Foldable dining chair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing foldable dining chairs lack versatility in use states, failing to adapt to different environments and user needs, such as home and outdoor use, and do not accommodate the growth of infants effectively, with limited functionality and high manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A foldable dining chair design featuring a connecting shaft with rotatable and fixable bushings, a locking device, and telescopic legs, allowing for multiple use states and easy adjustment between them, while maintaining a lower manufacturing cost through innovative structural design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single use state design is adopted, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different environments and user needs is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different environmentsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chair employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms allowing the seat board, backrest, and footrest to rotate and lock at multiple angles, transforming a static single-state structure into a dynamic multi-state system that adapts to different usage scenarios while maintaining reasonable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The chair is designed with universal adaptability through multiple use states including infant mode, child mode, and adult mode, enabling a single chair to serve different age groups and environments (home, outdoor, travel) without requiring multiple specialized chairs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to achieve multiple use states, then the versatility improves, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of use statesVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple adjustment functions (seat angle, backrest angle, footrest angle, leg telescoping) into a unified rotating and locking mechanism system, where a single structural approach handles multiple adjustment needs, reducing the number of separate components and lowering manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The chair is segmented into independently adjustable modules (seat board, backrest, footrest, chair legs) that can be adjusted separately, allowing versatility through combination of simple modular components rather than complex integrated mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the chair is designed for compact folding, then the portability improves, but the stability during use may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolded volumeVSAvoidstability during use
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The chair transitions from a compact folded state to a stable expanded state through telescopic chair legs and rotatable connections, where the structure dynamically adapts between portability and stability requirements based on usage condition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3449775B1Foldable dining chair
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 NINGBO TRANSTEK AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES CO LTD
  • EP3449775B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3449775B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3449775B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention discloses a foldable dining chair which comprises a chair portion(1), a connecting shaft (2), a footrest lever (3) and chair legs (4). Front legs, rear legs, a backrest frame and a footrest lever are respectively fitted on the connecting shaft (2) by corresponding bushings (51,52,53,54); each of the bushings consists of a bushing body (551) and a joint (552) fixedly connected with the bushing body, wherein a connection mechanism is arranged on an inner wall of the bushing body, and the connection mechanism comprises recesses and limiting blocks (57); the connecting shaft is also provided with a locking device (6) consists of a locking block (61), a return spring (62), a moving block (63) and a handle (64), wherein several bumps (611) matching the recesses of each of the bushings are protruded on the locking block; and the individual bushings are sheathed in close proximity to one another on the connecting shaft, the limiting blocks also form several slidable slots (631) at one side in a movement direction of the bumps, and the limiting blocks also extend into the slidable slots. In the invention, the unique design of structures fitted at the connecting shaft allows that the dining chair can have more abundant use states, and it also becomes easier to adjust the dining chair among various states and integrally fold the dining chair; and more importantly, the dining chair has lower machining cost.