Integrated Cushion Assembly for Horizontal Passenger Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seatbelt arrangements in vehicles, such as aircraft, are inadequate for securing passengers in a horizontal position during transit, as they do not provide sufficient restraint and lack necessary cushioning for comfort.
Innovation Solution
A cushion assembly with an integrated belt that engages with seatbelts and includes seatbelt engaging portions on its underside to secure the cushion to the seats, providing improved restraint and comfort by allowing the belt to be secured around the passenger's midsection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seatbelts are used in upright seats, then passengers can be restrained in a seated position, but the seatbelts are not well positioned to provide suitable restraint when the passenger is lying down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cushion and the restraint belt into a single integrated assembly. The belt is stitched directly to the cushion, creating a unified structure that provides both cushioning and restraint functions. This merging allows the restraint system to be properly positioned relative to the passenger's body when lying down, as the belt is fixed at the correct location on the cushion rather than being a separate conventional seatbelt.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides cushioning for comfort when lying down, and it provides restraint through the integrated belt. The single cushion assembly replaces the need for separate conventional seatbelts and sleep pads, creating a multi-functional device that addresses both comfort and safety requirements in the berthing configuration.
2Reliability
If an H-shaped arrangement of straps is used to cross over the mid-rift, then the passenger can be restrained, but the arrangement becomes complex and requires multiple separate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the longitudinal and lateral strap components into a single continuous belt that is stitched directly to the cushion. Instead of using separate H-shaped straps that require multiple fastening operations, the integrated belt provides the same restraint function through a simpler, more direct attachment to the cushion structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the restraint function from the complex H-shaped strap arrangement and integrates it directly into the cushion assembly. By taking out the belt component and stitching it permanently to the cushion, the design eliminates the need for separate fastening mechanisms and reduces the overall complexity of the restraint system.
3Ease of operation
If a sleep pad is placed over the seats to provide cushioning, then comfort is improved, but the cushioning is insufficient for the entire body length and requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cushioning function with the restraint function into a single integrated assembly. The cushion provides sufficient cushioning for the entire body length when lying down, and the integrated belt is stitched directly to this cushion, eliminating the need for separate sleep pads and conventional seatbelts. This integration simplifies the overall arrangement while maintaining adequate cushioning.
4Ease of operation
If the cushion is made elongate to support the entire human body, then comfort is improved, but the cushion becomes larger and may not fit well with standard seat dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing cushioning specifically where needed for the passenger's body when lying down. The elongate cushion is positioned to support the majority of the human body, with the cushioning concentrated in the critical areas (body length, width, and height dimensions) rather than uniformly across the entire seat surface. This localized approach provides adequate support while minimizing the overall cushion size.
Data Source
AI summary
A cushion assembly disclosed herein. The cushion assembly is configured for use with a support surface having a first restraint component and a second restraint component spaced apart from the first restraint component. The cushion assembly includes, but is not limited to, a cushion. The cushion assembly further includes, but is not limited to, a first engagement component that is coupled with the cushion. The first engagement component is configured to engage the first restraint component. The cushion assembly still further includes, but is not limited to, a second engagement component coupled with the cushion. The second engagement component is configured to engage the second restraint component.