Vehicle Seat Backrest Mechanical Coupling for Crash Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle seat designs fail to adequately protect occupants when the backrest is in a reclined position during crashes, leading to risks of spinal compression and submarining, especially in autonomous driving scenarios where occupants may be in unfavorable positions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat with a mechanical coupling device that automatically pivots the backrest forward and then the seat member upwards during a crash, utilizing high acceleration forces to reposition the occupant for enhanced safety, featuring a belt connection and deformation member to trigger the coupling mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the backrest is swiveled far backwards into a resting or reclining position, then occupant comfort is improved, but occupant safety deteriorates due to spinal compression risk and submarining

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant comfortVSAvoidspinal compression risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical coupling device is pre-configured with a triggering mechanism that detects crash conditions and automatically activates the backrest pivoting action. The deformation member is pre-positioned to engage with the locking cam disc, creating a ready-to-activate safety system that immediately responds to crash forces without requiring occupant intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the harmful crash forces and high accelerations as the triggering mechanism for the safety system. The deformation member is designed to yield under crash loads, which activates the locking cam disc release and initiates the beneficial backrest pivoting action that protects the occupant's spine and prevents submarining.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a mechanical coupling device is added to enable automatic backrest pivoting, then occupant safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant safetyVSAvoidmechanical coupling device

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical coupling device is designed to activate automatically using the crash forces themselves. The deformation member yields under crash loads, which self-triggers the locking cam disc release and initiates the backrest pivoting sequence without requiring external sensors, controllers, or power sources. The system serves itself using the harmful crash energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex electronic crash detection and control systems with a purely mechanical triggering mechanism. The deformation member and locking cam disc create a mechanical threshold-based activation system that is simpler, more reliable, and less prone to failure compared to electronic alternatives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the backrest is coupled to the seat member adjustment assembly during normal operation, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidseat adjustment freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical coupling device incorporates a preliminary anti-action through the deformation member design. During normal operation, the deformation member maintains a locked state that prevents unintended coupling activation. The locking cam disc is positioned to engage with the deformation member, creating a pre-established barrier against accidental activation while allowing intentional adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system is pre-configured with a triggering threshold that must be exceeded before coupling activation occurs. The deformation member is designed with specific yield characteristics that distinguish normal operational forces from crash forces, ensuring that the coupling remains disengaged during normal use but activates automatically when crash conditions are detected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10926675B2Vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO KG COBURG

AI summary

A vehicle seat comprising a seat member and a backrest, wherein a belt connection is attached to or integrated into the upper end of the backrest, a mechanical coupling device is provided for coupling the backrest to the assembly for adjustment of the inclination of the seat member in the event of a collision. A triggering threshold is defined wherein the backrest is decoupled from the assembly under normal operating conditions, and wherein in a collision, when the triggering threshold is exceeded, the backrest pivots forwards and is finally coupled via the mechanical coupling device to the assembly, so that further pivoting of the backrest forwards triggers the assembly and causes the front region of the seat member facing away from the backrest to pivot upwards about a transverse axis.