Self-Locking Cam Thigh Support for Vehicle Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seating assemblies lack adequate lower thigh support, leading to discomfort for passengers, and often rely on complex power mechanisms that are difficult to integrate, especially in rear seating, and include unnecessary electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking cam system is integrated into the seat base, featuring a torque tube with multiple cams and an actuation lever, allowing the first and second thigh supports to move from a lowered to a raised position, providing adjustable support without the need for electronic components, and enabling independent movement of each thigh support for customizable comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a power mechanism with electronic components is used to adjust thigh supports, then the thigh support adjustment function is achieved, but the device complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex power mechanisms with a purely mechanical cam-based adjustment system. The cam mechanism uses a torque tube with cam lobes that interact with cam followers to raise and lower the thigh supports through manual operation, eliminating the need for electric motors, sensors, and control electronics while achieving the desired adjustment function
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through user input. When the user applies force to the thigh support or uses an adjustment lever, the cam lobes automatically engage with the cam followers to produce the lifting motion, requiring no external power source or control system
2Ease of operation
If a power mechanism with electronic components is used to adjust thigh supports, then the thigh support adjustment function is achieved, but the integration difficulty in rear seating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment mechanism into modular components: a torque tube with multiple cam lobes, individual cam followers for each thigh support, and independent adjustment levers. This segmentation allows the mechanism to be integrated into rear seating configurations where space and access are limited, as each component can be independently positioned and installed
Solution Approach 2:
The cam-based mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides thigh support adjustment, maintains positional stability through self-locking cam lobes, and requires minimal installation space. The same basic cam structure can accommodate different thigh support configurations and seating arrangements, making it universally applicable across various vehicle interior designs
3Ease of operation
If electronic components are included in the thigh support system, then the adjustment function is achieved, but unnecessary electronic components are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely eliminates electronic components by using a mechanical cam mechanism for thigh support adjustment. The system uses cam lobes on a torque tube that convert rotational or linear motion into the vertical movement of thigh supports, achieving the same functional result as electronic actuators but with purely mechanical means
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes all unnecessary electronic components from the thigh support system. By identifying that the adjustment function can be achieved through simple mechanical means, the design eliminates motors, control circuits, sensors, and power management electronics, retaining only the essential mechanical elements needed for adjustment and positioning
4Adaptability or versatility
If the thigh supports are made independently movable, then the customizable comfort is achieved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cam lobes on a single torque tube that control both left and right thigh supports. The cam lobes are positioned at different angular locations on the torque tube, allowing independent adjustment of each thigh support through a unified mechanical structure. This merging approach reduces the number of separate mechanisms while maintaining independent adjustability
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism allows each thigh support to be independently positioned at different heights and angles. The cam lobes can be designed with varying profiles to provide different ranges of motion and locking positions for each support, enabling dynamic customization of the seating configuration to match individual passenger needs
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A seat base includes a first thigh support and a second thigh support. A self-locking cam system is operably coupled with the first thigh support and the second thigh support, including a torque tube. A plurality of cams are disposed along the torque tube and are operably coupled with a plurality of spring guides. The self-locking cam system is configured to move the first thigh support and the second thigh support from a lowered position to a raised position.