Vehicle Seat Folding Table with Movable Strut Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat folding tables lack flexibility and safety in adapting to user needs, often compromising on comfort and stability due to fixed orientations and inadequate support structures.

Innovation Solution

A folding table design for vehicle seats featuring a pivoting tabletop with a strut device that can move between retracted and extended positions, providing additional support areas and incorporating an overload safety device for secure operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed orientation folding table is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different user needs is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to user needsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The folding table is designed with movable components including a tabletop that can pivot between folded and unfolded positions, and a strut device that can extend and retract to adjust the second support area. This dynamic design allows the table to adapt to different user needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a single support area is provided, then the device complexity is low, but the comfort and stability for different objects are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort and stabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The folding table is divided into two distinct support areas: a first support area formed by the tabletop and a second support area formed by the strut device. This segmentation allows different objects to be supported at different locations and orientations, improving comfort and stability without creating an overly complex single integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If no overload protection is provided, then the device complexity is low, but the safety and reliability are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An overload safety device is integrated into the strut device to prevent damage from excessive loads. This safety mechanism activates beforehand to protect the structural components, ensuring reliability while adding minimal complexity to the overall device design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the strut device is fixed in position, then the manufacturing precision requirements are low, but the versatility for different support configurations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport configuration flexibilityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The strut device is designed to move between retracted and extended positions, allowing dynamic adjustment of the second support area. This mobility provides versatility for different support configurations while using standard mechanical components that do not require extremely tight manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1842718B1Vehicle seat with a folding table and folding table for a vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2010.12.08 GRAMMER AG
  • EP1842718B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1842718B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP1842718B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The table (1) has a top (10) movable between a folded position and an expanded position, where the table top provides a contact surface (48) for an object in the expanded position of the table top. A relatively movable frame (40) is arranged opposite to the table top, and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The frame has a section acting as another contact surface for the object, where the section works together with the former contact surface in the extended position of the frame.