Seating Backrest Slat Connection for Flexible User Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating furniture backrests fail to adapt to different individuals' physical builds due to limited deformation under load, resulting in inadequate comfort and support.
Innovation Solution
The backrest arrangement features strips with varying rigidity, where a connecting element with lower rigidity than the strips allows for flexible adaptation to different users by deforming more than the strips, ensuring comfortable and healthy seating for a wide range of people.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the backrest is designed with high mechanical load-bearing capacity, then structural strength is improved, but deformation under load becomes too small to provide individual adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is divided into multiple strips (4, 8, 13, 14) that can independently deform, with each strip connected through flexible connecting elements (7). This segmentation allows different parts of the backrest to adapt individually to the user's back contours while maintaining overall structural integrity and load-bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements (7) are designed with lower rigidity than the strips, creating local flexible zones that enable deformation. This local quality difference allows the backrest to provide individual adaptation at specific points while maintaining global structural strength through the rigid strips.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the backrest is designed to be firmly connected to the seat, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility to adapt to different users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest transitions from a static firmly connected structure to a dynamic system where strips can move relative to each other through the flexible connecting elements. This allows the backrest to adapt its configuration based on the user's body shape while maintaining connection to the seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigidity parameter is varied within the backrest structure - strips have high rigidity for stability while connecting elements have low rigidity for flexibility. This parameter differentiation enables the backrest to simultaneously achieve structural stability and adaptive flexibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single rigid backrest design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but comfort for diverse user populations is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is segmented into multiple identical or similar strips connected by flexible elements, which can be manufactured using standardized processes. This segmentation approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling adaptive comfort through the modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-strip design with flexible connectors creates a universal backrest that can accommodate various user types and body shapes without requiring custom manufacturing for each user, achieving adaptability through a standardized design.
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 enables seating furniture to adjust individually to various users, providing comfort and medical benefits, especially in environments with diverse user populations and for individuals experiencing changes in size or weight over time.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting element 7 enclosing the end region 6, and the strip 4, 8, 13, 14 has a higher rigidity than the connecting element 7
Data Source
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AI summary
In a seating furniture (1) comprising at least one seat arrangement (2) and at least one backrest arrangement (3), wherein the backrest arrangement (3) has at least one slat (4, 8, 13, 14), wherein the seat arrangement (2) comprises at least one receiving opening (5), and wherein an end region (6) of the slat (4, 8, 13, 14) is fixed within the receiving opening (5), it is proposed that a connecting element (7) be arranged between the end region (6) and the receiving opening (5), that the connecting element (7) encloses the end region (6), and that the slat (4, 8, 13, 14) has a higher stiffness than the connecting element (7).