Chair Back Flex Wing Structure for Adaptive Lumbar Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chair designs often fail to provide adequate flexibility and support for users, leading to discomfort and potential injuries from prolonged sitting, as they lack effective mechanisms to adjust to user movement and weight distribution.
Innovation Solution
A chair back design featuring a substantially flexible back support and rigid upright frame with flex wings that secure the back support to the frame, allowing the chair to flex in response to user engagement, providing adjustable support and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the back support is made flexible to accommodate user movement, then user comfort and adaptability are improved, but the structural strength and stability of the chair back deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The back support is divided into multiple segments or zones with varying flexibility characteristics. The flex wing is segmented into a rigid portion (for structural support) and a flexible portion (for user comfort), allowing different parts to serve different functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex wing incorporates composite construction combining rigid and flexible materials or structures within a single component. This allows the back support to exhibit both strength and flexibility properties in different regions of the same element.
2Strength
If the back support is made rigid to provide structural support, then strength and stability are improved, but user comfort and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the back support structure have different mechanical properties. The rigid portion provides structural support where needed, while the flexible portion provides comfort and adaptability where it contacts the user, creating local quality variations within the same component.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple fixed back design is used, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but user comfort and injury prevention capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The back support transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic structure that can move and adapt to user needs. The flex wing is designed to flex and adjust its configuration based on user weight and position, providing adaptive comfort without requiring complex active control systems.
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 flexible back support and rigid frame combination enhances user comfort by accommodating user movements and weight distribution, reducing the risk of injury and improving overall sitting experience.
Implementation Method 1
The flex wing flexes during user engagement
Data Source
AI summary
A chair back that includes a back support, an upright frame, and at least one flex wing. The back support is substantially flexible and has a first side portion and a second side portion. The upright frame is substantially rigid and has a first frame side and a second frame side. The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion, where the flex wing includes a front portion coupled to the first side portion, a back portion coupled to the first frame side, and a web portion interconnecting the front portion and the back portion. The flex wing flexes during engagement by a user.