Vehicle Seat Backrest with Large Opening Design Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat backrests in shell construction struggle to vary their external appearance without adapting the backrest structure, while also requiring weight optimization and maintaining safety and comfort standards.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat backrest with a shell construction featuring a large opening, at least 50% of the maximum width, which is covered by a design shell, allowing for weight and comfort optimization without affecting the external appearance, and enabling the use of lightweight materials like carbon fiber for the load-bearing structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the backrest structure is made as a closed shell construction, then the strength and safety are improved, but the weight increases and design flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes material from the backrest shell by creating openings (through-holes or recesses) in non-critical areas of the shell construction. This extraction of material reduces weight while maintaining the overall shell structure integrity in load-bearing areas, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell construction is designed with varying thickness and structural density - thicker and more robust in load-bearing areas, and thinner or with openings in non-critical areas. This local differentiation allows the structure to maintain strength where needed while reducing weight where it is not critical.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest structure is modified to vary external appearance, then the design flexibility is improved, but the structural integrity and safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest shell is segmented into different functional zones: load-bearing structural areas and non-structural design areas. Openings and design variations are concentrated in non-structural zones, allowing design flexibility without compromising the integrity of load-bearing sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell structure acts as an intermediary between the internal support framework and the external design requirements. It provides a rigid framework that can accommodate various design variations (openings, recesses, thickness variations) while maintaining structural integrity, mediating between form and function requirements.
3Weight of moving object
If openings are added to the backrest structure, then the weight is reduced and design flexibility is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Material is selectively removed to create openings in the shell structure. The openings are positioned in non-critical areas where material removal does not significantly impact load-bearing capacity, thus reducing weight while maintaining adequate strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell thickness and structural density are varied locally - maintaining full thickness in load-bearing areas while creating openings or reducing thickness in non-critical areas. This local differentiation allows weight reduction through openings while preserving strength where required.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a backrest (100) for a vehicle seat (1), comprising a monocoque supporting backrest structure (110), wherein at least the rear side of the backrest structure (110) is covered by a design shell (130). The backrest structure (110) is provided with an opening (113) which is laterally delimited by two lateral parts (111) of the backrest structure (110). The width of the opening is at least 50% of the maximum width of the backrest structure (110). The invention also relates to a vehicle seat (1), more particularly a sports vehicle seat, comprising such a backrest (100).