Marine Lounge Seat Backrest Pivot for Multi-Position Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine vessel seating systems fail to maximize space and provide a variety of comfortable seating, lounging, and sunbathing positions while maintaining simplicity and a unified appearance, often requiring complex mechanisms and limited space.
Innovation Solution
A seating system with a pivotable backrest attached to a base, allowing multiple selectable positions, including aft and forward seats, sunpads, and lounge seats, utilizing a guide member with positional slots and adjustable arms, and incorporating hinged cushions for storage and ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigidly fixed seat design is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but the user cannot achieve comfortable lounging or sunbathing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is designed to pivot between multiple fixed positions (upright, reclined, flat) allowing the seat to adapt from rigid to flexible configurations. This dynamic capability enables users to achieve comfortable lounging and sunbathing positions while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through controlled movement rather than complete flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The seat is divided into separate functional components: a base, a pivotable backrest, and leg support elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling position changes without requiring complex integrated mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seating positions are provided, then user comfort is improved, but the space required on the boat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest pivots on a fixed mounting point on the base, allowing multiple seating positions (upright, reclined, flat) to be achieved within the same footprint. This dynamic positioning capability provides versatile seating options without requiring additional deck space, as all positions are accomplished through angular adjustment rather than spatial expansion
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing multiple separate seats that would occupy different deck areas, the invention utilizes the vertical and angular dimensions by allowing the backrest to pivot through various angles. This transforms a single-seat footprint into multiple functional positions, effectively adding seating variety without increasing horizontal space occupation
3Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest can be adjusted to multiple positions, then user comfort is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest utilizes a pivot mechanism with discrete positional slots rather than continuous adjustment, providing multiple fixed positions (upright, reclined, flat) with simpler hardware. This approach achieves versatility without requiring heavy hydraulic or electric adjustment systems, maintaining a lighter overall weight while still offering position variety
Solution Approach 2:
A guide member with positional slots acts as an intermediary between the backrest and base, enabling controlled pivoting at specific angles. This intermediary component simplifies the mechanism by providing predetermined stopping positions rather than requiring complex control systems, reducing overall system weight while maintaining multiple position options
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 offers versatile, comfortable, and space-efficient seating configurations with simple operation, allowing users to select from multiple positions without occupying substantial deck space, enhancing user experience and comfort on marine vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a backrest pivotably attached to the base. The backrest is configured to pivot above the seating surface to provide a plurality of selectable seating positions
Data Source
AI summary
A seating system for watercraft having a base supporting a seating surface and a backrest pivotably attached to the base. The backrest pivots above the seating surface to provide a plurality of selectable seating positions. The backrest is pivotably attached to the base an arm attached to the side of the backrest. The arm engages a guide member attached to the base, the guide member having one or more positional slots corresponding to the plurality of selectable seating positions. The backrest can be positioned upright, at an angle, or flat with respect to the seating surface to provide a plurality of seating configurations including simultaneous forward and aft seats, an aft-facing lounge seat, and a sunpad. The seating surface comprises hingeable seat cushions permitted access to storage compartments inside the base. The seating system can be installed adjacent to a bulkhead on a watercraft to provide an aft-facing lounge seat.