Adjustable Armrest Locking Structure With Rack and Pivot Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional armrests lack an innovative and convenient mechanism for adjusting their position along a horizontal surface, limiting user comfort and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The armrest features a shell that is convertible between fixed and non-fixed positions, utilizing a lock unit with pivot gears and a control unit with a rack system that allows horizontal and transverse movement, enabling easy adjustment by switching between locking and unlocking positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional armrest uses a fixed structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but the position adjustment capability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest structure transitions from a fixed state to a movable state through the rack and pinion mechanism. The shell can be positioned at multiple locations along the armrest post and locked in place, providing dynamic adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity through the use of standard mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The rack and pinion mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user's manual input and the shell's position adjustment. The control unit acts as a mediator that converts rotational motion of the pinion gear into linear motion of the rack, enabling precise position control without complex mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional armrest uses a movable structure for position adjustment, then the adaptability is improved, but the locking reliability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The rack and pinion mechanism provides self-locking capability through the inherent friction and geometric interference between the meshing teeth. Once the shell is positioned, the engagement between the rack teeth and pinion teeth automatically maintains the position without requiring additional locking components or active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The design anticipates the need for position maintenance by incorporating the self-locking feature before the adjustment is completed. The meshing teeth are designed to engage and lock the shell in position automatically, preventing unintended movement during use
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 design allows for convenient and flexible adjustment of the armrest's position, enhancing user comfort by allowing movement in multiple directions without complex mechanisms, thus improving usability and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
the second teeth of the rack mesh with the first teeth of the pivot gears, the pivot gears are locked
Implementation Method 2
The control unit includes a rack having a plurality of second teeth that protrude toward the first teeth
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest includes a shell convertible between a fixed position and a non-fixed position, a lock unit, and a control unit. The lock unit includes a base seat and two pivot gears, each of which has an arm segment and a gear segment having a plurality of first teeth. The control unit includes a rack having a plurality of second teeth and is operable to move between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the control unit is at the locking position, the second teeth mesh with the first teeth, the pivot gears are locked, and the shell is at the fixed position. When the control unit is at the unlocking position, the rack is away from the pivot gears, the pivot gears are pivotally rotatable, and the shell is at the non-fixed position.