Flexible Seatback Suspension Panel for Adaptive Occupant Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seatbacks are rigid and lack flexibility, which can lead to discomfort and reduced safety during vehicle acceleration, changes in direction, and collisions, as they fail to effectively absorb and distribute the occupant's weight and movement.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat suspension system with flexible members protruding from a central area of a front trim piece, coupled to a passenger support panel, allowing for resilient movement and absorption of forces, thereby creating an external peripheral gap between the seatback frame and the passenger support panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If seatbacks are designed to be rigid and sizeable to support occupant during acceleration, direction change, and collision, then structural strength and safety are improved, but occupant comfort and adaptability deteriorate due to inability to absorb and distribute weight and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is divided into a rigid outer frame structure and a separate flexible passenger support panel. The rigid frame maintains structural strength for safety, while the flexible panel segmented into multiple support points adapts to occupant weight distribution and movements, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The seatback combines rigid structural materials for the frame with flexible materials for the passenger support panel. This composite construction allows the rigid frame to provide necessary strength while the flexible panel provides adaptability and comfort through resilient deformation
2Stability of the object's composition
If seatbacks are designed to be rigid to provide support during vehicle maneuvers, then structural stability is improved, but occupant comfort deteriorates due to lack of flexibility in absorbing weight and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback system is segmented into a stable rigid frame and a flexible support panel that can independently deform. This segmentation allows the frame to maintain structural stability while the panel provides comfort through flexible adaptation to occupant movements
Solution Approach 2:
The passenger support panel uses flexible material that can resiliently deform to absorb occupant weight and movements. This flexible panel maintains structural stability through its connection to the rigid frame while providing comfort through its ability to adapt to occupant needs
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible suspension system is introduced to improve comfort and adaptability, then adaptability and comfort are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional suspension components
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible support panel integrates multiple suspension functions into a single component that combines structural support, weight absorption, and movement adaptation. This merging approach provides enhanced adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity by consolidating functions
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 flexible suspension system enhances occupant comfort and safety by absorbing weight and movement, reducing the external peripheral gap and providing adaptive support during vehicle maneuvers, thereby improving the overall seating experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom
Implementation Method 2
A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame... flexible rearward upon resilient deflection of the suspension component
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat suspension system includes first and second side supports that define a seatback frame. A front trim piece is coupled between the first and second side supports. A suspension component is coupled with a central area of the front trim piece and has flexible members protruding forward and outward therefrom. A passenger support panel has a periphery coupled to distal ends of the flexible members and suspended away from the seatback frame.