Seating device with collapsible arms

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing healthcare seating designs face challenges in allowing easy transfer of users without requiring them to stand, as armrests often need to be removed or repositioned, leading to issues like loss, tripping hazards, cleanliness concerns, and potential for armrests to obstruct controls or collapse improperly, compromising user safety and hygiene.

Innovation Solution

A seating device with collapsible arms that rotate relative to the arm proper, allowing the armrest to switch between erect and collapsed positions securely, eliminating the need for removal or repositioning, and featuring a surface-mounted mechanism with tapered slots and pins to prevent lateral movement and ensure easy cleaning and disinfection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If armrests are removed or repositioned to allow user transfer, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to loss, tripping hazards, and obstruction of controls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of user transferVSAvoidsafety and hygiene

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing it to rotate between an erect position (providing support) and a collapsed position (clearing the transfer path). This dynamic adjustment enables the armrest to adapt to different operational states without being removed, maintaining both safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest mechanism is segmented into movable components connected by rotation joints, allowing the armrest to be divided into functional segments that can independently adjust position. This segmentation enables the armrest to collapse clear of the transfer path while remaining attached to the seating device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If armrests are made fixed and secure, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to obstruction during transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest securityVSAvoidease of user transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows it to dynamically change position between erect and collapsed states. When in the erect position, the armrest provides secure support; when collapsed, it clears the transfer path, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the armrest laterally or vertically, the solution rotates the armrest about an axis, changing its orientation in a rotational dimension. This allows the armrest to clear the transfer path by rotating forward rather than being removed or shifted sideways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If armrests are made removable, then ease of operation is improved for transfer, but loss and tripping hazards increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of transferVSAvoidloss and tripping hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is designed to be dynamically collapsible rather than removable. It can rotate forward to a collapsed position that clears the transfer path while remaining firmly attached to the seating device through rotation joints, eliminating the risks of loss and tripping hazards associated with removable armrests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest is merged with the seating device structure through rotation joints, creating an integrated assembly where the armrest becomes a movable part of the overall structure rather than a separate removable component. This combining maintains the benefits of adjustability while eliminating the hazards of separability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If armrests are kept attached, then hygiene is improved, but obstruction during transfer occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene and cleanlinessVSAvoidtransfer obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attached armrest is designed to be dynamically adjustable, rotating forward to a collapsed position that clears the transfer path. This dynamic capability allows the armrest to remain attached (maintaining hygiene) while eliminating obstruction during transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest clears the transfer path by rotating in a forward direction rather than being moved laterally or vertically. This rotational movement in a different dimension allows the armrest to clear the path while remaining structurally integrated with the seating device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9867469B2Seating device with collapsible arms

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 DURFOLD CORP

AI summary

A seating device is provided have collapsible armrests. The collapsible armrests are attached to the seating device via brackets that hold the collapsible armest in a secure erect position while allowing the collapsible armrests to be rotated into a collapse position for access to the seating device. The armrests are externally attached on both side of the seating device and remain attached in both the erect and collapsed positions.