Rear-Seat Armrest Locking Pin Mechanism for Collision Restraint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear-seat armrests lack a locking mechanism, causing them to unfold unintentionally during a forward collision, which can lead to passenger injury, especially when children are seated.
Innovation Solution
A rear-seat armrest locking apparatus featuring locking pins, a link guide, a release cable, and a spring mechanism that locks the armrest in place to prevent forward unfolding during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to the armrest, then safety during collision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is nested within the armrest structure, with the pin fitting into a locking hole formed in the side fixing plate. The spring is positioned within the armrest to bias the locking pin into the locked position. This nesting approach integrates the locking mechanism into the existing armrest components without requiring separate external locking devices, thereby improving safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded locking pin automatically engages with the locking hole to secure the armrest in the folded position without requiring active control systems or additional power sources. The mechanism uses the natural elastic properties of the spring to maintain the locked state, and the armrest's own movement during deployment triggers the unlocking action through the link guide and release cable system.
2Extent of automation
If a spring-loaded locking pin is used, then automatic locking is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The release cable acts as an intermediary element that transmits the user's manual input force from the release lever to the locking pin through the link guide. When the user pulls the release lever, the force is transmitted via the release cable to move the link guide, which in turn moves the locking pin laterally to disengage from the locking hole. This intermediary mechanism allows automatic locking while maintaining ease of operation through a simple manual release action.
3Reliability
If locking pins are added to prevent armrest unfolding, then passenger safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin, spring, link guide, and release cable are integrated into the existing armrest assembly as a unified locking subsystem. The locking pin is positioned to work with the locking hole in the side fixing plate, which is part of the hinge bracket assembly. The spring is mounted within the armrest structure to bias the locking pin. This merging of components into a coordinated subsystem allows for standardized manufacturing processes and assembly procedures, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity despite adding the locking functionality.
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
Effectively prevents the armrest from unfolding forward during collisions, thereby reducing the risk of injury to passengers, including children, by using a spring-activated locking mechanism that securely holds the armrest in place.
Implementation Method 1
a spring installed on the locking pin to return the locking pin to an original position of the locking pin and insert the locking pin into the locking hole
Data Source
AI summary
A rear-seat armrest locking apparatus includes a release lever installed in an armrest to generate a pulling force, a link guide connected with the release lever through a release cable to provide a pulling force, and installed inside the armrest to move up and down, a link connected with the link guide to turn an up-and-down linear movement to a lateral movement, a locking pin connected with the link to laterally move by means of the pulling force transferred from the link, and being released from a locking hole of a side fixing plate, and a spring installed on the locking pin to return the locking pin to an original position of the locking pin and insert the locking pin into the locking hole. The rear-seat armrest locking apparatus prevents the armrest from being unfolded forward in a forward collision, thereby preventing an accident.