Multi-Material Seat Support Pad for Fast Recovery and Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats, such as those in motorcycles, experience compromised shock absorption and slow recovery from compression due to high recovery hysteresis in conventional foam materials, leading to reduced cushioning and prolonged recovery times, especially under varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design incorporating a support pad with an elastomer skeleton and a gel overmold section, which combines materials with low recovery hysteresis and high vibration dampening to improve seat performance and stability across temperature extremes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional foam material is used for vehicle seats, then the seat provides initial cushioning comfort, but the shock absorption characteristics are compromised and recovery time is prolonged due to high recovery hysteresis during extended use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining foam material with a viscoelastic polymer layer having low recovery hysteresis. This multi-material construction allows the foam to provide initial cushioning while the viscoelastic layer maintains shock absorption characteristics and accelerates recovery, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the seat cushion by introducing a viscoelastic polymer with specific hysteresis properties. This parameter change transforms the overall hysteresis behavior of the seat, enabling faster recovery while maintaining comfort, thus resolving the time loss issue without sacrificing reliability.
2Ease of operation
If foam material is compressed during extended use, then the material provides cushioning, but it requires a long time to return to its original form and shock absorption is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The foam is combined with a viscoelastic polymer layer that has different compression and recovery characteristics. The foam maintains cushioning comfort while the viscoelastic layer provides faster recovery, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and duration of action.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic polymer layer is positioned to provide prior cushioning support that assists the foam in recovering from compression. This beforehand cushioning mechanism helps the foam return to its original form more quickly without compromising comfort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single material is used for the support pad, then the design is simple, but it cannot provide both low recovery hysteresis and high vibration dampening across temperature extremes
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad uses a composite structure with a foam core and a viscoelastic polymer layer, each material selected for specific temperature-dependent properties. This composite approach enables the support pad to adapt to temperature extremes by combining materials with complementary thermal and mechanical properties, justifying the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the support pad use different materials optimized for local conditions. The viscoelastic polymer layer is strategically positioned to provide low recovery hysteresis where needed, while the foam provides vibration dampening, creating local quality variations that enhance overall adaptability.
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 combined materials in the support pad enhance seat recovery speed, reduce hysteresis loss, and provide improved vibration dampening, maintaining comfort and cushioning during dynamic events while adapting to various weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a gel overmold section on the elastomer skeleton
Implementation Method 2
reduce hysteresis loss
Implementation Method 3
high vibration dampening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a seat base, a seat foam supported by the seat base, and a support pad positioned between the seat base and at least a portion of the seat foam. The support pad being formed of a combination of a first material and a second material. A seat cover covering the support pad and the seat foam. The first material has a first recovery hysteresis and the second material has a second recovery hysteresis that is less than the first recovery hysteresis.