Variable-sized seat back for a vehicle seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional occupant supports in vehicles fail to accommodate occupants of varying sizes effectively, leading to inadequate support and comfort, particularly in the upper back region.
Innovation Solution
An occupant support system with an adjustable upper-back support system that includes inflatable bladders and an actuator, allowing the seat back to change its outer contour by inflating or deflating the bladders, and moving the adjustable back support relative to the frame to accommodate different-sized occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed seat back design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate occupants of varying sizes effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure. The upper-back support system can move between multiple positions and the inflatable bladder allows continuous adjustment of the outer contour, enabling the seat back to adapt to different occupant sizes and preferences.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back is divided into distinct functional zones: a fixed lower portion and an adjustable upper-back support system. This segmentation allows the lower part to remain simple while the upper part provides adaptability for different occupants.
2Ease of operation
If an adjustable upper-back support system is added, then comfort and support for different occupants is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An inflatable bladder is integrated into the upper-back support system to dynamically adjust the outer contour of the seat back. This pneumatic mechanism provides smooth, continuous adjustment of support firmness and shape without requiring complex mechanical linkages or multiple discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper-back support system performs multiple functions: it adjusts to different occupant sizes, provides variable firmness through inflation/deflation, and can be positioned at multiple angles. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate adjustment mechanisms into a single integrated system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the outer contour of the seat back is made variable, then support for different body types is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer contour of the seat back is adjusted by changing the inflation parameter of the integrated bladder rather than by physically reconfiguring the seat back structure. This allows the same basic structure to produce multiple contour variations through simple parameter adjustment (inflation pressure), greatly simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable bladder is nested within the upper-back support system, allowing the contour adjustment mechanism to be contained within the existing seat back structure. This nesting approach avoids adding external components and keeps the manufacturing process relatively simple.
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 system provides improved support and comfort for occupants by dynamically adjusting the seat back contour to fit various sizes, enhancing the overall seating experience by ensuring proper upper back and shoulder support.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable bladder configured to inflate and deflate selectively to vary an outer contour of the seat back
Implementation Method 2
The actuator is configured to move between a retracted state and a fully-extended state to cause the adjustable back support to translate relative to the frame and rotate about a rotation axis relative to the frame
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant support adapted for use in a vehicle includes a seat bottom coupled to a floor of the vehicle and a seat back configured to pivot about a seat-back pivot axis relative to the seat bottom between an upright position and a folded-forward position. The occupant support further includes an upper-back support system configured to support an upper back of an occupant of the occupant support.