Pivoting Vehicle Seat Storage for Flexible Rear Bench Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs face complexity in adapting storage space within the rear seat bench, requiring innovative solutions for flexible and efficient use of storage space without significant alterations to the seat structure.
Innovation Solution
A seat arrangement with a pivotable seat part that covers an access opening to a storage region, allowing the storage container to be inserted and secured within, providing flexible access and use of storage space without altering the seat structure, and optionally forming a mobile seat unit with the storage container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a storage box is integrated into the seat structure with a pivotable seat surface, then storage space is provided in the region of the rear seat bench, but the development and production complexity of the seat structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is divided into separate functional components: the seat surface assembly (with pivot axis) and the storage box, which can be independently manufactured and then assembled together. This segmentation allows standard seat manufacturing processes to be used while adding storage functionality through a separate component.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage box is positioned within the seat structure such that it is received by the seat substructure, with the seat surface forming a cover over it. This nested arrangement integrates storage functionality into the existing seat form factor without requiring a completely new structural design.
2Ease of operation
If the seat surface is made pivotable to access the storage box, then access to the storage box is enabled, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism is implemented as a separate pivot axis component that connects the seat surface to the seat substructure, allowing the pivoting function to be added without redesigning the entire seat manufacturing process. This modular approach maintains ease of manufacture while enabling operational flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If storage containers are inserted into the storage region through the access opening, then flexible storage is achieved, but the containers must be precisely sized to prevent displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure element provides localized geometric constraints (such as ridges, grooves, or shaped boundaries) at specific positions within the storage region that guide and secure the storage containers. This local structural feature ensures proper positioning and prevents horizontal displacement without requiring high manufacturing precision across the entire container or storage region.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a vehicle seat with a backrest and a seat part which is arranged in a seating position above a storage region and at least partially covers on the upper face an access opening to the storage region, which is configured in a seat substructure, and is pivotable about a seat pivot axis into a folded-up position in order to uncover the access opening. In order to permit a flexible and efficient use of the storage space in the region of the vehicle seat, the seat arrangement has at least one storage container with a wall which is configured around the periphery to the side and on the lower face, the storage container being able to be inserted into the storage region through the access opening and being able to be received therein to prevent displacement in the horizontal direction.