Foldable Vehicle Seat Structure for Cab Space Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In commercial vehicles, passenger seats often remain unused, leading to underutilization of interior space, and existing vehicle seats lack configurability for alternative uses when not in use as a seat.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a seat part and backrest that can be pivoted into non-horizontal folding positions, reducing occupied space in both longitudinal and vertical directions, allowing the seat to be compactly folded and reused as storage, lounge, or exercise space, with optional features like a table surface and locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle seat is designed with a fixed structure to ensure stability and comfort during normal operation, then the seating function is reliable, but the interior space utilization is reduced and alternative uses are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is designed with dynamic pivoting capabilities allowing the seat part to rotate about a first pivot axis and the upper partial backrest to rotate about a second pivot axis. This enables the seat to transition between a stable seating position and folded configurations, providing both reliability during use and adaptability when folded to create alternative space arrangements.
2Volume of stationary object
If the vehicle seat is designed with a compact folded position to reduce occupied space, then the interior space utilization is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is divided into a lower partial backrest and an upper partial backrest that can pivot independently about a second pivot axis. This segmentation allows the upper partial backrest to be folded horizontally while the lower partial backrest remains in place, achieving compact folding without requiring complete disassembly of the entire backrest structure.
Solution Approach 2:
When folded, the upper partial backrest nests horizontally over the lower partial backrest and seat part, creating a compact folded configuration. The pivot axes and folding mechanism allow components to nest within each other's spatial envelope, minimizing the overall volume occupied when the seat is folded.
3Length of moving object
If the seat part is pivoted into a vertical folding position to reduce longitudinal space, then the movement space in the cab is improved, but the vertical space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism utilizes both longitudinal and vertical dimensions by implementing a two-axis pivoting system. The seat part pivots about a first pivot axis to reduce longitudinal extension, while the upper partial backrest pivots about a second pivot axis to manage vertical extension. This dimensional distribution allows the folded seat to occupy space in multiple directions rather than concentrating all folding in one dimension.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Vehicle seat (10), preferably a motor vehicle seat. The vehicle seat (10) comprises a seat section (14) that is pivotable about a horizontal first pivot axis (S1) between a horizontal normal position and a non-horizontal, preferably vertical, folded position. The vehicle seat further comprises a backrest (12) comprising a lower backrest section (12B) and an upper backrest section (12A) pivotably attached to the lower backrest section (12B) about a horizontal second pivot axis (S2), wherein the upper backrest section (12A) is pivotable about the second pivot axis (S2) in the direction of the seat section (14) into a horizontal folded position.