Seating assembly for improved seating, ergonomic chairs or wheelchairs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard seating systems, including chairs and wheelchairs, often cause discomfort and fatigue due to unnatural body positions resulting from fixed or inadequately adjustable back-support structures, which fail to follow natural human movements and biomechanics, leading to muscle tension and skin pressure issues.
Innovation Solution
A seating assembly with a seat base unit, seat unit, and back-support unit connected by a common pivoting axis at the hip joint, allowing for independent or combined pivoting movements controlled by motion control means such as gas springs or actuators, enabling dynamic adjustment to accommodate natural body positions and reduce pressure points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed 90° or vertical back-support structure is used, then the structural simplicity and manufacturing ease are improved, but the seating comfort and adaptability to natural body movements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed back-support structure with a dynamic system featuring a common pivoting axis that allows both the seat unit and back-support unit to rotate together. This enables the seating assembly to adapt to natural body movements while maintaining structural simplicity through a unified pivot mechanism rather than multiple independent adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the seating assembly into distinct units (seat base unit, seat unit, back-support unit) connected through a common pivoting axis. This segmentation allows each unit to move independently yet in coordination, providing adaptability to body movements while keeping each component relatively simple to manufacture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a variable inclination angle and hinge point are provided, then the adaptability to different positions is improved, but the structural complexity and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pivoting functions of the seat unit and back-support unit into a single common pivoting axis system. Instead of providing separate hinge points and inclination mechanisms for each unit, both units share the same pivot axis, reducing structural complexity while maintaining position adaptability through coordinated rotation.
3Ease of operation
If the seat and back-support are connected with a common pivoting axis at the hip joint, then the ergonomic alignment and comfort are improved, but the manufacturing precision and alignment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-aligning mechanism where the common pivoting axis is designed to naturally follow the hip joint's anatomical position. The motion control means and damping mechanisms work together to automatically maintain proper alignment during movement, reducing the need for high-precision manual alignment during manufacturing while ensuring ergonomic comfort.
4Ease of operation
If motion control means with damping are used, then the control over pivoting movement and pressure distribution are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive damping mechanisms integrated into the motion control means that automatically regulate pivoting movement based on user weight and position. These damping mechanisms require no active control systems, electronics, or complex actuators, providing movement control while minimizing added complexity and cost.
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 improved comfort and reduced fatigue by allowing the seat and back-support units to pivot in synchronization or independently, adapting to the user's position and muscle tone, thereby alleviating muscle tension and skin pressure, and enhancing ergonomic alignment.
Implementation Method 1
The motion control means are for example a gas spring, a damper or an actuator such as e.g. a pneumatic cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The actuators are gas springs provided with damping and stop function
Implementation Method 3
an actuator such as e.g. a pneumatic cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The invention relates to a seating assembly (100) comprising a basic frame (101), a seat unit (102), and a back-support unit (103) wherein the seat unit and the back-support unit have a common pivoting axis (P) with respect to the frame at the level of the hip joint. Hence, based on human body like biomechanics and physiognomy, the seating assembly, particularly for ergonomic chairs or wheelchairs, provides a highly improved seating comfort, even with therapeutic effect.