Folding Chair Link Assembly Design to Reduce Folded Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding chairs do not effectively reduce their size when folded, making them bulky and difficult to carry and store.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates two sets of link assemblies with rotatable and slidable connections between the backrest tube, seat tube, front foot tube, and rear foot tube, allowing the chair to fold more compactly by moving components closer together, including the use of flip tubes and supporting rods to facilitate a smaller folded size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional folding chair structures are used with simple sliding connections, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the folded size remains large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the seat tube inside the backrest tube, and the front foot tube inside the rear foot tube when folded. This nested arrangement allows multiple components to occupy the same spatial envelope, dramatically reducing the overall folded volume from conventional configurations to a compact package suitable for portable applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic folding mechanisms with rotatable connections at multiple joints (backrest tube to seat tube, seat tube to front foot tube, front foot tube to rear foot tube). These rotational degrees of freedom enable the structure to transform from an extended usable configuration to a compact folded configuration, adapting the spatial arrangement of components during the folding process.
2Volume of moving object
If multiple rotatable and slidable connections are added to reduce folded size, then the folded size is reduced, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is segmented into distinct rotational joints at strategic locations: the backrest tube to seat tube connection, the seat tube to front foot tube connection, and the front foot tube to rear foot tube connection. This segmentation allows each joint to be operated independently, breaking down the complex folding motion into manageable sequential steps that are easier to execute than a monolithic folding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested configuration of tubes (seat tube within backrest tube, front foot tube within rear foot tube) naturally guides the folding operation by constraining component movement paths. This nested arrangement provides mechanical guidance that simplifies the folding motion, reducing the operational complexity despite multiple rotational joints.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding chair, comprising two sets of link assemblies that are connected to each other and are respectively located at two sides of the folding chair, wherein the link assembly comprises a least a backrest tube (2), an armrest (4), a seat tube (7), a front foot tube (8), a rear foot tube (9), a connecting tube (10) and a connecting portion, wherein the armrest (4) is rotatably connected with the backrest tube (2), wherein the connecting tube (10) is connected with the backrest tube (2), wherein the connecting tube (10) is rotatably connected with the backrest tube (2), wherein the connecting tube (10) is rotatably connected with the front foot tube (8), wherein a top end of the front foot tube (8) is rotatably connected with a top end of the rear foot tube (9), wherein the top end of the front foot tube (8) and/or the top end of the rear foot tube (9) is connected with the armrest (4), wherein the seat tube (7) is rotatably connected with the backrest tube (2) and the front foot tube (8), wherein the seat tube (7) and/or the backrest tube (2) is slidably connected with the rear foot tube (9) or the connecting tube (10), wherein the connecting portion is rotatably connected with the connecting tube (10), and wherein the connecting portion is connected with the rear foot tube (9).