Vehicle Seat Heater Wire Layout to Minimize Backrest Creasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seat heater units often form creases when mounted on curved seat backs due to the absence of heating wires in certain areas, leading to reduced stiffness and increased likelihood of deformation during use.
Innovation Solution
A heater unit configuration featuring a first and second heater section with multiple bends on a substrate, where segments are alternately connected across the center, minimizing crease formation and maintaining efficient heating wire length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heating wire is omitted in the middle space of the heater unit, then the heating wire layout becomes simpler and manufacturing is easier, but the stiffness of the middle part decreases and crease formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the heater unit have different structures. Specifically, the middle part of the substrate includes reinforcement ribs that extend in the vertical direction, providing localized stiffness enhancement only where needed (in the middle space between heating wire sections) without affecting other areas. This allows the heating wire layout to remain simple while preventing crease formation in the critical middle region.
2Device complexity
If the middle part of the heater unit has small stiffness due to absence of heating wire, then the heater unit structure becomes simpler, but the likelihood of crease formation increases when bonded to curved pad
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate's middle part is equipped with reinforcement ribs that provide localized structural support. These ribs extend vertically and are positioned to prevent crease formation when the heater unit is bonded to a curved pad surface. The reinforcement ribs add minimal complexity to the overall structure while significantly improving crease resistance in the critical middle region where heating wires are absent.
3Adaptability or versatility
If heating wire is gathered toward the middle when occupant moves, then the heater can adapt to body movement, but the middle part with small stiffness is likely to be creased
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement ribs in the middle part of the substrate provide localized stiffness enhancement that prevents crease formation while allowing the heating wire sections to gather toward the middle during occupant movement. The ribs are strategically positioned to maintain structural integrity in the middle space without restricting the natural movement and gathering of heating wires, thus preserving both adaptability and shape stability.
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 configuration effectively reduces crease formation in vehicle seat assemblies with built-in heaters while ensuring effective heat distribution and preventing heating wire breakage.
Implementation Method 1
a heating wire laid out thereon
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle seat assembly with built-in heater having a configuration to minimize formation of creases. The vehicle seat assembly of the present invention comprises a seat heater. The seat heater is structured as a unit and comprised of a substrate and a heating wire. The heating wire has a first heater section and a second heater section. In the first heater section, a part of the segments bent on the left side extend leftward across the center. In the second heater section, a part of the segments bent on the right side extend rightward across the center. These segments are overlapped when viewed in the vertical direction. This configuration minimizes formation of creases in the middle area.