Rotating Vehicle Seat with Folding Mechanism for Compact Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats in vehicles often require large rotational volumes, limiting their usability in space-constrained environments, as they need to be fixedly attached facing forward, while rotating seats are not practical due to space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A rotating vehicle seat design that translates and folds its backrest and seat base in the XY-plane during rotation around a vertical axis, utilizing a gear mechanism with a track and guide system to minimize the rotational volume, allowing the seat to change directions without needing excessive space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional rotating seat design is used, then the seat can change facing direction, but it requires a large rotational volume that is not available in space-constrained vehicle cabins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation movement in the horizontal XY-plane alongside the vertical rotation, transforming the rotation path from a simple circular arc to a three-dimensional complex trajectory. This dimensional change allows the seat to navigate around obstacles and fit within smaller cabin spaces while still achieving full 180-degree direction reversal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable seat base and backrest components that can fold upward during rotation. This dynamic configuration change reduces the effective rotational radius during movement, allowing the seat to pass through tight spaces and then expand to its full seating configuration upon reaching the target position
2Ease of operation
If the seat base and backrest protrude longer from the base frame, then the seating comfort is improved, but the rotation diameter required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat base and backrest are designed with dynamic folding capability that allows them to change configuration during rotation. During the rotating movement, these components fold upward to reduce the effective rotation diameter, and then unfold to their full extended position when rotation is complete, thus achieving both comfort and space efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism is activated before and during the rotation process to preemptively reduce the rotation diameter. By preparing the seat components in a folded state before rotation begins, the patent ensures that sufficient space is available throughout the entire rotation trajectory
Data Source
Figure 1a~2c
Figure 3a~4f
Figure 5
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a rotating vehicle seat (1) comprising a backrest (2) attached to a seat base frame (21,31,41) and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a first horizontal axis (11), a seat base (3) attached to the seat base frame (21,31,41) and arranged to be rotatably adjustable around a second horizontal axis (12) parallel to the first horizontal axis (11), a gear mechanism (20,30,40) connected to the seat base frame (21) arranged to rotate the seat base frame (21,31,41) from a forward facing position to a backward facing position, wherein the gear mechanism (20,30,40) comprises a track (22,32,42), and the seat base frame comprises a guide (23,33,43) that is configured to engage the track (22,32,42), such that when the gear mechanism is actuated, the seat base frame (21,31,41) is translated in a xy-plane and is rotated around a first vertical axis (13), and wherein the backrest (2) and the seat base (3), respectively, are arranged to be folded upwards during at least part of the rotation of the seat base frame (21,31,41) around the first vertical axis (13). The disclosure further relates to a method for rotating a rotating vehicle seat.