same frequency at every angle. It usually has a most commonly used intermediate angle. When adjusting, the ratchet teeth 301 with the same tooth pitch will give the user the same feedback when the pawl 302 is engaged 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 most desired angle. In this embodiment of the utility model, the distribution of the ratchet 301 in the armrest assembly 100 is made non-uniform, increasing the tooth pitch between the lowest groove 310 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 the user adjusts the armrest panel 102 from the lowest position upwards, there will be a noticeable delayed triggering of the ratchet 302 engaging the ratchet 301, which will produce a jerking sensation. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerking sensation when turning the armrest panel 102, he / she can know that the armrest panel 102 has been 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 adjustment, resulting in a better user experience.

[0037] It should be noted that the reference Figure 7 The arc distance mentioned above can also be called 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 201 on the same pitch circle. For example, Figure 7 The arc distance between the lowest groove 310 and the nearest intermediate groove 311 is the arc length of the pitch circle corresponding to angle α, while the arc distance between two adjacent intermediate grooves 311 is the arc length of the pitch circle corresponding to angle β.

[0038] It should be noted that there are multiple middle positions. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The image shows the state of the armrest assembly 100 when the armrest panel 102 is in the most commonly used middle position.

[0039] It should be noted that the forward rotation mentioned in the text refers to... Figures 4 to 9 The diagram shows the process of rotating forward in a counter-clockwise direction, while the text refers to the process of rotating backward in a clockwise direction.

[0040] refer to Figure 7In some embodiments of this utility model, 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 202 engages with the ratchet 301. The pawl 302 can slide over the first inclined surface 703 and the second inclined surface 705 and rotate backward about the central axis of the ratchet 201. The first inclined surface 703 and the second inclined surface 705 have the same inclination angle relative to the central axis of the ratchet 201. By designing an extension surface 702 within 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. This ensures that the pawl 302 experiences the same force direction and angle during each engagement and sliding, effectively reducing impact and vibration, making the transmission process smoother. Furthermore, the uniform force distribution also results in more even wear on the ratchet 301 and pawl 302, reducing the likelihood of localized excessive wear and extending service life. It should be noted that, for reference... Figure 7 In some embodiments of this utility model, the extension surface 702 is a slightly curved surface, and the center of the slightly curved surface is the rotation axis of the ratchet component 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.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 In some embodiments of this utility model, the armrest panel 102 has a reference surface 103. When the pawl 302 engages 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 a reference plane used for machining and assembling the armrest panel 102 onto the connecting handle 101. The angle of the reference surface 103 determines the overall angle of the armrest panel 102. The pawl 302 travels a relatively long distance when rotating upward from the lowest groove 310, and the intermediate groove 311 closest to the lowest groove 310 needs to be designed as the most commonly used groove for the armrest panel 102. Figure 1 and Figure 4 The middle position shown provides a different tactile feedback when adjusting to this position compared to other positions. In this position, the reference plane 103 is parallel to the horizontal plane, making the placement surface of the armrest panel 102 essentially parallel to the horizontal plane. This enhances the user's experience when placing their hands or arms on the armrest panel 102. Based on this, the placement surface of the armrest panel 102 can be designed as... Figure 1The curved surfaces shown are all based on the reference surface 103. It should be noted that in some embodiments of this utility model, when the pawl 302 engages with the intermediate groove 311 closest to the lowest groove 310, the reference surface 103 can be slightly inclined to the horizontal plane, specifically, it can be inclined upward or downward relative to the horizontal plane by 5°, that is, the inclination angle is within ±5°. This angle range means that within this range, there will still be no significant perceptible impact on the user experience, providing a certain degree of machining error.

[0042] refer to Figures 4 to 9 In some embodiments of this utility model, the armrest panel 102 can rotate relative to the connecting handle 101 to reach its highest position. The ratchet member 201 includes a first part 303 and a second part 304 connected to each other. The ratchet tooth 301 is disposed in the first part 303. The second part 304 includes a first protrusion 306 and a second protrusion 305 distributed circumferentially along the ratchet member 201. The first protrusion 306 is located above the second protrusion 305. The pawl member 202 includes a third part 307 and a fourth part 308 connected to each other. A pawl 302 is disposed in the third part 307, and a third protrusion 309 is formed in the fourth part 308. The third protrusion 309 is disposed 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, causing the pawl 302 to rotate and disengage from the ratchet 301. When the armrest panel 102 moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion 309 abuts against the second protrusion 305, causing the pawl 302 to rotate 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 ratchet 202 rotates forward to the lowest position. Specifically, when it reaches the highest position, the third protrusion 309 of the pawl 202 abuts against the first protrusion 306, causing the pawl 202 to rotate clockwise. This disengages the pawl 302 from the ratchet 301, preventing the ratchet 301 from engaging with the pawl 302 and thus preventing the armrest panel 102 from resetting when rotating forward. When it reaches the lowest position, the second protrusion 305 causes the pawl 202 to rotate counterclockwise, allowing the pawl 302 to re-engage the ratchet 301, enabling the armrest panel 102 to gradually adjust from the lowest to the highest position. Furthermore, this design requires no additional components; only the shapes of the ratchet 201 and pawl 202 need to be changed, resulting in a simpler structure that is easier to integrate into the armrest panel 102.

[0043] It should be noted that the reference Figure 9In some embodiments of this utility model, the third part 307 forms two spaced-apart pawls 302. When one pawl 302 engages with the ratchet tooth 301, the other pawl 302 also engages with the other ratchet tooth 301. This improves the structural stability when the pawl 302 engages with the ratchet tooth 301 and prevents the pawl 202 from becoming loose from the ratchet wheel 201. Furthermore, to allow the other pawl 302 to engage with any intermediate groove 311 when the lower pawl 302 engages with the lowest groove 310, the... 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. Then, the distance between the two spaced pawls 302 and the distance between the single pawl 302 are increased, thereby improving the fit between the double pawl 302 structure and the ratchet 301.

[0044] refer to Figures 1 to 3 ,as well as Figures 7 to 9 In some embodiments of this utility model, the armrest assembly 100 further includes an abutment member 205, which is disposed on the armrest panel 102. During the movement of the armrest panel 102 from its highest position to its lowest position, the abutment member 205 abuts against the pawl member 202 to disengage the pawl 302 from the ratchet tooth 301. The abutment member 205 allows the armrest panel 102 to move forward during (e.g.) Figure 8 When the state shown is as described, the pawl 202 is prevented from rotating counterclockwise due to its own weight or other external forces, thus engaging with the ratchet 301, making the process of resetting the armrest panel 102 smoother.

[0045] It should be noted that in some embodiments of this utility model, in addition to using the abutment member 205 to abut against the pawl member 202 so that the pawl 302 disengages from the ratchet tooth 301, a locking block and a locking groove 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 locking block and the locking groove engage to fix the position of the pawl member 202, so that the pawl 302 does not engage with the ratchet tooth 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 (as shown in the diagram) This forces the pawl 202 to rotate, disengaging the locking block from the locking slot, thus enabling the pawl 302 to re-engage with the ratchet 301.

[0046] refer to Figure 3 , Figures 7 to 9In some embodiments of this utility model, the pawl 302 has an abutment groove 312 formed on its side, facing the abutment member 205. During the movement of the armrest panel 102 from its highest position to its lowest position, the abutment member 205 slides within the abutment groove 312. When the armrest panel 102 is at its lowest position, the abutment member 205 disengages from the abutment groove 312, and the pawl 302 engages within the lowest groove 310. The design of the abutment groove 312 also requires no additional components; simply changing the shape of the pawl member 202 is sufficient to achieve the abutment between the abutment member 205 and the pawl member 202. The structure is simple and effective. Figure 7 The shape of the abutment groove 312 shown also facilitates the disengagement of the abutment member 205. Further, refer to... Figure 3 and Figure 7 The bottom surface of the abutment groove 312 is curved, and the contact surface between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312 is also designed to be curved. This facilitates the separation of the abutment member 205 from the abutment groove 312 when the armrest panel 102 is in its lowest position, reducing frictional wear of the components during this process. Furthermore, an elastic element 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 element abuts against the armrest panel 102, and the other end abuts against the abutment member 205. The elastic force of the elastic element is used to drive the abutment member 205 closer to the abutment groove 312. This can improve the fit between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312, and when in the lowest position, the elastic element will be subjected to compressive force, allowing the abutment member 205 to smoothly separate from the abutment groove 312, reducing friction between the abutment member 205 and the abutment groove 312.

[0047] refer to Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 6 In some embodiments of this utility model, the armrest assembly 100 further includes a first elastic member 204. One end of the first elastic member 204 is fixedly disposed on the armrest panel 102, and the other end of the first elastic member 204 abuts against the side surface of the pawl 302 opposite to 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 increase the meshing force between the pawl 302 and the ratchet 301, thereby improving structural stability. Specifically, it can be as follows: 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 against the pawl 302.

[0048] refer to Figures 4 to 6In some embodiments of this utility model, a limiting block 401 is provided inside the armrest panel 102, and a limiting groove 402 is formed by a ratchet member 201 recessed circumferentially. The limiting block 401 is located inside the limiting groove 402. The armrest panel 102 can rotate to the highest position relative to the connecting handle 101. When the armrest panel 102 rotates to the lowest position, the limiting block 401 abuts against one side of the inner wall of the limiting groove 402. When the armrest panel 102 rotates to the highest position, the limiting block 401 abuts against the other side of the inner wall of the limiting groove 402. When the armrest panel 102 rotates to the middle position, the limiting block 401 and the inner walls on both sides of the limiting groove 402 are spaced apart. The structure of the limiting block 401 and the limiting groove 402 can further prevent the armrest panel 102 from rotating too high or too low relative to the connecting handle 101, improving the user experience of the armrest panel 102. Specifically, when the armrest panel 102 is in the middle position... Figure 5 When the handrail panel 102 is in the lowest position shown, the limiting block 401 abuts against the upper inner wall of the limiting groove 402. Figure 6 At the highest position shown, the limiting block 401 abuts against the lower inner wall of the limiting groove 402.

[0049] refer to Figures 2 to 4 In some embodiments of this utility model, 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 302 to rotate forward around the central axis of the ratchet 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, allowing the pawl 302 to engage with the ratchet 301, improving 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 a structure made of elastic plastic parts.

[0050] The seat according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention includes the armrest assembly 100 of any one of the first aspect embodiments. The ratchet structure in the prior art is a conventional structure, meaning that the tooth 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; it usually has a most frequently used intermediate angle. When adjusting, the feedback given to the user is consistent 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 their desired angle. In this embodiment of the utility model, the distribution of the ratchet 301 in the armrest assembly 100 is made non-uniform, increasing the tooth pitch between the lowest groove 310 when the armrest panel 102 is in its lowest position and the middle groove 311 when the armrest panel 102 is in its middle position. When the user adjusts the armrest panel 102 from its lowest position upwards, there will be a noticeable delayed triggering of the ratchet 302 engaging the ratchet 301, which will produce a jerking sensation. That is, if the user feels this delayed triggering jerking sensation when turning the armrest panel 102, he / she can know that the armrest panel 102 has been 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 adjustment. The seat using the armrest assembly 100 has a better user experience.

[0051] It should be noted that in some embodiments of this utility model, the connecting handle 101 can rotate 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.

[0052] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. An armrest assembly, characterized in that, include: Connecting handle; An 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; A ratchet component, which is fixedly mounted on the connecting handle, and the ratchet component has a plurality of ratchet teeth; A pawl is rotatably mounted on the armrest panel. The pawl has a pawl and can rotate rearward about the central axis of the ratchet. The ratchet teeth can abut against the pawl to prevent the pawl from rotating forward about the central axis of the ratchet. Adjacent ratchet teeth form a lowest groove and a middle groove that correspond one-to-one with the lowest position and the middle position. When the pawl engages the lowest groove, the armrest panel is located at the lowest position. When the pawl engages the middle groove, the armrest panel is located at the middle position. The arc distance between the lowest groove and the nearest middle groove is greater than the arc distance between two adjacent middle grooves. The arc distance between any two adjacent middle grooves is equal.

2. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lowest groove includes a first blocking surface, an extension surface, and a first inclined surface connected in sequence. 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 engages with the ratchet tooth. The pawl can slide over the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface and rotate backward about the central axis of the ratchet. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface have the same inclination angle relative to the central axis of the ratchet.

3. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The armrest panel has a reference surface, which is parallel to the horizontal plane when the pawl engages with the intermediate groove closest to the lowest groove.

4. The handrail assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The armrest panel is rotatable relative to the connecting handle to its highest position. The ratchet includes a first part and a second part connected to each other. The ratchet tooth is disposed on the first part. The second part includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced apart circumferentially along the ratchet. The first protrusion is located above the second protrusion. The pawl includes a third part and a fourth part connected to each other. The pawl is disposed on the third part. The fourth part has a third protrusion formed 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 cause the pawl to rotate and disengage from the ratchet tooth. When the armrest panel moves forward to the lowest position, the third protrusion abuts against the second protrusion to cause the pawl to rotate and engage the ratchet tooth.

5. The handrail assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The handrail assembly also includes an abutment member disposed on the handrail panel. During the process of the handrail panel moving forward from the highest position to the lowest position, the abutment member abuts against the pawl member to disengage the pawl from the ratchet tooth.

6. The handrail assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pawl has an abutment groove on its side, which faces the abutment member. During the process of the armrest panel moving 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.

7. The handrail assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The armrest assembly further includes a first elastic element, one end of which is fixedly disposed on the armrest panel, and the other end of which abuts against the side surface of the pawl facing away from the ratchet. The elastic force of the first elastic element is used to drive the pawl to engage with the ratchet.

8. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, A limiting block is provided inside the armrest panel, and a limiting groove is formed by the circumferential recess of the ratchet component. The limiting block is located in the limiting groove. The armrest panel can rotate relative to the connecting handle to the highest position. When the armrest panel rotates to the lowest position, the limiting block abuts against one inner wall of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel rotates to the highest position, the limiting block abuts against the other inner wall of the limiting groove. When the armrest panel rotates to the middle position, the limiting block and the inner walls of both sides of the limiting groove are spaced apart.

9. The armrest assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The armrest assembly further includes a second elastic element, one end of which abuts against the connecting handle, and the other end of which abuts against the armrest panel. The elastic force of the second elastic element is used to drive the armrest panel to rotate downward relative to the connecting handle, so as to drive the pawl to rotate forward about the central axis of the ratchet.

10. A seat, characterized in that, Includes the handrail assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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