Compliant seating structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating structures have rigid frames or shells that limit flexibility and comfort by creating hard contact points, restricting the ability of the seating structure to conform to the user's body and move with them, thereby compromising ergonomic responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A seating structure featuring a dual shell design with a load-bearing shell and a body-supporting shell, where biasing arrays with pivot joints and connectors allow for independent deflection of the outer peripheral edges and relative movement between support members, providing a soft edge and adjustable support across different body regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid frame or shell is used to provide structural support, then structural strength and stability are improved, but flexibility and ergonomic responsiveness deteriorate due to hard contact points and restricted movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seating structure is divided into multiple segments including a load-bearing shell, a body-supporting shell, and multiple biasing arrays with individually pivotable support members. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively providing both strength and flexibility, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and adaptive movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic characteristics by allowing support members within biasing arrays to pivot relative to each other and to the central portion of the shell. This dynamic capability enables the seating structure to adapt to user movement and body positioning changes while maintaining overall structural support, thereby achieving both strength and flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If a rigid frame with hard contact points is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to lack of conformability to body contours
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a body-supporting shell that can deflect independently at its outer peripheral edges, and biasing arrays with pivotable support members that allow the structure to conform to body contours. These flexible shell elements maintain manufacturability while dramatically improving comfort by eliminating hard contact points and enabling adaptability to user anatomy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid shell structure is used to define the seating form, then shape stability is improved, but ergonomic responsiveness deteriorates due to inability to twist or flex about longitudinal axes
Solution Approach 1:
The shell structure is segmented into a load-bearing shell providing overall shape stability and a body-supporting shell with flexible edges and pivotable support members that enable ergonomic movement. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain its defined form while simultaneously permitting necessary flexing and twisting motions for ergonomic responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements through pivot joints connecting support members within biasing arrays, allowing these members to rotate relative to each other and to the central portion. This dynamic capability enables the structure to twist and flex about longitudinal axes in response to user movement while the overall shell structure maintains its stable composition.
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 dual shell structure enhances user comfort by eliminating hard contact points, allowing the seating structure to flex and adapt to user movement, thereby improving ergonomic responsiveness and support distribution across various body regions.
Implementation Method 1
The connectors provide for relative movement between the support members, and in one embodiment define pivot joints, for example living hinges, such that the support members are pivotable about the connectors relative to each other and/or to the central portion
Implementation Method 2
at least one biasing array disposed between each of the opposite sides of the central portion and a respective laterally spaced outer peripheral edge
Data Source
AI summary
A body support structure including a plurality of spaced apart support members defining a first surface and a plurality of spaced apart base portions defining a second surface. A plurality of connectors connects each base portion with the at least the two adjacent support members. In one embodiment, a body support structure includes a first plurality of spaced apart first support members and a second plurality of spaced apart second support members arranged in a checkboard pattern.