Dual Pivoting Armrest Structure for Multi-Height Vehicle Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pivotable armrests in vehicles are limited by their fixed height, size, and support structure, which fails to accommodate occupants of different heights and subjects the seat back to excessive forces, restricting comfort and utility, especially in multi-row seating configurations.
Innovation Solution
A dual pivoting armrest arrangement with upper and lower units, where the upper armrest is supported by the lower armrest during use, and both are primarily supported by the vehicle seat, allowing for adjustable height and reduced force on the seat back, enabling comfortable use by occupants of varying heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pivotable armrest is supported by the seat back, then the armrest can be stowed in the seat back, but the seat back is subjected to excessive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the support function from the seat back and transfers it to the seat cushion. The armrest is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion instead of the seat back, so that the seat cushion absorbs the forces generated during armrest use. This allows the armrest to be stowed in the seat back while preventing excessive forces from being applied to the seat back structure.
2Ease of operation
If a pivotable armrest is configured to fit within the seat back in the stowed position, then the armrest can be stowed, but the maximum size of the armrest is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting location from the vertical seat back to the horizontal seat cushion, providing additional spatial dimensions for armrest configuration. This allows the armrest to have a larger volume and more substantial size while still being able to pivot into a stowed position against the seat back, effectively utilizing both vertical and horizontal space.
3Device complexity
If a single armrest is fixed at a particular height, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate occupants of different heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the armrest system into multiple segments - specifically, a lower armrest unit and an upper armrest unit that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows each armrest unit to be positioned at different heights, enabling occupants of various heights to find a comfortable position. The segmented design maintains relative structural simplicity while significantly improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability through pivotal motion, allowing the armrest units to rotate between stowed and deployed positions at different heights. This dynamic capability enables the same structure to serve multiple height requirements without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
4Device complexity
If the upper armrest unit is supported by the seat back, then the structure is simplified, but the seat back is subjected to high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the load-bearing function from the seat back and relocates it to the seat cushion. Both the lower and upper armrest units are pivotally mounted to the seat cushion, which is structurally designed to handle the forces generated during armrest use. This extraction allows the seat back to serve only its primary function of providing back support, while the seat cushion handles the additional loads from the armrest system.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest arrangement and a method of installing the armrest arrangement in a vehicle are provided, where the armrest arrangement can be arranged on a center console in a row of seats of the vehicle. The armrest arrangement includes upper and lower armrest units, each of the upper and lower armrest units being movable between a use position and a stowed position. When both the upper and lower armrest units are in the stowed position, the center console is usable as a middle seat. The upper and lower armrest units include armrests positioned at different heights to accommodate occupants of different heights, and the upper armrest unit is supported by the lower armrest unit, which is supported by a seat.