Manual lumbar pump assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lumbar support systems in vehicles lack an efficient manual mechanism for adjusting the lumbar support to provide optimal comfort and ergonomic support to occupants, particularly during long trips, as they often rely on fixed or electrically powered systems that may not adapt to individual preferences or needs.
Innovation Solution
A manual lumbar pump assembly that includes a pneumatic cylinder with a piston head and air bladders, a selection device, and a lever mechanism allowing for manual inflation and deflation of air bladders to customize lumbar support, enabling users to adjust the firmness and contour of the seatback for enhanced comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed or electrically powered lumbar support system is used, then the lumbar support structure is simple to manufacture, but the system lacks adaptability to individual preferences and requires complex electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a manual pump assembly with a piston and air bladders to inflate and deflate lumbar support regions. This pneumatic mechanism enables adjustable firmness and contour without requiring electrical motors, sensors, or control systems, thus achieving adaptability while avoiding electrical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The manual pump assembly allows the occupant to directly control the lumbar support inflation and deflation through hand-operated pumping action. This self-service approach eliminates the need for electrical power sources, control circuits, and electronic components, providing adaptability through direct user interaction
2Adaptability or versatility
If a manual pump assembly with multiple air bladders is used, then the adaptability and customization of lumbar support is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lumbar support is divided into multiple independent air bladders (first, second, and third air bladders) that can be inflated and deflated independently. This segmentation allows different regions of the lumbar support to be customized separately, providing granular control over firmness and contour while using simple manual pumping mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The manual pump assembly serves multiple functions: it can inflate and deflate multiple different air bladders using the same basic pumping mechanism. This multi-functionality allows a single simple device to provide customized support across multiple lumbar regions without requiring separate mechanisms for each bladder
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 manual lumbar pump assembly allows users to easily adjust the lumbar support to their desired level of firmness and contour, providing improved ergonomic support and reducing back pain by allowing for personalized adjustments without the need for complex electrical systems.
Implementation Method 1
A lever is coupled with the piston head for manually compressing an air chamber defined within the pneumatic cylinder and the piston head
Implementation Method 2
A valve body having an inlet fluidly coupled with the exhaust port and a plurality of outlets coupled respectively with the plurality of air bladders
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly for a vehicle seatback includes a plurality of air bladders defining a lumbar support and a pneumatic cylinder that has a sealed head slidably disposed within a cylindrical cavity coupled defining an outlet. A selection device operably engages the outlet with a select one of the plurality of air bladders for inflating the select one of the plurality of air bladders.