Vehicle Seat Adjustment Layout for Obstruction-Free Positioning
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats lack sufficient height and longitudinal adjustment ranges, especially when obstructed by vehicle structures, limiting their ability to accommodate various occupant positions and comfort configurations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat system featuring a height-adjustment unit with a crossbeam, lift arms, and an arm mover, along with a longitudinal-adjustment unit using fixed and movable slides, allowing the seat to transition between normal and laid-back positions, and adjust longitudinally to overcome structural obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the seat height and longitudinal position are adjusted using conventional mechanisms, then the seat can be positioned for normal use, but the adjustment range is insufficient when obstructed by vehicle structures
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is divided into separate functional modules: a height-adjustment unit with crossbeam and lift arms for vertical positioning, and a longitudinal-adjustment unit with fixed and movable slides for forward/backward positioning. This segmentation allows each unit to operate independently within its specific range, achieving greater overall adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multi-dimensional adjustment capabilities by combining vertical height adjustment (height-adjustment unit) with longitudinal position adjustment (longitudinal-adjustment unit). This two-dimensional adjustment approach enables the seat to overcome vehicle structural obstructions by positioning itself in different spatial dimensions, significantly expanding the usable adjustment range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then manufacturing is easier, but the ability to accommodate various occupant positions and comfort configurations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The seat employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the seat to transition between multiple positions (normal-use position and laid-back position) with at least 18 degrees of inclination. The height-adjustment unit provides dynamic vertical positioning while the longitudinal-adjustment unit enables dynamic forward/backward movement, accommodating various occupant comfort configurations without requiring an overly complex fixed-structure approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment system is designed to perform multiple functions: height adjustment for vertical positioning, longitudinal adjustment for forward/backward positioning, and inclination adjustment for comfort configurations. This multi-functionality allows a single seat system to accommodate diverse occupant needs and vehicle spatial constraints, achieving high adaptability while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity through integrated design.
3Volume of moving object
If the seat is positioned forward to maximize cargo space, then cargo capacity increases, but the seat cannot achieve adequate height adjustment without interference from vehicle structures
Solution Approach 1:
When the seat is positioned forward to maximize cargo space, the height-adjustment unit with crossbeam and lift arms enables vertical positioning in a different dimension (height) that is not constrained by forward longitudinal position. This multi-dimensional adjustment capability allows the seat to achieve adequate height adjustment even when positioned forward, decoupling the height adjustment range from longitudinal position constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant support for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seat back arranged to extend away from the seat bottom. The occupant support further includes a vehicle-seat height-adjustment unit configured to vary a height of the vehicle seat relative to the vehicle and a vehicle-seat longitudinal-adjustment unit configured to vary a longitudinal position of the vehicle seat.