Ventilated Vehicle Seat Duct Mounting for Leak-Stable Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats with air passages and ducts face issues such as duct displacement during seat movement, air leakage, and interference with pressure-receiving members, leading to instability and wear.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle seat design incorporates a duct system with flanges and holding members that securely attach to the pad, ensuring stability and reducing air leakage, while also using annular engagement portions and engagement confirmation features for proper fitting and hermeticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a duct is connected by fitting an annular recess and an annular protrusion, then hermeticity of the duct is improved, but if the recess and protrusion are not properly fitted together, a gap is likely formed and hermeticity cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual indicators (color-coded or marked engagement confirmation portions) on the duct components to show when proper engagement is achieved. This allows operators to visually confirm hermetic connection without complex measurement tools, resolving the contradiction between ensuring hermeticity and ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The duct design incorporates self-aligning features where the annular protrusion and recess automatically guide themselves into proper engagement position during assembly. This self-alignment mechanism reduces the skill level required for assembly while ensuring hermetic connection, addressing both ease of manufacture and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the duct is made flexible to accommodate seat movement, then adaptability is improved, but duct displacement from the pad occurs during seat movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic connection system where the duct can flexibly move within controlled parameters during seat adjustment, while the engagement confirmation mechanism ensures it remains properly positioned. The duct's flexibility is optimized to accommodate necessary movements without exceeding displacement thresholds that would cause disengagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement confirmation portion provides continuous visual feedback to operators about the duct's engagement status during seat movement and adjustment. This feedback mechanism allows operators to monitor and maintain proper duct positioning while utilizing its flexibility, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
3Strength
If the pressure-receiving member is configured as a plate-like member, then structural strength is improved, but the pressure-receiving member and duct are likely to interfere with each other causing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure-receiving member into multiple components, separating the duct passage area from the load-bearing plate structure. This segmentation allows the plate to maintain its strength for weight bearing while creating clear spatial separation between the duct and pressure-receiving surfaces, eliminating interference and wear issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structural element (such as a frame or support structure) between the plate-like pressure-receiving member and the duct. This intermediary component absorbs and redirects forces, preventing direct contact and interference between the duct and pressure-receiving surfaces while allowing the plate to maintain its structural strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat which can restrain displacement of a duct from a pad is provided. The vehicle seat includes a blower, the pad (P) including an air passage formed therein and a hole (B2) communicating with the air passage, the duct (100) connected to the hole (B2) and configured to connect the blower and the air passage, and a holding member (150) connected to the duct (100). The duct (100) includes a first tubular portion (133) positioned in the hole (B2), and a first flange (134) extending outward from the first tubular portion (133). The holding member (150) includes a second tubular portion (151) connected to the first tubular portion (133), and a second flange (152) extending outward from the second tubular portion (151). The first flange (134) and the second flange (152) hold the pad therebetween.