Seat back panel, seat back frame and vehicle seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat back structures delay the contact time between the headrest and the head region of occupants during rear-end collisions, leading to increased whiplash injuries due to resistance from the seat back panel.
Innovation Solution
A seat back panel design featuring a panel main body with an aperture opposing the dorsal region, closed by a separate panel that displaces rearward upon load application, enhancing intrusion and reducing contact time through resilient members or hinge mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the seat back panel is disposed at a posterior portion of the seat back to resist intrusion, then the structural strength is improved, but the contact time between the headrest and head region is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back panel is divided into a panel main body and a separate panel that can move independently. The separate panel is disposed at the posterior portion to receive collision loads, while the panel main body remains at the front to maintain structural strength. This segmentation allows the separate panel to intrude rearward during collision, reducing contact time without compromising the overall structural integrity of the seat back.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the separate panel is made displaceable to reduce contact time, then the whiplash injury prevention is improved, but the stability of the panel structure is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The separate panel is designed with dynamic characteristics, being able to displace rearward relative to the panel main body when subjected to collision loads from the dorsal region. This dynamic behavior allows the separate panel to increase intrusion amount during rear-end collision, thereby reducing contact time and preventing whiplash injuries. The panel returns to its original position after the collision force is removed.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient member is introduced as an intermediary element to couple the separate panel to the panel main body. The resilient member provides the necessary connection while allowing controlled displacement of the separate panel. This intermediary component enables the separate panel to move independently during collision to reduce contact time, while maintaining structural stability during normal use through the restraining force of the resilient member.
3Loss of time
If the aperture is closed by the separate panel to increase intrusion, then the contact time is reduced, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back panel is segmented into a panel main body and a separate panel that can move independently. The separate panel is disposed at the posterior portion to receive collision loads, while the panel main body remains at the front to maintain structural strength. This segmentation allows the separate panel to intrude rearward during collision, reducing contact time without compromising the overall structural integrity of the seat back.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient member is introduced as an intermediary element to couple the separate panel to the panel main body. The resilient member provides the necessary connection while allowing controlled displacement of the separate panel. This intermediary component enables the separate panel to move independently during collision to reduce contact time, while maintaining structural stability during normal use through the restraining force of the resilient member.
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 design increases the intrusion amount of the dorsal region into the seat back, thereby reducing whiplash injuries by earlier bracing of the headrest and preventing unintended panel displacement during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the separate panel is coupled to the main body portion via a resilient member... the resilient member coupling the separate panel to the main body portion of the seat back frame resiliently deforms
Implementation Method 2
the separate panel includes an abutting portion that abuts against a rim portion of the aperture from the rear side of the seat back
Data Source
AI summary
A seat back panel includes a panel main body and a separate panel. The panel main body is disposed at a posterior portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat. The panel main body structures a portion of a main body portion of a seat back frame. An aperture is formed at a location of the panel main body that opposes a dorsal region of a seat occupant. The separate panel is attached to the main body portion and closes up the aperture. At a time of rear-end collision of the vehicle, the separate panel receives a load from the dorsal region of the seat occupant and relatively displaces toward the rear side of the seat back with respect to the panel main body.