Flexible Seat Surface Assembly Without Lateral Guide Mechanisms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seating furniture with resiliently designed seat surfaces formed from shaped bodies is complex, expensive, and difficult to clean due to the need for lateral guidance and high material usage, making it costly and hard to handle.

Innovation Solution

The seating furniture is designed with rigid or dimensionally stable molded bodies connected by an elastically deformable connecting means, allowing for assembly and disassembly without mutual guidance, reducing material costs and simplifying assembly, while maintaining adaptability to user anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shaped bodies are supported on lateral guide means or adjacent shaped bodies, then the seat surface can be formed with resilient properties, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresilient properties of seat surfaceVSAvoidcomplexity of lateral guide means and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex lateral guide means from the system by allowing shaped bodies to move freely in the longitudinal direction without side guidance. The shaped bodies are only guided in the longitudinal direction, eliminating the need for lateral guidance mechanisms while maintaining resilient seat properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat surface is divided into multiple independently movable shaped bodies that can displace individually in the longitudinal direction. This segmentation allows each body to respond independently to load, providing resilient properties without requiring complex inter-body guidance mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If shaped bodies are positioned individually at close distance on the cushion, then the seat surface can adapt to user anatomy, but the assembly process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user anatomyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The seat consists of multiple identical shaped bodies that can be manufactured as standard components. These segmented units can be quickly assembled by placing them in sequence on the cushion without individual positioning requirements, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining anatomical adaptability through the collective arrangement of bodies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If shaped bodies are made elongated for lateral support, then structural stability is improved, but material usage and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stability of shaped bodiesVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the unnecessary longitudinal extension of shaped bodies by eliminating lateral guide means. The shaped bodies only require sufficient width for lateral stability, not extended length for guidance, thereby reducing material consumption while maintaining structural stability through the cushion support and longitudinal movement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If shaped bodies stand loosely on the cushion, then the seat can deform under weight, but the shaped bodies may fall out during transport or cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformability under loadVSAvoidstability during transport and cleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaped bodies are preliminarily positioned and secured on the cushion in a specific arrangement before use. This preliminary positioning ensures they remain in place during transport and cleaning operations, while still allowing the necessary deformation under user load through their ability to displace in the longitudinal direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This design results in a cost-effective, easy-to-assemble seating solution that adapts to user anatomy without compromising comfort, with reduced material usage and improved handling and cleaning capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The connecting means is preferably designed as an elastically deformable connecting means. Advantageously, the movability of the shaped bodies in the direction of actuation is retained when the elastically deformable connecting means is provided.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

As soon as a person sits down on the seat, the cushion deforms as a result of the weight. Similar to an upholstered piece of furniture, the seat adapts to the anatomy of the user.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2798978B1Seating furniture with a flexible seat
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 SECKINGER EDGAR
  • EP2798978B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2798978B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2798978B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The invention relates to seating furniture with a plurality of shaped bodies (4) arranged adjacent to one another, which form a seat surface (8) with a free end face thereof, with an elastic means for supporting the shaped bodies (4), the shaped bodies (4) being deformed of the support means (5) are held movably against a restoring force in an actuation direction, and with a support for the support means (5), at least individual shaped bodies (4) being connected to one another.