Inflatable Panel Seating and Cargo Systems to Reduce Weight and Bulk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reconfigurable seating and cargo systems in vehicles are often heavy, bulky, and limited in their number of potential configurations, relying on rigid plates and links that are difficult to articulate.

Innovation Solution

The use of inflatable panels with integrated bladders and membranes that can be inflated or deflated to provide load-bearing capabilities and rigidity, allowing for efficient stowing and reconfiguration, and can be reversibly attached to each other or a supporting frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid plates and links are used for reconfigurable seating and cargo systems, then structural strength is improved, but weight and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses inflatable bladders filled with gas or liquid to create rigid or semi-rigid structural panels. These pneumatic structures provide the necessary structural strength for seating and cargo systems while being lightweight when deflated, eliminating the need for heavy rigid plates and links.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible membranes and thin-walled bladders as the primary structural elements. These flexible shells can be inflated to provide structural support and deflated for compact storage, offering a lightweight alternative to traditional rigid mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid plates and links are used for reconfigurable seating and cargo systems, then structural stability is improved, but ease of reconfiguration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidease of reconfiguration

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamically reconfigurable structures where the rigidity and configuration of panels can be changed on-demand by inflating or deflating bladders. This allows the system to transition between stable configurations easily, combining structural stability with operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of structural panels by controlling the inflation pressure and volume of bladders. By adjusting these parameters, the system can transform between rigid and flexible states, enabling easy reconfiguration while maintaining structural stability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bladders and membranes are used for reconfiguration, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of configurationsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses universal bladder and membrane components that can serve multiple functions and configurations. The same basic structural elements can be inflated or deflated to create different seating arrangements, cargo configurations, or hybrid modes, reducing the need for specialized components for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the seating and cargo system into modular inflatable panels that can be independently controlled. Each panel can be inflated or deflated separately, allowing flexible reconfiguration into various configurations while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 flexible and efficient reconfiguration of seating and cargo systems, allowing for multiple configurations while being lightweight and easy to store, with the ability to form various shapes and structures for different applications.

Implementation Method 1

a first bladder configured to contain gas and a second bladder configured to contain gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas containment:

Implementation Method 2

inflatable panels with integrated bladders and membranes that can be inflated or deflated to provide load-bearing capabilities and rigidity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11541795B2Reconfigurable seating and cargo systems with inflatable panels

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

An inflatable system includes a first bladder configured to contain gas and a second bladder configured to contain gas. The first bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The second bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of its top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of its top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of its top and bottom walls. The bottom wall of the first bladder is secured to the top wall of the second bladder.