Flexible Board Member for Vehicle Seat Gap Covering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat gap hiding structures face a challenge in balancing outward appearance with attachment workability, as fixing components to be invisible from outside compromises attachment ease and vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, plate-shaped board member with a rotatable attachment and sliding mechanism is used to cover gaps between vehicle seat components and the body, allowing for easy attachment and maintaining a good appearance by unfolding or folding as the seat displaces relative to the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the ends of the gap hiding cover are fixed to both the seatback and the partition panel to achieve good outward appearance, then the outward appearance is improved, but the attachment workability is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The gap hiding cover is divided into two separate attachment systems: one end attaches to the seatback while the other end attaches to the partition panel. This segmentation allows each attachment point to be optimized independently, with fixation parts positioned at locations that balance visibility and attachment ease.
Solution Approach 2:
Fixation parts (clips or fasteners) serve as intermediary elements between the gap hiding cover and the components it connects. These fixation parts are strategically positioned to be either hidden from view or located at easily accessible positions for attachment work, resolving the conflict between appearance and workability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the attachment workability is given priority, then the attachment workability is improved, but the outward appearance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the gap hiding cover have different attachment characteristics. The fixation parts are positioned at specific locations where they can be easily accessed for attachment while remaining invisible or minimally visible from the exterior, achieving local optimization of both workability and appearance.
3Reliability
If the board member is made flexible and plate-shaped to cover the gap, then the gap hiding effectiveness is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gap hiding cover is constructed as a flexible plate-shaped member that can conform to the varying gap dimensions as the seatback moves. This flexible thin-film approach effectively hides the gap without requiring complex rigid mechanical structures, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable gap coverage.
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
This solution ensures that the gap is consistently hidden regardless of seat position, providing both effective attachment workability and a pleasing outward appearance, with the board member being lightweight and aesthetically integrated.
Implementation Method 1
a sliding portion configured to rotate around the attachment portion as an axis so as to abut with the vehicle body or the component part and slide according to a displacement of the component part
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes: a component part formed to be displaceable relative to a vehicle body; and a board member configured to cover a gap formed between the component part and the vehicle body. The board member is a flexible plate-shaped member. The board member includes an attachment portion configured to rotatably connect the board member to the component part or the vehicle body, and a sliding portion configured to rotate around the attachment portion as an axis so as to abut with the vehicle body or the component part and slide according to the displacement of the component part.