Nested Secondary Armrest Assembly for Dedicated Passenger Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shared armrests in seating designs for multiple occupants often fail to adequately serve the needs of adjoining passengers, as they must be shared and do not provide individual access.
Innovation Solution
A secondary armrest assembly that can be stowed beneath a primary armrest and deployed laterally, allowing each passenger to have dedicated access to an armrest by extending it from beneath the primary armrest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single shared armrest is used between adjoining seats, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates as passengers must share the armrest
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest system is segmented into a primary armrest assembly and a secondary armrest assembly. The secondary armrest can be independently deployed from a stowed position beneath the primary armrest to a deployed position, allowing individual passenger access without interfering with the primary armrest. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing separate operational zones while maintaining structural integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary armrest assembly is nested within the footprint of the primary armrest assembly when in the stowed position. The secondary armrest stows beneath the primary armrest, utilizing the space efficiently. When deployed, the secondary armrest laterally extends from beneath the primary armrest to provide dedicated access. This nesting principle allows the system to maintain low complexity when not in use while providing enhanced functionality when needed.
2Ease of operation
If a secondary armrest assembly is added to provide dedicated access, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary armrest assembly is nested within the footprint of the primary armrest assembly when in the stowed position. The secondary armrest stows beneath the primary armrest, utilizing the space efficiently. When deployed, the secondary armrest laterally extends from beneath the primary armrest to provide dedicated access. This nesting principle allows the system to maintain low complexity when not in use while providing enhanced functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary armrest assembly incorporates movable and pivotable connections through flanges that enable dynamic deployment from the stowed to deployed position. The armrest can be manipulated from beneath the primary armrest to an exposed position laterally adjacent to the primary armrest. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs without requiring a permanently complex structure.
3Ease of operation
If the secondary armrest is deployed laterally adjacent to the primary armrest, then the ease of operation improves for individual access, but the area occupied by the armrest assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary armrest assembly is nested within the footprint of the primary armrest assembly when in the stowed position. The secondary armrest stows beneath the primary armrest, utilizing the space efficiently. When deployed, the secondary armrest laterally extends from beneath the primary armrest to provide dedicated access. This nesting principle allows the system to maintain low complexity when not in use while providing enhanced functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary armrest deployment utilizes the vertical dimension by stowing beneath the primary armrest and then transitioning to a lateral position. This dimensional approach allows the system to provide separate armrest functionality without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint, as the secondary armrest originates from the vertical space under the primary armrest.
Data Source
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AI summary
An armrest assembly comprising a secondary armrest assembly is disclosed that can be deployed from a stowed and nested position beneath a primary armrest, with the secondary armrest assembly comprising a plurality of articulable and pivotable components, a seating assembly comprising the present armrest assembly, and vehicles configured to comprise the present armrest and seating assembly.