Vehicle Seat Blocking Mechanism for Crash-Induced Seat Lowering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats with displaceable seat members are prone to uncontrolled lowering during crashes, increasing the risk of submarining, where passengers sink below the seatbelt, leading to serious injuries, due to complex and bulky crash-related blocking mechanisms that are not effective under normal operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a displacement mechanism featuring a slotted guiding member system and a blocking device that includes a displaceable blocking element, which moves under acceleration forces during a crash to block the guiding element's movement, preventing the seat member from lowering by shifting into a blocking position, thereby securing the seat member against uncontrolled displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a displaceable seat member is provided to enable lowering when the backrest is tilted forward, then the seat member can be lowered to achieve a compact loading position, but the seat member may be lowered in an uncontrolled manner during a crash, increasing the risk of submarining
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element is designed to be displaceable relative to the base under acceleration forces during a crash, allowing the system to dynamically transition from a state permitting seat member displacement to a state blocking such displacement. The blocking element moves from an initial position to a blocking position in response to crash acceleration, thereby adapting the system's behavior based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking device is pre-configured with a blocking element that can prevent uncontrolled lowering of the seat member during a crash. The slotted guiding member is designed with a third portion that will block the guiding element's movement path under crash conditions, providing preliminary protection against submarining before the crash fully unfolds.
2Reliability
If a blocking device with a displaceable blocking element is provided to prevent uncontrolled lowering during a crash, then crash safety is improved, but the device becomes more complex and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking device is integrated into the existing displacement mechanism of the seat member. The blocking element is incorporated into the same structural framework that guides the seat member's displacement, merging the crash protection function with the normal operation mechanism rather than adding a completely separate system.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guiding member serves multiple functions: it guides the guiding element during normal seat member displacement, permits controlled lowering when the backrest is tilted forward, and provides crash protection by blocking uncontrolled lowering through its third portion. The blocking element similarly serves both as a structural component and as the active crash protection element.
3Reliability
If a blocking element displaceable relative to the base is provided to block guiding element movement under acceleration forces, then uncontrolled displacement is prevented, but the mechanism requires additional components and structural elements
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element is integrated into the existing structural framework of the displacement mechanism. Rather than adding completely separate blocking components, the invention utilizes and modifies existing structural elements to serve dual purposes: normal operation guidance and crash condition blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The slotted guiding member is designed with multiple functional portions (first portion, second portion, and third portion) that serve different purposes under different operational conditions. The same component permits controlled displacement during normal operation while providing blocking functionality during crashes, reducing the need for additional separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents uncontrolled lowering of the seat member during crashes while allowing controlled lowering when the backrest is tilted forward, enhancing safety by reducing the risk of submarining without adding excessive mechanical resistance under normal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The blocking element can be displaced with the slotted guiding member which is provided thereon under the action of acceleration forces which occur in the event of a crash relative to the base
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided a vehicle seat having a base and a displaceable seat member which when a backrest of the vehicle seat is tilted forward can be lowered at least with a front portion in the direction of the base, wherein there is provided a guiding element which when the front portion of the seat member is lowered can be displaced on a slotted guiding member for the guiding element from a first portion of the slotted guiding member to a second portion of the slotted guiding member. The slotted guiding member or the guiding element is provided on a blocking element of a blocking device of the vehicle seat. The blocking element with the slotted guiding member or with the guiding element can be displaced under the action of acceleration forces which occur in the event of a crash relative to the base.