Cushion body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cushion bodies with ducts for ventilation flow paths increase manufacturing complexity and can cause discomfort due to thin portions, leading to potential ventilation performance deterioration and local collapse under seating pressure.
Innovation Solution
A cushion body design featuring a concave ventilation flow path with expanded sections and a planar lid that is retracted and supported from the rear, enhanced with ribs and flanges to maintain rigidity and disperse seating load, ensuring ventilation performance and preventing collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard duct is inserted into the seat pad to form the inner peripheral wall of the ventilation flow path, then the ventilation flow path can be held without collapsing under seating pressure, but the number of parts increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the hard duct component from the seat pad structure. Instead of inserting a separate duct into the foam, the ventilation flow path is formed directly by recessing the foam material itself, thereby removing the need for the duct while maintaining flow path stability under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and configuration of the foam material by creating a recessed region with a specific depth and cross-sectional shape. This geometric modification of the foam structure provides the necessary structural support for the ventilation flow path without requiring additional components.
2Reliability
If a hard duct is inserted into the seat pad to form the inner peripheral wall of the ventilation flow path, then the ventilation flow path can be held without collapsing under seating pressure, but the manufacturing procedure becomes more complex and working man-hours increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the ventilation flow path structure with the seat pad foam itself. The recessed region is formed as an integral part of the foam molding process, combining what were previously separate components (foam and duct) into a single monolithic structure, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the molding parameters and geometry of the foam production process to directly create the recessed ventilation flow path structure. By adjusting the foam formation parameters, the flow path is created during the primary manufacturing step rather than requiring subsequent assembly operations.
3Reliability
If the cushion body has a thin portion due to duct insertion, then the structure can accommodate the ventilation flow path, but the seated occupant may have an uncomfortable feeling when seated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the ventilation flow path by creating a recessed region with controlled depth and cross-sectional area. This allows adequate space for air flow while maintaining sufficient foam thickness in the seating surface to ensure occupant comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local recessing only in specific regions where ventilation is needed, while maintaining the original foam thickness and quality in the seating contact areas. This localized modification ensures both ventilation performance and seating comfort are preserved.
Data Source
AI summary
A cushion body includes a seat pad having a concave ventilation flow path extending along a pad rear surface of the seat pad, and a planar flow path lid covering the pad rear surface of the seat pad so as to cover the concave ventilation flow path. The seat pad has an expanded flow path in which a flow path width of the ventilation flow path is partially expanded, and the planar flow path lid includes a contact portion in contact with the pad rear surface, and a lid curved to cover the concave ventilation flow path including the expanded flow path at a position retracted to a seat rear side with respect to the contact portion.