Vehicle Seat Assembly Easy-Entry and Fold Flat Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat assemblies that adjust to an easy-entry position often lack a simple mechanism for folding the seat back flat against the seat cushion, and those that do provide this feature have overly complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a recliner mechanism that allows pivotal movement between upright, forwardly dumped, and fold flat positions, utilizing a release shaft, recliner release lever, easy-entry release lever, drive link, and sector to actuate the recliner mechanism between locked and unlocked conditions, enabling the seat back to be easily tilted forward and folded flat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional seat assemblies are adjusted to an easy-entry position, then access behind the seat assembly is facilitated, but the seat back cannot be folded flat against the seat cushion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic mechanism where the seat back can assume multiple positions (upright, forwardly dumped, and fold flat) through a single integrated recliner mechanism. The sector and catch pin system allows the seat back to transition between these positions dynamically, enabling both easy-entry access and flat folding for cargo capacity without requiring separate mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional seat assemblies provide both easy-entry position and fold flat feature, then cargo carrying capacity is increased, but the mechanism becomes overly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the easy-entry mechanism and the fold flat mechanism into a single integrated recliner assembly. The sector, catch pin, and drive link components serve dual functions: they enable both the forwardly dumped position for easy-entry and the fold flat position for cargo capacity. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The recliner mechanism is designed as a universal system that performs multiple functions through its components. The sector with its first and second legs, along with the catch pin, can selectively engage to provide either the forwardly dumped position or enable the fold flat position, depending on the desired configuration. This multi-functionality allows a single mechanism to address both easy-entry and cargo capacity requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the seat back is tilted forwardly to a dumped position, then easy-entry access is facilitated, but the mechanism requires multiple components to maintain position
Solution Approach 1:
The sector and catch pin system operates on a self-service principle where the mechanical geometry of the sector legs and catch pin automatically maintains the seat back in the forwardly dumped position. Once the seat back is tilted forward, the catch pin engages with the sector leg, and the system self-maintains this position through its mechanical configuration without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly includes a recliner mechanism operatively coupled between a seat back and seat cushion to allow pivotal movement of the seat back. An easy-entry mechanism includes an easy-entry release lever, a drive link and a sector. Actuating the easy-entry lever in a first direction causes the drive link to pivot into engagement with the sector and simultaneously pivots a recliner release lever to unlock the recliner mechanism. As the seat back pivots forwardly, the drive link moves with the seat back and causes the sector to pivot in a second direction until the sector is blocked and the seat back is in a forwardly dumped position. Alternatively, actuating the recliner release lever in the first direction unlocks the recliner mechanism and the drive link moves with the seat back and passes by the sector as the seat back pivots to a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion.