Vehicle Seat Deflectable Leg Rest Compact Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats with leg rests are bulky and heavy due to multiple pivots and rigid support systems, which occupy additional space and hinder compact stowage under the seat cushion.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a resilient, elastically deflectable leg support panel connected to the seat cushion via a single pivot, utilizing spring steel or composite materials for load distribution and a drive mechanism to move between use and stowed positions, allowing compact stowage adjacent to the seat cushion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple pivots and rigid support structures are used to provide leg rest support, then the leg rest can support occupant weight, but the structure becomes bulky and heavy, occupying additional space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by using a flexible support member (such as a flexible circuit board or thin structural element) instead of rigid supports. This flexible member can deflect under load to provide support while maintaining a thin profile, eliminating the need for bulky rigid structures. The flexible member bends to accommodate the leg rest movement and provides structural support without adding significant weight or volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the pivot function from traditional mechanical pivot joints and integrates it into the flexible support member itself. By removing the separate pivot mechanism and incorporating the rotational capability into the flexible structure, the design eliminates multiple pivot points and their associated heavy components, achieving weight reduction while maintaining the leg rest's movement capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pivots and link structures are used to enable leg rest movement, then the leg rest can swing between positions, but the device complexity increases with numerous support links and pivot points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (support, movement, positioning) into a single integrated flexible support member. Instead of having separate components for each function, the flexible member simultaneously provides structural support, enables rotation through its flexibility, and maintains the leg rest in different positions. This consolidation dramatically reduces the number of parts and simplifies the overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible support member acts as a thin, adaptable structure that can bend and rotate to accommodate leg rest movement. This flexible element replaces complex mechanical linkages and multiple pivots, achieving position adjustment through simple elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical arrangements.
3Ease of operation
If the leg rest extends outwardly from the seat cushion, then it provides leg support functionality, but it occupies additional space and cannot be compactly stowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by designing the leg rest to fold or retract into the space beneath the seat cushion when not in use. The support member and leg rest panel are configured to nest within the available under-cushion volume, allowing compact stowage that does not protrude outwardly from the seat assembly, thereby minimizing occupied space while maintaining functionality when deployed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a lightweight, compact leg rest system that efficiently distributes load and occupies minimal space, enabling stadium seating positions without additional space usage, while maintaining support and ease of movement.
Implementation Method 1
a deflectable leg support panel (34) connected to the seat base (16) wherein the deflectable leg support panel (34) deflects under a load of legs of the user and returns, with a restoring force, back to an initial position upon removing the load of the legs of the user
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a backrest connected to the seat base and an leg rest assembly, also referred to as a leg rest assembly. The leg rest assembly includes a deflectable leg support panel pivotably connected to the seat base. The deflectable leg support panel and deflects under a load of legs of the user and returns with a restoring force back to an initial position upon removing the load of the legs of the user. The leg rest assembly may be connected to the vehicle seat by a pivoting structure, that allows the leg rest assembly to be pivoted to a non use position. The leg rest assembly may also be fixedly connected to the vehicle seat a support base front cross structure. This fixed connection then forms an only pivot axis of the leg rest assembly.