Segmented Seat Back Design to Maintain Forward View During Recline
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reclining seats cause discomfort and strain when occupants need to maintain a forward view due to the upward tilt of the seat back, leading to neck and upper torso discomfort, especially during activities requiring a forward gaze.
Innovation Solution
The reclining seat is designed with a seat back divided into two segments, allowing the upper segment to incline relative to the lower segment, and includes a deployable neck support that can adjust to provide additional support for the occupant's neck, maintaining a forward-facing view without straining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat back is reclined to allow the occupant to rest, then the occupant can relax the upper portion of the torso and neck, but the occupant's field of view tilts upwards towards the ceiling making it difficult to watch TV or read
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is divided into two independent segments: a lower segment that reclines with the seat bottom, and an upper segment that can independently adjust its angle. This segmentation allows the upper segment to maintain a forward-facing orientation even when the lower segment is reclined, enabling the occupant to both relax and maintain a proper field of view for activities like watching TV or reading.
2Ease of operation
If the seat back is reclined from the upright position, then the occupant can achieve a relaxed seating position, but a gap forms between the back of the occupant's neck and the seat back causing discomfort and strain
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the seat back into upper and lower segments allows the upper segment to be positioned independently to fill the gap that forms during recline, providing continuous support for the occupant's neck and upper back.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper segment is made dynamically adjustable, allowing it to change its angle and position relative to the lower segment. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the upper segment can adapt to different recline angles and occupant positions, maintaining optimal neck support throughout the recline range.
3Ease of operation
If the upper segment of the seat back is made longer to support both shoulder and head, then the neck support can be positioned more effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seat back, the upper segment can be extended in length to provide comprehensive support from the shoulder to the head region, while the segmentation itself simplifies the adjustment mechanism compared to a monolithic adjustable seat back.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended upper segment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides support for the shoulder, supports the head, and positions the neck support cushion effectively. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A reclining seat including, but not limited to, a seat bottom. The reclining seat further including, but not limited to, a seat back having an upper segment and a lower segment, the lower segment pivotally coupled with the seat bottom via a first pivotal coupling, and the upper segment pivotally coupled with the lower segment via a second pivotal coupling.