Pivoting Armrest Structure for Lateral Load Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional armrests lack sufficient strength in the lateral direction due to limited contact area between the drum and ring, leading to inadequate support for lateral loads, and attempts to enhance strength either increase weight or size.
Innovation Solution
The armrest design incorporates a drum with circular arc planar walls that provide a larger contact area and are integrated with mounting metal fittings, along with a spring lock mechanism for height adjustment, to enhance lateral strength while minimizing weight and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the metal plate thickness is increased to thicken the ring, then the lateral strength of the armrest is improved, but the weight of the armrest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest combines a resin material for the arm body with a metal drum and mounting fittings. This composite construction allows the resin arm body to provide lateral strength while the metal components provide structural support and mounting functionality, avoiding the need to increase metal plate thickness throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal drum is positioned specifically at the pivot point where lateral loads are concentrated, and the mounting metal fittings are positioned at the mounting points. This localized placement of metal components provides strength exactly where needed rather than uniformly thickening the entire structure, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining lateral strength.
2Strength
If the diameter of the drum is enlarged to increase the end surface area of the ring, then the lateral strength of the armrest is improved, but the size of the armrest increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of resin arm body with metal drum and mounting fittings creates a composite structure where the metal components compensate for the smaller drum diameter by providing concentrated strength at critical locations, eliminating the need to enlarge the drum diameter for sufficient lateral strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal drum and mounting fittings concentrate strength at the pivot point and mounting points respectively, where lateral loads are applied. This localized reinforcement achieves sufficient lateral strength without requiring a larger drum diameter, thereby maintaining compact armrest dimensions.
3Strength
If the width of the planar walls is increased to three times or more the plate thickness, then the contact area is enlarged and lateral strength is improved, but the complexity of the drum structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resin arm body with integrated mounting holes simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for complex fastening mechanisms. The metal drum with planar walls provides lateral strength through its geometry rather than through complex structural features, achieving strength without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar walls are designed with a specific width parameter (three times or more the plate thickness) that optimizes the balance between lateral strength and structural simplicity. This parameter change allows the drum to achieve sufficient strength through its geometric configuration rather than through complex structural arrangements.
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 design achieves reinforced lateral strength with reduced weight and size, effectively supporting lateral loads and maintaining stability without unnecessary bulk.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the arm at a storage state in which a front of the arm has pivoted upward and at a use state in which the front of the arm has pivoted downward
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest comprises an arm body in which a through hole is formed, an arm connected to the arm body, a drum that includes a cylinder inserted in the through hole, a bottom, and planar walls extending outside from a part of an end of the cylinder, is arranged rearward the arm body, and pivots the arm body about the cylinder; and mounting metal fittings that are integrally connected to the drum while locking the bottom and can be mounted on the seat frame. The armrest can adjust a position of the arm at a storage state and at a use state. The planar walls are arranged in such a manner as to position in a front-and-rear direction of the arm body in the use state, and the arm body is sandwiched between the planar walls and the mounting metal fittings in an axial direction of the cylinder.