Seat Back Slider Rail Layout Without Trunk-Space Protrusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle seat slide rails protrude beyond the back face, reducing trunk space and creating a stepped shape, which is aesthetically undesirable.

Innovation Solution

The slide rail is attached outside the framework to a side frame member, extending in the longitudinal direction and overlapping with it, allowing it to be embedded within the seat back without protruding, and a cover member is used to cover the corner formed by the back and side faces, maintaining the seat's appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the slide rail is added onto the back face of the seat back, then the slide rail can be provided to enable slider engagement, but the slide rail protrudes beyond the back face reducing trunk space and forming a stepped shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslider engagement capabilityVSAvoidtrunk space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The slide rail is nested within the framework structure by attaching it to the outer surface of the side frame member, allowing the rail to be contained within the overall seat back boundaries rather than protruding outward, thus preserving trunk space while maintaining slider engagement functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The slide rail is repositioned from a protruding configuration to an integrated configuration by attaching it to the side frame member in the front-rear direction overlap, effectively moving the rail into another spatial dimension relative to the back face surface, eliminating the stepped shape while preserving functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the slide rail is added onto the back face of the seat back, then the slide rail can be provided to enable slider engagement, but the slide rail protrudes beyond the back face forming a stepped shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslider engagement capabilityVSAvoidback face surface smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The slide rail is merged with the side frame member by attaching it to the outer surface, creating an integrated assembly where the rail and frame member function as a unified structure, eliminating the separate protruding element that would create a stepped shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8708405B2Vehicle seat with slider rail in back face of seat back

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A slider rail is provided in the back face of the seat back of a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat is formed of a framework having a plurality of frame members. The slide rail forms a guide path along which a slider is moved. The slide rail is attached outside the framework to a side portion (side frame member) of the seat back and extends in a longitudinal direction of the seat back, and overlaps with the side frame member in a front-rear direction of the vehicle seat.