Dynamic Pelvic Seating Orthosis for Lordotic Posture Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seating devices fail to effectively improve posture and prevent gluteal spreading, leading to repetitive stress injuries and discomfort, as they do not dynamically adjust to the user's body movement.

Innovation Solution

A seating orthosis with a foundation member featuring a front portion for the upper legs and a bowl portion for the pelvic area, comprising central and lateral sections of varying flexibility, which rotates to apply an upward and inward compressive force, tilting the pelvic area into a lordotic position, thereby improving posture and reducing gluteal spreading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fixed-shape seating assemblies are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but they cannot dynamically adjust to body movement, causing discomfort and poor posture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic adjustment to body movementVSAvoidseating assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing fixed-shape seating assemblies with a flexible membrane structure that can dynamically change its configuration in response to body movement. The membrane's inherent flexibility allows it to adapt continuously to varying body positions without requiring mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thus achieving dynamic adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the flexibility characteristics of different regions of the membrane. By creating zones with different flexibilities, the membrane can selectively conform to specific body contours while providing support in other areas, enabling dynamic adaptation through material property variation rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If uniform thickness members are used for pelvic support, then manufacturing is simplified, but they cannot prevent gluteal spreading or correct posture effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform thickness member fabricationVSAvoidposture correction effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by transitioning from uniform thickness members to a membrane with spatially varying flexibility characteristics. Different regions of the membrane are designed with specific flexibility properties to address local anatomical requirements - providing support where needed while allowing conformity in other areas, thereby achieving effective posture correction and gluteal spreading prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material principles by creating a membrane structure with non-uniform flexibility distribution. This can be achieved through varying material composition, thickness, or structural characteristics across the membrane surface, combining different material properties in a single integrated structure to simultaneously achieve manufacturability and therapeutic effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of operation

If contoured seating surfaces are used, then comfort is improved through body conformity, but they create cantilevers that may cause repetitive stress injuries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort through body conformityVSAvoidrepetitive stress injuries to back
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by replacing rigid contoured surfaces with a flexible membrane that can adapt its contouring dynamically. This allows the seating surface to conform to the body in a controlled manner that avoids creating harmful cantilever forces, while still providing comfort through continuous body conformity. The membrane's flexibility enables it to distribute loads more evenly without generating stress concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution dynamically supports the pelvis, maintaining a correct lordotic curve and reducing pressure on the lumbar-sacral joint, minimizing wear and tear, and providing comfort by continuously adjusting to the user's movements.

Implementation Method 1

The lateral portion and the front portion collectively surround the central portion. The central portion has plural regions of varying flexibility and the lateral portion has plural regions of varying flexibility, the bowl portion configured for applying an upwardly and inwardly compressive force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS8671482B2Method and apparatus for dynamically correcting posture
Publication Date: 2014.03.18 BACKJOY ORTHOTICS LLC
  • US8671482B2 patent drawing
  • US8671482B2 patent drawing
  • US8671482B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An orthopedic device for improving posture while sitting, having a foundation member including a front portion for upper legs and a bowl portion for lower pelvic area. The bowl portion has a central portion and an upwardly inclined lateral portion. The lateral portion and the front portion collectively surround the central portion. The central portion has regions of varying flexibility and the lateral portion has regions of varying flexibility. The bowl portion applies an upwardly and inwardly compressive force when the lower pelvic area is disposed in the bowl portion, and rotates on a supporting surface between a first position when the lower pelvic area is not disposed in the bowl portion, and a second position, rotationally forward of the first position, when the lower pelvic area is disposed in the bowl portion, to thereby cause a forward rotational tilting of the lower pelvic area into a forward lordotic position after the lower pelvic area is placed in the bowl portion.