Seat Armrest Fluid Nozzles for Synchronized Immersive Effects
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid delivery systems for immersive experiences, such as in motion seat systems, face challenges with the directional delivery of fluids like water mist and scents due to seat motion, which is costly and impractical, and wind effects are often noisy and distracting from mounted fans.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery system integrated into seat armrests with a controllable valve array and nozzles, allowing for synchronized delivery of air, water, and scents based on a movie timeline, eliminating the need for external fans and rail-mounted nozzles, ensuring fluid effects follow the viewer's motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If fans are mounted in the theater to deliver wind effects, then wind effect is achieved, but noise increases and viewer experience is distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery function is extracted from the theater environment and relocated to the seat unit itself. Each seat is equipped with its own nozzles and fluid delivery system, eliminating the need for large external fans in the theater while maintaining wind effect delivery capability at the individual seat level.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized fan system is segmented into individual seat-level fluid delivery systems. Each seat receives independent control and has its own nozzles, allowing personalized fluid delivery without requiring large external equipment that generates noise.
2Adaptability or versatility
If nozzles are mounted in front rail or seat back to deliver water mist and scents, then fluid delivery is achieved, but cost increases and motion affects directional delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the control system, and integrates the fluid delivery nozzles. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mounting structures in front rails or seat backs, reducing installation complexity while maintaining fluid delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system is dynamically integrated with the moving seat structure. As the seat moves, the nozzles move with it, automatically maintaining proper orientation and delivery direction without requiring separate mounting structures that would be affected by seat motion.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional fluid delivery systems are installed in motion seat systems, then fluid effects are delivered, but cost increases and seat motion affects delivery direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system exploits the dynamic motion of the seat itself to maintain consistent fluid delivery. The nozzles are integrated into the moving seat structure, so as the seat moves, the nozzles move with it, automatically maintaining proper delivery direction without requiring complex active orientation mechanisms or increasing manufacturing cost.
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 system provides immersive and synchronized fluid effects without the noise and high costs of traditional methods, ensuring consistent viewer experience across multiple configurations at a lower cost, with the ability to deliver high-flow air, low-flow air, and scents through a single nozzle, and atomized water delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a high flow air line connected from the high flow air outlet through a high flow air regulator to a first fluid line, a low flow air line connected from the low flow air outlet through a low flow air regulator to the first fluid line
Implementation Method 2
an atomizing air outlet, an atomizing air line connected from the atomizing air outlet through an atomizing air flow regulator to the water nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to systems and methods of delivering fluid from one or more armrests of seat systems. In a feature, the system includes a seat support assembly with armrests with one or more fluid nozzles mounted on one or more of the armrests, a fluid delivery system coupled to the one or more fluid nozzle(s), wherein the fluid nozzles are mounted on an end of the armrest that slopes upward to direct fluid toward the viewer. In another feature, the system includes a controller (e.g., a network server) configured to communicate on and off commands that correspond to events on a timeline of a movie to actuate the fluid delivery system to deliver fluids to the nozzles.