Foldable Rear-Seat Armrest Structure for Stable Article Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing article holders in vehicles are unstable due to the adjustable nature of front seats, which can lead to instability and reduced knee space for passengers. Additionally, when installed on the front seat side, they can obstruct the driver's visibility and potentially interfere with airbag deployment.

Innovation Solution

A foldable armrest structure is provided between the rear seat backrests, featuring a support portion that rotates between the backrests and the seat portion, a base portion connected to the support portion, and a desk portion that slides and deploys from the base portion for placing articles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an article holder is installed at the rear of a front seat, then articles can be placed, but the article holder becomes unstable due to front seat movement and reduces knee space for passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle placement capabilityVSAvoidarticle holder stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest structure is divided into separate functional components: a support portion that attaches to the front seat, a base portion that provides the article holding surface, and connection mechanisms that allow relative movement. This segmentation allows each component to independently handle specific functions, enabling the article holder to remain stable even when the front seat moves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between the support portion and base portion incorporates dynamic elements that allow relative movement. When the front seat moves forward or backward, the base portion can move independently relative to the support portion, maintaining stability and preventing articles from falling off while preserving knee space for rear passengers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If an article holder is provided on the front seat side, then articles can be placed, but driver visibility is reduced and airbag deployment may be interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle placement capabilityVSAvoiddriver visibility obstruction and airbag interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The article holding function is extracted from the front seat structure itself and implemented as a separate, movable base portion that can be positioned independently. This allows the article holder to be located in the rear seat area rather than directly on the front seat, eliminating obstruction of driver visibility and airbag deployment paths while maintaining article placement functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a foldable armrest structure is deployed to place articles, then article placement is enabled, but knee space for passengers may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle placement capabilityVSAvoidknee space for passengers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest structure utilizes the vertical dimension by allowing the base portion to move up and down relative to the support portion. When articles need to be placed, the base portion can be lowered to a position that does not encroach on the knee space of rear passengers, while still providing adequate support for articles. This vertical movement capability resolves the conflict between article placement and knee space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 structure effectively supports the passenger's arm, provides a stable surface for articles, and maintains knee space utilization, while also reducing weight and cost through a simple and optimized design.

Implementation Method 1

a support portion provided between backrest portions of a vehicle seat and provided to rotate in a height direction of the vehicle between the backrest portions and a seat portion of the vehicle by rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

a base portion connected to one end portion of the support portion and provided to rotate in the height direction of the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 3

a desk portion slidably connected to the base portion to be moved and deployed to place articles on an upper surface of the desk portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSliding: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS20250153623A1Armrest structure of vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An armrest structure provided to support an arm of a passenger and place articles inside a vehicle includes a support portion provided between backrest portions of a vehicle seat and provided to rotate in a height direction of the vehicle between the backrest portions and a seat portion of the vehicle by rotation, a base portion connected to one end portion of the support portion and provided to rotate in the height direction of the vehicle, and a desk portion slidably connected to the base portion to be moved and deployed to place articles on an upper surface of the desk portion.