Self-Folding Seat Armrest Using a Guiding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats with armrests face obstruction and damage during folding due to the armrests' inability to automatically fold with the backrest, requiring additional mechanisms that are cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
An automotive seat design featuring a self-folding armrest with a guiding member that allows the armrest to pivot and slide over a complementary surface, enabling complete folding and unfolding without additional mechanisms, preventing obstruction and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the armrest remains perpendicular to the backrest during folding, then the armrest can provide support to the user, but the armrest gets obstructed by the floor or seat bottom, preventing complete folding of the backrest
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed to dynamically change its orientation relative to the backrest during folding operations. When the backrest is folded toward the seat bottom, the armrest automatically rotates to follow the backrest's movement, transitioning from a perpendicular position to a parallel position with the backrest. This dynamic adjustment eliminates obstruction by the floor or seat bottom, enabling complete folding while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Extent of automation
If an additional mechanism is added to the armrest to enable folding, then the armrest can be folded before seat folding, but the mechanism makes the seat bulky, complex, and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest folding function is achieved through self-service design where the armrest automatically folds along with the backrest without requiring separate control mechanisms. The armrest is pivotally coupled to the backrest and guided by the guiding member, allowing it to autonomously follow the backrest's folding motion. This eliminates the need for additional motors, sensors, or control systems, thereby reducing mechanical complexity, cost, and bulk while maintaining full automation.
Solution Approach 2:
A guiding member is introduced as an intermediary element between the armrest and the seat bottom. This guiding member features an upper surface with a predefined profile that guides the armrest's bottom surface during folding. The guiding member ensures the armrest follows the correct folding trajectory without requiring complex control mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while enabling automated armrest folding.
3Ease of operation
If the armrest is manually folded every time before seat folding, then the armrest can be folded completely, but this requires frequent manual intervention which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is pre-configured with a pivotal coupling to the backrest and a guiding member that enables automatic folding motion. This preliminary design arrangement ensures that whenever the backrest is folded, the armrest automatically follows suit without requiring manual intervention. The system is prepared in advance to perform the folding action autonomously, eliminating the need for users to manually fold the armrest before seat folding.
4Area of stationary object
If the backrest is completely folded toward the seat bottom, then the storage space is maximized, but the armrest may get damaged or obstruct the folding process
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed to dynamically adjust its position during the folding process, automatically rotating to remain parallel to the backrest as it folds toward the seat bottom. This dynamic movement prevents the armrest from being stuck or obstructed by the floor or seat bottom, allowing the backrest to achieve complete folding for maximum storage space. The guiding member ensures smooth motion throughout the folding trajectory, preventing damage to the armrest while maximizing storage capacity.
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
Facilitates complete and automated folding and unfolding of the armrest with the backrest, enhancing storage space and user convenience while avoiding mechanical complexity and maintenance issues.
Implementation Method 1
folding of the backrest towards the seat bottom results in sliding of the bottom surface of the armrest over the upper surface of the guiding member
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive seat has a self-folding armrest to facilitate automated and complete folding of the armrest upon folding the seat. As such, at least one armrest is pivotally coupled to one side of the backrest, wherein the at least one armrest has a bottom surface. The seat comprises at least one guiding member adapted to be coupled to each side of a seat bottom where there is an armrest. The guiding member comprises an upper surface, such that folding of the backrest towards the seat bottom results in sliding of the bottom surface of the armrest over the upper surface of the guiding member. This facilitates automated folding of the armrest with respect to the backrest, without requiring any additional mechanism, and restricting contact of the armrest with a floor of the vehicle.