Vehicle Seat Actuating Handle with Bidirectional Ergonomic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat actuating devices are not ergonomically optimized for pivoting in both directions, as the operating direction of the actuating handle is not aligned with the pivoting direction of the seat, leading to suboptimal ergonomics during movement between usage and entry positions.
Innovation Solution
An actuating device with an actuating handle that can be actuated in two directions, coupled to a locking mechanism via a Bowden cable or similar connecting means, featuring a modular housing and a transmission system with a dead center position, ensuring the operating handle's direction aligns with the seat's movement in both pivoting directions, and an interface that indicates the locking state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuating handle is designed with only one operating direction, then the structure is simple, but the ergonomics deteriorates when the vehicle seat pivots in the opposite direction
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating handle is designed to be rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing it to dynamically change its operating direction. This enables the handle to adapt to both forward and backward pivoting directions of the vehicle seat, maintaining ergonomic operation in both directions while avoiding the need for two separate handles or a overly complex dual-handle mechanism
2Ease of operation
If the actuating handle operates in the opposite direction to the seat pivoting direction, then the structure is simple, but the operating ergonomics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A transmission mechanism comprising an intermediate gear, rocker, link, and eccentric acts as an intermediary between the actuating handle and the locking mechanism. This transmission system converts the rotational movement of the handle about a vertical axis into linear or rotational movement that unlocks the locking mechanism, while the interface component mediates the connection to the Bowden cable, ensuring proper force transmission regardless of the handle's actuation direction
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 actuating device provides ergonomic optimization by ensuring the operating direction of the handle matches the seat's movement in both directions, enhancing usability and reducing ergonomic strain during seat adjustments between usage and entry positions.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic means, in particular a spring, for holding the lever in the central position and for acting between the housing and the lever or between the lever and another component movable relative to the lever
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuation device (100) for a vehicle seat (1) having at least one locking mechanism (23), the actuation device (100) having an actuation handle (152), which is mounted on a housing (110), for unlocking the at least one locking mechanism (23), and a connection means (200) coupling the actuation device (100) to the at least one locking mechanism (23). The actuation handle (152) can be actuated in two different directions and the at least one locking mechanism (23) can be unlocked by actuating the actuation handle (152) in one direction and by actuating the actuation handle (152) in the other direction. As a result, an operating direction of the actuation handle (152) that is oriented in the movement direction of the vehicle seat (1) is available for each movement direction of the vehicle seat (1). The invention further relates to a vehicle seat (1) having at least one locking mechanism (23) and an actuation device (100).