Base for an item of seating furniture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seating furniture bases or feet, such as those in office chairs and stools, are limited in allowing small movements and vibrations, which are essential for training back muscles without distracting the user, and are often costly and difficult to produce.
Innovation Solution
A foot for seating furniture featuring a plurality of elastic elements protruding from the underside, allowing micro-movements and vibrations in various directions, with elastic materials like polyurethane or rubber, designed to provide both lateral and vertical movements while maintaining stability and preventing tipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ring-shaped base with continuously tapering profile is used, then automatic weight adjustment and increasing resilience are achieved, but smaller micro-movements in lateral direction are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple independent elastic elements (protrusions) instead of a continuous ring-shaped profile. Each elastic element can deform independently, allowing both vertical weight adjustment and lateral micro-movements simultaneously. The segmentation enables the base to provide resilience in the vertical direction while maintaining flexibility for lateral movements.
2Ease of operation
If elastic elements with large protrusion height are used, then lateral and vertical movements are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic elements are merged into a single-piece base structure made from elastic material. The base is produced as one integrated component through injection molding, eliminating the need for separate assembly of multiple parts. This merging approach maintains the movement freedom provided by the elastic protrusions while significantly simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs.
3Ease of operation
If the foot allows extensive movements, then mobility is improved, but stability and resistance against tipping deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base exhibits local quality variations through its elastic protrusions - the localized elastic elements provide mobility and movement freedom at specific points, while the overall base structure maintains stability. The elastic elements are strategically positioned and sized to allow controlled micro-movements without compromising the global stability and anti-tipping characteristics of the entire base structure.
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 foot enables agile and mobile sitting while strengthening back muscles through micro-movements, offering a balance of mobility and stability, and can be produced inexpensively.
Implementation Method 1
the foot rests on a plurality of elastic elements protruding from the underside
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a base (1) for an item of seating furniture (10), particularly for a stool, comprising on its underside (3), which faces the floor (20), a plurality of elastic elements (6) that project from said underside (3). Said elastic elements (6) allow both lateral (P1) and vertical (P2) movements and can preferably be deformed and/or move independently of one another.