Folding Passenger Seat with Segmented Back for Space and Perch Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Folding passenger seats in public transport vehicles lack flexibility, efficiency in space utilization, and often fail to provide robust support when folded, obstructing passageways and not optimized for multiple uses such as supporting standing passengers or luggage.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat design with a movable seat base and a dual-back configuration where the lower back part can pivot into a storing position, allowing the seat to be folded upright, integrating into the vehicle wall, and the upper back part can function as a perch seat, providing robust support and maximizing space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the seat is folded upright to save space, then space utilization is improved, but the seat cannot provide support for standing passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is divided into two independent parts: an upper back part that remains visible and functional when folded, and a lower back part that folds away. This segmentation allows the upper part to continue providing support for standing passengers while the lower part is stored, resolving the contradiction between space utilization and support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper back part serves dual functions: it acts as a backrest when the seat is in the open configuration and provides support for standing passengers when the seat is folded. This multi-functionality ensures that the seat structure remains useful in both configurations, addressing the versatility requirement.
2Volume of moving object
If the seat bottom is folded in front of the backrest, then space efficiency is improved, but the seat obstructs passageways
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of folding the seat bottom in front of the backrest as in conventional designs, this invention folds the lower back part behind or alongside the upper back part. This inverted folding direction eliminates passageway obstruction while maintaining space efficiency, as the folded components are positioned away from the walkway.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is designed for multiple uses, then versatility is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is segmented into two parts that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation enables multiple configurations (open seat, folded seat, perch mode) without requiring complex mechanisms, as each part can be positioned independently to achieve different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower back part is designed to be movable relative to the upper back part, allowing dynamic reconfiguration between different usage modes. This dynamic capability enables versatility while maintaining relatively simple structure, as the movement is achieved through straightforward mechanical means rather than complex systems.
4Reliability
If the folded seat provides robust support, then reliability is improved, but the structure requires more material
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is concentrated in the upper back part, which is designed to be robust and remain in place during folding. By segmenting the seat back and keeping only the essential support structure visible and functional, the design achieves reliable support with reduced material quantity compared to conventional full-backrest designs.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
Figure 8~9
AI summary
A passenger seat 100 for a public transport vehicle, particularly for a railcar of a railway vehicle is disclosed. The passenger seat 100 comprises a movable seat base 3 and a seat back comprising an upper back part 1 and a lower back part 2 which extends towards the seat base 3 and which is arranged at least partially below the upper back part 1. The lower back part 2 is movable relative to the upper back part 1 between a storing position and an open position. The passenger seat 100 has a folded configuration for storing the seat with the seat base 3 in a substantially upright position and an open configuration with the seat base 3 in a substantially horizontal position to be used by a passenger, wherein the upper back part 1 and the lower back part 2 form together the seat back in the open configuration. The lower back part 2 is movable into the storing position to provide space for the seat base 3 when the passenger seat 100 is brought into the folded configuration.