Collapsible Vehicle Seat Width Adjustment for Third-Row Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles with three-row seating, bench seats in the second row obstruct access to the third row, and existing folding or sliding mechanisms are limited, making it difficult for adults to navigate and often require emptying the second row or prohibiting access when a child car seat is installed.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a cushion and seatback with a base body and secondary body that can extend or retract laterally, allowing the seat to collapse and expand, facilitating easier access to the third row by sliding the secondary bodies into internal cavities, thus adjusting the seat's width and configuration to accommodate passengers or child car seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the second row bench seat is used to maintain a typical four-door arrangement, then the vehicle maintains a standard door configuration for access, but access to the third row is obstructed by the second row seats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a telescoping mechanism that allows the second row bench seat to dynamically change its width. The seat includes extendible and retractable portions that enable the seat to transition between a full-width configuration (providing maximum seating capacity) and a narrowed configuration (providing access to the third row). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the seat to adapt its shape based on the required function.
Solution Approach 2:
The bench seat is divided into multiple segments including a base portion and extendible portions that can move independently. The extendible portions are coupled to the base portion through telescoping mechanisms, allowing selective extension or retraction of specific segments. This segmentation enables the seat to maintain structural integrity while allowing partial collapse to facilitate third row access.
2Ease of operation
If folding or sliding mechanisms are incorporated into the second row seats to provide forward movement, then access to the third row is improved, but the mechanisms are limited in range of motion and may still provide passages that are difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a telescoping mechanism that allows the seat to dynamically adjust its width by extending or retracting specific portions. This dynamic shape adjustment creates a wider passage when the extendible portions are retracted, improving navigability for adults compared to traditional folding or sliding mechanisms that have limited range of motion.
3Ease of operation
If traditional sliding mechanisms are used to move the second row seats forward, then access to the third row is facilitated, but the outward positions of the second row must be unoccupied, requiring passengers to exit the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The bench seat is segmented into a base portion and extendible portions that can move independently. This segmentation allows the extendible portions to be retracted for third row access while the base portion and any occupants remain in place. This resolves the contradiction by enabling access without requiring passengers to exit, maintaining both adaptability and seating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping mechanism allows the seat to dynamically adjust its configuration while maintaining occupant support. The extendible portions can be retracted to facilitate access while the seat remains occupied, providing versatility in both access capability and seating functionality simultaneously.
4Ease of operation
If the second row seats are configured to slide forward for access, then passage is created, but access through a side of the vehicle is prohibited when a child car seat is installed
Solution Approach 1:
The bench seat is divided into a base portion and extendible portions with independent movement capability. This segmentation allows the extendible portions to be retracted for access while the base portion maintains its position to support child car seats. The independent movement of segments enables both access functionality and child seat accommodation to coexist.
5Ease of operation
If the seat is designed with extendible and retractable portions to facilitate access, then passage width is improved, but the structural complexity of the seat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping mechanism employs a nested structure where extendible portions are received within cavities of the base portion. This nesting approach allows the extendible portions to be stored within the seat structure itself when retracted, minimizing external complexity while enabling the access function. The nested design integrates the movement mechanism within the existing seat form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes cushion and a seatback coupled with the cushion. At least one of the seatback and the cushion includes a base body defining an internal cavity open on a side of the base portion and a secondary body slidably mounted with the base body so as to be extendible out of the internal cavity beyond the side of the base body and retractable at least partially within the cavity.