Seat back support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back support systems for seats lack satisfactory adjustability and conformity to provide effective support for various regions of the user's back, such as the sacral, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical areas, and are not easily customizable for individual comfort and ease of construction.
Innovation Solution
A back support system comprising a frame with adjustable horizontal bands and vertical straps that can be tensioned and secured at different points to form an isosceles trapezoidal channel shape, allowing for customizable support across multiple back regions, with the ability to adjust tension, length, and separation of the straps to accommodate different users and provide continuous support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a pad or bladder is placed in the upholstery to provide lumbar support, then back support is provided, but the shape cannot be changed apart from horizontal projection adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The back support system is divided into multiple horizontal bands that can be independently adjusted in position and tension. Each band can be separately configured to provide support at different vertical levels and with different curvature profiles, enabling customized shaping without requiring a completely complex adjustment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The horizontal bands are designed to be dynamically adjustable in both position and tension, allowing the back support shape to be modified according to individual user needs. The bands can be tensioned or relaxed to create different curvature profiles, transforming a static support structure into a dynamic, adaptable system.
2Ease of operation
If adjustability is provided in vertical height and angle, then individual user comfort is improved, but the system does not provide entirely satisfactory back support
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the back support are provided with different local characteristics through the horizontal bands. Each band can be independently tensioned to provide appropriate support pressure and curvature for specific regions of the user's back, such as lumbar, thoracic, or cervical areas, ensuring that each region receives optimized support tailored to its specific requirements.
3Reliability
If the back support is made conformal to support multiple back regions, then support effectiveness is improved, but construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conformal back support is achieved through segmentation into multiple horizontal bands rather than requiring a single complex molded structure. This segmentation allows the support to be constructed from simpler, standardized components that can be assembled and adjusted to achieve conformality, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining support effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat back support with an adjustable support curvature, the support including: a frame; at least one elongate deformable member extending between side portions of the frame; and an elongate adjustment element that intersects one or more of the at least one deformable member(s), wherein manipulation of the adjustment element adjusts the deformation of the one or more deformable member(s) with which it intersects to adjust the curvature of the back support.