Rotatable Shared Armrest with Cam-Driven Divider for Space Delineation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial aircraft seats with shared armrests often provide insufficient space for both passengers, leading to complaints due to immutable space constraints and safety considerations.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable armrest mechanism that includes a shaft for rotation and a locking mechanism defining stopping positions, along with a cam-driven divider to clearly delineate space for each passenger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the armrest size is increased to provide more space for both passengers, then passenger comfort and space availability are improved, but safety constraints and space limitations are violated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest surface areaVSAvoidsafety constraints

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is designed to be rotatable between a first configuration (narrow profile) and a second configuration (expanded profile), allowing the space availability to dynamically change based on operational needs while maintaining safety constraints through controlled movement mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of moving object

If the armrest is made rotatable to expand space, then passenger comfort is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearmrest surface areaVSAvoidrotation and locking mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest system is divided into a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, with the rotatable portion further segmented into configurable positions. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be isolated to specific components while keeping the overall structure manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage at predetermined positions during rotation, providing self-regulating functionality that reduces the need for complex external control systems while maintaining reliable position retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If a shared armrest is used between two passengers, then space utilization is improved, but space delineation and passenger comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidspace delineation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest can rotate to different configurations that dynamically adjust the division of space between passengers. In the expanded configuration, the armrest provides adequate space for both passengers, while the profile view clearly delineates each passenger's portion, resolving the conflict between space utilization and space delineation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12220066B2Rotatable shared armrest

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 BE AEROSPACE INC

AI summary

A rotatable armrest includes a shaft to allow the arm pad to rotate and a locking mechanism defining a set of stopping positions. The profile of the arm pad is defined to clearly delineate portions of the expanded arm pad for each passenger. The rotatable armrest may also include a cam driven divider that extends from the arm pad as the arm pad is rotated to further define delineate portions of the expanded arm pad for each passenger.