Thoracic Air Bladder Assembly for Upward-Forward Seat Back Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current seating technologies primarily focus on lumbar support, leading to increased low back pain among computer-using desk workers due to inadequate support for the thoracic region of the spine, which can reduce discomfort and fatigue by transferring load to a more rigid section of the spinal column.
Innovation Solution
An air bladder assembly with a central longitudinal region and laterally inclined pairs of air bladder regions, oriented at a non-zero angle, provides support to the thoracic region, allowing for adjustable pressure distribution and ergonomic alignment to reduce stress on the lumbar region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seating technologies focus primarily on lumbar support, then lumbar region comfort is improved, but thoracic region support is inadequate leading to increased low back pain
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladder assembly is segmented into multiple functional regions: a central longitudinal region for primary support and at least one pair of lateral regions extending from opposed sides. This segmentation allows independent optimization of support characteristics for different thoracic zones, addressing the harmful effect of inadequate thoracic support while maintaining overall system effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the air bladder assembly are configured with distinct geometric properties - the central region provides longitudinal support while the lateral regions are oriented at non-zero angles to provide lateral and upward support. This local differentiation of support characteristics resolves the contradiction by ensuring each region addresses specific support needs, preventing low back pain through proper thoracic support distribution.
2Ease of operation
If air bladder regions are oriented at non-zero angles to incline laterally, then thoracic region support is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral air bladder regions are oriented at non-zero angles relative to the central region, creating an asymmetric configuration that inclines laterally to follow the natural contour of the thoracic spine. This asymmetric design improves thoracic support effectiveness by matching anatomical geometry, while the systematic application of this angular orientation to both lateral regions maintains manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The air bladder assembly transitions from a simple linear arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration with lateral regions extending at angles from the central region. This dimensional expansion enables the structure to provide support in multiple directions (longitudinal, lateral, and upward), improving thoracic support effectiveness while the modular construction approach keeps device complexity manageable.
3Ease of operation
If air bladder assembly inflates in upward and forward direction, then ergonomic alignment is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladder assembly is pre-configured with a wedge-shaped geometry and predetermined angular orientations of lateral regions relative to the central region. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that upon inflation, the assembly naturally expands in the desired upward and forward direction to achieve ergonomic alignment with the thoracic spine, reducing the need for post-inflation adjustment and minimizing manufacturing precision requirements during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat air bladder assembly is provided with at least one central air bladder region having a support surface. At least one pair of lateral air bladder regions extend from opposed sides of the at least one central bladder region. The at least one pair of lateral air bladder regions are oriented at a non-zero angle to incline laterally and support a thoracic region of a seat occupant. A seat assembly is provided with a seat back with a contact surface with a thoracic region. An air bladder assembly is oriented within the thoracic region of the seat back with a support surface that is reclined relative to the contact surface to provide support, and wedge-shaped so that during inflation the air bladder assembly inflates in an upward and forward direction relative to the seat back.