Segmented Vehicle Seat Backrest with Movable Lumbar Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural vehicle seats lack full adjustability, particularly in the backrest and seating surface, which can lead to discomfort for users of varying heights and during prolonged use, especially when reversing or checking rear implements.
Innovation Solution
A seat with an adaptable backrest and seating surface, featuring a cup-shaped design, adjustable lumbar support, and controls for tilting, collapsing, and rotating the backrest, as well as moving closer to or away from the steering wheel, to accommodate different user needs and enhance visibility and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the seat backrest is made stiff to provide structural support, then structural stability is improved, but user comfort deteriorates during prolonged sitting and reverse maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is divided into multiple independent segments including a headrest portion, upper backrest, and lower backrest that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each segment to maintain structural integrity while enabling independent adjustment to accommodate different user positions and comfort requirements during various operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the backrest segments to move from a locked rigid position to an unlocked flexible position. During reverse maneuvers or when checking rear implements, the backrest can dynamically adapt its stiffness, transitioning from a stable structural support to a more compliant configuration that facilitates user movement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the seat is designed for standard user dimensions, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different user sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is segmented into independently adjustable components including the headrest, upper backrest, and lower backrest. Each segment can be adjusted separately to accommodate users of different heights and body types, transforming a single standardized design into a multi-dimensional adjustment system that fits various user configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat design incorporates universal adjustment mechanisms that enable a single seat unit to serve multiple user types. Through the coordinated adjustment of segmented backrest portions and their relative positions, the seat can adapt its geometry to accommodate standard users, tall users, short users, and those with specific seating surface requirements.
3Device complexity
If the headrest is the only height-adjustable portion, then device complexity is reduced, but user comfort during prolonged operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is segmented into the headrest portion, upper backrest, and lower backrest, each with independent adjustment capabilities. This segmentation extends comfort customization beyond just the headrest to include the entire backrest structure, allowing users to optimize support at multiple levels for prolonged operating comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple dynamic adjustment mechanisms are incorporated throughout the backrest structure, enabling each segment to be independently positioned. The headrest, upper backrest, and lower backrest can each be adjusted to different heights and angles, providing distributed comfort control that accommodates variations in user posture during extended operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the seat lacks backrest adjustability, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but visibility during reverse maneuvers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the upper backrest and lower backrest to be independently positioned relative to each other and the seating surface. During reverse maneuvers or when checking rear implements, users can adjust the backrest segments to optimize their viewing angle and posture, improving visibility without requiring a completely redesigned seat structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A seat (1) comprises a seating surface (2) suitable to receive a user and a backrest (3) adaptable according to the user's needs. The seat further comprises a support structure (4) configured to connect the seat to the backrest. The backrest comprises an upper shoulder portion (6) and a lower lumbar portion (7) and the lumbar portion is movable along the support structure while the shoulder portion remains at a fixed height with respect to the support structure (4).