Vehicle Seat Comfort Assembly for Multi-Function Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat comfort systems complicate design, require multiple individual devices and specific seat cushions, leading to increased assembly time, inventory, and costs.
Innovation Solution
A comfort assembly that integrates multiple comfort devices, such as thermal, pneumatic, and haptic systems, into a single system with a carrier and spacer layer, allowing for reduced part numbers, simplified assembly, and compatibility with standard seat cushions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual comfort devices are supplied to a vehicle seat assembler, then the vehicle seat can provide comprehensive comfort functions, but the device complexity and number of part numbers increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual comfort devices (thermal device, pneumatic device, haptic device) into a single integrated comfort assembly. This merging approach maintains all the comfort functions while reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying the overall device structure, directly resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort assembly is designed as a universal multi-functional unit that can provide thermal, pneumatic, and haptic functions simultaneously. This single assembly serves multiple purposes that previously required separate devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual comfort devices are installed in a vehicle seat, then comprehensive comfort functions are achieved, but the assembly time and number of assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple comfort devices into a single pre-integrated comfort assembly, the patent reduces the number of separate installation steps. The assembly can be installed as one unit rather than multiple individual components, directly improving productivity by reducing assembly time and steps
Solution Approach 2:
The comfort devices are pre-assembled and integrated into a complete comfort assembly before delivery to the vehicle seat assembler. This preliminary action of pre-integration eliminates the need for multiple separate installation procedures at the final assembly stage, thereby reducing assembly time
3Reliability
If specific seat cushions are designed to accommodate each comfort system, then the comfort devices can be properly installed, but the inventory requirements and cushion tooling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated comfort assembly is designed to be universally compatible with standard seat cushions. This universality allows the same comfort assembly to be installed on various seat cushion types without requiring custom-designed cushions for each comfort system, thereby reducing inventory requirements and tooling costs while maintaining reliable installation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the comfort assembly from the seat cushion, making the comfort assembly a standalone modular unit. This segmentation allows the comfort assembly to be independently designed and integrated without requiring modifications to the seat cushion, reducing the need for multiple specialized cushions in inventory
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.