Armrest Cup Holder Insert to Eliminate Deployment Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cup holders in aircraft seats are inadequate for securely holding beverages, as they require deployment mechanisms that consume backrest space, interfere with seat functionality, and are prone to damage due to placement in seat ingress/egress paths, and are impractical for economy class seating.
Innovation Solution
An armrest assembly with a built-in cup holder insert that is recessed within the armrest, secured by arm caps and a retainer assembly, allowing for secure beverage containment without deployment mechanisms, facilitating easy cleaning and replacement, and designed to withstand prolonged use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cup holders are deployed from within the backrest, then cup holders can be provided in aircraft seats, but backrest space is consumed and deployment mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder function is extracted from the backrest and relocated to the armrest assembly. The armrest is separated into a stationary base and a movable arm portion, with the cup holder integrated into the armrest structure rather than the backrest, thereby preserving backrest space while maintaining cup holder functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides arm support, houses the cup holder, and includes storage compartments. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate deployment mechanisms by integrating the cup holder into the existing armrest structure.
2Ease of operation
If cup holders are deployed into seat space, then cup holders can be positioned for passenger access, but seat ingress and egress are interfered with and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deploying the cup holder outward into the seat space, the design inverts the approach by recessing the cup holder into the armrest body. The cup holder is positioned within the armrest structure rather than protruding outward, eliminating interference with seat ingress and egress while maintaining passenger accessibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cup holders require deployment mechanisms, then cup holders can be provided in compact form, but device complexity increases and interference with seat functionality occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder is merged with the armrest assembly as an integrated structure. The armrest base and arm portion are combined with the cup holder recess, eliminating the need for separate deployment mechanisms. This unified design reduces device complexity while maintaining cup holder functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest assembly is designed to be self-contained with the cup holder permanently integrated into the structure. No external deployment mechanisms or additional components are required - the cup holder is simply part of the armrest itself, eliminating mechanical complexity.
4Device complexity
If cup holders are permanently fixed in armrest, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning and replacement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest assembly is segmented into distinct components: the stationary base, the movable arm portion, and the cup holder recess. This segmentation allows the cup holder to be accessed, removed, cleaned, or replaced independently while maintaining the overall structural simplicity of the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest assembly and aircraft passenger seat including the same, the armrest assembly including an arm having a top cutout and a cup holder insert disposed within the top cutout and retained on the arm by front and rear arm caps affixed atop the arm that overlap portions of the installed cup holder insert, the cup holder insert including a recessed center portion at depth within the arm and disposed between upstanding concave end walls, the cup holder insert usable to secure a beverage or other items when the arm is in a deployed use position.