Movable Buckle Mounting System for Vehicle Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle occupant restraint systems require frequent readjustment of seat belts when the seat position is changed, leading to increased mechanical loads and costs, as anchorages need to be designed to withstand more extreme loads to maintain proper positioning.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable occupant restraint system featuring a floor bracket, a link system rotatably coupled to the floor bracket, and a seat belt buckle mounted to the link system, which rotates with the seat to maintain the buckle at the occupant's hip point during fore/aft adjustments, using a four-bar linkage to facilitate proper buckle positioning throughout the range of seat movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seat belt anchorages are fastened to the vehicle floor proximate the outboard sides of the seat, then the seat belt can accommodate various occupant sizes, but the seat belt requires frequent readjustment when seat position is changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the seat belt anchorage system movable rather than fixed. The link system connects the floor-mounted anchorage to the seat back, allowing the anchorage point to move dynamically with seat position changes. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for manual readjustment while maintaining proper belt positioning for various occupant sizes.
2Ease of operation
If seat belt anchorages are mounted to a movable portion of the seat, then frequent readjustment is avoided, but cost and weight penalties increase due to extreme mechanical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the restraint system into two parts: a fixed floor-mounted anchorage and a movable link system. The link system acts as an intermediate mechanism that translates seat movement into anchorage position adjustment without requiring the entire anchorage assembly to be mounted on the movable seat. This segmentation reduces the mechanical load on moving components while achieving the desired adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The link system serves as an intermediary between the fixed floor anchorage and the movable seat. It mediates the relationship between seat position changes and belt anchorage positioning, allowing the system to achieve automatic adjustment without directly mounting heavy anchorages on the movable seat portion.
3Ease of operation
If seat belt anchorages are mounted to a movable portion of the seat, then frequent readjustment is avoided, but manufacturing cost increases due to extreme mechanical loads
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into fixed floor mounting and a lightweight movable link system, the patent reduces the mechanical load requirements for manufactured components. The link system can be made from lighter, less expensive materials compared to a fully movable anchorage assembly, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while achieving automatic adjustment functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes a floor bracket configured to couple to a vehicle floor, a link system rotatably coupled to the floor bracket, and a seat belt buckle coupled to the link system. The link system rotates in response to and along with the fore/aft adjustment of the vehicle seat to substantially maintain the seat belt buckle at a hip point of a seat occupant throughout the fore/aft adjustment of the vehicle seat.