Spiral-Anchor Retention Clip for Wrinkle-Free Seat Cushion Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seat assemblies face challenges in securely attaching seat components to cushions without damaging the cushion material, particularly with conventional foam cushions, which can be prone to deformation and aesthetic issues like folding or wrinkling.

Innovation Solution

A retention clip with a spiral anchor that screws into a three-dimensional mesh cushion structure, featuring a retention feature that engages the seat component, providing secure attachment without damaging the cushion filaments and preventing unwanted deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional attachment methods are used to secure seat components to foam cushions, then attachment strength is improved, but cushion deformation and aesthetic integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidcushion deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a retention clip as an intermediary component between the seat component and the cushion. The retention clip features a spiral anchor that penetrates the cushion and a retention feature that engages with the seat component, thereby providing secure attachment without requiring direct damaging attachment methods to the cushion foam itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: the retention clip with its spiral anchor portion for cushion engagement and its retention feature portion for seat component engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the cushion integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If spiral anchor is screwed into three-dimensional mesh cushion structure, then retention clip security is improved, but cushion filament damage worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention clip securityVSAvoidcushion filament damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the three-dimensional mesh structure of the cushion, which consists of randomly looped and bonded filaments creating a porous network. The spiral anchor is designed to screw into this porous structure, engaging with the filaments in a way that provides secure retention while distributing stress across multiple filaments rather than concentrating damage at a single point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS11878613B2Retention clip for a seat assembly and method of assembly

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 LEAR CORP

AI summary

A retention clip, a seat assembly having a retention clip, and a method of assembly. The retention clip has a spiral anchor and at least one retention feature. The spiral anchor is configured to be screwed into a cushion. The retention feature extends away from the spiral anchor and is configured to secure a seat component to the retention clip.