Convertible Table and Swivel Seats for Five-Person Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing habitable motor vehicles, such as campervans, are limited in seating capacity around a table to four people, and there is a need for a design that allows simultaneous seating of five people for meals or activities.
Innovation Solution
A convertible table and seating arrangement that includes a first lateral edge opposite a lateral wall, a longitudinal corridor, a front edge opposite swiveled front seats, and a rear edge opposite a rear transverse seat, with movable rear and front side seats and a table that can switch between expanded and reduced dimensions, allowing five or three people to be seated simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the table and seating arrangement is designed for four people, then the layout is simple and space is saved, but the seating capacity is limited and cannot accommodate five people simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic seating arrangements where seats can be moved between different positions and configurations. The front seats can swivel between facing forward and facing the table, the side seats can be repositioned along the lateral edges, and the rear transverse seat can be adjusted. This dynamic adaptability allows the same seating arrangement to accommodate different numbers of people (2, 3, or 5 people) without requiring multiple fixed configurations, thus resolving the contradiction between seating capacity and arrangement complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the table is designed with fixed dimensions, then the structure is simple and stable, but the space utilization is inefficient for different occupancy scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The table is designed with adjustable dimensions that can be modified based on occupancy needs. The table can be extended or reconfigured when five people need to sit simultaneously, and reduced to a more compact form when fewer people are present. This dynamic dimension adjustment allows efficient space utilization across different scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple base structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If movable support structures are added to enable seat conversion, then seating flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seating system is divided into independent modular components: front seats with swivel mechanisms, side seats with movable supports, rear transverse seats, and an adjustable table. Each module can be manufactured separately using standard components and assembly techniques, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the enhanced flexibility. The segmented design allows for easier production, assembly, and maintenance while achieving the desired adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a front part (12) equipped with two front seats (SAG, SAD) and a rear part (14) in which is arranged a table (T) and rear seats (PLAV, PLAR, PTAD) allowing seating at the table, by which means five people (01-05) can be seated simultaneously at the table, occupying respectively the two front seats (SAG, SAD) in a position pivoted towards the rear, the two side seats front and rear (PLAV, PLAD), and said at least one rear transverse seat (PTAD).