Vehicle Seat Easy-Entry Lever and Sled Release Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat systems lack an efficient mechanism to easily pivot the seat back to a fold-forward position, limiting access to the rear seating area.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly with an easy-entry recliner system that includes a support member, a lever pivotally attached to the support member, and a sled connected to the lever, which, when actuated by a strap, disengages the easy-entry recliner, allowing the seat back to pivot relative to the seat bottom, facilitating access by releasing the locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional locking mechanism is used to secure the seat back to the seat bottom, then the seat structure remains stable and secure, but the effort and complexity required to pivot the seat back to a fold-forward position increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a sled that moves linearly, a lever that rotates, and a tension member that transmits force. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing the overall complexity of the system. The sled handles linear motion from strap actuation, the lever converts this to rotational motion for disengagement, and the tension member transmits force between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism employs dynamic motion conversion where the sled's linear movement is transformed into the lever's rotational movement, which then actuates the easy-entry recliner. This dynamic transformation allows a simple linear pull on the strap to generate the complex rotational disengagement action needed to pivot the seat back, improving ease of operation without adding mechanical complexity.
2Force
If a mechanical advantage lever is used to reduce the effort required to disengage the easy-entry recliner, then the force required to pivot the seat back decreases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is merged with the sled and tension member into a unified release system. The sled, lever, and tension member work together as an integrated assembly where the lever's mechanical advantage function is combined with the sled's linear motion and the tension member's force transmission. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate mechanical advantage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever acts as an intermediary element between the sled's linear motion and the easy-entry recliner's disengagement. It converts the linear force from the sled into rotational motion that effectively disengages the recliner with reduced effort. This intermediary function provides mechanical advantage while maintaining simplicity through the use of a single pivotal lever component.
3Ease of operation
If the seat back is designed to pivot freely relative to the seat bottom, then access to the rear seating area is improved, but the seat structure loses stability and security during normal use
Solution Approach 1:
The easy-entry recliner is pre-configured in a locked position that secures the seat back to the seat bottom during normal use. The release mechanism is pre-positioned with the sled, lever, and tension member ready to disengage the recliner when the strap is pulled. This preliminary locking action ensures structural stability while maintaining the capability for easy pivoting when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat structure exhibits different stability characteristics in different states: when the easy-entry recliner is engaged, the seat back is firmly secured to the seat bottom providing high stability for normal use; when disengaged through the release mechanism, the seat back can pivot freely to provide access. This local quality variation in stability is achieved through the targeted action of the sled-lever-tension member release system on the easy-entry recliner.
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 easy and efficient pivoting of the seat back to a fold-forward position, enhancing access to the rear seating area with reduced mechanical effort through the use of a mechanical advantage lever and tension member.
Implementation Method 1
A lever of the release system is pivotally attached to the support member. A sled is in contact with the support member and is moveable relative to the support member between a first position and a second position. The sled is connected to the lever such that the lever rotates in response to the sled moving between the first and second positions.
Data Source
AI summary
An easy-entry release system is utilized to actuate an easy-entry recliner of a vehicle seat assembly configured to fold a seat back relative to a seat bottom. The easy-entry release system includes a support member connectable to a seat back, a lever pivotally attached to the support member, and a sled in contact with the support member and moveable relative to the support member between a first position and a second position along a linear path. The sled is connected to the lever such that the lever rotates relative to the support member in response to the sled moving between the first and second positions. A strap is connected to the sled such that actuation of the strap moves the sled between the first and second positions.