Seat Front Leg Latch Linkage for Automatic Stow-and-Deploy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seat assemblies require manual adjustment and stowing, lacking an automated system for seamlessly transitioning between seating positions and a stowed position within the vehicle floor recess.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with an actuator-driven output shaft, a front leg that can be retracted underneath the seat cushion, and a link assembly that unlocks a front latch to engage a striker bar, allowing automatic movement between support and retracted positions, enabling easy stowing within a motor vehicle floor recess.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual adjustment and stowing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of automation
Solution Approach 1:
The front latch mechanism automatically engages with the striker bar when the front leg reaches the support position, and automatically disengages when the link assembly actuates it during retraction. This self-latching and self-unlatching behavior eliminates the need for separate control mechanisms, allowing the system to service itself through its own operational movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The front latch is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage with the striker bar before the seat cushion begins its movement. This preliminary engagement ensures that the leg is securely supported before load is applied, and the latch is already in position to facilitate smooth transition during retraction without requiring additional control steps.
2Volume of moving object
If the front leg is retracted underneath the seat cushion, then space utilization is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential engagement issues
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection between the front latch and striker bar is designed with a fishmouth-shaped receptacle that passively guides the striker bar into engagement. This geometric constraint system replaces complex mechanical locking mechanisms, ensuring reliable engagement through shape-complementary fitting rather than active mechanical interlocking, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling compact retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded front latch provides preliminary cushioning and compliance in the engagement process. The spring allows for slight misalignments and absorbs impact forces during engagement, ensuring reliable latching even when there are minor variations in positioning. This beforehand cushioning protects the engagement mechanism from shock loads and positioning errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion and an output shaft rotatably coupled to the seat cushion. An actuator is fixedly coupled to the seat cushion and operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotatably driving the output shaft. A front leg is operably connected to the actuator for movement between a support position supporting the seat cushion and a retracted position folded underneath the seat cushion. A front latch is mounted on the front leg and is positioned to selectively engage a striker bar along a motor vehicle floor for maintaining the front leg in the support position. A link assembly extends between the output shaft and the front latch for selectively unlocking the front latch as the output shaft is rotatably driven by the actuator to drive the front leg between the retracted position and the support position.