Chair Control with Dual Flex Elements to Reduce Hamstring Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chair designs often fail to provide adequate comfort and ergonomic support, particularly in reclining movements, leading to inadequate resistance and increased pressure on the user's hamstrings due to insufficient flexibility and adjustability.
Innovation Solution
A chair control system incorporating rocker and ground flex elements, made of resiliently deformable materials like elastomeric rubber, which are pivotally connected to the chair seat and base, allowing for angular deflection and reduced pressure on the hamstrings during tilting, thereby enhancing comfort and ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid chair controls are used, then structural stability is improved, but comfort and ergonomic support deteriorate due to insufficient flexibility during reclining movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies flexible elements including a rocker flex element and ground flex element made of resiliently deformable materials. These flexible components replace rigid connections, allowing the chair control system to deform elastically during reclining movements, thereby maintaining structural stability while providing comfort and ergonomic support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes materials with specific durometer hardness values (Shore A 40-75) and configures flex elements with specific geometric parameters (canted portions at 20-60 degrees) to optimize the balance between stability and flexibility. By adjusting material properties and geometric parameters, the system achieves both structural integrity and comfortable reclining motion.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed chair seat connections are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ergonomic adaptability deteriorates due to lack of adjustability for different user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elements are configured with canted portions and resiliently deformable structures that provide automatic adaptation to different user weights and reclining preferences. The flex elements deform elastically under different loads, providing ergonomic adaptability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex elements automatically adjust their deformation characteristics based on the user's weight and reclining force, providing self-adapting ergonomic support without requiring external control systems or manual adjustments. The material properties and geometric configuration enable the system to serve different users effectively.
3Device complexity
If traditional chair control systems are used, then device simplicity is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to increased pressure on hamstrings during tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker flex element and ground flex element work together to reduce the rise at the front of the seat during rearward tilting. The flexible elements deform elastically to accommodate the tilting motion, reducing pressure on the user's hamstrings while maintaining a relatively simple control system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex elements incorporate canted portions with specific curvature angles (20-60 degrees) that optimize the motion path during reclining. This curved geometry helps distribute forces more evenly and reduces concentrated pressure points on the user's body, particularly the hamstrings.
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 chair control system provides increased comfort and ergonomic support by allowing for reclining movements with suitable resistance and reducing pressure on the user's hamstrings through the use of resiliently deformable flex elements, improving the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the rocker flex element being resiliently deformable... the ground flex element being resiliently deformable... upon actuating (e.g., pivoting) of the rocker assembly relative to the ground assembly the one or both of the ground flex element and the rocker flex element resiliently deform
Data Source
AI summary
A chair control includes a rocker assembly configured to be coupled to a chair back, the rocker assembly including a rocker flex element configured to be coupled to a chair seat, the rocker flex element being resiliently deformable and a ground assembly configured to be coupled to a chair base, the rocker assembly being coupled to the ground assembly (e.g., pivotally coupled), the ground assembly including a ground flex element configured to be coupled to the chair seat to which the rocker flex element is coupled, the ground flex element being resiliently deformable.