Seat Back Tray With Scissor Lift and Pivoting Top Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat back tabletops are not adjustable to situate the table closer to adjacent users, lack vertical adjustability, and cannot accommodate different user heights or items on adjacent surfaces, relying solely on manual adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A seat back tray system with a pivoting top and non-pivoting top, using a guiding track and pin for horizontal adjustment, and a scissor lift mechanism controlled by an adjustment mechanism, such as an electric motor or hand crank, for vertical adjustability, allowing the tray to be positioned comfortably near the driver without stretching and accommodating various heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed seat back tray is used, then the structure is simple, but the tray cannot be adjusted to situate the tabletop closer to or farther from adjacent users
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is designed with dynamic adjustability through a scissor lift mechanism that enables vertical movement between retracted and extended positions, and a pivoting mechanism that allows horizontal adjustment toward or away from adjacent users. This transforms the fixed tray into a dynamically adjustable one, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by introducing controlled movement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray structure is segmented into multiple independent components: a scissor lift mechanism for vertical adjustment, a pivoting mechanism with guiding track and pin for horizontal adjustment, and separate tray top sections. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific adjustment function independently, achieving high adaptability while managing overall system complexity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed height tray is used, then the structure is simple, but the tray cannot accommodate different heights of adjacent users or adjust over items on adjacent surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A scissor lift mechanism is integrated into the tray structure, transforming it from a fixed-height to a dynamically height-adjustable tray. The scissor lift enables smooth vertical movement between retracted and extended positions, allowing the tray to accommodate different user heights and clear obstacles on adjacent surfaces, while the mechanism itself remains relatively compact and manageable in complexity.
3Ease of operation
If manual adjustment only is used, then the device is simple, but the adjustment process is labor-intensive and less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The tray adjustment system incorporates a self-service capability through an integrated motor that automatically performs the adjustment movements. When activated, the motor drives the scissor lift and pivoting mechanism to position the tray independently, eliminating the need for manual effort while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat has a seat bottom and a seat back, which pivots at a rear side of the seat bottom. Within the rearward-facing surface of the seat back, a seat back tray is housed. When in a front passenger seat that is folded forward, the seat back tray is easily assessable by a vehicle driver. To adjust the tray horizontally, a pivotable tray top pivots relative to and above a non-pivoting tray top. A track within the tray provides a guide for movement of the pivotable tray top. A scissor lift coupled to an adjustment mechanism including either a hand crank or electric motor, may raise and lower the tray from a retracted position to an extended position, and be fixed at any intermediary position. The tray may be equipped to be lifted to any intermediary position without a hand crank or electric motor in a low-cost, yet effective scissor mechanism.