Nested Chair Glider Mechanism for Low-Profile Seating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rocking and gliding mechanisms for chairs or sofas are often unsightly, complex, and bulky, making them difficult to hide beneath the seat portion, and existing solutions do not provide a compact and aesthetically pleasing option that supports the furniture close to the floor.

Innovation Solution

A support and gliding mechanism featuring a frame with pivot arms and a carriage that nests within the frame, allowing the top plate to be positioned close to the floor, providing a low profile and aesthetically pleasing design, with a latch assembly for easy chair positioning and dismounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If traditional rocking and gliding mechanisms are used, then the mechanism provides functional support and movement, but the mechanism becomes bulky and visible beneath the seat portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism volumeVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The carriage is nested within the frame structure, with the carriage sides positioned inside the frame sides. The top plate of the carriage is located beneath the free ends of the lower frame sides, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall mechanism volume while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism transitions from a traditional horizontal extension layout to a vertical nesting layout. By positioning the carriage vertically within the frame rather than extending horizontally, the mechanism achieves a low profile that reduces visibility beneath the seat while preserving all necessary functional movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the mechanism is positioned close to the floor, then the aesthetic appearance improves, but the mechanism height is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism heightVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the mechanism upward from the floor, the design inverts the traditional approach by nesting the functional components downward within the frame. The pivot arms extend downward between the frame sides, and the carriage is positioned at the bottom, creating an inverted nested structure that achieves low profile while maintaining function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the mechanism components are reduced for compactness, then the aesthetic appearance improves, but the structural complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The frame and carriage are merged into a single integrated structure where the carriage sides are positioned within the frame sides and connected through shared pivot points. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and reduces the total number of discrete components while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The frame structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the outer structural boundary, contains the nested carriage, supports the pivot arms, and defines the overall aesthetic profile. The pivot arms serve dual functions as both structural connectors and movement facilitators, reducing the need for separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The mechanism offers a compact, aesthetically pleasing, and functional solution that supports chairs or sofas close to the floor, enhancing user experience, particularly for the elderly, by allowing easy seating and dismounting while maintaining a low profile.

Implementation Method 1

pivot arms having top ends pivotally connected to the free ends of the frame sides for rotation around parallel horizontal axes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8926015B2Support and gliding mechanism for chair or sofa

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 VIGER DENIS

AI summary

A support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa includes a base; a post; on the base; a frame on the post including a crossbar on top of the post, and a pair of sides connected to the ends of the crossbar; pivot arms between and pivotally connected to the ends of the frame sides, the arms having bottom ends beneath the crossbar; and a carriage including a top plate for supporting a chair or sofa, and a pair of sides extending downwardly from the top plate with bottom ends pivotally connected to the inside bottom ends of the pivot arms.