Vehicle Seat Hinge Mechanism with Internal Retaining Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hinge mechanisms are bulkier, heavier, and noisier due to the protruding retaining ring, which increases friction and requires additional components like sliding blocks, leading to higher costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The retaining part is force-fitted into the neck of the first frame, held against the inner surface, eliminating the need for external components and reducing friction, with a retaining ring that has radial teeth pressing against the inner surface, allowing for metal-to-metal contact and simplified assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the retaining ring is elastically fitted in the radial groove of the external part, then the control member can be retained, but the hinge mechanism becomes bulkier and heavier in the axial direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of control memberVSAvoidaxial space occupied by hinge mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fitting the retaining ring externally on the control member (protruding outward), the invention inverts the approach by force-fitting the retaining ring into the neck of the first frame (internal mounting). This reversal eliminates the need for the control member to protrude outward, thereby reducing the axial space occupied by the hinge mechanism while maintaining retention functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining ring is nested within the neck of the first frame rather than extending externally. By placing the retaining ring inside the existing structural space of the neck, the design eliminates additional axial space requirements, effectively nesting the retention function within the existing geometry of the hinge mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the retaining ring is elastically fitted in the radial groove, then the control member can be retained, but the control member becomes longer and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of control memberVSAvoidstructure of control member

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the retaining ring from the control member itself and relocates it to the neck of the first frame. By removing the retention function from the control member's structure, the control member becomes simpler and shorter, as it no longer needs to include the radial groove and external retaining ring features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of mounting the retaining ring on the control member (external retention), the invention inverts the mounting location to the neck of the first frame (internal retention). This inversion simplifies the control member by eliminating the need for external retention features while maintaining the retention function through the force-fitted ring in the neck.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the metal retaining ring rests against the outer surface of the second metal frame, then retention is achieved, but friction and noise are generated during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention of control memberVSAvoidfriction and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a sliding block as an intermediary element between the retaining ring and the second frame. This sliding block acts as a mediator that reduces direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby minimizing friction and noise generation while still allowing the retaining ring to perform its retention function effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the direct mechanical contact between the metal retaining ring and the outer surface of the second frame with an alternative mechanical arrangement involving the sliding block. This substitution changes the friction interface from a direct ring-to-frame contact to a controlled sliding block interface, reducing harmful friction and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design reduces the axial space occupied by the hinge mechanism, minimizes weight and complexity, and eliminates noise, while maintaining effective retention without additional provisions, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective hinge mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

the retaining part is force-fitted into the neck of the first frame and is held in said neck by pressing against an inner surface of said neck

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8672407B2Hinge mechanism and vehicle seat comprising such a mechanism

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 FAURECIA SIEGES D AUTOMOBILE SA

AI summary

hinge mechanism comprising first and second rotating frames and a control member mounted rotatably in a neck of the first frame, such control member being capable of controlling the relative rotation of the frames. A metal retaining part is held in the neck by pressing, and the control member is mounted rotatably independently of the retaining part and abuts against such retaining part.