One-Piece Plastic Vehicle Seat for Multi-Activity Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicles for physically handicapped individuals are often complex and expensive, limiting their accessibility to various sports and recreational activities, and are typically specific to a single activity, making them unaffordable for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle with a plastic seat structure designed as a single piece, featuring hollow conduits for movement members, ergonomic design elements, and adaptable components for multiple activities, produced using rotational molding to reduce costs and enhance versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are made with tubular metal structures adapted to specific sports activities, then the vehicles provide specialized performance for particular activities, but the manufacturing cost increases and limits accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a seat that can be used across multiple sports and recreational activities rather than creating specialized vehicles for each activity. The standardized seat design with integrated conduits allows it to serve as a universal base component for various vehicle configurations, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adaptability through modular attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated seat structure. The seat combines user support functions with integrated conduits for movement members, shock-absorbing elements, and attachment points for various activities. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing while providing versatile functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vehicles are designed with complex structures for specific sports activities, then the vehicles provide specialized functionality, but the complexity increases production cost and limits access to physically handicapped people with interest in specific activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the seat design into distinct functional zones: the seat portion for user support, lateral edges for structural support and muscle positioning, and integrated conduits for movement members. This modular segmentation allows the complex functionality to be achieved through organized, manageable components rather than a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized seat design serves as a universal platform that can accommodate various movement members and activity-specific attachments through its integrated conduits and attachment points, reducing structural complexity while maintaining activity-specific functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized seats are produced in large quantities, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the seats must accommodate diverse user needs across different activities
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized seat is designed with universal features including integrated conduits for various movement members, attachment points for different activities, and ergonomic elements that accommodate diverse user needs. This universality allows a single standardized design to serve multiple purposes across different activities and user groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat incorporates local quality variations through its ergonomic design, with specific regions optimized for different functions: the seat portion for pressure distribution, lateral edges for muscle support, and integrated conduits for movement member accommodation. These localized optimizations maintain diverse user accommodation within a standardized design.
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 vehicle is cost-effective, adaptable to various sports and recreational activities, providing improved ergonomics and comfort, and can be easily modified for different uses, including water and snow sports, while being durable and easy to maintain.
Implementation Method 1
The seat, made from plastic, is produced in the form of a single piece... in particular, the seat is hollow
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle (1) including a user seat comprising a backrest (3), a seat portion (4) and lateral edges (5) provided on both sides of the seat portion. The vehicle has a reduced production cost and a structure that facilitates the adaptation thereof to a plurality of activities, in particular owing to the fact that the seat, which is made from plastic, is produced in the form of a single piece, the lateral edges (5) being extended downwards such as to form two rear conduits intended to receive at least one rear movement member (26, 27, 28). The invention also relates to a vehicle production method in which rotational moulding is used to form an ergonomic seat.