Segmented Reclining Seat Back for Forward View and Neck Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reclining seats cause discomfort and strain when reclined, as the occupant's field of view tilts upwards, making it difficult to engage in activities requiring a forward direction without straining the neck or upper torso, and there is a lack of support for the neck.
Innovation Solution
A reclining seat design with a seat back divided into upper and lower segments, where the upper segment is pivotally coupled to the lower segment, allowing it to incline and support the head and upper torso upright, and a deployable neck support that can adjust longitudinally to provide additional comfort.
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 torso, but the field of view tilts upwards making it difficult to engage in forward-facing activities
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is divided into two independently movable segments: a lower segment that reclines with the seat bottom, and an upper segment that can independently adjust its angle. This segmentation allows the lower segment to provide relaxation while the upper segment maintains proper field of view orientation for forward-facing activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper segment is designed to be dynamically adjustable relative to the lower segment, allowing it to change its angle and position. This dynamic capability enables the seat to adapt between different usage modes: fully reclined relaxation mode and upright forward-facing activity mode, resolving the contradiction between comfort and functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the seat back is reclined, then the occupant can rest, but there is a gap between the back of the neck and the seat back causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the seat back into upper and lower segments allows the upper segment to independently adjust and maintain proper contact with the occupant's neck and head, eliminating the gap that causes discomfort while still allowing the lower segment to recline for relaxation.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle and position parameters of the upper segment can be changed independently from the lower segment. By adjusting the upper segment's angle, the seat maintains optimal neck support geometry even when the lower segment is reclined, preventing the harmful gap from forming.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the upper segment is made longer to support both shoulder and head, then neck support is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating a single complex long support structure, the patent segments the seat back into two simpler components. The upper segment's extended length is achieved through the pivotal coupling mechanism, which allows a relatively short segment to effectively reach and support both the shoulder and head regions through its angular adjustment capability.
Data Source
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.