Variable-Stiffness Textile Seat Panel for Dynamic Pocket Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat bottom support systems fail to effectively restrain occupants during sudden stops and provide adjustable comfort, as they lack a mechanism to dynamically change the seat pocket depth and communicate haptic messages.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly with a frame and a textile panel, featuring a reconfigurable tension controlling system that alters the textile panel's sag distance by using frangible links or a tension filament, allowing for adjustable tension and communication of haptic messages through sequential length changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional support system with fixed tension is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot dynamically adjust seat pocket depth or provide haptic feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reconfigurable tension controlling system that can dynamically change between different tension states (first state with first tensile force, second state with second tensile force). This allows the seat bottom to adapt its stiffness and seat pocket depth based on occupancy conditions, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that responds to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension controlling system changes the physical parameter of tensile force applied to the textile panel. By transitioning between different tension states with different tensile forces, the system modifies the mechanical properties of the seat bottom, enabling variable stiffness and adjustable seat pocket depth without changing the fundamental structure.
2Reliability
If the tension controlling system provides high tensile force to restrain occupants, then safety during sudden stops is improved, but comfort during normal sitting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the tensile force level based on occupancy detection. During normal sitting, the textile panel remains in a relaxed state with lower tensile force, providing comfort. During sudden stops or collision events, the system transitions to a tensioned state with higher tensile force, providing effective occupant restraint. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction between comfort and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension controlling system operates in different phases: a normal phase with relaxed tension for comfort, and an active phase with high tension for safety. The system periodically monitors occupancy and event conditions, switching between these phases as needed, thereby providing both comfort during normal operation and reliability during critical events.
Data Source
AI summary
A panel assembly includes a frame and a textile panel. The frame has a first member and a second member spaced apart from each other. The textile panel is attached to and extends between the first member and the second member. A tension controlling system is attached to the textile panel. The tension controlling system is reconfigurable between a first state for tensioning the textile panel to provide a first tensile force and a first maximum sag distance, and a second state for tensioning the textile panel to provide a second tensile force and a second maximum sag distance. The first tensile force is greater than the second tensile force, and the first maximum sag distance is less than the second maximum sag distance.