Collapsible Exercise Chair Nesting and Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exercise chairs with spring resistive foot rods require substantial space for storage, posing a challenge in facilities like health clubs where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
The exercise chair is designed to be nestably stacked or foldable, featuring an open base with inwardly and upwardly tapering support legs and a movable transverse bar that pivots between operative and storage positions, allowing for compact storage without obstructing the stacking of multiple chairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the exercise chair is designed with a fixed base and support structure, then it provides stable support for exercise, but it occupies substantial storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The chair is divided into separable components including a base assembly and a seat assembly that can be disconnected. The support legs are segmented to allow folding, and the foot rod assembly is separable from the main structure, enabling compact storage while maintaining structural integrity during use
Solution Approach 2:
The support legs are designed to nest within the base structure when folded, and the seat assembly can be positioned to nest over the base of another chair. The foot rod assembly nests within the confines of the base when not in use, minimizing storage volume
2Volume of stationary object
If the chair components are made movable and foldable, then storage space is reduced, but the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs incorporate hinge joints that allow them to pivot between extended and folded positions. The foot rod assembly includes a pivot point enabling it to rotate between operative and storage orientations, providing dynamic adaptability without complex mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable support legs utilize vertical dimension by folding upward toward the seat platform, rather than extending horizontally. The movable bar pivots to reposition components in three-dimensional space, transforming the chair's footprint from a two-dimensional spread to a compact three-dimensional configuration
3Adaptability or versatility
If the support legs taper inwardly and upwardly, then the base can be passed over the seat platform for stacking, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs are constructed from high-strength materials such as steel or aluminum alloys that provide both the necessary structural strength and the ability to be tapered. The base structure uses reinforced joints and connecting elements that maintain strength despite the tapered geometry required for nesting
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 effectively conserves space by allowing multiple units to be stacked or folded, minimizing storage requirements while maintaining functionality for exercise purposes.
Implementation Method 1
The stanchion is attached to coil springs operably anchored to the seat platform and slidably connected to the stanchion to adjustably resist pivotal movement of the stanchion about the movable bar
Data Source
AI summary
An exercise chair of the type wherein a user can sit on a seating platform and extend and retract his legs while his feet are resting on a spring-resisted foot rod includes a structure which permits the chairs to be stacked in nested relationship or a structure using foldable support legs for a seating platform allowing the seating platform to be folded into close relationship with a base frame for storage purposes.