Seat assembly for task-oriented seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current task-oriented seating options fail to provide sufficient support and comfort over long periods, especially for users who need to ingress and egress frequently, and do not adequately address the anatomical and positional variations of users without increasing complexity or expense.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a movable seat and support system featuring a cushioned armature with bias elements, force-absorbing mounts, and adjustable components to deflect and adapt to user load and position, ensuring customized support and comfort through individually tuned areas of stiffness and deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the seat is made rigid to provide stable support, then stability is improved, but comfort and adaptability to user anatomy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into multiple independent deflection zones (front, middle, rear) with different stiffness characteristics. Each zone contains specific numbers and types of bias elements (coils, foams, rubber) that can deflect independently, allowing the seat to adapt to different anatomical features while maintaining overall stability through the structured arrangement of these segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the seat have different deflection properties tailored to local anatomical needs. The front area has higher deflection for thigh comfort, the middle area provides moderate support for the坐骨, and the rear area offers specific deflection for lumbar support. This local differentiation allows simultaneous stability and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the seat is made soft and deflectable to improve comfort, then comfort is improved, but stability and support deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seat combines multiple materials with different mechanical properties (coils providing elastic recovery, foams providing cushioning, rubber providing damping) arranged in specific configurations. This composite structure delivers both comfort through material softness and stability through the structural arrangement and interplay of different material properties.
3Reliability
If multiple bias elements are added to improve support distribution, then support quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bias elements are segmented into functional groups (front coils, middle foams, rear rubber elements) with each group serving a specific anatomical purpose. This segmentation improves support quality by targeting specific body areas while keeping the overall structure manageable through clear functional zoning rather than random distribution of many elements.
4Ease of operation
If the seat is designed for frequent ingress and egress, then ease of use is improved, but durability and support consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seat employs dynamic bias elements (coils, foams, rubber) that can deflect and recover repeatedly. These elements are designed to accommodate frequent loading and unloading cycles during ingress and egress while maintaining consistent support characteristics through their elastic and viscoelastic properties, ensuring reliability despite frequent use.
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 solution provides enhanced comfort, support, and adaptability to various user anatomies and positions, reducing pressure on thighs and preventing sliding, while maintaining stability and ease of use, thereby improving user experience and well-being.
Implementation Method 1
The seat has a cushion molded over a supporting armature with multiple bias elements... at least some of the multiple bias elements can be positioned in the rear area to be individually deflectable to support the user's ischial tuberosities
Implementation Method 2
The seat can be coupled to the seat support by multiple force absorbing mounts and/or force isolating mounts. The mounts can comprise resilient bushing members.
Implementation Method 3
The seat can be coupled to the seat support by at least one slide on the armature positioned to slidingly engage a ramp on the seat support. The slide can be positioned, when the seat is in use, to move laterally or vertically on the ramp relative to a medial axis of the seat, as well to rotate relative to one or both of two horizontal axes.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly for task-oriented seating comprises a seat support and a seat coupled to the seat support. The seat is movable under load, such as from the user's weight and movements, relative to the seat support. The seat has a cushion molded over a supporting armature with multiple bias elements. The seat and seat support are configured to deflect by predetermined amounts at defined locations over an extent of the seat assembly. In this way, the seat assembly provides for a range of comfortable and effective positions for users engaged in different active motions and having different preferences and sizes.