Chamfered Floor Latch Assembly for Vehicle Seat Alignment

Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle seat structures face challenges in assembly efficiency, cost, and performance due to complex attachment processes of floor latches to seat bases and vehicle floors, requiring improved centering and clamping mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A floor latch system featuring a chamfered bolt, floating bushing, and oversized holes, allowing for easier assembly and improved centering and clamping, with the floating bushing interacting through chamfered surfaces and a weld nut fixation, enabling flexible positioning and tolerance compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional floor latch attachment methods are used, then the seat base can be attached to the vehicle floor, but the assembly process requires significant effort and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidassembly effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The chamfered surface is pre-formed on the bolt during manufacturing, so that during assembly the bolt automatically guides itself into proper alignment with the floating bushing without requiring manual centering or adjustment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming alignment operations during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The floating bushing acts as an intermediary element between the bolt and the riser bracket. It provides a tolerance-compensating interface that facilitates easy insertion and secure attachment, reducing assembly effort while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional rigid attachment methods are used, then the floor latch can be securely attached, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment and assembly difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidtolerance compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The floating bushing changes its effective parameters (position, orientation) within a controlled range to accommodate manufacturing tolerances. It transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a flexible connection that adapts to dimensional variations in the bolt and riser bracket, ensuring proper alignment without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The chamfered surface is pre-formed on the bolt during manufacturing, so that during assembly the bolt automatically guides itself into proper alignment with the floating bushing without requiring manual centering or adjustment. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming alignment operations during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If oversized holes are used in the floating bushing, then tolerance compensation is improved and assembly is simplified, but the structural rigidity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidstructural rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the bolt for initial attachment, the floating bushing with oversized holes for tolerance compensation, and the riser bracket for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the bushing can have oversized holes for easy assembly while the riser bracket maintains structural rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floating bushing changes its effective parameters (position, orientation) within a controlled range to accommodate manufacturing tolerances. It transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a flexible connection that adapts to dimensional variations in the bolt and riser bracket, ensuring proper alignment without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20120038201A1Seat structure - chamfered mounting of compensating floor latches

Publication Date: 2012.02.16 KEIPER SEATING MECHANISMS CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a floor latch (200) for connecting a vehicle seat base portion (204) with a vehicle floor portion, the floor latch (200) comprising an attachment means (301) and a riser (300), the floor latch (200) providing centering of the attachment means (301) for clamping the riser (300) with the seat base portion (204) or with the vehicle floor portion.