Integrated Vehicle Seat Comfort Assembly for Faster Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat comfort systems complicate design, require multiple individual devices from different vendors, and necessitate additional assembly steps and operators, leading to increased inventory and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A comfort assembly that integrates two or more comfort devices, such as thermal, pneumatic, and haptic devices, into a single system, using a carrier with pockets or recesses to accommodate the devices and simplify installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual comfort devices are supplied to a vehicle seat assembler from multiple different vendors, then each comfort device can be provided with specialized functionality, but the device complexity and number of part numbers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate comfort devices (heating, cooling, massage, lumbar support) into a single integrated comfort assembly that interfaces with the seat through a single carrier. This merging reduces the number of individual part numbers from multiple separate devices to one unified assembly, directly resolving the contradiction between maintaining diverse comfort functionality and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort assembly is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can provide multiple comfort functions (thermal regulation, massage, lumbar support) through a single device. This multi-functionality allows the assembly to replace multiple specialized devices while maintaining all necessary comfort capabilities, thereby reducing part numbers without sacrificing adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual comfort devices are installed in a vehicle seat, then comprehensive comfort features are achieved, but the assembly time and number of assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple comfort devices into a single pre-integrated assembly, the installation process is simplified from multiple separate installation steps to a single installation operation. The comfort assembly is installed as one unit through a single carrier, directly reducing assembly time and improving productivity while maintaining comprehensive comfort features.
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort devices are pre-integrated into a single assembly unit before delivery to the vehicle seat assembler. This preliminary integration of multiple devices into one ready-to-install assembly eliminates the need for assemblers to perform multiple separate installation operations, thereby reducing assembly time and steps while preserving all comfort functionalities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different seat cushions or support surfaces are used to accommodate various comfort systems, then each comfort system has optimized accommodation, but the inventory complexity and assembly coordination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comfort assembly is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple different comfort system configurations (heating, cooling, massage, lumbar support) through a single carrier design. This universality allows the same seat cushion and support surface to work with various comfort system combinations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized seat cushions and reducing inventory complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort assembly is segmented into modular components (heating elements, cooling elements, massage mechanisms, lumbar support) that can be independently selected and configured within a single assembly. This segmentation allows customization of comfort features without requiring different seat cushions, as the modular components are all integrated into one universal assembly that interfaces through a single carrier.
Data Source
AI summary
A comfort assembly for a vehicle seat cushion, the comfort system includes a carrier having a thermal device; a spacer layer attached to the B-side of the carrier; and an effector device attached to the spacer layer so that the spacer layer is between the effector device and the B-side of the carrier; the effector device is attached to the carrier before the comfort assembly is installed onto an A-surface of the cushion of the vehicle seat.