Movable Vehicle Seat With Dynamic Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles with rear passenger sections lacking a rear passenger side entry door require passengers to move the front seat forward to access the rear, which is inconvenient and limits entry methods.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating system featuring a movable chair with a metal frame, seat and back portions, and a latch mechanism that allows the chair to fold and rotate, enabling standing entry and exit through a side door without needing to move the front seat, along with additional features like a roll cage, grab handles, and a heater system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If passengers must move the front seat forward to access the rear passenger section, then the vehicle maintains a conventional compact structure, but passenger accessibility and entry convenience are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the front seat movable between fixed and movable states. The seat can be locked in a fixed position for normal operation or moved forward to allow rear passenger access. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by providing both conventional compact structure and improved accessibility as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system is segmented into movable front seat portions and fixed rear passenger sections. The front seat is divided into sections that can be independently moved forward, allowing rear access without moving the entire seat assembly. This segmentation enables selective movement to balance accessibility needs with structural compactness.
2Ease of operation
If the front seat is made movable to allow rear access, then passenger accessibility improves, but the risk of accidental movement during vehicle operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat incorporates dynamic locking mechanisms that automatically engage when the seat is in the rearmost position during vehicle operation. The system detects vehicle motion and locks the seat to prevent accidental movement, while still allowing manual movement when needed for passenger access. This resolves the contradiction by providing both accessibility and stability as required by operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system includes feedback mechanisms that detect whether the vehicle is in motion or stationary. When motion is detected, the system automatically locks the seat in place. When stationary, the lock releases to allow movement. This feedback-controlled locking resolves the contradiction between accessibility and safety by adapting the seat's movability to the vehicle's operational state.
3Reliability
If a latch mechanism is added to secure the movable chair, then seat position stability during operation is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is designed as a self-service system that automatically engages and disengages based on the seat's position and vehicle operation state. No additional manual intervention or complex control systems are needed - the latch serves itself by detecting when locking is required and performing the locking action. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliable locking without adding excessive complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is merged with the existing seat adjustment and positioning systems. The same mechanical components used for seat movement are integrated with the locking function, eliminating the need for entirely separate locking systems. This merging reduces overall complexity while maintaining reliable seat position stability during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of vehicle seating systems may include a movable chair including a metal frame having a seat portion and a back portion. The seat portion may have a first end and a second end and the back portion may have a first bar, a second bar, and a lock bar coupled between the first bar and the second bar. A latch pin may be configured to receive a first end of the lock bar coupled to the first bar of the seat portion when the movable chair is in a fully upright portion. The back portion may be configured to fold down and the seat portion may be configured to rotate upwardly on the seat hinge. The movable chair may be configured to lock into place in a fully upright position when the vehicle is in operation through a latching mechanism, the latch pin, and the lock bar.