Commercial Vehicle Armrest Vertical Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armrest devices for commercial vehicle seats face challenges in providing a space-saving and easy-to-use locking mechanism that prevents permanent displacement of the armrest, as current solutions often require significant lateral space and disrupt operating controls.
Innovation Solution
A locking device is designed with a rigid connection to the armrest device at one end and a deflectable end that can engage or disengage from a recess in the armrest, allowing for vertical deflection to lock or unlock the displacement movement, utilizing an elongated and potentially elastically deformable design with spring steel materials to reduce space requirements and facilitate easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lateral locking device is used to prevent armrest displacement, then the locking function is achieved, but the lateral space requirement is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device transitions from a lateral arrangement to a vertical arrangement. The locking element is positioned to engage with the guide rail from above, utilizing the vertical dimension instead of lateral space. This dimensional change allows the locking function to be achieved while minimizing lateral space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the locking element engaging laterally from the side, the locking element engages vertically from above. This inverted arrangement reverses the traditional locking mechanism orientation, allowing the locking function to be achieved without requiring significant lateral space.
2Reliability
If a complex locking device with multiple components is used to secure the armrest position, then the position holding force is increased, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into distinct functional segments: a locking element for engagement, a deflectable lever for operation, and a rigid connection for mounting. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while keeping the overall structure simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, dedicated mechanism rather than being integrated into the armrest structure itself. The locking element and lever are distinct components that can be independently designed and optimized, simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective locking capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid locking mechanism is used to prevent armrest movement, then the position stability is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism incorporates a deflectable lever that transitions between static (locked) and dynamic (adjusting) states. The lever can be easily deflected to disengage the locking element, allowing simple operation, while the locking element itself provides rigid stabilization when engaged, ensuring position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device utilizes changes in the physical state of the locking element. When the lever is deflected, the locking element changes from an engaged (locked) state to a disengaged (unlocked) state. This parameter change allows the mechanism to provide both stable locking and easy operation through a simple physical transformation.
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
The solution effectively locks and unlocks the armrest displacement movement while minimizing space usage and operational complexity, ensuring secure position adjustment and easy manual or Bowden cable-actuated operation, with self-resetting capabilities for convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device is at least partially designed as an elastically deformable component, in particular as a spring plate and/or spring steel
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Armrest device (1), in particular for commercial vehicle seats (2), with a guide rail device (3) for guiding a displacement movement of a first rail (4) relative to a second rail (5) connectable to the armrest device in an adjustment direction (V), wherein the displacement movement of the first rail can be locked by an engagement of a locking element (7) of a locking device (6) in at least one recess (8) of the first rail, wherein the locking device is rigidly connected to the armrest device at a first end (9) and is deflectable at a second end (10) in a vertical direction (H), wherein in a non-deflection position (11) of the locking device the locking element engages in the recess.