Seat Frame with Dual-Hardness Inserts for Flexible Fabric Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid seat assemblies provide limited flexibility, leading to increased stress points and comfort issues for users, as they fail to adequately suspend fabric surfaces during use.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a frame composed of a first material and inserts made of a second material with lower hardness, where the inserts are strategically placed within grooves in the frame to allow for deformation and flexure, enhancing the frame's ability to conform to user loads and maintain fabric suspension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support frame is used to maintain fabric suspension, then structural strength is improved, but flexibility and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The frame transitions from uniform rigidity to non-uniform local properties by inserting softer material elements at specific locations (curved portion) while maintaining rigid material in other areas, allowing localized flexibility without compromising overall structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The frame becomes a composite structure combining two materials with different hardness properties - a rigid first material forming the frame body and a softer second material in insert elements - to achieve both strength and flexibility simultaneously
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support frame is used to maintain fabric suspension, then structural stability is improved, but stress distribution is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Softer insert elements are strategically placed at the curved portion where stress concentration occurs during flexing, allowing these localized areas to absorb and distribute stresses more evenly while the rigid portions maintain overall structural stability
3Adaptability or versatility
If inserts with lower hardness are added to the frame, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is segmented into distinct regions (rigid portions and flexible curved portion with inserts) with different material properties, allowing independent optimization of each segment's function while maintaining overall integration
Solution Approach 2:
The material hardness parameter is changed locally in the insert elements rather than throughout the entire frame, enabling flexibility control through material parameter variation while keeping the overall structure relatively simple
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 increased flexibility and comfort by allowing the seat assembly to flex rearwardly under load, distributing stress evenly and maintaining fabric suspension, thus addressing the limitations of rigid support frames.
Implementation Method 1
each insert of the plurality of inserts is configured to deform in response to applying a load to the first side of the frame such that the curved portion of the frame is configured to flex in a rearward direction
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly includes a frame made from a first material having a first hardness, the frame including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The seat assembly further includes a fabric component coupled to the first side of the frame, and a plurality of grooves are disposed within the second side of the frame. Each insert of a plurality of inserts are disposed within each respective groove in the plurality of grooves. Each insert of the plurality of inserts comprises a second material and the second material has a second hardness that is less than the first hardness.