Articulated Seat Adjuster Lever for Intuitive Vehicle Seat Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unlocking levers for vehicle seat adjusters are not intuitive to operate, as the pulling or movement of the actuating lever is often opposite the adjustment motion of the seat, leading to potential incorrect operation.
Innovation Solution
The unlocking lever design features two rotatable levers joined by a second swivel pin, allowing actuation in two directions corresponding to the vehicle's direction of travel, with a holder for the tension member located on the second lever, enabling intuitive operation by matching the direction of actuation with the seat adjustment, and optimizing leverage ratios and visual appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single actuating lever is used for seat adjustment, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the pulling direction is opposite to the adjustment motion
Solution Approach 1:
The single actuating lever is segmented into two separate levers: a first lever for raising the seat and a second lever for returning the seat. Each lever is rotatable about its own swivel pin, allowing independent optimization of each lever's function while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional single-lever design by providing two levers that can be actuated in opposite directions. The first lever pulls in one direction to raise the seat, while the second lever pulls in the opposite direction to return the seat, making the operation intuitive and matching the direction of actuation with the direction of seat adjustment
2Shape
If the holder for the tension member is located on the first lever, then the leverage ratio for raising is optimized, but the visual appearance and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The holder for the tension member is relocated from the first lever to the second lever, utilizing a different spatial dimension in the lever assembly. This repositioning allows the holder to be formed on the side of the second lever facing away from the operator, improving both visual appearance and accessibility while maintaining optimal leverage ratios through the articulated connection between the two levers
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
This design enhances operational convenience by allowing the seat to be adjusted in the same direction as the unlocking lever, minimizing incorrect operation and providing balanced force requirements for both raising and returning motions, thus improving the overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
an unlocking lever having a first lever (14) that can be rotated about a first swivel pin (16) and a second lever (32) that can be rotated about a second swivel pin (26) and that the first and second levers (14, 32) are joined in an articulated manner by means of the second swivel pin (26)
Implementation Method 2
The unlocking lever can be actuated in two directions of actuation thanks to the two swivel pins or tilt axes and the two levers
Data Source
AI summary
An unlocking lever having a holder for a traction element of a seat adjuster of a vehicle seat. The unlocking lever has a first lever which can be rotated about a first rotational axis and a second lever which can be rotated about a second rotational axis. The first and the second levers are interconnected by means of the second rotational axis in an articulated manner, and the holder for the traction element is arranged between both rotational axis on the second lever.