Adjustable Armrest with Dual Height Support for Aircraft Seating
Solution Overview
Problem
In high-density seating arrangements, such as those found in economy class aircraft, passengers often experience discomfort due to the fixed dimensions of armrests, leading to competition for space and reduced comfort as airlines maximize seat width by minimizing armrest and aisle space.
Innovation Solution
A transformable armrest with adjustable height and width, featuring two support portions that can pivot to accommodate different arm positions, allowing adjacent passengers to share the armrest without fighting for space, while maintaining comfort and enabling more efficient seating configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the armrest width is reduced to maximize seat width, then the space for passengers is increased, but the comfort and usability of the armrest is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest incorporates movable support portions that can be adjusted in height and width, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one. The support portions can pivot between different positions to accommodate various arm sizes and preferences, allowing the armrest to adapt to different users while maintaining a compact overall width.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest is divided into multiple independent support portions (first support portion and second support portion) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each portion to be independently adjusted, providing personalized comfort for adjacent passengers without requiring increased overall armrest width.
2Productivity
If more seats are arranged in a row to increase capacity, then the productivity is improved, but the space between seats is reduced leading to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable support portions enable the armrest to provide adequate comfort features even when the space between seats is minimized. By allowing height and width adjustment, the armrest can optimize its configuration for passenger comfort within the constrained space, enabling higher seating capacity without sacrificing comfort.
3Ease of manufacture
If the armrest provides fixed dimensions to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability to different passengers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest uses mechanical adjustment mechanisms with pivot axes that allow support portions to move between predetermined positions. This dynamic design provides multiple adjustable configurations for different passenger needs while using standardized components that can be manufactured efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest allows change in geometric parameters (height and width of support portions) through mechanical adjustment. The support portions can be positioned at different heights and widths to accommodate various arm sizes, transforming a fixed-parameter design into a variable-parameter design that adapts to different users.
Data Source
Figure 1~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
For enabling a seat arrangement having more seats in a given space for a row, the invention proposes an armrest (24) for arrangement between two seats (20, 22), especially two passenger seats of a vehicle such as an aircraft (12), comprising at least one first support portion (34) for an arm (35) of a first person and at least one second support portion (36) for an arm (38) of a second person wherein the first and second support portions (34, 36) provide different height levels (44, 46).