Motor vehicle seat with lying function
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seats with calf supports fail to securely position legs during cornering due to flat and rounded surfaces, leading to potential slipping.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle seat with an extendable calf support and lifting device that includes outer support plates and a central plate, which can be lifted to increase the supporting surface, preventing leg slipping, and optionally equipped with massage pads for enhanced comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the calf support surface is made flat and rounded downward, then the structure is simple, but the legs cannot be prevented from slipping off during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The calf support is divided into multiple independent support plates (at least two support plates and a central plate) that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows each plate to provide localized support and prevents legs from slipping off during cornering, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plates are designed to be movable between a stowed position and a support position. This dynamic configuration allows the calf support to adapt to different operational states: during normal driving, plates are retracted; during lying position or cornering, plates extend to provide secure leg positioning and prevent slipping.
2Reliability
If outer support plates are added to protrude beyond the supporting surface, then leg positioning is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support plates serve multiple functions: they provide lateral support to prevent leg slipping during cornering, offer additional supporting surface area during the lying position, and can be integrated with massage pads for comfort. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural elements by delivering multiple benefits from a single component addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plates are designed to nest within or alongside the central plate when not in use. This nesting arrangement minimizes the space required for the additional components and reduces the visual and structural complexity when the support plates are in their stowed position, while still providing full functionality when extended.
3Ease of operation
If massage pads are added to the support plates and central plate, then user comfort is enhanced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The massage pads are integrated directly into the support plates and central plate structures. This merging of massage functionality with the structural components eliminates the need for separate massage systems, reducing overall device complexity while enhancing user comfort through combined support and massage functions.
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 extended support plates and central plate provide improved leg positioning and prevent slipping during lateral forces, while massage pads enhance user comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the calf support is provided with a lifting device by means of which the two outer support plates can be lifted from an inoperative position into a support position
Implementation Method 2
the massage pads can be filled and emptied by pneumatics, for example an air pump, and can carry out the massage function by means of fluctuations in the quantity of air and pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle seat with a lying function has a seat cushion, a backrest which is arranged on a first end region of the seat cushion, and a calf support which can be elongated and which is arranged on a second end region of the seat cushion. The calf support is provided with a lifting device for lifting two outer support panels out of a rest position and into a support position which protrudes beyond a support surface of the calf support.