Reconfigurable Rear Seat Support for Vehicle Storage Modes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rear occupant supports in vehicles lack the ability to efficiently convert between passenger support and storage modes, limiting space utilization and flexibility within the passenger compartment.

Innovation Solution

A reconfigurable rear occupant support system that includes a seat mode-change system with a foundation track, foundation mount, and foundation motion-blocker, allowing the seat to move between passenger support, first storage, and second storage modes, providing adaptable storage solutions by altering the position and orientation of the seat relative to the vehicle frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rear occupant support is fixed in position, then structural stability is maintained, but space utilization and flexibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization flexibilityVSAvoidseat reconfiguration mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rear occupant support is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, allowing it to move between multiple positions (slid-forward, intermediate, slid-back) and orientations (passenger support mode, first storage mode, second storage mode) along a foundation track, transforming a static structure into an adaptable space management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rear occupant support serves multiple functions: it can provide passenger seating support, create forward storage space between the seat bottom and front occupant support, or form rear storage space between the seat back and rear wall, eliminating the need for separate dedicated storage structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rear occupant support is made movable to create storage spaces, then space versatility is improved, but structural stability and safety may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space configurationVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation motion-blocker system provides selective locking, allowing the rear occupant support to be movable when storage flexibility is needed while maintaining structural stability when locked in position, dynamically adjusting between mobility and stability based on operational requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The foundation motion-blocker acts as an intermediary mechanism between the movable rear occupant support and the fixed foundation track, controlling and regulating the movement to ensure safety and stability while enabling the desired reconfigurability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the rear occupant support is reconfigured to provide storage modes, then cargo capacity is enhanced, but passenger comfort may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecargo capacityVSAvoidpassenger comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rear occupant support dynamically switches between passenger support mode with horizontal seat bottom and elevated seat back for comfort, and storage modes with vertical seat bottom orientation for cargo capacity, allowing the system to adapt to different operational needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12103443B2Vehicle and occupant support for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 FAURECIA AUTOMOTIVE SEATING LLC

AI summary

A rear row occupant support for a vehicle includes a seat bottom arranged to overlie a floor of the vehicle, a seat back coupled to the seat bottom and arranged to extend upwardly away from the floor, and a seat mode-change system that allows the rear occupant support to adjust its position to provide a storage space.