Vehicle Seat Lower Leg Support Width Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lower leg support devices for vehicle seats lack flexibility in adjusting the support surface area, limiting user comfort and space efficiency, as they primarily rely on pivoting mechanisms that do not allow for adequate width adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A lower leg support device with transversely movable support parts, enabled by a rail guide mechanism and actuators, allows for the adjustable width of the support surface by displacing second support parts relative to the first support part, which can be widened or narrowed to accommodate different leg positions and reduce storage space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lower leg support is designed with a fixed support surface area, then the structure is simple, but user comfort and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lower leg support is divided into multiple support parts (first support part and second support part) that can be independently displaced relative to each other. This segmentation allows the support surface area to be adjusted by moving individual segments, providing adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on the bracket and support part configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The support parts are designed to be displaceable relative to each other along the longitudinal extension, transforming the static support surface into a dynamic one that can adapt to different user needs. The displacement mechanism allows the support width to be adjusted without complex structural changes, balancing adaptability with structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lower leg support surface is widened to accommodate different leg positions, then user comfort increases, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the support into multiple displaceable parts, the support can be widened when needed by moving the second support part relative to the first, and compacted for storage by moving the parts closer together. This segmentation enables the support to provide a wide support surface during use while minimizing storage space when retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic displacement capability allows the support surface width to be changed on demand. During use, the support parts can be positioned to provide maximum width for comfort, while during storage, the same parts can be moved to minimize the occupied space, effectively resolving the contradiction between support width and storage space.
3Ease of operation
If the lower leg support uses a pivoting mechanism only, then the structure is simple, but flexibility in adjusting support surface width is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the pivoting mechanism with a displacement mechanism for the support parts. The bracket provides the pivoting function for positioning the support, while the displaceable support parts provide the width adjustment function. By merging these two mechanisms, the system achieves high flexibility in adjusting support width without requiring entirely complex adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The support parts are designed with both pivoting capability (inherited from the bracket) and displacement capability (unique to each support part). This dynamic design allows the support to perform both angular positioning and width adjustment functions, significantly increasing operational flexibility while maintaining reasonable mechanical complexity through the use of standard pivoting and sliding mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A lower leg support device for a vehicle seat, with a bracket and with a lower leg support displaceably arranged on the bracket, which can be moved between a non-use position and a use position upstream in longitudinal extension, wherein the lower leg support has at least two support parts which are moveable relative to each other to increase or reduce a lower leg support surface of the lower leg support. It is provided that the support parts can be moved transversely to the longitudinal extension to each other in order to increase or reduce the width of the lower leg support surface.