Vehicle Seat Latch Preventing Automatic Backrest Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat latches automatically lock backrests due to inherent weight and torque, leading to unintended locking after unlocking, especially on inclined vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The latch is designed with a pretensioned resilient element that abuts the closure bolt or curved closure member, preventing automatic locking engagement and constant action on the detent, using a sliding ejection member and stop to secure the closure bolt, and an additional detent spring to counteract forces, ensuring the backrest remains in the ejection position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the backrest is unlocked and pivoted into the ejection position, then the backrest can be manually adjusted, but the inherent weight of the backrest causes automatic locking due to torque from gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient element is pre-loaded to apply a counteracting force on the closure bolt before the harmful gravitational torque can cause automatic locking. This preliminary counter-force prevents the detent from engaging with the closure bolt when the backrest is in the ejection position, thereby preventing automatic locking while maintaining manual adjustability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force balance parameters by introducing a resilient element that applies a variable counter-force. The resilient element's force characteristic is designed to overcome the gravitational torque at specific positions (ejection position) while allowing normal locking operation at other positions, thus resolving the contradiction between manual adjustment and automatic locking prevention
2Productivity
If the ejector applies force directly to the closure bolt, then the closure bolt can be moved, but direct contact causes wear and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient element serves as an intermediary between the ejector mechanism and the closure bolt. It transmits the ejection force to the closure bolt while distributing the contact stress and reducing direct mechanical impact, thereby protecting the closure bolt from wear and damage while maintaining effective ejection functionality
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
Prevents automatic locking of the backrest after unlocking, maintaining the backrest in the ejection position even on inclined vehicles, allowing manual adjustment and enhancing reliability by minimizing forces acting on the backrest.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient element (21) which is pretensioned and acts on the detent (12) with elastic force in the direction toward the release position
Implementation Method 2
a detent spring (30) which acts on the detent (12) with elastic force in the direction toward the locking position
Implementation Method 3
the resilient element is constructed as a pressure spring and is supported on the housing of the latch
Implementation Method 4
the backrest is inclined by a specific angle with respect to the vertical so that it applies to itself with its inherent weight a torque in the direction toward the position for use
Data Source
AI summary
A lock for a vehicle seat has a catch which is pivotable about a catch axis between a release position and a locking position in order to cooperate with a locking bolt or a locking clip of a vehicle structure, and has an ejector. The ejector has a spring element disposed in a housing of the lock. The ejector can be brought into abutment against the vehicle structure or the locking bolt or locking clip by a biased spring element.