Head Restraint Support Rod Detent Structure Against Twisting Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support rods for vehicle seat head restraints face issues with unwanted movement, particularly during twisting, which can occur in vehicle impacts, and lack effective mechanisms to prevent disengagement from holding structures.
Innovation Solution
A support rod with a detent structure featuring a cut-out tongue and embossed base surface, which creates a U-shaped gap to enhance security against disengagement, combined with a locking device that allows vertical adjustment and locking in multiple directions, preventing movement in both longitudinal directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple catch surface is used to prevent radial movement of the catch, then the structure is simple, but the support rod can still move unwantedly during twisting in vehicle impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The detent structure is segmented into multiple functional surfaces: a base surface for radial limitation, edge surfaces forming a U-shaped gap for twisting prevention, and an inner surface for catch positioning. This segmentation allows each surface to address specific movement prevention needs, solving the contradiction between reliability during twisting and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a simple radial catch surface to a multi-dimensional detent structure with U-shaped gaps and angled edge surfaces. The U-shaped gap creates additional geometric constraints that prevent twisting movements while maintaining engagement, adding dimensional complexity to prevent unwanted motion during vehicle impacts.
2Reliability
If a U-shaped gap with embossed base surface is added to prevent twisting movement, then reliability during impact is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The U-shaped gap and embossed base surface are pre-formed during the extrusion process rather than requiring post-manufacturing operations. By integrating the detent structure formation into the primary manufacturing process, the invention achieves high reliability for impact conditions without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity or requiring additional machining steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A support rod for a vehicle seat head restraint, which is formed as a tube, having at least one structure as part of a locking device and intended for cooperating with a catch of the locking device which is associated with a holding structure. The structure has a base surface which prevents movement of the catch radially to a central axis of the support rod and includes a catch surface that prevents, together with the catch, movement of the support rod in a first direction. At least one catch structure as a detent structure has a cut-out tongue. An inner surface of the tongue radially facing a central axis of the support rod at a free end being spaced apart from the base surface by a height so that the catch is movable at least with a partial region radially under a region of the inner surface of the tongue.