Weight-Adaptive Seat Structure Using Elastic Support Arms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seats that automatically adjust to user body weight are complex and costly, often requiring heavy construction and complex mechanisms to change spring forces or characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A seat design featuring supporting arms with upper and lower supports that move in an arcuate profile, allowing for a pulling-back movement to adjust the seat position independently of user weight, eliminating the need for weight-dependent spring presets through elastic deformability and a slotted-guide mechanism, enabling a seesaw-like movement that compensates for potential energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If weighing devices and complex mechanisms are used to automatically adapt the seat to body weight, then the seat can provide basic compensation for different body weights, but the constructional complexity increases and costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The seat element is designed to automatically adapt to different body weights through its own elastic deformation characteristics. The supporting arms with arcuate profiles and connecting links create a mechanism that self-adjusts based on the load applied, eliminating the need for external weighing devices or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using the body weight directly to deform the elastic components, which then provide appropriate compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the weighing device and complex control mechanisms from the seat system. Instead of using these removed components, the patent relies on the inherent elastic properties of the supporting arms and connecting links to provide body weight adaptation. This extraction simplifies the overall construction while maintaining the essential function of adapting to different users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If weighing devices and complex mechanisms are used to automatically adapt the seat to body weight, then the seat can provide basic compensation for different body weights, but the seat becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The seat element uses its own elastic deformation capacity to adapt to body weight without requiring additional heavy components. The supporting arms and connecting links are designed with specific arcuate profiles that allow them to deform elastically under different loads, providing automatic adaptation while keeping the overall seat weight low. The system leverages the body weight itself to drive the adjustment mechanism rather than requiring powered actuators or heavy springs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the supporting arms by giving them arcuate profiles and making them elastic rather than rigid. This allows the structural parameters (shape and flexibility) to change in response to body weight, enabling adaptation without adding heavy adjustment mechanisms. The connecting links similarly use elastic deformation to adjust the geometry of the seat element based on the applied load.
3Adaptability or versatility
If spring forces are changed using complex mechanisms, then the seat can compensate for different body weights, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanisms to change spring forces, the invention changes the geometric parameters of the supporting arms through arcuate profiles. The curved shape of these arms creates a mechanical effect that naturally adjusts the restoring force based on the degree of deformation, which varies with body weight. This geometric parameter change replaces the need for adjustable springs or complex force-modification mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting arms are given arcuate (curved) profiles instead of straight rigid forms. This curvature is essential to the invention as it creates a geometric relationship where the angle and length of the supporting arm change with deformation, naturally adjusting the mechanical advantage and restoring force. The curved geometry provides body weight compensation through pure geometry rather than requiring adjustable spring forces or complex mechanisms.
4Force
If the seat element is designed to be actively displaced to influence position, then the restoring force required is reduced, but the elastic deformability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the supporting arms through arcuate profiles, which allows the mechanism to do more work during the pulling-back movement. The curved geometry converts some of the elastic deformation into useful mechanical work that moves the seat element forward, reducing the amount of force needed from the restoring spring. The parameter change in shape enables a more efficient energy transfer that reduces the required restoring force.
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 seat provides comfortable adjustment for users of varying weights without the need for complex mechanisms or heavy construction, maintaining equilibrium of forces between seat parts and backrests, thus reducing construction costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the upper support and the lower support having an arcuate profile in the region B of the rear seat part and in the region C of the lower backrest part
Implementation Method 2
the upper support being guided in a region A of the front seat part by at least one guide element
Implementation Method 3
the upper support and the lower support being positioned with respect to each other in the region B of the rear seat part or in the region C of the lower backrest part by at least one connecting link
Implementation Method 4
The active displacement or deformation of the seat element makes it possible to influence the position of an individual sitting on the seat relative to the underframe of the seat and, by this means, to counteract the loss of potential energy when the individual leans back
Data Source
AI summary
A seating structure including a base, a pair of laterally spaced support arms each having a seat portion and a backrest portion and a transition portion joining the seat portion and backrest portion, wherein the support arms are coupled to the base. A body support member extends between and is connected to the support arms and includes at least a seat portion and a backrest portion. A support element is coupled to the base and includes a central support arm extending upwardly along a centerline of the backrest portion of the body support member. The central support arm is spaced rearwardly from the backrest portions of the support arms and further includes a pair of laterally extending struts connecting the central support arm and the laterally spaced support arms.