Office Chair Armrest Locking Mechanism for Flat Dual Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armrests for office chairs have complex adjustment mechanisms that require significant installation space, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and undesirable protrusions, which are both costly and ergonomically suboptimal.
Innovation Solution
A simplified adjustment mechanism featuring a locking device with an actuating element between the carrier platform and armrest, and a transmission element that transfers locking functionality, allowing for simultaneous longitudinal and transverse adjustments with fewer components, reducing manufacturing costs and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used in the bearing head, then longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the armrest is achieved, but the construction complexity increases and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple adjustment mechanisms (longitudinal and transverse adjustment) into a single integrated bearing head structure. The actuating element and transmission element work together as a unified system rather than separate mechanisms, reducing overall construction complexity while maintaining full adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing head is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides longitudinal adjustment, transverse adjustment, and locking functions. The transmission element serves multiple purposes by transferring actuation forces for both adjustment directions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used in the bearing head, then longitudinal and transverse adjustment of the armrest is achieved, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission element is positioned to nest within the bearing head structure, with the actuating element arranged between the carrier platform and armrest. This nested arrangement allows the adjustment mechanisms to be compactly integrated into the existing bearing head volume without requiring additional installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element is arranged in the vertical dimension between the carrier platform and armrest, rather than requiring horizontal space. This dimensional repositioning allows the adjustment mechanism to fit within the existing vertical clearance of the bearing head assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If actuating devices are added for adjustment mechanisms, then longitudinal and transverse adjustment is enabled, but the actuating devices protrude from the armrest column or armrest
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is extracted from traditional protruding positions and repositioned within the interior space of the bearing head assembly. By locating the actuating element between the carrier platform and armrest rather than on external surfaces, the design maintains clean lines without unwanted protrusions.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating element operates in the vertical dimension within the bearing head interior, allowing adjustment functionality to be achieved without horizontal protrusions from the armrest column or armrest surfaces.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for adjustment mechanisms, then longitudinal and transverse adjustment functions are provided, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the longitudinal adjustment mechanism and transverse adjustment mechanism into a single integrated bearing head assembly. The transmission element serves both adjustment functions, reducing the total component count and associated manufacturing costs compared to separate dedicated mechanisms for each adjustment direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission element is designed as a universal component that transfers actuation forces for both longitudinal and transverse adjustment, eliminating the need for multiple specialized transmission components and reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In order to provide a structurally particularly simple adjustment mechanism for the armrest (4) of an armrest (1), which also enables a particularly flat design, a locking device for releasably locking the base platform (9) and the support platform (11) in different positions relative to each other is proposed, comprising a transmission element (13) arranged between the support platform (11) and the armrest (4) and connected to the base platform (9), with first locking elements (45) for locking the longitudinal adjustment of the armrest (4) and with second locking elements (55, 56) for locking the lateral adjustment of the armrest (4), and an actuating element (49) arranged between the support platform (11) and the armrest (49), equipped with a push button (67) for manual actuation and with elements for simultaneously locking or releasing the first and second locking elements (45, 55) of the transmission element (13).