Armrest Swing Hinge Structure for Left-Right Seat Width Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional armrest swing hinge devices for vehicle seats only allow pivoting in up and down directions, limiting user convenience as they do not accommodate adjustable width, which is necessary for enhanced comfort in second-row seats, especially with the rise of electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology.
Innovation Solution
An armrest swing hinge device featuring a bracket housing coupled to a seat frame with a pivoting space, a vertical shaft, a pivoting housing with a horizontal shaft, and an elastic body, allowing the armrest to pivot left and right, with a pivoting blocking plate and damper for controlled movement, enabling adjustment to suit user physique and enhance convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the armrest is designed with a fixed hinge structure allowing only up and down pivoting, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different user needs is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device is divided into two independent rotational systems: a vertical shaft for up-down pivoting and a horizontal shaft for left-right pivoting. This segmentation allows each shaft to perform its specific function independently, achieving multi-directional adjustability while maintaining structural clarity and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-axis (up-down) pivoting mechanism to a two-axis mechanism by introducing the horizontal shaft perpendicular to the vertical shaft. This dimensional expansion enables the armrest to pivot in multiple directions (up-down and left-right), significantly improving adaptability to different user needs
2Ease of operation
If the armrest allows free pivoting in multiple directions, then user convenience is improved, but control over the pivoting movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting blocking plate acts as an intermediary component that provides controlled resistance to the horizontal shaft's rotation. It includes a blocking surface that contacts the armrest frame, enabling smooth pivoting movement while preventing excessive rotation and maintaining stable positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body automatically adjusts to the pivoting movement, providing continuous elastic force that facilitates smooth rotation while maintaining control. The system self-regulates the pivoting motion without requiring external control mechanisms
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
Enables the armrest to be pivotably moved to the left and right sides, improving user convenience and adjustability, providing a wider movement path and secure positioning, thus enhancing the comfort and usability of second-row seats.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body, wherein one side of the elastic body supports the bracket housing and an other side of the elastic body supports the pivoting housing
Implementation Method 2
a damper provided at an end part of the pivoting housing extension plate
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is an armrest swing hinge device, wherein the hinge device includes a bracket housing coupled to a side of a seat frame and provided with a pivoting space therein, a vertical shaft penetrating through the pivoting space of the bracket housing in the up and down direction, a pivoting housing pivotably provided in the pivoting space of the bracket housing in a state of being coupled to the vertical shaft, and a horizontal shaft provided perpendicular to the vertical shaft on an outer surface of the pivoting housing, exposed to the outside of the bracket housing, and coupled to an armrest in a manner that orients the armrest to face forward.