Transformable Seat Assembly With Adjustable Recline Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
In organized seating arrangements, such as in transportation vehicles and auditoriums, unoccupied adjacent seats can lead to reduced comfort for occupants due to unused space, as existing seat configurations do not efficiently utilize adjacent unoccupied seats for enhanced comfort.
Innovation Solution
A transformable seat assembly with a hinge mechanism that allows the seat and back support structure to rotate, enabling the seat to recline or extend over the seat support structure, thereby optimizing the use of adjacent space when the adjacent seat is unoccupied, and providing additional comfort features like lumbar and back cushions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is configured in a fixed position, then the structure is simple and stable, but the adjacent unoccupied space cannot be utilized for enhanced comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly incorporates a hinge mechanism that enables the seat and back support structure to rotate between a first position (normal seating) and a second position (reclined/extended). This dynamic capability allows the seat to adapt its configuration based on whether adjacent seats are occupied, transforming from a static to a dynamic structure that can optimize space utilization while maintaining structural simplicity through a single rotational degree of freedom
2Ease of operation
If the seat rotates to utilize adjacent space, then occupant comfort is improved, but the structural stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism provides controlled rotation between defined positions while maintaining structural integrity. The seat can transition between stable configurations (upright and reclined positions) through a well-defined rotational path, ensuring stability is maintained even as the seat adapts to different comfort states. The hinge acts as a constrained degree of freedom that allows motion while preventing uncontrolled movement
Solution Approach 2:
The seat assembly is divided into separable components (seat, back support structure, lumbar cushion) that can move independently through the hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while the overall assembly maintains stability through the controlled hinge connection
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lumbar cushion is permanently attached, then lumbar support is always available, but the seat cannot be transformed to utilize adjacent space
Solution Approach 1:
The lumbar cushion is designed as a separate, removable component that can be detached from the back support structure. This segmentation allows the cushion to be easily removed when the seat needs to rotate into the second position to utilize adjacent unoccupied space, while still providing lumbar support when attached in the first position. The detachable design simplifies manufacturing and assembly compared to permanent attachment methods
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
The transformable seat assembly enhances occupant comfort by allowing the use of adjacent unoccupied space, providing more legroom or knee space, and optimizing the use of available space for improved seating arrangements.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge, which defines an axis of rotation
Data Source
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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.