High Latch Seat Back Mechanism for Slouch Recline Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In sedan-type vehicles, the limited space behind the rear seat assembly restricts the range of motion of the seat back relative to the seat cushion, limiting the adjustability and comfort provided by existing seat assemblies due to the high latch being coupled to a fixed striker, which restricts pivoting and reclining movements.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a high latch mechanism that includes a pivoting and sliding latch assembly and a disc recliner, allowing the seat back to be selectively positioned between upright, reclined, and fold flat positions by decoupling from the striker bar, enabling greater adjustability and comfort through a combination of rotational and sliding mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the high latch is coupled to a fixed striker, then the seat back can be securely held in position, but the range of motion of the seat back is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is made dynamically adjustable through a telescopic striker bar that can extend and retract, and a rotating latch arm that can pivot between different engagement positions. This allows the seat back to achieve multiple positions (upright, reclined, slouch, fold flat) while maintaining secure locking at each position, resolving the contradiction between limited range of motion and mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a telescopic striker bar with extendable length, a rotating latch arm with pivot joint, and a seat back assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling greater overall range of motion without requiring the entire mechanism to be overly complex.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat back is allowed to pivot and recline freely, then comfort and adjustability are improved, but space requirements behind the seat increase
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic striker bar dynamically adjusts its length based on the seat back position. When the seat back is in upright or reclined positions, the striker bar extends to provide full range of motion. When the seat back is folded flat, the striker bar retracts to minimize space occupation behind the seat, thus achieving multi-position adjustability without permanently requiring excessive space.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism components are nested within each other to minimize space when not in use. The rotating latch arm can be positioned within the striker bar assembly, and the telescopic striker bar can be retracted into its housing, allowing the folded seat to occupy minimal space behind the vehicle while still providing full adjustability when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A seat assembly (10) for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a seat cushion (14) adapted to be coupled to a floor of the vehicle, a seat back (12) pivotably coupled to the seat cushion, a striker bar (28) adapted to be fixedly secured to a support wall in the vehicle, a recliner bracket (42) pivotally coupled to the seat back (12), and a latch assembly (66) pivotally coupled to the recliner bracket (42) and slidably coupled to the striker bar (28). Pivotal movement of the recliner bracket (42) relative to the seat back (12) causes the latch assembly (66) to slide along the striker bar (28) and the seat back (12) to pivot relative to the seat cushion (14) between a full recline position and a forward comfort position.