Apparatus with weight responsive changeable adjusting characteristics

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture designs, such as task chairs, face challenges in accommodating users of varying weights due to manual adjusting mechanisms that require iterative adjustments, leading to complexity and potential compromise on manufacturing quality and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable apparatus with a frame, seat, and adjusting assembly that utilizes a combination of gears and spring bars to increase resistance to angular orientation changes based on user weight, allowing for self-adjustment without manual operation of locking or adjusting mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjusting mechanisms are provided to accommodate users of different weights, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different user weightsVSAvoidcomplexity of adjusting mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism automatically adjusts the spring force based on the user's weight without requiring manual intervention. The seat's downward movement under user weight directly loads the spring, which then provides the appropriate biasing force for the backrest, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust tension knobs or levers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring force is made dynamic rather than static, automatically varying with the user's weight. As the user sits down and the seat moves downward, the spring is compressed or extended, automatically providing a biasing force proportional to the user's weight, allowing the system to adapt to different users without manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjusting mechanisms are provided to accommodate users of different weights, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different user weightsVSAvoidease of operation of adjusting mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism automatically adjusts the spring force based on the user's weight without requiring manual intervention. The seat's downward movement under user weight directly loads the spring, which then provides the appropriate biasing force for the backrest, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust tension knobs or levers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is pre-configured to provide the appropriate biasing force automatically when the user sits down. The mechanism performs the adjustment action in advance through the user's natural sitting motion, eliminating the need for subsequent manual adjustments during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If iterative manual adjustments are required to optimize balance, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to optimize balanceVSAvoidtime required for adjustments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism automatically adjusts the spring force based on the user's weight without requiring manual intervention. The seat's downward movement under user weight directly loads the spring, which then provides the appropriate biasing force for the backrest, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust tension knobs or levers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring is pre-configured to provide the appropriate biasing force automatically when the user sits down. The mechanism performs the adjustment action in advance through the user's natural sitting motion, eliminating the need for subsequent manual adjustments during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 apparatus provides a user-friendly, self-adjusting solution that optimizes comfort and balance by requiring a greater leaning force as user weight increases, reducing the complexity of manual adjustments and maintaining optimal configuration without compromising manufacturing quality.

Implementation Method 1

an elongate spring bar that resists bending

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A plurality of gears cooperate and move relative to each other as an incident of the seat moving from the first position into the loaded position to thereby increase a resistance to changing of the angular orientation of the back rest

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS10893753B2Apparatus with weight responsive changeable adjusting characteristics

Publication Date: 2021.01.19 DEJULE AARON

AI summary

A reconfigurable apparatus for seating a user and having: a frame; a seat movable relative to the frame between: a) a first position in which the seat resides with no user sitting on the seat; and b) a loaded position; a back rest with a changeable angular orientation relative to the frame; and an adjusting assembly having a plurality of gears that move relative to each other as an incident of the seat moving from the first position into the loaded position to thereby cause an increase in resistance to changing of the angular orientation of the back rest.