Reclinable seating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reclining chairs fail to provide optimal recline resistance for occupants of varying sizes, leading to discomfort due to mismatched force application, and weight-sensitive chairs often cause leg lift and undesirable body angle changes during reclining, disrupting ergonomic alignment.
Innovation Solution
A weight-sensitive reclining mechanism with a virtual pivot point positioned above the seat surface, utilizing ramps and motion-facilitating components to minimize backrest drop and seat lift, optimizing recline geometry for ergonomic alignment and balanced counterbalance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional springs are used to provide recline resistance, then the backrest can be biased in the upright position, but the resistance force does not match occupants of varying sizes, causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic recline mechanism where the pivot point is positioned above the seat surface rather than below it. This dynamic positioning allows the pivot point to maintain a consistent vertical distance from the seat surface throughout the recline range of motion, enabling the mechanism to adapt to different occupant weights and sizes while providing consistent recline resistance and comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the pivot point is moved forward to reduce front seat lift, then the occupant's feet can stay on the floor, but the body angle between torso and legs remains unchanged and eye level drops undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by moving the pivot point to a different dimensional position - specifically, above the seat surface rather than below it. This vertical repositioning allows the mechanism to achieve both goals: reducing front seat lift sufficiently for feet to remain on the floor while maintaining proper body angle and eye level through the optimized virtual pivot geometry.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pivot point is positioned below the seat and proximate to hip joints, then weight-sensitive recline can be achieved, but the pivot point is displaced from its ideal position during reclining actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves both weight-sensitive recline and pivot point stability by positioning the pivot above the seat surface. This dynamic configuration allows the mechanism to utilize occupant weight for recline sensitivity while the elevated pivot position remains stable and consistent throughout the recline motion, preventing displacement and maintaining ideal ergonomic alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A weight-sensitive, reclinable seating apparatus that features a backrest pivot mechanism positioned entirely within the seat assembly (200) of the seating apparatus. The backrest pivot mechanism comprises a plurality of ramp assemblages positioned within the seat assembly (200), with the ramp assemblages each comprising one or more motion-facilitating components (272a, 272b, 222a, 222b, 252a, 252b) that engage one or more ramps (215a, 215b, 255a, 255b, 217a, 217b). The motion-facilitating components (272a, 272, 222a, 222b, 252a, 252b) cooperate with the ramps (215a, 215b, 255a, 255b, 217a, 217b) to provide a virtual pivot (400) for the backrest (317) that is projected above the seat surface. The backrest pivot mechanism minimizes the vertical drop of the backrest during the recline motion, which in turn minimizes the seat lift during the recline motion. By minimizing the magnitude of the backrest drop and the seat lift during a recline operation, the seating apparatus reduces the displacement of the functional pivot from the ideal pivot point as the chair reclines.