Chair Back Flex-Wing Structure for Adaptive Lumbar Support

Solution Overview

Problem

Chair designs often fail to adequately address user comfort and support, particularly in terms of flexibility and adjustability, leading to issues like repetitive stress injuries and back pain from prolonged sitting.

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

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the back support is made rigid to provide stable support, then structural strength is improved, but user comfort and adaptability deteriorate due to inability to flex with user movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The back support is divided into multiple segments including a rigid upright frame and flexible components (flex wings, web portions, side portions) that can move independently. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different functions - the rigid frame provides structural strength while the flexible segments adapt to user movement, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The back support transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the flex wings and web portions can move and flex in response to user engagement. The dynamic design allows the back support to adapt its configuration, providing both structural integrity when needed and flexibility for comfort during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the back support is made flexible to improve comfort, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength deteriorates due to inability to provide stable support

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The back support is divided into multiple segments including a rigid upright frame and flexible components (flex wings, web portions, side portions) that can move independently. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different functions - the rigid frame provides structural strength while the flexible segments adapt to user movement, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The back support combines rigid and flexible materials or structural elements within a single assembly. The upright frame uses rigid materials for structural strength while the flex wings and web portions use flexible materials for comfort, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves both strength and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If fixed seat and back design is used to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but user comfort deteriorates due to lack of adjustability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The back support transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the flex wings and web portions can move and flex in response to user engagement. The dynamic design allows the back support to adapt its configuration, providing both structural integrity when needed and flexibility for comfort during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If adjustable features are added to improve comfort, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The back support is designed to automatically adjust and adapt to user needs without requiring manual control mechanisms. The flexible components self-adjust based on user engagement and body position, providing adaptability while avoiding the complexity of motors, sensors, and control systems that would be needed for active adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 design enhances user comfort by allowing the chair back to flex and adjust, reducing strain and improving support, thereby mitigating issues like repetitive stress injuries and back pain associated with long periods of sitting.

Implementation Method 1

The flex wing is located between the first frame side and the first side portion... The flex wing flexes during user engagement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10172465B2Chair with activated back flex

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 HNI TECHNOLOGIES INC

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.