Pneumatic bladder arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat designs often fail to adapt to the body contours of users, leading to discomfort, especially in long-term use, due to their fixed shapes that do not accommodate varying user sizes effectively, and existing solutions involving mechanical elements are costly and pose safety risks in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic bladder arrangement with inflatable bladders of varying thicknesses, configured to form wedge-like or trapezoidal shapes, which can be mounted in different regions of a seat to conform to the user's body shape, reducing the need for mechanical components and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed shape seat designs are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different user body contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed mechanical adjustment mechanisms with inflatable bladders that can dynamically change their volume and shape. The bladders can be inflated or deflated to adapt to different user body contours, providing a dynamic solution that maintains comfort across various user sizes without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the inflation level of the bladders to adjust their thickness and shape. By controlling the air pressure and volume within the bladders, the system can modify its geometric parameters (thickness, volume, shape) to match different user requirements, achieving adaptability through parameter variation rather than mechanical reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical elements (plates, pivots, joints) are used for shape modification, then seat shape adaptability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing traditional mechanical adjustment systems (plates, pivots, joints) with a pneumatic system. Instead of using mechanical components to physically reconfigure the seat shape, the invention uses inflatable bladders that expand and contract to modify the seat contour, eliminating complex mechanical linkages and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly applies pneumatics by using air-filled bladders to achieve shape modification. The inflatable elements are connected to a pneumatic system that can inflate or deflate them as needed, providing a simple and effective mechanism for adjusting seat shape without requiring mechanical moving parts, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical tilting mechanisms are installed in the seat frame, then seat shape adaptability is improved, but safety in vehicle collisions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing mechanical tilting mechanisms with inflatable bladders. The pneumatic elements can inflate to provide support and tilt effect without having rigid moving parts that could fail or cause injury during a collision. This substitution eliminates safety hazards associated with mechanical components while preserving the adaptability function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by using inflatable bladders that can be pre-inflated or rapidly inflated during a collision event. The air-filled elements act as cushioning barriers that can absorb impact forces and protect occupants, providing a safety function that is inherently safer than rigid mechanical mechanisms during vehicle accidents.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stacked chambers and pivotable mechanisms are used, then shoulder support adjustability is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple adjustment functions into a single inflatable bladder structure. Instead of using separate stacked chambers and pivotable mechanisms that require individual assembly, the invention integrates all shoulder support adjustment capabilities into one or more bladders that can be inflated to various degrees, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining full adjustability.
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 pneumatic bladder arrangement provides a comfortable, adaptable seating solution that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances safety by eliminating rigid mechanical parts, effectively accommodating diverse user sizes without compromising on comfort or safety.
Implementation Method 1
A pneumatic bladder arrangement for a seat comprises a plurality of inflatable bladders
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a pneumatic bladder arrangement (100) for a seat (S) comprising a plurality of inflatable bladders (110), wherein at least one of the plurality of inflatable bladders (110), when inflated, has a first edge (111) with a first thickness (T1) and a second edge (112) with a second thickness (T2), wherein the first thickness (T1) is bigger than the second thickness (T2). the invention also relates to a seat (S) comprising the pneumatic bladder arrangement and to a manufacturing method for an inflatable bladder.