Reconfigurable Occupant Support via Pressure-Controlled Bladder Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant support structures in vehicles lack the ability to customize and conform to individual occupants' physical shapes, affecting comfort, functionality, and safety.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable cushion system with overlapping material layers that transition between compliant and rigid states via pressure control, allowing the occupant support surface to be molded and retained to specific contours, using a bladder with an outer wall and a vacuum pump system for pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support structure uses a fixed rigid structure, then it provides stable support, but it cannot conform to different occupant shapes and reduces comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a static rigid state to a dynamic reconfigurable state through the bladder system. The bladder can be inflated to rigidify the support surface or deflated to allow it to conform to the occupant's body shape, enabling the structure to adapt its properties based on operational needs rather than being fixed in one state
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the support structure by controlling the inflation/deflation of the bladder. By adjusting the volume of air in the bladder, the support surface transitions between rigid and compliant states, allowing the same structure to provide both stable support and customized conformity without requiring multiple different structures
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support structure is made compliant to conform to occupant shape, then it improves comfort, but it cannot maintain the customized contour after occupant removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by allowing the occupant to position themselves on the compliant support structure, which naturally conforms to their body shape. Once the desired contour is achieved, the bladder is inflated to lock in that shape before the occupant removes themselves, eliminating the need for active control during the transition
3Ease of operation
If the support structure allows easy repositioning for different occupants, then it improves ease of operation, but it may reduce the stability and reliability of the support
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses periodic action through the sequential operation of multiple bladders. Rather than requiring continuous adjustment, the system cycles through inflating and deflating different bladder sections to reconfigure the support surface, providing discrete stable states during transitions rather than continuous instability
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
Enables personalized support by conforming to different occupants' shapes, improving comfort, safety, and weight distribution by selectively transitioning between compliant and rigid states to adapt to various body parts.
Implementation Method 1
by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder
Implementation Method 2
friction is generated between the confronting surfaces of the layers such that shearing of the layers is prevented
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant support structure and a method of customizing an occupant support structure. The occupant support structure may comprise a base and a reconfigurable cushion carried by the base. The reconfigurable cushion may include an occupant support surface and a bladder. The bladder may include an outer wall that defines an inner cavity underlying the occupant support surface and two or more overlapping material layers disposed within the cavity. The overlapping material layers may be adapted to selectively transition from a compliant state to a rigid state and vice versa by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder to reconfigure or conform the occupant support surface of the cushion to a contour of a portion of an occupant supported by the cushion.