Detachable Foldable Armrest Seating for Flexible Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seating furniture designs lack flexibility and ease of handling, with armrests that are either laterally positioned or loosely arranged, leading to limitations in use and storage.

Innovation Solution

A seating furniture design with detachable armrests that fold into a U-shape, featuring a support frame and adjustable components, allowing the armrests to be positioned freely and converted into additional seating or storage, with components like swivel fittings and a flexible cover for seamless integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If armrests are laterally positioned on the seating furniture, then the seating furniture provides stable structure, but the armrests cannot be repositioned freely in the room

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest positioning flexibilityVSAvoidconnecting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is divided into separate components: a support frame with legs, a seat element, and a connecting fitting. This segmentation allows the armrest to be detached from the seat and repositioned freely in the room while maintaining structural stability when connected. The support frame can be folded into a compact U-shape for easy storage when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest transitions from a static lateral position to a dynamic, freely repositionable element. The foldable support frame with swivel fittings enables the armrest to adapt its position and configuration based on user needs, transforming from a fixed component to a versatile, movable seating element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If armrests are loosely arranged next to the seat, then the seating furniture increases flexibility in setting up, but the loose arrangement has disadvantages in use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidarmrest stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting fitting acts as an intermediary between the armrest and the seat, providing a secure attachment mechanism. This intermediary component enables reliable connection when the armrest is mounted on the seat, while still allowing easy detachment for repositioning, thus maintaining both stability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Shape

If the armrest is folded in a U-shape when mounted on the seat, then the armrest maintains compact arrangement, but the support frame must be concealed to maintain seamless appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest compactnessVSAvoidcovering structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support frame with its foldable legs is nested within the armrest structure. When folded into a U-shape, the legs are contained within the armrest's volume, and a covering can be placed over the armrest to conceal the support frame, maintaining a seamless appearance while preserving the compact folded configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4458218B1Seating

Publication Date: 2026.03.18 HETTICH FRANKE

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Figure 2B

AI summary

A seating element (1) comprises a seat (2) and at least one armrest (3) adjacent to the seat (2), which is detachably connected to the seat (2) via at least one connecting fitting (9), wherein the armrest (3) has a foldable support frame (10, 11) and a seat element (12) supported on the support frame (10, 11). This allows the seating element (1) to be flexibly extended to form a multi-part seating arrangement.