Vehicle Leg Support Nesting Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seating assemblies lack adaptable leg support mechanisms that can be customized to suit various passenger preferences and body types, limiting comfort and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating assembly with a pivotably coupled support member and a supplemental support member, both movable between retracted and fully extended positions, utilizing a bracket assembly and actuator system for adjustable positioning, allowing for multiple deployment configurations to accommodate individual needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a leg support mechanism is added to the seating assembly, then passenger comfort and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental support member is nested within the support member, allowing it to be stored in a retracted position within the confines of the main support structure. This nesting arrangement enables the leg support mechanism to provide multiple positions and adaptability while maintaining a compact form factor and avoiding excessive complexity in the overall assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg support mechanism is divided into separate segments: a main support member and a supplemental support member. This segmentation allows each component to be independently controlled and positioned, providing enhanced adaptability for different passenger needs while keeping the individual components relatively simple in design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support member is made rotatable between multiple positions, then leg support versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical system for rotating and positioning the support member is replaced with an automated actuator system. The actuator automatically rotates the support member between stored and deployed positions, and positions the supplemental support member, eliminating the need for manual operation and simplifying user interaction while maintaining full positioning versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the supplemental support member is made telescoping, then leg support customization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping supplemental support member is nested within the main support member when retracted. This nesting configuration allows the supplemental member to extend and provide length customization when needed, while remaining compact and integrated within the existing support structure when not in use, thereby minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental support member serves multiple functions: it can be extended to provide additional support length for passengers with different leg lengths, and it can be retracted into the main support member when not needed. This multi-functionality justifies the added mechanism by providing versatile customization without requiring separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a base member with a support member pivotably coupled to the seat and rotationally movable between first and second positions. A bracket assembly is disposed between the support member and the base member and is coupled to an actuator. A supplemental support member is coupled to the bracket assembly and the support member. The supplemental support member is translationally movable relative to the support member between a retracted position and a fully extended position.