Hollow Frame Profile Holding Element for Corrosion-Free Seat Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for attaching a vehicle seat to a vehicle frame involve drilling, which allows water to penetrate and cause corrosion, leading to rust over time.

Innovation Solution

A holding element, such as a box profile, is designed to enclose the vehicle frame profile without the need for screws, rivets, or welds, using a recess and support points to securely fasten the vehicle seat without penetrating the frame, thereby preventing corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the frame profile is drilled to fasten the vehicle seat, then the vehicle seat can be securely attached to the vehicle frame, but water can penetrate into the hollow spar causing corrosion and rust over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening strengthVSAvoidcorrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element is inserted into the hollow frame profile spar, nesting within the existing structure. The holding element features a recess that accommodates the frame profile, creating a nested configuration where the holding element resides inside the hollow spar while providing fastening functionality without penetrating the spar walls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding element acts as an intermediary component between the frame profile and the vehicle seat. It provides bearing surfaces that contact the frame profile internally, transferring loads without requiring external fasteners that would penetrate the spar and compromise its corrosion resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If screws, rivets, or welds are used to fasten the holding element to the frame profile, then the fastening is secure, but the frame profile is penetrated or damaged creating corrosion pathways

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening securityVSAvoidframe integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding element utilizes the internal walls of the hollow frame profile spar as its mounting surface. By inserting the holding element into the spar and using bearing surfaces that contact the inner walls, the structure serves itself as the fastening substrate, eliminating the need for separate fasteners that would create penetration points

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of fastening from the outside in (which would require penetrating the spar), the holding element is inserted from the inside out. The recess of the holding element accommodates the frame profile, inverting the traditional fastening approach and eliminating external penetration points that could allow water ingress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3326857B1Holding element for fastening a vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 AGUTI PRODUKTENTWICKLUNG & DESIGN GMBH
  • EP3326857B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3326857B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3326857B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A retaining element (1), in particular a box profile for attaching a vehicle seat to a vehicle, wherein a vehicle floor of the vehicle is attached to a frame profile of the vehicle. The retaining element (1) is characterized in that the retaining element can be arranged on an underside of the vehicle floor, wherein the retaining element comprises a recess (2), wherein, in the arranged state of the retaining element on the vehicle, the frame profile is received in the recess (2), and wherein the retaining element has a height which is greater than the height of the frame profile.