Vehicle Seat Adjuster Coupling via Sandwich Holding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs face challenges in properly coupling seat adjusters, which serve as angle adjustment mechanisms, to seat frames, especially when made of different materials that are difficult to weld directly, leading to complicated or insufficient coupling.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a through-hole in the seat frame that exposes the outer surface of the seat adjuster, allowing a holding member to sandwich the seat frame between the adjuster and itself, enabling coupling without direct welding, using protrusions and lid plates for secure assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If direct welding is used to couple the seat adjuster and seat frame, then joining strength is improved, but it becomes difficult to couple components made of different materials and causes heat input issues
Solution Approach 1:
A holding member is introduced as an intermediary component between the seat adjuster and seat frame. The holding member couples to the outer surface portion of the seat adjuster through the through-hole, while the seat frame is sandwiched between the seat adjuster and holding member. This mediator enables coupling of dissimilar materials (e.g., iron and aluminum) without direct welding between them, resolving the material compatibility issue while maintaining joining strength.
2Strength
If direct welding is used to couple the seat adjuster and seat frame, then joining strength is improved, but heat input issues and assembly defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal welding process with a mechanical coupling system. The holding member mechanically couples the seat adjuster to the seat frame through the through-hole, sandwiching the seat frame between the adjuster and holding member. This mechanical substitution eliminates heat input issues and associated assembly defects while maintaining high joining strength through the mechanical sandwich structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-welding coupling methods are used for dissimilar materials, then material compatibility is improved, but coupling becomes complicated or insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into three distinct components: the seat adjuster, the holding member, and the seat frame. The holding member is further segmented with a through-hole that receives the outer surface portion of the seat adjuster. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific material properties while maintaining strong coupling through the distributed mechanical interface of the sandwich structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a direct face-to-face interface to a three-dimensional sandwich structure. The holding member extends through the thickness direction of the seat frame, creating a multi-layered coupling arrangement. This dimensional change distributes the coupling force across multiple interfaces (seat adjuster to holding member, holding member to seat frame), providing sufficient coupling strength for dissimilar materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat including: a seat adjuster serving as an angle adjustment mechanism of a seat component; a seat frame integrally coupled to the seat adjuster and having a through-hole through which an outer surface portion of the seat adjuster is exposed; and a holding member which holds the seat adjuster in a state of being coupled to the seat frame by being coupled with the outer surface portion of the seat adjuster exposed through the through-hole and protruding outward than the through-hole in a hole diameter direction of the through-hole such that the seat frame is sandwiched between the seat adjuster and the holding member.