Multi-Chamber Seat Cushion Firmness Control to Prevent Sagging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat pneumatic bladders exert uniform force, leading to variations in seat properties and sagging of seat covers due to deformation, affecting occupant comfort and appearance.
Innovation Solution
A seat cushion with inflatable bladders encapsulated within a compressible member, allowing adjustable firmness and hardness by varying inflation pressure, and a control system to manage inflation based on occupancy and usage to prevent sagging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional pneumatic bladders are used with single chamber uniform inflation, then the bladder structure is simple, but the seat properties vary and sagging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single chamber bladder into multiple chambers (first chamber and second chamber) with different inflation pressures. This segmentation allows different regions of the seat to have different firmness levels, preventing uniform deformation and sagging while maintaining structural complexity at a manageable level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different inflation pressures to different chambers located at specific positions (front vs rear of seat). This creates local quality variations where the front portion of the seat has different support characteristics than the rear portion, addressing sagging in specific areas without requiring complete redesign of the entire seat structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inflatable bladders are used to adjust firmness, then seat comfort is improved, but seat cover sagging increases due to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable inflation pressures in different chambers that can be controlled based on occupancy detection. The system adapts the firmness of different seat regions in real-time, maintaining seat cover tautness by adjusting pressure levels according to actual usage conditions rather than maintaining fixed high pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates occupancy sensors that provide feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts inflation pressures appropriately - inflating chambers when occupied to provide support and prevent sagging, and deflating when unoccupied to reduce deformation stress on the seat cover, thus maintaining shape while preserving adaptability.
3Shape
If high inflation pressure is applied to prevent sagging, then seat cover tautness is maintained, but occupant comfort decreases due to excessive hardness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seat into multiple chambers that can be inflated to different pressure levels. This allows the seat cover to be kept taut in regions where support is needed while maintaining softer, more comfortable characteristics in other regions, resolving the contradiction between shape maintenance and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different inflation pressures to different local regions of the seat based on specific support requirements. This creates local quality variations where firmness is tailored to functional needs - firmer in areas requiring shape maintenance, softer in areas prioritizing comfort - thus satisfying both seat cover tautness and occupant comfort simultaneously.
4Reliability
If pneumatic bladders are positioned underneath seat foam, then lumbar support is provided, but the system complexity increases with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lumbar support function with the existing seat cushion structure by integrating multiple chambers directly into the seat foam assembly. This combination maintains the reliability of lumbar support while reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate pneumatic systems positioned underneath the foam.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the multi-chamber pneumatic system to serve multiple functions simultaneously - providing lumbar support, adjusting overall seat firmness, and preventing seat cover sagging. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate systems for each function, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity.
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 provides adaptive seat stiffness and comfort, reduces sagging of seat covers, and enhances the appearance and usability of vehicle seats by dynamically adjusting firmness and tension.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more inflatable bladders can be inflated to controllably adjust one or more properties of the seat cushion
Implementation Method 2
When inflated the one or more inflatable bladders expand and may compress the surrounding region of the compressible member
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a seat cushion including a compressible member and at least one insert. The insert has one or more inflatable bladders. The at least one insert is at least partially encapsulated within the compressible member. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a method of forming a seat cushion; a seat assembly and a vehicle.