Seat tilting system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tilting mechanisms in chairs restrict movement to a single vertical plane, leading to discomfort and potential orthopedic issues due to limited range of motion, and complicate stacking and storage due to central support beams.
Innovation Solution
A tilting system with an annular elastomer compression spring and a circular compression ring, allowing 360-degree pivoting around a vertical axis, adjustable resistance, and integrated design for efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional tilting mechanism with a central support beam is used, then the chair provides tilting function, but the chair cannot be stacked or stored efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the central support beam from the chair structure, extracting the element that prevents stacking while retaining the tilting function through a different mechanism using lateral support legs and a tilting assembly at the junction between seat and base
2Device complexity
If a conventional tilting mechanism restricting movement to a single vertical plane is used, then the mechanism is simple, but the user experiences discomfort and orthopedic issues due to limited range of motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic tilting mechanism where the seat can tilt in multiple directions around a vertical axis rather than being constrained to a single fixed plane, allowing users to rock forward-backward, side-to-side, or at intermediate angles, thereby improving comfort while maintaining reasonable mechanical simplicity
3Ease of operation
If the compression spring is allowed to deform laterally during tilting, then the tilting motion is smoother, but the resistance to vertical compression decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different constraints to different aspects of spring deformation: it allows lateral deformation in the direction that enables tilting motion while constraining lateral deformation that would reduce vertical compression resistance, achieving both smooth tilting and maintained strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a compression ring as an intermediary element between the compression spring and the tilting mechanism, which guides and controls the spring's lateral deformation to maintain vertical load-bearing capacity while permitting the controlled deformation needed for smooth tilting motion
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
Enables natural and progressive tilting motion in all directions, reducing static sitting-related health issues and allowing easy stacking and storage of chairs.
Implementation Method 1
an annular elastomer compression spring positioned between a top plate and a bottom plate
Implementation Method 2
The compression spring surrounds a pivot, referred to herein as the kingpin, that provides the pivot point between the top plate and the bottom plate
Implementation Method 3
a circular compression ring that retains the compression spring in place. The compression ring does not actively compress the elastomer compression spring, but rather the compression ring constrains the elastomer compression spring from moving laterally
Implementation Method 4
The pivot includes a frictionless pivot that rotates in a frictionless bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A seat tilting device includes: a bottom plate secured to a seat base; a top plate secured to a seat; a pivot connecting the top plate to the bottom plate; a compression spring surrounding the pivot; and a compression ring surrounding the compression spring, wherein a height of the compression ring is less than a distance between the bottom plate and the top plate, and wherein the compression spring biases the top plate away from the bottom plate.