One-Piece Full Seat Pan With Flexible Zone for Front Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat pans either lack full coverage of the vehicle seat framework, leading to increased weight and complexity in seat assembly, or they compromise on the tilt functionality when covering the entire seat area, resulting in reduced passenger comfort and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece seat pan design with a flexible area positioned between the rear and front portions, parallel to the pivot axis, allowing the front portion to tilt independently while maintaining support for the entire seat cushion without additional components, achieved through material weakening or structural features like grooves or folded waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full seat pan covers the entire seat frame, then seat cushion support is improved, but tilt functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The seat pan is segmented into a rigid rear portion and a flexible front portion separated by a flexible area. This segmentation allows the front portion to tilt independently while the rear portion remains stable, resolving the contradiction between full seat coverage and tilt functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible area introduces dynamic characteristics to the otherwise rigid seat pan structure. This flexible area allows controlled deformation and movement, enabling the front portion to tilt while maintaining overall structural integrity and full seat coverage.
2Ease of operation
If a half seat pan is used to enable tilt function, then tilt functionality is improved, but weight and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible area merges the functions of a separate tilt mechanism with the seat pan structure itself. By integrating the tilt capability directly into the seat pan through the flexible area, the invention eliminates the need for additional tilt mechanisms, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining tilt functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible area enables the seat pan to perform the tilt function autonomously without requiring external mechanisms or additional components. The structure serves itself by using the flexible area to provide the tilting motion that would otherwise require a separate mechanical system.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece seat pan is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but tilt functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible area introduces local quality variation within the single-piece seat pan structure. By creating a specific region with different mechanical properties (flexibility) while maintaining the overall monolithic structure, the invention achieves both manufacturing simplicity and tilt functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible area changes the physical parameters of the seat pan locally by modifying material properties or structural characteristics in that specific region. This parameter change enables the flexible area to deform and allow tilting while the rest of the single-piece structure maintains its rigidity and manufacturing simplicity.
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
Enables a high degree of tilt functionality similar to half seat pans while providing full seat coverage, reducing the need for additional components and simplifying manufacturing, resulting in a lighter, more cost-effective, and comfortable seating solution.
Implementation Method 1
the seat pan comprises a flexible area arranged between the rear portion and the front portion, wherein the flexible area enables the front portion to be arranged in a tilted state relative to the rear portion around the pivot axis
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a seat pan (1) for a vehicle seat, wherein the seat pan comprises a rear portion (4) and a front portion (5). The seat pan comprises a flexible area (2) arranged between the rear portion and the front portion, said flexible area enabling the front portion to be arranged in a tilted state relative to the rear portion and wherein the seat pan is formed in a single piece. Also disclosed is a vehicle seat comprising the seat pan and a seat cushion.