Zero-Wall Recliner Guide Mechanism With Rollers and Inclined Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable furniture support arrangements are mechanically complex, heavy, and costly, making them cumbersome for transportation, handling, and use, and result in manufacturing variations that affect the stiffness or resistance to movement, particularly in manually operated furniture.
Innovation Solution
A support arrangement for adjustable furniture featuring a base, intermediate support, and backrest, utilizing roller bearings and inclined slots to facilitate coordinated movement of the backrest and seat, with a mechanism that includes coil springs and constant force springs to reduce effort required for reclining and deploying the footrest, allowing for a 'zero wall' configuration without interfering with obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional metal linkages and pins are used to support moveable parts, then the furniture can achieve the required range of movement, but the support arrangement becomes mechanically complex and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The support arrangement is divided into separate functional modules: a guide arrangement with inclined slots that defines movement paths, and roller bearings that execute the movement. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex interconnected metal linkages while maintaining the required range of motion through coordinated movement of the seat and backrest.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical linkage system is replaced by a guide-roller system where inclined slots (guides) define the movement trajectory and roller bearings execute the motion. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity by eliminating pins, bushes, and multiple linkages in favor of a simpler sliding and rolling mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional metal linkages and pins are used to support moveable parts, then the furniture can achieve the required range of movement, but the weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The support arrangement is divided into separate functional modules: a guide arrangement with inclined slots that defines movement paths, and roller bearings that execute the movement. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex interconnected metal linkages while maintaining the required range of motion through coordinated movement of the seat and backrest.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical linkage system is replaced by a guide-roller system where inclined slots (guides) define the movement trajectory and roller bearings execute the motion. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity by eliminating pins, bushes, and multiple linkages in favor of a simpler sliding and rolling mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional metal linkages with multiple connections are used, then the furniture can achieve the required range of movement, but manufacturing variations affect the stiffness and resistance to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the movement-defining function from the mechanical linkages and concentrates it into fixed guide slots with predetermined inclines. By separating the guidance function (fixed slots) from the movement execution function (roller bearings), the system eliminates tolerance accumulation that occurs in traditional multi-connection linkage systems, ensuring consistent stiffness and resistance throughout the range of motion.
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex support arrangements are used, then the furniture can achieve the required range of movement, but the cost of manufacture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the movement-defining function from the mechanical linkages and concentrates it into fixed guide slots with predetermined inclines. By separating the guidance function (fixed slots) from the movement execution function (roller bearings), the system eliminates tolerance accumulation that occurs in traditional multi-connection linkage systems, ensuring consistent stiffness and resistance throughout the range of motion.
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 simplifies the mechanical complexity, reduces weight and cost, enhances user effortlessness in adjusting positions, and maintains furniture usability while allowing for a 'zero wall' functionality, ensuring smooth movement and reduced manufacturing variations.
Implementation Method 1
roller bearings and inclined slots to facilitate coordinated movement
Implementation Method 2
coil springs and constant force springs to reduce effort required for reclining
Implementation Method 3
coil springs and constant force springs to reduce effort required for reclining and deploying the footrest
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention concerns an article of adjustable furniture such as a recliner chair (10) or adjustable bed (200) comprising a base (16), an intermediate support (18) and a back support (20). The intermediate support is guided for movement relative to the base by first guide means. The back support is guided for movement relative to both the base and intermediate support by second guide means. The first guide means include at least one guide (36, 38) associated with one of the base and intermediate support and at least one follower (32, 34) associated with the other of the base and intermediate support. The second guide means includes at least one guide (76) associated with one of the base support and the back support and at least one follower (48) associated with the other of the base support and the back support. The back support is mounted for pivotal movement (74) with respect to the intermediate support. The first and second guide means are arranged such that, in use, pivoting of the back support relative to the intermediate support causes the intermediate support to move with respect to the base in a forward and possibly upward manner when the back support is reclined or raised to provide a "zero-wall" item of furniture.