Seat Sliding Mechanism With Elastic Return for Back Tension Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat sliding mechanisms require users to exert effort and often result in friction and back tension when adjusting to a position that relieves back tension, especially when tilting the chest backwards, as they lack smooth and assisted movement.
Innovation Solution
A sliding mechanism using an elastic synthetic material as the return means, housed in a recess with axial stops, provides variable tension and a buffer effect, allowing for comfortable and assisted movement of the seat relative to the support plate, with guiding features like lateral flanges and guide studs for smooth sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional metal coil tension spring is used as return means, then the mechanical return characteristic is achieved, but the user comfort is reduced and manufacturing cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal coil spring to elastic synthetic material, fundamentally altering the mechanical properties. This material substitution provides smoother elastic deformation characteristics that enhance user comfort while maintaining the return function, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs elastic synthetic material which is less expensive to manufacture than conventional metal springs. This principle of using cheaper alternative materials achieves the same functional outcome (mechanical return) while reducing manufacturing costs and improving user comfort through the material's inherent elastic properties
2Ease of operation
If the recess length is increased to allow greater axial movement, then the sliding comfort is improved, but the backrest tension relief is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the recess length parameter to a specific value that balances two opposing requirements. By precisely controlling this dimensional parameter, the design achieves sufficient sliding comfort for the user while preventing excessive movement that would compromise backrest tension relief, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and harmful factors
3Ease of operation
If the elastic synthetic piece is housed in a recess with axial stops, then the sliding movement is controlled and comfort is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the recess structure: it serves as both the housing for the elastic synthetic material and the guide for axial movement, while the axial stops are integrated directly into the recess walls. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate components, thereby controlling sliding movement without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The recess structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: containing the elastic synthetic piece, guiding the axial movement of the pin, providing axial stops through integrated protrusions, and enabling buffer effect through its geometry. This multi-functionality approach achieves precise sliding control while minimizing additional structural complexity
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 mechanism enables comfortable and assisted sliding with reduced friction and noise, maintaining backrest tension relief while being cost-effective and easy to manufacture, ensuring optimal user comfort and mechanical balance.
Implementation Method 1
said return means consist of an elastic piece of synthetic material. The mechanical return characteristic of such a material is favorable in that it leads to behavior that is much more comfortable for the user
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a mechanism for horizontally sliding the seat portion (10) of a seat in relation to a plate (4) forming the support of the seat portion (10) at the top of the legs (2, 3) of the seat, comprising a means for guiding the sliding of the seat portion (10) relative to the supporting plate (4) and a means (20) for returning the seat portion (10) to a stable rest position after sliding said seat portion. The mechanism is characterised in that said return means are formed by a resilient synthetic material part (20). The resilient synthetic part (20) is housed in a recess (18) of the supporting plate (4) comprising two transverse walls perpendicular to the movement of the seat portion (10) forming axial stops for members (25, 26) projecting from the seat portion (10), one of the axial ends (23) of the resilient part (20) being driven by the seat portion (10) towards the wall (31) of the recess (18) proximal to the front edge of the seat portion (10), the other end (22) being attached to the distal wall of said edge.