Vehicle Seat Cushioning Structure with Bending Promotion Layer

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle seat cushion materials face challenges in being lightweight while maintaining stability and comfort, as thin materials struggle to absorb vibrations and provide comfortable sitting due to reduced flexibility and inadequate cushioning.

Innovation Solution

A cushion material structure with a space section formed on the back side, featuring concave sections that allow bending towards the bottom plate, arranged in a grid pattern and avoiding ischium positions, with reinforcement sections and mounting sections to enhance rigidity and support, enabling the material to bend easily while maintaining stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the cushion material is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight of the vehicle seat is reduced, but the cushion material cannot bend easily and cannot absorb vibration effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of vehicle seatVSAvoidbending flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion material is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a bending promotion layer positioned between them. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize - the outer layers provide cushioning while the intermediate layer enables bending, resolving the contradiction between maintaining flexibility and reducing thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new dimensional approach by adding a bending promotion layer that creates controlled delamination between layers. This allows the cushion material to bend along the delamination interface rather than requiring the entire thickness to flex, effectively enabling bending in a thin structure without compromising overall cushioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Weight of moving object

If the cushion material is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight of the vehicle seat is reduced, but the cushioning performance and vibration absorption are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of vehicle seatVSAvoidcushioning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion material is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a bending promotion layer positioned between them. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize - the outer layers provide cushioning while the intermediate layer enables bending, resolving the contradiction between maintaining flexibility and reducing thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining multiple materials with different properties: a first cushioning material, a second cushioning material, and a bending promotion material. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its strengths - cushioning materials provide comfort and vibration absorption, while the bending promotion material enables flexibility, achieving both weight reduction and maintained performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Weight of moving object

If the cushion material is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight of the vehicle seat is reduced, but the sitting comfort is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of vehicle seatVSAvoidsitting comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion material is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a bending promotion layer positioned between them. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize - the outer layers provide cushioning while the intermediate layer enables bending, resolving the contradiction between maintaining flexibility and reducing thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bending promotion layer is positioned beforehand between the cushioning layers to prevent stress concentration and enable gradual deformation. This pre-positioned layer acts as a buffer that distributes forces evenly, ensuring comfort is maintained even in the thinner overall structure by preventing harsh pressure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution allows for a lighter vehicle seat that maintains stable sitting conditions by improving flexibility and cushioning properties, absorbing vibrations and ensuring comfort through controlled bending and distribution of load.

Implementation Method 1

the cushion material can bend easily if it is made thin, and there are problems that the cushion material may have trouble absorbing the vibration and the like

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10308302B2Cushioning-material structure for vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 TS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cushioning material structure, for a vehicle seat, that makes it possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle seat while maintaining stable riding performance. A cushioning material supported by the top surface of a bottom plate provided on a vehicle body is provided with voids. This allows weight reduction without reducing the thickness of the cushioning material as in conventional cushioning-material structures, thereby making it possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle seat while maintaining stable riding performance.