Integrated chair back and seat movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional low-cost stacking chairs lack the ability for the chair back to recline relative to the seat, and existing ganging mechanisms often cause damage when not used in ganged applications, failing to provide ergonomic comfort and efficient row formation.
Innovation Solution
A chair design featuring a pivotally connected chair back and seat with integral ganging arms that can move between operative and storage positions, allowing the chair back and seat to recline together, and enabling adjacent chairs to be joined or separated without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the chair back is made stationary relative to the seat, then the chair structure is simple and cost-effective, but the ergonomic comfort and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The chair back is designed to be dynamic rather than stationary, allowing it to recline relative to the seat. This is achieved through a pivot connection between the chair back and seat, enabling the chair back to move between upright and reclined positions while maintaining structural simplicity and cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The chair back and seat are integrated as a single movable unit, where the chair back is pivotally connected to the seat frame. This integration allows both components to move together, providing ergonomic comfort while maintaining a simple overall structure that is easy to manufacture
2Adaptability or versatility
If the chair back is made movable relative to the seat, then the ergonomic comfort is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single degree of freedom pivot mechanism is used to enable chair back movement, providing ergonomic functionality without complex multi-axis mechanisms. The pivot connection allows smooth reclining motion while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The recline angle and movement characteristics are optimized through parameter selection in the pivot mechanism design, allowing ergonomic comfort to be achieved with a relatively simple mechanical system rather than complex active control mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ganging arms are extended from the side of the chair, then the row formation capability is improved, but the chair structure complexity and potential for damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ganging arms are designed as movable components that can be positioned in operative and storage locations. This dynamic positioning allows the arms to extend for row formation when needed and retract to minimize structure complexity and reduce potential for damage during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The ganging mechanism is segmented into movable arms that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the arms to be extended only when needed for row formation, reducing overall structure complexity and minimizing exposure to potential damage
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ganging arms are made movable between positions, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ganging arms utilize simple pivot connections and spring mechanisms to enable movement between operative and storage positions. This dynamic design provides positioning flexibility while maintaining relatively low device complexity through passive mechanical means rather than active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
Spring mechanisms are used to automatically position the ganging arms in their appropriate locations. The springs provide the force needed to move and hold the arms in operative or storage positions without requiring external actuation, reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability
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 chair provides ergonomic comfort by allowing the chair back and seat to recline together, while the ganging arms facilitate efficient row formation without damage when not in use, enhancing user experience and practicality.
Implementation Method 1
A bias spring is positioned between the support frame and the seat to urge the seat and the chair back into the upright position
Implementation Method 2
The glide tracks include a chrome upper surface that interacts with the glides to provide a desired amount of friction and feedback to a seat occupant during movement from the upright position to the reclined position
Data Source
AI summary
A chair having an integrally molded chair back and seat that move together upon reclining movement of a user. The seat includes a series of glides that travel along a glide track mounted to a fixed support frame. A bias spring, connects the support frame to the seat and chair back to urge the seat and chair back into an upright position. The chair includes a pair of ganging arms that are movable. between a storage position and an operative position. In the storage position, the ganging arms are concealed within a bottom cover. When in the extended, operative position, the ganging arms allow multiple chairs to be ganged together.