Chair with Pressure-Monitored Spinal Support for Posture Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chairs fail to maintain an ergonomically optimum posture for users, leading to back and neck pain, musculoskeletal discomfort, and computer-related injuries, especially during prolonged sitting.
Innovation Solution
A chair with a backrest portion coupled to a seat portion, featuring spinal support plates and support pads that can move in response to control data from a computer-implemented control system, which monitors pressure and adjusts to maintain optimal posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a chair provides fixed ergonomic support, then initial posture alignment is improved, but it cannot adapt to posture changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The chair incorporates dynamic support elements that can move and adjust their position automatically. The spinal support plate and support pads are connected to motive means that enable them to change position in response to detected posture changes, transforming a static support system into a dynamic one that adapts to the user's evolving posture throughout the day
Solution Approach 2:
The chair system monitors the user's posture using pressure sensors and automatically activates the motive means to adjust the support elements without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting posture deviations and autonomously correcting them through automated adjustment of the spinal support plate and support pads
2Loss of information
If manual posture adjustment is required, then user awareness of posture is improved, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chair system autonomously monitors posture through integrated pressure sensors and automatically adjusts the support elements without requiring the user to log into apps or manually intervene. The system detects when posture deviations occur and self-corrects by activating the motive means to reposition the spinal support plate and support pads, completely eliminating the need for manual user action
3Ease of manufacture
If a single fixed chair configuration is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but suitability for different users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chair uses dynamically adjustable support elements that can be positioned at multiple locations along the backrest. The spinal support plate and support pads can be automatically repositioned to match different user body types and preferences, allowing a single chair configuration to adapt to multiple users without requiring manual adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The chair system automatically detects the user's body characteristics through pressure sensor data and self-adjusts the position of the spinal support plate and support pads to optimize ergonomic fit. This eliminates the need for preconfiguration or manual setup, allowing the chair to automatically adapt to different users while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A chair having a backrest coupled to a seat. The backrest has at least one spinal support plate for supporting a user's spine, in use, and the seat has at least one support pad for supporting a user's buttocks, A motive means is coupled to the at least one spinal support plate for selectively moving the spinal support plate toward or away from a user's thorax, to increase or decrease the pressure exerted. A pressure monitor monitors pressure exerted on the user's thorax when using the chair, and a control system receives data representative of the pressure exerted on the user's thorax, compares it with a pressure threshold or range, and, if the monitored pressure falls outside of the pressure threshold or range, generates control data and transmits it to the motive means, to cause movement of a spinal support plate toward or away from the user's thorax.