Compliant Backrest Shell Structure for Airflow and Body Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional office chair backrests often fail to provide adequate support and comfort due to limitations in materials such as foam, which restricts air circulation and lacks localized support, while elastomeric membranes lack shear resistance and plastic shells do not conform to the body effectively.
Innovation Solution
A backrest design featuring a flexible shell with a peripheral frame, including longitudinally and laterally extending slots and openings that allow for independent expansion and compliance, providing both macro and micro compliance, and accommodating an auxiliary body support member for enhanced user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If foam materials are used for backrest support surfaces, then cushioning and comfort are improved, but air circulation is restricted and localized support is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest employs a foam material with an open-cell porous structure that allows air to circulate through the material. The pores are interconnected and sized to permit airflow while maintaining the cushioning properties of the foam, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and air circulation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If elastomeric membranes are used for backrest support surfaces, then air circulation is improved, but shear resistance and structural support are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest combines elastomeric membrane material with a reinforcing grid structure or woven pattern. The elastomeric material provides air circulation and flexibility, while the integrated grid or weave pattern adds shear resistance and structural support, creating a composite material system that achieves both properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If plastic shells with peripheral frames are used for backrests, then structural integrity is improved, but body-conforming comfort and compliance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest uses a plastic shell with integrated flexible zones or thin film sections that can deform and conform to the user's body. The shell maintains overall structural integrity through its rigid framework while incorporating compliant regions that adapt to body contours, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and body-conforming comfort.
4Ease of operation
If slots and openings are added to the shell for compliance, then body-conforming support and air circulation are improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into multiple sections by incorporating slots and openings that segment the structure. These segments are connected by flexible hinges or compliant joints that allow relative movement, enabling the shell to conform to the body while maintaining overall structural integrity through the distributed segment architecture.
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 ensures the backrest conforms to the user, enhances air circulation, and supports the body effectively, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, offering improved comfort and support compared to traditional backrests.
Implementation Method 1
The shell has a plurality of openings arranged in an area overlying the central opening. The shell has flush front and rear surfaces in the area overlying the central opening. 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 2
The openings and slots provide compliance in the backrest, allowing it to move and conform to the user during use, even when bounded by a peripheral frame. At the same time, the openings provide excellent air circulation.
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, which may be moved along a forwardly facing body support surface of the shell
Data Source
AI summary
A backrest includes a primary frame having a pair of laterally spaced first uprights defining a first opening therebetween, a first front surface and a first rear surface. A secondary frame includes a pair of laterally spaced second uprights defining a second opening therebetween, a second rear surface facing the first front surface of the primary frame and a second front surface, wherein the secondary frame is coupled to the primary frame, and wherein at least portions of the first and second openings are aligned. A flexible shell overlies and is coupled to the second front surface of the secondary frame. The flexible shell includes a third rear surface visible through the aligned portions of the first and second openings.