Automotive Armrest Inclination Adjustment via Linear Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armrest arrangements for motor vehicle seats lack easy and stepless adjustment of inclination, which limits user comfort and space efficiency in the design of the pivot axis area.
Innovation Solution
The armrest arrangement incorporates a support member with a movement thread or teeth, integrated into the armrest body, allowing for stepless inclination adjustment by a guide fixed to the armrest body, and a remote transmission device for ergonomic actuation, enabling space-saving design and easy adjustment of the pivot axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blocking device is used to secure inclination settings, then the armrest can be fixed in desired positions, but the adjustment mechanism becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be self-blocking through its interaction with the guide's thread or tooth structure. When the actuating element is released, the support member automatically locks into position without requiring a separate blocking device, making the system self-servicing and easier to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking function is extracted from a separate blocking device and integrated directly into the support member-g guide interaction. The support member itself performs the blocking action through its engagement with the guide's threaded or toothed structure, eliminating the need for additional blocking components.
2Volume of moving object
If the actuating element and blocking device are integrated in the pivot axis area, then the mechanism is compact, but the user cannot easily access and operate the actuating element
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element is repositioned from the pivot axis area to the front side of the armrest body, changing its spatial location to a more accessible dimension. This allows the user to easily grasp and operate the actuating element while maintaining a compact pivot axis area through the integrated support member mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary that transmits the user's input force from the actuating element to the inclination adjustment mechanism. This allows the actuating element to be positioned away from the pivot axis while still effectively controlling the armrest inclination through the support member's linear movement.
3Reliability
If a separate blocking device is used for inclination adjustment, then position locking is reliable, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking function is merged with the support member itself. The support member's engagement with the guide's threaded or toothed structure provides both the adjustment mechanism and the blocking function in a single integrated component, reducing device complexity and space requirements while maintaining reliable position locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member performs multiple functions: it transmits user input, enables inclination adjustment, and provides position locking through its engagement with the guide. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate blocking devices and reduces overall mechanism complexity.
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 solution allows for precise and ergonomic adjustment of the armrest inclination relative to the seat surface, enhancing user comfort and space efficiency by enabling continuous adjustment of the angle between the armrest and seat surface, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
The support member (21) is held in the guide (17) fixed to the armrest body (6) by means of a movement thread
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an arm rest arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle seat. Such an arm rest arrangement for a motor vehicle seat with a fixed carrier structure (4) and an arm rest body (6) mounted in such a way that it can be pivoted about a pivoting axis (S) in relation to the carrier structure (4), and with which an incline adjustment device (20) is associated, allowing a modification of an incline of the arm rest body (6) in relation to the fixed carrier structure (4) in a functional position of the arm rest body (6), wherein the incline adjustment device (20) comprises a manually operable actuating member (7) and a blocking device (12) for securing an incline adjustment carried out by means of the actuating member (7), is known. According to the invention, the arm rest body (6) comprises a supporting member (21) that can be adjusted in a linearly movable manner transversely to the pivoting axis (S) on the arm rest body (6) and is supported on the front side on the fixed carrier structure (4), and the actuating member (7) and the blocking device (12) are operatively connected to the linearly movable supporting member (21) such that the supporting member (21) can be released by the actuating member (7) for a linear adjustment and can be stopped by the blocking device (12) in an adjusted supporting position. The invention also relates to the use of said arm rest arrangement for motor vehicles.