Thin Seat Leg Support With Extendable Flex Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle seats face challenges in accommodating diverse sizes, shapes, and desired sitting positions of drivers and passengers, requiring enhanced comfort and flexibility in seating assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly featuring an internal and external flex member system with actuation assemblies that allow the seat to be raised and extended, enlarging the seating area, supported by rollers and motors for adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the seat structure is made rigid to provide support, then strength is improved, but adaptability to different sizes and shapes of drivers and passengers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid seat structures with flexible members that can dynamically adjust their configuration. The flexible members can bend and deform to accommodate different body shapes and sizes while maintaining adequate support, allowing the seat to adapt its structure in real-time rather than being fixed in a single rigid form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying the physical state of the seat structure through flexible members that can change their degree of flexibility, curvature, and positioning. These parameter changes enable the seat to provide varying levels of support and adaptation to different users without compromising structural integrity.
2Strength
If the seat is designed with fixed dimensions to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the ability to accommodate different sitting positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible members enable dynamic adjustment of seat dimensions and configuration, allowing the seat to maintain structural integrity while adapting to various sitting positions such as reclined, upright, or extended positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat structure is segmented into multiple flexible members that can independently adjust their configuration, allowing different portions of the seat to adapt to various sitting positions while maintaining overall structural coherence and strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible members are used to accommodate various positions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible members that function as flexible shells, allowing the seat to achieve adaptability through material flexibility rather than complex mechanical mechanisms. This approach simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining the ability to accommodate various leg sizes and positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat defining a seating area. An internal flex member is disposed in the seat. An external flex member is proximate a forward edge of the seat. A first actuation assembly is operably coupled to the internal flex member to raise a portion of the seat. A second actuation assembly translates the external flex member between a retracted position and an extended position that enlarges the effective seating area.