Vehicle Seat Cover Member for Hidden Child-Seat Attachment Access

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seats lack efficient mechanisms for securely attaching and easily accessing additional devices like child seats while maintaining aesthetic integrity and user convenience.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat component featuring a cover member with a movable cover member that rotates between a first position to cover and a second position to expose an attachment location, using a projection and aperture configuration to secure the cover member to a mounting structure, preventing detachment during use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a cover member is provided to cover the attachment location, then aesthetic integrity is improved, but accessibility to the attachment location deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic integrityVSAvoidaccessibility to attachment location

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is designed as a movable component that can rotate between a closed position (covering the attachment location for aesthetic purposes) and an open position (exposing the attachment location for access). This dynamic design allows the same component to fulfill both aesthetic and functional requirements at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover member is segmented into a movable cover portion and a mounting structure, allowing independent movement of the cover while maintaining attachment to the mounting structure. This segmentation enables the cover to be accessed and opened without removing the entire attachment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a secure attachment mechanism is used to prevent detachment, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of accidental detachmentVSAvoidease of attachment and removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism uses asymmetric projection and aperture features where the projection on the cover member fits into a corresponding aperture on the mounting structure. This asymmetric design provides secure attachment in the installed state while allowing easy attachment and removal when intentionally performed by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of operation

If a movable cover member is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of access to attachment locationVSAvoidcomplexity of cover member mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is designed as a movable component that can rotate between a closed position (covering the attachment location for aesthetic purposes) and an open position (exposing the attachment location for access). This dynamic design allows the same component to fulfill both aesthetic and functional requirements at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism uses asymmetric projection and aperture features where the projection on the cover member fits into a corresponding aperture on the mounting structure. This asymmetric design provides secure attachment in the installed state while allowing easy attachment and removal when intentionally performed by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12565130B2Vehicle seat component with cover member

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 LEAR CORP

AI summary

A vehicle seat component includes a mounting structure, and a cover member attachable to the mounting structure. When the cover member is attached to the mounting structure, the cover member is movable between a first position for at least partially covering an attachment location configured for attaching an additional device, and a second position for exposing the attachment location. The mounting structure and the cover member are configured so that the cover member is attachable to the mounting structure by moving the cover member relative to the mounting structure in a mounting direction when the cover member is in a mounting orientation relative to the mounting structure. When the cover member is attached to the mounting structure, the cover member is inhibited from detachment from the mounting structure when the cover member is in the first position or the second position.