Single-Piece Seat Pan With Flexible Tilt Front Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional full seat pans lose the tilt functionality when covering the entire seat frame, requiring additional components and increasing weight and complexity, while half seat pans only provide partial support and limited tilt flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece seat pan with a flexible area between the rear and front portions allows the front portion to tilt independently, maintaining the tilt functionality of a half pan without additional components, and can be molded in one piece for reduced complexity and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a full seat pan covers the entire seat frame, then support for the seat cushion is improved, but the tilt function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The seat pan is divided into a rigid rear portion and a rigid front portion connected by a flexible area, allowing the front portion to tilt independently while maintaining overall structural support. This segmentation enables both full coverage and tilt functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible area introduces dynamic characteristics to an otherwise rigid structure, allowing the seat pan to transition between fixed and tilted states. This dynamic element enables the tilt function while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If a half seat pan is used to enable tilt function, then tilt flexibility is improved, but additional components are needed increasing weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible area merges the functions of multiple separate components (hinges, joints, or additional support structures) into a single integrated element within the seat pan itself, reducing overall device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible area enables the seat pan to perform the tilting function using its own inherent flexibility rather than requiring external mechanical components, allowing the structure to serve its own functional needs.
3Ease of operation
If a half seat pan is used to enable tilt function, then tilt flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible area is created by modifying material parameters (thickness, density, or material composition) in a specific region of the seat pan, allowing the same manufacturing process to produce both rigid and flexible zones without requiring separate manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat pan has different local qualities - rigid in most areas for structural support and flexible in the specific area for tilting. This local differentiation can be achieved within a single manufacturing process by varying material properties in the flexible zone.
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
Enables a higher degree of tilt in both upwards and downwards directions while providing adequate support for the entire seat cushion, reducing the need for additional components and manufacturing complexity, and allowing for passenger comfort adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible area enables the front portion to be arranged in a tilted state relative to the rear portion
Data Source
AI summary
A seat pan for a vehicle seat. The seat pan includes a rear portion and a front portion. The seat pan includes a flexible area arranged between the rear portion and the front portion, said flexible area enabling the front portion to be arranged in a tilted state relative to the rear portion and wherein the seat pan is formed in a single piece.