Chair Base Arm Profile Variation for Material Efficiency and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chair bases with cross-sectional profiles have an unnecessarily large material usage due to uniform, thick walls, leading to over-dimensioned and costly designs that do not optimize stability and material efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A chair base with arms featuring non-uniform profiles such as I-shaped or T-shaped designs, optimized for reduced material usage while maintaining stability, incorporating features like stiffening ribs and varying wall thicknesses to enhance structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If uniform cross-sectional profiles with thick walls are used in chair base arms, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but material usage increases and stability is over-dimensioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional profile along the length of the arms. The arms feature different profiles at different locations (e.g., I-shaped, T-shaped, or U-shaped sections) rather than uniform profiles throughout. This allows material to be concentrated where structural support is needed while reducing material usage in areas where less support is required, thereby optimizing the quantity of substance without compromising manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If uniform cross-sectional profiles with thick walls are used in chair base arms, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the base becomes over-dimensioned and less visually appealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidbase dimensions and appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by introducing varied cross-sectional profiles (I-shaped, T-shaped, U-shaped) at different locations along the arms. This creates a more refined and visually appealing base structure with optimized dimensions, avoiding the bulky appearance of uniform thick-walled profiles while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized profile sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If uniform cross-sectional profiles with thick walls are used in chair base arms, then structural stability is ensured, but material efficiency decreases and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase stabilityVSAvoidmaterial efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by strategically varying the cross-sectional profiles along the arms to match the distribution of structural loads. Areas experiencing higher stresses receive stronger profile sections, while areas with lower loads use lighter sections. This optimizes material efficiency and reduces overall weight while maintaining the required stability of the base structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Strength

If uniform cross-sectional profiles with thick walls are used in chair base arms, then structural strength is ensured, but material usage increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearm structural strengthVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by using different cross-sectional profiles (I-shaped, T-shaped, U-shaped) at different locations along the arms. This concentrates material where structural strength is most needed and reduces material usage where full strength is not required, thereby maintaining arm structural strength while significantly reducing overall material usage and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4674317A1Footcross, chair base and chair
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 GIWA
  • EP4674317A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4674317A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4674317A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Base (1) for a chair, wherein the base (1) comprises a central opening (2) which is designed to receive and support a post (3) which is substantially vertical in an operating position of the base (1), and wherein the base (1) has at least three, preferably five, arms (4) which extend radially from the opening (2), wherein at least one of the arms (4) has a substantially U-shaped profile (7) or a substantially O-shaped profile (7) extending along its longitudinal direction (5) from an outer arm end (6), wherein the at least one arm (4) has a substantially I-shaped profile (8) or a substantially T-shaped profile (8) along its longitudinal direction (5), different from the U-shaped profile (7) or O-shaped profile (7).