Foldable Sofa Armrest Frame Design to Reduce Transportation Volume

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sofa armrests are fixedly connected, making them difficult to fold during transportation and storage, resulting in increased space occupation and resource-intensive logistics.

Innovation Solution

A foldable sofa armrest design featuring a frame with first and second folding members connected by a rotating connector and fastener, allowing the armrest to transition between unfolded and folded states, reducing space usage and facilitating transportation and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the sofa armrest is designed as an integrated and fixedly connected structure, then the structural stability is improved, but the space occupation increases and transportation becomes resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is divided into multiple segments including a first armrest segment, a second armrest segment, and a folding segment. These segments can be relative positioned to each other through rotation at the folding segment, allowing the armrest to transition between unfolded and folded states. This segmentation enables reduced volume for transportation while maintaining structural stability when assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest incorporates a dynamic folding mechanism that allows it to change its configuration between unfolded and folded states. The folding segment enables relative rotation between armrest segments, providing adaptability for different transportation and storage requirements while maintaining structural integrity when in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the sofa armrest is designed as an integrated and fixedly connected structure, then the structural stability is improved, but the transportation requires significant manpower and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidtransportation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is divided into multiple segments including a first armrest segment, a second armrest segment, and a folding segment. These segments can be relative positioned to each other through rotation at the folding segment, allowing the armrest to transition between unfolded and folded states. This segmentation enables reduced volume for transportation while maintaining structural stability when assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest incorporates a dynamic folding mechanism that allows it to change its configuration between unfolded and folded states. The folding segment enables relative rotation between armrest segments, providing adaptability for different transportation and storage requirements while maintaining structural integrity when in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the sofa armrest is designed as an integrated and fixedly connected structure, then the structural stability is improved, but the storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is divided into multiple segments including a first armrest segment, a second armrest segment, and a folding segment. These segments can be relative positioned to each other through rotation at the folding segment, allowing the armrest to transition between unfolded and folded states. This segmentation enables reduced volume for transportation while maintaining structural stability when assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest incorporates a dynamic folding mechanism that allows it to change its configuration between unfolded and folded states. The folding segment enables relative rotation between armrest segments, providing adaptability for different transportation and storage requirements while maintaining structural integrity when in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12121156B1Foldable sofa armrest and sofa

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 WUDI IND (SHANGHAI) CO LTD

AI summary

A foldable sofa armrest and a sofa are provided. The foldable sofa armrest includes an armrest frame and an armrest skin, where the armrest skin covers an outer surface of the armrest frame; the armrest frame includes a first frame, a second frame, and a folding part; the folding part includes a first folding member, a second folding member, and a connecting component; the first folding member is provided on the first frame; the second folding member is provided on the second frame; the armrest frame has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the connecting component securely connects the first folding member to the second folding member; and in the second state, the first folding member and the second folding member are rotatable relative to each other. The sofa armrest is allowed to be in an unfolded or folded state.