Vehicle Seat Back Lock Visual Indicator Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing seat back lock in vehicles complicates the structure by directly connecting the travel of the knob between positions to the release lever's unlatching, making it impossible to determine the movement of the knob between positions, thereby complicating the recognition of the engagement status between the locking lever and the striker.
Innovation Solution
The design introduces a mechanism where the knob has distinct positions with an indicator that changes visibility based on the engagement status of the locking mechanism, allowing the passenger to visually confirm the position of the knob and determine the engagement of the locking lever with the striker, using a bell crank and connecting members to decouple the knob's travel from the release lever's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the knob's travel is directly connected to the release lever's unlatching, then the locking mechanism can be operated, but the structure becomes complicated and the knob position becomes indistinguishable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the knob's movement into distinct positions (first position when locking lever is engaged, second position when disengaged) and separates the visual indicator function from the mechanical operation. The indicator is positioned to be exposed only at specific knob positions, allowing the knob structure to be divided into operational components and visual indication components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an indicator as an intermediary element between the knob and the locking lever engagement status. This indicator visually mediates the relationship between the knob position and the locking state, allowing passengers to understand the locking status without direct mechanical connection between the indicator and the locking mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the knob travel distance equals the release lever unlatching distance, then mechanical connection is simple, but the passenger cannot determine the knob's movement position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual changes (exposure or concealment of an indicator) to convey positional information about the knob. The indicator's visibility state changes based on the knob's position, providing clear visual feedback to passengers about whether the locking lever is engaged or disengaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements visual feedback through the indicator that responds to the knob's position and the locking lever's engagement status. This feedback mechanism allows passengers to immediately understand the current state of the locking mechanism without needing to feel or measure the knob's position mechanically.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat back lock is included in a seat back of a vehicle. A knob is provided at the top of the seat back. A passenger in the vehicle pushes down the knob to cause the seat back to move from a standing position to a folding position on a seat. In the standing position, a striker extending from the body of the vehicle engages with a hook of the seat back lock. The seat back lock comprises a binding lever and a warning lever connected to the knob. Whenever the strike engages with the hook, the binding lever directly contacts the striker. If the striker incompletely engages with or disengages from the hook, the knob is pulled down by the warning lever to expose an indicator to permit the passenger to visually recognize it.