Segmented Flexible Seating Assembly for Continuous Posture Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ergonomic seating solutions fail to provide continuous and adaptable support for users with different body types and postures during extended sitting periods, leading to discomfort and increased risk of cumulative trauma disorders due to uneven pressure distribution and lack of flexibility in seat and backrest adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The ergonomic seating assembly features flexible seat and back panels supported by elastic vibration dampers, arc springs, or air springs, divided into multiple sections to accommodate various anthropometric values, ensuring continuous contact and adjustable support, mimicking the natural curvature of the human spine for improved comfort and pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the seat and backrest are made as a single rigid structure, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the adaptability to different body types and postures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seat and backrest are divided into multiple independent segments (front seat portion, rear seat portion, upper backrest portion, lower backrest portion) that can move and adjust independently. Each segment is connected through flexible joints allowing relative movement to accommodate different body types and postures while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment mechanisms are added to accommodate different postures, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat and backrest segments are designed with dynamic flexibility through elastic materials and spring elements that automatically adjust to user body contours and movements. This eliminates the need for multiple manual adjustment mechanisms while maintaining high adaptability to different postures and body types
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible joints and spring elements allow continuous variation of geometric parameters (angles, distances, curvatures) between seat and backrest segments. This enables adaptive posture support through parameter changes rather than discrete adjustment mechanisms
3Stress or pressure
If the contact surface between body and chair is increased, then the pressure distribution improves, but the ability to follow dynamic body movements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The large contact surface is divided into multiple smaller segments that can independently move and conform to body contours. This segmentation allows the overall contact area to remain large for pressure distribution while individual segments can dynamically adjust to follow body movements
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented contact surfaces are connected through flexible joints and spring elements that enable continuous movement and adaptation to dynamic body postures. This maintains large contact area for pressure distribution while providing the responsiveness needed for dynamic posture following
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 solution provides enhanced comfort and reduced risk of injury by maintaining constant body contact and uniform pressure distribution, adapting to different postures and body types through multiple flexibility mechanisms, thereby improving sitting well-being and safety.
Implementation Method 1
elastic waisted vibration dampers
Implementation Method 2
vibration dampers
Implementation Method 3
arc spring
Implementation Method 4
air springs
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to an ergonomic seating assembly and method configured to support users in multiple postures regardless of their body built, with movable panels (10,11,101-103,111-113,104,105,114,115) that provide continuous full support of the body during seating by flexible back and seat panels (10,11,101-103,111-113,104,105,114,115), while the user performs various tasks over extended sitting periods and that provide independent and independently adjustable support to the back and seat. By this movable panels (10,11,101-103,111-113,104,105,114,115) the users are able to maintain a stable and constantly consistent posture.