Seat-Mounted Work Surface With Safe Stow-and-Deploy Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passenger vehicle seating compartments lack versatile and safe configurations for alternative uses, such as mobile offices or meeting rooms, due to safety concerns when the vehicle is in motion.
Innovation Solution
A seat-mounted work surface system that allows the seat and work surface to pivot between stowed and deployed positions, providing an abrasion-resistant surface and adjustable layout, with components that prevent deployment when the seat is in use, ensuring safety and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the work surface is made movable between stowed and deployed positions to enable alternative uses, then versatility is improved, but safety concerns arise when the vehicle is in motion
Solution Approach 1:
The work surface is designed with movable coupling to the seat, allowing it to dynamically transition between stowed and deployed positions. This dynamic configuration enables the surface to adapt to different usage scenarios (work mode vs. transport mode) while maintaining safety through controlled movement mechanisms that prevent accidental deployment during vehicle operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is made pivotable between stowed and deployed positions, then seating arrangement flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seat pivot mechanism and work surface movement mechanism into an integrated system. The movable coupling between the work surface and seat allows both components to coordinate their movements, reducing the need for separate control systems and simplifying the overall mechanical structure while maintaining flexibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the work surface provides abrasion resistant surface when stowed, then protection function is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The work surface utilizes material property changes to provide abrasion resistance. By selecting materials with inherently high abrasion resistance for the work surface, the patent achieves protection functionality through material selection rather than adding complex structural elements, coatings, or protective mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A seating assembly includes a seatback coupled to a support surface. A seat is movably coupled to the seatback such that the seat is pivotable relative to the seatback. The seat is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A work surface is movably coupled to an underside of the seat. The work surface is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.