Pivoting Lounge Chair Shell With Simple Recline Return Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lounge chairs with reclining mechanisms are complex, expensive, and difficult to manufacture and assemble, while also lacking a desirable visual appearance.
Innovation Solution
A lounge chair design featuring a molded plastic seat shell with a convex bottom contact surface pivotally mounted to a stationary base, incorporating a durable swivel disc and a bias member to facilitate reclining and return to an upright position, with a pivot limiting guide to control movement and maintain ease of assembly and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex pivoting mechanism is used to allow reclining, then the comfort and functionality of the lounge chair is improved, but the manufacturing complexity, assembly difficulty, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seat shell is divided into distinct functional zones: a rear portion that pivots for reclining and a front portion that remains relatively stationary. This segmentation allows the reclining function to be isolated to a specific region, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining comfort and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex pivoting mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple pivot point at the rear of the seat shell. This removes unnecessary complexity from the system while preserving the essential reclining functionality, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simple pivot mechanism is used, then the manufacturing and assembly become easier, but the reclining comfort and support may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the seat shell are given different properties: the rear portion is designed with pivot capability for reclining comfort, while the front portion maintains structural rigidity for support. This local differentiation ensures that simplicity in the mechanism does not compromise reclining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat shell incorporates dynamic capability at the rear portion, allowing it to pivot and adapt to the user's reclining preference. This dynamic feature provides comfort and versatility while the rest of the structure remains simple and easy to manufacture.
3Ease of manufacture
If the seat shell is made from molded plastic, then the manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but the durability at the contact surface may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seat shell combines molded plastic for the main body with a durable thermoplastic material at the contact surface. This composite approach allows the majority of the seat shell to be manufactured simply through molding while the contact surface incorporates materials specifically selected for enhanced durability and wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface at the rear of the seat shell is given special attention with a durable thermoplastic material that is more resistant to wear and stress. This local quality enhancement ensures reliability at the critical pivot area while maintaining the overall simplicity and low cost of molded plastic construction.
4Ease of manufacture
If the pivot surface is made from the same molded plastic material, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the wear resistance and durability may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot surface is constructed from a durable thermoplastic material that is integrated with or attached to the molded plastic seat shell. This composite material approach maintains the simplicity of the overall manufacturing process while providing the enhanced wear resistance and durability needed at the pivot contact surface.
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 design allows for comfortable reclining and easy assembly while reducing manufacturing complexity and enhancing visual appeal, ensuring durability and stability through the use of a durable swivel disc and resilient bias member.
Implementation Method 1
The bias member is formed from a resilient material and creates a bias force that urges the seat shell into an upright, seating position. During the reclining movement of the seat shell relative to the seat base, the bias member further stretched to resist the reclining movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A lounge chair having a seat shell that defines a chair back and a seat is pivotally movable about a stationary base. The stationary base includes a concave support surface having a shape that generally corresponds with a convex outer surface of the seat shell. A swivel disc is positioned between the seat shell and the base to allow the seat shell to pivot about the stationary base. The interaction between a pivot post formed on the base and a pivot limiting guide formed in the seat shell defines the range of movement for the seat shell. A bias member connects the seat shell to the seat base and creates a bias force to urge the seat shell into an upright seating position. The base includes a series of glide buttons that support the swivel disc to allow the seat shell to pivot relative to the stationary base.