The Big, the Burly and the Broad Need Plus Size Recliners

by: Michael O'Brien

For a variety of reasons, the furniture market is changing with the times. Furniture designers are challenged to provide us with furniture that is comfortable, durable and affordable. For many years, and using a combination of factors, furniture designers have created furniture that takes a middle of the road approach. This one size fits all solution works for most folks but for people who are big, tall or somewhere in between, the answer lies elsewhere.

Whether you call it plus size, big man or big and tall furniture, consumers of all shapes and sizes can find the comfort and durability they need. Much of the progress in furniture design can be attributed to the science of ergonomics. Often referred to as human engineering, the principles of ergonomics has been an applied since the days of the ancient Greeks.

The application of ergonomics became institutionalized during the Industrial Revolution. Mass production often depends on the repetitive movements of workers and machines. Anyone who is familiar with the old saying that time is money knows that the concepts of utilization and efficiency are important considerations to a manufacturer. Finding ways to make workers more efficient became a prime mover behind the developing science of ergonomics. Only later did human engineering become a factor in improving safety and worker health.

During World War Two and in the years after, the science of ergonomics was focused on how consumers and users would benefit from improved designs. From tank drivers to housewives, people began to see the affects of ergonomic design. The post war years saw an explosion of consumer goods never before seen. As competition for consumer dollars increased, manufacturers looked for ways to differentiate their products from the competition. At the same time, consumers began to demand ease of use, comfort and durability in the products they bought.

The wide spread availability of plus size furniture is partly the result of ergonomics. Most furniture manufacturers conduct lots of market research on everything from style to fabric color. Ergonomic design principles have been increasingly utilized in response to the growing demand for plus size furniture.

Spring cushion types of furniture such as mattresses, recliners, sofas and chairs are a particularly interesting subject for ergonomic designers. Spring tension, spring wire thickness and the number of springs needed are just a few of the issues that ergonomic designers and design engineers. For example, when designing a big man recliner, designers will try to calculate the strength of seat springs.

The recliner mechanism which is the heart of any big man recliner is of particular interest to designers. The average recliner mechanism has multiple pivot points that must operate smoothly. The mechanism must be strong enough to not only support a person’s weight but operate repeatedly over many years. Testing of the mechanism for a big man recliner may include cycling the movement thousand of times. Not only will the movement be cycled thousands of times, weight, perhaps hundreds of pounds, will be applied.

The mechanisms for big man and plus size recliners are typically made with steel that is of a heavier gauge that the average recliner. It is not uncommon for big man recliners to be built with seven gauge steel. Joints and fasteners must be sufficiently strong to hold up over time.

So when shopping for a plus size or big man recliner, remember the amount of work that goes into producing a quality piece of furniture. Whether you are big, broad, burly or tall, look past the color and the fabric to find a big man recliner that is right for you.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien is Staff Writer for FineWebStores.com