Vehicle Seat Table With Guide Link and Movable Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extendable tables in vehicles, such as those in rail and aircraft seats, require a minimum pivoting space due to their design, which restricts their size and freedom of movement, often limiting their usability in spaces where such space is not available.
Innovation Solution
A seat with a plate-shaped table element that can be converted from a vertically aligned non-use position to a horizontal use position, utilizing a guide link and movable pivot bearings to eliminate the need for a minimum swiveling radius, allowing for maximum table dimensions and user freedom of movement without the need for a fixed pivot point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a table is designed with a fixed pivot point for pivoting movement, then the table can be swung out, but the table requires a minimum pivoting radius that limits its size and freedom of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism is divided into two independent components: a guide link that constrains vertical movement and a movable pivot bearing that handles horizontal pivoting. This segmentation eliminates the need for a fixed pivot point and allows the table to achieve greater surface area without being limited by a minimum pivoting radius.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide link is introduced as an intermediary element between the table and the armrest. This guide link guides a projection on the table vertically, allowing the movable pivot bearing to move horizontally without requiring a fixed pivot point, thus enabling larger table dimensions.
2Volume of moving object
If a table is stored vertically inside the armrest to save space, then storage efficiency improves, but a minimum swiveling radius is required which consumes additional space
Solution Approach 1:
The movement mechanism is segmented into vertical guidance (guide link) and horizontal pivoting (movable pivot bearing). This allows the table to be stored vertically in the armrest without requiring additional space for a fixed pivot point's swiveling radius, maximizing storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot bearing is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to move horizontally as the table is deployed. This dynamic design eliminates the need for a fixed pivot point and its associated minimum swiveling radius, enabling more compact storage within the armrest.
3Area of stationary object
If the table is limited in dimensions to fit within the armrest, then storage is possible, but the table surface area is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into simple, independent components: a guide link for vertical movement and a movable pivot bearing for horizontal pivoting. This segmentation achieves large table surface area without requiring complex mechanisms, as each component performs a single, well-defined function.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable pivot bearing provides dynamic adaptability, allowing the table to extend beyond the armrest boundaries when deployed. This dynamic design enables large table surface area while maintaining a compact storage profile, avoiding the need for overly complex fixed mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If a parallelogram swivel arm is used to swivel the table upwards, then the table can be positioned, but a minimum pivoting range is required that takes up space within the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning mechanism is segmented into vertical guidance (guide link) and horizontal pivoting (movable pivot bearing). This eliminates the need for a parallelogram swivel arm and its associated minimum pivoting range, reducing the space required within the vehicle while maintaining effective table positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide link serves as an intermediary that separates vertical and horizontal movements. This allows the table to be positioned effectively without requiring the large pivoting range of a parallelogram arm, thus reducing the volume occupied within the vehicle.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The seat comprises a guiding link (8) in an armrest for guiding a projection (9) during an upward or downward directed movement of a table element (6). The guiding link runs into seat height direction viewed from downwards to upwards. The projection is placed at the table element.