Saddle Vehicle Seat Hinge Leaf Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing seat hinge structures for saddle riding vehicles are complex and costly due to the use of rotating dampers and spiral springs, and they require external forces to maintain the seat in an intermediate position, which complicates usability and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A seat hinge structure with a vehicle-body-side hinge and a seat-side hinge secured by a hinge pin, featuring a projecting portion that contacts a leaf spring with a convex portion, allowing the seat to be opened and closed using the leaf spring's elastic force, eliminating the need for rotating dampers and spiral springs, and incorporating laminated leaf springs for increased support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotating dampers and spiral springs are used in the seat hinge structure, then the seat can be held at intermediate positions, but the number of parts and assembling steps increases, causing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the rotating damper and spiral spring from the seat hinge structure. Instead of using these complex components, the patent employs a simple leaf spring that directly contacts the seat hinge bracket to provide the necessary holding force at intermediate positions, thereby reducing the number of parts while maintaining the seat holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces expensive and complex rotating dampers with a simple, inexpensive leaf spring. The leaf spring is a basic elastic component that can be easily manufactured and replaced, providing the same functional benefit of holding the seat at intermediate positions without the high cost and complexity of the original components.
2Reliability
If spiral springs are used to hold the seat at intermediate positions, then the seat can maintain position, but external force is applied continuously causing material quality concerns and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring provides intermittent rather than continuous force application. It engages with the seat hinge bracket only when the seat is at or near intermediate positions, allowing the seat to coast freely at other positions. This periodic engagement reduces cumulative stress on the materials compared to continuous spring force.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaf spring utilizes the natural elastic properties of the material itself to provide the holding force, eliminating the need for additional heavy-duty materials or reinforced structures that would be required to withstand continuous spiral spring pressure. The system serves itself by using the leaf spring's inherent elasticity rather than requiring externally applied continuous force.
3Ease of manufacture
If the seat structure is simplified to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to hold the seat at intermediate positions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The leaf spring performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the holding force at intermediate positions, acts as a structural support element, and serves as a buffer against shocks and vibrations. This multi-functionality allows a single simple component to replace multiple specialized parts, maintaining reliability while simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the leaf spring (such as its thickness, length, and curvature) to optimize its elastic properties. By carefully selecting these parameters, the leaf spring can generate sufficient holding force at intermediate positions while maintaining a simple, lightweight structure that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies the structure, reduces costs, enhances usability by allowing the seat to be easily opened and closed using its own weight, and maintains the seat at an intermediate position without plastic deformation, while dispersing loads to prevent wear and corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
a leaf spring (64) having a convex portion (64a) capable of coming into contact with the projecting portion (52h), whereby the projecting portion (52h) gets over the convex portion (64a) of the leaf spring (64) when the seat (20) is opened and the seat-side hinge (52) is supported on the leaf spring (64)
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a seat opening/closing structure for a saddle riding vehicle that suppresses the cost and simplifies the structure to enhance usability. A seat hinge 31 has a vehicle-body-side hinge 51A provided to a vehicle body side, and a seat-side hinge 52 which is turnably secured to the vehicle-body-side hinge 51A through a hinge pin 55. The seat-side hinge 52 has a projecting portion 52h extending to the vehicle-body-side hinge 51A, the vehicle-body-side hinge 51A is provided with a leaf spring 64 having a top portion 64a with which the projecting portion 52h can come into contact, and the projecting portion 52h gets over the top portion 64a of the leaf spring 64 when the seat is opened, whereby the seat-side hinge 52 is supported by the leaf spring 64 and the seat is kept under an open state.