Vehicle Seat Backrest Mounting With Keyhole Bearing Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening devices for vehicle seat backrests with independently pivotable elements require complex and time-consuming assembly processes, involving multiple screws and components, which complicates the tool-free assembly and ensures crash safety.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device utilizing a plug-in solution between backrest elements and body-side bearing axles, employing a keyhole-like passage mechanism for tool-free assembly, eliminating the need for additional screwing processes and reducing assembly time, with bearing axes designed to pivot securely about a central axis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional plug-in and clip connections combined with screw connections are used for mounting bearing axes to body-side counterbearings, then crash safety and secure mounting are achieved, but assembly time increases and component complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash safetyVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the plug-in connection and screw connection into a single integrated mounting operation. The bearing axis is inserted into the counterbearing in one motion, and the integrated screw connection automatically secures it without requiring separate assembly steps, thus reducing assembly time while maintaining crash safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw connection is pre-integrated into the bearing axis structure, so that the securing action is already prepared and built-in. When the bearing axis is inserted, the screw connection automatically engages and secures the mounting position, eliminating the need for separate screwing operations and reducing assembly time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional plug-in and clip connections combined with screw connections are used for mounting bearing axes, then secure mounting and alignment are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidcomponent complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple mounting components (plug-in connection, clip connection, and screw connection) into a single integrated bearing axis structure. This reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly while maintaining the security and reliability of the mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If multiple screws and components are used for fastening backrest elements, then crash safety is ensured, but assembly process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash safetyVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fastening function into modular bearing axes with integrated connections, allowing each backrest element to be mounted independently and quickly without requiring multiple separate fastening operations, thus improving assembly speed while maintaining safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The screw connections are pre-integrated into the bearing axes during manufacturing, so that during assembly, only a single insertion motion is required to activate the complete fastening mechanism, significantly improving assembly speed without compromising crash safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4234327B1Fastening device for a backrest of a vehicle seat with at least two independently pivotable backrest elements and method for mounting a backrest element by means of a fastening device
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 MAGNA SEATING (GERMANY) GMBH
  • EP4234327B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4234327B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4234327B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a fastening device for a backrest element (1) of a backrest of a seat arrangement in a motor vehicle, wherein the backrest comprises two backrest elements (1) arranged independently of one another about a pivot axis (4) extending transversely to the direction of travel, wherein each backrest element (1) comprises an outer bearing point (70) and a central bearing point (90) to form the pivot axis (4), wherein the outer bearing point (70) comprises a bearing axis (71) and a counter bearing element (80), wherein the bearing axis (71) can be mounted in the counter bearing element (80) in a pre-assembly position and in a final assembly position, wherein the central bearing point (90) comprises a bearing axis (91) and a counter bearing element (100), wherein the bearing axis (91) can be mounted in the counter bearing element (100) in a pre-assembly position and in a final assembly position.wherein the counter bearing element (100) comprises a housing section for supporting and receiving two adjacent bearing axes (91), and for this purpose comprises two wall sections (103) each with a bearing recess (104) cylindrical to the bearing sections (83), as well as each with a rectangular slot area (105) for receiving the guide section (96) in the pre-assembly position, and a cover (110) with a cover element (111) and a clip (112) which can be inserted into the housing section for axial displacement of the bearing axis (91) from the pre-assembly position to the final assembly position. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for mounting a backrest using the fastening device.