Modular Seating Spacers for Personal Space in Bench Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional bench-type seating systems in venues often lack personal space, particularly in terms of hip, elbow, and shoulder room, despite industry-standard seat widths, leading to discomfort for users.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of seating spacers made from injection-molded plastic, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which are placed between individual molded plastic seating units to increase personal space, featuring a block-shaped design with interlocking mechanisms for secure attachment and optional amenities like cup holders and advertising panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If individual molded plastic seating units with industry-standard width are used, then the seating system achieves standardization and ease of manufacture, but users experience insufficient personal space particularly in hip, elbow and shoulder room
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the seating system into separate modular components: standard seating units and interchangeable spacers. The spacers are distinct segments that can be added between seating units to modify the configuration without changing the original seats themselves, allowing standardization to be maintained while adding functionality for personal space adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system becomes dynamically adjustable through the use of interchangeable spacers that can be added or removed based on desired configuration. This allows the same seating units to adapt to different personal space requirements, transforming a static standardized system into a dynamic one that responds to user comfort needs
2Ease of operation
If wider seating units are used to provide more personal space, then user comfort in terms of hip, elbow and shoulder room is improved, but the seating system requires customization and loses standardization
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than manufacturing different width seating units, the invention segments the space between standard seating units by introducing separate spacer components. This maintains the standardized seating unit design while achieving variable spacing through modular additions
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers act as intermediary elements between standard seating units, mediating the space requirement without requiring modification of the original standardized seats. These intermediaries provide the additional personal space while allowing the core seating units to remain standardized and easily manufactured
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional features like cup holders and advertising panels are integrated into spacers, then revenue generation and user convenience are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the single spacer component: structural spacing function, cup holder integration, and advertising panel mounting. By combining these elements into one integrated spacer unit, the system achieves versatility without requiring multiple separate components, thus managing complexity while enhancing adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A seating spacer configured to fit between two seating units in a seating system bench-type seating. In one embodiment, at least one seating spacer is placed between two seating units arranged in a side-by-side manner to form a row of seating in a seating system.