Convertible support assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workout equipment, such as workout benches, require significant space and are not easily convertible for use in confined home environments, limiting exercise options for individuals working from home, and there is a need for a versatile support assembly that can function as both a chair and a workout bench, accommodating various exercise techniques including weightlifting.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with an elongated base having front and rear segments that can be configured into a chair or bench orientation, featuring movable and detachable components for easy conversion and storage, ensuring structural stability and comfort in both configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a workout bench is designed to support multiple positions and exercises, then the functionality and versatility are improved, but the device occupies a large amount of space and cannot be easily broken down for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is divided into multiple segments including a base, backrest, and seat that can be relative movable to one another. These segments can be collapsed into a compact orientation for storage and reconfigured to define different configurations such as chair and bench configurations, directly resolving the contradiction between versatility and storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly incorporates relative movable connections between segments that allow dynamic reconfiguration between different configurations. The segments can be moved between extended positions for use and collapsed positions for storage, enabling the device to adapt its volume based on operational needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a support assembly is designed to be convertible between chair and bench configurations, then the versatility is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the support assembly into distinct segments (base, backrest, seat) with standardized connections, the patent enables configuration changes without requiring complex integrated mechanisms. Each segment can be independently positioned, simplifying the overall structural design while achieving multiple configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly uses universal connections and standardized segment designs that can serve multiple functions across different configurations. The same base and connection structures support both chair and bench configurations, reducing the need for configuration-specific components and thereby reducing overall structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If workout equipment is designed for home use with limited space, then the adaptability is improved, but the comfort and sturdiness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly maintains sturdiness through robust segment connections that provide stability when extended into chair or bench configurations for exercise or work activities. The same dynamic structure that enables compact storage also ensures structural integrity during use, as the segments lock into stable positions that can support user weight and activity forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design allows the support assembly to achieve a stable triangular distribution of support points when in use, enhancing sturdiness. The base segment provides a wide footprint while the backrest and seat segments create rigid geometric relationships that resist deformation, maintaining reliability despite the compact overall footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly for an individual convertible into a plurality of different supportive orientations, including a base having opposed front and rear segments and a leg structure connected thereto. The base is selectively disposable in a chair configuration along the front segment or a bench configuration along the rear segment. The support assembly includes structural and operative features which facilitate support thereof in the chair configuration or the bench configuration by at least the base, the arm structure and outer ends of the leg structure being movably and/or relatively positioned to engage a support surface in supporting relation to the support assembly, dependent on its orientation in either the chair or bench configuration.