Ventilated Lumbar Support Layout Without Adjustment Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lumbar support devices face challenges in combining adjustable lumbar support functions with seat ventilation, often resulting in inadequate ventilation in the lumbar region or limited adjustment capabilities due to construction space constraints.

Innovation Solution

A lumbar support device that integrates a ventilator with the adjustable lumbar support member, allowing the ventilator to be mounted on the side of the lumbar support member facing away from the seat cushion, with a design that includes guide members, an adjusting member, and a mount structure to ensure the ventilator does not interfere with the adjustment mechanism, enabling both effective ventilation and adjustable support in a compact configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ventilator is provided in proximity to the lumbar support region, then good ventilation may be attained in the lumbar support region, but the ventilator may limit the adjustments which can be made with the adjustable lumbar support device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation effectivenessVSAvoidadjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lumbar support device is divided into separate functional components: the lumbar support basket for adjustment and the ventilator for ventilation. The ventilator is mounted on the seat cushion rather than integrated into the adjustable lumbar support structure, allowing independent operation of both functions without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat cushion acts as an intermediary mounting surface for the ventilator, positioning it close to the lumbar region for effective ventilation while decoupling it from the adjustable lumbar support mechanism. This intermediate mounting location resolves the conflict between proximity for ventilation and independence for adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the ventilator is mounted to the lumbar support member, then a compact construction is attained, but the adjusting member may interfere with the ventilator operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction spaceVSAvoidadjustment operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator is extracted from the lumbar support member and mounted separately on the seat cushion. This separation eliminates the interference problem between the adjusting member and ventilator while maintaining compact overall construction through strategic positioning of the extracted component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the ventilator is provided at a location offset from the lumbar support region, then the ventilator may not interfere with the adjustable lumbar support device, but inadequate ventilation functions may be provided in the lumbar support region

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment capabilityVSAvoidventilation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilator is positioned in a different spatial dimension (on the seat cushion rather than in the backrest structure) to achieve proximity to the lumbar region without interfering with the adjustment mechanism. This dimensional relocation allows both functions to coexist effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2812211B1Lumbar support device for a ventilated seat
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 SCHUKRA GERAETEBAU GMBH
  • EP2812211B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2812211B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2812211B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lumbar support device for a ventilated seat comprises a lumbar support member (2), a pair of guide members (4, 5), an adjusting member (14) and a ventilator (20). The adjusting member is coupled to the pair of guide members (4, 5) and is displaceable along the pair of guide members (4, 5) and configured such that the lumbar support member (2) is adjusted when the adjusting member (14) is displaced. The ventilator (20) is configured to provide seat ventilation. A mount structure (24, 25) mounts the ventilator (20) to the lumbar support member (2).