Removable Furniture Armrest Testing for Realistic Cyclic Elbow Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional testing apparatus and methods are inadequate for replicating market failures and simulating accurate usage patterns of furniture, particularly for softer materials like polyurethane armrests, failing to accurately benchmark and improve their performance.
Innovation Solution
A testing apparatus and method that simulates a user's load-bearing motion on removable furniture portions, using a holder, an arm assembly with a load shaped to mimic a human body part, and a programmable logic controller to exert forces along specific axes, with clamps to secure the portion in place and count cycles until failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional testing apparatus and methods are used, then the testing process is simple, but they fail to accurately replicate user load-bearing motions and simulate accurate usage patterns, leading to inadequate testing results for softer materials like polyurethane armrests
Solution Approach 1:
The testing apparatus uses a load shaped and textured to simulate a part of a human body (specifically an elbow) to copy the actual user interaction with the armrest. This allows accurate replication of user load-bearing motions without requiring an actual human user, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through the use of a simplified yet effective model.
2Reliability
If conventional testing methods are used, then the testing process is quick and simple, but they cannot identify market failures or benchmark performance effectively for softer furniture materials
Solution Approach 1:
The testing apparatus performs repeated cyclic loading operations where the load exerts force on the removable portion multiple times (e.g., 4000 cycles as mentioned in the patent). This periodic action simulates real-world repeated usage patterns, enabling reliable identification of market failures and performance benchmarks for softer materials like polyurethane armrests, while the automated nature of the testing minimizes time loss.
3Measurement precision
If a load shaped to simulate human body parts is used, then the simulation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like pneumatic arms and programmable controllers
Solution Approach 1:
The arm assembly with pneumatic arm and programmable logic controller serves multiple functions: it positions the load, applies force along specific axes, controls the number of test cycles, and can be adjusted for different testing scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through the shaped load.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate to a testing apparatus for a removable portion of a furniture or furniture piece, the test apparatus comprising a holder configured to position the removable portion for testing; and an arm assembly comprising a load, the arm assembly configured to move the load to exert a first force on the removable portion; wherein the load is shaped and/or textured to simulate a part of a human body, and wherein the first force is applied along a first axis of the removable portion.