Vehicle Seat Frame Side Wall Overlap for Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat frames face challenges in achieving sufficient rigidity to prevent inward bending of side frames under load, particularly when the connection frame is attached, while also avoiding interference with surrounding members and promoting welding operations.

Innovation Solution

The seat frame design includes side frames with a connection frame that extends inwardly to overlap with the side walls, featuring second extension portions that abut against the inside surface of the side walls, avoiding areas with welding marks and reclining mechanism attachments, and extending in an arc shape to accommodate a swing shaft, thereby enhancing rigidity and facilitating attachment without interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the connection frame is attached to the side frames by welding, then the rigidity of the side frames is increased, but the welding operation becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigidity of side framesVSAvoidwelding operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connection frame's second extension portions are designed to overlap with the side walls in the widthwise direction, changing the geometric parameter of the attachment configuration. This overlapping arrangement creates larger welded areas and improves welding accessibility, thereby increasing rigidity while facilitating the welding operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the connection frame is designed to increase rigidity against inward bending, then the side frame stability is improved, but the connection frame may interfere with surrounding members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside frame stabilityVSAvoidinterference with surrounding members
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection frame employs different structural configurations in different locations: the second extension portions overlap with side walls at attachment locations to maximize rigidity, while other portions are positioned to avoid interference with surrounding members. This localized differentiation allows the connection frame to provide targeted reinforcement without creating unnecessary interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The connection frame utilizes the widthwise direction by having second extension portions that extend inward and overlap with side walls. This dimensional approach allows the connection frame to increase rigidity in the widthwise direction while maintaining clearance from other components in other spatial dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2891580B1Seat frame for vehicle seat
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 TS TECH CO LTD
  • EP2891580B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2891580B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2891580B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention improves rigidity to the extent that side frames are prevented from falling inward in a structure for connecting the bottom ends of the side frames by means of a connection frame. A seat frame (F) for a vehicle seat (S), the seat frame (F) having side frames (11) disposed on both ends of a seat back frame (F1) in the width direction, and a bottom member frame (31) for connecting the bottom ends of the side frames (11) which attach to a seat cushion (S2), wherein: each side frame (11) has a side wall (12) which is positioned on the outside in the width direction and which extends in the vertical direction, and a back wall (13) which extends from the side wall (12) towards the inner side in the width direction; and the lower member frame (31) has a first extension portion (32) extending along the width direction, and second extension portions (33) extending from both ends of the first extension portion (32) in the width direction towards the front. The second extension portions (33) are positioned further inward than the side walls (12) in the width direction and overlap with the side walls (12).