Coupled Seat and Backrest Adjustment for Sofa Reclining Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seating and reclining furniture lacks ease and comfort in adjusting between sitting and resting positions, often requiring multiple actions and not fully utilizing the potential for user comfort in different usage scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A sofa or armchair design with a height-adjustable back part and seat part that are coupled to each other, allowing a single operator action to change positions, featuring a leaning surface that converts into a headrest or neckrest in the resting position, with mechanisms like rotatable and displaceable drivers, pivotable and slidably mounted components, and optional motor drives or gas pressure springs for smooth adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the back part and seat part are adjusted independently, then each part can be optimized for specific positions, but the operation becomes complex and requires multiple actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent couples the back part and seat part through a mechanical linkage system where adjustment of one part automatically adjusts the other. The back part is height-adjustable and its inclination adjustment is coupled to the seat part's inclination adjustment, reducing multiple independent adjustments to a single user action while maintaining position optimization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic coupling between the back part and seat part through a linkage mechanism that allows automatic coordinated adjustment. The coupling enables the back part height and inclination to change in coordination with the seat part, providing adaptive position changes without requiring separate control actions for each component
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are provided for independent control, then precise positioning is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple adjustment functions into a unified mechanical linkage system. The back part's height adjustment and inclination adjustment are mechanically coupled to the seat part's inclination adjustment, achieving coordinated precise positioning through a single integrated mechanism rather than separate independent controls
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical linkage system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it adjusts the back part height, adjusts the back part inclination, and adjusts the seat part inclination all through a single user action. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate mechanisms needed while maintaining positioning precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the back part is fixed in height, then the structure is simpler, but the adaptability to different usage positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The back part is designed with dynamic height adjustability through a sliding mounting mechanism on the base body. This allows the back part to move vertically along guide rails or similar structures, enabling adaptation to different usage positions (sitting, reclining, resting) while adding minimal structural complexity compared to a fixed design
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
Enables convenient and comfortable operation between sitting and resting positions with a single action, enhancing user comfort by adapting the incline of the leaning surface and eliminating the need for separate locking devices, while providing additional functionality to corner elements in multi-seater sofas or designs like recamiers and ottomans.
Implementation Method 1
the seat part and/or the back part are coupled to at least one adjustment device, in particular a motor drive, a spring or a gas pressure spring, which is designed to bring about or at least support an adjustment movement of the seat part and/or the back part
Data Source
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AI summary
The furniture (10) has a leaning portion (44) with back portion (14), whose height is adjustable between seating position and rest position by inclination adjustment of its seat surface (46) between seating position and inoperative position. The back portion and seat portion (16) are coupled to one another, such that adjustment of the back portion effects an adjustment of seat portion and/or vice versa.