Vehicle Seat Backrest Blocking Device for Crash Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat backrest adjustment systems are inefficient in providing crash safety and convenience, as they often require separate actuation of locking mechanisms and are costly due to the need for oversized fitting arrangements to secure the backrest in crash situations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat design featuring a blocking device that is coupled with a fitting arrangement at one backrest longitudinal side, allowing actuation of the blocking device upon adjustment beyond the comfort range, ensuring independent mechanical locking of the backrest to the seat subframe during crashes, while allowing easy adjustment and folding without additional user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fitting arrangements are provided at both backrest longitudinal sides to secure the backrest in crash situations, then crash safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrash safetyVSAvoidnumber of fitting arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the backrest support function into two distinct components: fitting arrangements for comfort range adjustment and a blocking device for crash situation security. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the blocking device providing dedicated crash protection without requiring duplicate fitting arrangements at both longitudinal sides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device acts as an intermediary safety mechanism that engages independently of the fitting arrangements during crash situations. It provides an additional layer of security through a separate locking mechanism that activates when needed, without interfering with the normal operation of the fitting arrangements during comfortable range adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If oversized fitting arrangements are used to secure the backrest in crash situations, then crash safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrash safetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates crash safety functionality from the primary fitting arrangements by introducing a dedicated blocking device. This allows the fitting arrangements to be designed for their intended comfort adjustment purpose without needing to be oversized for crash protection, while the blocking device provides specialized crash safety at lower cost through simpler mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device uses simpler, more cost-effective mechanical components compared to oversized fitting arrangements. It employs basic locking elements and blocking members that can be manufactured at lower cost while providing adequate crash protection for the specific function they serve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate actuation is required for blocking device and fitting arrangement, then independent control is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent controlVSAvoidactuation steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The actuation mechanisms of the blocking device and fitting arrangement are merged into a single integrated operation. When the fitting arrangement is actuated to adjust the backrest beyond the comfort range, the blocking device is simultaneously actuated through mechanical coupling, eliminating the need for separate user actions while maintaining independent functional control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device automatically actuates itself through the mechanical coupling with the fitting arrangement during backrest adjustment. The system performs the blocking function without requiring additional user input, as the actuation of the fitting arrangement automatically triggers the corresponding blocking device operation through the integrated mechanical linkage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11173814B2Vehicle seat comprising fitting arrangement and locking device

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

A vehicle seat, including a seat underframe and a backrest mounted pivotably with respect to the seat underframe about a backrest pivot axis, the inclination of which backrest may be adjusted in a comfort range by pivoting about the backrest pivot axis by a fitting arrangement. The fitting arrangement is provided on a first of two longitudinal backrest sides of the backrest and a locking device is provided remote from the first longitudinal backrest side, which locking device is provided to lock the backrest so as to prevent pivoting about the backrest pivot axis beyond the comfort region in the event of a crash and which is coupled to the fitting arrangement to actuate the locking device when the backrest is actuated beyond the comfort region and to release a locking provided by the locking device by actuating the fitting arrangement.