Ergonomic Stool Base Design for Tilting Stability and Stackability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ergonomic seating furniture often has complex and cumbersome mechanisms for movement, which complicates the design and lacks stackability, while also failing to provide adequate support and stability during active movements.
Innovation Solution
A stackable ergonomic stool with a concave seat and a convex, anti-slip base plate that allows tilting and vibration, featuring a central conical connection for stability and ease of use, and a soft plastic anti-slip surface to prevent slipping and protect floors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a movably mounted seat and backrest are used to enable active movements while sitting, then ergonomic benefits are improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex movable mounting mechanisms for the seat and backrest found in conventional ergonomic furniture. Instead, it extracts only the essential tilting function by making the entire stool body tiltable on a convex base plate, thereby achieving ergonomic benefits through whole-body tilting rather than through complex joint mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making parts of the furniture movable (seat, backrest) to achieve ergonomic movement, the patent inverts the approach by making the entire furniture piece movable as a rigid body. The stool tilts as a complete unit on the convex base plate, achieving ergonomic benefits through inversion of the movement strategy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a convex base plate is used to enable tilting movements, then ergonomic benefits are improved, but stability on the floor deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a convex (spheroidal) base plate that enables the stool to tilt in multiple directions. The curved surface allows rotational movement while maintaining contact with the floor, providing ergonomic tilting capability. The curvature is designed to balance tilting freedom with floor contact stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate features localized high-friction material applied to specific contact areas with the floor. This local quality enhancement ensures that while the stool can tilt, the contact points maintain sufficient grip to prevent unwanted sliding, thereby preserving floor stability during tilting movements.
3Ease of operation
If the seat surface is made concave to provide comfortable seating, then user comfort is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat surface is formed with a concave (spheroidal) curvature that naturally conforms to the user's body shape, providing ergonomic comfort. This curved geometry is achieved through conventional molding techniques, making the complexity manageable while delivering superior seating comfort compared to flat surfaces.
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 design enables dynamic sitting with ergonomic benefits, prevents slipping and damage, and allows for safe stacking and storage, enhancing user comfort and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
the side of the footplate facing the floor being at least partially designed as an anti-slip surface... The 'anti-slip surface' on the side of the footplate facing the floor is intended to cause static friction of the footplate with the floor
Implementation Method 2
The 'anti-slip surface' on the side of the footplate facing the floor is intended to cause static friction of the footplate with the floor, at least when the chair is in a loaded state
Data Source
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AI summary
The item has a generally circular foot panel for positioning item of a seating furniture (10) on a floor. The foot panel is of a partially convex configuration, and comprising a side directed toward the floor being constructed as a non-slip surface (24). A central part (12) connects a seat to the foot panel and includes a vertical center axis running centrally through the foot panel. The side of the generally circular foot panel, which is directed toward the floor is made of soft plastic material. The generally circular foot panel is a 2-component plastic-material.