Adjustable Vehicle Seat Linkage Assembly for Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seating mechanisms fail to efficiently alleviate pressure on passenger body parts, such as thighs and gluteal muscles, during travel, limiting passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating assembly with a linkage assembly between the seat and base member, allowing the seat to pivot between a rest and a deployed position, with a rotary mechanism and toothed interface to adjust the seat angle, providing multiple intermittent positions for optimal comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional fixed seat mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but passenger comfort is limited due to inability to alleviate pressure on body parts
Solution Approach 1:
The seat mechanism transitions from a fixed position to a dynamic adjustable system that allows the seat bottom to pivot between a rest position and a deployed position, enabling the seat angle to be changed to alleviate pressure on passenger body parts such as thighs and gluteal muscles
Solution Approach 2:
The seat adjustment mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a linkage assembly with multiple linkage arms, a rotary mechanism with toothed interface, and an actuator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability
2Ease of operation
If a seat adjustment mechanism is added to improve comfort, then passenger comfort is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage arms are pivotally coupled to form an integrated linkage assembly that combines multiple movement functions into a coordinated system, where the rotation of one linkage arm drives the sequential movement of others to achieve seat bottom articulation
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary mechanism with toothed interface acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the linkage assembly, converting actuator motion into controlled rotational movement of the linkage arms while providing discrete positioning through tooth engagement
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple intermittent positions are provided for optimal comfort, then adaptability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases due to rotary mechanism and toothed interface
Solution Approach 1:
The toothed interface provides periodic positioning stops at discrete intervals as the linkage assembly rotates, allowing the seat to be positioned at multiple intermittent angles between the rest and deployed positions, with each tooth engagement representing a discrete comfortable position
4Ease of operation
If the seat bottom is raised at the front portion to alleviate pressure, then passenger comfort is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat pan assembly is designed to dynamically change its orientation through the linkage mechanism, allowing the front portion to be raised relative to the rear portion when the linkage assembly rotates to the deployed position, thereby redistributing pressure away from the passenger's thighs and gluteal muscles
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 adjustable seating assembly effectively shifts pressure from thighs and gluteal muscles to the hips, enhancing passenger comfort and providing anti-submarining load bearing during dynamic events.
Implementation Method 1
a linkage assembly disposed between the seat and base member that is positionable between a rest position and a deployed position
Implementation Method 2
the first bracket rotates about a first axis that extends through the base member between a rest position and a deployed position
Implementation Method 3
a toothed interface between the rotary mechanism and the second bracket... a plurality of teeth disposed on the second bracket and a plurality of teeth disposed on a wheel coupled to the rotary mechanism
Implementation Method 4
an actuator for engaging the second bracket, wherein the actuator exerts a force on the second bracket about the second axis to move the linkage assembly between the rest position and the deployed position
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a linkage assembly disposed between the seat and a base member that is positionable between a rest position and a deployed position. In the rest position, a first angle is formed between a seat pan assembly and a bottom of the base member. In the deployed position, a second angle is formed between the seat pan assembly and the bottom of the base member. The second angle is greater than the first angle.