Vehicle Seat Back Linkage for Cornering Support and Rearward Yield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seats face challenges in simultaneously supporting occupants during cornering and reducing neck impact in rear-end collisions, requiring space-consuming mechanisms that limit design freedom and increase size, with difficulty in precise regulation of link member rotation and smooth operation of movable parts.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design featuring a linkage system with a rotation resistive member that allows the pressure-receiving member to move forward during cornering and backward during collisions, utilizing a connecting wire and urging member for smooth operation and precise rotation control, and a compact driving mechanism with a gearbox and motor to reduce size and enhance precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate mechanisms are provided for changing seat back orientation and allowing rearward movement of pressure-receiving member, then both cornering support and rear-end collision protection functions are achieved, but the space required within the seat back increases and design freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate mechanisms (seat back orientation change mechanism and pressure-receiving member rearward movement mechanism) into a single integrated mechanism. The link member serves dual purposes: it changes the orientation of the pressure-receiving member during cornering and allows rearward movement during rear-end collisions. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, reducing space requirements within the seat back while maintaining both safety functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The link member is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple functions: it acts as both the actuator for changing seat back orientation and the mechanism for allowing pressure-receiving member rearward movement. By making the link member universal, the patent reduces the overall number of components and space required, thereby improving design freedom while ensuring both cornering support and collision protection functions are achieved.
2Ease of operation
If the amount of rotation of the link member is regulated by controlling actuation and stoppage of the driving source, then the function is achieved, but precise regulation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional control method (controlling actuation and stoppage of driving source) with a mechanical stop mechanism. The stop member physically limits the rotation of the link member to a predetermined angle, providing precise regulation without relying on complex control systems. This mechanical substitution achieves both ease of operation and precise rotation control.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop mechanism operates automatically based on the mechanical interaction between the stop member and the link member. When the link member rotates to the predetermined angle, the stop member automatically engages to prevent further rotation, providing self-regulating precision control without requiring external monitoring or control systems.
3Volume of stationary object
If various parts such as link member and driving source are arranged in limited space while suppressing increase in size, then compact structure is achieved, but smooth operation of movable parts becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the driving mechanism into distinct functional segments: the driving source, the link member, and the stop mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a compact overall structure. The link member is designed as a separate rotatable component that can move smoothly within the limited space, avoiding interference with other parts.
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 the degree of freedom in seat design by eliminating the need for separate mechanisms, ensuring effective support during cornering and impact reduction, while maintaining a compact structure and reducing noise and abrasion through optimized link and contact member configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a connecting wire connecting the pressure-receiving member and the link member
Implementation Method 2
an urging member configured to apply an urging force to the link member in a direction to rotate the link member frontward
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle seat which can improve degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle seat. A vehicle seat with a seat cushion and a seat back includes: right and left side frames 20 constituting right and left frames of the seat back; a pressure-receiving member 40 disposed between the right and left side frames 20 and configured to receive a load from an occupant; and a driving mechanism 50 disposed at each of right and left sides of the pressure-receiving member 40 and configured to cause a right end portion or a left end portion of the pressure-receiving member 40 to move from an initial position to an advanced position that is located frontward of the initial position or to move from the advanced position to the initial position, wherein the driving mechanism 50 includes a linkage (drive link member 100 and contact link member 200) configured to be connected to the pressure-receiving member 40 and a driving source 52 configured to actuate the linkage, and wherein the linkage is configured to operate when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is input from the occupant to the pressure-receiving member 40 to cause the pressure-receiving member 40 to move to a backward position that is located rearward of the initial position.