Compliant backrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional office chair backrests often fail to provide adequate support and air circulation, with foam limiting air circulation, elastomeric membranes lacking shear resistance, and plastic shells not conforming to the body.
Innovation Solution
A backrest design featuring a flexible shell with longitudinal and lateral slots and a matrix of openings that allows for independent expansion and contraction, providing both macro and micro compliance, and integrated with a peripheral frame for structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If foam materials are used for the backrest support surface, then the backrest provides body conforming support, but air circulation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest shell is designed with a porous structure containing multiple openings that allow air circulation while maintaining structural integrity. This resolves the contradiction by providing both breathability and support functionality simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest combines a rigid shell structure with flexible foam elements in specific regions. This composite approach allows the shell to provide structural support and air circulation pathways, while the foam provides localized comfort and body conforming support where needed.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If elastomeric membranes are used for the backrest support surface, then air circulation is improved, but shear resistance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest combines a rigid shell structure with flexible foam elements in specific regions. This composite approach allows the shell to provide structural support and air circulation pathways, while the foam provides localized comfort and body conforming support where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the backrest have different material properties - the shell provides rigid structural support and air circulation in most areas, while foam elements are strategically placed in regions requiring shear resistance and body conforming support.
3Strength
If plastic shells are used for the backrest support surface, then structural integrity is maintained, but body conforming support is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest combines a rigid shell structure with flexible foam elements in specific regions. This composite approach allows the shell to provide structural support and air circulation pathways, while the foam provides localized comfort and body conforming support where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the backrest have different material properties - the shell provides rigid structural support and air circulation in most areas, while foam elements are strategically placed in regions requiring shear resistance and body conforming support.
4Ease of operation
If the shell is made fully flexible to conform to the body, then body conforming support is improved, but structural integrity and air circulation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the backrest have different material properties - the shell provides rigid structural support and air circulation in most areas, while foam elements are strategically placed in regions requiring shear resistance and body conforming support.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest combines a rigid shell structure with flexible foam elements in specific regions. This composite approach allows the shell to provide structural support and air circulation pathways, while the foam provides localized comfort and body conforming support where needed.
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 design enhances user comfort by conforming to the body, improving air circulation, and allowing for the integration of auxiliary support members while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The shell includes first and second slots extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the shell inboard of locations where the shell is connected to the upright members, and one or more third slots extending laterally along the lower portion of the shell
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of openings is configured in one embodiment as a matrix of openings providing independent lateral and longitudinal expansion of the shell relative to the frame
Implementation Method 3
The slots also serve to guide, and allow pass through of, an auxiliary body support member, for example and without limitation a lumbar support
Data Source
AI summary
A backrest includes a frame having a pair of laterally spaced upright members connected with longitudinally spaced upper and lower members. A flexible shell has opposite sides coupled to the upright members and upper and lower portions coupled to the upper and lower members. The shell includes first and second slots extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the shell inboard of locations where the shell is connected to the upright members, and one or more third slots extending laterally along the lower portion of the shell above a location where the shell is connected to the lower member. Terminal ends of the one or more third slots are spaced apart from lower terminal ends of the first and second slots. In other embodiments, the shell is a three-dimensional molded component having a plurality of openings. In various embodiments, the slots and/or openings provide different levels of compliance to the backrest.