Adaptive Sports Seat Lateral Restraints for Access and Cornering Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sports vehicle seats face a trade-off between providing adequate lateral restraint for racing performance and ease of access during normal use, and fail to accommodate occupants of different builds comfortably, necessitating a compromise that is either inadequate for racing or impractical for everyday use.

Innovation Solution

A sports vehicle seat with shape-memory members and an actuating device that adjusts the degree of lateral restraint based on driving mode, using heat-generated stress to alter the shape and size of restraints, and embedded sensors to adapt to the occupant's size, allowing for customizable comfort and safety settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the seat provides a high degree of lateral restraint, then racing performance and safety are improved, but ease of access to the seat and comfort during normal use deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveracing performanceVSAvoidease of access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral restraints are designed to be dynamically adjustable between a retracted state (for ease of access during normal use) and an extended state (for lateral restraint during racing). The actuating device enables the restraints to transition between these states based on driving mode, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position and configuration of the lateral restraints are changed as a parameter adjustment. During normal use, the restraints are retracted to provide easy access; during racing, they are extended to provide maximum lateral support. This parameter change allows the same seat to satisfy both contradictory requirements under different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the seat is designed with high lateral restraint, then lateral support during cornering is improved, but adaptability to occupants of different builds deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral supportVSAvoidadaptability to different builds

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral restraints are dynamically positionable to adapt to different occupant builds. The actuating device allows the restraints to be adjusted in position and configuration, enabling the same seat structure to accommodate various body types while maintaining adequate lateral support when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat design achieves universality by making the lateral restraints adjustable. A single seat configuration can serve multiple functions: providing easy access for small occupants during normal use, and providing customizable lateral restraint for occupants of different builds during racing, eliminating the need for multiple specialized seats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the seat provides maximum lateral restraint, then safety during racing is improved, but comfort during normal driving deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lateral restraints are dynamically controlled to be retracted during normal driving (providing comfort) and extended during racing (providing safety). The actuating device responds to driving mode signals, automatically transitioning the restraint system between comfort and safety states, thus resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state and position of the lateral restraints are changed as a controllable parameter. During normal driving, the restraints maintain a retracted configuration for comfort; during racing, they transition to an extended configuration for maximum safety. This parameter change enables the seat to satisfy both comfort and safety requirements under different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 seat provides optimal comfort during normal driving and maximum safety and performance during racing, while accommodating occupants of varying sizes comfortably, eliminating the need for multiple seat configurations and ensuring easy access.

Implementation Method 1

Each lateral restraint incorporates at least one shape-memory member which changes shape when subjected to physical external stress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

using heat-generated physical stress to alter the shape and size of restraints

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal stress: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20090284059A1Sports vehicle seat with adaptive lateral restraints

Publication Date: 2009.11.19 FERRARI SPA

AI summary

An embodiment of a sports vehicle seat. The seat has lateral restraints for laterally retaining an occupant of the seat, and an actuating device for adapting the shape and/or size of the lateral restraints as a function of vehicle driving mode. Each lateral restraint incorporates at least one shape-memory member, which changes shape when subjected to physical external stress. And the actuating device subjects each shape-memory member to physical external stress to change the shape of the shape-memory member.