Owners say “Seating is
unsatisfactory!”
J. D. Power 2012 APPEAL Survey.
Seat Design uses
50+ yr. old process.
2
First Driver Manikin in Car
is “Oscar” (SAE J826)!
1962
“Oscar” represents a
composite male body size!
Average man’s torso
Large man’s leg
1962
Design starts with Oscar and Population Statistics.
Vision statistics
Seat travel statistics
“Oscar”
Oscar and average US male
differ at head and torso shape.
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
1962 vs.
1995
All Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards use “Oscar” based upon industry tools & practices in 1967
FMVSS 101 Controls & Displays FMVSS 111 Rearview Mirrors FMVSS 201 Occupant Protection in Interior Impact FMVSS 203 Impact Protection for the Driver from the Steering Control System FMVSS 204 Steering Control rearward displacement FMVSS 207 Seating System FMVSS 208 Occupant Crash Protection FMVSS 209 Seat Belt Assemblies FMVSS 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage FMVSS 214 Side Impact Protection
Small Driver wants to sit upright for good vision!
ERL Posture Report, June21, 1996
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Erect
Neutral
Drivers want to sit in their preferred posture & position.
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
ERL Posture Report, June21, 1996
Large driver reclines for head clearance
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Neutral
Slumped
ERL Posture Report, June21, 1996
Seat Position & Sitting Posture
change with seating design
Design for Seating has to START at Vehicle Concept!
5
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Driver manikins have to sit in car seating to design for drivability, safety & comfort.
Small
Medium
Large
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
ERL manikins correlate with
real driver seat comfort scores.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped
Vision
Space
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
ERL designs
seating in car for
sitting postures, safety,
ergonomics and
comfort.
“Oscar,” required by law, is one more “driver” for seating design.
Erect
Neutral
Slumped J826
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Driver manikins design and evaluate seating in ERL.
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
Benefits! Driver is satisfied with car AND seat.
Manufacturer knows seat design comfort.
Engineer knows drivers’ sitting positions.
Designer styles seating surface for driver.
Car is desirable!
Car needs seating design for sitting postures.
Patents: US#6,840,125, US#7,047,831, US#7,347,114, US #7,797,138
In Summary, 1. Occupied seat design is not part of car design.
2. Seat design uses 50+ year old process.
3. No seat for driver manikins in car design.
4. Drivers adapt sitting postures to sit in seat.
5. Design for seating has to start at Vehicle Concept.
6. 65% of comfort comes from seating effects on driver’s sitting posture.
For Additional Information,
Contact me: H. Mac Reynolds, Ph.D. [email protected] 517-256-3180