Force-Responsive Cable Connector for Tool-Free Chair Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large furniture pieces require significant shipping and storage space due to their bulky nature, leading to high transportation costs and storage needs, and existing disassembled chair systems lack a reliable tool-free connection method for cable sections during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A chair design that ships disassembled with cable sections initially separated, which are connected using force responsive connector blocks within cable connector housings during assembly, allowing users to control functions like seat elevation and tilt without tools by applying a pulling force to the cable sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the chair is shipped disassembled with cable sections separated, then shipping and storage space is reduced, but the assembly process becomes more complex and requires tools for connection
Solution Approach 1:
The cable connector housing enables self-service connection where the user's own pulling force on the cable section acts as the actuating force to automatically connect the cable sections through the force responsive connector block, eliminating the need for external tools or complex assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The force responsive connector block acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cable sections. It receives the pulling force from the first cable section and automatically engages the second cable section through this intermediate element, enabling tool-free connection while maintaining shipping efficiency
2Reliability
If a reliable connection method is implemented for cable sections, then function control reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the user's pulling force on the cable as self-service actuation to automatically engage the force responsive connector block and establish reliable electrical and mechanical connections between cable sections, ensuring reliability without requiring complex manual assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The connector housing merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides structural support, guides cable positioning, houses the force responsive connector block, and ensures both electrical and mechanical connection reliability through the unified cable section connection mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a chair of the kind that is shipped to a user disassembled. The chair includes at least one chair function controller (i.e., a paddle) that is actuated to control a chair function operator (e.g., a gas cylinder located below and coupled to the chair seat). During assembly, a pair of cable sections are mechanically and serially connected to one another at a force responsive connector block that is located within and slidable through a cable connector housing at the bottom of the chair seat. By virtue of connecting the first and second cables together at the connector block, the chair function controller paddle is connected to the chair function operator so that an actuation of the controller causes a pulling force to be applied to the chair function operator to enable the seat or back of the chair to be displaced.