A seating support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating supports with fixed parallel, horizontal thigh channels fail to accommodate individuals with severe physical disabilities, such as those with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, who require customized thigh support to maintain comfort and safety, as their support needs change over time.
Innovation Solution
A customizable seating support system featuring thigh supports connected to a posterior portion via multi-directional connections, allowing independent adjustment of tilt and pivot, enabling each thigh support to tilt upwardly or downwardly and pivot outwardly or inwardly, with adjustable angle and height settings to accommodate varying user needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed parallel horizontal thigh channels are used in seat base, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seating support is divided into separate thigh support portions that can be independently positioned. Each thigh support portion can be separately adjusted to different locations on the seat base, allowing customization for individual user needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The thigh support portions are made movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The positioning mechanism allows the thigh supports to be repositioned along the seat base to accommodate changing user requirements, transforming a static structure into a dynamic, adaptable system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If customised seat base is manufactured for specific user needs, then adaptability to user needs is improved, but device complexity and cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than manufacturing a completely customised seat base, the invention uses standardized seat bases with add-on thigh support portions that provide customization. This segmented approach delivers personalised support without requiring complex custom manufacturing of the entire seat base.
Solution Approach 2:
The thigh support portions are designed to be universally applicable to standard seat bases while providing customized support functions. The same thigh support components can be used across different users and seat base models, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If thigh channels are positioned at fixed locations, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ease of operation and comfort for severe disabilities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thigh support portions are designed to be repositionable by users or caregivers according to individual needs. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same simple structure to provide optimal comfort and support for users with severe physical disabilities who require specific thigh positioning.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~4b
AI summary
The invention provides a customizable seating support for a seat base that is particularly useful for supporting a physically disabled person in a chair, such as a wheelchair. The seating support includes a posterior portion and a pair of thigh supports that are connected to the posterior portion, via a multi-directional connection, so that the position of at least one thigh support is independently adjustable to tilt upwardly or downwardly or to pivot outwardly relative to the posterior portion to an abducted position. In some embodiments, at least one of the thigh supports may be configured to pivot inwardly relative to the posterior portion to an adducted position.