Modular Motorcycle Seat Assembly for One- or Two-Seat Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seating systems lack ease of assembly and reconfiguration, particularly in motorcycles and open-air vehicles, where seating arrangements often vary and require convenient changes.
Innovation Solution
A modular seating assembly system for vehicles, allowing easy conversion between one and two seating positions, utilizing interchangeable brackets and fasteners to secure seat pans to a fender assembly, with reinforced openings and grab straps for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a common frame is used for various motorcycle models with different seating arrangements, then manufacturing cost and frame design complexity are reduced, but the ability to easily reconfigure seating from one to two positions is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seating assembly is divided into separate modular components: a first seat pan for the operator and a second seat pan for the passenger, each with their own brackets and fasteners. This segmentation allows the second seat pan to be independently installed or removed, enabling easy reconfiguration between one and two seating positions without affecting the common frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system employs removable and reconfigurable fasteners that allow dynamic adjustment of the seating configuration. The fasteners can be quickly installed or removed to convert the seating arrangement from a two-seat configuration to a one-seat configuration, providing operational flexibility without permanent modifications.
2Ease of operation
If seating arrangements are made easily reconfigurable between one and two positions, then customer convenience and adaptability are improved, but structural integrity and secure attachment may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The brackets are pre-configured with reinforced openings and the fasteners are designed with specific engagement features before assembly. The second bracket is pre-positioned on the common frame at the desired location, and the reinforced openings are prepared in advance, allowing for quick installation while ensuring structural integrity from the start of the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design incorporates reinforced openings that combine multiple structural elements to maintain strength while allowing fastener passage. The reinforcement structures are integrated into the bracket material composition, providing both the necessary opening for easy attachment and the structural integrity required for reliable seat support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seating configurations are provided on a common frame, then vehicle versatility is improved, but the time and complexity of assembly and disassembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The common frame is designed with universal mounting locations and standardized bracket interfaces that can accommodate different seating configurations. The same frame structure supports both one-seat and two-seat arrangements using the same basic mounting points, reducing assembly time by eliminating the need for different frame modifications for different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fasteners are designed as simple, easily replaceable components that can be quickly installed and removed without specialized tools or complex procedures. This approach prioritizes rapid reconfiguration over permanent, highly durable fastening mechanisms, allowing customers to easily change seating arrangements without significant time investment.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A seat assembly (40) for a vehicle having a frame (12), a fender assembly (28) and a longitudinal axis (30) has a first seat pan (48) having a first coupler coupling a first seat (42) to the frame. A cover support is adjacent to the first seat pan. A grab strap (60) is coupled to the first seat pan. A first seat cover (46) is coupled to the first seat pan. A first fastener (58) couples the first seat to the fender assembly. A second seat pan (64) is coupled to the fender assembly with the first fastener. The second seat pan comprises a first opening (68) receiving the grab strap. A second fastener (80) couples the second seat pan to the fender assembly.