Vehicle Seat Vibration Massage Unit Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seat vibration massage units often dampen and transmit vibrations to the seat structure, leading to reduced massage effectiveness, increased noise, and compromised sitting comfort due to their integration with the cushioning.
Innovation Solution
The vibration massage unit is decoupled from the cushion by being supported at a minimal cross-sectional area, such as a point or in a line, within a recess, allowing it to oscillate freely and reducing vibration transmission to the seat structure, while being positioned directly under the covering for enhanced massage intensity and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vibration massage unit is integrated into the cushion structure, then it is securely positioned and supported, but vibrations are damped and transmitted to the seat structure, reducing massage effectiveness and increasing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element (support structure with punctiform, linear, or small-area contact points) between the vibration massage unit and the cushion to decouple the vibration transmission path while maintaining secure positioning. This mediator allows the massage unit to oscillate freely without direct coupling to the seat structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into discrete contact points (punctiform), lines, or small areas rather than continuous support, creating isolated contact zones that minimize vibration transmission while maintaining positional stability of the massage unit.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the vibration massage unit is supported over a large area, then it is stable and securely positioned, but vibration damping increases and massage intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure implements local quality by providing stability only at specific discrete locations (punctiform points, lines, or small areas) rather than uniform support across the entire base. This localized support maintains positioning stability while allowing free oscillation and high-intensity vibration at the massage contact points.
3Power
If the vibration massage unit is positioned close to the covering, then massage intensity is enhanced, but vibrations are transmitted to the covering causing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupled support structure acts as an intermediary that allows the massage unit to be positioned close to the covering for high-intensity massage while preventing vibration transmission to the covering and seat structure, thus reducing noise.
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 extends the life of the massage unit's drive, improves acoustics by minimizing resonance, and enhances massage intensity while increasing sitting comfort by allowing the unit to yield under seating pressure.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vibration massage unit arranged in a recess of the cushion underneath the covering, consisting of an electric drive and a driven unbalanced mass
Implementation Method 2
The absorption of vibrations causes, on the one hand, a damping of the massage effect, and, on the other hand, a transmission of the vibrations to the structure of the vehicle seat causes a generation of unwanted noise
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat element, in particular seat pan, backrest or seat headrest, having a cushion facing a vehicle occupant, a covering and at least one vibration massage unit, arranged underneath the covering in a recess in the cushion and consists of an electric drive and a driven unbalanced mass, arranged at one end of the elongate vibration massage unit, characterised in that the vibration massage unit is supported in the recess only at points, in lines and/or in small areas and is spaced from the end of the vibration massage unit at which the unbalanced mass is arranged, and the substantial portion of the walls of the recess is spaced from the vibration massage unit. An insert element for a vehicle seat element of this type, a cushion for a vehicle seat element of this type, and a method for producing a vehicle seat element of this type.