Chair Seat Mounting Assembly for Rotating Tablet Seating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional seating options lack flexibility, storage, and adaptability to accommodate collaborative learning environments, failing to provide sufficient postural choices and easy access to personal belongings, while also being economical.

Innovation Solution

A seating unit design featuring a rotatable seat structure with a tablet assembly that includes a support arm with a pivot assembly, allowing 360-degree rotation of the tablet and restricting movement to prevent contact with the seat, combined with a stable base with storage and adjustable features to accommodate various users and devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional seating options are used, then comfort and simplicity are maintained, but flexibility and adaptability for collaborative learning are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating flexibilityVSAvoidseating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seating unit is divided into separate functional modules: a base with storage compartment, a seat structure with mounting bracket, and a tablet assembly with support arm. These modular components can be independently manufactured, assembled, and reconfigured to create different seating arrangements that adapt to various collaborative learning environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat structure is designed to be freely rotatable on the base, and the tablet assembly includes a support arm with pivot assembly that allows the tablet to rotate 360 degrees. These dynamic features enable users to easily adjust seating orientation and tablet position to accommodate different collaboration scenarios and user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional seating is used, then cost-effectiveness is maintained, but storage capability and access to personal belongings are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoidseating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base of the seating unit integrates a storage compartment that can accommodate personal belongings such as backpacks, computers, and briefcases. By merging the storage function into the base structure, the design eliminates the need for separate storage furniture while providing easy access to personal items for seated users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base serves multiple functions: it provides a stable support for the rotatable seat, offers storage capacity for personal belongings, and includes a mounting assembly for the tablet assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate pieces of furniture, making the seating unit more adaptable to learning environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional seating is used, then simplicity is maintained, but postural choices and accommodation for different user sizes are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepostural flexibilityVSAvoidseating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat structure is designed to be freely rotatable on the base, allowing users to change their facing direction and engage in various postures for different types of interactions. The tablet assembly's pivot mechanism enables adjustment of tablet angle and position, providing additional postural options for users of different sizes and preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If a rotatable seat and tablet assembly are added, then flexibility and collaboration support are improved, but structural complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration supportVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The seating unit is divided into separate functional modules: a base with storage compartment, a seat structure with mounting bracket, and a tablet assembly with support arm. These modular components can be independently manufactured using standard fabrication processes, then assembled together, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting bracket and base mounting assembly serve as intermediary components that connect the seat structure to the base and the tablet assembly to the seat. These standardized interface components facilitate easy assembly and disassembly, reducing manufacturing complexity while enabling collaborative functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9962003B2Chair seat to base mounting assembly
Publication Date: 2018.05.08 STEELCASE INC
  • US9962003B2 patent drawing
  • US9962003B2 patent drawing
  • US9962003B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A seating unit for use in a space including a supporting floor surface, the seating unit comprising a seat structure comprising a mounting bracket having a female connector, a tablet assembly comprising a support arm having a mounting collar on an end and a base having a lower end to be supported by the floor surface and including a base mounting assembly and wherein the base mounting assembly comprises a cup attached to the base, a base tube having a first end inserted into the cup and a second end extending through the mounting collar and mateably engaging the female connector.