Spring Strut for Pendulating Chair with Play-Free Clamping Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dynamic seating furniture, such as pendulating stools, often have complex and expensive mechanical systems that limit the extent of dynamic sitting, leading to insufficient stress on back muscles and intervertebral discs, resulting in wear and tear, degeneration, and health issues.
Innovation Solution
A spring strut design for pendulating chairs featuring a central cylindrical shaft mounted on axially displaceable guide elements within a shaft cage, with resilient support arms and casters, ensuring play-free and noiseless movement during vertical and pendular deflections up to 15°, achieved through a clamping mechanism that tensions the casters against the center shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical systems are used in pendulating stools, then the extent of dynamic sitting is limited, but the manufacturing cost increases and the structure becomes too complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system is divided into modular components: a pendulum mechanism for lateral movement, a spring mechanism for vertical oscillation, and a base assembly with rollers. Each component can be independently designed, manufactured, and adjusted, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full dynamic sitting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The base assembly serves multiple functions: it provides mobility through rollers, supports the pendulum mechanism for lateral movement, and houses the spring mechanism for vertical oscillation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex mechanisms, lowering manufacturing cost and structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If passive sitting is used, then the seating furniture is comfortable and pleasant, but the back muscles are subjected to little to no stress leading to wear and tear and degeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The seating furniture transitions from a static passive sitting position to a dynamic active sitting position. The pendulum mechanism enables lateral swinging movements, while the spring mechanism facilitates vertical oscillations. These dynamic movements continuously engage back muscles, preventing degeneration while maintaining comfort through controlled motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is designed to produce periodic vertical oscillations at a frequency that naturally engages back muscles without causing discomfort. This periodic action simulates the up-and-down movement occurring during walking and running, providing therapeutic muscle stimulation while maintaining seating comfort.
3Ease of operation
If the casters are not tensioned against the center shaft, then the movement is freer, but play and noise occur during pendular movements
Solution Approach 1:
A spring element is introduced that applies a constant tension force to the casters, pressing them against the center shaft. This counteracts the tendency for play and loose movement, ensuring play-free and noiseless operation during pendular movements up to 15°, while still allowing the necessary freedom of movement for dynamic sitting.
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 design provides a durable and efficient active dynamic seating experience with reduced wear and tear, enhancing the loading of the spine through controlled movements, thereby improving user health by maintaining muscle engagement and reducing static pressure on intervertebral discs.
Implementation Method 1
The guide elements each have a spring body on which resilient support arms are provided
Implementation Method 2
a caster which is mounted rotatably on a shaft
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a spring strut (1) for a pendulating chair (100) comprising a central cylindrical middle shaft (10) which is mounted in an axially displaceable manner on a plurality of guide elements (30) in a shaft cage (20) which can be received in a cylindrical securing sleeve (40) having an inner jacket (41), wherein the guide elements (30) each have a spring body (31) on which resilient support arms (32), each with a clamping contour (K), are provided, and a caster (34) which is mounted rotatably on a shaft (33), wherein the shaft cage (20), for resilient mounting of the spring bodies (31), forms respective recesses (21) in each of which a spring body (31) is mounted with clamping, and the respective spring body (31) bears with clamping with its clamping contour (K) on a mating contour on the shaft cage (20).