Restoring device for automatically adjusting the restoring force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pendulum seating furniture restoring devices are complex and require manual adjustment based on user weight, leading to potential health issues due to incorrect deflection ranges and restoring forces, which are not adaptable to different users.

Innovation Solution

An elastically deformable molded part with recesses and cavities that change spring characteristics and restoring force based on user weight, using incompressible materials like elastomers to restrict mobility and generate a direction-dependent restoring force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a restoring device with fixed spring characteristics is used, then the structure is simple, but the restoring force cannot be adapted to different body weights, leading to health issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different body weightsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring characteristic is made dynamically adjustable through the elastically deformable joint body. The joint body's effective cross-sectional area changes based on the applied load (body weight), automatically adapting the restoring force without requiring manual adjustment mechanisms or complex electronic systems. This resolves the contradiction by achieving adaptability through material deformation rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the joint body's cross-sectional area through elastic deformation. As the body weight increases, the joint body deforms to reduce its effective cross-sectional area, thereby increasing the spring constant and restoring force. This parameter change occurs automatically in response to the load, providing adaptability without adding structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment mechanisms are used, then the restoring force can be adapted to individual needs, but the ease of operation decreases and users may not realize the adjustment is available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual adjustment capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The restoring device performs the adjustment function automatically based on the body weight applied. The elastically deformable joint body self-regulates the spring characteristic according to the load, eliminating the need for user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by making the system self-adjusting rather than requiring manual operation, thereby maintaining ease of use while achieving individual adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides automatic feedback through the elastic deformation of the joint body. The deformation is directly proportional to the applied body weight, creating a natural feedback mechanism that adjusts the restoring force according to the user's needs without requiring user awareness or action. This resolves the contradiction by making adaptation automatic and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the restoring force is set for a person with certain body weight, then that user gets correct support, but other users with different body weights experience discomfort or health issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrect deflection range for healthVSAvoidsuitability for different users
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The joint body's elastic deformation creates a dynamic relationship between body weight and spring characteristic. As body weight varies, the joint body deforms to the appropriate extent, automatically providing the correct deflection range for each user's weight. This ensures reliable health support while maintaining adaptability across different users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The effective cross-sectional area of the joint body changes as a function of the applied body weight through elastic deformation. This parameter change ensures that each user receives the appropriate restoring force for their weight, maintaining correct deflection ranges for health while adapting to different users automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution provides a cost-effective, less complex mechanism for automatically adjusting restoring force, ensuring correct deflection ranges and user comfort by adapting to individual body weights, reducing the risk of health issues like overstraining or instability during pendulum movements.

Implementation Method 1

an elastically deformable molded part which has one or more recesses and/or cavities, as a result of which the molded part is elastically deformable, in such a way that the pendulum column fastened in the molded part can be moved back and forth

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

using incompressible materials like elastomers to restrict mobility and generate a direction-dependent restoring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIncompressibility:

Data Source

PatentEP2858535B1Restoring device for automatically adjusting the restoring force
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 AERIS GMBH
  • EP2858535B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858535B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2858535B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a restoring device for a pendulum chair for automatically adjusting the pendulum restoring force of the pendulum column of the pendulum chair depending on the body weight of a user of the seat, the restoring force comprising the following: an elastically deformable molded part having a cut-out section for accommodating the pendulum column, a molded part receptacle which accommodates the molded part, one or more cut-out sections and/or cavities being provided in the molded part for the purpose of deformability so that the pendulum column, depending on the body weight of the user of the seat, dips into the molded part to a greater or lesser degree and deforms into the cut-out sections and/or cavities thereof, the spring characteristics of the restoring device being automatically adjusted correspondingly.