Dynamic Seat Back Assembly With Damped Recline Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat back arrangements for disabled users are either uncomfortable due to inflexibility or overly robust, and dynamic seat backs often cause undesirable movement and uneven support, failing to maintain good posture and adequate support for users with muscular control issues.
Innovation Solution
A seat back assembly with a moveable upper and lower seat back portion, where the upper seat back is reclineable and dynamically adjustable with a shock absorber providing adjustable damping forces to resist movement, ensuring better support and maintaining a stable pelvis position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid seat back is used to provide support, then structural strength is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to inflexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is divided into two independent portions: an upper seat back portion and a lower seat back portion. The upper portion is moveable relative to the lower portion, allowing independent movement and flexibility while maintaining overall structural support. This segmentation enables the seat back to provide both rigidity for strength and flexibility for comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper seat back portion is made moveable relative to the lower seat back portion, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system. The moveable connection allows the upper portion to adjust to user movements and forces, providing comfort while the lower portion maintains structural strength.
2Reliability
If a robust massive structure is used to withstand forces, then reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back structure is segmented into moveable upper and lower portions connected by a moveable connection. This segmentation allows the structure to withstand forces through controlled movement and force distribution rather than requiring a single massive rigid structure, thereby reducing weight while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable connection allows changes in the relative position and orientation of the upper seat back portion in response to applied forces. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables the structure to absorb and distribute forces efficiently, maintaining reliability without requiring increased mass.
3Device complexity
If the entire seat back moves as a single unit, then structural simplicity is improved, but postural support deteriorates due to pelvis movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is segmented into upper and lower portions with the lower portion providing stable support for the pelvis while the upper portion moves independently. This segmentation allows the lower portion to remain stationary and stable for pelvis support, while the upper portion accommodates upper body movements, thus improving postural support without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable connection acts as an intermediary between the upper and lower seat back portions. It allows relative movement while maintaining connection, enabling the lower portion to stabilize the pelvis while the upper portion adjusts to user movements, thus resolving the conflict between simplicity and stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional spring mechanisms are used for dynamic movement, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to crude construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a moveable connection that enables dynamic movement of the upper seat back portion relative to the lower portion. This dynamic mechanism provides adaptability to user movements and forces while being designed with precision engineering rather than crude construction, improving both adaptability and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional crude spring mechanisms with a more refined moveable connection system. This substitution maintains the dynamic adaptability needed for comfort while achieving better manufacturing precision and more controlled movement characteristics.
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 solution provides improved comfort and support for disabled users by accommodating upper body movement, absorbing forces, and maintaining a stable pelvis angle, reducing undesirable movement and promoting better posture.
Implementation Method 1
a damper for restraining motion of the seat back portion
Implementation Method 2
shock absorbing means are provided for applying a tension and/or rebound force in respect of movement of the seat back portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
A seat (10) comprising, a seat bottom (14) for supporting a user's weight, a seat back portion (16) defining a support surface for supporting a user's back and which is moveable relative to said seat (10), under an applied load over a range of positions; and an adjustable damper (44) for restraining motion, and in particular return motion of said seat back portion (22,24). The adjustable damper (44) comprises a shock absorber (44) for controlling movement of the seat back portion (16) and applying a tension and/or rebound force in respect of movement of said seat back portion (16).