Convertible Marine Seating with Hidden Pivot Mechanisms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marine vessel seating systems lack a seamless conversion between forward-facing, sunpad, and aft-facing configurations while maintaining a safe and aesthetically continuous appearance, and often compromise on usability and safety due to exposed pivoting mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A convertible seating system featuring a stationary bracket with pivotably coupled forward-facing and aft-facing seat components, utilizing inner and outer spring pins and gas springs to pivot between configurations, with mechanisms housed within the seat components to ensure safety and continuity with the vessel's design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pivotable mechanisms are exposed to enable configuration conversion, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of user injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration conversionVSAvoiduser injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pivotable mechanisms from the visible exterior and houses them within the seat components themselves. The mechanisms are contained inside the seat structure, making them inaccessible to users while preserving the ability to convert between configurations through user-friendly controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary control system that mediates between the user and the pivotable mechanisms. Users interact with safe external controls (such as buttons or levers on the seat exterior) which then actuate the hidden mechanisms through controlled sequences, preventing direct contact with dangerous moving parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If pivotable mechanisms are exposed to enable configuration conversion, then ease of operation is improved, but aesthetics deteriorate due to discontinuous appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration conversionVSAvoiddesign continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the visible mechanical elements from the exterior design and relocates them within the seat structure. This extraction allows the exterior surfaces to remain smooth and continuous, eliminating visual interruptions while preserving conversion functionality through hidden mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the pivotable mechanisms within the seat components, placing the functional elements inside the aesthetic shell. The mechanisms are contained within the seat structure like a nested doll, allowing the exterior to maintain its designed appearance while the interior houses the conversion functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If mechanisms are housed within seat components to ensure safety and aesthetics, then safety and aesthetics are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser injury riskVSAvoidmechanism integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the seat components to serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, maintain aesthetic appearance, and house the conversion mechanisms. This multi-functionality consolidates several roles into single components, reducing the number of separate parts needed despite the increased integration requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the housing structure with the mechanism containment function. The seat components are designed as integrated units where the structural elements also serve as enclosures for the mechanisms, combining form and function in a single design rather than adding separate protective housings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables smooth conversion between seating configurations without compromising safety or aesthetics, providing enhanced usability and reducing the risk of user injury from exposed mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing inner and outer spring pins and gas springs to pivot between configurations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas spring:

Implementation Method 2

utilizing inner and outer spring pins and gas springs to pivot between configurations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS12128992B1Convertible seating system for marine vessels

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 BRUNSWICK CORP

AI summary

A convertible seating system for a marine vessel is provided. The system includes a stationary bracket coupled to a deck portion of the marine vessel, a forward-facing seat component and an aft-facing seat component. The forward-facing seat component includes a forward-facing base, a cushion component, and a pair of inner pivot brackets. The aft-facing seat component includes an aft-facing base, a cushion component, and a pair of outer pivot brackets. The inner and outer pivot brackets are pivotably coupled to the stationary bracket. A pair of inner spring pins extend through the pair of inner pivot brackets and into a first plurality of locating holes to lock the forward-facing seat component relative to the stationary bracket. A pair of outer spring pins extend through the pair of outer pivot brackets and into a second plurality of locating holes to lock the aft-facing seat component relative to the stationary bracket.