Collapsible office furniture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional office furniture often occupies excessive space, especially in compact home environments, as it is not designed for multi-purpose use and efficient storage, leading to space constraints and inconvenience when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible office chair and desk/storage unit that can be configured for both use and compact storage, featuring swiveling caster wheels, height adjustability, and a movable work surface that can be extended or retracted, allowing the chair to be stowed within the desk/storage unit, providing additional storage for computer peripherals and maintaining a usable surface for monitors or decorative items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional office furniture is used, then functionality and comfort are maintained, but excessive space is occupied during non-use periods
Solution Approach 1:
The chair incorporates a leg assembly that can be selectively positioned between a deployed configuration (providing full chair functionality) and a retracted configuration (reducing footprint for storage). This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to serve multiple spatial requirements without compromising comfort or functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair is designed to nest within the desk/storage unit when not in use. The retracted leg assembly and chair body fit into the storage compartment, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If dedicated office space is allocated, then work functionality is ensured, but floor space is consumed that becomes an obstruction during non-work hours
Solution Approach 1:
The furniture system serves dual purposes: during work hours, the chair and desk provide full office functionality; during non-work hours, the chair retracts into the desk's storage unit, transforming the space into an unobstructed living area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated permanent office space.
Solution Approach 2:
The desk unit is segmented into functional components: a work surface for active use, a storage compartment for the chair, and interior storage spaces for peripherals. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently transition between work and storage modes while maintaining organizational functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If chair components are made movable for storage, then space efficiency improves, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The leg assembly incorporates a mechanism that allows selective positioning between deployed and retracted states. When deployed, the legs provide stable support for the chair; when retracted, they enable compact storage. The dynamic design maintains structural integrity in both configurations through proper mechanical linkage and locking mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A collapsible office chair and reconfigurable work desk can assume compact stowage configurations to minimize floor space occupied during periods of non-use. The chair includes a seat and leg assembly both coupled to a seat post. The seat is pivotable from a use configuration to a tilted or stowed configuration that occupies less floor space. The leg assembly includes a plurality of legs coupled to a lower portion of the seat post, with one or more of the legs typically being movable from a use configuration that provides a suitably wide base for the seat in its use configuration, to a compact stowed configuration that occupies less floor space but can still support the chair in a freestanding manner. Optionally, a seat back is attached to the seat and is also repositionable between use and stowed configurations, the latter occupying less floor space and less vertical height.