Seat Cushion Stiffness Gradient to Prevent Forward Occupant Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavier occupants tend to slide forward in a vehicle seat when the vehicle slows down due to insufficient forward support.
Innovation Solution
The seat cushion is designed with a higher stiffness towards the front side and incorporates S-shaped springs with varying spring constants to provide increased forward support, especially for heavier individuals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the seat cushion uses uniform stiffness throughout, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but heavier occupants slide forward when the vehicle slows down
Solution Approach 1:
The seat cushion is designed with non-uniform stiffness distribution, where the front portion has higher stiffness than the rear portion. This is achieved by making the support member (spring) have a variable cross-sectional area, with the width or thickness increasing toward the front end. This local quality change provides greater forward support force to prevent heavier occupants from sliding forward during deceleration, while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the support member has higher stiffness toward the front, then forward support is improved for heavier occupants, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support member's physical parameters are changed along its length to achieve the desired stiffness variation. Specifically, the cross-sectional area (width or thickness) of the spring is progressively increased toward the front end, creating a gradient in the spring constant. This continuous parameter change provides the necessary higher forward support force for reliable occupant stability during deceleration, while the gradual transition helps manage manufacturing precision requirements.
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
This design effectively inhibits forward sliding of occupants by increasing the front-rear supporting reaction force, particularly for heavier individuals, ensuring stable seating during vehicle deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
The support member may be a spring member formed to have a greater spring constant toward the front side of the vehicle. According to a position of the buttocks-supporting seat surface, the spring constant of each S-shaped spring is changed.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle seat to inhibit an occupant from sliding forward when a vehicle slows down. A seat cushion provided in the vehicle seat according to the present disclosure is formed to have a higher stiffness toward a front side of the vehicle in a buttocks-supporting seat surface supporting the buttocks of an occupant in the vehicle seat.