Retractable Medallion for Flat-Floor Vehicle Seat Tilting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs that fold to create additional loading space require expensive headrests that tilt 180 degrees, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A retractable medallion in the seat structure creates a cavity to house part of the headrest when the seat is offset and the backrest is folded, allowing complete tilting without the need for a tilting headrest, thus enabling a flat floor without the expense of a 180-degree tilting headrest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the headrest is designed to tilt 180 degrees to prevent pressing against the seat during backrest folding, then the backrest can be completely tilted to create a flat floor, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest is extracted from its fixed position on the backrest and placed in a retractable medallion that can be stored in a cavity. This allows the headrest to be removed from the system during backrest folding operations, eliminating the need for complex 180-degree tilting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to create a flat floor.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest is nested within a retractable medallion structure that can be stored in a cavity integrated into the seat. This nested arrangement allows the headrest to be compactly stored when not in use, freeing up space and simplifying the overall structure without requiring expensive tilting mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the headrest remains fixed on the backrest, then the structure is simple, but it prevents complete tilting of the backrest to create a flat loading surface
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest mounting is changed from a fixed static structure to a dynamic retractable mechanism. The medallion can extend to provide headrest support when needed and retract into a cavity to allow complete backrest tilting for loading operations, providing dynamic adaptability without permanent structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest system is segmented into a retractable medallion component that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the headrest function to be separated from the backrest structure, enabling the backrest to tilt completely while the headrest can be retracted to a separate storage location.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle seat (10) comprising: - a load-bearing structure (100), - a seat (200) movably mounted on said load-bearing structure between a usable position and a reclined position, - a backrest (300) movably mounted on said load-bearing structure between a usable position and a folded-down position, and - a headrest attached to the backrest. According to the invention, the seat comprises a structural part (210) and a medallion (221) which is retractable relative to the structural part so as to create a cavity (230) in which said headrest is housed when the seat is in the reclined position and the backrest is in the folded-down position.