Adjustable thigh support for a vehicle seat
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat thigh supports fail to adapt movement resistance and position to the anatomical needs of drivers, leading to discomfort and potential safety issues during braking operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with an adjustable thigh support system featuring a first adjustment device for parallel movement between extended and retracted positions and a second adjustment device to set movement resistance, allowing the thigh support to be optimized for individual anatomical needs by varying the lever arm and resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the distance between thigh support and seat surface is increased to reduce movement resistance, then braking responsiveness is improved, but comfort support during journey is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the thigh support movable rather than fixed. The support can dynamically adjust its position along the seat surface, allowing it to be extended forward during braking to reduce resistance and improve responsiveness, and retracted during normal driving to increase support and comfort. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between braking performance and journey comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the distance between the thigh support and seat surface based on driving conditions. The support position is adjusted to change the lever arm length, which directly controls movement resistance. This allows optimization of both braking responsiveness (shorter distance, less resistance) and comfort support (longer distance, more support) by changing the geometric parameter of support position.
2Ease of operation
If the distance between thigh support and seat surface is decreased to increase movement resistance, then comfort support during journey is improved, but braking responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable thigh support allows dynamic adjustment of the lever arm length. During normal driving, the support is positioned to provide maximum comfort support. During braking, it moves forward to reduce movement resistance and improve responsiveness. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between comfort and braking performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the geometric parameter of support position to optimize performance for different driving phases. By adjusting the distance between support and seat surface, the lever arm length is modified to provide either high resistance for comfort or low resistance for braking responsiveness as needed.
3Ease of operation
If the thigh support is made fixed to provide stable support, then comfort during journey is improved, but adaptability to different body heights is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed thigh support into a movable one that can adjust its position along the seat surface. This dynamic capability allows the support to adapt to different driver body heights while maintaining stable support characteristics when positioned appropriately. The movement mechanism enables customization for individual anatomical differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable thigh support design provides universal adaptability to accommodate drivers of different body heights and anatomical characteristics. A single adjustable support structure replaces the need for multiple fixed supports, allowing one component to serve multiple body types through position adjustment.
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
Enables comfortable and safe support for drivers by allowing customization of thigh support position and resistance to match individual anatomical requirements, enhancing both comfort and safety during driving and braking.
Implementation Method 1
The movement resistance in relation to a downwardly directed force, in particular a downward movement of the legs, is typically determined by the distance of the front wall of the thigh support from the seat surface and therefore from the available lever arm.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat comprises a seat surface and a thigh support. The thigh support is adjustable and/or movable by use of a first adjustment device in or opposed to a first adjustment direction, which preferably runs substantially parallel to the seat surface, from an extended position into a retracted position. Furthermore, the thigh support is deflectable substantially vertically to the seat surface and/or to the underlying surface by use of a force which can be exerted by a vehicle occupant and is downwardly directed in the direction of a vehicle floor, wherein the thigh support has at least one second adjustment device for setting and/or defining a movement resistance with which the thigh support opposes the downwardly directed force.