Vehicle Seat Interlock Mechanism Prevents Simultaneous Unlocking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable vehicle seats lack a mechanism to prevent the locking devices and backrest adjustment fittings from being unlocked simultaneously, which is a safety concern and affects the functionality of the seat's conversion between different positions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle seat incorporates a first interlock element, such as a blocking lever connected to a transmission rod, and a second interlock element, like a cylindrical lead-through element, to ensure that the locking devices and backrest adjustment fittings cannot be unlocked at the same time, with the unlocking lever interacting with a blocking element to maintain the correct positional locking and unlocking sequences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle seat allows independent unlocking of locking devices and backrest adjustment fittings, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety and reliability deteriorate due to risk of simultaneous unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever is positioned to preemptively prevent the unlocking of the locking device when the backrest adjustment fitting is already unlocked. The blocking element is arranged to contact and block the unlocking lever before it can transmit the unlocking movement to the locking device, thus preventing the harmful simultaneous unlocking state before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking lever acts as an intermediary element between the backrest adjustment fitting and the locking device. It receives the state information from the backrest adjustment fitting (through its connection to the transmission rod) and mediates the unlocking action by either allowing or blocking the unlocking lever from transmitting movement to the locking device, based on the current state of the backrest adjustment fitting.
2Reliability
If the vehicle seat includes interlock elements to prevent simultaneous unlocking, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever is merged with the transmission rod that is already connected to the backrest adjustment fitting. By connecting the blocking lever to the existing transmission rod, the patent reuses the transmission rod's movement to actuate the blocking lever, thereby integrating the safety function into the existing structure rather than adding a completely separate mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission rod serves multiple functions: it transmits the unlocking movement from the backrest adjustment fitting to unlock the fitting, and simultaneously acts as the actuating mechanism for the blocking lever through its connection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the blocking lever is connected to the transmission rod to prevent simultaneous unlocking, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking lever is designed to dynamically change its blocking state based on the position and state of the transmission rod. When the backrest adjustment fitting is unlocked, the transmission rod moves to a position that causes the blocking lever to engage and block the unlocking lever. When the fitting is locked, the transmission rod returns to its initial position, releasing the block. This dynamic behavior automatically adapts to the system state without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock mechanism is self-regulating through the mechanical connection between the blocking lever and the transmission rod. The system automatically detects the state of the backrest adjustment fitting through the transmission rod's position and automatically engages or disengages the blocking action accordingly, without requiring external control or user awareness of the interlock state.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustable vehicle seat (1), comprising a seat part (2) and a backrest (3) which is pivotable relative to the seat part (2) about a backrest pivot axis (6) by means of at least one backrest adjustment fitting (5) and is lockable in a plurality of angular positions, and at least one locking device (90) by means of which the seat part (2) is lockable to a vehicle structure. An unlocking lever (30) is provided here, said unlocking lever transmitting a movement introduced for unlocking purposes to the at least one locking device (90), wherein a first interlock element (54) is provided, said interlock element, when the backrest adjustment fitting (5) is unlocked, preventing a movement of the unlocking lever (30) for unlocking the locking device (90) and which, when the locking device (90) is unlocked, preventing an unlocking of the backrest adjustment fitting (5), wherein the first interlock element (54) is designed as a blocking lever (54) which is connected to a transmission rod (60) for rotation therewith, wherein, when the transmission rod (60) rotates, the backrest adjustment fitting (5) is unlocked, and wherein the unlocking lever (30) has a blocking element (36, 37) or interacts with a blocking element (36, 37) which, when the locking device (90) is unlocked, prevents a movement of the blocking lever (54) for unlocking the backrest adjustment fitting (5).