Pelvic Support Seating for Upright Posture Without Spinal Immobilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current seating solutions fail to maintain proper pelvic and spinal alignment without requiring muscle tension, leading to back pain, postural distortion, and compressed spinal nerves, as they either immobilize the spine or provide unstable support, and are not adaptable to various seating surfaces.

Innovation Solution

An ergonomic seating device with a base plate and pelvic support that maintains a vertical pelvis position without immobilizing the spine, using a mechanism that contacts the posterior superior iliac spines and iliac crests, allowing a 93° to 97° angle between the pelvis and femoral bones, and is adjustable and foldable for portability and versatility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lumbar support systems are used to support the spine, then spinal support is improved, but the spine becomes immobilized and muscle tensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinal supportVSAvoidspinal mobility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the support function from the spine itself and relocates it to the pelvis. By supporting the pelvis in a neutral position through the pelvic support element, the spine is freed from immobilization while maintaining proper alignment. This resolves the contradiction by removing spinal support constraints while preserving spinal mobility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pelvic support element performs preliminary action by establishing proper pelvic alignment before the spine needs support. By pre-positioning the pelvis in a neutral, upright orientation, the spine naturally aligns itself without requiring external support, thus maintaining mobility while ensuring proper posture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If standing support devices with excessive forward slope are used, then pelvic verticality is improved, but stability deteriorates and muscle tension increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepelvic verticalityVSAvoidseating stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the critical parameter from seat slope angle to pelvic support angle. Instead of using excessive forward slope (as in standing devices), the pelvic support element provides vertical support at an optimal angle, maintaining pelvic verticality while ensuring seating stability and comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using excessive forward slope to achieve pelvic verticality, the invention applies partial action through a vertically oriented pelvic support element. This provides just enough support to maintain pelvic verticality without the destabilizing effects of excessive slope.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the seating device is made portable and foldable, then adaptability to various surfaces is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to seating surfacesVSAvoidfolding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seating device is segmented into distinct components: a base plate and a separate pelvic support element connected by a hinge. This segmentation enables the foldable functionality while keeping each component simple in structure, resolving the contradiction between portability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge connection introduces dynamic capability to the structure, allowing the device to transition between folded and unfolded states. This dynamic element provides adaptability to various seating surfaces without requiring complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3240458B1Ergonomic seating device
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 SOLVASEAT SA
  • EP3240458B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3240458B1 patent drawingFigure 2b
  • EP3240458B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

Seating device (1) comprising a base plate (2) for a user to sit on and a pelvic support (3) for supporting in a vertical position the pelvis of a user sitting on said base plate (2) without supporting or immobilising said user's vertebrae, wherein said pelvic support (3) is configured for contacting said pelvis (9) at the posterior superior iliac spines (PSIS) (91) and/ or at the iliac crests (92), without any contact to said user's vertebrae wherein said seating device is configured for maintaining an angle of 93° to 97° between the vertically supported pelvis (9) and the femoral bones of said user. In embodiments, the seating device includes a mechanism to encourage the user's upper body mobility, for example a convex base.