Chair Seat Shell With Elastic Cover for Depth Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mesh seats are expensive to produce and difficult to integrate with various seat bases due to their design, and they require complex support frames, making it hard to adjust the seat depth easily.

Innovation Solution

A trough-shaped seat shell with a self-supporting, one-piece elastic seat cover made of a thermoplastically processable plastic material featuring numerous openings, which provides flexibility without the need for textile fabrics or frames, allowing easy integration with any seat mechanism and adjustable depth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mesh seat is used to provide ventilation and seating comfort, then seating comfort is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase due to the need for clamping frames and complex support structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating comfortVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat cover is made from a foam material with a cellular structure that provides ventilation and flexibility without requiring a mesh framework. The porous foam material inherently provides the breathing effect while eliminating the need for complex clamping frames and support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining a foam core with a fabric covering. The foam provides structural support and ventilation, while the fabric layer provides comfort and aesthetic appearance, eliminating the need for separate mesh and frame components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a mesh seat with integral support arms is used, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of adjustment deteriorates as seat depth adjustment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidseat depth adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is divided into separate components: a foam core that can be independently adjusted, a fabric covering, and a seat shell. This segmentation allows the foam core to be positioned at different depths relative to the seat mechanism while maintaining structural integrity through the shell and mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The foam core is designed to be movable relative to the seat mechanism, allowing dynamic adjustment of seat depth. The foam's inherent flexibility allows it to accommodate movement and positioning changes without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid plate with foam padding is used for the seat cover, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility deteriorates making it unsuitable for comfortable seating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The foam material has a cellular structure that provides both stability and flexibility. The open-cell foam maintains its shape and support properties while allowing compression and deformation under user weight, providing both structural stability and seating comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The combination of foam core and fabric covering creates a composite structure where the foam provides structural stability and the fabric provides flexibility and comfort. The fabric layer can stretch and conform while the foam maintains its shape-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If a trough-shaped seat shell with rib structure is used to prevent sagging, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesag resistanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The foam material inherently resists sagging through its cellular structure and density, eliminating the need for additional rib structures or reinforcement elements in the seat shell. The foam's material properties provide the necessary sag resistance without increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention removes the rib structure from the seat shell design, relying instead on the foam material's inherent properties to prevent sagging. This extraction of unnecessary structural elements simplifies manufacturing and reduces production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution results in a cost-effective, universally compatible chair with high seating comfort and easy depth adjustment, as the flexible seat cover bends under load and returns to its original position, eliminating the need for complex frames and reducing material usage.

Implementation Method 1

the seat cover comprises an elastic plate provided with a large number of openings in the area of the seat surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2508103B1Seat for a chair
Publication Date: 2014.06.18 BOCK 1
  • EP2508103B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2508103B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2508103B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a seat support (6) for a chair (1). The invention also relates to a seat support (7) for attachment to a seat support (6), a seat (4) with a seat support (6) and a seat support (7) and a chair (1) with such a seat (4). A seat support (6) for a chair (1) is proposed, which seat support (6) has a trough-shaped seat shell (8) for fastening a seat pad (7) and is characterized in that the seat shell (8) has a receiving space (9) for temporarily accommodating a flexible seat surface (17) of the seat cover (7) or parts thereof.