Localized Seat Back Recess for Rear-Facing Child Seat Latch Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face difficulty in reaching and releasing rear-facing child seats due to insufficient clearance between the seat back and the release latch, requiring inconvenient adjustments of the front seat position.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat design featuring a recessed area in the seat back that creates a void between the seat and the child seat, allowing easy access to the release latch without needing to adjust the seat position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the front seat is positioned close to the child seat for space efficiency, then the vehicle interior space utilization is improved, but the user cannot reach the release latch without adjusting the seat position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle interior space utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility to release latch

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by creating a recessed area that extends forward from the seat back, forming a void space between the front seat and child seat. This dimensional modification allows the user's hand to access the release latch without requiring the front seat to be moved, thus resolving the contradiction between space utilization and operational accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the front seat is moved forward to access the release latch, then the user can reach the latch, but time is lost adjusting the seat position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to release latchVSAvoidtime to adjust seat position

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed area is pre-formed in the seat back structure, creating the necessary access void before the user needs to release the child seat. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for temporary seat adjustment actions, allowing direct access to the release latch and eliminating the time loss associated with moving and repositioning the front seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the seat back is designed with a recessed area, then access to the release latch is improved, but the seat back structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to release latchVSAvoidseat back structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of redesigning the entire seat back structure, the patent applies the recessed area modification only to the specific region where access to the release latch is needed. This localized structural change creates the necessary void space while maintaining the simplicity and integrity of the rest of the seat back, thus minimizing the increase in overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10894492B2Vehicle seats providing access to child seat release latches

Publication Date: 2021.01.19 TOYOTA MOTOR ENG & MFG NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a vehicle seat includes a seating portion and a seat back extending from the seating portion. The seat back defines a rear facing surface and a recessed area formed in the rear facing surface. The recessed area extends from an upper surface of the seat back toward a central portion of the seat back. The recessed area defines a void between the vehicle seat and a child seat positioned proximate to the seat back.