Elastic Cord Buckle Retainer for Vehicle Seat Gap Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The pivoting movement of vehicle seat backs and tilting of seat cushions create a larger gap between the seat cushion and seat back, causing seat belt buckles with flexible webbing to become lodged or stuck in non-use positions, making them difficult to grasp and return to their intended position.
Innovation Solution
A seat cushion trim assembly with an elastic cord, featuring a loop portion and extensible portion, is used to secure the seat belt buckle in place, resisting its movement into the gap and assisting its return to the operative position during seat back pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible webbing seat belt buckle is used to allow movement during seat back pivoting, then the buckle can accommodate seat configuration changes, but the buckle becomes lodged in the gap between seat cushion and seat back, making it difficult to grasp and return to position
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic cord is introduced as an intermediary element between the buckle and the seat cushion trim. This cord acts as a mediator that allows controlled movement while preventing the buckle from becoming lodged in the gap, thus maintaining both adaptability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic cord changes its physical state (extends and contracts) in response to seat back pivoting movements. By changing its length parameter dynamically, it allows the buckle to move during pivoting but returns it to the proper position, resolving the contradiction between movement capability and accessibility
2Ease of operation
If the seat back is designed to pivot forward with cushion tilting for easy entry, then passenger access is improved, but the gap between cushion and backrest increases, causing buckle positioning problems
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cord is pre-configured to counteract the harmful effect of the increasing gap. It applies a preliminary restraining force that prevents the buckle from moving into the gap created by seat back pivoting, thus maintaining reliable buckle positioning while allowing the seat to pivot for easy entry
3Adaptability or versatility
If the buckle is allowed to move freely with seat back movement, then the seat belt system remains flexible, but the buckle does not return to the intended position, compromising safety and functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cord serves as a mediator that provides both flexibility and position control. It allows the buckle to move with seat back pivoting (maintaining flexibility) while simultaneously providing a restoring force that ensures the buckle returns to its intended position (maintaining position accuracy)
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic cord introduces dynamic behavior to the buckle system. It transitions from a static restraint to a dynamic element that adapts its tension based on seat back position, allowing movement during pivoting but ensuring return to the proper position, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and position accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The elastic cord effectively prevents the buckle from becoming lodged and ensures it remains in the intended position, maintaining functionality and ease of use across various seat configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic cord (40) which interacts with the seat belt buckle arrangement (30)
Implementation Method 2
The elastic cord assists restoration of the buckle to the operative position, upon pivoting movement of a seat back from the forward position to the operative position
Data Source
AI summary
A seat cushion trim assembly cooperates with a seat belt buckle having a flexible web, a seat connection portion for fixing a lower portion of the flexible web to seat location and a buckle fixed to an upper end of the flexible web. The seat cushion trim assembly includes a seat cushion trim and an elastic cord with a loop portion configured to extend around the seat belt buckle intermediate portion, an extensible portion extending from the loop portion to a trim fixation end, and a fastening arrangement fixing the trim fixation end to the seat cushion trim. The extensible portion bridges a distance from the flexible web to the trim and supports the buckle to prevent the buckle from moving out of an operative position, upon pivoting movement of a seat back to a forward position and to restore a buckle position upon a return pivoting movement.