Vehicle Seat Back Panel Curled Edge for Rigidity Without Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing back panels with a substantially L-shaped outer edge often require a resin cover to cover the flange, which can be cumbersome and may compromise the rigidity of the panel.
Innovation Solution
A back panel design featuring a panel body with a curled portion at its outer edge, curved in an arc shape, and a connecting portion curved in the front-rear direction, enhancing rigidity and eliminating the need for a cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a flange is provided at the outer edge of the back panel to improve rigidity, then the rigidity of the panel body is improved, but a sharp portion is created at the outer edge requiring a cover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming the flange in an arc shape along the outer edge of the panel body, and the connecting portion is also curved in the front-rear direction. This curvature eliminates sharp corners while maintaining structural integrity and rigidity, resolving the contradiction between strength improvement and sharp edge creation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a resin cover is added to cover the flange and eliminate sharp edges, then safety is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate resin cover component by integrating the edge protection function directly into the flange structure itself. The curved flange design inherently provides both structural support and edge protection, removing the need for an additional cover component and simplifying the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural support function of the flange with the edge protection function that previously required a separate cover. The curved flange structure simultaneously provides rigidity enhancement and sharp edge elimination, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.
3Strength
If the flange is made prominent to improve rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but the panel requires additional covering components
Solution Approach 1:
The curved geometry of the flange allows it to maintain prominent structural presence for rigidity while the smooth arc transitions eliminate the need for additional covering components, simplifying assembly operations.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present disclosure provides a back panel that (i) includes a substantially plate shaped panel body and a curled portion and (ii) is configured to be part of a back frame of a vehicle seat. The curled portion is (i) provided at at least a portion of an outer edge of the panel body and (ii) curved in an arc shape.