Cushion-Supported Peripheral Tray for Couch Computer Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peripheral supports for computer devices, such as keyboards and joysticks, often require users to balance on their thighs, leading to user fatigue and discomfort, especially when used on couches or armchairs without armrests, as they must support the device and operate it simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral support system featuring two cushion-like carriers that rest loosely on either side of the user, providing ergonomic support without contacting the thighs and acting as an armrest, with adjustable dimensions, materials, and features like foam, ventilation, and USB connectivity to enhance comfort and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the peripheral support is balanced on the user's thighs, then the support can be positioned on couches or armchairs without armrests, but the user experiences fatigue and discomfort due to having to support the device and operate it simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is divided into two separate cushion-like carriers positioned on either side of the user, with the peripheral support resting transversely across them. This segmentation allows the support structure to be independent of the user's thighs, providing stability while maintaining adaptability to furniture without armrests.
Solution Approach 2:
The two cushion-like carriers act as intermediaries between the peripheral support and the furniture, transferring the load from the peripheral support to the furniture through the carriers positioned on the user's sides, rather than through the user's thighs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the peripheral support is firmly connected to form a rigid structure, then stability is improved, but the ability to adapt to different user positions and furniture types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral support rests loosely and transversely on the two cushion-like carriers, allowing it to adjust dynamically to different user positions and furniture types. The carriers themselves can deform to accommodate different sitting positions while maintaining support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion-like carriers are made of flexible material that can deform to adapt to different user body contours and furniture surfaces, while still providing stable support for the peripheral support device.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the carriers are made with higher hardness foam, then the support stability increases, but the comfort for arm resting decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The carriers are constructed with foam of varying hardness in different regions: higher hardness in the peripheral support area to ensure stability, and lower hardness in the armrest area to provide comfort for the user's arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriers combine foam material with different hardness characteristics in a composite structure, allowing simultaneous achievement of stability for device support and comfort for user contact areas.
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 system allows for comfortable operation of computer devices without the need to balance on thighs, reducing user fatigue and providing a stable, adjustable, and feature-rich support for extended use, particularly in living room settings with large monitors or gaming applications.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier is made from a foam material and is surrounded by a cover. The hardness of the foam is selected in such a way that the two supports carry the peripheral support at least without sinking into the two supports worth mentioning.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The support (2) has cuboid cushion-like carriers (1a, 1b) positioned on a furniture piece e.g. couch (3), to right and left of a user, where the support is formed in a board-shape and cooperates with the cushion-like carriers. The carriers exhibit length corresponding to seat depth of the couch-like furniture piece. The carriers exhibit height of 10 to 30 cm in particular 15 cm to 25 cm. The carriers are made from foam material and surrounded by a cover. A mouse pad (7) is fastened on the support. A cable duct (10) is guided into the support.