Seat-Mounted Wind Deflector for Head and Neck Draft Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind deflectors for convertible vehicles do not effectively protect the head and neck region from undesired airflows, and they often require additional attachment points on the vehicle bodywork or interior fittings.
Innovation Solution
A shell-shaped wind deflector is mounted on the vehicle seat with lateral and upper air guiding elements that form a coherent structural unit, providing protective faces to deflect air streams and attach to the seat using existing hooks and elastic receptacles, ensuring constant positioning and reduced vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a wind deflector is attached to the vehicle bodywork or interior fittings, then it can provide protection against airflows, but it requires additional attachment points and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector utilizes the existing seat structure and its integrated hooks as the mounting mechanism. The seat itself serves the dual function of providing both seating and the attachment infrastructure for the wind deflector, eliminating the need for separate attachment points on the vehicle bodywork or interior fittings.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a seating component and as a mounting structure for the wind deflector through integrated hooks. This universal approach allows the same structure to fulfill multiple functions, reducing overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a wind deflector is positioned close to the headrest for effective protection, then it reduces air drafts to the head and neck region, but it may interfere with seat adjustment and accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector is designed with a flexible mounting system that allows it to adapt to different seat positions and configurations. The elastic hook receptacles enable the deflector to maintain its protective position while accommodating seat adjustments, ensuring both effectiveness and ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a hard single-piece shell is used for the wind deflector, then it provides dimensional stability and aesthetic appearance, but it increases manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector is divided into multiple separable components including lateral air guiding elements, a rear wall, and an upper roof-shaped air guiding element. These segments can be manufactured independently using simpler processes and then assembled together, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the overall dimensional stability and aesthetic appearance of the complete structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind deflector for a convertible vehicle is connected to a vehicle seat in the region of a headrest. The wind deflector is attached removably to the vehicle seat by connecting elements. A rear wall of the wind deflector extends around the headrest of the vehicle seat and is adjoined by, in each case, lateral air guiding elements with upright protective faces arranged running in the direction of travel and form between them, in a region in front of the headrest, a space that reduces a draft of air. In a further embodiment, the wind deflector can also be provided with a roof-shaped air guiding element.