Coordinated Lumbar and Side Bolster Seat Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat comfort features require multiple separate components, making them complex, expensive, and difficult to adapt to various seat designs, while lacking a simple, lightweight, and durable solution that can provide multiple comfort options.
Innovation Solution
A combination lumbar bolster system that includes a lumbar support and lateral bolsters, coordinated by traction cables and springs, allowing for simultaneous adjustment and attachment to a vehicle seat frame as a single modular component, which can be made from materials like molded plastic or stamped sheet metal, and covered with padding for enhanced comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for seat comfort features, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system becomes complex, expensive, and difficult to adapt to various seat designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lumbar support and lateral bolsters into a single integrated assembly that moves as one unit. This merging of previously separate components simplifies the overall system architecture, reduces the number of individual parts, and eliminates the complexity associated with coordinating multiple independent mechanisms while maintaining all necessary comfort functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single modular component performs multiple functions simultaneously - providing both lumbar support and lateral bolster functions. This multi-functional design allows the system to adapt to various seat designs without requiring separate specialized components for each function, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining functional reliability.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are used for seat comfort features, then each component can be independently adjusted, but the manufacturing and assembly processes become more expensive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating lumbar support and lateral bolsters into a single molded assembly, the patent reduces manufacturing steps and assembly operations. The unified structure can be produced as one piece or pre-assembled module, eliminating the need to manufacture, inventory, and assemble multiple separate components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving adjustability through the shared mechanical linkage.
3Reliability
If traditional separate component systems are used, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design allows the lumbar support and lateral bolsters to share common structural elements, mounting points, and mechanical linkage components. This sharing of resources reduces the total material required and eliminates redundant structures, thereby reducing the overall weight of the moving assembly while maintaining the functional performance of both features.
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 system provides improved seat comfort by 'hugging' the occupant's midsection, offering greater support and adaptability to different seat designs while simplifying manufacturing and assembly, and can be easily integrated as a single module with a single traction cable and spring mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring. The traction cable moves the lumbar support between the flat position and the deployed position and the lateral bolsters between the resting positions and the extended positions such that the movements of the lumbar support and the bolsters is coordinated, and the spring opposes the movement of the traction cable
Data Source
AI summary
A combination lumbar bolster system for attachment to a vehicle seat frame comprises a lumbar support having a flat position and a deployed position, wherein the deployed position is forward of the flat position; a pair of lateral bolsters each having a resting position and an extended position, wherein the extended position is further from the seat frame than the resting position; at least one traction cable operably attached to at least one of the lumbar support and the lateral bolsters; and at least one spring. The traction cable moves the lumbar support between the flat position and the deployed position and the lateral bolsters between the resting positions and the extended positions such that the movements of the lumbar support and the bolsters is coordinated, and the spring opposes the movement of the traction cable.