Foldable Vehicle Seat With Adjustable Hinge Pivoting Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable auxiliary seats in transportation vehicles are limited in comfort and space efficiency, often requiring complex mechanisms and specific chassis designs, which increase costs and reduce design freedom, while also compromising passenger and vehicle security.
Innovation Solution
A foldable seat with a pivotable seating surface and adjustable hinge mechanism, featuring a joint with tangentially traversing means for angular adjustment, allowing easy handling and assembly, and a hydraulic actuator for automatic folding, reducing storage space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If auxiliary seats are designed with foldable structure to save space, then storage space is reduced, but the complexity of the folding mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into separate functional components: a frame, a seating surface, and a backrest that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while enabling compact folding without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat employs dynamic pivoting joints that allow the seating surface and backrest to rotate between stored and deployed positions. The hinge mechanism provides controlled movement through a defined angular range, enabling space-efficient storage while maintaining ease of operation during use.
2Ease of operation
If the angular pivoting range of the hinge is made adjustable to improve comfort, then seating comfort is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism incorporates an adjustable angular pivoting range through a simple blocking mechanism. By changing the position of a block within the bearing sleeve, the angular range can be adjusted to provide optimal seating comfort without requiring complex control systems or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable angular range is achieved through a self-contained blocking mechanism within the hinge itself. The block can be positioned to limit rotation, and the mechanism automatically maintains the selected angular range without requiring external control systems or additional actuators.
3Volume of moving object
If specific chassis design is implemented to accommodate foldable seats, then space utilization is improved, but design freedom is reduced and renovation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed as a universal mounting structure that can be attached to various vehicle chassis configurations. The standardized frame with mounting brackets allows the seat to be installed on different vehicle types without requiring chassis-specific modifications, maintaining design freedom while achieving efficient space utilization.
4Volume of moving object
If complicated folding mechanisms are used to achieve foldable functionality, then storing capability is improved, but production and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The folding function is achieved through segmented, independent pivoting components rather than a complex integrated mechanism. The separate frame, seating surface, and backrest connected by simple hinges reduce manufacturing complexity and maintenance requirements while maintaining effective folding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex folding mechanisms from prior art are extracted and replaced with simpler pivoting joints. The essential folding functionality is retained by removing unnecessary mechanical complexity, resulting in a design that is easier to manufacture and maintain while achieving the same space-saving storage capability.
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 seat provides adjustable comfort and efficient space utilization, minimizing storage needs and production/maintenance costs, while ensuring unobstructed aisles and corridors, thus enhancing passenger safety and vehicle efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hinge, which comprises a joint and which comprises a means for adjusting the angular pivoting range of the hinge
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
The present invention relates to a seat having a foldable structure for vehicles comprising a frame (2) and a seating surface (1) being pivotably arranged with respect to the frame (2) by means of a hinge (3), the hinge (3) comprising a joint (10) and the joint (10) comprising a means (17,18) for adjusting the angular pivoting range (α) of the hinge.