Vehicle Seat Cam Assembly for Boarding and Fold-Flat Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats in SUVs face challenges in efficiently transitioning between use, boarding, and fold-flat positions, particularly in maintaining the angle between the backrest and cushion without readjustment and accommodating child seats during position changes.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a base, seat cushion, backrest, cam follower, and cam that allows the seat cushion to pivot and tilt, utilizing a torsion spring to bias the cam for rapid position changes, maintaining the angle between the backrest and cushion, and enabling movement to boarding and fold-flat positions without altering the backrest's angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat cushion is moved to a boarding position to provide access to second or third rows, then the ease of operation is improved, but the time required for position transition increases and the complexity of the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed to rotate through specific angular positions (0° for use position, 90° for boarding position, 180° for fold-flat position) to periodically transition the seat cushion between different positions. This periodic rotation enables rapid, discrete position changes rather than continuous adjustment, reducing transition time while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat cushion is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing it to tilt forward and rotate during position transitions. The cam follower mechanism enables the cushion to dynamically change its orientation and position, facilitating quick transitions between use, boarding, and fold-flat positions without requiring complex manual manipulation.
2Volume of moving object
If the seat cushion is moved to a fold-flat position to provide storage space, then the volume of storage space is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism integrates multiple functions into a single rotational motion: it simultaneously controls the tilting of the front portion of the seat cushion toward the base and the tilting of the rear portion away from the base. This merging of functions into one mechanism reduces overall device complexity while achieving the fold-flat position that maximizes storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam component utilizes curved surfaces and rotational geometry to transform rotational motion into the complex tilting and folding movements of the seat cushion. The curved cam profile enables smooth, continuous motion transformation, achieving the fold-flat configuration with a simple rotational input rather than multiple actuators.
3Speed
If the cam mechanism is used to rapidly transition the seat cushion between positions, then the speed of position change is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed with segmented functional zones on the cam profile, each corresponding to a specific position transition (use to boarding, boarding to fold-flat, etc.). By dividing the cam rotation into discrete angular segments, the manufacturing precision can be optimized for each segment independently, allowing rapid transitions while managing overall precision requirements through modular design.
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
Enables fast and efficient transition between seat positions, maintaining the angle between the backrest and cushion, and allowing the seat to move to non-use positions without readjusting the backrest, accommodating child seats without removal.
Implementation Method 1
The cam may be configured to engage the cam follower and may be configured to rotate between a first position, in which the seat cushion is in a use position, and a second position, in which the seat cushion is in a non-use position. As the cam rotates between the first position and the second position, a front portion of the seat cushion may tilt towards the base and a rear portion of the seat cushion may be tilted away from the base.
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a torsion spring to bias the cam for rapid position changes
Implementation Method 3
The seat cushion may be pivotally coupled to the base and the backrest may be pivotally coupled to the seat cushion
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly including a base, a seat cushion, a backrest, a cam follower, and a cam. The seat cushion pivotally coupled to the base and the backrest pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The cam follower coupled to the seat cushion and the cam rotationally coupled to the base and configured to engage the cam follower. The cam configured to engage the cam follower and configured to rotate between a first position, in which the seat cushion is in a use position, and a second position, in which the seat cushion is in a non-use position. As the cam rotates between the first position and the second position, a front portion of the seat cushion may tilt towards the base and a rear portion of the seat cushion may be tilted away from the base.