Office Seating with Shape Memory Materials for Stiffness Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating structures lack dynamic adjustment capabilities for stiffness and flexibility, often requiring bulky and energy-intensive mechanisms, which can be aesthetically unappealing and prone to maintenance issues.
Innovation Solution
Integration of shape memory materials (SMMs) that can contract between energized and non-energized states in response to energy application, allowing for quick adjustment of seating structure configurations and proactive dynamic movement, such as altering the curvature of seat and backrest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional adjustment mechanisms are used to change stiffness and flexibility, then the seating structure can be adjusted, but the mechanisms become bulky and interfere with aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical adjustment mechanisms with shape memory materials (SMMs) that change stiffness and flexibility through thermal or electrical stimulation. This substitution eliminates bulky mechanical components while maintaining adjustment functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the seating structure by utilizing shape memory materials that alter their mechanical properties (stiffness/flexibility) in response to energy input. This parameter change approach enables adjustment without mechanical movement, avoiding the bulkiness of traditional mechanisms while preserving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If powered adjustment mechanisms are used, then dynamic adjustment is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed energy application to shape memory materials rather than continuous power consumption. The SMMs are activated temporarily to achieve the desired stiffness/flexibility change, then return to passive state, significantly reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining dynamic adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing high-energy powered mechanical systems with low-energy shape memory material activation, the patent achieves dynamic adjustment with minimal energy input, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If manual adjustment mechanisms are used, then energy consumption is reduced, but the user interface becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment interfaces with electronic or thermal control interfaces for shape memory materials. This substitution eliminates bulky manual mechanisms while maintaining low energy consumption, as the control interface can be implemented through simple sensors or user inputs without mechanical components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanisms with moving parts are used, then adjustment functionality is achieved, but reliability decreases due to failure and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical systems with moving parts that are subject to wear and failure with shape memory materials that have no moving parts. The SMMs change state through material transformation rather than mechanical movement, eliminating wear, friction, and the need for maintenance while preserving adjustment functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
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
Enables easy adjustment of stiffness and flexibility, reduces energy consumption, minimizes maintenance needs, and provides proactive features like massage effects, while maintaining a compact and aesthetically pleasing design.
Implementation Method 1
The shape memory material is contractable between at least a non-energized state and an energized state in response to an application of energy
Data Source
AI summary
An office system including a first component and a second component moveable relative to the first component. A distance and/or force multiplier is disposed between and coupled to the first and second components. The distance and/or force multiplier includes a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material is contractible between at least a non-energized state and an energized state in response to an application of energy. The distance and/or force multiplier moves the second component relative to the first component when the shape memory material is contracted to the energized state.