Foldable Armrest with Parallel Hinges for Independent Seat Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing armrests for vehicles are often mounted within the backrest, making them displace together with the backrest, which can be undesirable and limit access to the seat, and may pose a risk during side impacts or rollovers.
Innovation Solution
A foldable armrest with a pad portion and an arm portion, connected by parallel hinges that allow independent movement from the backrest, enabling easy access and automatic folding away during accidents, while maintaining a fixed level relative to the floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the armrest is mounted to or within the backrest, then the armrest provides support functionality, but the armrest will accompany the backrest in displacement which limits access to the seat and may pose safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is extracted from the backrest structure and mounted independently on the seat base. The mounting position is located forward of the backrest rotation axis, which allows the armrest to remain stationary when the backrest folds forward, thereby improving access to the seat while maintaining armrest stability during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate mounting structure that connects the armrest to the seat base rather than directly to the backrest. This intermediary mounting arrangement decouples the armrest movement from backrest movement, allowing independent operation of each component
2Ease of operation
If the armrest is mounted within the backrest, then the armrest structure is integrated, but the armrest cannot be easily folded away and will follow backrest displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed with dynamic folding capability through hinge connections that allow rotation between use position and fold-away position. The first hinge connects the pad portion to the arm portion, and the second hinge connects the arm portion to the seat arrangement, enabling easy folding away while maintaining a relatively simple mounting structure on the seat base
3Reliability
If the armrest remains fixed relative to the backrest, then the armrest maintains its position during backrest movement, but it may cause injury during side impacts or rollovers
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed with dynamic folding capability through hinge connections that allow rotation between use position and fold-away position. This dynamic design allows the armrest to be folded away during side impacts or rollovers to prevent injury, while maintaining stability during normal backrest movement when in the use position
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest can change its spatial configuration from a horizontal support position to a vertical fold-away position. This parameter change in orientation and position allows the armrest to provide stable support during normal use while being able to fold away to eliminate injury risks during accidents
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The armrest provides comfortable support in use positions and folds away easily without affecting the backrest, reducing injury risks during side impacts or rollovers by staying out of the way and maintaining a consistent angle relative to the floor.
Implementation Method 1
a first hinge (15) having a first hinge axis and a second hinge (17) having a second hinge axis
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an armrest (9) for a seat arrangement (1) of a vehicle or a vessel. The armrest is foldable between a use position and a fold-away position and comprises a pad portion (11, 11'), an arm portion (13), a first hinge (15) having a first hinge axis and a second hinge (17, 17') having a second hinge axis. The pad portion is elongate along a longitudinal axis. The first hinge rotatably connects the pad portion and a first end portion (19) of the arm portion. The second hinge rotatably connects a second end portion (21) of the arm portion to the seat arrangement. The first hinge axis and the second hinge axis have extension directions being parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pad portion. The invention further relates to a seat arrangement comprising such an armrest.