Seatback Blower Protection Structure Using Anchored Fabric Shield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat designs require a manufacturing process to integrate a protecting sheet with the cover to prevent damage to the blowing unit, complicating production and limiting design freedom.

Innovation Solution

A blower protection structure using a fabric-like member anchored to lumbar wires of the seatback frame, which protects the blower from impact loads and simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for an integral cover process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protection sheet is made integral with the cover to protect the blowing unit, then the blowing unit is protected from impact load, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of blowing unitVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protection function is segmented from the cover structure. Instead of making the protection sheet integral with the cover, a separate fabric-like member is used that can be independently installed between the cover and the blowing unit, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A fabric-like member is introduced as an intermediary element between the cover and the blowing unit. This intermediary component absorbs impact loads and protects the blowing unit without requiring integration with the cover structure, thereby simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a cover is used to protect the blowing unit, then the blowing unit is protected, but design freedom of the back surface is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of blowing unitVSAvoiddesign freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A fabric-like member is used instead of a rigid cover structure. The fabric-like member's flexible nature allows it to conform to various back surface designs without restricting design freedom, while still providing effective protection for the blowing unit through its impact-absorbing properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the blowing unit is mounted to the seatback frame, then the structure is stable, but the blowing unit is vulnerable to impact from the rear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidimpact load from rear

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fabric-like member is positioned between the cover and the blowing unit in advance, creating a cushioning layer that absorbs impact loads before they reach the blowing unit. This beforehand cushioning protects the mounted blowing unit from rear impacts while maintaining its stable structural position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250276625A1Blower protection structure of a seatback, and vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

A blower protection structure of a seatback has a pair of left and right lumbar wires spanning between an upper portion and a lower portion of a seatback frame of a vehicle seat, a blower mounted directly or indirectly to the left and right lumbar wires, and a fabric-like member disposed at a seatback rear side with respect to the blower and having a pair of left and right anchor portions anchored at the left and right lumbar wires.