Vehicle Seat Fitting With Dual Bracing for Collision Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat support systems in vehicles are complex and not universally adaptable, and may fail to secure properly during a head-on collision if not installed correctly, leading to potential movement along the track.
Innovation Solution
A seat support system with a robust main body and a dual-bracing mechanism, where the first bracing portion is fixed against rear-facing shoulders and the second bracing portion is pivotally locked against forward-facing shoulders, ensuring secure longitudinal and lateral fixation to the track, even when installed by an inexperienced operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single locking portion is used to secure the seat support to the track, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability fails in crash situations as the locking portion may slide forward and disengage
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two separate locking portions: a first locking portion that engages with rear-facing shoulders and a second locking portion that engages with forward-facing shoulders. This segmentation ensures that during a forward collision, the first locking portion prevents the seat support from sliding forward, maintaining reliability without requiring complex additional locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The first locking portion is pre-positioned to engage with the rear-facing shoulders before a collision occurs. This preliminary engagement ensures that when a forward collision happens, the locking mechanism is already in place and does not require additional activation or complex sensing systems to become effective.
2Reliability
If the seat support requires precise installation to ensure proper locking, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to installation difficulty for inexperienced operators
Solution Approach 1:
The track features asymmetric shoulder configurations with rear-facing shoulders at one end and forward-facing shoulders at the other end. The first locking portion is designed to engage specifically with rear-facing shoulders, while the second locking portion engages with forward-facing shoulders. This asymmetric design provides tactile and visual cues that guide proper installation, making it intuitive for operators and reducing installation errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is designed to self-align and self-lock during installation. As the seat support is placed onto the track, the first locking portion automatically engages with the rear-facing shoulders and the second locking portion engages with the forward-facing shoulders without requiring precise manual positioning or complex alignment procedures, enabling even inexperienced operators to install it correctly.
3Strength
If a robust dual-bracing mechanism is implemented to prevent movement during collision, then the strength increases, but the device complexity increases due to additional locking components
Solution Approach 1:
The first locking portion and second locking portion are integrated into a unified locking mechanism assembly that works together as a single system. The first locking portion engages rear-facing shoulders while the second locking portion engages forward-facing shoulders, creating a combined bracing effect that resists collision forces from both forward and rearward directions without requiring separate independent locking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual locking portion mechanism serves multiple functions: it prevents forward movement during head-on collisions, prevents rearward movement during rear-end collisions, and provides stable mounting during normal operation. This multi-functionality achieves comprehensive collision protection without requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each collision scenario, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A seat support for use with a vehicle seat and adapted to engage a track provided on the floor of a vehicle, the track comprising two inwardly-directed lips on opposed sides of a slot, the lips providing first alternating protrusions and recesses along the length of the track, the protrusions being spaced apart by a spacing distance, the first and second protrusions defining shoulder surfaces on each side thereof, the seat support having an elongate main body and comprising: an interface portion which has a profile comprising second alternating protrusions and recesses, the protrusions being spaced apart by the same spacing distance; and a first bracing member provided at or near a forward end of the main body, and a second bracing member provided at or near a rear end of the main body; wherein: the seat support is configured such that the second protrusions may be aligned with the first recesses so that the interface portion may be placed within the slot in an engagement position, the seat support being moveable with respect to the slot, from the engagement position into a bracing position in which the first and second protrusions are substantially aligned, preventing the interface portion from being removed from the slot; one of the first bracing member and the second bracing member is a fixed bracing member, being fixed substantially fixed in place with respect to the main body of the seat support, so that in both the engagement position and the bracing position the first bracing member is received in one of the recesses of the track; the other one of the first bracing member and the second bracing member is a moveable bracing member, being movable with respect to the main body of the seat support, between a retracted position, in which, when the interface portion is placed within the slot, the movable bracing member is above the level of the track, and a locking position, in which, when the interface portion is placed within the slot, the moveable bracing member extends into the slot; and when the seat support is in the bracing position and the movable bracing member is in the locking position, the first and second bracing members are received in respective recesses of the track, the first bracing member is braced against a first pair of shoulders on the track that face towards the rear of the main body, and the second bracing member is braced against a second pair of shoulders on the track that face towards the front of the main body.