Vehicle Seatback Restraint Structure for Lumbar Cover Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle seat designs face issues where a gap forms between the lumbar support and the covering member when the lumbar support changes shape, leading to misalignment and potential bulging.

Innovation Solution

The seatback design incorporates a pair of side restraint members and back face restraint members connected to a covering member, which restrain the side sections and maintain the covering member's alignment with the lumbar support, preventing gaps and bulging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the lumbar support is made deformable to change shape, then lumbar support functionality is improved, but a gap forms between the lumbar support and the covering member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelumbar support shape adaptabilityVSAvoidalignment between covering member and lumbar support

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The side sections of the cushion member are designed to be rotatable relative to the central section, allowing dynamic adjustment to accommodate the deformable lumbar support's shape changes while maintaining continuous contact with the covering member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cushion member is divided into a central section and a pair of side sections that can rotate independently, allowing each section to adapt to the lumbar support's deformation without creating gaps with the covering member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the side sections are allowed to rotate freely, then cushion comfort is improved, but the covering member becomes misaligned and gaps form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecushion rotation flexibilityVSAvoidcovering member alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The side restraint members are pre-installed to prevent excessive rotation of the side sections, counteracting the tendency of the covering member to become misaligned before gaps can form

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS12459410B2Seatback of vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

A seatback of a vehicle seat, including: a cushion member including a central section, and a pair of side sections respectively connected to a pair of side edge portions of the central section so as to be rotatable relative to the central section; a lumbar support configured to contact a rear face of the central section and to be deformable such that a front-rear direction position of part of the lumbar support is changed; a covering member having a bag shape and covering the cushion member and the lumbar support; a pair of side restraint members configured so as to be connected to an inner face of the covering member and to respectively restrain the pair of side sections; and a pair of back face restraint members provided at an inner face of a back face configuration section of the covering member and connected to the side restraint members.