The design of an ergonomic lightweight folding chair

Abstract

Chair is one of the most often used tools for human being. The main function of chair is to support body mass of the user. In sitting position, human body consumes less energy than in standing position. In that case, somebody who is sitting on a chair feels more comfortable than when they are standing. Unfortunately, in some occasions people often have to stand for a long period of time because there are no seats available. It will be very pleasant if they are provided with hand carried chair. Folding chair is an alternative for people who often traveling for instance in Parahyangan train, as there are chances that they don’t get seats but they must make the journey. This research aims at designing a handy chair which is lightweight, firm, and ergonomic. Handy refers to be easily folded into a compact form and easily hand carried. This chair should also have a firm, lightweight, thin frame construction but strong enough to support the user weight. This research consists of generating preliminary design, applying ergonomic concept, material selection process, and developing the final design. Application of ergonomic factors in this research aims at making the chair comfortable for the user. Material selection process is also very essential in order to make the design having light and firm characteristics. The final result is a folding chair design that has lightweight, compact, firm, and ergonomic characteristics.