Body Support Edge Structure With Directional Flex and Rigid Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body support surfaces with suspension components, such as load bearing fabrics, often have hard and inflexible edges due to the lack of adequate structural support, leading to discomfort when an occupant engages the edge directly.
Innovation Solution
An edge structure that provides rigid support to suspension components while being flexible under direct loads, featuring a design with main beams and segmented beams that differ in moment of inertia in opposite directions, allowing the edge to bend more easily in one direction than the other, and optionally incorporating flex grooves or resilient materials to control bending profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the edge structure is made rigid to support suspension components, then structural support is improved, but comfort under direct load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The edge structure is divided into multiple beams (first plurality and second plurality) that are spaced apart from each other. This segmentation allows the structure to provide rigid support when viewed collectively while allowing individual beams to flex independently under direct load, resolving the contradiction between overall structural strength and local flexibility for comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the edge structure are designed with different properties. The beams have specific moments of inertia tailored to their functions: some beams have higher moment of inertia for structural support while others have lower moment of inertia for flexibility under direct load. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both rigid support and comfortable flexing in appropriate locations.
2Ease of operation
If the edge structure is made flexible to improve comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but structural support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented beam design allows each beam to flex independently under direct load for comfort, while the collective arrangement of multiple beams maintains overall structural support. The segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of local flexibility and global strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge structure uses composite construction with beams having different moments of inertia, creating a composite structure that exhibits both rigid and flexible characteristics. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining elements with different mechanical properties in a unified structure.
3Strength
If beams are spaced closer together to improve structural support, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and emphasizes the critical parameter of moment of inertia for the beams. By focusing on this single key property and varying it systematically across different beams, the design achieves structural support without requiring complex spacing arrangements. This extraction of the essential property simplifies the overall design while maintaining strength.
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 edge structure offers a 'soft' edge to body support surfaces by providing rigid support to suspension components while being flexible under direct loads, enhancing comfort and usability without requiring an elastic suspension component.
Implementation Method 1
the moment of inertia of the edge structure in the direction of force applied by the suspension component is substantially greater than the moment of inertia in the direction of force applied by a direct load
Data Source
AI summary
An edge structure for a body support surface configured to provide generally rigid support for a suspension component, such as a load bearing fabric, while being flexible in response to a direct load, such as an occupant sitting directly on the edge structure. The edge structure is configured to have a substantially greater moment of inertia in the direction of loads applied by the suspension component than in the direction of direct loads. In one embodiment, the edge structure includes an arrangement of main beams and segmented beams. In another embodiment, the edge structure may include a beam with flex grooves. The flex grooves may be filled with a resilient material. In another aspect, the edge structure may include separate sections molded directly to the suspension component. The sections may be rotated and joined to form a peripheral edge structure. Rotation may place the suspension component under tension.