Seatback Cover Ventilation Structure to Prevent Load Concentration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicular seats with ventilation portions exposed to the vehicle interior degrade the aesthetic appearance and require additional measures to prevent load concentration when articles come into contact with the ventilation portions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular seat structure with a seat cover that includes a ventilation portion with air permeability, covered by a covering portion, and a blower device that conditions air through a concealed path within the seat cover, avoiding exposure to the vehicle interior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ventilation portion is provided in the back surface of the seatback on the front seat side, then the ventilation function is achieved, but the ventilation portion becomes exposed to the vehicle interior and degrades the aesthetic appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation functionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation portion is nested within the seat cover structure, specifically formed in the rear surface of the seatback cover. The covering portion then envelops this ventilation area, creating a nested configuration where the functional ventilation openings are hidden within the aesthetic cover structure, eliminating visual exposure while maintaining airflow functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The seatback cover acts as a flexible shell that incorporates the ventilation portion and covering portion. The cover material forms a thin film structure that can include the ventilation openings while being covered by an outer layer, allowing the ventilation function to be embedded within the flexible cover structure rather than being exposed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the ventilation portion is installed to be exposed to the vehicle interior, then the ventilation function is achieved, but load concentration occurs when articles come into contact with the ventilation portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation functionVSAvoidload resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The covering portion is designed to cover the ventilation portion before any external load can contact it. This pre-protective structure distributes and absorbs contact forces from articles or objects that may accidentally touch the seatback, preventing concentrated loads from reaching the ventilation openings and potentially damaging them

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 prevents load concentration and exposure of ventilation portions while maintaining aesthetic appeal by covering the ventilation portion and routing air and wire harnesses within the seat cover, enhancing air permeability and reducing the risk of damage.

Implementation Method 1

the ventilation portion having air permeability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir permeability: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP4253144B1Vehicular seat structure

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP

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AI summary

[Problem to be Solved] To provide a vehiclular seat structure capable of curbing concentration of a load on an article or the like when the article comes into contact with a ventilation portion while avoiding exposure of the ventilation portion to a vehicle interior. [Solution] A vehiclular seat 1 includes a seatback cushion 32 that forms a seating surface, a blower fan 34 that conditions air around the seating surface, and a seatback cover 33 that covers the seatback cushion 32. The seatback cover 33 includes a ventilation portion 331 that communicates with the blower fan 34, and is formed at a position at which the ventilation portion 331 covers a part different from the seating surface of the seatback cushion 32, the ventilation portion 331 having air permeability, and a covering portion 332 that is formed at a position at which the covering portion 332 covers the ventilation portion 331 from outside of the seat.