Seat for a vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
In motor vehicles with limited interior space, existing seat designs face challenges in pivoting or rotating seats due to obstacles like body pillars or central consoles, making it difficult to reconfigure the space efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A seat design featuring interlocking first and second seat elements that pivot between two positions via a multiple-joint bearing or slotted guide mechanism, with an optional third flexible element for ergonomic adaptation, allowing for easy reconfiguration without rotation, and adjustable headrests and fluid elements for comfort and function adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is rotated from driving position to relaxation position, then the seat orientation can be changed, but the rotation is impeded by body pillars or central console in vehicles with limited interior space
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into multiple independent elements (first seat element, second seat element, third seat element) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each element to be positioned independently, enabling reconfiguration from driving to relaxation position without requiring rotation of the entire seat assembly, thus avoiding obstacles like body pillars and central console.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the seat in the horizontal plane (which is blocked by interior obstacles), the invention uses vertical and depth-dimensional movements through multiple joint bearings and slotted guide mechanisms. The seat elements move along pivot paths that utilize the third dimension (vertical space) to achieve position changes without horizontal rotation.
2Ease of operation
If the seat elements are coupled together for easy transfer, then the maneuvering is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases with multiple-joint bearings or slotted guide mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple-joint bearing and slotted guide mechanism serve multiple functions simultaneously: they enable pivoting between driving and relaxation positions, provide structural coupling between seat elements, guide the pivot path, and maintain relative positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the third seat element is made flexible for ergonomic adaptation, then the comfort is improved, but the structural stability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The third seat element's flexibility allows it to change its shape and contour parameters to adapt to different user body shapes and preferences. This parameter change capability enables ergonomic adaptation while the element remains structurally integrated with the rigid first and second seat elements, maintaining overall backrest stability through the coupled structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat has a first seat element and a second seat element. In a first seat position of the seat, the first seat element forms a seat base of the seat and the second seat element forms at least part of a backrest of the seat. In a second seat position of the seat, the second seat element forms the seat base of the seat and the first seat element forms at least part of the backrest of the seat.