Transformable seat assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In organized seating arrangements, such as in transportation vehicles and auditoriums, occupied seats often have adjacent non-occupied seats in front or behind, leading to underutilization of space, which can compromise occupant comfort.
Innovation Solution
A transformable seat assembly with a hinge-connected seat and back support structure, featuring an actuator assembly with a cylinder, piston, and adjustable blocking member, allowing the back support structure to rotate from a limited reclined position to a more reclined position, optimizing space use when the adjacent seat is unoccupied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the back support structure is limited to a first reclined position to maintain proper seating configuration, then seat arrangement stability is improved, but space utilization deteriorates when adjacent seats are unoccupied
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly incorporates a blocking member that can be adjusted between positions to dynamically change the recline angle limits. When adjacent seats are occupied, the blocking member restricts the back support structure to a first reclined position, maintaining stable seat arrangement. When adjacent seats are unoccupied, the blocking member can be repositioned to allow the back support structure to rotate to a second, more reclined position, thereby optimizing space utilization.
2Reliability
If the blocking member is fixed in position to ensure reliable recline limitation, then reliability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is designed to be adjustable along the cylinder, allowing it to be positioned at different locations corresponding to different recline angle limits. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to adapt to different operational scenarios (occupied vs. unoccupied adjacent seats) while maintaining reliable limitation through the mechanical blocking mechanism at each position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances occupant comfort by allowing the use of additional space from adjacent unoccupied seats, providing extended leg or knee room through controlled rotation of the back or seat components, thus optimizing the use of available space.
Implementation Method 1
a piston positioned within the cylinder... the piston is secured to the other of back support structure or the seat support structure... rotational travel of the back support structure about the axis of rotation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A transformable seat assembly includes a seat support structure and a back support structure connected to the seat support structure with a hinge defining an axis of rotation. An actuator assembly includes a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is secured to one of the back support structure or the seat support structure and the piston is secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure. Additionally a blocking member is positioned within and adjustable along the cylinder. With blocking member in a first position, piston is limited to travel to a first limit position and the back support structure to a first reclined position. With the blocking member in a second position, piston is limited to travel to a second limit position and back support structure is permitted to rotate to second reclined position.