Segmented Chair Back with Vertical-Axis Torso Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Typical office chairs restrict torso rotation when a seated worker needs to interact with coworkers or reach objects to the side, often resulting in uncomfortable contact with nearby surfaces during horizontal seat rotation.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable chair back design featuring a J-shaped lower section attached to the chair seat and a Y-shaped upper section with vertically extending rigid supports, allowing independent horizontal rotation of the upper torso section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the chair seat is rotated horizontally to allow the worker to interact with coworkers or reach objects to the side, then the worker's mobility is improved, but the worker's knees may painfully contact the nearby cabinets
Solution Approach 1:
The chair back is divided into an upper rotatable section and a lower fixed section. The upper section can rotate independently about vertical supports, allowing the worker's torso to turn without rotating the entire chair seat, thus avoiding knee contact with cabinets while maintaining upper body mobility for interaction.
2Strength
If the chair back is made rigid to provide strong support, then the structural strength is improved, but the worker's ability to rotate the torso independently is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The chair back is segmented into a rigid lower section that provides structural support and an upper section that can rotate independently. The vertical supports connect these sections, allowing the upper section to rotate while the lower section remains stable, thus providing both strength and rotation freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The chair back transitions from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic structure where the upper section can rotate about vertical supports. This allows the chair back to adapt to the worker's movement needs while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid lower section and support columns.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable chair back includes a lower section attachable to a chair seat, a flexible Y-shaped upper section for supporting a chair back frame, and two rigid supports extending substantially vertically into and between the upper section and the lower section. In use, the substantially vertical supports each serve as an axis of rotation about which the upper section may rotate relative to the lower section.