Foldable Seat Rack with Elastic Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable motorized vehicles, particularly electric bicycles, do not effectively fold in the height direction, resulting in a large size after folding due to the non-foldable seat, which fails to meet the increasing demands for space-saving and convenient travel solutions.
Innovation Solution
A novel foldable seat rack with a frame structure incorporating main supporting rods, upper and lower rods, a seat base, hooks, and an elastic element, allowing for easy folding and unfolding, with a locking mechanism to prevent accidental folding during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the seat is made non-foldable in conventional foldable motorized vehicles, then the seat structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the overall size after folding remains large and storage space is not saved
Solution Approach 1:
The seat rack is divided into multiple independent components: main supporting rods, upper rods, lower rods, seat base, and locking mechanism. Each component can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing the complex folding function to be achieved through simple individual parts that connect via pivots and joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat rack transitions from a static non-foldable structure to a dynamic foldable structure through the introduction of pivoted connections between upper rods, lower rods, and main supporting rods. This allows the seat rack to change its configuration between folded and unfolded states while maintaining structural integrity during use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat rack is made foldable with multiple pivoted rods, then the folding function is achieved and storage space is saved, but the risk of accidental folding during travel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage the hooks with the middle shaft as soon as the seat rack is assembled or adjusted, preventing any possibility of accidental folding before travel begins. The elastic element ensures the locking action occurs automatically without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The hooks and middle shaft locking mechanism provide a preliminary counter-action against the folding force that might occur during travel. The elastic element pre-tensions the locking mechanism, creating a restraining force that opposes any unintended folding movement before it can happen.
3Ease of operation
If the middle shaft is designed to move freely through slide slots, then the locking and unlocking operation is simple and convenient, but the control precision for folding timing may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The middle shaft with slide slots and hooks design allows the seat rack to self-lock automatically when assembled or adjusted. The elastic element provides self-tensioning that ensures the middle shaft engages with the hooks without requiring precise manual positioning, making the system self-regulating and easy to operate.
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 rack facilitates compact storage and convenient carrying by allowing the seat to be folded, reducing the overall size of the bicycle, enhancing travel convenience and safety by preventing unexpected folding during use.
Implementation Method 1
One end of the elastic element is fixed on the front end of the seat base, and the other end of the elastic element is fixed on the middle shaft
Implementation Method 2
The elastic element is a tension spring. The middle shaft may reset under an elastic restoring force of the tension spring, so as to achieve locking
Implementation Method 3
lower ends of the upper rods are pivoted on upper ends of the main supporting rods respectively, upper ends of the upper rods are pivoted on two sides of a front end of the seat base respectively, lower ends of the lower rods are pivoted on middle portions of the main supporting rods respectively, upper ends of the lower rods are pivoted on two sides of a rear end of the seat base respectively
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable seat rack mountable between a body rack and a seat of a foldable motorized vehicle, includes main supporting rods, upper rods, lower rods, a seat base, hooks, and an elastic element. Main supporting rods are fixed on two sides of the body rack respectively. Upper rods are pivoted on upper ends of the main supporting rods respectively. Lower rods are pivoted on middle portions of main supporting rods and a rear end of seat base respectively. Hooks are fixed on the upper ends of the main supporting rods respectively. The foldable seat base has a middle shaft. Middle portions on two sides of the seat base are opened with slide slots. Two ends of the middle shaft pass through the slide slots freely and are hooked by hooks. An elastic element is placed between the front end of the seat base, and the middle shaft.