Articulating Upper Thoracic Region for Vehicle Seatback Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle seatbacks are rigid and lack adjustment features, failing to provide adequate support and comfort for occupants of varying sizes during vehicle acceleration, changes in direction, and collisions.
Innovation Solution
An articulating upper thoracic region is introduced in the seatback frame, featuring a cross-vehicle support, torso vertical support, and adjustable suspension support, which pivots between stowed and deployed positions to accommodate occupants from the fifth percentile female to the ninety-fifth percentile male, providing flexible and customizable support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the seatback is designed to be substantially rigid in construction, then the seatback provides structural strength and stability during vehicle acceleration, change in direction, and collision, but the seatback lacks adequate adjustment features and cannot provide adequate support for occupants of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is divided into multiple functional zones including a rigid lower lumbar region and an articulating upper thoracic region. This segmentation allows different parts of the seatback to have different degrees of rigidity and adjustability, enabling the structure to maintain overall strength while providing localized adaptability for occupants of varying sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper thoracic region is designed to articulate and pivot between stowed and deployed positions, transforming the seatback from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic system. This allows the seatback to adapt its configuration based on occupant needs while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid lower portion.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the seatback is designed to be substantially rigid in construction, then the seatback maintains structural stability, but the seatback lacks the flexibility to conform to the upper back of seated occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is divided into a rigid lower lumbar region for structural stability and a flexible articulating upper thoracic region for comfort. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its primary function independently while working together as a unified seatback system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the seatback are assigned different mechanical properties: the lower lumbar region maintains rigidity for structural support, while the upper thoracic region incorporates articulation mechanisms that allow it to conform to the occupant's back shape, providing localized comfort where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an articulating upper thoracic region is introduced with multiple support features, then the seatback can accommodate occupants ranging in size from fifth percentile female to ninety-fifth percentile male, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulating upper thoracic region serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides lateral support through the cross-vehicle support, vertical support through the torso vertical support, and suspension through the adjustable suspension support. This multi-functionality allows a single articulated mechanism to accommodate a wide range of occupant sizes without requiring multiple separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback frame. An articulating upper thoracic region is operably coupled with the seatback frame and includes a cross-vehicle support, a torso vertical support, and a suspension support. The articulating upper thoracic region is pivotally coupled with a mid-portion of the seatback frame between stowed and deployed positions. A back panel is operably coupled to a rear side of the seatback frame. A front close-out panel is disposed between a rear portion of the articulating upper thoracic region and the back panel. A peripheral gap is disposed between the front close-out panel and the articulating upper thoracic region.