Adaptive Work Chair Back Structure for Dynamic Posture Flexing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current chairs fail to effectively adapt to dynamic body postures, leading to static posture-related health issues such as fatigue and musculoskeletal injuries, as they lack sufficient flexibility and do not encourage active movements during long-duration sitting.

Innovation Solution

A chair design featuring a cantilevered seat and back frame with spine members made of glass-filled Poly-Amide, allowing multi-dimensional movement through a simple lean, and an adjustable tilt limiter for varying back tilt positions, enabling intuitive posture changes and dynamic movements without complex adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the back is connected with the seat towards its central axis enabling multiple axes flexing only through a short distance from central pivot point, then the chair provides some posture flexibility, but the flexing capability is limited and does not effectively support dynamic body movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposture flexibilityVSAvoidflexing distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The back frame is divided into multiple independent flexing sections (first, second, and third flexing sections) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each section to contribute to the overall flexing distance, enabling much greater range of motion compared to a single pivot-point system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces multi-dimensional movement by allowing the back frame to flex not only forward and backward but also laterally and diagonally. The combination of multiple flexing sections connected at different points creates a three-dimensional flexing capability that accommodates dynamic body movements in various directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If static seated postures are maintained for long hours, then work productivity is improved, but musculo-skeletal injuries and pain occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework focusVSAvoidmusculo-skeletal injuries
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The chair encourages periodic posture changes through its multi-dimensional flexing capability. Users naturally transition between different seated positions, leaning forward, backward, and sideways, which creates periodic movement that prevents musculo-skeletal injuries while maintaining work focus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic back frame system allows users to easily transition between static and dynamic postures. The chair supports both focused working positions and active movement, enabling users to maintain productivity while periodically changing positions to prevent injuries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 chair supports efficient posture changes and minimizes static posture risks by allowing 3D movement and adjustable tilt, promoting user activity and focus, thus reducing fatigue and musculoskeletal issues.

Implementation Method 1

spine members made of glass-filled Poly-Amide, allowing multi-dimensional movement through a simple lean

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3691497B1Posture adaptive work chair
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 GODREJ & BOYCE MFG
  • EP3691497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3691497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3691497B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The present subject matter relates to a work chair which adapts to dynamic body postures of a user. The posture adaptive work chair comprising a seat sub-assembly (102) having a front edge (138) and a seat base sub-assembly (124); a pair of a spine members (106) cantilevered from the font edge (138) of the seat sub-assembly (102); a back sub-assembly (104) supported by the pair of spine members (106), the back sub-assembly (104) is configured to flex in multiple axes based on direction of load applied by a user; and a tilt limit lever (120) movably coupled to the seat base sub-assembly (124); said tilt limit lever (120) being configured to enable tilting of the back-sub assembly (104) to a plurality of tilt positions ( 132, 132', 132").