Pivoting Seat Back Structure for Seat-to-Console Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional occupant supports lack versatility in configuration, limiting their use in various settings such as vehicles, where they cannot easily transition between seating and console configurations without compromising safety and comfort.
Innovation Solution
An occupant support system featuring a seat bottom and a pivotable seat back with a mode-changing unit that includes a recliner and a backrest-frame brace unit, allowing the seat back to recline and pivot forward, transforming from a normal-seating configuration to a console configuration, providing additional space for features like cup holders and armrests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat back is made fixed in conventional occupant supports, then structural simplicity is maintained, but versatility in configuration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic, pivotable component that can rotate between normal-seating and folded-forward configurations. This dynamic capability enables the seat back to adapt to different usage scenarios while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back is designed to perform multiple functions: serving as a backrest in normal-seating configuration and transforming into a console structure in folded-forward configuration. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require separate structures, enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat back is made pivotable to enable configuration changes, then versatility is improved, but structural stability during transitions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back assembly is segmented into the pivotable seat back portion and the fixed backrest-frame support. This segmentation allows the seat back to rotate independently while the support structure remains stationary, maintaining overall structural integrity during configuration transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivot mechanism acts as an intermediary between the seat back and the backrest-frame support, enabling controlled rotation while maintaining structural connection. This intermediary component ensures that the seat back can change configuration while the overall structure remains stable and reliable.
3Ease of operation
If a mode-changing unit with recliner and brace unit is added, then configuration control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mode-changing unit combines the recliner mechanism and the backrest-frame brace unit into an integrated system. The recliner controls seat back rotation while the brace unit provides structural support and defines movement limits, allowing both functions to work together through a unified mechanism rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace unit is designed to automatically engage and disengage at specific positions during seat back rotation, providing self-regulating control without requiring external actuation. This self-service mechanism simplifies operation while maintaining precise control over configuration changes.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant support includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom and arranged to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom in a normal-seating configuration. The seat back is pivotable relative to the seat bottom between a plurality of positions. The seat back may be changed from an upright position to a folded-forward position.