Seat Extension Locking Mechanism for Flush Vehicle Cargo Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat extensions often require complex storage solutions that interfere with other components and do not fully extend due to mismatched floor surfaces, leaving gaps that are inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism for a seat extension that includes an engagement plate, bracket, housing, locking lever, spring, and pin shaft, allowing the seat extension to be quickly locked or unlocked for easy unfolding and storage without protruding from the seat backrest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the seat extension is stored in the conventional manner, then the seat extension can be kept compact, but it interferes with other components and cannot be stored quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The seat extension is nested within the recess of the housing when stored, allowing it to be kept compact without interfering with other components. The engagement plate with opening and locking lever mechanism enables the seat extension to be quickly inserted and secured within the housing recess, achieving fast storage without complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate components: engagement plate mounted on seat extension, housing with recess, locking lever with handle, pin shaft, and spring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling quick locking and unlocking operations
2Volume of moving object
If the backrest is folded forward to extend the luggage loading space, then the extension space is provided, but the floor surface does not match and the space cannot be fully extended
Solution Approach 1:
The seat extension acts as an intermediary component between the seat backrest and the luggage board. It fills the gap created by the mismatched floor surfaces, providing a continuous, level surface that allows the luggage loading space to be fully extended for use as a bedroom or resting space
3Ease of operation
If the seat extension is unfolded to eliminate the gap between seat backrest and luggage board, then user convenience is improved, but the locking mechanism must not protrude from the seat backrest
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever and engagement plate are nested within the housing recess when in the locked position. The housing is mounted on the bracket attached to the seat backrest, ensuring that no part of the locking mechanism protrudes from the seat backrest profile, maintaining a clean appearance while providing secure locking
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the locking mechanism protrude outward to engage the seat extension, the design inverts the approach by having the engagement plate with opening pass through the housing recess, with the locking lever operating internally. This inversion allows the locking mechanism to remain flush with the seat backrest surface
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
The mechanism eliminates gaps between the seat backrest and luggage board, provides a simple and cost-effective solution for seat extension storage, and enhances user comfort by ensuring a smooth transition from folded to unfolded states.
Implementation Method 1
a spring disposed between an outer surface of the recess and the pin shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A locking mechanism is arranged in a vehicle for detachably mounting a seat extension onto a seat backrest. The locking mechanism includes: an engagement plate mounted on the seat extension and having an opening in the engagement plate, a bracket mounted on the seat backrest, a housing mounted on the bracket and including a recess in the housing, a locking lever including a handle and a lever, the lever protruding from a bottom surface of the recess by passing through the opening in the engagement plate and the recess in the housing and having a pinhole disposed in an end portion of the lever, a pin shaft inserted into the pinhole in the end portion of the lever, and a spring disposed between an outer surface of the recess and the pin shaft.