Progressive Reclining Chair With Compact Nested Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable chairs are often cumbersome and prone to damage due to their design, and chairs configured for reclining often compromise portability and practicality with added mechanical features that increase weight and cost.

Innovation Solution

A chair design featuring a seat frame with a rear panel and back support assembly connected by a threaded rod, allowing for adjustable recline angles and compact storage configurations, with components like oblique walls and reinforcement plates to enhance stability and resistance to deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If chairs are designed with mechanical aspects for reclining (gears, springs, handles), then reclining function is improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereclining functionVSAvoidchair weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical systems (gears, springs) with a simple threaded rod mechanism. The threaded rod passes through the rear panel and back support assembly, allowing reclining through rotational movement that translates to linear displacement, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical components while maintaining the reclining function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes unnecessary mechanical elements (gears, springs, complex handles) from the chair design, retaining only the essential threaded rod and knob components needed for reclining functionality, thereby reducing overall weight and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If chairs are designed for reclining with mechanical components, then reclining capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereclining capabilityVSAvoidmechanical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes complex mechanical systems with a simple threaded rod and knob mechanism. The threaded rod passes through both the rear panel and back support assembly, converting rotational motion of the knob into linear displacement that adjusts the reclining angle, eliminating gears, springs, and complex linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The chair is divided into separable components including the threaded rod, back support assembly, and rear panel. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall structure and making the reclining mechanism easier to manufacture and maintain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If portable chairs are designed to maintain single shape, then structural simplicity is improved, but portability and storability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidstorage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chair incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to change shape and configuration. The back support assembly can be adjusted along the threaded rod to different positions, enabling the chair to transition between an expanded usable configuration and a compact storage configuration, improving portability without sacrificing structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The chair components are designed to nest within each other during storage. The back support assembly can be positioned to fit within the space defined by the seat frame and rear panel, creating a compact nested configuration that minimizes storage volume while maintaining simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 chair is both portable and storable, maintaining structural integrity while allowing for comfortable recline positions, reducing the risk of injury or damage, and minimizing storage volume.

Implementation Method 1

a threaded rod extending through both the rear panel of the seat frame and the back support assembly. The position of the back support assembly along the longitudinal rod axis of the threaded rod is fixed while the position of the rear panel along the longitudinal rod axis of the threaded rod is changed when the threaded rod is rotated about the longitudinal rod axis.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Data Source

PatentUS10980347B1Chair configured for progressive reclination and conversion between multiple use and/or storage positions, and a method of use thereof

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 LEVIN ERIC MARTIN

AI summary

A chair preferably configured for conversion between a preferred storage configuration and at least one preferred use configuration. When in one of the use configurations, the chair may have a recliner mechanism which allows the angle of the back support assembly relative to the seat frame to be progressively changed such that the back support assembly may be positioned at a reclined angular position. When in the preferred storage configuration, the back support assembly may be positioned at least partially within the seat frame to decrease the area of the footprint of the chair to facilitate storage of the chair.