Suspended pixelated seating structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seating structures often fail to adequately support localized body irregularities, leading to discomfort despite advancements in general comfort and form-fitting designs.
Innovation Solution
A suspended pixelated seating structure comprising multiple cooperative layers, including a macro compliance layer with primary support rails and tensile expansion members, a micro compliance layer with independent spring elements, and a load support layer with pixels, allowing for flexible and durable support of non-uniform shapes and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a seating structure is designed to conform to general body shapes, then global comfort is improved, but localized discomfort occurs due to inability to adapt to body irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The seating structure is divided into multiple independent load-bearing elements (pixels) arranged in an array. Each pixel can independently deflect and conform to localized body irregularities while contributing to overall support. This segmentation allows different regions to adapt independently to various body shapes and irregularities, resolving the contradiction between global comfort and localized adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pixel in the array is designed with specific load-bearing characteristics that can be varied across different positions in the array. This allows different regions of the seating structure to have different compliance and support properties tailored to specific body areas, enabling both general body shape conformance and localized adaptation to irregularities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cooperative layers are added to improve comfort and adaptation, then adaptability to localized irregularities is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seating structure employs nested layers where a first array of pixels is positioned within a second array of pixels. This nested configuration allows multiple functional layers to be integrated in a compact manner, providing both macro and micro compliance while minimizing overall structural complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixels are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: they provide load bearing support, enable compliance for comfort, allow independent deflection for localized adaptation, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby managing complexity while achieving high 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 structure provides maximized global comfort and support while adapting to localized irregularities, ensuring comfort and durability by independently conforming to various body shapes and loads without affecting adjacent regions.
Implementation Method 1
The multiple spring elements each include a top and a deflection member. Each of the multiple spring elements may independently deflect under a load based upon a variety of factors, including the spring type, relative position of the spring element within the suspended pixelated seating structure, spring material, spring dimensions, connection type to other elements of the suspended pixelated seating structure, and other factors.
Implementation Method 2
The macro compliance layer may also include multiple tensile expansion members which may include an aligned material to facilitate deflection of the macro compliance layer when a load is imposed.
Implementation Method 3
The macro compliance layer further includes multiple expansion control strands connected between the multiple primary support rails. As the tensile expansion members facilitate deflection of the macro compliance layer, the expansion control strands may inhibit excess deflection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A suspended pixelated seating structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The suspended pixelated seating structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each use independent elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The suspended pixelated seating structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable suspended seating structure. Accordingly, the suspended pixelated seating structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.