Vehicle Seat Fitting Forward Pivoting Mechanism Easy-Entry Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat easy-entry systems lack an efficient and user-friendly mechanism for transitioning the seat backrest from an easy-entry position to a loading floor position, often requiring unnecessary movement of the unlocking lever and lacking in comfort and security during adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A fitting with a forward pivoting mechanism incorporating an easy-entry detent or locking lever, featuring adjustable dimensions and contours for multiple functions, including a comfort locking system, which allows controlled pivoting and secure positioning of the seat backrest, and a variable coupling with an unlocking lever for expanded functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the unlocking lever is actuated to release the backrest from the easy-entry position, then the backrest can be pivoted into the loading floor position, but unintended pivoting may occur and user control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a comfort lever as an intermediary control element between the user and the backrest positioning system. This comfort lever directly controls the release of the comfort stop, providing precise user intent signaling. The indirect coupling of the unlocking lever through the carrier prevents direct unintended pivoting, as the carrier must first be positioned correctly before the unlocking lever can affect the backrest position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control where the coupling between the unlocking lever and carrier can be selectively engaged or disengaged. When the comfort lever is in the retracted position, the carrier is decoupled from the unlocking lever, preventing unintended pivoting. When the comfort lever is in the extended position, the carrier is coupled to the unlocking lever, enabling controlled pivoting into the loading floor position.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the easy-entry detent is designed with fixed dimensions and contours, then the manufacturing is simple, but the system lacks expanded comfort function for positioning beyond the front position
Solution Approach 1:
The easy-entry detent is designed as a multi-functional component that serves multiple purposes: it acts as a stop for the comfort position, a detent for the easy-entry position, and a guide for the loading floor position. By incorporating multiple functional features into a single component rather than using separate elements for each function, the patent achieves expanded positioning capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the carrier is permanently coupled to the unlocking lever, then the easy-entry function is reliable, but the expanded comfort function for loading floor position cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the carrier and unlocking lever is made dynamic rather than permanent. The comfort lever controls this coupling through the second coupling element, which can be selectively engaged or disengaged. This dynamic coupling allows the system to switch between two operational modes: reliable easy-entry function when coupled, and expanded loading floor positioning capability when decoupled, thus achieving both reliability and versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the stop is removed to allow free pivoting into the loading floor position, then the expanded comfort function is achieved, but unintended pivoting and loss of position control occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The comfort stop is positioned and configured in advance to limit the backrest pivoting range during normal operation. The stop is preliminarily set to prevent unintended pivoting into the loading floor position. Only when the user deliberately actuates the comfort lever to extend it is the stop's limiting function temporarily overridden, allowing controlled access to the loading floor position while maintaining protection against unintended pivoting during normal use.
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting (2) with a pivoting-forwards mechanism, positioning a backrest (1.1) of a vehicle seat (1) into a forward position, a comfort lock, positioning the backrest into a comfort region seat position (A to C), and an expanded comfort function, positioning the backrest beyond the front position into a loading platform position (E). The fitting includes a fitting part (2.1, 2.2) and a driver (4). A pivoting range of the backrest is limited in the forward position by an easy-entry latch (5) engaging in the fitting part (2.1). The easy-entry latch, when the backrest is adjusted between the seat positions in the comfort region, bears against a stop (7) mounted on the backrest and, in the forward position, is prevented by the stop from pivoting further forwards, and, when the backrest is set upright from the forward position into one of the seat positions, pivots controlled by the stop.