Vehicle Seat Back Frame Recessed Flange for Harness Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat back frames face challenges in efficiently routing electric wires without interference and facilitating easy assembly, particularly when integrating components like harnesses and cushions.

Innovation Solution

The back frame design includes a flange portion with a recessed area to route the harness close to the recessed portion, avoiding interference with the side frame and allowing easy assembly, with attachment points for additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the harness is routed close to the first side frame, then the routing space is utilized efficiently, but the harness may interfere with the first side frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting space utilizationVSAvoidharness interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion extracts the harness routing space from the flange portion, creating a dedicated cavity that separates the harness from the first side frame. This allows the harness to be routed close to the side frame for efficient space utilization while preventing interference through the recessed geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The recessed portion acts as an intermediary structure between the harness and the first side frame. It provides a mediating space that allows the harness to pass through or be routed near the side frame without direct contact or interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the flange portion is designed with a recessed portion for harness routing, then the harness assembly becomes easier, but the flange portion structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharness assembly easeVSAvoidflange portion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion is pre-formed as an integral part of the flange portion structure. This preliminary action of creating the recessed space during flange manufacturing eliminates the need for separate harness routing fixtures or complex assembly jigs, thereby simplifying the overall assembly process despite the increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If the attachment portion is positioned to overlap the former distal end line, then the joint strength is enhanced, but the available space for harness routing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidharness routing space

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment portion is positioned in the seat width direction (lateral dimension) to overlap the former distal end line, while the recessed portion provides harness routing space in the vertical dimension. This dimensional separation allows both the attachment portion to achieve optimal joint strength and the recessed portion to provide adequate harness routing space without mutual interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250388147A1Back frame

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

To provide a back frame of a vehicle seat. The back frame of the present disclosure includes a first side frame, a second side frame, an upper frame, a lower frame, a flange portion with a wall shape, extending toward the second side frame, the flange portion having a recessed portion recessed in a direction opposite to an extending direction from a distal end in the extending direction on a second side frame side, and a harness.