Pivotable Bar Luggage Retention for Foldable Seat Backs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seat systems face challenges in providing a convenient latch release mechanism for foldable rear seat backs, adding mass and bulk, limiting trunk space, and failing to securely store delicate items like laptops and tablets, which can move around and cause noise or damage.
Innovation Solution
A luggage retention system with a pivotable bar assembly and latch mechanism that allows the foldable seat back to move between upright and folded positions, creating a structural safety barrier and an extended luggage area, while incorporating a parcel shelf and collapsible storage bin for secure storage and access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robust structures are added to protect the occupant compartment from items in the trunk, then safety is improved, but mass and bulk of the rear seat back assemblies increase, making them difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the safety function from the seat back structure by introducing a separate pivotable bar assembly that can be independently activated. The bar assembly provides the robust protective barrier while the seat back remains lightweight and easy to move for normal folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable bar assembly is designed to be dynamically deployable - it can be quickly raised to provide protection when needed and lowered when not needed. This dynamic capability allows the system to provide robust protection only when required, maintaining ease of operation for the seat back itself.
2Strength
If the rear seat back is made robust to tolerate impact from heavy items, then protection is improved, but the seat back becomes difficult to move between upright and folded positions
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented from the seat back structure and implemented as a separate pivotable bar assembly. This allows the seat back to remain lightweight and easy to operate while the bar assembly provides the necessary strength and protection when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable bar assembly acts as an intermediary protective element between the trunk contents and the occupant compartment. It provides the robust barrier needed for safety without requiring the seat back itself to be heavy or difficult to move.
3Ease of operation
If a latch release mechanism is added for foldable rear seat backs, then convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable bar assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection when raised, enables convenient seat back folding when lowered, and can be integrated with existing latch mechanisms. This multi-functionality adds convenience without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Volume of stationary object
If the foldable seat back is moved to the folded position to create extended luggage area, then trunk space is improved, but structural safety barrier is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable bar assembly is designed to be dynamically adjustable between raised and lowered positions. When trunk space is needed, the bar can be lowered to allow the seat back to fold forward. When protection is needed, the bar is raised to restore the safety barrier, providing both functions as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows preliminary folding of the seat back to maximize trunk space, with the option to subsequently raise the pivotable bar assembly if protection becomes needed. This preliminary action approach allows flexible adaptation to changing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle luggage retention system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. A foldable seat back separates the occupant compartment from the trunk and has an upright position and a folded position that allows pass-through accessibility from the trunk into the occupant compartment. A pivotable bar assembly in the trunk has a lowered position and a raised position. Pivoting the pivotable bar assembly to the lowered position moves the foldable seat back to the upright position and creates a structural safety barrier against objects in the trunk impacting a rear surface of the seat back. Pivoting the pivotable bar assembly to the raised position moves the seat back to the folded position to provide uninterrupted access to the occupant compartment from the trunk. A latch assembly latches the pivotable bar assembly in at least the lowered position. A movable parcel shelf and collapsible storage bin are also disclosed.