Design template

Abstract

A design template includes a torso section being one of a group of a 95percentile male, 50percentile male and 5percentile female having each being one of a group of an ERECT posture, a NEUTRAL posture and a SLUMPED posture.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001] This application claims priority to and all benefits of the copending provisional application having U.S. Serial No. 60 / 032,940, filed Dec. 9, 1996, entitled SEAT DESIGN TEMPLATE.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates generally to two-dimensional templates and, more particularly, to a two-dimensional design template used for designing, evaluating and measuring human occupant accommodation and seating in a seated environment.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art for Automotive Vehicle Seats[0005] Automotive vehicle seats have three primary functions: (1) position occupant for the driving task; (2) support comfortable healthy sitting postures; and (3) protect occupant upon vehicle impact. A deformable pad on a mechanically adjustable seat frame accomplishes the first function and the second function is accomplished through the geometrical and mechanical properties of the deformable pad composed of padding...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide seat designers with a design template that accurately represents the centerline position and posture of the occupant.

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a design template that correctly describes the deformed shape of the interface between occupant and seat and describes the location of anatomical details relative to these contours.

[0026] One advantage of the present invention is that a design template is provided to design, evaluate and measure vehicle occupant accommodation. Another advantage of the present invention is that a design template is provided to represent the occupant that incorporates posture as part of their geometric representation of the occupant. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the design template correctly represents the anatomy, biomechanics, and anthropometry of typical human occupants and is simple to use. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the design template accurately defines the contact contours between the occupant and seat. A further advantage of the present invention is that a seat can be designed with the design template to provide support and comfort to a human body occupant. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the design template can be used to design an occupant restraint system for a seat. A still further advantage of the present invention is that the design template can be used to establish occupant accommodation criteria in a vehicle package based on a predetermined class of vehicles.

Problems solved by technology

Oscar is not constructed for seat design but has become an industry standard because there is no suitable tool that identifies the location of the occupant's torso in the seat.

One disadvantage of the above tool is that the point of greatest deflection in the deformable pad or seat cushion is defined on the thigh segment which means that the location of this point is dependent upon thigh angle.

Another disadvantage with the above tool for use as a seat design tool is the posture of the torso in the above tool is undefined.

The above tool does not provide any information regarding the location of the anatomical structures that define this posture.

Yet another disadvantage of the above tool is that the contour of the interface between occupant and seat does not have contours that represent the deformed centerline contour of the occupant / seat interface.

Images