Modular Seat Bracket Cross-Tube Attachment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle seating assemblies are bulky and heavy, leading to decreased interior space and reduced fuel efficiency due to their rigid and thick construction, which compromises support during vehicle acceleration, changes in direction, and collisions.
Innovation Solution
A modular seating assembly design featuring a front assembly bracket coupled to the seat with a rearward retention member and polymeric overmold, a forward retention member operable between open and closed positions, and a rear assembly bracket with a tab end and fastener end to securely engage cross-tubes, allowing for efficient attachment and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional rigid and thick construction is used for seatbacks to support occupant during acceleration, direction changes, and collisions, then support and safety are improved, but weight and interior space are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is divided into modular components including separate brackets, retention members, and cross-tubes that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows optimization of each component's weight and strength characteristics independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes composite construction combining polymeric overmold materials with metal retention members and cross-tubes. This composite approach provides the necessary strength and rigidity for safety support while significantly reducing weight compared to traditional solid metal or thick foam constructions.
2Strength
If traditional rigid and thick construction is used for seatbacks to support occupant during acceleration, direction changes, and collisions, then support and safety are improved, but interior space is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seatback into modular brackets and retention members rather than using a single thick rigid structure, the overall volume is reduced while maintaining the necessary support function through strategic placement of structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric overmold provides a thin-walled protective shell that encases the structural retention members, offering necessary durability and comfort with minimal thickness compared to traditional thick rigid constructions.
3Productivity
If modular assembly design with reduced fasteners is used for seat attachment, then manufacturing efficiency and assembly speed are improved, but connection strength and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into integrated retention members that combine retention, positioning, and securing capabilities in single components, reducing the total number of fasteners while maintaining connection reliability through multi-functional design.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of polymeric overmold materials with metal retention members creates composite connections that distribute loads across multiple material properties, enhancing connection reliability while allowing for simpler, faster assembly compared to traditional multi-fastener metal-to-metal connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A seating assembly includes a seat. A front assembly bracket is coupled to an underside of the seat. A rearward retention member defines a receiving aperture to receive a front cross-tube. A polymeric overmold is disposed over the rearward retention member. A forward retention member is operable between open and closed positions and is disposed proximate the rearward retention member. A rear assembly bracket includes a tab end operably coupled with the seat. A rounded body is configured to close engage a rear cross-tube. A fastener end is configured to secure the rear assembly bracket against the cross-tube.