Ergonomic Seat Supporting Arm for Passive Weight Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat designs that automatically adjust to user body weight are complex and costly, often requiring heavy construction and complex mechanisms, including weighing devices to alter spring forces, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A seat design featuring supporting arms that actively change shape to influence the position of the seat element relative to the underframe, allowing for comfortable adjustment without the need for complex mechanisms or spring forces, by deforming to counteract potential energy loss when leaning back, thus eliminating the need for restoring forces from the backrest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If weighing devices and complex mechanisms are used to automatically adjust spring forces to different body weights, then seating comfort for individuals of varying weights is improved, but device complexity and constructional complexity increase enormously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the weighing device and complex adjustment mechanisms from the seat design. Instead of using sensors and active control systems to detect and adapt to user weight, the invention extracts these complex elements and replaces them with a passive mechanical supporting arm that provides automatic adaptation through its geometric design and elastic deformation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting arm is designed to automatically adapt to different user weights without requiring external control systems. The arm's elastic deformation and geometric configuration enable it to self-adjust its supporting characteristics based on the load applied, providing seating comfort for different body weights through its own structural properties rather than through active control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If weighing devices and spring adjustment mechanisms are installed to compensate for different body weights, then adaptability to different users is improved, but the seat becomes heavy and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, heavy weighing devices and complex spring adjustment mechanisms with a simpler, lighter supporting arm structure. The supporting arm uses basic mechanical elements and elastic materials that are less costly and lighter in weight, while still achieving the function of adapting to different body weights through its passive mechanical design.
3Extent of automation
If complex mechanisms with weighing devices are used to automatically change spring forces, then automatic adaptation to body weight is achieved, but the number of parts and constructional complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of weighing devices, sensors, and active control mechanisms with a simpler passive mechanical system. The supporting arm uses elastic deformation and geometric design to achieve automatic adaptation, substituting complex active control with simple passive mechanical behavior that requires no additional parts or control systems.
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
This design allows for comfortable seating for individuals of varying weights without the need for spring adjustments, reducing construction complexity and cost, and maintaining comfort by kinematically transferring potential energy, making it superfluous to store energy in springs.
Implementation Method 1
The core of the invention is a seat with at least one supporting arm by means of which an active movement of the front seat part can be produced by a largely defined change in shape
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a seat (1) which comprises an underframe (3) and a seat element (2), the seat element (2) comprising a front seat part, a rear seat part, a lower backrest part and an upper backrest part. In this case, the front seat part, the rear seat part, the lower backrest part and the upper backrest part comprise at least one supporting arm (6, 7), the supporting arm (6, 7) being composed of at least one upper support (6a, 7a) and at least one lower support (6b, 7b), the upper support (6a, 7a) being guided in a region of the front seat part by at least one guide element (9), the upper support (6a, 7a) and the lower support (6b, 7b) being connected to each other in a region of the upper backrest part, the upper support (6a, 6b) and the lower support (7a, 7b) having an arcuate profile in the region of the rear seat part and in the region of the lower backrest part, the upper support (6a, 7a) and the lower support (6b, 7b) being positioned with respect to each other in the region of the rear seat part and/or in the region of the lower backrest part by at least one connecting link, and the front seat part being able to be pulled back by the upper support (6a, 7a) with a pulling-back movement directed towards the backrest parts if, when the backrest parts are loaded by an individual leaning against them, the seat element (2) is displaced from a basic position (I) into a resting position.