Lumbar Adjustment Assembly Gap Minimization Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seat backrests often fail to provide sufficient lumbar support, leading to occupant discomfort, pain, and fatigue, especially during prolonged seating due to gaps between the lumbar mat and backrest cushion causing noise and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A lumbar adjuster mechanism comprising a lumbar mat, frame member, and support member with a biasing finger that deflects to minimize gaps between the lumbar mat and backrest cushion, ensuring proper contact and support, and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the lumbar mat's position based on occupancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lumbar mat is positioned close to the backrest cushion to provide support, then lumbar support effectiveness is improved, but gaps may form between the lumbar mat and backrest cushion causing noise and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biasing member that dynamically adjusts the position of the lumbar mat relative to the backrest cushion. The biasing member applies a continuous force to maintain optimal contact pressure and eliminate gaps, adapting to varying occupancy conditions while ensuring consistent lumbar support effectiveness and preventing noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is configured to automatically adjust and maintain the lumbar mat's position without requiring external intervention. The system self-regulates the contact between the lumbar mat and backrest cushion, continuously eliminating gaps and maintaining support effectiveness through the inherent elastic properties of the biasing member.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lumbar mat is adjusted to accommodate different occupancy conditions, then adaptability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member automatically adapts the lumbar mat's position in response to occupancy conditions without requiring complex control systems. The elastic biasing mechanism self-regulates based on the presence and position of an occupant, providing adaptability through passive mechanical response rather than active control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the contact pressure and position parameters of the lumbar mat dynamically through the biasing member's elastic properties. This allows the mechanism to adapt to different occupancy scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple structural configuration, avoiding the need for multiple adjustment mechanisms.
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
The solution effectively reduces noise and enhances occupant comfort by ensuring continuous contact between the lumbar mat and backrest cushion, providing improved support and reducing fatigue and discomfort during extended use.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member that may extend from the face... The biasing member may be configured to bias portions of the lumbar mat towards the backrest cushion
Implementation Method 2
provided with a finger that may be configured to deflect from an extended position to a compressed position to bias portions of the lumbar mat towards backrest cushion
Data Source
AI summary
A lumbar adjuster for use in a vehicle seat including a lumbar mat, a frame member, and a support member. The lumbar mat is configured to face towards a backrest cushion when the lumbar adjuster is assembled to the vehicle seat. The frame member is configured to carry the lumbar mat. The support member is operatively coupled to the frame member and provided with a finger configured deflect from an extended position to a compressed position to bias portions of the lumbar mat towards backrest cushion to minimize a gap between the lumbar mat and the backrest cushion.