Seat Buffering Device with Concave Structures for Impact Energy Absorption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional child safety seats lack a shock-absorbing function, allowing external impact energy to be indirectly transmitted to passengers, potentially causing harm during vehicle impacts.

Innovation Solution

A seat buffering device with reinforcing components featuring concave structures inside the base, designed to absorb impact energy by bending when the seat is impacted, reducing the force transmitted to the base and preventing indirect transmission of impact to the passenger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional child safety seats use housing to cover the passenger and safety belt to constrain movement, then the passenger is protected from direct impact, but impact energy is indirectly transmitted to the passenger through the housing causing potential harm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact energy transmissionVSAvoidpassenger safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a buffering device with elastic components (spring and rubber cushion) in advance within the seat structure. When impact occurs, these pre-positioned cushioning elements actively deform to absorb shock energy before it reaches the passenger, resolving the contradiction by providing proactive protection rather than passive resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a buffering device as an intermediary element between the impact source and the passenger. This mediator (comprising spring and rubber cushion) intercepts and absorbs impact energy through deformation, preventing direct transmission to the passenger while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the seat base is made rigid to provide structural support, then the seat maintains stability and strength, but impact energy is transmitted directly to the base and passenger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase structural strengthVSAvoidimpact energy transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the base structure by incorporating elastic components (spring with specific stiffness, rubber cushion with specific hardness) that allow controlled deformation. This transforms the base from a purely rigid structure to one with compliant characteristics, enabling energy absorption while maintaining sufficient structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining rigid base materials with elastic buffering materials (spring and rubber cushion). This composite design allows the rigid portions to maintain structural strength while the elastic portions absorb impact energy, resolving the contradiction between strength and impact transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 seat buffering device effectively absorbs and reduces external impact energy, enhancing passenger safety by distributing and absorbing forces, thereby providing a comfortable and secure riding experience.

Implementation Method 1

The reinforcing component is adapted to be bent via the at least one concave structure when the base is impacted, so as to reduce impact energy applied to the base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2853439B1Seat buffering device and vehicle safety seat having the same
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 WONDERLAND SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP2853439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2853439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2853439B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A seat buffering device (14) and a vehicle safety seat (10) including the seat buffering device (14) are provided. The seat buffering device (14) is disposed on a base (18) of the vehicle safety seat (10). The seat buffering device (14) includes a reinforcing component (20) and at least one concave structure (22, 22a). The reinforcing component (20) is disposed inside the base (18), and the reinforcing component (20) has a plurality of lateral surfaces (201, 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d). The at least one concave structure (22, 22a) is formed on one of the plurality of lateral surfaces (201, 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d). The reinforcing component (20) is adapted to be bent via the at least one concave structure (22, 22a) when the base (18) is impacted, so as to reduce impact force applied to the base (18). Buffering efficiency of the reinforcing component (20) corresponds to the amount, the arrangement, and the angle of the concave structure (22, 22a). The plurality of concave structures (22, 22a) is disposed on the same or different lateral surfaces (201, 201a, 201b, 201c, 201d) of the reinforcing component (20) in the interlaced arrangement.