Chair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional office revolving chairs with limited swinging range in the left-right direction require unnatural postures and excessive effort to utilize, and expanding the swinging range complicates the support mechanism design, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable and efficient sitting experience.
Innovation Solution
The chair incorporates an amplification element, such as horizontal strap bodies or rotation units, to enhance the swinging movement in the left-right direction without altering the original support mechanism's function, allowing for a wider range of motion while maintaining a stable and comfortable sitting experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the movable range of the support mechanism is expanded to allow wider swinging operation, then the swinging range is improved, but the structure of the support mechanism becomes large and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the swinging function into two independent parts: the original support mechanism (for front-rear swinging) and a separate amplification element (for left-right swinging amplification). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without increasing overall complexity, as the amplification element is attached to the existing seat or backrest rather than redesigning the entire support mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The amplification element is nested within or attached to the existing seat or backrest structure. The amplification element operates within the space already defined by the support mechanism, effectively adding functionality without increasing the overall footprint or structural complexity of the chair.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movable range is expanded through design changes, then the swinging range is improved, but the return force becomes excessively large when displacement is large, making adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the return force generation function (handled by the original return-force generation mechanism) from the movement amplification function (handled by the amplification element). This segmentation allows the return force characteristics to remain unchanged while achieving wider swinging range, as the amplification element merely multiplies the motion without altering the force-displacement relationship of the original mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the amplification element is added to widen swinging range, then the movable range is improved, but the reaction force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The amplification element utilizes flexible components such as flexible straps or elastic elements that can deform and amplify movement without generating excessive reaction forces. These flexible elements allow for smooth motion amplification while maintaining low resistance to the user's movement, avoiding the increase in reaction force that would result from rigid mechanical amplification mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A chair includes a leg 1, a seat 5 including a pressure receiving surface PS, a backrest 6, and a support mechanism SM. The seat 5 can move in the front-rear or left-right direction along a predetermined trajectory and to downwardly incline a tip side of the seat 5 in a movement direction in accordance with a movement of the seat 5 from a predetermined reference position (S). The support mechanism SM includes a return-force generation unit configured to generate, in accordance with an amount of movement, a return force in a direction in which the seat 5 moved from the reference position (S) in the front-rear or left-right direction is returned to the reference position (S), and movably supports the backrest 6 in the left-right direction together with a movement of the seat 5 in the left-right direction.