Seat assembly and support portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat assembly and support portion designs are often complex and fail to provide adequate and comfortable support to users, particularly in minimizing pressure on the spine and bone prominences.
Innovation Solution
A modular seat assembly with a support portion comprising a first and second main portion configured to extend along opposite sides of a user's spine, featuring a gap aligned with the spine, and extensions projecting from these main portions to connect with a seatback frame, allowing for flexible deformation and targeted support to distribute pressure evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a continuous support structure is used, then structural strength is improved, but pressure concentration on the spine and bone prominences occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is divided into multiple discrete support elements (first support element, second support element, etc.) rather than a continuous structure. These segmented elements are positioned at specific locations to provide support while leaving gaps between them, which prevents pressure concentration on the spine and bone prominences while maintaining overall structural strength through the distributed support network.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid support structure is used, then structural stability is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to inability to conform to user shape
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements are designed with flexible materials and configurations that allow them to dynamically adapt to the user's body shape and weight distribution. The support portion can deform and conform to different user anatomies while maintaining structural stability through the engineered flexibility and support geometry of individual elements.
3Device complexity
If a simple support structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but support adequacy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different support elements are positioned at specific locations corresponding to different anatomical regions (lumbar region, shoulder blade prominences, pelvic bone prominences, etc.). Each support element has optimized local characteristics including position, size, and flexibility tailored to the specific support needs of that body region, providing adequate overall support without requiring a uniformly complex structure throughout.
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 solution effectively reduces pressure on the spine and bone prominences, enhancing user comfort by allowing the support portion to flex and conform to the user's shape, thereby minimizing discomfort and back pain.
Implementation Method 1
the support portion is flexible and deformable to compensate for an applied force, such as the weight of a user sitting on the seat assembly and/or leaning on the seatback
Data Source
AI summary
A support portion for a seat assembly includes, in some configurations, a first main portion and a second main portion disposed such that a gap is provided between the first main portion and the second main portion. In some configurations, the support portion includes a plurality of first extensions projecting from the first main portion away from the gap; the support portion includes a plurality of second extensions projecting from the second main portion away from the gap; the first main portion and the second main portion are configured to extend along opposite sides of a spine of a user such that the gap is aligned with said spine; and/or the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions are configured for connection with a seatback frame.