Marine Seat Backrest Nesting to Prevent Mechanical Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional marine seats on boats, particularly pontoon boats, lack a mechanism for safe and comfortable reclining positions without exposing mechanical components or risking user entrapment, and do not provide adequate support and privacy features.
Innovation Solution
A reclining marine seat design featuring a pivotal back with an actuator system that moves between upright and reclined positions within an enclosed frame, secured to the boat deck, and includes integrated padding, coverings, and a mechanism to maintain an enclosed space, along with optional privacy enclosures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest is designed to pivot between upright and reclined positions, then the seat provides adjustable comfort and functionality, but the mechanical movement exposes users to entanglement hazards with body parts or clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is nested within the seat back retainer section during its pivoting motion. The bottom surface of the backrest is designed to remain contained within the vertical boundaries defined by the retainer section's sidewalls, effectively nesting the moving component within the stationary structure to prevent exposure of mechanical hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back retainer section acts as an intermediary protective structure between the user and the pivoting mechanism. By positioning the retainer section to enclose the backrest's movement path, it mediates the interaction between the user and the mechanical system, preventing direct contact with hazardous moving parts.
2Ease of operation
If the backrest extends above the seat back retainer section during movement, then the pivoting mechanism has greater freedom of motion, but mechanical hazards are exposed to users
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest's bottom surface is designed to nest within the vertical confines of the retainer section throughout its entire pivoting range. This nesting arrangement allows the backrest to achieve full reclining functionality while remaining contained within the protective boundaries, eliminating exposed mechanical hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The design shifts the constraint from horizontal movement freedom to vertical containment. By defining the retainer section's sidewalls to extend above the backrest's bottom surface, the system allows pivoting motion in the horizontal plane while maintaining vertical boundaries that prevent hazard exposure.
3Device complexity
If the bottom surface of the backrest extends above the top surface of the seat back retainer section, then the backrest has greater structural freedom, but user safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest structure is designed to nest within the retainer section's vertical boundaries. The bottom surface of the backrest remains below the top surface of the retainer section throughout movement, creating a nested configuration that prioritizes user safety while maintaining sufficient structural freedom for reclining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer section is designed with sidewalls that extend above the backrest's bottom surface in advance, creating a preliminary protective barrier. This pre-established geometric constraint prevents the backrest from extending into hazardous positions during its pivoting motion, proactively eliminating safety risks before they can occur.
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 design allows for safe and comfortable reclining without mechanical exposure, reduces the risk of user entrapment, and provides customizable comfort and privacy features, enhancing user experience on boats.
Implementation Method 1
a back having at least one sidewall defining a bottom surface. The back is pivotal between first and second positions with respect to the seat back retainer section
Implementation Method 2
an actuator coupled to the back and capable of moving the back between the first and the second positions
Data Source
AI summary
A reclining marine seat is provided. An embodiment of the reclining marine seat marine seat comprises a seat back retainer section having at least one sidewall. The sidewall defines a top surface. The reclining marine seat further comprises a back having at least one sidewall. The sidewall defines a bottom surface. The back is pivotal between first and second positions with respect to the seat back retainer section. The bottom surface of the back does not extend above the top surface of the seat back retainer section during movement of the back between the first and second positions. The reclining marine seat further includes a seat. First and second frames are provided to support the back and seat.