Vehicle Seat Cushion Extension With Inflatable Bladder Retraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat designs fail to accommodate passengers of varying sizes effectively, as they lack a mechanism to easily adjust and extend to provide adequate support and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A seat cushion extension mechanism featuring an inflatable bladder positioned between the seat base and an extension member, which, upon inflation, forces the extension member forward, unrolling a portion of the seat cover and extending the seat length, while spring-biased cylinders provide a rearward bias to facilitate easy retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the seat cushion is made extendable to accommodate passengers of varying sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for extension mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat size accommodationVSAvoidextension mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat cushion is divided into a fixed seat base portion and a movable extension member portion. The extension member can be independently inflated and deflated to adjust seat length, allowing the cushion to adapt to different passenger sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extension member is stored in a compact state within or adjacent to the seat base when not in use. The seat cover is arranged to wrap around both the seat base and extension member, creating a nested configuration that minimizes space requirements and simplifies the retracted state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If the seat cover is made continuous without expansion seams, then manufacturing precision and appearance are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in accommodating movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat cover continuityVSAvoidextension movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat cover is constructed as a continuous flexible fabric that wraps around both the fixed seat base and the movable extension member. This continuous cover eliminates visible expansion seams while the underlying pneumatic mechanism enables smooth extension and retraction movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

A pneumatic bladder or air cushion is positioned between the extension member and the seat base. By controlling air pressure in the bladder, the extension member can be smoothly extended forward or retracted backward, enabling easy operation of the continuous seat cover without requiring mechanical expansion joints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of operation

If low friction materials are used between the extension member and seat cover, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance increases due to potential material wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextension movementVSAvoidmaterial wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A pneumatic bladder or air cushion is positioned between the extension member and the seat base to provide the primary mechanism for extension and retraction. This pneumatic interface eliminates direct friction between the extension member and seat cover, reducing wear on the seat cover material while enabling smooth operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The pneumatic bladder acts as an intermediary element between the extension member and the seat base, transferring the force needed for extension without requiring direct contact and friction between the extension member and the visible seat cover. This mediator reduces wear on the seat cover while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables adjustable seat length to accommodate passengers of different sizes, providing enhanced comfort and support by allowing the seat to extend smoothly and retract efficiently, without the need for expansion seams, using low friction materials for smooth operation.

Implementation Method 1

A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 2

spring-biased cylinders provide a rearward bias to facilitate easy retraction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring bias: Spring

Implementation Method 3

using low friction materials for smooth operation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8128167B2Seat cushion extension mechanism

Publication Date: 2012.03.06 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle seat including a seat base. An extension member is operably connected to the seat base. A seat cover partially extends over the extension member and seat base and partially stored on a roller below the seat pan. A bladder is disposed between the seat base and the extension member. Inflation of the bladder forces the extension member forward relative to the seat base and unroll a portion of the seat cover.