Movable Seat Back Extension for Sideways Driver Torso Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural commercial vehicle drivers face discomfort and strain due to limited support when adopting sideways or backward working postures, leading to pressure sores and spinal column damage, as existing vehicle seats lack adequate lateral support and have restricted swivel ranges that enforce twisted postures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with an additional torso support device that can move horizontally along a seat back part to provide temporary support laterally or above the seat back, specifically designed for the shoulder or chest region, allowing the driver to maintain comfort and operational efficiency during sideways or backward postures without obstructing the working area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire vehicle seat is swiveled to allow the driver to reach operating devices disposed laterally at the back, then the driver can access these devices, but the driver must turn out of a comfortable upholstered seat contour leading to pressure sores and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back part is divided into a fixed base portion and a movable extension portion that can be independently adjusted. The extension portion can be swiveled or tilted separately from the main seat, allowing the driver to access rear operating devices while the main seat contour remains unchanged to prevent pressure sores.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back extension is designed as a dynamic component that can change its position and angle relative to the main seat back. This allows the extension to move to support the driver's back in sideways or backward working postures, while the main seat remains stationary to maintain comfortable contact with the driver's body.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seat back extension is made contoured to provide maximum support in forward facing posture, then support is improved, but freedom of movement in shoulder and arm region is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back support is segmented into a fixed lower portion that provides stable support for the lower back, and a movable upper extension that can be adjusted to clear the driver's shoulder and arm area. This allows contoured support where needed while maintaining freedom of movement in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back extension adds a third dimension of adjustability by allowing movement not only vertically but also laterally and angularly. This enables the extension to clear the driver's shoulder area while still providing support to the lower back, resolving the conflict between support and freedom of movement.
3Illumination intensity
If the swivel range of the rotary adapter is increased to allow viewing of working equipment behind the vehicle, then visibility is improved, but the driver must adopt an enforced twisted posture leading to body structure damage
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back extension is designed as a dynamic support that can adapt its position to match the driver's body orientation. When the driver swivels to view rear equipment, the extension moves accordingly to maintain proper spinal alignment and support, preventing twisted postures even as the driver's facing direction changes.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the backrest cushion is shaped to provide good support, then strain relief is improved, but the driver alternates between two extremely different driving positions reducing comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back extension provides dynamic, adaptable support that changes position based on the driver's needs. Whether the driver is in forward-facing or sideways/posterior working position, the extension can be adjusted to provide appropriate spinal support, eliminating the need to alternate between uncomfortable fixed positions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a seat part and with a seat back part for supporting a driver of the vehicle in the sitting position on the vehicle seat, wherein the vehicle seat has an additional vehicle driver's torso support device which can be disposed outside the seat part and the seat back and which can be temporarily disposed at least partially in an otherwise seat-free torso support region in front of the seat back part and laterally and/or above the seat back part, in order to provide support, laterally off-center of the seat back part, at least at the level of the shoulder region of the driver who is sitting on the vehicle seat when he adopts a seated working posture oriented to the side or backwards, and wherein the additional vehicle driver's torso support device comprises a seat back extension device which is disposed on the seat back part (3) so as to be movable in translation along a horizontal axis in order to be able to move the additional vehicle driver's torso support device substantially horizontally from an approximately central starting position into an off-center additional torso support position.