Vehicle Seat Attachment Flexibility in Lattice Shear Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional seat attachment structures in vehicles are inflexible, directly coupling with body cross members, limiting the placement and configuration options for seat locations and hindering manufacturing flexibility within a lattice shear vehicle body structure.

Innovation Solution

A structural arrangement featuring a lattice shear structure with multiple structural members and shear panels allows for modular and adjustable seat attachment structures that can be positioned parallel to the longitudinal vehicle body axis, decoupling seat location from the underlying lattice structure, enabling greater flexibility in seat placement and configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If seat attachment structures are directly coupled to body cross members in a traditional architecture, then structural support is provided, but seat placement and configuration options are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat placement optionsVSAvoidstructural coupling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat attachment structure is segmented into multiple components: a seat attachment member with first and second ends, where the first end attaches to a first structural member and the second end attaches to a second structural member. This segmentation allows the seat to be positioned independently from the underlying lattice shear structure, providing flexibility in seat placement while maintaining structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediate structural members (first and second structural members) that act as mediators between the seat attachment structure and the lattice shear structure. These intermediaries decouple the seat location from the body cross members, enabling flexible seat positioning without direct coupling to the primary structural framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional seat attachment architecture is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but manufacturing flexibility for variant differentiation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The modular segmented design of the seat attachment structure enables flexible assembly configurations. The seat attachment member can be independently manufactured and then attached to different structural members, allowing for variant differentiation across vehicle architectures while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat attachment member is designed as a universal component that can be attached to various structural members at different locations. The first end and second end can connect to different structural members, allowing the same attachment structure to serve multiple seat configurations and vehicle types, enhancing manufacturing flexibility for variant differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If seat attachment structures are oriented laterally coupled to cross-load structure, then structural support is achieved, but body cross member placement is determined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidbody cross member placement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second structural members serve as intermediaries that transfer loads from the seat attachment structure to the lattice shear structure. This intermediary arrangement maintains structural support while decoupling the seat attachment from direct coupling to body cross members, allowing body cross member placement to be determined by structural requirements rather than seat positioning requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a traditional lateral orientation of seat attachment structures to a longitudinal orientation where the seat attachment member extends in the longitudinal direction with its first end attaching to a first structural member and its second end attaching to a second structural member. This dimensional change enables structural support while providing flexibility in body cross member placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11148718B2Vehicle seat structure flexibility within shear integral structures

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A structural arrangement for a vehicle includes a body structure defining a longitudinal vehicle body axis and a lateral vehicle axis orthogonal to the longitudinal vehicle body axis. The body structure includes a lattice shear structure having a first structural member extending laterally from one side to an opposite side of the vehicle and a second structural member parallel to and longitudinally spaced apart from the first structural member, an upper shear panel extending longitudinally and laterally across the vehicle and joined to the lattice shear structure, and a seat attachment structure having a first end and a second end opposite the second end. The seat attachment structure is oriented longitudinally and is joined to both of the first and second structural members.