Modular Automotive Seat Backrest Latch Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing latching devices for automotive seat backrests require significant manufacturing effort due to complex designs for both manual and motorized unbolting mechanisms, leading to increased costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A modular latching device design where a basic module with a locking mechanism can be combined with interchangeable unbolting modules for either mechanical or motorized unbolting, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs by allowing the same basic module to be used with different unbolting modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate designs are used for manual and motorized unbolting mechanisms, then both functions can be achieved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunbolting functionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latching device is divided into two independent modules: a basic module containing the locking mechanism with catch and pawls, and an unbolting module containing the unbolting element. This segmentation allows the basic module to be manufactured once and reused for both manual and motorized applications, while only the unbolting module needs to vary between configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The basic module with the locking mechanism is designed as a universal component that can be combined with different unbolting modules. The same basic module serves both manual unbolting applications (combined with mechanical unbolting module) and motorized unbolting applications (combined with motorized unbolting module), eliminating the need for separate locking mechanism designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If different structural constructions are used for manual and motorized backrest latches, then specific functions are optimized, but manufacturing effort increases greatly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunbolting operationVSAvoidmanufacturing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the locking mechanism from the unbolting actuation system into distinct modules, the patent enables standardized manufacturing of the basic module while allowing customization only in the unbolting module based on whether manual or motorized operation is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers the basic module as a reusable asset across different product variants. Instead of discarding or redesigning the locking mechanism for each application type, it is recovered and reused with different unbolting modules, significantly reducing manufacturing effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11247595B2Latching device

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

A latching device for automotive applications, in particular a backrest latch for the bolting and unbolting of seat backrests in motor vehicles, with a locking mechanism fundamentally comprising a catch and at least one pawl, and with a manually and/or mechanically impingeable unbolting element for the locking mechanism, wherein the unbolting element is a component of an exchangeable unbolting module which defines a latch casing together with a basic module incorporating the locking mechanism is proposed. A latching device where only the unbolting module is adapted to the specific purpose of use is provided, considerably reducing manufacturing, installation and warehousing costs.