Rotating Vehicle Seat Frame for Convertible Bench Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat arrangements for mobile homes and campers lack flexibility in converting between different seating configurations, limiting their adaptability to various user needs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat arrangement with a seat frame that includes a support arrangement, a rotatable backrest structure, and a holding mechanism, allowing the backrest to pivot from a first use position as a backrest to a second use position as a seat, enabling easy conversion between seating configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed vehicle seat arrangement is used, then the seating configuration is stable and reliable, but the adaptability to different user needs and space requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest structure is made dynamically convertible through a rotatable joint connection to the support arrangement, allowing it to pivot between a first use position (backrest orientation) and a second use position (seat orientation). This dynamic transformation enables the same structural components to serve multiple seating configuration functions without requiring separate fixed structures for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest structure is designed to perform multiple functions: in the first use position it serves as a backrest for a single-person vehicle seat, while in the second use position it forms part of a multi-user vehicle sofa. The holding mechanism ensures stable fixation in each position, allowing one component to universally serve different seating needs.
2Ease of operation
If a rotatable backrest structure is implemented, then the conversion between seating configurations is easy, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat frame is segmented into distinct functional components: a support arrangement with vertical support, a separately connected backrest structure, a joint for rotation, and a holding mechanism for fixation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint acts as an intermediary element between the support arrangement and the backrest structure, enabling smooth rotation while maintaining structural integrity. The holding mechanism serves as another intermediary that mediates between the need for movement and the need for stable fixation in use positions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest structure is fixed in one position, then the structural stability is high, but the flexibility to convert between seat and sofa configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The structure transitions from a static fixed design to a dynamic convertible design where the backrest structure can rotate between defined positions. The holding mechanism ensures that during use, the structure achieves stable fixation in each position, combining the benefits of adaptability with operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the backrest structure is changed through rotation about the joint axis. By controlling the rotation angle to specific positions (first use position and second use position), the structure achieves different functional configurations while maintaining structural integrity through the holding mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a versatile seating solution that can be easily converted between a single-person seat and a multi-user sofa configuration, enhancing user flexibility and space utilization within vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the backrest structure is rotatable against the seating direction of the vehicle seat from the first use state to a second use state about an axis of rotation of the joint
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~7
AI summary
Seat frame (1) for a vehicle seating arrangement (19), in particular for a vehicle bench seat, wherein the vehicle seating arrangement (19) forms a vehicle seat in a first usable position and a vehicle bench seat in a second usable position. The seat frame (1) is characterized by comprising a support arrangement (2), a backrest structure (3), a joint (4), and a retaining mechanism (5), wherein the support arrangement (2) comprises a vertical support (6, 7) and attachment means (12), wherein the vertical support (6, 7) can be fixed upright in a floor area (50) of a vehicle (51) by means of the attachment means (12), wherein the backrest structure (3) is rotatably connected to the support arrangement (2) via the joint (4), wherein the retaining mechanism (5) is configured to fix the backrest structure (3) to the support arrangement (2) in a first operating state, wherein the seat frame (1) can form a vehicle seat in the first operating state.wherein the backrest structure (3) forms part of a backrest of the vehicle seat in the first use state, wherein the backrest structure (3) is rotatable from the first use state to a second use state about a pivot axis of the joint (4) opposite to the seating direction of the vehicle seat, wherein in the second use state a seat surface of the vehicle seat arrangement (19) can be formed with the backrest structure (3).