Seat Upholstery Flow-Braking Channel for Stable Air Bladder Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat upholstery in vehicles faces challenges in reducing foam thickness to minimize environmental impact while maintaining passenger comfort, as previous attempts to replace foam with inflatable bladders result in discomfort due to rapid air movement and instability.
Innovation Solution
A flow-braking device with a solid body connecting bladders, featuring a channel that controls fluid movement between them to regulate pressure distribution and prevent rapid air movement, thereby enhancing comfort and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If foam thickness is reduced to minimize environmental impact, then environmental sustainability is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to pressure peaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air bladders as intermediary elements between the seat structure and the passenger body. These bladders filled with gas act as a mediator that provides cushioning and pressure distribution, replacing the traditional foam material and enabling reduced foam thickness while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state from solid foam to gaseous air-filled bladders. By transforming the cushioning medium from a solid material to a gas-based system, the patent achieves both environmental benefits (reduced material usage) and comfort maintenance through the compressible nature of gas.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional air bladders are used to replace foam, then foam amount is reduced, but comfort and stability deteriorate due to quick air movement between high-pressure and low-pressure areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the seat into multiple independent air bladder segments rather than using a single continuous bladder. This segmentation creates isolated pressure zones that prevent rapid air movement between high and low pressure areas, thereby maintaining stability during vehicle movement while still reducing foam usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the problematic air movement characteristic from the bladder system by implementing one-way flow restrictions or check valves that prevent rapid equalization of pressure between different bladder sections, thereby eliminating the instability issue while retaining the foam-reduction benefit.
3Shape
If height restrictors are added to bladders to solve the balloon effect, then the balloon effect is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the height restriction function directly into the bladder structure itself through integrated design features such as internal reinforcement ribs or pre-formed geometric constraints, eliminating the need for separate height restrictor components and their associated welding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible bladder materials with built-in structural characteristics that naturally resist the balloon effect, such as anisotropic elasticity or predetermined stress distribution patterns in the bladder wall, thereby achieving shape control without additional rigid restrictors.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple small bladders are used to reduce foam, then foam amount is reduced, but comfort deteriorates due to isolated bladders that do not allow air flow (bubble wrap effect)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces controlled flow mediators or one-way valves between the multiple small bladders that allow gradual air transfer while preventing rapid movement. This intermediary mechanism enables the bladders to work together as a unified comfort system rather than isolated units, eliminating the bubble wrap effect while maintaining reduced foam usage.
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 flow-braking device allows for reduced foam usage in seat upholstery without compromising comfort by controlling fluid flow, thus improving environmental sustainability and passenger comfort.
Implementation Method 1
restricting a flow of the fluid flowing in a direction from a bladder having a higher pressure to a bladder having a lower pressure
Implementation Method 2
The channel is configured to control fluid movement between the at least two bladders by restricting a flow of the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A flow-braking device for a pneumatic system and a seat component for a vehicle is provided. A flow-braking device comprises a solid body for connecting at least two bladders. The solid body comprises a channel extending through the solid body from one bladder to another bladder for transmitting a fluid between the at least two bladders. The channel is configured to control fluid movement between the at least two bladders by restricting a flow of the fluid flowing in a direction from a bladder having a higher pressure to a bladder having a lower pressure for controllable deflation of the bladder having the higher pressure. The pneumatic system comprises a flow-braking device and at least two bladders interconnected by the flow-braking device. The seat component for a vehicle comprises the pneumatic system and a layer of foam. The flow-braking device allows to reduce the thickness of the layer of foam used in seat upholstery of a vehicle for cushioning. Reduced thickness of the layer of foam in turn allows to reduce environmental impact induced by producing seat upholstery of a vehicle.