Foldable Chair Damping Structure for Seat-Backrest Impact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foldable chairs experience reduced durability and lifespan due to repeated collisions between the seat and backrest parts, resulting in impact noise and wear, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A foldable chair design incorporating a damping part with a coupling and relieving mechanism that reduces the rotational speed of the seat and backrest parts, minimizing contact between them through a damping part coupled to the fixing stand and protruding to contact with the backrest, and a stopper that fixes the seat at a predetermined position, thereby reducing shock and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the seat part is automatically erected and folded using spring restoring force or backrest self-weight, then the foldable chair can be automatically operated, but collision between the seat part and backrest part occurs due to fast rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic erection and foldingVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A damping part is introduced as an intermediary element between the seat part and backrest part. This damping part includes a damping member that contacts the backrest part during rotation, providing controlled resistance to slow down the folding motion and prevent direct collision between the seat and backrest, thereby maintaining durability while preserving automatic operation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping part is positioned and configured to engage before the seat part and backrest part make contact. The damping member protrudes from the coupling part and contacts the backrest part's contacting surface in advance, cushioning the impact before it can reach the main structural components, thus preventing wear and damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the seat part is repeatedly folded and unfolded, then the foldable chair can be used continuously, but durability is deteriorated by collision between the seat part and backrest part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous useVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping part serves as a protective intermediary that absorbs and dissipates collision energy during each folding cycle. By placing the damping member between the seat part and backrest part, it prevents direct impact on structural components, allowing continuous repeated use without degradation of durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The collision energy that would normally cause wear and damage is converted into beneficial damping force by the damping member. The contacting part of the backrest part and damping member are designed to transform the harmful impact into controlled friction and deformation of the damping material, protecting the chair's structural integrity during repeated use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 effectively absorbs shock, reduces rotational speed, and minimizes contact between the seat and backrest, enhancing the durability and performance of the foldable chair by preventing wear and impact noise, thus maximizing its lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

a damping part which relieves shock and comprises a coupling part which is coupled to the fixing stand, and a relieving part which protrudes from the coupling part and is inserted into the coupling part by contact with the backrest part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The damping part may reduce a rotational speed of the seat part or the backrest part, when being in contact with the backrest part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2850972B1Foldable chair
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 UNITECH SYST CO LTD
  • EP2850972B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2850972B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2850972B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a foldable chair. The foldable chair may include a fixing stand which is fixed to a fixing structure, a seat part and a backrest part which are rotatably installed at the fixing stand, and a damping part which is installed at the fixing stand so as to be in contact with the backrest part and thus to relieve a shock, when the seat part is rotated.