Foldable Reclining Chair Frame for Compact Two-Way Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable beach and lawn chairs occupy a wide space when folded, limiting storage and transportation options, and reclinable chairs are difficult to fold into a compact, completely collapsed condition.
Innovation Solution
A foldable chair design featuring pivotal, slidable, and telescopically movable connections between frame members, allowing the chair to be collapsed in multiple directions, reducing front/back and left/right dimensions from the set-up to the completely collapsed condition, without rigid connecting members that prevent side movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional rigid connecting members are used to connect frame members, then the chair structure is stable and strong, but the chair cannot be folded in multiple directions and occupies wide space when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid fixed connections with dynamic articulated connections including pivotal connections at frame corners and slidable connections along longitudinal axes. These dynamic joints enable the frame members to move relative to each other in multiple directions, allowing the chair to collapse both front-to-back and side-to-side, significantly reducing folded volume while maintaining structural integrity during use
Solution Approach 2:
The frame is divided into separate movable segments connected by articulated joints rather than rigid continuous members. Each corner connection is segmented into pivotal and slidable components, allowing independent movement in different directions. This segmentation enables multi-directional folding and collapsing while maintaining strength through the distributed joint system
2Ease of operation
If reclinable back support is added to the chair, then comfort is improved, but the chair becomes difficult to fold into a compact collapsed condition
Solution Approach 1:
The back support assembly is connected to the frame through pivotal connections at its forward lower corner and rearward lower corner, making it a dynamic articulated component rather than a fixed rigid structure. This allows the back support to pivot and fold along with the frame members, enabling the reclinable chair to collapse easily into a compact bundled condition while maintaining the reclinable function when set up
Solution Approach 2:
The back support folding mechanism is merged with the overall frame collapsing mechanism. Both the back support and the main frame members share the same pivotal and slidable connection system, allowing them to fold and collapse together in a coordinated manner. This integration enables the reclinable chair to be folded into a compact bundled condition as easily as non-reclinable chairs
3Volume of moving object
If slide connections with lateral movement capability are provided, then multi-directional collapsing is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism is segmented into two distinct but simple functional components: pivotal connections for rotational movement and slidable connections for linear movement along longitudinal axes. Each connection type is independently simple, but their combination at each frame corner enables complex multi-directional collapsing. This segmentation keeps individual components simple while achieving sophisticated overall functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable connections are designed with universal applicability, allowing lateral movement capability that serves multiple functions: enabling side-to-side collapsing, accommodating back support articulation, and providing adjustment flexibility. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized mechanisms, thereby managing complexity while achieving versatile collapsed state capability
Data Source
AI summary
Two-way foldable outdoor chair selectively foldable from set-up position to a first flatly folded position or to a second bundled position may be prevented from being folded to the second position while at all times remaining foldable to the first position and may include an adjustable reclining position.