Folding Seat Locking Plate with Tangential Indentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for folding vehicle seats fail to effectively prevent the front end of the seat from moving during vehicle motion, leading to potential instability and safety concerns when the seat is stored.
Innovation Solution
A locking device comprising a locking plate connected to a seat frame via a rotating axis, an operating cable, a return spring, and a hooking indentation, with a locking pin that can be inserted into the indentation to secure the seat, ensuring stability by utilizing an arc-shaped lower portion and a tangentially aligned hooking indentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional locking device with a supporting bracket, locker, and locking member is used, then the seat can be stored in the storing space, but the front end portion of the seat cannot be effectively prevented from moving during vehicle motion
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into functionally independent components: a locking plate for preventing front end movement, a separate locking member for securing the seat in the storing space, and a locker mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its specific function, with the locking plate specifically addressing the front end stability issue that the conventional unified locking mechanism failed to solve.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking plate acts as an intermediary component between the seat frame and the locking pin. It provides a dedicated interface that directly prevents front end movement through the hooking indentation and locking pin engagement, while the operating cable serves as an intermediary to transmit the locking and unlocking actions from the user interface to the locking mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the locking plate is designed with an arc-shaped lower portion and tangentially aligned hooking indentation, then the locking engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking plate features an arc-shaped lower portion with a hooking indentation whose center axis forms a tangent with the circumference of the locking plate. This curved geometry creates a more reliable locking engagement by providing a tangential contact point with the locking pin, preventing both movement and rotation. The curvature is specifically designed to maximize engagement stability while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes.
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 locking device effectively prevents the front end of the folding seat from moving during vehicle motion, enhancing safety and stability by securely engaging the locking pin into the hooking indentation, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of the seat.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring on a first end which is connected to the locking plate, thereby applying a force
Implementation Method 2
an operating cable on a first end which is connected to a center portion of the locking plate and rotates the locking plate
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a locking device for a folding seat in a vehicle. The locking device includes: a locking plate connected to a first side of a seat frame of the rear seat by a rotating axis; an operating cable one end of which is connected to a center portion of the locking plate by a rotating axis so as to rotate the locking plate; a return spring in which a first end is connected to the locking plate and the second end of which is connected to a leg frame of the rear seat, thereby applying a force; a hooking indentation formed at a lower portion of the locking plate and; a locking pin fixedly installed to the leg frame of the rear seat and configured to be able to be inserted into the hooking indentation so as to be hooked by the hooking indentation.