Reclining Chair Frame With Single-Action Multi-Directional Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable beach and lawn chairs are limited in their ability to recline and collapse in multiple directions, making them bulky for storage and transportation, and require multiple folding steps, which complicates their use and stowage.
Innovation Solution
A unifoldable reclining chair design featuring pivotal, slidable, and telescopically movable connections between frame members, allowing for a single folding action that collapses the chair in multiple directions, including front-to-back and side-to-side, without requiring the backrest to be returned to an upright position, using X-frame connector assemblies and guide rails to maintain structural integrity and facilitate easy folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional foldable chairs use rigid transverse connecting members for structural stability, then the chair maintains structural integrity in set-up condition, but the chair can only be folded in one direction (front to back) and occupies wide storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The chair frame is divided into multiple collapsible segments including transverse connecting members that can fold in multiple directions. The transverse connecting members are segmented to allow both front-to-back folding and side-to-side collapsing, enabling the chair to be compacted into a small bundled state while maintaining structural integrity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse connecting members are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to transition between rigid (when assembled) and flexible (when folding) states. The members incorporate pivotal connections and collapsible mechanisms that enable multi-directional folding while providing structural support during use.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional chairs require multiple folding steps for collapse, then structural integrity is maintained during folding, but the folding process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple folding actions are merged into a single unified collapsing motion. The chair frame members, including transverse connecting members, are interconnected through pivotal connections that allow simultaneous multi-directional folding. A single user action triggers coordinated collapse of front-to-back and side-to-side dimensions, simplifying the folding process while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse connecting members are pre-configured with pivotal connections and collapsible mechanisms that are prepared in advance to enable smooth multi-directional folding. The geometry and arrangement of these members are designed beforehand to facilitate coordinated collapse along multiple axes when a single folding action is applied.
3Volume of moving object
If multi-directional foldable chairs are designed to reduce storage space, then the chair collapses to a compact state, but the chair loses reclining capability due to connection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse connecting members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support during use, enable multi-directional folding for compact storage, and accommodate backrest reclining movements. The pivotal connections and collapsible mechanisms are designed to be universal, handling both the mechanical loads of structural integrity and the angular movements of reclining without compromising either function.
Data Source
AI summary
A unifoldable reclining chair design has a collapsible articulated frame and includes a pair of opposing side assemblies having longitudinally elongated pivotally connected side frame members that are maintained in opposing transversally spaced relation by front and rear collapsible X-shaped connector assemblies. Slidable pivot connections, or alternatively, pivotal connecting linkages, which join the rear connector assembly to associated side frame members, enable all of the frame members to move substantially in unison and in multiple directions relative to each other while simultaneously undergoing multiple changes in an angular position relative to each other to move the chair frame from a set-up condition for use to a collapsed condition for transportation and/or storage in response to a single folding action. The slidable pivot connections and pivotal connecting linkages also enable a chair occupant to change the angular position of the chair back support when seated or reclined in the set-up chair.