Pivoting Mechanism With Gross-Fine Resistance Zones

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pivoting mechanisms in chairs lack the ability to make rapid gross adjustments between multiple resistance zones and fine adjustments within each zone, leading to inadequate support for users of varying weights and preferences, requiring tedious and laborious adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A pivoting mechanism with a housing, elongate shaft, and locking slide bar that allows for rapid gross resistance adjustments between multiple zones and fine adjustments within each zone, utilizing cams and springs to provide customizable resistance settings through a compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If continuous adjustment through full range of pivoting resistance is required, then all users can be accommodated, but the adjustment process becomes time consuming and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of all usersVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous adjustment range is segmented into multiple discrete resistance zones (first, second, third zones with different resistance ranges). Users can quickly select a zone using a selector mechanism, then make fine adjustments within that zone. This segmentation transforms a single long adjustment process into two shorter steps: zone selection followed by fine-tuning within the selected zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The selector mechanism pre-positions the compression spring at specific initial deflections corresponding to different resistance zones before the user makes fine adjustments. This preliminary action of selecting a zone and setting the spring's initial state eliminates the need for users to manually rotate adjustment mechanisms through many rotations to achieve gross resistance changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If fixed resistance is provided in the pivoting mechanism, then the construction is simple, but users with different weights and preferences cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruction simplicityVSAvoiduser accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting mechanism transitions from a fixed resistance system to a dynamic adjustment system. A selector mechanism allows users to choose between multiple resistance zones by selecting which cam lobes engage with the compression spring. This enables the mechanism to adapt its resistance characteristics based on user needs while maintaining a relatively simple construction through modular components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If the range of adjustment is limited, then the device remains compact, but not all users will be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoiduser accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism utilizes angular positioning of cam lobes around a rotation axis to provide multiple resistance zones. By arranging cam lobes at different angular positions (0°, 120°, 240° for three zones), the mechanism achieves a wide adjustment range covering different user weights and preferences without requiring a linear extension of the adjustment mechanism, thereby maintaining compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 immediate accommodation of users with different weights and preferences by allowing instant adjustment between multiple resistance zones and fine tuning of resistance, enhancing user comfort and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a compression spring disposed to be compressed by at least one cam when the at least one cam is retained to pivot with the shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

adjustable resistance to the pivoting of the support arms and the back structure relative to the seat structure is provided by the pivoting mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

four cams disposed at different angular positions about a center of rotation of the shaft, each cam having a lobe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam: Cam

Implementation Method 4

a locking slide bar slidably received into the channel... a handle fixed to a second end of the resistance adjustment arm for sliding the locking slide bar within the channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8714645B2Pivoting mechanism with gross and fine resistance adjustment

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 CVEK SAVA

AI summary

A pivoting mechanism with gross and fine adjustment with a housing, an elongate shaft pivotally retained by the housing, resiliently deformable members retained by the housing, cam members coupled to the shaft wherein the cam members are disposed to deform the resiliently deformable members when the cam members are pivoted, and a locking slide bar for selectively causing the cam members to pivot with the shaft to produce gross adjustments in pivoting resistance. First and second ends of the shaft can act as an output interface for outputting the pivoting resistance exhibited by the shaft to a seat back structure, a seat bottom structure, or some other structure. A threaded rod rotated by a handle can adjust an initial deformation of the first resiliently deformable member for fine pivoting resistance adjustment.