Chair Back Support with Flexible Arm Frame for Torsional Comfort
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Office chairs with rigid peripheral frames and woven mesh backrests often lack torsional flexibility, leading to discomfort and limited adjustability, as the rigidity restricts the ability to maintain proper posture over extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A back support system featuring a flexible frame with spaced support arms and a suspension mesh that can be tensioned without a rigid peripheral frame, allowing for independent flexing and providing ergonomic support characteristics through adjustable tensioning and mesh design, including a lumbar mechanism for customizable comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid peripheral frame is used to support the mesh fabric in tension, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the torsional flexibility and comfort are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid peripheral frame is segmented into multiple independent support arms that can flex and rotate relative to each other. Each support arm is a separate element that can independently adjust its position, allowing the back support to accommodate various user postures while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed arm structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing them to rotate and adjust their angles in response to user movement. This dynamic capability enables the back support to adapt to changing user postures while maintaining the necessary structural strength to support the mesh fabric in tension.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If a rigid peripheral frame is used, then the mesh fabric can be maintained in tension for long-term comfort, but the flexibility for posture adjustment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into multiple independent support arms that can individually adjust their positions. This segmentation allows each arm to move independently to accommodate user posture changes while collectively maintaining the mesh fabric in tension for sustained comfort over extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms can change their angular parameters and positions dynamically. By adjusting the angle and position of individual support arms, the system maintains optimal tension in the mesh fabric for long-term comfort while enabling continuous posture adjustment for ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If support arms are spaced apart to allow independent flexing, then the torsional flexibility is improved, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The back support structure is segmented into multiple spaced support arms that can flex independently. This segmentation provides torsional flexibility while the distributed arrangement of arms across the width of the back support maintains overall structural stability through the collective support of multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Each support arm has local flexibility to allow independent motion and torsional adjustment. Meanwhile, the overall structure maintains global stability through the coordinated arrangement of multiple arms, with each arm contributing to the collective structural integrity while providing localized adaptability.
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 enhances user comfort by providing torsional flexibility and adjustable support, accommodating various user types and postures while maintaining long-term cushioning and support, promoting proper posture and reducing pressure on the spine and sacrum.
Implementation Method 1
The support characteristics provided by the suspension mesh may be tuned as desired by varying one or more of a number of features of the mesh including the width, thickness, spacing and a pattern of the horizontal and vertical support members
Implementation Method 2
the posts may each form an axis about which each support post can twist - independent of one another - in response to movements by a user that place a load on the support arms extending from one or the other of the support posts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An office-type chair (10) including a back support (12) having a suspension mesh (14) back support and a back support frame (16). The suspension mesh (14) back support has an integral retaining channel (48) disposed at a peripheral edge thereof, and the back support frame (16) includes a central pair of upright support posts (18) and wedge base (22) for mounting to a chair frame. The back support frame (16) includes a plurality of flexible and spaced support arms (20) extending laterally outward from the upright support posts (18). The support arms each have a peripheral edge configured for fastenerless attachment in a tensioned state within the suspension mesh (14) retaining channel (48). An upholstery cover (60) encapsulates the suspension mesh (14) and back support frame (16). The office chair (10) also includes a lumbar mechanism (80) including a resilient cushion (62) that may be positioned in the space between the suspension mesh (14) and the support frame (16) and adjusted along the vertical extent of the back support (12) by rolling the resilient cushion (62) on the rear of the suspension mesh (14).