| 요약2 |
It is said that the field of ergonomics has been applied to the design of numerous products to improve their utility after World War 2. The functional properties and form of office chairs produced in post World War Japan have undergone a particularly marked evolution compared to other office furniture. Notably, numerous reclining systems for office chairs have been developed to accommodate the various positions of the body assumed at work. The ergonomics concepts that have been applied to the development of office chairs particularly is one the reasons why office chairs have improved in post World War furniture design. This paper will explore the ergonomic development of reclining mechanisms for chairs by examining the changes in reclining mechanisms and ergonomics concepts since World War 2. It was found that the reclining mechanisms developed after the war were of three basic types: a reclining mechanism (Type 1), a backrest reclining mechanism with a synchronized seat pan (Type 2), and a backrest reclining mechanism with a synchronized seat pan and at least part of the backrest having flexible material (Type 3). Some mechanisms (Type2, Type3) were developed subsequent to the office automation of the 1980s. There has been a shift in the shaft position of reclining mechanisms over time, intended to decrease pressure on the thigh when workers lean on their backrest. The shift in shaft position was decided based on a human body model. The reclining mechanism is an important property of office chair development and is thought to have evolved as a human oriented concept (ergonomics). |