Chair Back Accessory Rail for Adjustable Secure Support Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chair designs compromise on the secure holding and easy adjustability of support accessories, such as lumbar or neck supports, often leading to issues with stability and ease of positioning.

Innovation Solution

A chair with an accessory holder system featuring a rail and slidable accessory holder secured by a biasing mechanism, allowing easy adjustment and secure locking, with audible cues for positioning, and protected by a configuration that prevents finger pinching and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing support accessory holding solutions are used, then the accessories can be held in position, but the adjustability is compromised and secure locking is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of support accessoryVSAvoidsecure locking of support accessory
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory holder is designed to be dynamically adjustable along the contoured rail, allowing users to easily reposition support accessories to different locations. The holder can slide freely along the rail for adjustment, then lock securely at any position, providing both ease of operation and reliable positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support accessory system is segmented into separate components: the accessory holder, the contoured rail, and the support accessory itself. This segmentation allows the holder to be independently adjusted along the rail while maintaining secure locking capability at various positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If existing support accessory holding solutions are used, then the accessories can be positioned, but the ease of adjustment is compromised and secure locking is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure locking of support accessoryVSAvoidease of adjustment of support accessory
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory holder incorporates a self-locking mechanism that automatically secures the support accessory at any position along the contoured rail. The snap lock means engages automatically with the rail contours, providing secure locking without requiring additional user effort or complex adjustment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides dynamic adjustability where the holder can be easily slid along the rail for repositioning, then automatically locks into place. This dynamic behavior allows users to easily adjust the position while ensuring reliable securing at each position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the accessory holder system is made accessible from the front, then ease of adjustment is improved, but risk of finger pinching and damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of accessory holderVSAvoidfinger pinching and damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory holder system is nested within the chair structure, with the contoured rail and holder mechanism positioned inside the chair back. The channel provides a protected pathway that allows front access for adjustment while shielding the moving components from external contact, eliminating finger pinching hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The channel acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the need for front accessibility and the need to protect against harmful contact. It provides a controlled access path that allows users to adjust the accessory holder while preventing direct contact with moving parts that could cause pinching or damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system provides adjustable and secure positioning of support accessories with ease of release and protection from damage, while ensuring stable operation and user feedback through audible cues.

Implementation Method 1

the support accessory holding element is biased towards the rail by a biasing element so that the accessory holder is predisposed to return to the secured position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4356788B1Chair with accessory holder system
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 DUELHAWK LTD
  • EP4356788B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4356788B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4356788B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A chair, comprising: a seat portion and a back portion, the back portion comprising: a front surface and a rear surface, a channel with an opening that extends in a length direction of the back portion on the front surface, and an accessory holder system, comprising: a rail that extends in the length direction of the back portion, an accessory holder disposed in the channel and slidably mounted on the rail, the accessory holder configured to hold a support accessory in position on the front surface, and a securing mechanism to releasably secure the accessory holder at different positions along the rail.