Movable Seat Structure for Seated-to-Standing Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional standing frames do not effectively support users in transitioning from a seated to a standing posture, limiting the benefits of standing, such as improved blood flow, bone density, and flexibility, especially for individuals with limited muscle control.
Innovation Solution
Design of movable seats that transition from a seating to a standing orientation, with at least a portion of the seat moving away from the user's legs, utilizing mechanisms like motors, linear actuators, ratchet mechanisms, and linkages to facilitate this transition, allowing for partial support in a standing posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat remains in fixed contact with the user's legs during transition to standing posture, then structural simplicity is maintained, but user comfort and range of motion are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can move independently relative to each other. The first portion remains relatively stationary while the second portion moves away from the user's legs during the transition to standing posture, reducing contact and improving comfort without requiring complete seat redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The seat transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one where the second portion can change its position relative to the first portion. This dynamic adjustment allows the seat to adapt to different user positions (seated vs. standing) and maintains comfort throughout the transition by reducing leg contact when needed
2Reliability
If the seat structure is simplified to maintain fixed contact with user's legs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but blood flow and bone density benefits are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seat into two portions with independent movement capability, the design achieves better health benefits (improved blood flow and bone density through enhanced standing posture support) while keeping the manufacturing complexity manageable through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
A linkage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the two seat portions, enabling controlled movement of the second portion away from the user's legs. This intermediary mechanism provides the necessary motion control for health benefits while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is feasible to manufacture
3Ease of operation
If a mechanism is added to move the seat portion away from user's legs, then comfort during transition is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the second seat portion during the transition from seated to standing posture. This dynamic capability provides comfort by accommodating changing user needs throughout the transition, while the mechanism itself remains relatively simple in design
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism changes the spatial parameter (distance) between the second seat portion and the user's legs during transition. By controlling this parameter dynamically, the system optimizes comfort at different stages of the posture change without requiring complex mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Seats that are moveable from a seating orientation, which allows a user to sit on the seat, to a standing orientation, where the seat at least partially supports the user in a standing posture are disclosed. At least a portion of the seat is moveable away from the user's legs when the seat is in the standing orientation.