Vehicle Seat Linkage for Horizontal Backrest Table Position

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle seat designs that incorporate a 'table' function for backrests often increase the size of the backrest, making it incompatible with elements like airbags and complicating the layout due to the need for multiple pivoting axes and link systems, while also limiting seat pan tilt adjustments for comfort.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat system where the seat pan is attached to a frame via a deformable quadrilateral link system, allowing the seat pan to tilt and the backrest to pivot on a low axis, enabling the backrest to be placed in a horizontal 'table' position without increasing size, and allowing adjustable tilt angles for comfort and relaxation positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a high pivoting axis is used for the backrest table function, then the backrest can be folded down to horizontal position, but the size of the backrest increases and airbags cannot be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackrest folding to table positionVSAvoidbackrest size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting function is segmented into two independent axes: a low first axis for comfort adjustment and a high second axis for table position. This segmentation allows each axis to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other, enabling the backrest to reach horizontal table position while maintaining a compact profile suitable for airbag integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution introduces a second pivoting dimension by adding a high pivoting axis above the low comfort axis. This dimensional addition enables the backrest to achieve horizontal table position through combined movements on both axes, resolving the conflict between reaching horizontal position and maintaining compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If two offset pivoting axes are implemented for comfort and table functions, then the backrest can reach horizontal position, but the layout and manufacturing of link elements becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackrest positioning capabilityVSAvoidlink system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The link system is designed with multi-functionality to serve both the low comfort pivoting axis and the high table-position pivoting axis. By creating universal link elements that can accommodate both axes, the design reduces manufacturing complexity compared to designing separate specialized link systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If a low pivoting axis is used for the backrest, then the backrest size is reduced and airbags can be accommodated, but the backrest cannot be folded down to horizontal position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackrest sizeVSAvoidbackrest folding to table position

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If a single axis is used for backrest pivoting, then the structure is simplified, but the seat pan tilt adjustment for comfort is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepivoting mechanism complexityVSAvoidseat pan tilt adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The deformable quadrilateral link system merges the functions of backrest pivoting and seat pan tilting into a single integrated mechanism. By combining these functions through the geometric deformation of the quadrilateral linkage, the design achieves multiple adjustment capabilities without proportionally increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7328930B2Automobile vehicle seat including a backrest pivoting in relation to the seat pan and which can be placed in table position

Publication Date: 2008.02.12 FAURECIA SIEGES D AUTOMOBILE SA

AI summary

The seat includes a backrest (2) installed so as to pivot on the seat pan (1) and arranged to be placed in a table position where the rear wall of the backrest is maintained in horizontal position, more or less parallel to a seat support frame (3) arranged to be attached to the floor (5) of the vehicle, the seat pan (1) being itself installed on the said frame in a tiltable manner, so that it can be positioned, with a sufficient tilt angle, the rear of the seat pan being raised, so that the backrest tilted on the seat pan can be placed in the said table position. The seat pan (1) is attached to the frame (3) by a set of links (6, 7) forming, with the frame and the seat pan, a deformable quadrilateral (ABCD) such that a pivoting of the links leads to the deformation of the said quadrilateral to place the seat pan in the said sufficient tilt angle position, and locking means (10) are provided to lock the pivoting of the links in relation to the seat pan or the frame.