Work Vehicle Seat Layout to Prevent Shoulder Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multipurpose work vehicles often cause discomfort due to the proximity of occupants' shoulders or arms when seated next to each other, and existing configurations do not effectively address this issue without increasing vehicle length or space.

Innovation Solution

The driver's seat is positioned centrally with occupant seats offset rearwardly, allowing for comfortable seating without shoulder or arm contact, and incorporating a roll-over protective structure with grips for easy entry and exit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the driver's seat and occupant's seat are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, then the vehicle can carry multiple occupants, but the occupants come into contact with each other by the shoulder or arm, causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of occupantsVSAvoidcomfort of occupants
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a purely lateral arrangement to a combination of lateral and longitudinal positioning. The occupant's seat is placed laterally adjacent to the driver's seat but offset in the longitudinal direction (front or rear), creating a two-dimensional seating layout that prevents shoulder/arm contact while maintaining compact vehicle dimensions.

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

2Ease of operation

If the driver's seat is positioned centrally with occupant's seat offset rearwardly, then occupants do not come into contact with each other, but the vehicle length increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort of occupantsVSAvoidvehicle length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the offset distance between the driver's seat and occupant's seat adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the longitudinal positioning to be optimized for different vehicle lengths and occupancy scenarios, providing comfort without unnecessarily increasing vehicle length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces adjustability in the longitudinal positioning of the occupant's seat relative to the driver's seat. This dynamic configuration allows the seating arrangement to be adapted to different vehicle sizes and usage requirements, preventing contact while minimizing length increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Length of moving object

If the distance between driver's seat and front end of vehicle body is small, then the vehicle remains compact, but there is insufficient space to arrange driver's seat and occupant's seat without contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle lengthVSAvoidspace for seating arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the space constraint by utilizing both lateral and longitudinal dimensions for seat arrangement. The occupant's seat is positioned laterally adjacent to the driver's seat with a longitudinal offset, effectively using the available three-dimensional space within the compact vehicle body to prevent contact without increasing overall length.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3795413B1Multipurpose work vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3795413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3795413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3795413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A multipurpose work vehicle according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a driver's seat 5 at the center of a vehicle body in the left-right direction of the vehicle body; and an occupant's seat 6 to the left or right of the driver's seat 5 in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, wherein the occupant's seat 6 is offset rearwardly relative to the driver's seat 5.