Air-Suspended Bladder Seatback for Flat-Folding Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats with foldable seatbacks often have limited folding capabilities due to ergonomic and structural constraints, resulting in an angled cargo surface that reduces usable cargo space and makes it difficult to place objects reliably.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a seatback with a flexible coverstock and compressible bladders, where a fixed quantity of flowable medium is transferrable between an upper bladder and an inflation bladder, allowing for increased folding flexibility by adjusting the profile of the seat surface and supporting the seatback in a flatter position when folded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seatback is designed with ergonomic contours and thicknesses, then the seating comfort and support are improved, but the folding capability is limited resulting in an angled cargo surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the seatback structure changeable between two states: an extended seating position with ergonomic contours for comfort, and a folded position where the seatback lies flat against the cushion. The flowable medium allows the seatback to dynamically adjust its shape and thickness, enabling it to transition from a thick contoured form to a thin flat form for maximum folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the volume and distribution of the flowable medium within the seatback structure. By transferring the flowable medium between different regions (front, rear, upper, lower portions), the physical parameters of the seatback such as thickness, shape, and rigidity are changed, allowing it to achieve both comfortable seating contours and flat folding configuration.
2Area of stationary object
If the seatback is folded to a flatter position, then the usable cargo space is expanded, but the structural integrity and support are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatics by using a flowable medium (likely air or fluid) that can be transferred between different chambers within the seatback structure. This pneumatic system allows the seatback to maintain structural integrity through internal pressure when folded flat, as the flowable medium provides internal support to prevent collapse while enabling the flat configuration for maximum cargo space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the volume and pressure of the flowable medium in real-time. When folding is required, the medium is redistributed to maintain structural support while achieving a flat profile. The system dynamically changes physical parameters such as internal pressure, volume distribution, and structural rigidity to simultaneously achieve flat folding and maintain strength.
3Ease of operation
If the seatback contours are designed for ergonomic support, then the seating quality is improved, but the cargo placement stability is reduced due to the sloped surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the seatback surface adaptable - it can be configured as a contoured ergonomic surface for comfortable seating or transformed into a flat stable surface for cargo placement. The flowable medium enables this dynamic reconfiguration, allowing the same structure to serve dual purposes: providing ergonomic support when needed and creating a stable flat platform for cargo when the seat is folded.
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 design enhances the folding capability of vehicle seats, allowing for a more significant expansion of the cargo area by enabling the seatback to fold to a flatter position, improving the usability of the cargo space and providing a stable, comfortable seating contour for occupants.
Implementation Method 1
A first fixed quantity of a flowable medium is contained in and is partially transferrable between the upper bladder and the inflation bladder
Implementation Method 2
a compressible upper bladder beneath the coverstock upper region and a compressible inflation bladder positioned beneath the coverstock lower region
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a seatback having a coverstock defining a seat surface with a flexible lower region and a flexible upper region. The seatback further has a compressible upper bladder beneath the coverstock upper region and a compressible inflation bladder positioned beneath the coverstock lower region and in fluidic communication with the upper bladder. A first fixed quantity of a flowable medium is contained in and is partially transferrable between the upper bladder and the inflation bladder.