Seat Ventilation Fastening Device Post-Upholstery Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening methods for fan arrangements in seats often result in damage during installation, particularly when upholsterers work roughly with hammers to cover seat covers, and previous solutions require pre-assembly before upholstery, which complicates access for repair.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device comprising a mounting element with a tubular mounting part and a fan housing, featuring a protective grille, flanges, spring elements, and locking mechanisms that allow secure attachment of the fan assembly after seat upholstery, enabling easy installation and later access for maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fan arrangement is installed before seat upholstery, then the fan can be securely fastened, but the upholstery process becomes complicated and access for repair is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fasteningVSAvoidinstallation process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is divided into separate components: a mounting element that integrates with the seat structure and a fan arrangement that attaches to it. This segmentation allows the fan to be installed after upholstery without compromising security, as the mounting element remains exposed or accessible while the seat cover is applied over the seat structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting element acts as an intermediary between the seat structure and the fan arrangement. It provides a secure attachment point that is independent of the upholstery process, allowing the fan to be fastened securely while simplifying the overall installation procedure and maintaining access for future repairs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If upholsterers use hammers to pull the seat cover onto the seat, then the seat cover can be installed efficiently, but the fan can be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupholstery installation speedVSAvoidfan damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fan arrangement is extracted from the upholstery process by mounting it on a separate mounting element that is either integrated into the seat structure or installed independently. This removes the fan from the path of the upholstery hammer, allowing efficient seat cover installation without risk of fan damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting element provides a protective interface between the seat structure and the fan arrangement. By positioning the fan on this intermediate structure before upholstery begins, the fan is cushioned against the harmful effects of hammering during the seat cover installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the fan arrangement requires pre-assembly before upholstery, then secure fastening is achieved, but repair access becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening securityVSAvoidmaintenance access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a permanent mounting element and a detachable fan arrangement. The mounting element remains fixed to the seat structure while the fan can be easily removed for repair or replacement, maintaining both secure fastening and easy maintenance access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 provides a secure and damage-resistant fastening method for fan assemblies, allowing for post-upholstery installation and easy maintenance, reducing the risk of fan damage and simplifying the assembly process.

Implementation Method 1

The mounting element 10 is provided with at least one spring element 28 which is designed to flex radially outwards so as to enable the tubular housing part 54 to be inserted into the mounting element 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2909483B1Fastening device for fastening a ventilation array to a seat
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 EBM PAPST ST GEORGEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2909483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2909483B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2909483B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening device (30) for fastening a ventilation array (40) to a seat (100), comprising a mounting element (10) and a ventilator housing (50) for the ventilation array (40), wherein the ventilator housing (50) is provided with a tube-shaped housing part (54) having a first housing-part end (51) and a second housing-part end (52) located opposite therefrom. On the second housing-part end (52), a protective grid (56) is provided, configured to allow the transport of air through the tube-shaped housing part (54), wherein the mounting element (10) has a tube-shaped mounting part comprising a first mounting-part end (11) and a second mounting-part end (12) located opposite therefrom. On the first mounting-part end (11), a protective grid (18) is provided, configured to allow the transport of air through the tube-shaped mounting part (14). At the first mounting-part end (11), on the outside of the tube-shaped mounting part (14), at least one outwardly projecting flange (20) is provided, configured such that the flange together with a surface (22) facing the second mounting-part end (12) forms a stop relative to an element of the seat (100) during the installation of the mounting element. The mounting element (10) is configured such that after being mounted to a seat (100), a tube-shaped housing part (54) of the ventilator housing (40) can be inserted into the tube-shaped housing part (54) from the direction of the second mounting-part end (12).