Modular Vehicular Seating Assembly with Concealed Infant Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicular seating systems lack the ability to seamlessly transition between configurations suitable for infants, toddlers, and adults, failing to provide a secure and comfortable seating solution for individuals of varying sizes and ages within a single seat assembly.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular seating assembly with a modular design that includes a seat member and backrest member assembly, featuring a concealed infant seat carrier that can be attached to the seat and vehicular child anchors, allowing for multiple seating configurations, including forward and rearward facing positions, to accommodate individuals from infancy to adulthood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate seating systems are used for infants, toddlers, and adults, then safety and comfort for each age group is ensured, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seating systems (infant carrier, toddler seat, adult seat) into a single integrated vehicular seating assembly. The infant seat carrier is integrated within the seat member assembly, allowing it to be concealed when not in use and deployed when needed. This merging approach maintains safety for all age groups while reducing the number of separate systems required.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating assembly is designed to perform multiple functions across different developmental stages. The same assembly can accommodate infants (with the carrier deployed), toddlers (with the carrier removed and harness adjusted), and adults (using the full seat). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate seating systems while maintaining appropriate safety features for each user type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single seating assembly accommodates all age groups, then versatility and space efficiency improve, but adaptability and proper restraint for varying sizes become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The seating assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through multiple harness configurations. The five-point harness system can be reconfigured to accommodate different body sizes and ages, with adjustable shoulder straps, hip belts, and positioning features. This dynamic adaptability allows the same assembly to properly restrain infants, toddlers, and adults without requiring multiple fixed-configuration seats.
Solution Approach 2:
The infant seat carrier is designed as a separable component that can be removed from the main seat assembly. This segmentation allows the carrier to be used independently for infant travel while the remaining seat structure provides appropriate restraint for older children and adults. The modular design simplifies the overall configuration by allowing users to selectively deploy only the necessary components for each user type.
3Ease of operation
If the infant seat carrier is always visible, then ease of access and identification improve, but aesthetic appearance and space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The infant seat carrier is designed to nest within the seat member assembly when not in use. The carrier can be stored in a concealed position within the seat structure, maintaining a clean aesthetic appearance. When needed, the carrier can be easily deployed from its nested position. This nesting approach allows the carrier to remain accessible while minimizing its visual presence during periods when it is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application is directed to a vehicular seating assembly including a plurality of forward facing seating configurations and a rearward facing seating configuration, the rearward facing seating configuration including an infant seat carrier operationally configured to be concealed from view when the seating assembly is set at a forward facing seating configuration, wherein the infant seat carrier is releasably attachable to the seat member assembly for vehicular seating assembly use and releasably attachable to vehicular child anchors for standalone use of the infant seat carrier apart from the seating assembly.