Vehicle Seat Frame Bracket for Component Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat designs face challenges in mounting components like seat belt retractors without increasing seat thickness, which can compromise seating comfort and structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat design featuring a component mounting bracket in the inside-seat corner portion of the frame, allowing components to be mounted with a portion inserted into a hole in the frame members, thereby maintaining comfort and suppressing seat thickness increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a component mounting bracket is provided in the connecting part of frame members, then a component can be mounted close to the seating surface, but the seating comfortableness deteriorates due to increased seat thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent mounting positionVSAvoidseating comfortableness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The component mounting bracket is nested within the connecting part structure of the frame members, utilizing the existing structural space rather than adding external protrusions. This allows the bracket to be integrated into the frame assembly without increasing the overall seat thickness, thereby maintaining seating comfort while enabling component mounting close to the seating surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of positioning the mounting bracket in the vertical dimension (which would increase seat thickness and affect comfort), the bracket is positioned in the horizontal dimension within the connecting part of the frame members. This dimensional shift allows component mounting close to the seating surface without compromising comfort, as the bracket utilizes the lateral space available in the frame connection area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Weight of moving object

If a component mounting bracket is provided in the connecting part of frame members, then the bracket size can be reduced for weight reduction, but the structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting bracket weightVSAvoidframe connecting part strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket is merged with the frame member connecting part, forming an integrated structure rather than a separate component. This integration allows the bracket to utilize the structural strength of the frame members themselves, enabling weight reduction of the bracket while maintaining overall structural integrity through the combined frame-bracket assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting part of the frame members serves multiple functions: it provides structural connection between frame members and simultaneously houses the component mounting bracket. This multi-functionality allows the bracket to be miniaturized for weight reduction while the frame members themselves continue to provide the necessary structural strength support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the retractor is provided as far from the seating surface as possible, then seating comfortableness is maintained, but the mounting bracket must be larger and positioned externally, increasing seat thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating comfortablenessVSAvoidmounting bracket structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting function is extracted from the traditional external bracket structure and integrated into the connecting part of the frame members. This extraction allows the retractor to be positioned close to the seating surface without requiring a large external bracket, as the mounting structure is now embedded within the existing frame connection geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of positioning the mounting bracket externally and having it protrude outward, the bracket is inverted by placing it internally within the connecting part of the frame members. This inversion allows the retractor to be mounted close to the seating surface while the bracket structure itself is concealed within the frame assembly, maintaining a sleek external profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10144325B2Vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2018.12.04 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A vehicle seat includes: a first frame member that forms a framework of the vehicle seat and extends in a seat vertical direction or in a seat front-and-rear direction; a second frame member that extends in a seat width direction; and a component mounting bracket that allows to mount a component and is provided in an inside-seat corner portion of a connecting part of the first frame member and the second frame member, wherein the first frame member or the second frame member has a hole into which a portion of the component is inserted when the component is mounted in the component mounting bracket.