Vehicle Seat Lateral Cheek Plate Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack enhanced seating comfort and effective lateral support during driving maneuvers, particularly due to inadequate pressure distribution and stability provided by conventional adjustable lateral cheeks.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plate-shaped element outside inflatable chambers in the adjustable lateral cheeks, which provides pressure distribution and planar stabilization, along with two inflatable chambers of different volumes for improved engagement and redundancy, and using film hinges for cost-effective and durable mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If inflatable chambers are used in lateral cheeks, then lateral support is improved, but pressure distribution becomes uneven causing unpleasant pressure zones
Solution Approach 1:
A plate-shaped element is introduced as an intermediary component between the inflatable chamber and the occupant's body. This plate distributes the pressure from the inflated chamber over a larger surface area, transforming the concentrated pressure into a distributed support force that prevents unpleasant pressure zones while maintaining effective lateral support.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral cheek structure is differentiated into distinct functional zones: the inflatable chamber provides volumetric support, while the plate-shaped element provides localized pressure distribution at the contact surface. This local quality differentiation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
2Device complexity
If single chamber is used, then construction is simple, but reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral cheek support system is segmented into multiple independent inflatable chambers instead of using a single chamber. This segmentation allows individual chambers to be controlled independently, providing redundancy - if one chamber fails or is deflated, the other chambers continue to provide lateral support, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If plate-shaped element is added, then pressure distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-shaped element is constructed as a thin, flexible component that can be easily integrated into the existing lateral cheek structure. This flexible plate can be made from materials such as plastic or metal sheets that are thin enough to maintain flexibility while providing sufficient structural integrity for pressure distribution, thereby minimizing the increase in 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 significantly enhances seating comfort by providing improved lateral support and pressure distribution, avoiding unpleasant pressure zones and ensuring continued support even if one chamber fails, while simplifying installation and reducing the need for fastening devices.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustable lateral cheeks each have at least one inflatable chamber for adjusting the adjustable lateral cheeks
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has at least one pair of adjustable lateral cheeks provided on a seat cushion and/or on a seat back, with at least one inflatable chamber for adjusting the lateral cheek being provided in each of the lateral cheeks. A plate-shaped element is provided outside the inflatable chamber and on the same side facing a person sitting on the vehicle seat.