Vehicle Seat Valance Cover Segmentation for Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seats have rigid valance covers that do not move with the seat cushion or seat back adjustments, limiting access and reducing the effective seating width, particularly in restricted spaces like rear seats of vehicles, which compromises passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a valance cover with a forward section that moves with the seat cushion assembly during tilting, and a rearward section fixed to the frame, allowing the seat cushion padding to extend over the forward cover section, providing increased access and comfort by maintaining padding support during adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid valance cover is provided fixed to the main seat structure, then the cover protects enclosed components and provides a neat finish, but the cover limits user access and reduces the effective seating width
Solution Approach 1:
The valance cover is divided into two separate sections: a rearward section fixed to the main seat structure for protection, and a forward section mounted to move with the seat cushion assembly. This segmentation allows each section to fulfill its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between protection and access.
Solution Approach 2:
The forward cover section is mounted to the seat cushion assembly via a sliding bearing, allowing it to move dynamically as the seat cushion tilts. This dynamic mounting ensures the cover remains accessible and does not limit seating width, while the rearward fixed section maintains protection of enclosed components.
2Reliability
If a rigid valance cover is provided fixed to the main seat structure, then the cover protects enclosed components, but the cover limits the width of the padded seating area
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the cover into fixed and moving sections allows the forward section to clear the padded seating area when the seat tilts, effectively increasing the usable seating width while the rearward section maintains protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic mounting of the forward cover section on the sliding bearing allows it to move out of the way during seat cushion tilting, preventing limitation of the padded seating area width while maintaining component protection.
3Device complexity
If the cover is mounted outside the padded area of the seat cushion assembly, then the cover structure is simplified, but the user has to climb over the cover when entering or leaving the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
By mounting the forward cover section to move with the seat cushion assembly, the cover dynamically adjusts its position relative to the user during entry and exit, eliminating the need to climb over it while maintaining a relatively simple mounting structure using a sliding bearing.
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
Enhances user access and comfort by ensuring the seat cushion padding remains supported and accessible, even during tilting, and increases the effective seating width, addressing the limitations of conventional seat designs in restricted vehicle spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The sliding bearing may include a bush fixed to the seat frame, the bush being slidably received in an elongate slot defined in the support member.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat has a frame, a padded seat back assembly (16), a padded seat cushion assembly (18), and a seat cushion assembly tilt arrangement for tilting the seat cushion assembly. A valance cover (34) is mounted on an outer side of the seat. The cover has a rearward cover section (34a) and a forward cover section (34b). The forward cover section (34b) is mounted in fixed relation to the seat cushion assembly (18) for tilting movement together with the seat cushion assembly. The seat cushion padding (24) extends over an upper surface of the forward cover section (34b).