Vehicle Seat Frame Wrap Structure for Terminal Contact Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat frames face issues with terminals coming into contact with other objects due to dimensional variations, even when strict management of dimensional tolerances is relaxed.

Innovation Solution

A seat frame configuration featuring a wrap portion outside the end portion of one frame that overlaps the end portion and a part of the wall portion on a projection plane, with the wall portion inclined to prevent contact, and a flange portion parallel to the seat longitudinal direction to enhance protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If strict management of dimensional variations is implemented, then the gap between frame terminals and other objects can be controlled, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of terminal contact with objectsVSAvoiddimensional variation management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wrap portion as an intermediary protective element that extends from the first frame to cover the terminal of the second frame. This wrap portion acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the terminal and external objects, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring strict dimensional control of the gap between frames.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the gap dimension between frame terminals is reduced to prevent contact, then reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to stricter tolerance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal contact preventionVSAvoiddimensional tolerance control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wrap portion is designed to extend in advance from the first frame to cover the terminal of the second frame before any potential contact could occur. This preliminary protective action ensures that even if dimensional variations cause the gap to change, the terminal remains protected, thus improving reliability without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If dimensional variations are relaxed for easier manufacture, then manufacturing ease improves, but the risk of terminal contact with objects increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional variation toleranceVSAvoidterminal contact prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By introducing the wrap portion as a protective intermediary, the system can tolerate relaxed dimensional variations in frame manufacturing. The wrap portion compensates for dimensional inconsistencies by providing a consistent protective barrier that extends beyond the frame terminal, thus maintaining reliability while improving ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250388142A1Seat frame and back frame

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

To provide a seat frame and a back frame of a vehicle seat. The seat frame of the present disclosure includes a first frame and a second frame. A wrap portion is provided outside a portion of the first frame corresponding to an end portion of the second frame, and when a virtual plane in contact with a wall portion continuous from the end portion of the second frame is defined as a projection plane, the wrap portion projected on the projection plane overlaps the end portion of the second frame and a part of the wall portion projected on the projection plane.