Vehicle Floor Mounting Tile System for Customizable Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle owners face challenges in customizing and reconfiguring vehicle seating arrangements without incurring the high costs and complexity of flexible track assemblies, while ensuring compliance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Innovation Solution
A mounting tile system comprising tubular members and U-shaped channels with apertures and weld nuts, which are affixed together and aligned with end plates, allowing for secure attachment of vehicle seats to a reinforced vehicle floor, providing a stable and customizable seating configuration without the need for frequent reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If track assemblies are used to enable flexible seat repositioning, then seat reconfigurability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The floor system is segmented into discrete mounting tiles that can be individually positioned and installed at different locations. Each tile is a self-contained unit with integrated fastening mechanisms, allowing seats to be mounted at various positions without requiring continuous track structures. This segmentation enables reconfigurability while avoiding the complexity of complete track assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
Mounting tiles are pre-positioned and secured to the vehicle floor during the conversion process, creating predetermined mounting locations. This preliminary action establishes fixed attachment points that allow for future seat reconfiguration without requiring complex track systems, as seats can be relocated by simply moving them between pre-installed tiles.
2Ease of operation
If track assemblies are installed to allow seat movement, then ease of operation for seat repositioning is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the floor into discrete mounting tile segments that can be independently installed. Each tile contains pre-integrated fastening features, eliminating the need for complex track assembly manufacturing and installation. This segmentation reduces both manufacturing complexity and installation costs while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tiles are designed as simple, inexpensive components compared to extensive track assemblies. Each tile is a relatively simple structural element that can be easily manufactured and installed, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive track systems while achieving the same functional goal of enabling seat repositioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the original flooring is removed to reconfigure seats, then adaptability for custom seating arrangements is improved, but loss of time and increased complexity occur
Solution Approach 1:
Mounting tiles are pre-installed on the vehicle floor during the conversion process, creating ready-to-use mounting locations before seats are installed. This preliminary action eliminates the need to remove original flooring later when reconfiguring seats, as the tiles provide permanent mounting points that work with the existing floor structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tiles serve as intermediary elements between the original vehicle floor and the seats. Rather than requiring direct modification of the original flooring or complete removal of existing layers, the tiles act as a mediating layer that enables seat mounting and reconfiguration while preserving the underlying floor structure.
4Device complexity
If permanent mounting is used instead of track assemblies, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability for future reconfiguration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is divided into multiple discrete mounting tile locations that are permanently installed but individually configurable. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity at the component level while providing flexibility at the system level, as seats can be relocated between different tile positions without requiring complex reconfiguration mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting tiles are designed as universal components that can accommodate different seat types and configurations. Each tile provides the same mounting functionality, allowing seats to be permanently mounted at any tile location and reconfigured by moving between locations, thus providing multi-functionality without increasing individual component complexity.
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 system enables vehicle owners to achieve a permanent, customizable seating arrangement that meets safety standards without the expense and complexity of flexible track assemblies, ensuring stability and ease of installation, while allowing for secure attachment of vehicle seats.
Implementation Method 1
The second longitudinal side of the first tubular member is affixed to the first longitudinal side of the U-shaped channel and the second longitudinal side of the U-shaped channel is affixed to the first longitudinal side of the second tubular member
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting tile is utilized for mounting a vehicle seat to a vehicle floor. A method for mounting a vehicle seat using the mounting tile includes affixing angle iron to the side edges of the floor, affixing a layer of metal plating on top of the angle iron, affixing one or more mounting tiles to the metal plating, positioning filler material between the one or more mounting tiles, positioning a floor covering over the mounting tiles and filler material, aligning the fastener elements of the vehicle seat structure with apertures in the mounting tile, and attaching the fastener elements and the seat to the mounting tile.