Rotatable Console Armrest With Counterbalance Hinge for Dual-Side Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle console assemblies with armrests occupy significant space and do not provide adequate surfaces for rear seat passengers to place objects, limiting their functionality and usability.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable armrest with a hinge system and counterbalance shaft, allowing it to be positioned in multiple orientations, including a folded-down, forward-facing, and backward-facing positions, and integrated into a console assembly to save space and facilitate object placement for both front and rear seat passengers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the armrest is made fixed and supported by the console assembly, then the armrest provides stable support for front seat passengers, but the console assembly occupies significant space and cannot provide object placement surface for rear seat passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest positioning flexibilityVSAvoidhinge system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic, rotatable structure that can change its position and orientation. The hinge system enables the armrest to rotate between a forward-facing position (for front seat passengers) and a backward-facing position (for rear seat passengers), allowing the same structure to adapt to different user needs and spatial requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The armrest is designed to serve multiple functions and multiple users. When facing forward, it serves as an armrest for front seat passengers. When rotated to face backward, it provides an object placement surface for rear seat passengers. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing one structure to benefit both front and rear seat occupants without requiring separate dedicated structures for each.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the armrest rotates to provide object placement for rear seat passengers, then space utilization is improved, but the armrest may become unstable during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest positioning flexibilityVSAvoidarmrest stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A counterbalance shaft is introduced to offset the weight of the armrest during rotation. This counterbalancing mechanism reduces the effort required to rotate the armrest and maintains stability throughout the rotation process, preventing the armrest from becoming uncontrollable or unstable when changing positions between forward-facing and backward-facing orientations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the armrest is made rotatable with hinge system, then space for object placement is increased, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest positioning flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest system is divided into separate modular components: the armrest body, the hinge system, the counterbalance shaft, and the support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together. The modular approach reduces manufacturing complexity compared to creating a single complex integrated structure, and facilitates easier maintenance and replacement of individual parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 rotatable armrest enhances space utilization in the console assembly by allowing flexible positioning, providing convenient object placement for both front and rear seat occupants and increasing storage capacity.

Implementation Method 1

the hinge system comprises a counterbalance shaft, and wherein the rotatable armrest is rotatable about the counterbalance shaft and fixed in a first position, a second position, and a third position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the hinge system comprises a counterbalance shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS12539798B2Rotatable armrest and console assembly provided with the same

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a rotatable armrest and a console assembly provided with the rotatable armrest. The rotatable armrest includes a case, a knob system, and a hinge system, in which the knob system and the hinge system are mounted in the case. The hinge system includes a counterbalance shaft, and the rotatable armrest may be rotatable about the counterbalance shaft and fixed in a first position, a second position, and a third position. In the first position, the rotatable armrest is positioned in a folded down position, in the second position, the rotatable armrest is positioned in a horizontally forward-facing position, and in the third position, the rotatable armrest is positioned in a horizontally backward-facing position.