Movable Arm Pad Linkage for Smooth Lateral Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horizontally movable armrests with slot tracks can lead to misfunctioning, abrupt movement, or unintentional locking due to non-cooperative fasteners that knock along the edges of the tracks, causing misalignment and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates pivotally and rotatably attached linking members that move the arm pad laterally, avoiding contact with the slot edges and ensuring fluid movement, with features like elliptic apertures, arc-shaped slots, and recesses to provide non-guiding clearance and resistive contact for stable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If slot tracks are used to guide arm pad movement, then the arm pad is constrained to a specific movement path, but the fasteners knock along the edges of the slot tracks causing misfunctioning, abrupt movement, or unintentional locking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the slot track with clearance) between the fastener and the guiding structure. Instead of the fastener directly contacting and being guided by the slot edges, the fastener moves freely within the clearance of the slot track, eliminating the knocking and binding effects while still maintaining overall movement guidance through the slot's orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the slot track, specifically creating a clearance between the slot edges and the fastener. This parameter change (from tight fit to loose fit with clearance) allows the fastener to move independently without contacting the slot edges, thereby preventing the harmful knocking and binding while maintaining the general movement path.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fasteners are inserted through slot tracks to attach the arm pad to the arm support, then the arm pad becomes adjustable, but the non-cooperative fasteners cause abrupt movement and unintended locking
Solution Approach 1:
The slot track acts as an intermediary that decouples the adjustment function from the guidance function. The slot track provides the adjustment range while the clearance within the slot allows the fastener to move smoothly without being constrained by the slot edges, thereby maintaining adjustability while eliminating abrupt movement and positioning difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the dimensional parameters of the slot track to include clearance, the system maintains the adaptability function (adjustability within the slot range) while improving the ease of operation (smooth movement without binding). The clearance parameter allows the fastener to cooperate with the slot track without the interference that causes abrupt movements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the slot tracks guide the movement of the arm pad, then the movement is bounded by the edges of the slot tracks, but this causes misalignment and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The clearance within the slot track serves as an intermediary space that separates the beneficial movement boundary definition from the harmful edge contact. The slot track still defines the movement boundaries through its orientation and length, but the clearance prevents the fastener from contacting the edges, thereby eliminating misalignment and discomfort while maintaining movement constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the dimensional parameters of the slot track to include clearance between the slot edges and the fastener, the system maintains the movement boundary definition function while eliminating the harmful effects of edge contact. The clearance parameter allows the fastener to move within the defined boundaries without the mechanical interference that causes misalignment and user discomfort.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the armrest's adjustability and user comfort by preventing unintended locking and promoting smooth, ergonomic positioning, reducing strain on the links and improving durability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one linking member is pivotally attached to the arm pad and is rotatably attached to the arm support
Implementation Method 2
at least one linking member is pivotally attached to the arm pad and is rotatably attached to the arm support
Implementation Method 3
features like elliptic apertures, arc-shaped slots, and recesses to provide non-guiding clearance and resistive contact for stable positioning
Implementation Method 4
features like elliptic apertures, arc-shaped slots, and recesses to provide non-guiding clearance and resistive contact for stable positioning
Data Source
AI summary
Horizontally movable arm pads are useful for, among other things, their ability to be ergonomically positioned. An arm pad comprises a pad cover and a pad pan and is attached to an arm support. In one embodiment, a pad is laterally movable with respect to the arm support. In another embodiment, a pad is capable of moving forwards and backwards. In yet another embodiment, a pad is capable of moving laterally and forwards and backwards.