Lock Device Thrust Member Through Hole Deformation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing locking mechanisms for vehicle seats occupy additional thickness due to deformation promoting portions, leading to complex shapes in adjacent members, which complicates design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a thrust member featuring a through hole as the deformation promoting portion, allowing for load absorption without increasing thickness, and simplifying the shapes of adjacent components by maintaining uniform load distribution and elastic deformation within an elastic limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the deformation promoting portion is formed by swelling one side of the thrust member into a bead-like shape, then the thrust member can deform under excessive load to protect other components, but the thickness of the locking mechanism increases and the shapes of adjacent members become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation promoting portion is repositioned from a protruding bead-like shape on the outer surface to a through-hole structure located in the interior of the thrust member. This dimensional repositioning allows the deformation zone to be contained within the existing thickness of the thrust member, eliminating the need to increase overall locking mechanism thickness while maintaining the load absorption function.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation promoting portion is nested within the thrust member as a through-hole rather than protruding outward. This nesting approach allows the deformation zone to be embedded in the interior of the thrust member, simplifying the external shape of the thrust member and eliminating the need for adjacent members to accommodate complex external deformations.
2Reliability
If the deformation promoting portion protrudes from the thrust member, then it can deform to absorb excessive load, but adjacent members like the base plate must be designed with complicated shapes to avoid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation promoting portion is nested within the thrust member as a through-hole structure rather than protruding outward. This containment approach ensures that the deformation zone does not interfere with adjacent members, allowing them to maintain simple, standard shapes without requiring complex interference avoidance designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation function is moved from an external protruding feature to an internal through-hole structure. This dimensional change confines the deformation activity within the thrust member's interior, eliminating interference with adjacent members and simplifying their geometric design requirements.
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
The solution reduces the thickness of the locking mechanism and simplifies the design of adjacent components by uniformly absorbing excessive loads through the deformation promoting portion, ensuring continuous functionality without deforming other critical parts.
Implementation Method 1
The thrust spring is capable of biasing the thrust member toward the thrusting position
Implementation Method 2
The locking spring is capable of biasing the hook and the pawl such that the hook and the pawl are stabilized in the locked condition or the unlocked condition
Implementation Method 3
The through hole forms a deformation promoting portion that is capable of deforming the thrust member to engage the hook and the pawl each other when a load having a predetermined value or more is exerted on the thrust member side from the hook side in the locked condition
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It is one object of the present invention to avoid a space in a thickness direction of a locking mechanism from being occupied by a deformation promoting portion of a thrust member and to simplify shapes of a base plate or other such members that are positioned adjacent to the thrust member. The present invention has the following structure. That is, a locking device includes a locking mechanism and a striker. A hook (30) of the locking mechanism (20), when rotated, is capable of forming a locked condition in which the striker (70) is held between the hook and a recess (23) of a base plate (22). A pawl (46) is capable of rotating to a position in which the pawl can engage the hook and maintaining the hook in the locked condition. A locking spring (56) is capable of biasing the hook and the pawl such that the hook and the pawl are stabilized in the locked condition or the unlocked condition. A thrust member is capable of rotating to a thrusting position in which the thrust member can press the hook in the locked condition toward a locking direction via a cam surface (61) formed therein. A thrust spring is capable of biasing the thrust member toward the thrusting position. A through hole (65) that is formed in the thrust member forms a deformation promoting portion (64). The deformation promoting portion is capable of deforming the thrust member when a load having a predetermined value or more is exerted on the thrust member side from the hook side.