Chair armrest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional chair armrests are bulky and costly due to assembly requirements, often necessitating extra fastening parts and tools, which can compromise structural strength and safety during assembly and use, and fail to provide easy and secure adjustment functions.

Innovation Solution

An easily assembled chair armrest design featuring a connecting portion with a lock head and locking slot, allowing for secure assembly and adjustment without additional tools, enhancing structural strength and safety by ensuring proper alignment and locking of the armrest and support components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the armrest and armrest support are assembled into one part in advance on the manufacturing end, then the packaging and transportation efficiency is improved, but the volume of the armrest becomes too large and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging and transportation efficiencyVSAvoidvolume of the armrest
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest assembly is divided into separate components (armrest body and armrest support) that can be packaged independently in a compact state, then quickly assembled at the point of use through the snap-fit connection mechanism, resolving the contradiction between compact packaging and assembly efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If extra fastening parts such as screws are used to assemble the armrest and armrest support, then the assembly can be performed at the client end, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires additional tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly accessibility at client endVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening function is extracted from traditional screw-based systems and integrated directly into the armrest support structure through the protrusion and recess snap-fit mechanism, eliminating the need for separate fastening parts and tools while maintaining assembly capability at the client end

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest support structure performs its own fastening function through the snap-fit connection between the protrusion and recess, without requiring external fastening parts or specialized tools, enabling simple self-service assembly by the client

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the armrest and armrest support are assembled with insufficient design at the manufacturing end, then assembly can be simplified, but the structure strength and tightness are reduced causing safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidstructure strength and tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The snap-fit connection utilizes curved or rounded geometric features in the protrusion and recess that enable smooth engagement while distributing mechanical loads effectively, maintaining structural strength without complex assembly procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest support structure employs material composition and structural design that combines connectivity and strength, ensuring that the snap-fit connection achieves both ease of assembly and adequate structural integrity for safe use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3884809A1Chair armrest
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 ATEC INT TEAM CO LTD
  • EP3884809A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3884809A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3884809A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A chair armrest (1) comprising an armrest support (10), a connecting portion (20), and an armrest (30). The connecting portion (20) with a lock head (21) is selectively disposed on the armrest (30) or the armrest support (10) while a locking hole (321) is arranged at the armrest (30) or the armrest support (10) without the connecting portion (20). A locking slot (322) communicates with the inner side of the locking hole (321). The armrest (30) and the armrest support (10) are in a first assembled state when the lock head (21) is mounted into the locking slot (322) through the lock hole (321). Then the lock head (21) is horizontally rotated a staggered angle within the locking slot (321) so that a lengthwise central axis (32b) of the armrest (30) and a lengthwise central axis (11b) of the armrest support (10) are coupled. Now the armrest (30) and the armrest support (10) are fastened into one part to be in a second assembled state. Thereby both structural strength and tightness are improved.