Tilted Stool Base With Counterweight for Dynamic Office Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dynamic seating arrangements, such as exercise balls, are not suitable for office or work environments due to their distracting and unconventional shape, which can hinder focus and attention required for tasks, and lack an aesthetic suitable for office settings.
Innovation Solution
A stool with a rounded bottom surface and a mass positioned beneath the seat to maintain equilibrium in a tilted orientation, allowing for dynamic seating benefits while maintaining an aesthetic and functional configuration suitable for office use, featuring a height adjustment mechanism and a base that can tilt to various orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional chair is used, then the aesthetic appearance and suitability for office environment is maintained, but the dynamic seating benefits and postural adjustment capabilities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The stool is divided into two main segments: a conventional-looking seat portion and a rounded base portion. This segmentation allows the seat to maintain a traditional aesthetic while the base provides dynamic seating functionality through its rounded shape that enables tilting and rocking motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The base of the stool incorporates a rounded, spheroidal bottom surface that allows the stool to tilt and rock smoothly. This curved geometry provides dynamic seating benefits by enabling postural adjustments while the overall form remains compact and aesthetically pleasing for office environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an exercise ball is used, then the dynamic seating benefits are provided, but the distracting shape and unconventional form make it unsuitable for office environments
Solution Approach 1:
The stool separates the dynamic functionality (rounded base) from the seating surface, creating a compact form that is less distracting than a full exercise ball while still providing tilting and rocking motions for postural adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded base provides the necessary curvature for dynamic seating without the excessive bulk and distraction of a complete exercise ball, creating a more office-appropriate form factor that still enables beneficial movements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a stool with rounded bottom surface is used, then the dynamic seating benefits and aesthetic suitability are achieved, but the complexity of positioning and maintaining equilibrium increases
Solution Approach 1:
A mass is positioned beneath the seat to create a counterweight that establishes a predetermined equilibrium tilted orientation. This counterweight mechanism automatically positions the stool at the desired angle without requiring user intervention or complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The stool automatically assumes its equilibrium tilted orientation through the strategically positioned mass, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or complex control systems. The design self-regulates to provide the optimal tilted position for dynamic seating.
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 provides the benefits of dynamic seating while being aesthetically and functionally suitable for office environments, promoting improved posture and comfort without distracting from work tasks, allowing for adjustable tilt and height to accommodate different user needs.
Implementation Method 1
A mass is positioned beneath the seat so that the base is at equilibrium in a first tilted orientation relative to the floor
Data Source
AI summary
An article of furniture is disclosed. The article of furniture comprises a stool configured to be used on a generally horizontal surface such as a floor. The stool comprises a seat and a base comprising a rounded bottom surface configured to rest upon the floor. A mass is positioned beneath the seat so that the base is at equilibrium in a first tilted orientation relative to the floor. The base can be tilted to second tilted orientation relative to the floor by tilting the rounded bottom surface of the base relative to the floor.