Vehicle Seat Coupling Protection Member for Cushion Contact Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicle seat design allows loads applied to the cushion material to transfer to the coupling device, potentially causing breakage or disengagement, as the coupling device is in close proximity to the cushion material when it is elastically deformed.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device protection member is attached to the frame member, featuring a protection portion that covers the coupling device from multiple sides and an attaching portion for secure attachment, preventing contact between the cushion material and the coupling device, and is formed from a foamed resin molding with higher compression strength and slidability to reduce friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the coupling device is positioned in proximity to the cushion material to enable coupling, then the coupling device can be securely attached to the frame member, but the cushion material contacts the coupling device when elastically deformed, causing breakage or disengagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling device attachment reliabilityVSAvoidcushion material contact with coupling device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protection member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cushion material and the coupling device. This protection member includes a protection portion that covers the coupling device and prevents direct contact with the cushion material, while allowing the coupling device to remain attached to the frame member. The protection member effectively mediates the harmful interaction by providing a physical barrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection member is divided into distinct functional portions: a protection portion that covers the coupling device and prevents contact with cushion material, and an attaching portion that secures the protection member to the frame member. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function independently while working together as a unified protective system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protection member is added to cover the coupling device, then contact between cushion material and coupling device is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact preventionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection member combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: it provides contact protection for the coupling device, attaches to the frame member for secure mounting, and can be designed to cover multiple coupling devices simultaneously. This merging reduces the need for multiple separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection member is designed with universal applicability to protect multiple coupling devices attached to the frame member. The protection portion can cover plural coupling devices, and the attaching portion can be secured at multiple positions, making the component versatile for different coupling device configurations and reducing the total number of protection members needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2462843B1Protective members for protecting connection means
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 SEKISUI PLASTICS CO LTD
  • EP2462843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2462843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2462843B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object is to provide a coupling device protection member that can prevent contact between a cushion material and a coupling device to protect the coupling device. A coupling device protection member is used in a vehicle seat that includes a cushion material that is elastically deformed by loads, a frame member that is stacked to the cushion material to reinforce the cushion material, and a surface cover that covers at least the cushion material, the surface cover being coupled to the frame member via a coupling device, in which the coupling device protection member is attached to the frame material so as to protect the coupling device coupled to the frame member.