Asymmetric Vehicle Armrest Height Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle armrest structures fail to ensure appropriate elbow support for passengers when the armrests are positioned too close or far from the seat, leading to uncomfortable feelings due to differences in support between the right and left sides.
Innovation Solution
The armrests are configured such that the horizontal distance between the seat center line and the support position of one armrest is greater than the other, with the height of the support position adjusted accordingly to match the locus of the rotational motion of the passenger's upper arm, ensuring proper support regardless of the armrest's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the armrest height is adjusted using a simple mechanical mechanism, then the armrest height is changeable to accommodate different passenger body sizes, but the positional relationship between the armrest and seat in the vehicle width direction is not considered, causing inappropriate elbow support when the armrest is too close or far from the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the armrest heights asymmetric - the right and left armrests are positioned at different heights relative to the seat. Specifically, when the right armrest is farther from the seat center line, it is positioned higher than the left armrest. This localized differentiation in height compensates for the different horizontal distances, ensuring that both armrests provide appropriate elbow support for their respective positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If armrests are provided on both sides of the seat, then passengers can receive elbow support on either side, but differences in elbow support feelings between right and left sides cause uncomfortable feelings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally designing the right and left armrests to have different heights relative to the seat. The armrest farther from the seat center line is positioned higher than the armrest closer to the center line. This asymmetric configuration compensates for the different horizontal distances from the seat, ensuring that both armrests provide consistent and appropriate elbow support despite their different positions.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest structure for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a first armrest to support an elbow of one of arms of a passenger seated in a seat and a second armrest to support an elbow of the other arm of the passenger. A horizontal distance W1 between a vertically-extending seat center line of the seat and an elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a horizontal distance W2 between the vertically-extending seat center line and an elbow's support position at the second armrest, and a height H1 of the elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a height H2 of the elbow's support position at the second armrest. Accordingly, the passenger's elbows can be properly supported at the armrests on both sides, in a seat width direction, of the seat.