Vehicle Door Stopper Member for Seat Back Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with utility beds lack efficient mechanisms for securing and deploying rear seats, which can obstruct cargo hauling and dumping operations when not properly managed.
Innovation Solution
The integration of pivotally coupled rear seat backs and a stopper member with the door mechanism allows for the seats to be stowed or deployed based on the door's position, ensuring secure cargo retention and easy access, with the stopper member preventing seat deployment during hauling when the door is closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat back is made pivotable between stowed and deployed positions, then passenger comfort and access are improved, but the risk of accidental deployment during cargo hauling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper member is pre-positioned to engage with the seat back in the closed door state, preventing deployment before the hazard (door opening) occurs. This preliminary constraint ensures the seat back cannot accidentally deploy during cargo hauling operations when the door is closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door and seat back systems. It translates the door's closed position into a mechanical constraint on the seat back, providing a reliable linkage that prevents unauthorized seat movement while maintaining cargo retention.
2Reliability
If the stopper member is coupled with the door to prevent seat deployment, then cargo retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper member serves multiple functions: it acts as a door linkage component, a seat back constraint, and a safety mechanism all in one. By making this single component perform multiple roles, the overall system complexity is minimized while achieving reliable cargo retention through seat back positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member merges the door positioning function with the seat back constraint function into a single integrated mechanism. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate complex control systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable cargo retention.
3Reliability
If the stopper member extends laterally inwardly from the door, then seat back constraint is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the stopper member outwardly from the door (which would be easier to manufacture), the design inverts the approach by extending it laterally inwardly. This inversion allows the stopper to effectively engage with the seat back structure from the opposite direction, achieving better constraint reliability despite increased manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a frame, a side wall, a door, a seat, and a stopper member. The side wall is coupled with the frame. The door is pivotally coupled with the side wall and is pivotable between a closed position and an opened position. The seat includes a seat back that is pivotable about a pivot axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. The stopper member is coupled with the door and extends outwardly from the door. The stopper member is configured to overlie at least a portion of the seat back when the seat back is in the stowed position with the door in the closed position.