Portable Seat with Flexible Overlapping Back Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable seats are not compact and light in weight, prone to dirt and mold accumulation, and lack sturdy back support, making them cumbersome and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A portable seat design featuring a base with a flexible, elongated profile, a hook and loop fastener system, and layered foam and plastic construction for easy folding and secure seating, with mold-resistant materials and easy cleaning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If portable seats are made compact and light in weight, then portability is improved, but structural strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seat combines foam material for cushioning with plastic insert layers for structural reinforcement, creating a composite structure that achieves both light weight and adequate strength. The plastic insert layers provide structural integrity while the foam layers provide comfort, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If portable seats have complex structures for back support, then comfort is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into functional zones with different foam densities and plastic insert configurations. The rear portion has enhanced structure for back support while the front portion is simpler, allowing comfort optimization without uniformly increasing overall complexity. This segmented approach provides targeted support where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic insert layers and foam density are varied locally to provide enhanced back support in the rear portion while maintaining simplicity in other areas. The rear section has additional structural elements for lumbar support, while the seat cushion area uses simpler construction, achieving comfort without uniform complexity increase.
3Ease of manufacture
If portable seats use traditional materials, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but resistance to mold and microbes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of foam and plastic insert layers creates a composite structure where the plastic components resist mold and microbe growth. The plastic insert layers act as barriers that prevent moisture accumulation and inhibit biological degradation, providing mold resistance while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of standard plastic materials.
4Ease of operation
If portable seats have thick foam layers for comfort, then seating comfort is improved, but volume and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic insert layers provide structural support that allows the use of thinner foam layers while maintaining comfort. The rigid plastic inserts bear the mechanical load, enabling reduced foam thickness without sacrificing seating comfort, thereby decreasing the overall volume and improving portability.
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 provides a compact, lightweight, and mold-resistant seat that is easy to clean and offers sturdy back support, facilitating easy storage and comfortable seating.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more fasteners comprises a hook and loop fastener, wherein the hook and loop fastener has a first mating member and a second mating member
Implementation Method 2
The base comprises a plastic insert layer and an upper foam layer disposed on an upper surface of the plastic insert layer. The base further comprises a lower foam layer
Data Source
AI summary
A portable seat that is compact for storage and could be easily carried by a user. The portable seat can be switched to a functional state that allows the user to sit at ground level while supporting a back of the user. The portable seat includes a base that has a proximal portion and a distal portion. A longitudinal cut divides the distal portion into a left section and a right section, wherein each of the left section and the right section can flex upwards or downwards, and the left section and the right sections can be pulled towards each other in an overlapping manner. Suitable fasteners can retain the distal portion in the overlapping manner. The distal portion in the overlapping manner is contoured upwards to support the back of the user.