Vehicle Seat Front Link Bracket Sagging Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

During a frontal vehicle collision, the submarining phenomenon occurs due to sagging of the front link and upper rail, leading to increased injury risk as the occupant's lower body is pushed forward and caught in the crumpled vehicle body, while the upper body is restrained by the seatbelt.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat support assembly with a front link bracket that includes a sagging support, such as a protrusion or auxiliary bracket, to inhibit sagging of the front link and upper rail, and a longer front link bracket along the upper rail to provide reinforcement, preventing the submarining phenomenon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the front link and upper rail are designed with standard length and structure, then the seat assembly is simple and cost-effective, but sagging occurs during frontal collision causing submarining phenomenon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision safetyVSAvoidfront link bracket structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sagging support structure is pre-configured in the front link bracket before collision occurs. The protrusion or auxiliary bracket is positioned in advance to contact the front link at the pivot point, ready to prevent sagging immediately when collision force is applied, eliminating the need for active control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The front link bracket is segmented into functional zones: the main bracket body for structural support and the protrusion/auxiliary bracket as a separate sagging prevention element. This segmentation allows the sagging support function to be added independently without redesigning the entire bracket structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the front link bracket is extended along the upper rail for longer distance, then sagging of upper rail is inhibited, but the device complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupper rail stabilityVSAvoidbracket material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly reinforcing the entire front link bracket, the extension is applied locally only where needed along the upper rail. The bracket extends beyond the first portion of the upper rail just enough to provide sagging support at critical locations, minimizing material usage while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If welding is used to form the front link bracket integrally with the upper rail, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket-rail connection strengthVSAvoidbracket assembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The front link bracket is designed to work integrally with the upper rail through coordinated geometry and positioning rather than permanent welding. The extended bracket portion aligns with and supports the upper rail structure, achieving structural strength through mechanical integration that allows for easier assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11535128B2Vehicle seat support assembly

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle seat support assembly includes: a front link; and a front link bracket coupled to an upper rail of a vehicle seat and including a sagging support portion configured to inhibit sagging of the front link toward the upper rail. In particular, the front link is pivotally coupled to the front link.