Spring Stool with Helical Springs and Casters for Active Sitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating solutions, such as ergonomic chairs and standing desks, often fail to promote healthy movement, leading to adverse health effects like weakened muscles and nerve and circulation problems due to prolonged sedentary periods, and may not be suitable for tasks requiring high concentration.
Innovation Solution
A stool design featuring a base with non-slip legs and spring-loaded casters, coupled with a system of helical springs and a rotational joint that allows for adjustable height and movement, facilitating tilting and translational motion to encourage active sitting and maintain user engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional ergonomic chairs are used, then comfort is improved, but healthy movement is not promoted leading to weakened muscles and circulation problems
Solution Approach 1:
The stool employs a dynamic design with spring-loaded casters that allow the base to move and tilt in response to user weight and movement. The helical springs enable the seat to rock and tilt forward/backward, promoting active sitting and engagement of core muscles while maintaining comfort during concentrated tasks.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If standing desks are used, then healthy movement is promoted, but they are not suitable for tasks requiring high concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The stool provides a dynamic sitting experience that promotes healthy movement through tilting and rocking motions enabled by the spring mechanism. The seat can tilt forward to encourage an active posture during concentrated tasks, while the spring-loaded casters allow for subtle movements that engage muscles without requiring the user to stand.
3Reliability
If spring-loaded casters are added to the base, then rolling risk is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded casters are integrated directly into the base structure, combining the caster function with the spring mechanism. This merging of functions allows the casters to provide rolling motion when needed while the spring mechanism automatically retracts them to prevent unwanted rolling, reducing overall structural complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If helical springs are used to enable tilting motion, then healthy movement is promoted, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design utilizes standard helical spring parameters that can be adjusted to achieve the desired tilting motion. By changing spring constants, wire diameters, and coil counts, the system promotes healthy movement through controlled rocking and tilting while using commercially available spring manufacturing tolerances rather than requiring custom precision manufacturing.
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 stool promotes healthy movement and engagement of core muscles, reducing the risk of injury and maintaining focus during concentrated tasks while minimizing the risk of rolling and providing a stable seating experience.
Implementation Method 1
A lower helical spring may be coupled to the base. A connecting member may comprise a first end coupled to the lower helical spring... An upper helical spring may be coupled to the second end of the connecting member.
Data Source
AI summary
A stool can include a base including at least three legs with each leg including a non-slip member and a spring-loaded caster. A lower helical spring may be coupled to the base. A connecting member may comprise a first end coupled to the lower helical spring, a second end opposite the first end, and a central axis that extends between the first end and the second end. An upper helical spring may be coupled to the second end of the connecting member. A rotational joint may be coupled to the upper helical spring. A seat may be coupled to the rotational joint and configured to rotate about the central axis of the connecting member. The base, lower helical spring, upper helical spring, rotational joint, and seat may share a common vertical axis with the central axis of the connecting member when at rest.