Pivoting Video Arm Mechanism Wiring Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger seat arm assemblies fail to effectively conceal and manage wiring, leading to complex assembly processes and potential safety issues, as wires often need to be fed through the seat/arm assembly during manufacturing and repair, and existing solutions do not adequately enclose cables in the final assembled condition.
Innovation Solution
An articulating arm assembly with a flexible closeout and a hinge system that allows the arm body to move between stowed and deployed positions, featuring a protrusion that changes shape based on the arm's position, and a hinge with a central cylindrical cavity to house wiring, enabling the arm cover to stretch around a roller and enclose cables, simplifying assembly and maintenance by allowing wiring to be inserted without disassembling connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wires are fed through the seat/arm assembly during manufacturing, then wiring can be connected to electronic devices, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-formed wiring channel within the arm assembly structure during manufacturing. This allows wires to be routed through the channel after the arm is assembled, eliminating the need to feed wires through the assembly during manufacturing and reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible closeout component as an intermediary element that covers and conceals the wiring channel. This closeout allows wires to be enclosed within the arm assembly while maintaining access for wiring installation and simplifying the overall assembly process
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wires are exposed in the final assembled condition, then wiring is accessible for connections, but safety issues and aesthetic problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible closeout component that acts as a thin film or shell to cover the wiring channel. This flexible material conceals exposed wiring in the final assembled condition, eliminating safety hazards and improving aesthetics while still allowing for wiring access during installation and maintenance
3Ease of manufacture
If connectors are attached to wire bundles after arm assembly, then wiring connections can be made, but the assembly process requires additional disassembly and reassembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the arm assembly with a pre-formed wiring channel that accommodates wire bundles and connectors. This allows connectors to be attached to wire bundles before insertion into the channel, eliminating the need for additional disassembly and reassembly steps and improving assembly productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a articulating arm assembly for a passenger seat that includes a mounting bracket attached to a passenger seat, a pivot attached to the mounting bracket, an arm body rotatably attached to the pivot such that the arm body is configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a closeout that includes a flexible portion, a first end attached to a first attachment point internal to the pivot, and a second end attached to a second attachment point internal to the pivot. The flexible portion is configured to change shape depending on a location of the arm body.