Chair Arm Assembly With Multi-Axis Adjustment and Height Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional office chairs face challenges in accommodating the diverse physical characteristics and comfort preferences of users, as they often lack sufficient adjustability in armrest positions, particularly in height, angular orientation, and lateral movement.
Innovation Solution
An improved arm assembly with a vertically elongate column that slides within a tubular support post, featuring a latch mechanism for height adjustment and a multi-layer plate arrangement for angular, longitudinal, and transverse adjustments, allowing for comprehensive configurability to suit individual preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional office chairs are designed with fixed armrest positions, then the chair structure remains simple and manufacturing cost is low, but the chair cannot accommodate diverse physical characteristics and comfort preferences of different users
Solution Approach 1:
The arm assembly is divided into multiple independent adjustable components: a vertically movable armrest with height adjustment, a pivotable connection to the upright allowing angular adjustment, and a sliding mechanism on the upright for longitudinal position adjustment. This segmentation enables each component to be adjusted independently to accommodate different user preferences without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm assembly transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, multi-degree-of-freedom structure. The armrest can move vertically along the upright, pivot angularly relative to the upright, and the entire assembly can slide longitudinally on the upright. These dynamic capabilities allow the chair to adapt to diverse user needs while maintaining a relatively compact base structure.
2Ease of operation
If armrest height and position are made adjustable, then user comfort is improved, but the mechanism required for adjustment increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest adjustment mechanisms are designed to be operated directly by the user without requiring tools or external assistance. The vertical height adjustment uses a simple latch or friction mechanism that the user can engage and disengage easily. The angular and longitudinal adjustments rely on the inherent mechanical properties of the pivot and slide connections, allowing users to move the armrest to desired positions and have them held in place passively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the armrest is made movable in multiple directions (vertical, angular, longitudinal), then configurability is enhanced, but the structural complexity and difficulty of manufacture increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-directional movement capability is achieved by segmenting the adjustment functions into separate mechanical subsystems: vertical movement through a guide and latch mechanism, angular movement through a pivot connection, and longitudinal movement through a slide mechanism. Each subsystem can be manufactured and assembled independently, simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to designing a single complex multi-axis mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The upright structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, guides vertical armrest movement, accommodates longitudinal sliding, and serves as the pivot point for angular adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each degree of freedom, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining comprehensive adjustability.
Data Source
AI summary
An office chair is provided with includes a chair arm assembly on each opposite side thereof for supporting the arms of a user. The arm assemblies each include a latching assembly to permit adjustment of the height of an arm cap thereof while maintaining the arm cap at a selected elevation. The latch assembly is engageable with an inner liner provided within a support post. Further, the armrest assembly has a plurality of interconnected and relatively movable plates which permit adjustment of the angular orientation of the arm cap along with adjustment of the arm cap in the front-to-back direction and the side-to-side direction.