Seat Bracket Cover Plates for Trunk Gap Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seat designs in vehicles, particularly rear-row seats, create ineffective areas when sliding forward, occupying trunk space and compromising user experience due to gaps between the seat backrest and trunk trim panel.
Innovation Solution
A seat adjustment apparatus with a bracket structure, cover plates, and an elastic hinge mechanism that synchronizes the movement of the seat and cover plates to minimize these gaps, ensuring seamless integration and reducing storage space occupation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the seat slides forward to the frontmost position, then the seat adjustment range is improved, but an ineffective area is formed between the seat and trunk trim panel, occupying trunk storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cover plate as an intermediary component that fills the gap between the seat and the trunk trim panel. The cover plate is connected to the seat bracket structure and extends to cover the ineffective area, preventing it from occupying trunk storage space while allowing the seat to slide to the frontmost position.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat bracket structure is segmented into multiple components including a main bracket, an extended bracket, and a cover plate. This segmentation allows the extended bracket to specifically address the gap issue by extending toward the trunk trim panel, while the cover plate separately covers the ineffective area, enabling the seat to achieve full sliding range without compromising trunk storage space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seat backrest rotates to different positions, then the seat adaptability is improved, but gaps are formed between the trunk trim panel and seat backrest, allowing foreign objects to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate serves as an intermediary barrier between the trunk trim panel and the seat backrest. It is positioned to cover the gaps that form during backrest rotation, preventing foreign objects from entering while allowing the backrest to rotate to different positions for improved adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover plate is dynamically connected to the rotating bracket structure, allowing it to move and adjust its position as the backrest rotates. This dynamic configuration ensures the cover plate continuously covers the gap between the trunk trim panel and seat backrest throughout the rotation range, maintaining protection against foreign object intrusion while preserving full adaptability.
3Shape
If a cover structure is added to shield gaps, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover plate is merged with the existing seat bracket structure through the extended bracket connection. By integrating the cover function into the structural components rather than adding a completely separate system, the patent improves aesthetic appearance while minimizing the increase in device complexity. The cover plate becomes part of the overall bracket assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended bracket and cover plate serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the seat adjustment mechanism, shield the gaps for aesthetic improvement, and prevent foreign object intrusion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired aesthetic appearance.
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 shields gaps between the seat backrest and trunk trim panel, preventing foreign objects from entering, enhancing aesthetic appeal and improving user experience by maximizing trunk space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic hinge includes a rotating shaft and two leaves disposed around the rotating shaft
Data Source
Figure 1~3(C)
Figure 4(A)~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A seat adjustment apparatus (500) is provided. The seat adjustment apparatus includes a bracket structure (510), a first cover plate (521), and a second cover plate (522). A first end (a1) of the bracket structure (510) is fastened to a seat pan framework of a seat, and a second end of the bracket structure is connected to a first end (b1) of the first cover plate and a first end (c1) of the second cover plate, and is configured to implement relative rotation between the first cover plate and the second cover plate. A second end of the first cover plate presses against a trunk trim panel, and a second end of the second cover plate presses against a backrest of the seat. A seat structure including the seat adjustment apparatus and a mobile device including the seat structure are further provided.