Seat Locking Device Bumper Rubber Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat locking devices face issues with unstable pushing force due to varying striker positions, leading to increased size and complexity, including the need for additional components to manage over-stroke and uneven resistance during locking operations.
Innovation Solution
A seat locking device featuring a striker and catching section with a base plate and cover member, including a latch and lock plate, and a bumper rubber with an isosceles-triangle portion to maintain consistent restoring force and reduce component count by optimizing the geometry of the entrance concave portions and holding concave portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the width dimension of the striker holding groove is increased to accommodate striker position variations, then the reliability of the locking device is improved, but the device size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the bumper rubber, specifically designing it with a triangular portion that has a vertex on the center line of the entrance concave portion. This parameter optimization allows the bumper rubber to effectively manage striker position variations without requiring a larger groove width, thus maintaining compact device dimensions while ensuring reliable locking operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper rubber is designed with non-uniform local properties - the triangular portion with vertex on the center line provides different compression characteristics at different positions. This local quality variation allows the system to accommodate striker position variations effectively without increasing the overall groove dimensions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device size.
2Ease of operation
If the distance from the rotation shaft to the contact point is increased to provide mechanical advantage, then the ease of operation is improved, but the pushing force becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameter of the bumper rubber's triangular portion, specifically positioning the vertex on the center line of the entrance concave portion. This parameter change ensures that the compression restoring force remains stable regardless of the striker's position within the groove, thereby maintaining consistent pushing force while still providing ease of operation through the mechanical advantage of the extended lever arm.
3Reliability
If additional components are added to manage over-stroke and stabilize pushing force, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper rubber is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it absorbs impact during striker entry, provides a stable pushing force throughout the locking operation, and prevents over-stroke of the latch. By making the bumper rubber a multi-functional component, the patent improves reliability without increasing device complexity, as one component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of impact absorption, pushing force provision, and over-stroke prevention into a single bumper rubber component. The triangular portion design with vertex on the center line enables this component to fulfill multiple roles that would traditionally require separate elements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.
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
The solution provides a compact, stable, and consistent pushing force for locking operations, reducing the number of components and maintaining efficient operation across different striker positions, while preventing over-stroke and ensuring consistent resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a bumper rubber (10) mounted on a bottom surface of the first entrance concave portion (6a) of the base plate (6) and configured to relieve an impact when the striker (4) enters the first entrance concave portion (6a)
Implementation Method 2
the bumper rubber includes a substantially isosceles-triangle portion at its portion closer to an opening side of the first entrance concave portion (6a), and the substantially isosceles-triangle portion has a vertex located on an imaginary center line of the first entrance concave portion (6a)
Data Source
AI summary
A seat locking device includes a striker and a catching section. The catching section includes a base plate including a first entrance concave portion, a cover member including a second entrance concave portion, a latch, a lock plate, and a bumper rubber including a substantially isosceles-triangle portion. A lateral surface of a holding concave portion of the latch is inclined such that an opening side of the lateral surface is located closer to a bottom surface of the first entrance concave portion than its counter-opening side. A bottom surface of the holding concave portion is closer to an imaginary center line of the first entrance concave portion than one lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion so that a catching-capable dimension for the striker is set between the bottom surface of the holding concave portion and another lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion.